T.O.

Hader, and Coulombe, and France, OH MY! Hader, and Coulombe, and France, OH MY! Does that make Falvey the Wizard of Ahhs 😒 ?

Maybe I was trying to be too clever. Often people combat frustration with an attempt at humor. I see Baldelli as the worst part of the Twins organization and their current situation. I don't care about his time as a player. Beyond him not being the best manager I think he is so awful I think he is ruining the game. Not everyone agrees, maybe very few agree. I've read a lot of comments I thought were ridiculous. Many people here are passionate about their beliefs. That's mine. Sometimes if I don't laugh I'll cry. I do appreciate your comment though.

Hard for young players to get good at hitting both ways if not given the chance. I read all the articles about potential hot prospects in the minors but my heart aches because they probably won't be given a decent chance.

I'll go one further and say he doesn't approach baseball like he has any sense of intuition at all. (I wanted to say he doesn't approach baseball like he's even human but my wife said that's too harsh so I won't.)

"Did the Pohlads have a change of heart?" Did they even have one in the first place? Sorry that was mean and uncalled for. Just couldn't pass it up. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ It's frustrating not knowing what's going through the owners and FO heads.

Harsh... but I'm right there with ya. I'd do the same if I had a rocco jersey, and darts. Lawn darts would be best.

If only his first name was Garth, then we'd really have something.

I use Firefox on Windows 10. For several weeks I'll be scrolling and suddenly it stops and the scroll bar on right is gone. I have to hit refresh to get it back. One time it happened six times in less than a minute. The only good thing is after the refresh I'm still at same place on the page. Other thing is when scrolling sometimes it will freeze for several seconds, scroll bar is still there. This one could be my computer although not happening with other sites. It's never crashed the browser session. I should try Chrome but haven't yet

I have a cousin that knows someone that overheard someone in the checkout at the grocery store say that the Twins legal team was filing a Cease and desist order to stop these trade rumors.

Does Baldelli have the intuition and knowledge to make decisions to place the players mentioned in their best primary position, the discipline and faith to stick with them a reasonable amount of time, and the ability to make brain/gut decisions when adjustments are warranted ???? I DON'T' THINK SO. He hasn't shown such abilities in the past. Why would he start now?

Dont Go Down There Its Dark.mp4

Baldelli managed six years and all of a sudden he invents a new way to approach the game? If he can't figure out how to manage his young players, stop his fixation with matchups, and make some decisions from his gut it won't mater.

The FO has been sketchy at best in reporting on player status in the past. I don't trust anything they say. But I am hopeful.

" but the Twins may have encountered a stumbling block regarding their development process." The Stumbling Block is the manager, or the FO if they are pulling his strings. They keeping throwing things against the wall to see if anything sticks. They seem to be driven by analytics and don't have much ability to manage players as humans.

