Marshall_P

After starting the season as cold and unpredictable as the Minnesota weather with two series losses, and two series splits, the Twins have sprung into spring and first place winning 10 of their last 11 games. Just as the Twin Cities weather is heating up, the arms of the Minnesota pitchers are following suit, allowing over four runs just once during their current tear, and completing two shutouts along with four games surrendering just one run. The early season rust appears to be knocked off, and the pitchers are hitting their marks like arrows flung from a skilled archer. Pitching coach Wes Anderson and manager Rocco Baldelli are known for their extensive analytical preparation for opposing lineups, however the intangibles from the veteran pitchers is also playing a huge role in the recent success. The leadership from 10-year vets Sonny Gray (82 career wins) and Chris Archer (61 career wins) has been evident in the dugout recently, as the former aces have regularly been seen in the dugout shoulder to shoulder with the younger pitchers, teaching their knowledge of the art of pitching. It certainly appears that their instruction and willingness to be mentors has made a great impact on the Twins success recently. This is what winning teams do. This is also what makes baseball America’s Pastime. Whether it is teaching your kid how to throw a changeup at little league practice, or older professionals leading the younger generation to success, baseball is relatable to everyone who has ever played the game. As the Twins storm into May with a 14-9 record, and 3.5 games above Cleveland in the standings atop the American League Central division, the long term goal of playing past the summer and into the playoffs is falling into place.

After starting the 2022 campaign 1-2, the overreactions to the start of the Twins season have been spreading like wildfire through the fan forums and social media alike. It is important to remember that the team is just three games into the 162-game marathon of the season; and hey, they’re not 0-3! Opening day was a tough test for talented youngster Joe Ryan, losing to incumbent AL Cy Young Award winner Robbie Ray, 2-1. Ryan recovered nicely after allowing a 2-run home run to Mitch Haniger in the first inning Friday evening, being the only runs that Seattle would need while surrendering just four hits to Minnesota in an eventual 2-1 defeat for thea Twins. One concerning statistic would be the four walks allowed by Ryan through four innings pitched, who may have had some opening day jitters in the cold Minneapolis weather in his first work since coming from toasty Florida during spring training. Will he recover his command in his next start? Almost surely. Need to worry? Absolutely not. Saturday’s starting pitcher Sonny Gray also failed to make it through five innings pitched, and after the bullpen allowed zero runs through 8.1 innings to start the year, Tyler Duffey surrendered two runs in the top of the ninth inning, forfeiting the lead and earning a blown save in the 4-3 loss to the Mariners. After former All-star closer Taylor Rogers was traded to San Diego just before the start of the season, Duffey seems to have inherited the ninth inning role; however, with many other strong options at the back of the bullpen, it will be interesting to see how long Rocco Baldelli’s leash will be. Cause for concern? Not yet. Sunday the Twins wasted no time jumping out to a 5-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, led by a leadoff home run from Byron Buxton (who would homer twice on the day, including in three straight at bats going back to Saturday night), and a no doubt about it grand slam from Gary Sanchez. Minnesota would homer six times on the afternoon to earn their first victory of the season, 10-4. Will the Twins challenge their record of 307 home runs from the “Bomba Squad” of the 2019 season? Probably not. However, with power up and down the lineup, these Twins can turn an inning around in a matter of pitches, and should provide entertaining at bats and the chance to win in any game this season. Is it too early to judge the 1-2 Twins season? Absolutely. The Mariners are expected to contend for the division title in a very talented AL West division, and two one-run losses to start the year is sometimes just how baseball goes. There is plenty to build upon from opening weekend, and still plenty to be optimistic about heading into the second week of the season. No need to overreact to a combined 15-10 run differential in favor of the Twins during their first three games.

Opening Day As the snow melts and the sun shines through a cloudless sapphire blue sky over downtown Minneapolis, Target Field awakens from its winter hibernation. The old familiar scents of freshly cut grass and sizzling bratwurst and sauerkraut fill the air as the crackling of baseball gloves and wooden bats provide the acoustics echoing throughout the stadium meaning only one thing: Its Opening Day. After two seasons of the COVID pandemic kept a large number of fans from attending home games, a certain saying from the classic film “Field of Dreams” comes to mind, (adjusted slightly to fit in with Twins purposes): “Ray, people will come Ray. They’ll come to Target field for reasons they can’t even fathom. They’ll turn up at the plaza not knowing for sure why they’re doing it. They’ll arrive at the gates as innocent children, longing for the past. Of course, we won’t mind if you look around, you’ll say. It’s only $20 a person. They’ll pass over the money without even thinking about it: for it is money they have and peace they lack. And they’ll walk out to the bleachers; sit in short sleeves on a perfect afternoon. They’ll find they have reserved seats somewhere along one of the baselines, where they sat when they were children and cheered their heroes. And they’ll watch the game, and it’ll be as if they dipped themselves in magic waters. The memories will be so thick, they’ll have to brush them away from their faces. People will come, Ray. The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game: it’s part of our past, Ray. It reminds us of all that was once good, and it could be good again. Oh… people will come, Ray. People will most definitely come.” As winter comes to an end, the promise of spring and summer enlighten the senses of all baseball fans. The Twins enter the day tied with all other MLB teams in first place, beginning the 162-game quest of the regular season. Led by manager Rocco Baldelli in his fourth year with the Twins, (210-174 managerial record), Minnesota will look to build off of an injury-plagued 2021 season where they finished last in the AL Central Division, (73-89). Optimism can be felt on the healthy legs of star center fielder Byron Buxton, (signed to a $15-million-per-year contract extension through the 2028 season), and the leadership of former World Series Champion and All-star shortstop Carlos Correa. A completely turned over starting pitching rotation will be led by young talent in Joe Ryan and Bailey Ober, with the added veteran presence of newcomers Sonny Gray, Dylan Bundy, Chris Archer and Chris Paddack. While a 6-man rotation will likely not be feasible, it is a luxury for pitching coach Wes Johnson to be able to go to the hot hand, and perhaps use one or more in long inning relief in given circumstances. As we embark into the 2022 season, one of my favorite quotes come to mind: “Baseball isn’t just a game. Its life being played out on a field- a field of dreams - on diamonds of green, where players pursuing their dreams try to be the best they can be on the grandest stage of all - where men become boys, and boys become men, all speaking one universal language without uttering a single word.” -Tom Tatum Happy Opening Day!

