Notebook: Smeltzer Named Probable Starter for Grapefruit League Opener

[Matthew Lenz]

Slow news day overall but we have our first sign that Twins baseball is around the corner. Get updated on the day's events in today’s notebook.WE HAVE OUR FIRST PROBABLE PITCHER

Smeltzer will be looking to compete for a spot in the rotation or bullpen. Somewhat of an afterthought with the signing of Shoemaker, and before that many penciling Randy Dobnak or even Lewis Thorpe in the starting rotation, Smeltzer could find himself in St. Paul to start the year.

 

Topping out in the high 80’s, Smeltzer will likely find a hard time contributing at the big league level. He does have elite spin rates and vertical movement on his change up which could be serviceable out of the bullpen as a change of pace type. I just don’t see that happening on a team competing for a World Series.

 

Twins to roll with a “closer-less” bullpen

This shouldn’t be breaking news as Baldelli mentions he’s never named a closer. Especially this year, the Twins have the necessary depth in Taylor Rogers, Alex Colomé, Tyler Duffey, and Hansel Robles to not worry less about what inning to call-in for help. Instead, they can put each player in a position to succeed by pitching to their strengths. This will be outlined in more detail on the last installment of the AL Central Rundown that’s been grading out each position for each team in the division over the last week.

 

Kirilloff, named #1 prospect by Twins Daily, “ready for the Majors”

Not any big news here, but on a slow news day this article on MLB.com is another resource for what should be the most followed position battle in Spring Training.

 

Former Twins pitcher Tommy Milone signs Minor League with Blue Jays

Milone, who pitched for the Orioles and Braves last season, will be a non-roster invite to Spring Training. He started 9 games in 2020 and had an ERA of 6.69 of 39 innings.

 

Dan Hayes has beef with John Fogerty

Okay, maybe I mislead you with the headline but this poses a good question to discuss in the comments. What is YOUR favorite ballpark tune?

 

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[arby58]

I'll agree that songs like 'Centerfield' and 'Take Me Out to the Ballgame' are rock stars of baseball songs, but my musical tastes are more 'out of left field.' I'll go with Warren Zevon's ode to a quirky pitcher, 'Bill Lee.'

 

 

[iowaguychris]

Baseball songs are fun - my favorite has always been about playing right field:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXVnb0wveRg

[theBOMisthebomb]

There isn't much as far as baseball songs to choose from beyond the obvious. I will go with Glory Days by Bruce Springsteen since he leads off the song talking about his friend who was a baseball player back in high school. Glory Days was released and I was in the middle of my own glory days and didn't really get the meaning of the song. Now, I get it. I had to look this next one up to spark my memory - Paradise by the Dashboard Light has a cool baseball part in the middle of the song. The internet tells me, "...this hit from Bat Out of Hell is a short one-act about two horny teenagers at a lovers lane somewhere in America, with none other than Yankees announcer Phil Rizzuto providing a play-by-play of their heavy petting."

[Toolie]

The Baseball Project deserves more acclaim:

 

https://video.whyy.org/video/-canvas-baseball-project/

[ashbury]

I always enjoyed Howie (No Relation to Randy) Newman: