Ted Schwerzler

After the wildly successful art card endeavor that was Topps Project 2020, yesterday kicked off a new adventure with a similar flare. Enter Project 70, and with that, Minnesota’s own Dj Skee.Topps has introduced Project 70 with this context, “Topps celebrates 70 Years of baseball cards with a new program that pushes boundaries while paying homage to our heritage. Founded in 1938 as a chewing gum company, Topps released their first baseball card set in 1951. Now seven decades later, artists and creatives around the globe are revisiting and reimagining 70 years of iconic baseball card designs, each selecting their own MLB players and Topps designs to craft a unique story.” Participants for Topps Project 70 come from many different mediums, and that couldn’t be more evident than with Minnesota’s Scott Keeney. The 37-year-old known as Dj Skee, launched Dash Radio, and has partnered with Grammy winning artists as well as some of the biggest brands in the world. He’s also a sports fan and heavily involved in the world of trading cards. I recently caught up with him regarding his involvement in Project 70. Twins Daily: Let's start with baseball as a whole. You're from Minnesota but we're a kid when the Twins won their two World Series titles. What does your background and experience as a fan look like? What are some of your favorite memories at the Dome or Target Field? Dj Skee: I moved to Minnesota as a kid in late 1990… luckily for me, the 1991 Twins happened. This was my catalyst into being a sports fan in general. Our childhoods set the stage for the rest of our lives, and experiencing the energy is what ignited my passion and love for all sports that has become a huge part of my life, and now bled into my work. The obvious best memories without question would be the '91 World Series. My dad took had us in center field game 6 and we watched Kirby make that catch, before watching the home run land 5 rows in front of our seats. Game 7 was even more magical. I wanted to be a catcher, and Bryan Harper threw me his batting gloves before the game (I have them still- and a picture of him throwing to me!). Watching the historic inning to the greatest World Series in person was unlike anything else, and I remember crowd surfing as a 7-year-old after the win (and it being the loudest noise I ever heard!). Besides this though, my favorite memories were just generic games in the 90s- I'd always try to be the first person in the stadium, usually sitting in the left field bleachers (they were open seats, so I tried to sit right at the foul pole) and trying to catch BP home runs. At Target Field I have two great memories: 1) Throwing out the first pitch (lifelong dream) and 2) DJing between every inning during the Playoff game in 2019 (even though we lost, it was electrifying and one of my favorite gigs ever). TD: Where do cards come in? Has collecting and the hobby been something you've always been passionate about? What are some of your favorite cards, and what would be some of the favorites you own? DS: Absolutely. My first entrepreneurial endeavor was selling cards in my garage! After the '91 World Series I became obsessed with sports and cards and used to live in the local card shops. Obviously, everything Minnesota was my passion: Kirby, KG, etc., but I also loved Ken Griffey Jr., MJ, and all the icons of that era. I loved the Topps Finest sets of 93/94, as well as Stadium Club- but was into pretty much everything! Currently, my favorite cards are all the Kirby rookies I have (around 100 now- all brands), the '98 Upper Deck SP Authentic Moss cards, and Topps Finest KG rookie cards. I also am really big into vintage and just picked up my first T206 cards finally! TD: Talk about Project 70. What did Topps approach you about, and why did you find yourself excited about the collaboration despite not dealing with traditional print media? DS: I started a Topps Project 2020 Artist Interview series with them last year where we did livestreams on CardHouse with the artists involved. I was a huge fan of the project in general- especially as someone who started as a remix/mixtape DJ, so conceptually the product was right in my wheelhouse. As I got closer to the Topps team, I told them ideas I had and said if there was ever an opportunity that made sense to work on together, I would be down- and they mentioned Project 70. The rest is history! TD: I believe checklists for each artist will differ somewhat. What are some of the things you're most excited about with your subjects and is there any specific idea that you can't wait for collectors to see? DS: I am so excited because I get to tie my two passions- sports and music- together in a tangible product. My entire series will be themed around music and in-essence "remixing" or creating album and mixtape inspired themes that relate to all the players in a variety of ways. I've gone super deep on who to use and what music/artist/album to pair the cards with… true baseball fans and collectors as well as music heads are really going to flip out on some of the concepts. I also am creating a curated music show playlist for each card that will only be accessible through a special QR code on the back of each card! Since I am talking to a Twins fan and someone from Minnesota, the flagship product in my set will probably be your favorite card in the entire series… you'll know it when you see it later on this year, but there also will be several other non-traditional MN tie ins you see throughout the series! TD: Did you follow Project 2020 from Topps? How did you feel that went if so, and how do you foresee Project 70 differing? DS: I loved it- from the moment I heard about it, I thought it was such an incredible and relevant idea for today. The artists they had were amazing, and the evolution and energy behind the entire series was so fun to watch! I'm even more excited about P70 not only because I am in it, but because you will see so much variety as we aren't tied down to 20 specific cards. The elements of mixing players with different years are going to bring out such creative products, I personally am going to try to collect the whole set , haha! TD: We've had innovation in terms of game used materials placed within cards, as well as autographs. What do you see as the next opportunity for hobby growth either from product or companies? DS: Two areas: digital collectables and memorabilia. Cards will open the door for many other alternative investments, and as people get priced out of certain items- like game used RPA's etc. that go for so much- they will turn to the actual game used items, which seem cheap compared to cards that feature a sliver of them. Someone will figure out digital collectables too. We are seeing the first wave with NBA Top Shot and this type of item will evolve into something major for the next generation who don't have the same ties we do to physical items and are used to spending significant money in games like Fortnite on digital goods. TD: Let's wrap with the Twins. Chicago took things up a notch this offseason and the rivalry should be great in 2021. How does the year go for Minnesota and who's the team MVP? DS: It is- but let's be real, the Twins are still a superior team for the moment. I actually watch every single Twins game (and probably read your Twitter posts more than anyone to stay up to date from LA!) and am so excited for a full season again- hopefully with fans at some point. Last year was strange for so many reasons and it just didn't feel right at any point. For 2021, more than anything I hope everyone can stay healthy. There is no one as exciting to watch as Byron in CF, and if he can stay healthy, I think he takes the honor in a tight race between a (hopefully healthy) Josh Donaldson, the future AL batting champ Luis Arraez, a balanced Sano, healthy Polanco, or electrifying Kepler… man the team is stacked when you say it out loud. I also really hope we get to see not only Kirilloff but Nick Gordon (who is due and finally healthy!) and maybe even Royce at some point. Most importantly, let's get a playoff win!! MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

