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About this blog

Catch up on all things Minnesota Twins from an insider's perspective without the added slant.

Entries in this blog

How Molitor Fills Out The Rotation

As Christmas is right around the corner, we're still months away from meaningful baseball being played at Target Field. In fact, for the next few months, the field is going to be covered with snow. At this point, projecting a 25 man roster is a losing proposition. For the Twins though, selecting the starting rotation is probably much more feasible.   Sure, there's little doubt that the Twins have some of the most starting pitching depth that they've had in years. With capable arms about eight or
Ted Schwerzler

Ted Schwerzler

10

The Twins Next Version Of Regression

Going into the 2015 season, the Minnesota Twins had a handful of players that were going into prove it seasons. With youth starting to show up at the major league level, it would be a newly appointed first-year manager Paul Molitor to get the most out of his team. Pushing for a playoff spot and winning more than half of the teams games, Molitor did that, but regression still showed up.   Probably most notable in terms of regression was Danny Santana. As a 23 year-old, Santana burst onto the scen
Ted Schwerzler

Ted Schwerzler

0

The Next Massive Twins Deal

Well, the Winter Meetings have come and gone with Terry Ryan and the Twins going home empty handed. It wasn't unexpected, albeit a bit frustrating. Regardless, a lot of money was spent the past few days and it got me to thinking. I'm on record saying that Bryce Harper is going to get a $500 million contract. Then it got me to wondering, who's in line for the next Twins payday, and how big will it be?   Let's address the elephant in the room first. Yes, the Twins paid Joe Mauer $184 million for e
Ted Schwerzler

Ted Schwerzler

6

Twins Staring Through An Open Window

Welcome to the offseason, and the frustrations of watching Terry Ryan sit idly by as his competition surrounds him. In 2015, the Minnesota Twins compiled an 83-79 record finishing second in the AL Central. They were one of baseball's biggest surprises, but not to all. No, to the Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros, each of the three teams were in similar positions to capitalize upon rebuilding success. The issue is, one still doesn't seem to know it.   Last year, both the Astros and Cubs made it to
Ted Schwerzler

Ted Schwerzler

2

On Foul Balls, Netting, And Distractions

For months, players, fans, and Major League Baseball have been discussing the options in regards to fan safety at the ballpark. Most notably, the expansion of netting from behind home plate has become a topic of interest. Now Major League Baseball has issued their new fan safety recommendations.   In the release, the following recommendations are issued: Clubs are encouraged to implement or maintain netting that shields from line-drive foul balls all field-level seats that are located between th
Ted Schwerzler

Ted Schwerzler

5

What If Sano In The Outfield Works?

For the next couple of months, Target Field will have plenty of snow in the outfield. When the whether turns warmer and the Twins return home from spring training in sunny Fort Myers, there may be a different Sano in the outfield. Puns aside, what happens when Miguel Sano in right field for the Twins works out wonderfully?   Let's clear a couple of things up here. First and foremost, it appears Trevor Plouffe is not going to be traded. Terry Ryan has been adamant that the Twins don't have nay in
Ted Schwerzler

Ted Schwerzler

5

Who Is This James Shields?

For the better part of the last six months, the biggest pitching name the Minnesota Twins have been linked to is a starter from the San Diego Padres. After inking Phil Hughes, Ricky Nolasco, and Ervin Santana to big contracts, it's James Shields that the club has been tied to recently. Looking to shed the contract of Nolasco in a swap for Shields, one has to question whether Shields is anything more than another bad contract and big name.   Looking at a potential trade during the 2015 deadline p
Ted Schwerzler

Ted Schwerzler

2

Twins Talking At Winter Meetings

Monday marks a glorious day on the offseason calendar in regards to Major League Baseball. This season in Nashville, the Winter Meetings have officially commenced. With everybody who is anybody in the game of baseball in attendance, the Hot Stove is at its most scalding, and the acquisition market (both free agent and trade) is bubbling over. The question is, what do the Twins do this week?   After offering contracts to each of the six arbitration eligible players, the Twins 40 man roster curren
Ted Schwerzler

Ted Schwerzler

2

Making The Twins Bullpen Great

A year ago, the state of the Minnesota Twins bullpen was far from a good place. Going into the season, the front office made sure to let media members know they were off base, and that the relief pitching was in a good place. As the season wore on, that ended up being quite off base, and remains a point of contention heading into 2016.   Looking at the Twins current 40 man roster, what does the Twins best bullpen look like? There's a couple of caveats here that need to be dealt with before divin
Ted Schwerzler

