John Bonnes

Tyler Mason previews the Twins starting rotation and will preview the other aspects of the team through the rest of the week. Gardenhire doesn't sound especially excited about the future.... Twins' rotation has changed, but is it better?

Nice story on Roy Smalley's efforts to help kids play baseball after Hurricane Sandy: Roy Smalley helps New York/New Jersey kids through Pitch in for Baseball | twinsbaseball.com: News

Rhett Bollinger did a little heavy lifting, cranking out a monster column that sets the stage for the year. Hicks' status was about the only think I really disagreed with in the starting lineup, though I also think he's optimistic if he thinks Joe Mauer will be batting #2. Spring Training affords first look at Minnesota Twins' pitching acquired in offseason | twinsbaseball.com: News

To countdown the days til pitchers and catchers report, we're going to list the Twins with those numbers (thanks to this awesome list) and let you can reminisce about one of them. So who is the poster boy for day #3.... 3 Harmon Killebrew, 1961-74 So this is an easy one. There are a few other with just one player, but only one other one is under #65. When I think of Killebrew, I think of my first live Twins game. My dad got some tickets from Unisys, where he worked, and if I remember it right (and I might not) it was a special game for Killebrew. Either he had come back with the Royals, or he had retired and the Twins were playing the Royals and both teams were honoring him. I had no idea who he was.

Kind of a weird story by Adam Kilgore about Denard Span starting fresh with the Nationals. There are a lot of Twins references, stuff that sounds like grumbling that could only come from Span, but it falls short of following through. Like this: And then....nothing. The story moves on to his concussion. Did he reject those changes? Did he modify those suggestions when he broke through in AAA? Is he still doing that? Is he looking forward to ditching them? It references them and doesn't tell us what happened. He also talks candidly about the impact of the concussion on his emotions: Yeah, certainly seemed to be the case. The article suggests that yoga has helped with that, but it isn't clear that is what is has done. Like I said, weird story.... Former Twin Denard Span visualizing a fresh start with Nationals - TwinCities.com

There's lots of good stuff in this interview. It's more extensive than most. Brian Murphy asks specifically about the rotation, defense, middle infield, Harden, Parmelee, Garendhire and a lot more. I'm not sure what to make of Morneau, but Ryan didn't go out of his way to say he would keep him.... Twins' Terry Ryan Q&A: Ron Gardenhire, Justin Morneau still in Minnesota's plans - TwinCities.com

To me, this is the icing on the cake. And not a good cake. A crap cake. With putrid frosting.

Sinker's story on this signing: Reports: Lefty Saunders picks Mariners instead of Twins | StarTribune.com

To countdown the days til pitchers and catchers report, we're going to list the Twins with those numbers (thanks to this awesome list) and let you can reminisce about one of them. So who is the poster boy for day #4.... Bob Allison, 1961-70 Steve Braun, 1971-75 Gene Mauch, 1976-80 (Manager) Mark Funderburk, 1981 Jim Eisenreich, 1982-84 Chris Speier, 1984 Steve Lombardozzi, 1985-88 Orlando Mercado, 1989 Chip Hale, 1990-95 Paul Molitor, 1996-98 Paul Molitor, 2000-01, 2003 (Coach) Augie Ojeda, 2004 Hold it - Molitor was a coach in 2003? I didn't think he was ever on Gardy's staff. Am I wrong, or is this list? I also notice that Molitor ws #4 throughout his career with the Brewers and the Twins, but he was #19 with the Blue Jays, and there doesn't seem to be a very good reason why. His first year, it belonged to Alfredo Griffin, but he left after that, so I assume Molitor could have had it. Instead, it went to Dick Schoenfeld and in Molitor's last year with the Jays nobody had that number. Perhaps after winning a World Series (and a World Series MVP) he didn't want to jinx it. My biggest memory of Molitor was as an opponent, and not even as an opponent to the Twins, but to the Phillies in that 93 World Series. I had just moved there, got season tickets, and watched a flukey rag-tag bunch just keep winning. It was one of the most magical seasons I've ever seen until Molitor, Joe Carter and Mitch Williams just crapped all over it. Lord, but he was good in that series.

To me the interesting part is numbers #11 - 20. I'm a little surprised to find JR Chargois at the top of that list. They're convinced he's staying a reliever. Are we? Here is the list.... 2013 Prospect Watch | MLB.com: Prospects