As teams begin to kick off a more traditional Spring Training with the goal of completing it entirely this season, we’re now looking forward to a full 162-game slate. The Twins return as repeat AL Central Division champions, and they’ll look for a three-peat in 2021. Shuffling has taken place throughout the Central with Chicago having had a strong offseason, Cleveland selling off, and Kansas City quietly making some noise. Last year I put this projection piece out in February, and then needed to come up with an amended version at the end of July. Let’s hope for good health and as much baseball as we can handle this time around. Here’s how I have the AL Central going, along with PECOTA projections in parenthesis. Minnesota Twins 97-63 (90-72) It’s more than fair to suggest the Twins could’ve taken further steps forward this offseason, however they had the least to improve upon. Piece did depart, but none of them were substantial contributors and the addition of Andrelton Simmons should make a massive impact defensively. This team is going to go as far as a healthy Josh Donaldson and Byron Buxton allow them too. It’d be great if Miguel Sano were the Nelson Cruz aging insurance along the way. Expect additions at the deadline, and a stable of prospects are near ready to contribute. Chicago White Sox 90-72 (82-80) There’s no denying that the South Siders have closed even more of the gap. That said, I still think this club is in for some regression given the unpredictability of youth. They broke out in a big way during a shortened 2020 campaign that afforded them the luxury of small sample sizes. Thinking back to the 2018 Twins, a similar swoon could happen here. The talent level is too great to drift too far, but they should be considered a runner-up. Postseason expectations are a must however, and they shouldn’t have much problem achieving that. Kansas City Royals 78-84 (72-90) While the Royals are not yet there, and they are waiting on some offensive prospects to step up, they did a lot of nice things this winter. The Mike Minor signing was an underrated one, and Carlos Santana should provide a steadying veteran presence for them. I like Brady Singer and Kris Bubic in the rotation and think there’s a different trajectory here than in years past. This isn’t a Kansas City club yet ready to compete, but they’re substantially better than the bottom feeding Tigers and should have more firepower than Cleveland. Cleveland Indians 77-85 (85-77) Rather than load up for one last go with a strong rotation and a final year of Francisco Lindor, Cleveland decided to punt on 2021. The rotation is top heavy with Shane Bieber and Aaron Civale, but beyond that there’s more question marks with upside than anything. They’ve done a good job developing arms, and I’d expect that to continue, but it still needs to be proven. There isn’t much talent in the field or at the plate, and if they aren’t going to compete it makes little sense to hang onto Jose Ramirez. Assuming he’s dangled at the deadline, they could accelerate the rebuild they’re now destined for. Detroit Tigers 65-97 (66-96) A.J. Hinch has a tall task in front of him as this isn’t a club rich with talent akin to the Astros teams he’s used to having led. That said, there’s going to be a handful of prospects that filter into Comerica this year, and Detroit has one of the best systems in the game. I’d expect some of those kids to take their lumps, and even if they do produce, there’s just not enough on the roster to raise the overall water level. That said, this club isn’t far from turning the corner and adding pieces with a focus on competing once again. For more from Off The Baggy, click here. Follow @tlschwerz

Teams have started reporting to their Spring Training sites and the AL Central will be accounted for when Minnesota shows up on Friday. How does the division look at first base for 2021?The Rundown Only three teams have established first basemen heading into 2021. The Chicago White Sox employ the reigning AL MVP at first base, and the Kansas City Royals plucked Carlos Santana from Cleveland over the winter. Miguel Sano will get his first taste of a full 162 game schedule (hopefully) playing first base this year for the Twins. He moved across the diamond to accommodate Josh Donaldson a year ago and will enter 2021 with a clean bill of health. Both Cleveland and Detroit Tigers are in flux at the position, but each team will be looking for someone to establish themselves. Here’s how things compare. Detroit Tigers C.J. Cron manned this position for the Tigers in 2020 but has since signed with the Colorado Rockies. Under new manager A.J. Hinch, Detroit looks like they’ll roll with Jeimer Candelario. He’s 27 years old and has now played in just over 300 games with the Tigers dating back to 2017. Coming into the 2017 season with the Chicago Cubs, MLB Pipeline had Candelario pegged as a top-100 prospect. He was sent to the Tigers in exchange for Justin Wilson. Being blocked on the corners by Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo, Chicago deemed him expendable. Posting just a .693 OPS in his first 281 career games, Detroit is hoping that the 52 games in 2020 are no mirage. Candelario slashed .297/.369/.503 while starting 41 games at first. There’s no veteran presence to take away action from him this year and the role will be his to own. Kansas City Royals I’ve really liked what Kansas City has done this offseason, and the pact with Carlos Santana is reflective of that notion. Having spent the bulk of his career in Cleveland, he now goes to a divisional rival in Kansas City. The last time Santana played for another organization things didn’t go too well. In one season with the Phillies, he posted a disappointing .766 OPS across 161 games. Returning to Cleveland for two seasons, 2020 saw a massive dip to a .699 OPS after a career best .911 in 2019. Kansas City is banking on a resurgence for the soon-to-be 35-year-old, grabbing him on a two-year deal. Santana could spend some time at DH for the Royals but is solid with the glove defensively. He’s been a high on-base hitter over the course of his career, and you can virtually book him for 20-plus homers in any given season. Looking for some veteran presence as Kansas City returns to relevance, Santana should provide plenty of value. Minnesota Twins Entering the 2020 season Miguel Sano was facing a late start for the second straight year. After a fluke achilles injury in 2019, he battled a bout of Covid-19 during Summer Camp 2020. Now firmly entrenched at first base, it’s the year to prove he can stick in this role and isn’t automatically destined to be the successor to Nelson Cruz at DH in 2021. Just one year removed from an eye-popping .923 OPS, Sano struck out a ridiculous 40-plus percent in 2020. His .757 OPS wasn’t at all what the Twins needed from a bat expected to hit in the middle of the order, and his Bomba Squad-esque presence was nowhere to be found. There’s plenty of reason for optimism regarding Miguel in the season ahead, however. He punished the ball while making contact in 2020 and had some of the best hard-hit rates in the entirety of the league. While Major League Baseball is deadening the ball for the upcoming season, Sano isn’t the type of hitter that will feel much impact. Seemingly more committed to his craft in the past two years, Sano’s development defensively could go a long ways to shoring up the right side of an infield that will be staring across at two defensive stalwarts this season. Miguel’s bat is always going to be the tool that carries him, but his glove could round him out into being a real asset for the Twins this season. Cleveland After competing for the AL Central division title in recent years, Cleveland seems destined to punt on the 2021 season. They’ve shipped out every offensive asset not named Jose Ramirez, and their pitching staff is sure to have plenty of dazzling performances wasted. Gone to competition is Santana, and Mike Freeman is expected to get the initial crack at first base. The 33-year-old journeyman has played 99 games with Cleveland over the past two seasons. Last year he saw action in just 24 games and mustered only a .618 OPS. He was better in 2019 putting up a .752 OPS across 75 games but didn’t spend a single inning at first base. Expecting offense from this team is going to be a significant question mark and looking at first base is more than indicative of that. Freeman has just five career home runs, and four of them came during the 2019 season. The since departed Santana has always been good for 20-plus, and lacking power at a corner position isn’t a great recipe for success. Maybe top prospect Nolan Jones is promoted into this role should Cleveland keep Ramirez at the hot corner. There’s not much to lean on considering what Terry Francona will have at his disposal, so this role remains a big question mark. Chicago White Sox If the storyline for the 2021 White Sox is going to be the young kids, elder statesmen Jose Abreu made sure you don’t forget him bringing home some hardware to cap off 2020. His .617 slugging led the league and jumped the OPS to a career best .987 mark. Abreu started all 60 games for Chicago a year ago, and 54 of them came at first base. Expecting a repeat performance of the otherworldly offensive output from 2020 probably isn’t a good bet, but Abreu’s .870 career OPS is plenty reflective of a guy that has been contributing at a high level for quite some time. Chicago is going to be looking for a replication of the offensive explosion they experienced during the 2020 season, and it will be on Abreu to pace the likes of Luis Robert, Eloy Jimenez, Nick Madrigal, and the since returned Adam Eaton. Tony La Russa will need to rely on some of his veterans as an added voice with the youth in the clubhouse, and Abreu should be an asset there as well. No one should expect a ton defensively from Abreu as he’s posted subpar numbers analytically over the course of his career. That said, when the bat carries him as it does, there’s nothing to take away from him when he’s rocking the leather. Grade Em Download attachment: 1B.PNG Detroit Tigers C+ It’s clear that ZiPS loves Candelario, but I can’t be all in on his .872 OPS from last season without accounting for the .684 OPS in the 238 games from 2018-19. I don’t have a problem with them moving on from Cron, but this should be a wait and see evaluation. Kansas City Royals B I really liked Carlos Santana as a fit for the Twins prior to him signing with the Phillies a couple of years ago. He declined a lot in 2020, but maybe there’s a bit left in the tank. Kansas City is banked on that fact giving him two years guaranteed, and while he may not post a .900 OPS again, I think a number above .800 is reasonable. Minnesota Twins B+ The Twins have plenty of bats that can pace their lineup in 2021, but none may be more impactful than Sano. He’s absolutely unreal when he goes on a tear, and if having everything trend positively for him coming into a season is helpful, this is the year we should see it all on display. Cleveland F After Santana wasn’t brought back there had to be another plan in Cleveland. Unfortunately for their fans, all offseason has been about trying NOT to compete in the year ahead. Again, maybe top prospect Nolan Jones gets run here, but until that happens, they’ve got nothing at this spot. Chicago White Sox A+ Expecting an MVP candidate from the White Sox in 2020 probably could’ve been assumed for Tim Anderson or Luis Robert. Instead, the ever-steady Jose Abreu put together a career year and earned those honors. Even if he slides backwards some, regression to the mean isn’t far. The Voice of the People Here’s how YOU that follow Twins Daily on Twitter think this shakes out. Click here to view the article

