TCSquad

If nothing else, I hope Miguel Cabrera gets the send-off he deserves as he makes the rounds for his final season. He was a Twin killer once-upon-a-time, and I have to believe he'll get some sort of farewell when the Tigers visit Target Field for the final time this season August 15-16.

If the Twins carry the traditional five-man rotation, and there's only one off-day between the Season Opener and the Home Opener (that being the day after the Season Opener) then the #2 starter will open the season at home. But that also means then the Opening Day starter would not pitch against the reigning World Series champs (Astros) at home that first homestand (they'd pitch the lone night game against the White Sox.) So just some extra layers to work out.

Baldelli is obviously missing Kyle Garlick already, so they needed to sign another right-handed batter who handles lefties very well; and with a glut of outfielders, signing an infielder was the only way to go.

With all this focus on the shift change and batters getting more singles than groundball or line outs, I'm betting we could christen this team the Single-Through-The-Hole Squad. Not quite the same ring as '19's Bomba Squad... but maybe there's a better name I'm not thinking of.

Torii Hunter and Justin Morneau weren't at this 'local establishment' on either side of Jordan, were they?

I've been saying for years: let the clubhouse or stadium staff pitch in extras! Batboy vs. TC Squad member (maybe we pitch using the t-shirt cannon?)

Hall Of Fame Baseball Broadcaster Tim McCarver Dead At 81 Of course Tim McCarver was a great player in his own right - playing from 1959 to 1980, mostly with the Cardinals at catcher, being named to All-Star team twice and winning two World Series - but I loved McCarver as part of the announce team that called the 1987 Minnesota Twins World Series win over the St. Louis Cardinals. My favorite moment was when they returned from commercial break in Game 6 - after Kent Hrbek's grand slam - and Al Michaels says "Here's Hrbek with natural sound hitting it out;" and less than five seconds later McCarver starts talking again, only for someone to remind him that no one's supposed to be talking! (McCarver was in the process of bringing up Hrbek's pick-off earlier in the game.) And of course, he was one of many sports announcers with a brief cameo in the underrated sports' comedy Baseketball. Joseph R. Cooper : I lost the big game and a dear friend. I'm feeling pretty vulnerable right now. I don't think I should be alone... Tim McCarver : [Turns to the camera and walks away] It does seem to be raining sh*t on Joe Cooper right now.

Tell management it would be better if you had people shooting t-shirts during practices, so they'll send us down there next season!

Imagine a 3-4-5 line-up of Park/Sano/Vargas! Man, what 2017 could have been... Edit - Where's that darn "sarcastic" font?

Give the local boy a chance! Maybe "coming home" will give him that extra oomph he may have been missing the last year or two! #AlwaysLookOnTheBrightSideOfLife

So essentially, the Twins are going to have to beat the teams they hope to face in October, but in April? Sounds like reasonable expectations.

I rode an elevator with Tim Laudner once at Target Field. He made a comment ribbing the TC Squad to Anthony LaPanta, all in good fun. I then turned to one of the guys in the group and asked, "Anyone got change for a buck-ninety?" Only Laudner laughed, but he laughed loudly and said, "Ok, that was a good one."

Just remember: you cannot bring your own plastic Lightsaber for Star Wars Day, kids! Now here, enjoy this solid wooden bat.

With everything dependent on the players staying healthy, maybe the most important offseason signing this fall/winter was Nick Paparesta?

We weren't fast enough... sigh...