Ted Schwerzler

9

Twins Tender Fien, And It's Not Fine

The deadline to tender contracts to arbitration eligible players has come and gone again. This time around, the Twins had six players to decide upon. Four of them were locks for new contracts: Tommy Milone, Kevin Jepsen, Eduardo Escobar, and Trevor Plouffe. Two however, were not. Casey Fien and Eduardo Nunez were both tendered contracts despite having their status somewhat up in the air.   Regarding Nunez, there's not much reason to show displeasure with the decision one way or another. Had he n
Ted Schwerzler

Ted Schwerzler

18

A National Look At The Twins

More often than not, the Minnesota Twins don't take the stage front and center when the audience becomes national. As a small market club, the organization is more noticed for being the underdog story it was during the 2015 season. However, with the Twins signing of Byung Ho Park, this offseason has provided a handful of fireworks already.   Looking to get more of a national perspective on the state of the Twins, and where the belief the the organization is going, I had the privilege of speaking
Ted Schwerzler

Ted Schwerzler

0

Twins Knock Bargain Out Of Park

It's official, the Minnesota Twins have come to terms with the star of the Korean Baseball Organization, Byung Ho Park. After recently arriving in Minnesota, and dropping the hyphenation in his name, Park signed a four-year, $12 million deal with the Twins.   After winning the posting bid just a few weeks ago, the Twins had until December 8th to come to an agreement with Park. While he was playing with team Korea in the Premier 12, reaching a deal seemed unlikely. Following the Thanksgiving week
Ted Schwerzler

Ted Schwerzler

2

The Newest Twins Territorian: Audra Martin

n following the Minnesota Twins throughout the Major League Baseball season, there's always one person that remains synonymous with victory. Following a walk off win, or a dominant starting performance, there's always that one person there to break down just how impressive it was. Often being caught up in the Gatorade shower, that person is going to be a different face in the upcoming 2016 season.   After Fox Sports North announced the departure of Jamie Hersch near the end of the 2015 season, t
Ted Schwerzler

Ted Schwerzler

0

The Twins 2015: Diamond Treasure

I've been a Minnesotan for the entirety of my 25 year life. While having spent only the most recent years in the heart of Twins Territory, growing up in southern Minnesota, the Minneapolis journalism scene has only recently become my go to. In reading Patrick Reusse's Turkey of the Year for 2015 however, it dawned on me that the Twins could use a similar designation.   Unlike Reusse's Turkey of the Year, the Diamond Treasure as I'll dub it, is not designed to point a finger in jest. On the contr
Ted Schwerzler

Ted Schwerzler

4

Twins Provide Plenty Of Room For Thanks

Whether you're new here or not, a quick glance at a handful of the articles at Off The Baggy should give you a glimpse of what I'm about. Not a full blown sabermetrician, I find myself using statistics to tell a big story more often than not. In this post however, there's very little reason for numbers to quantify anything. With what the Twins gave us in 2015, and where they appear headed, there's plenty of obvious reasons for thanks.   Following four dismal 90 loss seasons, the Twins turned thi
Ted Schwerzler

Ted Schwerzler

1

Fall Sets Up Big Future For Twins Prospects

Back in October, I wrote about the Twins and their seven players headed to the Arizona Fall League. The focus was on what each of them needed to improve or work on over the next two months, and how they could end 2015 on a high note. Over the weekend, each of them became Arizona Fall League champs, and it was because of their success that the title was claimed.   As I tweeted out over the weekend, baseball is no doubt a team sport, however it was the Twins group that carried this team during the
Ted Schwerzler

Ted Schwerzler

3

Sorting Through The 40 Man

The deadline for the Minnesota Twins to add players eligible for the Rule 5 draft to their 40 man roster has come and gone. Going into Friday. Minnesota had a 40 man roster with seven openings, and ending the day, there are just two. With some expected, and some unexpected names, the regular season 25 man is becoming more clear.   First off, those players added today include J.T. Chargois, Yorman Landa, Pat Dean, Mason Melotakis, Taylor Rogers, Randy Rosario, and Adam Brett Walker. Among the gro
Ted Schwerzler