Yesterday the Minnesota Twins inked Matt Shoemaker to a one-year deal worth $2 million. He’ll be the favorite to fill out the starting rotation and likely puts a bow on a strong offseason. Without flash, it’s still exactly what was needed. When looking at free agency it’s often the big signings or high-ticket players that draw all the fanfare. For a team like the Twins though, expectations have to be viewed through the lens of what is necessary. This isn’t to suggest teams shouldn’t spend money, or give them a pass for not doing so, but expecting good clubs to get exponentially better is a fool’s errand. Minnesota didn’t rock the boat, but they did more than necessary to three-peat as AL Central division winners. Coming off two seasons with an average winning percentage of .600, the goal for 2021 should be to again make the Postseason and then make noise once you get there. Sure, the futility in the playoffs has been mind-boggling, but it’s ultimately not predictive of any future results. You’re dealing with incredibly small sample sizes, and while added together they look poor, viewed separately as they should be, they don’t indicate much. The Twins won the division in 2020, just like they did in 2019. It wasn’t on them to go out and make up ground this offseason. They needed to replace a couple of bullpen arms and look to bolster their starting rotation. Short of signing Trevor Bauer, there was never a path for them to have an offseason quite like the Chicago White Sox or San Diego Padres. The former was a third-place team chasing down the hometown nine, and the latter is a club rich in prospects looking to make up ground between themselves and the World Series winners. Obviously, there is any amount of talent that can be acquired to raise the water level for a 26-man roster. The Padres and White Sox are better positioned for 2021 than they were because of the talent they brought in. Both clubs had a need to make up a gap though. The Dodgers are spending a boatload of cash to run it back, with the one addition of the aforementioned Bauer. That’s a big splash, but one that only impacts a single roster spot. With pitchers and catchers set to embark upon Fort Myers in the coming days, Minnesota has to be considered the divisional favorite. Then it’s on players like Josh Donaldson, Miguel Sano, and Mitch Garver to step up. Should the team fare as expected through the first half, betting on reinforcements being acquired at the deadline is also a good assumption. What it all boils down to is that World Series titles, and even Postseason victories, aren’t achieved in the offseason. The size of a winter splash doesn’t ultimately predict much in the way of October success. Derek Falvey and Thad Levine made their big splash last offseason in the form of Josh Donaldson. They targeted a defensive upgrade that was otherwise unnecessary in Andrelton Simmons this time around, and his impact will be felt more on the diamond than it’s gotten credit on paper. Minnesota already was good and should’ve been expected to be so again in 2021. They then raised the water level ever so slightly, and here we are ready to go with a club that again will turn heads. For more from Off The Baggy, click here. Follow @tlschwerz

Sano is a year removed from a .923 OPS...

That's viewed through the context of all strikeouts being equal in terms of production surrounding them. That isn't reality.

Josh Donaldson getting a clean bill of health and Mitch Garver returning to form are both keys for the 2021 Twins. What about Miguel Sano settling into his prime though in year two of his new contract?Prior to the 2020 Major League Baseball season the Minnesota Twins inked Sano to a three-year extension with a team option in 2023. He was being rewarded for a 2019 season that saw him post a .923 OPS and finally distance himself from the lazy take that his struggles were simply a reflection of being overweight. Committed to his craft and under the tutelage of Dominican mentor Nelson Cruz, Sano put it all together. Fast forward to where we are now, and Sano is looking to turn the page on an otherwise forgettable year. Moving over to first base, Sano owned just a .757 OPS while striking out a league high 90 times. His 43.9% strikeout rate was otherworldly, and a substantial increase from his 37% career mark. He chased roughly 4% more often and increased his whiff rate 3% over his career averages. It was just a 53-game sample size but calling it unpleasant would be putting it lightly. Enter a believer in the form of Fangraphs’ ZiPS. The projection system sees Sano slashing .233/.324/.528 and posting a 2.0 fWAR with 34 dingers. That jives with a year similar to what he experienced in 2019, and ZiPS sees the production over the course of just 119 games. Miguel has never played more than 116 during any single season in his career, but for the first time enters with zero health concerns and nothing holding him back. There’s no new position, he’s not fighting a virus, and there isn’t an achilles injury to recover from. The Twins have contact hitters in the form of Andrelton Simmons and Luis Arraez. Miguel Sano will never be that. It’s also unfair to assume that the Twins first basemen is going to strike out in nearly 50% of his at bats. Looking back on his career when the dust settles, there’s a higher probability that 2020 ends up being an outlier than there is it representing the beginning of the end. Assuming that to be true, there’s some usable inputs from a season ago. Miguel has always punished the baseball when making contact. He’s owned a 57% hard hit rate over the past two seasons, and his HR/FB ration has been above one-third in that time frame also. Last year his launch angle dipped ever so slightly, and his infield fly ball percentage jumped to double digits for the first time in his career. Only eight players in the majors saw at least 10.0 barrels per plate appearance, and Miguel was among them. His 95.2 mph exit velocity trailed only Fernando Tatis Jr. and he sat second in hard hit rate as well. In other words, contact was ferocious. As Nelson Cruz fights off Father Time, it will be on someone else to carry the load for the Twins lineup. Seeing Sano take that on, and Cruz impart his wisdom on the mentee would be an outstanding development. Miguel has already harnessed the ability when bat meets ball, and the final piece of the puzzle comes in the form of consistency to create that desired outcome. It’s foolish to believe that Miguel Sano is ever going to be more than a three true outcomes hitter but taking a walk or hitting a homer two-thirds of the time would make him among the most feared in the game. Despite being a known commodity for Twins fans over an entire decade now, the reality is that he’s just beginning to round into what should be considered his prime. A full season, no limitations, and some usable inputs from 2020 could turn 2021 into a truly special turning point in his career. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

