Spring Training Diary: Polanco's Knee, Pagan's Pitches, Maki's Thoughts

[John Bonnes]

THANK YOU for supporting Twins Daily! Please enjoy this exclusive content for Caretakers' ears only. 

Today's spring training diary includes news on Jorge Polanco's slower start to spring training, Emilio Pagan's bounceback plan, and thought from Twins pitching coach Pete Maki.

This article continues exclusively for Twins Daily caretakers. To become a caretaker and read the rest of the piece, you can subscribe here.

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[FanOtwins]

Thanks John. Cool to get this kind of on site reports. 

[KikiMN]

I enjoyed the added clips. Nice to hear first hand what's going on at Hammond.

[ashbury]

Pete Maki sounds more than a little like Chris Parnell, of SNL and Archer and other entertainments.  Parnell has the gift of smoothness that sounds like a parody of TV commercials without even trying, but dialed back just a bit he's soothing.  I have no idea what technical chops Maki brings to the job but I bet he is good at talking pitchers down from the ledge after they've blown a save for a second game in a row.

Speaking of blowing saves, I had looked at Pagan's monthly numbers recently too, and felt it best to view the good final month as merely a SSS blip in the context of a terrible month that preceded it (and not very good ones before that, nor the season before).  But baseball is a game of constant tinkering and adjustment, and it's interesting to know that there is a reason that the pitcher attributes to this difference. Trouble is that the batters are allowed to tinker and adjust too, when facing him, and I imagine that Pagan is willing to talk about the curveball because he knows that the "book" on him already has been updated to include this addition.  He's not a young man and I'm sure he's tried new things here and there many times.  I'm skeptical but I'll never root against a Twin.  Wait and see, and I'll hope he proves my skepticism to be unfounded.

[Dman]

Loving the updates!  Lot's of good questions being asked and it is cool to get players insight into things.  Really appreciate the inside scoop.  Thanks!

[Squirrel]

Thanks, John!

This time of year, I like everything and anything I hear and am just giddy.

 

[twinssporto]

Great update John!

Thank you! 

Go Twins!!

[Kal Lis]

Thanks for the updates. As a person who will probably never get to spring training, I appreciate the details and interviews.

[Cory Engelhardt]

Gotta say, this format, and having the audio notebook like this, is really interesting. I am loving it so far. Thanks!

[se7799]

I agree.  Glad I finally yumoed into the caretaker fund fun with y'all.  I have 14 days and counting till I can attend.  Reading this new material is only making me more excited...and almost unbearable to my not yet retired wife!  🙃