Twins top prospect Jose Miranda has been handcuffed in AAA the last few seasons, while slashing .338/.392/.555 at third base, a position recently opened up by the departure of former MVP Josh Donaldson. The question then becomes, what is next for the former second round (73rd overall) pick of the 2016 draft out of the Leadership Christian Academy (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico)? After a lackluster performance during spring training in minimal appearances (3 hits in 13 at bats), the 6’2” 210 pound prospect (#90 on Baseball America’s current list), will begin the season with the St. Paul Saints at AAA, just a few miles away from Target Field. With Luis Arraez and Gio Urshela primed for the majority of at bats at the hot corner at the big league level, the production of Miranda at AAA may force the Twins hand to promote the 23-year-old sooner rather than later if he continues his production at the lower level. However, if Arraez and Urshela produce adequate numbers, the appeal to trade Miranda for a front end starting pitcher remain in the mix. There have been rumors of Miranda being included in a package to send to the recently fire-selling Oakland Athletics for ace pitcher Frankie Montas. While the Twins seem content with their starting five of Joe Ryan, Sonny Gray, Bailey Ober, Dylan Bundy, and Chris Archer on opening day, the appeal of an ace starter may become too good to pass up, especially if one of the starters struggles early in the year. The fact is that Miranda is ready for big league action, and the Twins cannot afford to keep him down in AAA if he keeps producing lofty numbers. The recent Twins’ Minor League Player of the Year had one thing to say regarding his future, “Whenever they need me, if they want to call me up, I’ll do my thing.”

For decades the Minnesota baseball franchise has lived up to its nickname, replicating year after year, the low-market, middle of the pack team, with no real championship expectations. That all changed in November of 2016 when Thad Levine was hired as Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Twins to bring a winning pedigree and attitude to the club. Over the last five seasons, the Twins have finished: -(2017) 85-77, 2nd AL Central -17 games back of Cleveland -(2018) 78-84, 2nd AL Central -13 games back of Cleveland -(2019) 101-61, AL Central Champions +8 games above Cleveland -(2020) 36-24, AL Central Champions + 1 game above Cleveland and Chicago -(2021) 73-89, Last place AL Central -1 back of Kansas City After two division championships, an injury plagued campaign found the Twins in the cellar in the Central, behind even the lowly rebuilding Royals. However, with many blocks to build upon going into the ’22 season, the top of the division is a realistic possibility. The starting pitching rotation is completely turned over from opening day last year, led by Joe Ryan (acquired in the Nelson Cruz trade), Sonny Grey (FA signing), upcoming talent in Bailey Ober, and the veteran arms of Dylan Bundy and Chris Archer, both looking for greener pastures and new opportunities to resurrect their careers. The contract extension to keep potential perennial all-star CF Byron Buxton with the club long term was a much needed boost to clubhouse morale. With the departure of team “Captain” Nelson Cruz at the end of last summer, and fan favorite Willians (La Tortuga) Astudillo, the void for new leadership is wide open for the taking. NEW BLOOD: Minneapolis has rarely been a priority destination for top of the linefree agent baseball players. However, former MVP Josh Donaldson signed with the Twins in 2020, setting up the signing of former World Series MVP Carlos Correa this offseason. Perhaps the Twin Cities are just a stepping diamond for these players to up their ante for larger contracts on “larger markets,” but for whatever it is worth, Falvey is doing his due diligence. PLAYOFF HISTORY -(2020) HOU (L) 0-2 Wild Card Series -(2019) NYY (L) 0-3 Division Series -(2017) NYY (L) 4-8 runs, Wild Card Game -(2010) NYY (L) 0-3 Division Series -(2009) NYY (L) 0-3 Division Series -(2006) OAK (L) 0-3 Division Series -(2004) NYY (L) 1-3 Division Series -(2003) NYY (L) 1-3 Division Series IF YOU CAN’T BEAT ‘EM, TRADE FOR THEIR PLAYERS The unclimbable mountain that is the New York Yankees has long been the sight of playoff exit for the Twins. In the offseason, Levine implied a bold new strategy: trading for the players that have been a thorn in their side in October. Josh Donaldson for Gary Sanchez and Gio Urshela. Will it work? Will it “Reverse the curse of the Yankees dominating the Twins in the playoffs?” No one can possibly know, but it is a bold approach to starting a new mixed approach in the Twins’ clubhouse. WHAT TO EXPECT How to dethrone the White Sox and stave off the surging Tigers: The key to the season for the Twins, as well as every other team, will be health. If the manager Rocco Baldelli can balance the playing time of his stars to all stay healthy, and contribute their expected level of talent, the Twins will be walking the tight rope at the top of a very competitive division. BOLD PREDICTION After years of being rolled over, the AL Central looks prime to be as competitive as any division this season. The White Sox look prime to defend their crown, as the Tigers and Twins offseason acquisitions set themselves up for competitive games no matter the opponent. The wild card will be determined by how well the Royals and newly branded Guardians’ young talent develop at the big league level. GUT FEELING Tigers White Sox Twins All Over 87 wins, with whoever plays each other the best during the season being the eventual division champion.