As of today, we are now in the single digits (today was truck day!) until the Minnesota Twins report to Fort Myers for Spring Training. Signings will slow, but a former closer found a new home.Brandon Kintzler Bets on Himself After working as the closer for the Miami Marlins a season ago and faring well to the tune of a 2.22 ERA, the former Twins reliever is headed elsewhere. Per reports, Kintzler turned down a guaranteed deal with the Marlins in hopes of making more money should he make the club with the Philadelphia Phillies. Given the disarray that Philadelphia had in relief last year, he shouldn’t have any issue factoring into the equation. Royals Swing Deal While the night attempted to close, Jon Heyman had some breaking news out of the AL Central. Kanas City swung a deal with the Boston Red Sox that will send left fielder Andrew Benintendi to the Royals. He'll take over for longtime fan favorite, Alex Gordon. It appears there's plenty of pieces in play here as the Mets are also joining in the deal. Twins Open Virtual Hall of Fame Yesterday Twins Daily’s own Seth Stohs got to take a test run with TwinsXR, and today the Virtual Hall of Fame Experience opened to the general public. Seth put together a nice piece detailing what fans can expect from the experience, and with the offseason dragging on for a few more days, there should be plenty here to pass some time. Topps Launches Series 1 Last night was the teaser for the real thing as Topps produced their Virtual Rip Party. Today though, 2021 Series 1 Baseball hit shelves in retailers and hobby stores across the country. This offering is packed with more big-name rookies than normal coming off an unprecedented season, and the card market is booming to heights we’ve never seen before. Juan Soto is the cover player for the product and the flagship product kicks off a new season in collecting. Holdovers Hanging On Former Twins reliever Blake Parker is narrowing down his options per Jon Heyman. David Robertson is also going to be holding a showcase soon and should have some suitors. The Twins appear to be done with big ticket signings, so that would likely rule out a Jake Odorizzi reunion. Darren Wolfson's KSTP had Minnesota with an offer out to a starter however. Minnesota Making Moves Although the Minnesota Twins already agreed to a pact with Nelson Cruz, the move became official today. The designated hitter was added to the 40 man roster, which is now full at 40. Alex Colome has yet to be officially announced, and there will need to be a corresponding move in order to create a roster spot. Transactions Here's a roundup of of transactions from around the league on Wednesday: The Phillies signed Brandon Kintzler to an MiLB deal (worth $3M plus $1M in incentives if he makes MLB) See Also Twins Daily 2021 Top Prospects 16-20 Revisiting the Kenta Maeda Trade a Year Later Keep Plundering the Pirate Ship Click here to view the article

Today marked the unveiling of PECOTA’s standings projection from Baseball Prospectus. For the Minnesota Twins, things are looking great as the system sees 91 wins and a third straight AL Central division title. There are definitely some noteworthy revelations, however. Of course, as Twins fans, the hometown club appearing atop the division once again is the most exciting development. 91 wins seems conservative in a division that should really be a two-team race, but PECOTA doesn’t see the breakdown working quite like that. Despite all of the fanfare, the projection system has the Chicago White Sox finishing third in the division and winning just 83 games. From my vantage point, the White Sox coming in anywhere lower than second seems like quite the shock. Cleveland dealt away Francisco Lindor, should do the same with Jose Ramirez, and despite a stellar pitching staff, have little else to hang their hats on. The White Sox certainly could be primed for some regression though. They burst onto the scene a year ago, but the season was just a 60-game sample size. Looking back to the 2017 Twins, there was a Postseason appearance prior to a backwards slide that then set them up for the current run. Trying to make some sense of what PECOTA may be seeing, I looked at the added WAR for Minnesota and Chicago through the lens of ZiPS from Fangraphs. Chicago has added just 6.5 fWAR while the Twins tacked on a tally of 7.2 fWAR. That’s largely a reflection of where both clubs added. The White Sox needed help in the outfield but responded with just Adam Eaton and Adam Engel. Lance Lynn is a solid addition if he keeps down the path of recent success, but even as good as Liam Hendriks is, Alex Colome was already stellar a year ago and a single reliever has just minimal impact. Both Nelson Cruz and Andrelton Simmons are seen as substantial additions for Minnesota, while J.A. Happ should be considered a steadying presence. Even without the distaste for Chicago clouding my view, I still find it hard to believe that club will finish below Cleveland. I’ve written in this space that I’d hardly be shocked if the Royals end up third in the division, and for now I’m going to stick to that. Projection systems or otherwise, you can bet the South Side fanbase won’t take kindly to what will be viewed as disrespect. One other area of note within PECOTA is the projection for the NL Central. That division is expected to be a dumpster fire, and the Milwaukee Brewers are slated to win it with just 88 wins. It’s worth making a note of considering the Central will serve as the interleague foe for Minnesota in 2021. Despite the regionalized schedule a year ago, the Twins face the same grouping of opponents in the National League. Being able to face off against a division that’s largely not trying should only provide additional opportunity to add tallies in the win column. We’ll have to take a look back on these standings come October when the dust settles. Right now, though, another Twins division title and some shade towards the South Side is more than good with me. For more from Off The Baggy, click here. Follow @tlschwerz

With the Super Bowl now in the rearview mirror it is officially baseball season. This is the last week without the Minnesota Twins in action for the next eight months. Before the Spring Training action gets underway however, I’ll take a first stab at how Rocco Baldelli will utilize his 26 roster spots. The Twins had a very strong offseason, and the front office did a great job once again allowing the market to play into their strategy. Key pieces were brought back, and new faces were added to the mix. Looking to go for a third straight AL Central division title, here is how I see the Twins breaking camp in Fort Myers as things stand now. Starting Pitchers (5): Kenta Maeda, Jose Berrios, Michael Pineda, J.A. Happ, Randy Dobnak I think this is pretty set and don’t foresee anyone else threatening too much here. Minnesota could still bring someone in as a non-roster invitee, but Dobnak has earned the opportunity to have first crack. This is an area that Derek Falvey and Thad Levine can explore an upgrade during the season, and that could come internally in the form of top prospects Jordan Balazovic or Jhoan Duran. I still like Lewis Thorpe as a dark horse to throw meaningful innings this year, but that remains to be seen. Relief Pitchers (8): Taylor Rogers, Alex Colome, Tyler Duffey, Hansel Robles, Jorge Alcala, Caleb Thielbar, Cody Stashak, Devin Smeltzer If there’s a spot with change coming this is probably it. The first seven names on this list seem pretty straightforward to me and should make for a solid group. Including Smeltzer means that none of the waiver claims crack the Opening Day roster and that seems relatively far-fetched. Ultimately Smeltzer plays as a long-man, and that could be upgraded with the addition of another relief free agent acquisition. Given the number of names still out there, it’s probably a good bet that this group remains in flux at the back end. Catchers (3): Mitch Garver, Ryan Jeffers, Willians Astudillo This season Minnesota may have the best catching tandem in baseball. A resurgence for Mitch Garver should be expected, and Jeffers emerged in a big way during the 2020 season. Both should expect to get a ton of playing time, and that lends the roster towards inclusion of Willians Astudillo. Tortuga is still more gimmick than anything to me, and he shouldn’t see time behind the plate, but Baldelli is afforded flexibility by having him in the big leagues. Infielders (5): Miguel Sano, Jorge Polanco, Andrelton Simmons, Josh Donaldson, Luis Arraez There shouldn’t be much surprise here as all of these guys are starters and going to get regular time. Don’t worry that Luis Arraez is now slated to come off the bench, he’ll still see north of 400 at bats this season. Travis Blankenhorn could be considered here, but I’d think Minnesota prefers Astudillo purely from a roster construction standpoint. Nick Gordon should be close to a now or never crossroads too, but I don’t see it happening on Opening Day. Outfielders (4): Byron Buxton, Max Kepler, Brent Rooker, Jake Cave Much to the chagrin of Twins fans everywhere, I don’t think we see Alex Kirilloff out of the gate. Minnesota will likely play the service time game, while Cave and Rooker are more than capable in left field. I don’t think the uber-prospect stays down for long, but out of the gate this makes a good deal of sense. Designated Hitter (1): Nelson Cruz He's back, that settles it. For more from Off The Baggy, click here. Follow @tlschwerz

We’re now less than a week away from the release of 2021 Topps Series 1 baseball. Earlier this week I attempted a video Q&A session; it didn’t go well. Given that medium isn’t my forte, I’m hardly surprised. Looking to provide value and accomplish a similar goal, the focus turned to a mailbag instead. Sourcing questions from readers and followers on Twitter, there should be a very good sample of talking points here. Without delay, let’s dive in. If you aren’t interested in ponying up for a player’s 1st Bowman card (autograph or otherwise) the next best thing value wise would be considered their first Topps Chrome autograph. Kirilloff isn’t going to be in Series 1 Flagship, instead debuting in Series 2. He should have Chrome autos in 2021, so waiting for those to drop would be the next best thing. Obviously the most economical route will be his Series 2 base card (or any number of the parallels). Hobby shops, along with a handful of online breakers, were how I got back into cards. Luckily, we have a handful of options in the Twin Cities area. My go to is Pal’s in Andover, but Real Breaks in Champlin has emerged as a new favorite as well. There’s a store in Golden Valley, and an option down near Woodbury. 2Bros is in Northtown Mall in Blaine, and Three Stars has locations in Bloomington and Little Canada. Hobby shops have the allure of immediate product, and many also sell singles for you to peruse through. There’s also the excitement or joy of just being in that type of environment with like-minded collectors as well. I have started to downsize my collection for a more focused approach. I only collect Twins, Mike Trout, and Shohei Ohtani. Rather than stockpiling a bunch of base cards I rarely look through, I wanted to make sure I could appreciate what I have. That process worked backwards too in that I had some very nice cards I didn’t display, and them sitting in a box wasn’t desirable to me. I have a new space I am going to be outfitting soon, so we’ll see how things display when I’m done. Checking for retail has literally become a crapshoot. Pretty much any time I walk into Target or Walmart I’ll look and anticipate finding nothing. People have connections with distributors or simply wait for product to be put on the shelves. Wax isn’t that important to me since my PC is so narrowly focused. When I open, most of what I pull gets sold anyways. If I’m jonesing to rip something, I typically hit up a hobby shop. That’s tough as I’ve not heard of water getting into a slab before. However, it’s probably a good reminder about buying the card rather than the grade. In this situation it’s free so you win either way, but not all examples of cards at the same grade have the same appeal. I’ve kicked around buying a 1986 Fleer Jordan in a PSA 1 for a while but wanting the right one to move me before I actually make the purchase. For more from Off The Baggy, click here. Follow @tlschwerz

Earlier this offseason I noted that the Twins most important acquisition for 2021 was a healthy Josh Donaldson. That’s still true, but he’s not Minnesota’s best bet to rebound.Suggesting there’s someone better for a comeback than Donaldson isn’t a knock on him, in fact it’s quite the opposite. Despite appearing in just 28 games due to his lingering calf issues, Donaldson posted an .842 OPS. That’s nothing to scoff at and isn’t far off from his .877 career mark. The Twins want to see something closer to .900, but that should be a pretty safe bet if he’s healthy. If you’re looking for a rebound, it comes in the form of a 30-year-old with newly announced dad-strength. Enter Mitch Garver. Maybe cast aside a bit with the emergence of Ryan Jeffers a year ago, Garver getting right would give the Twins arguably the best backstop tandem in the game. The only question for Garver is what exactly constitutes “right?” When Minnesota became the Bomba Squad in 2019 Garver contributed to the tune of a .995 OPS and 31 bombs. Last year he was available for just 23 games and posted a .511 OPS with only two longballs. The likely and most logical answer is that the real version of Mitch lies somewhere in between. In the minors it was his bat that carried him, and Garv posted a .928 OPS back in 2017 for his final 88 Triple-A games. He’s got a career .791 OPS on the farm and that’s watered down some by stops in the Appy League and Double-A Chattanooga. It’s not that Mitch simply forgot how to hit a year ago as much as it’s the likelihood he was dealing with complications from the eventual intercostal strain before it landed him on the Injured List. An intercostal strain does not have to happen in an instant and can be a gradual progression of pain in the ribs. It is problematic when twisting and taking deep breaths, as well as being a significant detriment to uncoiling while attacking a baseball. A 60-game season doesn’t provide much of a runway to properly heal or get back into action, and there was also no rehab assignment options available short of intrasquad action at the alternate site. If you’ve studied the Twins at all, there’s arguably no more intelligently invested hitter than Garver. Josh Donaldson has been called a hitting savant, and it was Garver that immediately piped up with excitement to pick his brain a year ago. The Twins backstop is intellectually invested in perfecting his craft and finding ways to generate optimal outcomes will always be a part of his process. When right in 2019 Garver saw success utilizing optimal launch with max velocity. His hard-hit rate sat at 47% and 29% of the balls he put in the air left the yard. Last season Mitch saw a 6% dip in his hard-hit rate, while dropping fly balls over the fence at just a 15% rate. He increased his pull percentage substantially as he sold out to get around on pitches, and the rollover caused a spike in medium contact. It’s not so much that the outcome of contact waned, hard hit rates we’re still acceptable, but quality at point of impact dropped off a cliff. In 2019 Garver produced an elite 9.2 barrels per plate appearance rate, and a season later than number was all the way down to 3.7%. Again, needing to cheat through the zone to make up for a nagging side likely led to diminished timing windows for success. Suppose Garver is healthy coming into 2021, as should be the expectation, I’m not going to tell you that a repeat of the otherworldly .928 OPS is in store. However, he should be able to go from an out of whack whiff rate (13%) back to career norms (8%), and in turn find greater windows of optimal connection points. Mitch has made substantial strides defensively, but it’s been his bat that has allowed for success at the big-league level. Unleashing the max effort once again, at opportune times, should see a catcher that may find himself in an All-Star Game for the first time. Yes, I’d love a healthy Josh Donaldson for the Twins in 2021. The outcome of that player is all but determined. A healthy Mitch Garver is overlooked right now though, and his production could be equally as imperative. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

And there was much rejoicing…Remember when the Chicago White Sox won the AL Central back in December 2020? Unfortunately for them, the Minnesota Twins have a few tricks still up their sleeve. Now days before Spring Training is set to commence, the reigning champs are positioned for a repeat. After signing Nelson Cruz and Alex Colome to deals for the upcoming season, Derek Falvey and Thad Levine have all but put a bow on their winter spending. I’d still think a pact with Tyler Clippard or a reliever in the $2 million range could make sense, as does a trade or non-roster invite for some starting pitching. No matter what happens from here on out though, the Fightin’ Baldelli’s are ready to go. Continuing to view this organization through the lens of Terry Ryan and Bill Smith regimes has been a fool’s errand for some time now. It’s been the blueprint of Falvey and Levine to be calculated, risk averse, and strike where opportunity is deemed to match projectability. Andrelton Simmons is not someone’s leftovers, and Josh Donaldson allowed Minnesota a new high-water mark in free agent history. Colome comes in above the bottom of the relief market, and both Happ and Cruz look like team-friendly deals in the landscape of their peers. The Twins didn’t go out and sign George Springer or Trevor Bauer this offseason, but they didn’t need to. This is already a club that had all of the pieces for a deep run, and reality suggests they just need to get out of their own way. Anything can happen in a short series, which is why winning a World Series in incredibly tough. That said, you should continue to expect Postseason appearances often into the foreseeable future. Today it was announced that 28% of Hammond Stadium will host fans for Spring Training, the players are just days from arriving, and we’re soon going to hear “play ball!” Minnesota is ready to make noise in the American League, and there isn’t a team in the National League that should be licking their chops come October either. For more from Off The Baggy, click here. Follow @tlschwerz