Ted Schwerzler

2

Twins With Unprecedented Success Ahead

Earlier this week, the Rookie of the Year awards were unveiled. In the IBWAA balloting, Carlos Correa picked up the AL honors. However, it was Miguel Sano who finished in 3rd place with 172 points and seven first place votes. Looking at the BBWAA balloting, Sano once again finished third with teammate Eddie Rosario coming in 6th. An impressive finish for the two however, is merely a foreshadowing of what is to come.   The last Minnesota Twins player to win Rookie of the Year honors was Marty Cor
Ted Schwerzler

Ted Schwerzler

2

Two Bats Without A Home

This offseason, the Minnesota Twins have already shown an indication that they are in fact looking to improve upon what was a breakout season in 2015. In making a couple of trades, while also securing the winning big for Korean slugger Byung-Ho Park, Paul Molitor's squad is trending in the right direction. Amidst the moves though, there's two players that have seemingly been cast aside.   Enter Oswaldo Arcia and Kennys Vargas.   In 2013, Arcia made his big league debut as a 22 year-old. The Vene
Ted Schwerzler

Ted Schwerzler

9

Twins Best Pen Arms Could Be In Arizona

Last season, the Minnesota Twins had one of the worst bullpens in all of Major League Baseball. Despite the front office's cry for calm prior to the season, the inevitable reality that the talent just wasn't there came to fruition. Once Glen Perkins broke down in the second half, the lone bright spot was now gone. In 2016, the goal will be to change the course, and it's possible two of the best additions may currently be pitching in Arizona.   For what the Twins have in pitching depth throughout
Ted Schwerzler

Ted Schwerzler

0

No Training Wheels, Are The Twins Diving In?

Going into the offseason, the Twins absolutely needed to address the issue that was not having a long term solution behind the plate. After having dealt Aaron Hicks to the Yankees in exchange for John Ryan Murphy, they believe they have fixed that issue. Now looking at the outfield landscape, are the Twins ready to take a major plunge?   There was a handful of reason that the Twins were in a position to move Hicks. The outfield is a position of strength and depth for Minnesota. On top of that, i
Ted Schwerzler

Ted Schwerzler

2

The Twins Other Moveable Asset

Heading into the offseason, there has been talk about the Minnesota Twins trading Trevor Plouffe more than any other player. To be fair, there's plenty of reasons that a trade would make sense. For everything surrounding Plouffe though, there's another guy that the Twins could look to deal, and the trades wouldn't necessarily need to be an either or. His name, Eddie Rosario.   Last season, Eddie Rosario made his big league debut for the Twins at the age of 23. he was the first big time prospect
Ted Schwerzler

Ted Schwerzler

0

Trevor Plouffe Still A Twin, For Now

To say that the Twins have spent the last week and a half making some position juggling decisions would be to put things lightly. It appears that Miguel Sano is headed to the outfield, and Minnesota has found their newest designated hitter. In the midst of it all, Trevor Plouffe still remains in line to man the hot corner, and for good reason.   There has been plenty of discussion regarding the Twins looking to deal their starting third basemen. Plouffe is considered to be blocking uber-prospect
Ted Schwerzler

Ted Schwerzler

3

Byung-Ho Park Shakes Up Twins

Last week, the talk of Torii Hunter's retirement press conference was the idea that Paul Molitor and Terry Ryan were ready to dabble with Miguel Sano moving positions. No, he wouldn't be playing first base, but instead, they asked him to play the outfield this winter. I already explained what that may look like here, but yesterday the Twins added a new wrinkle: Byung-Ho Park.   The Korean Baseball Organization superstar Park is definitely a fan of flair. The bat-flipping aficianado (who's since
Ted Schwerzler

Ted Schwerzler

1

Sano In The Outfield? Get Ready To Juggle

In 2015, the Minnesota Twins finally unleashed their hulking prospect from the Dominican Republic. Signed what seems like ages ago, the 22 year-old took the big leagues by storm. He swatted 18 homers in just 80 games, and pulverized plenty of pitchers. Heading into 2016 though, he's a man without a position, and his next stop could be in the outfield.   Following Torii Hunter's farewell press conference, media touched base with both Terry Ryan and Paul Molitor. In speaking with Molitor, we learn
Ted Schwerzler

Ted Schwerzler

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