Tony Oliva, nicknamed Tony O, played in the Twins organization from 1961 to 1976 primarily as a right fielder. After playing three years in the minors, 1961 through 1963, with two brief fall stints with the Twins, Tony played his first full year at the major league level in 1964, winning Rookie of the year honors, a batting title, and a trip to the All Star game. He achieved two more Batting titles, 1965 and 1971, a Gold Glove, 1966, and eight consecutive trips to the All Star game, 1964 to 1971. Tony hit for average and power, hit to all fields, and was known as one of the best bad-ball hitters in the game. Injuries cut short his playing career finishing as a Designated Hitter from 1973 to 1976, his last year as a player/couch. At the end of Tony's playing career he continued as a bench coach and a hitting coach for the Twins from 1976 to 1978 and 1985 to 1991, and six years as a roving minor league hitting instructor. Oliva's postseason as a player includes the 1965 World Series against the Dodgers and the 1969 and 1970 AL Championship Series against the Orioles all of which were losses for the Twins. As a coach Tony was part of two World Series victories, 1987 against the Cardinals and 1991 against the Braves earning him two World Series rings. Tony has continued his involvement with the Twins and still helps out with coaching in spring training and as an analyst on the Spanish language radio broadcasts. When not working in those capacities he is often found in the stands where he takes the time to meet fans and sign autographs. Oliva's additional honors: Had his number 6 retired July 14, 1991 Was inducted into the Twins Hall of Fame on August 12, 2000 Had his statue erected at Target Field in April 2011. Was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2022 along with teammate Jim Katt. ________________________________ Tony Oliva was born Perdro Oliva Jr, July 20, 1938 in Pinar del Río Province, Cuba, growing up on his family's farm with his parents, four brothers, and five sisters. The farm had a baseball field that was used by a local club from the nearby village of Entronque de Herradura. Pedro Jr started playing baseball at the age of seven spending as much time as he could along with his farm duties. By the time he was fifteen he was a good enough hitter to play with the local club despite being one of the youngest players. His ability to hit allowed him to move to more advanced teams. By the age on nineteen he was in winter league playing against teams farther away from his home. In February of 1961 Pedro Jr was signed by scout Joe Cambria who had signed hundreds of Cuban players for the Washington Senators and Minnesota Twins. Travel to the U.S. required a passport which required a birth certificate. Pedro didn't have one but his brother Antonio did. It was decided he would use that. On arrival in Florida he was called Tony, liked and name and kept it, never explaining his real name. Arriving in the U.S. at the end of spring training in 1961, Oliva played in four exhibition games getting 7 hits in 10 at bats. In spite of his hitting he was released. With nowhere to go he was convinced by a fellow Cuban player, Minnie Mendoza, to stay in the U.S. and go see Phil Howser G.M. of the Hornets, a Twins minor league team in Charlotte, NC. He was allowed to work out with the team as an unsigned player. Howser liked what he saw and talked the Twins into resigning him. Tony played 64 games with the Wytheville Twins in 1961. Tony Oliva was known for his mentoring of young players, helping them hone their baseball skills but also helping them adjust to life in the majors. One such notible relationship was with Rod Carew. In 1967, Oliva's fourth season and Carew's first they became roommates and life long friends. Oliva continued mentoring through his years as a coach. Another notable example is Kirby Pucket in 1984. "I just liked being around him because he always had a smile on his face. He always had a good word to say about everybody. Never spoke bad about anybody. I was just amazed, because I'd never met someone like that. That was Tony O. Today he's the same person. He always has a kind word. Always has time for people." - Rod Carew - taken from the book Tony Oliva - The Life And Times Of A Minnesota Legend, written by Thom Henninger. Oliva was plagued by knee problems from early in his career. He had two off season surgeries in 1966 and 1967 for torn ligaments and was able to recover and play at his best level. June 29, 1971 was the injury that would change the course of Tony's career. Diving for a ball hit to right field by Oakland's Joe Rudi his right knee landed on a water sprinkler head. He had several knee surgeries after than. In 1972 he was limited to ten games. In 1973 Oliva played 146 games as the designated hitter putting up productive numbers. By 1976, as a player/couch, his knees limited him to 123 at bats, mostly as a pinch hitter. Tony Oliva retired as a player and continued as a coach in the Twins organization. Throughout his years as a player and coach to the present day, Tony Oliva has been known for his pleasant, positive attitude, a smile on his face, being humble, able to keep his ego in check, always having time for fans, and his all around class and dignity. Tony Oliva's journey to the Baseball Hall of Fame was a long one, likely not due to his playing stats but his shortened career. First on the ballot in 1982, along with stiff competition from Hank Aaron and Frank Robinson, he received 15% of the vote from the BBWAA (Baseball Writers Association of America). By 1988 he was up to 47.3% of the vote. In 1996 the last of his 15 years on the BBWAA ballot he got 36.2%. In the years that followed starting in 2000, Oliva was considered by the Veterans Committee. With 75% of the votes required he got as high as 59%. In December 2011, the Golden Era Committee, with 16 voters, took over the process. Voting every three or four years. Finally in 2021 Tony Olivia was voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame and inducted in 2022 along with teammate Jim Katt. View full player

I was thinking they should trade Vasquez if they really needed to cut salary, but I'm starting to think it would be better to keep him the remaining year and have a good defensive catcher to split time with Jeffers. They probably wouldn't get much in return.

I watch on MLB-TV. I am in Omaha one mile west of Iowa border and up until now my only blackout is the Royals. But when I crossed into Iowa I got five more, Twins, Cardinals, Sox, Cubs, Brewers. Milwaukee is also 7+ hours away. Crazy! If I understand right the Twins blackout this year will only include northern Iowa so I will have some added territory to watch Twins. But those other four teams will still be there.

I watch all TV through my desktop computer hooked up to my TV. I watch the Twins through MLB-TV. I live in Omaha just one mile west of what was the blackout zone in Iowa. If I crossed into Iowa I had to switch to the audio only broadcast. I think most of Iowa was blacked out in previous years. When they announced the new TV arrangement a few months ago they showed a map with only northern Iowa in black. I assume that map applies to both Twins-TV and MLB-TV? So now when I cross into central Iowa I still get the TV broadcast? That will be nice. Another question for those that got MLB-TV from T-Mobile. Does that only work on your phone or does it also work from PC and smart TV? Thanks. Can't wait until some spring training games are on TV.

"Money, money, money Must be funny In the rich man's world Money, money, money Always sunny In the rich man's world Aha All the things I could do If I had a little money It's a rich man's world It's a rich man's world" Sorry, that was stuck in my head. At my age I can;t add three numbers in my head. These numbers are mind numbing and the lack of signals as to what FO might do is frustrating. If they were going to get rid of the salaries like Vazquez and Paddack you think they would have by now. Could they possibly keep what they have and spend a little more? January and February are the worst months of the year. Like being on a life raft with no idea when, or if, you might be saved and very little to eat.

Unless the young pitchers can start getting beyond once or twice through the lineup there aren't six good starters.

and shinola

In his last broadcast of 23 he said it was his last game and what a great run it was. Then he was back in 24. That must have been the wrestling, having trouble letting go.

I really wish someone had more info about that. I like Roy and all the Twins announcers/commentators. I listen to some other teams too and there are some people that are awful (irritating voice, condescending, getting excited at the wrong times, saying obvious things just so they can talk). I don't deal with change very well. Unless it's change for a hundred dollar bill.

I don't think we have that manager. Baldelli doesn't have the desire or the ability to coach and develop new players. Or manage a lineup during a game. Of all the things there are to be dissatisfied with the Twins organization the manager is at the top of my list.