Minnesota Twins Daily Morning Dip: the birth of the Twins
Minnesota Twins Daily Dip, January 9th, 2018
Welcome to the January 9th edition of the Daily Dip, your daily piece of news and notes here on Puckett’s Pond, offseason edition. You’ll find the most recent news of the Minnesota Twins organization, stories from around the game, and links to any information you may want to know about the Minnesota Twins or baseball as we work our way through the hot stove season!
Minnesota Twins Organizational Scores
Australian Baseball League Update
Only having pitched one inning this year in the ABL, Todd Van Steensel made his second appearance for Sydney against Brisbane. He threw 1 2/3 innings, allowing a solo home run among his 3 hits, walking none and striking out 2.
Dominican Winter League Update
Both Dominican playoff games were postponed due to rain.
Puerto Rican Winter League Update
In the Indios de Mayaguez’s first game on Sunday, Kennys Vargas played at first base and went 0-3 with a strikeout. Nelson Molina pinch hit, but he finished 0-1. Vargas played at DH in the second game, going 0-3 with 2 strikeouts.
On Monday, Vargas played first base, going 1-3 with a run scored and two walks.
Venezuelan Winter League Update
Willians Astudillo‘s Caribes de Anzoategui defeated Navegantes del Magellanes 8-7 Sunday night. Astudillo went 1-4 with a run scored and a strikeout while playing left field.
Minnesota Twins news and notes
Santana, Berrios anchor current Twins rotation
While the Twins currently look for a front-line starter, the Twins rotation is in good hands with Ervin Santana and Jose Berrios at the front of the rotation.
More from Puckett's Pond
- Minnesota Twins: After signing with the Mets, Correa spurns Twins again
- Minnesota Twins: You Spin Me Right Round, Right Round
- Minnesota Twins: What happens next at Shortstop?
- Minnesota Twins: Grading the Twins’ Joey Gallo signing
- Minnesota Twins: 4 Possible Trade Chips not named Kepler or Arraez
They’re not the 1980s Cardinals, or the 1920s Bronx Bombers, but the Minnesota Twins have a unique collection of power and speed to balance their offensive attack.
Notes from around baseball
- Best first-pitch hitters
- Considering Yelich trade possibilities
- Longoria likens joining Giants to a new school
- Astros targeting Cole in search for top arm
- Teams ready right now for Opening Day
- Mussina’s HOF case
- Garza to undergo surgery
- Wilson teaching stepson to play baseball
- Pitch clock, mound visits on agenda for game speed
- Trenton Thunder bat dog passes away
- Phillies adjust radio broadcast team
- Davis working to lower strikeout numbers in 2018
- Most improved lineups
Next: Molitor's 2018 Resolutions
One Last Thing
On this day in 1961, the organization that was to become the Twins agreed on a deal with the minor league that once had a franchise in the Twin Cities area. For $500,000, the Twins were freed from the Washington Senators to become the Minnesota Twins.
Ironically, it was also on this day in 2002 that the Twins very well may have been saved when Congressman Conyers of Michigan raised concerns about Bud Selig holding the position of commissioner in baseball due to his previous financial relationship with Carl Pohlad. Contraction was a very serious possibility during the 2001-2002 offseason, and the Twins were considered one of the two most likely candidates to be contracted.
This accusation coming to light not only seemingly ended contraction talk, but also got Washington, D.C. back a team as instead of contracting the Montreal Expos, Major League Baseball moved them to D.C.