Recently the Minnesota Twins signed veteran starting pitcher J.A. Happ to bolster their rotation. He’d slot in as the 4th starter with where things stand currently, and Randy Dobnak would be the clubhouse favorite to round out the group. It remains to be seen whether or not another move is coming, but there’s a dark horse to eat someone’s lunch. At the risk of sounding too punny, maybe he’s a dark kangaroo. Lewis Thorpe recently turned 25-years-old and is a former top-100 prospect. He couldn’t be further from that stature right now, but talent shouldn’t be the question. After battling back from Tommy John surgery, and then an extended bout of pneumonia, he put together impressive seasons on the farm. The past two years have been anything but, however he’s worth believing in under one key condition. I liked Thorpe as a potential contributor to the big-league club when 2020 Spring Training kicked off. He was coming off a 4.76 ERA in just shy of 100 Triple-A innings, but it was largely reflective of the home run ball and his 11.1 K/9 paired with a 2.3 BB/9 was still plenty enticing. Then Florida happened. No, for Thorpe, it wasn’t the Covid-19 related shutdown. Without divulging too many specifics or risking secondary information, what is publicly known is that he took an extended leave of absence from the team. His parents flew in from Australia and he needed to undergo a mental reset. Ultimately, he didn’t appear in a Major League game until July 26 and contributed just 16.1 innings for the Twins. His 6.06 ERA was ugly and giving up a homer in roughly 25-percent of his innings pitched was not going to play. Again though, the stuff has always been there. Observing the offseason without having directly communicated with Thorpe, things appear to be trending in a different direction. The Twitter account has been dormant since his birthday in 2020, and his workouts have been shared on different forms of social media. What was at least an erratic presence a year ago has once again subdued as was the case previously. Whether by his own doing, or a helping hand from the organization, if Thorpe has recalibrated himself, he can certainly be a difference maker on the bump. I was uncertain as to his place within the organization during periods of roster trimming, and there were times that his inclusion in a trade may have even made sense. The pitcher that forced his way into the big leagues in 2019 is a force to be reckoned with however, and Rocco Baldelli can make use of that. Physically we saw Thorpe’s velocity diminish in 2020. He posted just an average of 90 mph on his fastball. It’s never that he’s been a hard thrower but losing nearly 2 mph at such a young age wasn’t a great development. It was clear that the lack of carry made a difference last season, and Wes Johnson unlocking the tank would be a great step forward for the Southpaw. The Twins ratcheted up his slider usage last season, and that trend could continue for 2021. Looking to regain the whiff and chase rates from 2019 form, tinkering will certainly be valuable as more data is collected. There’s not reason to believe an ace is in the making here, but right now it’s not Dobnak or bust when it comes to the back end of the Twins rotation. Jhoan Duran and Jordan Balazovic may force themselves in eventually, but don’t count out the best version of Thorpe to make noise before the dust settles. For more from Off The Baggy, click here. Follow @tlschwerz

While the fees suck, eBay is always going to be the best marketplace with so many buyers.

The 2021 Major League Baseball season is nearly upon us, and while the American League Central division looks like a two-horse race, there’s plenty of storylines to follow. What are those most engaged seeing?We’re more than well versed on the Minnesota Twins but what does the view of this club, and those it competes with, look like through the lens of invested influencers from around the division? One of my favorite sleepers this season is the Kansas City Royals. I think they’re clearly better than Detroit and wouldn’t be shocked if they outpace Cleveland. Tales From the Central Series: ClevelandDetroitChicagoThis isn’t the World Series club of a few years ago, but MLB The Show Partner Movie Gaming TV is among the most vocal fans the organization has. Tuned into what the Royals are doing each year, his takes go well beyond the virtual mound. Here’s what he had to say about where things stand currently: Twins Daily: What does your story look like with regards to baseball and the Kansas City Royals? How did that fandom start and what are some of your first memories? Movie Gaming TV: Growing up I played backyard baseball, played travel ball, and loved playing all of the baseball video games. Royals games were always a treat even though they never really had that great of a team. I missed out on the hay days of the 1970’s and 1980’s that my folks’ generation had enjoyed. Seemed like it was such a relic into the past, that even to this day feels like opening up a time warp. Would have loved to see George Brett play, as his career was just ending as I was starting elementary school. Every year I knew ‘we’ really wouldn’t have that much of a shot during the 1990’s and 2000’s. Memorable players were Carlos Beltran, Johnny Damon, and Jermaine Dye. Mike Sweeney and Zach Greinke later on carried that mantle. I found myself almost being more of a fan of the league as a whole rather than specifically living and dying with whether or not the Royals were going to win that day. Such is the fate of the fan when you have been so conditioned to lose, and they weren’t exactly going to be able to compete financially with the big market squads by default. The stars we had got shipped out, and never were retained long term. Even in hindsight now just to answer this question, Carlos Beltran never should have played for any other franchise. Simply inexcusable that he was traded in a league with no salary cap. With all that said, I feel like Kauffman Stadium is and was a magical place, where you can take a slice of Americana for only a few bucks. The warm summer heat and humidity, the smell of bar-be-que in the parking lot, the fountains in center field, and the fireworks after the game. One of my favorite memories was taking a ‘sick day’ my senior year of high school, grilling out with some friends, and going to Opening Day. TD: Obviously, the pinnacle of the current Royals fan is back-to-back World Series trips with a championship in 2015. What was that run like and how great was it watching guys that had grown with the organization get their due? MG: I think it really started in the 2014 season with the World Series appearance vs. the Giants. The team barely skated into the playoffs making the Wild Card. Keep in mind, this Wild Card game was the first playoff appearance in 28 years, ending one of the longest droughts in professional sports history. To even get to a .500 record was considered near impossible. Down deep in that Wild Card game to the A’s, the Royals improbably came back to win late. They were able to sweep a really good Angels team led by Mike Trout and Albert Pujols, and then also sweep a good Baltimore Orioles squad in the ALCS. Madison Bumgarner pitched his tail off to push the Giants past the Royals in 7 games, but the run was incredible. 2015 had the same vibe, except now there was ‘unfinished business’ as the confidence had been built the year before. A great team that benefitted from some of the major market clubs not being at the top of their game, so the timing was perfect. A contact and defense-built team that played to the cavernous aesthetic of their ballpark, a lights out bullpen, and a very close-knit squad that played for one another. A new generation of stars for the current generation of fans to look up to in Eric Hosmer, Salvador Perez, Mike Moustakas, and Lorenzo Cain. Alex Gordon’s home run in Game 1 of the 2015 World Series is the biggest moment in the history of the franchise in my opinion. Both playoff runs were absolutely magical in the kind of way that makes sports romantic. Text chains with family and friends, civic pride, Royal blue jerseys, and sweatshirts on everyone at the gas station and at the supermarket. TD: Following the World Series, the Royals have slipped back to a middle of the division team. I've often wondered if a consistent playoff run would be more fun than a one-and-done type stretch. Has your engagement level changed in recent seasons? MG: The absolute improbability from a financial standpoint of the Royals to ever make the playoffs even, let alone win the World Series is why I am so glad they got it done when they did. I will probably never see it again in my lifetime. I distinctly remember in 2015 just knowing they had to win this thing now, we weren’t going to be back. Sure, I would love to make the playoffs more consistently, but I realize that consistency in baseball outside of really two teams, the Rays, and the A’s (which to be honest, haven’t ever won the World Series, with the A’s never even recently making the World Series let alone winning it) is near impossible without being able to spend like the big market clubs. When you see an absolute star and face of the franchise in Francisco Lindor, get traded to the Mets simply because the team cannot pay a maximum salary that he is worth to retain his services, that’s where I find that baseball is fundamentally flawed. People will point to the parity of the league (even though the Dodgers keep making the World Series over and over as of late or coming close) at the end as some kind of strength. Dynasties and longevity should be built when organizations all have the same financial restraints. Let organizations win games with savvy moves and signings instead of their wallets. At the end of the day there would be no excuses. How can I be mad at the Royals when I know the deck is stacked against them? When they can’t re-sign players to 300- and 500-million-dollar deals? Imagine if the Rays brain trust were able to operate on the same level as the big markets. Then we would see true competition. It would give more fans in small markets optimism year in and year out. I still watch and listen to the games, but we are back in that reality of even a .500 season being something that would be an absolute miracle and isn’t a realistic expectation. By not trading away Hosmer, Cain and Moustakas the Royals chose loyalty over logic. I don’t blame them though, and no one around here in KC really does. If they were a big market club, they would have signed them all, but that’s just not a reality and that’s what sucks. TD: I've suggested a few times this offseason that Kansas City could be the surprise of the Central and overtake Cleveland for third. What signings have you liked thus far, and who do you think is bound to break out in 2021? MG: The young pitching staff has a shot to do some damage for the club. Brad Keller has been one of the more under the radar consistent starters in baseball. Brady Singer seems to be progressing along nicely and should be a mainstay in the rotation. Kris Bubic competed last year. Danny Duffy and Mike Minor provide veteran arms that can hopefully be productive and show the young guns the ropes of the big leagues and provide wisdom in the clubhouse. The offense has some pieces. Whit Merrifield really deserves better. The guy has been a pro’s pro on a losing team the past few seasons. I feel like they have tried to trade him but have balked because teams haven’t quite made an offer that is juicy enough. But he deserves to play in the playoffs. Salvador Perez played as good of baseball as I have ever seen him play during the shortened season. He must stay on that track for the Royals to have any kind of a shot, and his hitting at the catcher position and guidance of the young pitching will be crucial. Adalberto Mondesi needs to find some consistency. Injuries have hampered his development and he just hasn’t ascended into the talent that the club has promised the fan base so far. He’s not on the Tatis Jr./Lindor/Seager type level and his trade value has plummeted. I hope he can put it together. Carlos Santana is a welcome addition to play first base, which has been an absolute black hole from a roster perspective since Eric Hosmer departed for San Diego. His veteran presence, and plate discipline are going to be welcome additions to the club. If any of his plate discipline wears off on Perez or Mondesi, he will have done his job this season. Jorge Soler needs to continue to show off the power and continue to thrive in the DH position. Still a big believer in Hunter Dozier providing offense at the plate, just needs to keep himself healthy. Likewise, with Franchy Cordero, who will most likely start in left field. Nicky Lopez plays good defense at 2B but is an absolute minus offensively thus far at the big-league level. He also moves Whit Merrifield out to RF which diminishes Whit’s overall value in my opinion. Center Field is a big question mark. They brought in Michael A. Taylor who will probably get the first crack at starting because they paid him. This position must be addressed long term for the club in the future. The one call up offensively that they have is A+ prospect shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. who I believe is ready to play in the big leagues right now. It remains to be seen when that move is going to be made, but I would be shocked if he’s not getting playing time by at least July. If everything falls into place, it’s ‘possible’ that they could finish in 3rd place, but I don’t necessarily see it. I’d go 1. White Sox 2. Twins 3. Cleveland 4. Royals 5. Detroit if I had to set the betting lines. TD:Needing to continue development and take another step forward, is there a prospect or two that you think can be a serious difference maker for Kansas City How far off do you see the Royals from coming for the top again? MG: Bobby Witt Jr. will be a fun player to watch. Not sure if he will play at shortstop or third base when he comes up, but he’s the best prospect they have had in a long, long time. Taken 2nd overall in the 2019 draft he is poised to become the face of the franchise moving forward, and with the new Kansas City ownership group led by John Sherman, I hope he stays with the team throughout his career. I get the vibe that he will be an All-Star caliber player that hopefully the club can build around. He has the skill set to already be up in the MLB right now it’s simply a question of when to pull the trigger on that decision for the organization. Service time unfortunately plays a factor, but I would like to see him start to get experience at the big-league level. Asa Lacy is the other prospect of note that probably is still a year away from being up at the MLB level, but without question could potentially be the ace on the staff before too long. Selected 4th in last year's draft he has all the makings of being a major contributor moving forward. The two pitchers that could make an impact in the 2021 season are Daniel Lynch and Jackson Kowar, who could compete with Kris Bubic for the 5th spot in the rotation. Long term, a rotation of Keller, Singer, Lacy, and a combination of Bubic, Lynch and Kowar could prove to be effective. I hope with the new local ownership group they will be looking to potentially dip more into the free agent market like we saw with this year's signing of Carlos Santana. Getting to the top may require more tanking and draft picks. The major roadblock I see for the Royals and the Tigers respectively in their rebuilds is how good the Chicago White Sox are poised to be in the immediate future. TD: As a fan of a fellow Central team, what's your take on the Twins in 2021 and beyond? MG: The Twins are a first-class organization. They always compete year in and year out for the most part going back to the Mauer and Morneau days. Big fan of Jose Berrios. Kenta Maeda took his game to another level in the 2020 season. Taylor Rogers is a solid piece in the bullpen. Mitch Garver provides elite power from the catcher position which is huge. Josh Donaldson is always solid at 3rd base. I love watching Byron Buxton play CF, one of my favorite players in the league. Max Kepler remains extremely underrated, dude can mash. Miguel Sano brings massive power to the first base position as he continues to make that transition from 3B. Jorge Polanco and Luis Arraez provide stability and hitting up the middle. I like Rocco Baldelli a ton. Excellent manager and will provide a stable hand for the organization for years to come. Interested to see Royce Lewis get his shot here soon with the big-league club, he will be an outstanding player. Also looking to see what Alex Kirilloff will do at the next level as well. I predict a 2nd place finish for the Twins this year in the central and another respectable season. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

Let’s get this out of the way from the jump, I’m by no means an expert. I, like many of you, remember picking up packs of cards at the local department store as a kid. The hobby has evolved a ton since then, and having gotten back in full force during 2017, I have often shared my passion on Twitter. Now, it’s time to provide an outlet for knowledge. A couple of days ago I put out a tweet asking if it would be helpful to answer questions about all thing’s baseball cards. The response was overwhelmingly positive and given the amount of direct messages or inquiries I receive, I thought this may be a fun avenue to share my passion for the hobby and connect with fellow Twins baseball fans in the process. Maybe you want to know what products to start with, how to value your cards, if it’s all a huge money pit, or if grading pieces of cardboard is really a worthwhile venture. No matter what your interest level, or experience in the market, there should be good information and questions both shared and asked. I’m hardly a savant, and I have plenty of things I’m sill learning. That said, I do have a firm grasp on the way in which I’ve approached my collection and have a good handle on my focus going forward. So, here’s the particulars: When: Wednesday February 3, 2021 Where: Twitter Live @tlschwerz Time: 8:30 pm central time Whether you are planning to participate with questions through Twitter Live, or simply tune in for new information, there should be something for everyone. The video will also be recorded on Twitter, and then uploaded to this space should you miss the discussion while it’s taking place. Hope to see you there! For more from Off The Baggy, click here. Follow @tlschwerz

