Minnesota Twins Daily Dip: Losing Podres, a decade later

Minnesota Twins Daily Dip, January 13th, 2018

Welcome to the January 13th 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
On Friday, Brisbane used a 7-run 5th inning to defeat Melbourne 12-5. Aaron Whitefield started in left field, going 1-4, scoring 2 runs, hitting a double, and striking out 3 times.

Dominican Winter League Update
None of the Twins reps in the Dominican played on Friday.

Puerto Rican Winter League Update
Kennys Vargas started at first base for the Indios on Friday, going 1-1 with 4 walks after hitting a solo home run. Vargas scored 2 runs on the game. Nelson Molina pinch hit for the Indios, going 0-1.

Venezuelan Winter League Update
No games were scheduled for Friday in the VWL.

Minnesota Twins news and notes

Gonsalves working on slider
Stephen Gonsalves is hoping to make the Minnesota Twins opening day rotation or at least have an impact on the rotation this season. He knows that a fourth pitch would give him a much better chance of success, and he is working on his slider this offseason to improve its effectiveness.

Twins avoid arbitration with five players
We reported in this space yesterday that Eduardo Escobar had come to terms ahead of the arbitration deadline. In the end, the only player the Twins were unable to come to terms with before Friday’s deadline was Kyle Gibson.

More from Puckett's Pond

• Minnesota Twins: 2022 Year in Review for Twins Baseball
• Minnesota Twins: Making the Case for the Current 2023 Rotation
• Minnesota Twins: Does the MLB or the Twins have a Spending Problem?
• Minnesota Twins: 2 Possible Free Agent Reunions for 2023
• Minnesota Twins: Holiday Wish List for the rest of the Offseason

Minnesota Twins starter

was captured in a video training by pushing trucks. Check out those shorts!

Notes from around baseball

• Yankees still in mix for Darvish
• Arb deadline could heat up hot stove
• Broadcaster Keith Jackson passes away at 89
• Grissom gives back to game
• Pitching market begins to take shape
• Donaldson gets $23M arb deal
• Numerous deals reached before arb deadline Friday
• Thome deserves his spot in the HOF
• Stassi and Marisnick climbed 90-foot fire truck ladder
• Dipoto discusses trade habits
• Sanchez’s swing in midseason form
• Phillies/Braves make wager on NFL playoff game
• Gordon releases rap album

Next: Molitor's 2018 Resolutions

One Last Thing

Ten years ago today, the baseball world lost former pitcher and former Minnesota Twins pitching coach Johnny Podres. He was 75 years old.

Podres pitched with the Dodgers primarily in his 15-year major league career. He tallied 148 wins with a 3.68 ERA and 1.32 WHIP. Podres threw 2,265 major league innings. However, Podres seemed to come alive in the postseason, where he made six starts, throwing 38 1/3 innings, with a 2.11 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and winning the MVP of the 1955 World Series.

Podres worked with the Minnesota Twins as pitching coach from 1982-1984. Frank Viola credited Podres with his early success in the major leagues.