To countdown the days til pitchers and catchers report, we're going to list the Twins with those numbers (thanks to this awesome list) and let you can reminisce about one of them. So who is the poster boy for day #5.... Jose Valdivielso, 1961 Don Mincher, 1962-66 Russ Nixon, 1967 Bob Oldis, 1968 (Coach) Leo Cardenas, 1969-70 Danny Thompson, 1970-76 Roy Smalley, 1976-82, 1985-87 Ray Smith, 1983 Houston Jimenez, 1984 Jim Dwyer, 1988-90 Pedro Munoz, 1990-95 Roberto Kelly, 1996-97 Brent Gates, 1998-99 Michael Cuddyer, 2001-11 Eduardo Escobar, 2012 I've always been happy that Roy Smalley and Bert Blylelven ended up back on the Twins in time for the 1987 World Series win. I feel like Smalley certainly deserved it, after faithfully serving the Twins and then being flipped to the Yankees by Griffith in that gut-punching '82 season. I felt like a lot of guys from the 77 team deserved it - Wynegar, Hisle, Bostock and certainly Carew. Maybe Mauch more than any of them. Pedro Munoz played SIX seasons for the Twins? Really? I primarily identify him as one of the guys that I hoped would eventually replace Bruno, but didn't. And the guy who eventually DID replace Bruno is on this list, too. I'm surprised to see Cuddy on there for 11 years, though those first three were just a tease. Cuddyer is 10th on the Twins list of home run leaders, and Bruno is 9th. I wonder how likely it is that Cuddy eventually winds up in the Twins HOF? I haven't really studied it, but I would think pretty good.

Steve Lombardozzi Sr. (ex-Twin) is a high school coach and his son (Steve Jr., who the Twins reportedly pursued in a trade in 2011) is helping him. It's nice story about their relationship and the impact a kid can have on other kids. Steve Lombardozzi: Former Twin gets help coaching from major league son - TwinCities.com

There is lots of talk about Hudson Boyd's weight, but the might be watching a different number even more closely.... Reusse: Twins invest in Fort Myers | StarTribune.com

Michael Rand points out that the Twins pitchers who made the first four starts of the 2012 season have all been injured repeatedly since then. (And that doesn't include Scott Baker.) And there have been some bizarre injuries in there, too. Could someone please take the voodoo doll away from the bitter little White Sox fan that has it? The Twins pitchers who made the first four starts of 2012 for the Twins are cursed | StarTribune.com

Most of the story is about the farm system, but he does address the following question: He doesn't say "no" but he sure gives plenty of reasons why they probably can't. Inbox: Farm system one of the best in the game | twinsbaseball.com: News

It has some quotes by Terry Ryan, but also points out that Plouffe's defense, which was obviously a concern, might have been impacted by him preparing to play in the outfield all year. That's a nice thought, but it was in the second half of the year that the defensive gaffes were most prominent. Of course, that was also after the thumb injury. Can Plouffe get back in the swing?

It's a nice profile of Carroll, but it also reminds of two things: 1) He's 39 2) He was really healthy. The Twins are counting on him to either backup three positions that have question marks or take one of them over fulltime. I'm glad he's on the team, but if he goes down, lordy but this infield looks thin. Reliability, stability define Carroll's game

To countdown the days til pitchers and catchers report, we're going to list the Twins with those numbers (thanks to this awesome list) and let you can reminisce about one of them. So who is the poster boy for day #6.... Billy Consolo, 1961 Ted Lepcio, 1961 Jim Snyder, 1962 Vic Wertz, 1963 Tony Oliva, 1964-75 Tony Oliva, 1976 (Player-Coach) Tony Oliva, 1977-78, 1985-91 (Coach) Obviously, it's Tony O, who was just wrapping up his career and becoming a coach when I started tuning into games on our little AM radio. According to the list above, Oliva was a player-coach in 1976, and I was absolutely following the Twins at that time, but I don't remember how that worked out. Was he a coach for half the year? Or was he a true player coach. Anyone know?

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php?r=1354-Gleeman-and-the-Geek-Ep-79-Super-Bowl-Hot-Tubs-Scouting-The-Enemy

Aaron and John talk about Super Bowl festivities, breaking down the other four teams in the AL Central, last week's star-studded Twins Fest get-together, Matt Capps staying in the division, Aaron's chances with Kate Mara, feeling sorry for Carl Pavano, Dave St. Peter's dimples, the latest on Joe Saunders, meeting people from Twitter, "IAMACEO" by Starflyer 59, and the beauty of Andrew Dice Clay. Here are: the podcasts the rss feed if you want to subscribe and the podcast on iTunes.

Aaron and John talk about Super Bowl festivities, breaking down the other four teams in the AL Central, last week's star-studded Twins Fest get-together, Matt Capps staying in the division, Aaron's chances with Kate Mara, feeling sorry for Carl Pavano, Dave St. Peter's dimples, the latest on Joe Saunders, meeting people from Twitter, "IAMACEO" by Starflyer 59, and the beauty of Andrew Dice Clay. Here are: the podcasts the rss feed if you want to subscribe and the podcast on iTunes.

Hey gang, We have a chance to get another Twins fan into the MLB Fan Cave this year. He's Michael McGivern and Rhett Bollinger gives us the scoop on him: Q&A: Twins Fan Cave candidate Michael McGivern | twinsbaseball.com: News He certainly has some admirable skills.....

I know it's hokey and contrived, but I always look forward to the "we're sending a bunch of stuff to spring training in a big truck" story every February. Here is this year's: Twins ship equipment to Fort Myers complex | twinsbaseball.com: News

Here's the story from Shooter: Shooter Now II: Jack Morris takes radio-TV job with Toronto Blue Jays - TwinCities.com Interesting quote from Morris about why he's no longer with the Twins...