The 2021 Major League Baseball season is nearly upon us, and while the American League Central division looks like a two-horse race, there’s plenty of storylines to follow. What are those most engaged seeing?We’re more than well versed on the Minnesota Twins but what does the view of this club, and those it competes with, look like through the lens of invested influencers from around the division? Only maybe the San Diego Padres have made more splashes this offseason than the Chicago White Sox. Now viewed as the AL Central division favorite, there’s a rivalry renewed for Minnesota. Tales From the Central Series: ClevelandDetroitKnown as White Sox Dave, Dave Williams is as big as it gets within the Southsider fan base. You can find him on Twitter, Sirius XM, and a handful of other outlets. Now that Chicago is firmly back on the World Series radar, getting his take was one I was most looking forward to in this series. Here’s what he had to say about where things stand currently: Twins Daily: I'm not incredibly familiar with Barstool, or what your background has been with the White Sox. Can you explain your fandom, following of the organization, and what some of your history has been? White Sox Dave: I have a weird baseball history. My mom was born in Toms River NJ and her high school gym teacher was Todd Frazier’s dad. Her cousins moved to Chicago and went to HS with my dad who grew up a Sox fan on the south side of Chicago. That’s how they met. She’s a Giants/Mets fan but not an insane person about sports like my dad and I are, so I always grew up rooting for the White Sox, then the Bears and Northwestern. I wear my emotions on my sleeve as a sports fan; most of my emotions, finances, and mental well-being evolves around them. They control my life. I guess that’s where the “fanatic” part of fan comes in. TD: The White Sox have been the second team in Chicago for some time, but branding by the Cubs aside, the tides have turned. What has it been like to see the emergence of this roster and building of a World Series contender? WSD: It’s sort of cyclical - when I was in HS, I lived about 25 miles straight west of the city, so in 2005 (I was a 2007 grad) I’d say it was closer to a 50/50 split where I lived. If you’d drive 20 mins north it would be straight Cubs fans, then 20 mins south would be a larger divide of Sox fans. With the Cubs recent success, the tides turned big time. They ran the town for a minute or two. That will change again soon though, the White Sox are going to go on a TEAR in the coming years. I see more White Sox gear now walking down the street than the last 10 years combined. That, and it’s an easy team to root for. A TON of good dudes on it that make me proud to be a Sox fan. TD: Now firmly entrenched in a battle with the Twins for AL Central supremacy again, what is it like having that rivalry back in full swing and what do you look forward to seeing those two clubs compete? WSD: I have always hated the Cubs more than any team on earth, even as much as the Packers, but I have always wanted a Central rival to hate, and that is also cyclical for me. In the 2005-2010ish seasons, I LOATHED the Twins with Mauer and Morneau. Then I hated the Tigers with Maggs and Miggy and Kenny Rogers, etc. Now I will always hate the Indians for losing to the Cubs in the 2016 World Series. But as far as rivals go, there’s nothing like the Cubs and Cardinals. Nothing close IMO. I would love for that to be the Twins. TD: Chicago has seen promotions for plenty of top prospects in the past year. Who is not on the South Side yet that you are most excited about watching and how soon do you think they can contribute? WSD: Watch for Andrew Vaughn. He might very well be the best hitter out of all the young studs on the Sox. His approach is surgical; his power/hit combo could be one of the best in baseball. That’s FAR from a guarantee, but that’s his ceiling. I’m talking a perennial .315/.400/.500/.900 with 35+/100+ type guy. Think Eloy, but with more walks. In a non-corona world, he would have ended the 2020 season in AAA Charlotte, and I would guess they’d have extended him a la Eloy/Robert prior to the 2021 season. I also love Tyler Johnson out of the pen. Ton of life on his fastball. TD: Having had a solid offseason in terms of additions, how do you think this roster compares to the 2020 squad and who do you think can be relied upon to carry the load over the course of a full 162-game season? WSD: The team is better now. Giolito is a stud - we all know that - but he’s going to be even better this year. The last two years we saw a two-pitch pitcher, and he was an all-star even without needing a 3rd pitch. Now I think we’ll see a more complete repertoire out of him. I think he could be a Cy Young winner as soon as this year. That, and Hendriks is one of the very best relievers in the game. Their pen will be filthy and Moncada will rebound. The depth in the rotation scares me a touch, but assuming no injuries, the pitching should be very good. The lineup will rake. I think 95 wins *should* happen and 100 wins is doable, especially with the division being so weak. TD: With only the Twins to look at as competition in the AL Central for 2021, what's your take on Minnesota this year and the next few seasons ahead? WSD: The Twinkies are the piranhas for a reason. They’ll be awesome and I look forward to the gutter war. Even if they lose Cruz, they’ll add Kiriloff and Lewis in some form. That said, they did the Sox a solid today by signing JA Happ. The Sox tee off on LHP. I think the White Sox should win the division but wouldn’t be surprised at all if the Twins remained king. They’ll be awesome again and anyone who says otherwise is an idiot. Butttttt…. the pitching, at least to me, is ehh…… MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

It was going to be Marcus Semien until it wasn’t, and truthfully that’s a blessing in disguise. The Twins signed Andrelton Simmons to a one-year deal, and the infield defense could be otherworldly because of it.During the weird year that was 2020, Simmons played just 30 games. Going back to 2019 he played in 103 of the Angels games, and still posted 16 OAA (outs above average), good enough for second in baseball among shortstops. To date, Simmons has been the equivalent of an Ozzie Smith-caliber defender, and a step up with the bat. Last offseason when the Twins signed Josh Donaldson, I sent out a tweet highlighting the overall impact of his defense in their infield. Fast forward to 2021 and moving Jorge Polanco to second base makes that grouping even better. With the Angels Simmons saw his greatest impact coming in on the baseball and going up the middle. That’s notable because going left he’ll now have a defensive stalwart in Donaldson, and his two greatest strengths were the weaknesses of Minnesota former shortstop. Also, going to the second base side of his position, Simmons can provide defensive help to Polanco. Jorge Polanco hasn’t played second base in the big-leagues since 2016, and he has just 43 total innings there in his Major League career. On the farm however, he logged over 1,600, and it should be a breath of fresh air having played the much more demanding shortstop role for his first 490-plus games at the highest level. It’s not that Simmons brings a defensive prowess to the Twins that is most notable, it’s actually how much he raises the water level of the entire infield, and does so while meshing perfectly with what’s already in place. The Twins didn’t need a shortstop that could go to their right, and they shouldn’t see the lackluster defensive performance that Luis Arraez provided at second base anymore. Yes, Miguel Sano is still less than ideal at first, but that could soon become Alex Kirilloff’s role when the DH isn’t locked into a single player. The knock on Simmons has always been his bat, but he’s received MVP votes three times and posted OPS tallies of .692, .752, and .754 in those seasons. He’s not a power hitter and the on-base skills are nothing to write home about, but a .281 average and .329 OBP dating back to 2017 are nothing to scoff at. A lineup with this much power needs less swing and miss and bringing in a guy with just 164 strikeouts over his last 1,659 at bats accomplishes just that. There’s no denying what Simmons brings to the table with instincts and ability at the shortstop position, but what he’ll do for the Twins specifically is beyond a perfect fit. Maybe Thad Levine and Derek Falvey pivoted into this position, but ultimately, they made the right choice. Right now, the agreement is just for one year, and maybe Simmons paves the way for Royce Lewis in the near future. If there’s another commitment after this one though, it’ll be hard to call it anything but exciting. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article