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  • Notebook: King Kenta Kicking It Off

    Ted Schwerzler

    By Ted Schwerzler

    Twins skipper Rocco Baldelli announced today that Kenta Maeda would take the ball Opening Day for Minnesota in Milwaukee.

    Image courtesy of © David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

    Twins Video

    Final: Twins 5 Red Sox 5

    Box Score | Savant

    Twins Takeaways

    Standout Pitcher: Kenta Maeda (4.0 IP 0 H 0 R 0 ER 1 BB 5 K)

    Standout Hitter: Brent Rooker (3-3, 2B)

    Fastest Pitch: Shaun Anderson (96.1 MPH)

    Max Exit Velocity: Byron Buxton (111.4 MPH)

    Maeda Continues to Dazzle

    Drawing the start in what would wind up being his longest outing of the spring, Kenta Maeda continued to be flawless for the Twins. He worked four scoreless allowing just a single runner on a walk while striking out five. Through nine innings this spring he’s given up just one hit and one walk while punching out 12. Following the game, Minnesota made it official announcing the American League Cy Young runner-up as the Opening Day starter. That also lines Jose Berrios up for the April 8 home opener.

    https://twitter.com/PitchingNinja/status/1371148699183763458

    Buxton Returns with a Bang

    After missing time earlier this week dealing with a dental procedure following a steak dinner, Minnesota’s star center fielder returned to the lineup. In his first at bat of the game, facing Red Sox starter Nathan Eovaldi, Byron annihilated a ball over 111 mph to left field for a dinger. It was his only hit of the day, but he certainly made it count.

    https://twitter.com/SlangsOnSports/status/1371157492647002113

    Highlights Include Lots of Strength

    At the plate Minnesota squared up Boston’s hard throwing hurler with plenty of solid contact. Miguel Sano crushed a double 111.0 mph off of Rafael Devers’ glove at third, Brent Rooker ripped a pitch 109.6 mph for a double to left field, and Mitch Garver squared up a 99 mph fastball with the same exit velocity. In the field, prospect Gilberto Celestino stole the show using his legs to make robbing a Red Sox home run look entirely too easy.

    https://twitter.com/TFTwins/status/1371176699057082375

    Around the Game

    Don’t tell Luis Guillorme that Spring Training at bats don’t count. The Mets batter forced a 22-pitch at bat against St. Louis Cardinals reliever Jordan Hicks.

    https://twitter.com/SNYtv/status/1371177732562898945

    Former Phillies and Royals third basemen Maikel Franco is finalizing a deal with the Baltimore Orioles according to Jon Heyman.

    https://twitter.com/JonHeyman/status/1371239050854682625

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    Ted Schwerzler - A blogger for nearly a decade, passion for baseball and the Minnesota Twins runs deep.
    Follow Ted Schwerzler on Twitter: tlschwerz

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    Featured Comments

    bighat

    bighat 7,885

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    Much deserved for Kenta Maeda, nobody can argue with that decision. Glad to see Baldelli putting the best guy up first, sends a solid message: you play well, you get rewarded.

     

    Buxton's tooth doesn't seem to be bothering him. Dentist pulls a tooth, Byron pulls a homer.

     

    Franco to the O's, any other free agents that should be playing still out there? Puig's the guy I always think about, he's got a few off-the-field issues but most guys with his talent would be signed by now. Word on the street is managers don't like this guy, which is weird because he plays hard. 

     

     

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    Dantes929

    Dantes929 4,529

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    I feel better about our opening guy than anyone since Johan.    To the extent I've often thought for Opening Day and for playoffs we should invert the order of our pitchers.   I feel good about Maeda though.

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    ashbury

    ashbury 48,546

  • Old-Timey Member

    • Posted

    After missing time earlier this week dealing with a dental procedure following a steak dinner

    If I hadn't seen the news reports elsewhere, I might have assumed this meant a really thorough round of flossing. Not just the particles of meat - that sprig of parsley placed on the steak by the fancy restaurants can really stick between the teeth!

     

     

    (Not to make light of what was described as a root canal. Poor guy.)

     

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    Trov

    Trov 2,980

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

     

     

     

    Franco to the O's, any other free agents that should be playing still out there? Puig's the guy I always think about, he's got a few off-the-field issues but most guys with his talent would be signed by now. Word on the street is managers don't like this guy, which is weird because he plays hard. 

    Puig's off field issues aside, which is likely to lead to long suspension, Puig has always been know to be a headache for managers.  He may play hard, but he has been known for long time making decisions many managers are not happy with and does not take direction well.  

     

    The fact that his numbers have been falling since his early years also adds to teams not willing to pick him up.  He plays corner OF spot with slightly above average power, but has a ton of headaches on and off field.  I can see why no teams are willing to take a waiver on right now. 

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    4twinsJA

    4twinsJA 862

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    Really like Twins starting pitching this year, Maeda has earned opening day starter. Berrios looking good, hopefully returning to allstar form. Pineda looks solid as usual. Happ little behind, but pitching today I think. Shoemaker has looked great, as has Thorpe and Dobnak. Haven't seen much of prospects so far in spring training.

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