Notebook: Twins Shutout O’s; Odorizzi Says Farewell

Maeda looking like how he finished last season. I have no problem with Colome. I like him. The Dirty Sox let him go because La Russa wants a traditional closer.

Still say Robles just being his normal self is a key to the pen.

In regards to Oddo, I wanted him back. I thought it was a given for so many reasons. I thought he and Pineda would give the team a tremendous 3-4 punch. But everything I have heard and read is he wanted a longer and greater $ value than the Twins were willing to offer. Good for him. And if he had been willing to go 1yr or 2yr we might have found a match.

But Happ for 1yr would seem to equalize things with some really nice options being ready or almost ready. And there is depth. There is imminent potential. I don't feel we are at a disadvantage simply because we didn't keep Oddo. There's just too much coming up really soon and on hand to stress the rotation for 2021.

I'd like to have Oddo. For 2021, I still like what we have.

I think Colome has been reading my critiques and wanted to shut me up, lol.  Let me say I was impressed with his inning of work today and he can feel free to make me look bad anytime.

The pitching looked good today not much more to say than that.  I was happy to see Colome look like the dominant pitcher I thought we were getting.  Maeda does what Maeda does and makes it look easy.

Farrell and Wadell got some work and were all K's today.  Farrell is still right there for the Sire of Fort Meyers.  He has 5 K's in 2.1 innings of work for a 70% K rate while keeping his WHIP at .43. I know that is a small sample size but dang that is some good pitching right from the start.  That is a good way to get noticed.

Speaking of Sire of Fort Meyers candidates Broxton actually took a walk today.  He also struck out once bringing that nasty K rate into the 30% range but if he continues to make good contact and have a decent eye at the plate he could really help this team.

Looks like guys are settling in and pitching is going to be tougher from here on out the regular season can't get here fast enough.

I was also very surprised that Odo wasn't signed sooner, wish him well. They shouldn't have put so much stock on freaky 2020.

I was expecting more hits, Orioles must have pitched a good game

I personally was not surprised by Odo deal and taking so long.  I agree with fact that market thinned out which should have helped.  However, with teams still wondering about COVID revenue and CBA for a guy like Odo is a risk.  Odo has put up decent numbers over his career and at stretches was a top guy.  

However, he also will never be a top guy in a rotation.  He throws too many pitches to go much more than 5 innings most games.  Meaning even if he makes 32 to 33 starts he will still only pitch about 165 innings.  He has been healthy most of his career, but he is turning 31 this year, and really that is the time that pitchers need to make changes in their game.  Will he stay healthy, and will he make the changes needed to adjust for change in velocity that will happen as he ages?  I hope he can pitch well, but combo of his lack of innings and age are a big reason in my mind he did not get to cash in.  

I think teams have decided spending top free agent money for non-top guys simply because market is thin is not good way to spend.  Next year will have a lot of top free agent guys next year, and many teams would not want to spend big on a middle rotation guy. 

My thought on Odo is that he probably wanted more money/term than the Twins were willing to pay. With that, the Twins decided to go another route. The market dried up for ODO but the Twins were no longer looking his way, so he had to settle for the Houston offer.

A few nice things to see in that exit velocity top 10:

- 8 different players

- 6 of whom will be in the starting lineup

- that's without Sano - yet

I was impressed by Canterino.                   Not only did he show top of the charts velo, but his command, mound presence and pitch movement looked really good as well.

Also, his mechanics looked fundamentally sound.  The kid will be just fine if he continues doing what he is doing .