Minfidel

I was just looking at ESPN's ranking of MLB rotations projecting for the coming year. Twins are at 16, but described as being solid and a group "you can win with", though - spoiler alert - lacking an ace. Sounds reasonable to me. (The White Sox were #7, and the Guardians #20 in the ranking.)

Check back with the fan base at the end of the season.

One of those other teams in town specialized this year in "winning in the margins"; that is preparing the players and coaches in advance to avoid crucial situational mistakes. In doing so, they won an amazing number of close games despite some deeply flawed components - and a horrific record in close games the previous season. The Twins are supposedly driven by analytics in the FO and coaches - yet they seem helpless when it comes to recognizing and dealing with all those little things that are costing them, game in and game out.

Maybe a long-relief option if the four pitches are credible.

I hope he keeps the chip on his shoulder for 10 years.

Gallo is better than just about anyone in the spring-training-like outfields the Twins ran out there last year when everyone was hurt. If we have similar injury levels this year, at least Gallo is a major-leaguer.

Heck, I'm still waiting for Bumgarner and Gasser.

And the Maeda trade - the FO was just rubbing our noses in it then, getting a guy who'd contend for the Cy Young because they knew it would make our tears taste all the sweeter when he went TJ.

Well, it's a 10+ year contract - so if anyone was hoping there might be an opportunity for a shorter-term deal, that's pretty much out the window. (That window probably never existed.)

I'd like him in the bullpen with those two pitches.

Miranda is fun to watch and a great story. I keep thinking he looks a bit soft, physically, and could use an off-season work out routine such as Arraez went through last year. Then again, this "softie" didn't miss any time with injuries this season - unlike our more physically imposing players.

The Twins noted Miranda's ability to put the bat on the ball early in his minor league career, but that he was not getting hard hits. They told him to work on waiting for the right pitches and he did, going on to have a remarkable minor league season. Now he's in the bigs, showing power and presence; I wouldn't be surprised if he gets more refined in pitch selection as his career goes on, and the GIDP rate to dip.

I've white-listed this site on my ad-blocker, but still can't see the video.

My heart went cold when Pagan got up in the BP in the 9th inning when the Twins went ahead by 4 runs. That wasn't enough runs to put him in the game.

Who do they miss the most? 2019 Tyler Duffy.