Minnesota Twins Daily Dip, January 19th, 2018
Welcome to the January 19th 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
Brisbane jumped out early and held on Thursday to defeat Perth 7-3. Aaron Whitefield started in left field but had a rough night at the plate, going 0-4 with 2 strikeouts.
Dominican Winter League Update
None of the Twins reps in the Dominican played on Thursday.
Puerto Rican Winter League Update
On Wednesday, Kennys Vargas was the starter at first base for the Minnesota Twins, going 1-4 with a run scored and a strikeout as his Indios de Mayaguez lost to Criollos de Caguas 3-2.
Indios de Mayaguez split a double header against Cangrejeros de Santurce on Thursday. In game one, Indios won in extras, 4-2. Kennys Vargas started at DH, going 0-3 with 2 walks and 2 strikeouts, scoring a run.
Indios was shut out 5-0 in the second game. Vargas started at first base, going 0-1 with three walks on the day
Venezuelan Winter League Update
Caribes de Anzoategui defeated Leones del Caracas 6-5 on Tuesday. Willians Astudillo started in left field, going 1-4 with a home run, driving in 3 runs. Gregorio Petit started at short for Leones, going 2-4 with a home run and 2 RBI, a strikeout, and 2 runs scored.
Minnesota Twins news and notes
Morneau retires, returns as special assistant
Justin Morneau officially retired and has taken a position within the Minnesota Twins organization as a special assistant.
Kaat joins team as a special assistant
One of the all-time greats in Minnesota Twins history returns to the team as Jim Kaat joins the team as a special assistant to work with pitchers.
More from Puckett's Pond
- 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: After signing with the Mets, Correa spurns Twins again
Notes from around baseball
- 15 prospects ready to make the leap
- Why is Martinez’s bat still out there?
- MLB Pipeline’s top 1B prospects
- Tebow invited to spring training
- Benintendi looks to build on rookie campaign
- Harper focused on 2018
- Female scout opening new doors
- Boston writers honor Yankees GM
- Chipper’s no-doubt HOF candidacy
- MLBPA rejects pace of play changes
- Teams eyeing Cuban prospect
- Best baseball eyewear of all time
- MLB’s history on Sesame Street
Next: Molitor's 2018 Resolutions
One Last Thing
After four rough years in New York, Carl Pavano was looking to find his previous stature as one of the league’s better workhorse pitchers. He pitched with Cleveland to open 2009 and was traded to the Twins part way through the season and threw well over a dozen starts at the end of the year.
Pavano would come through with a big season in 2010 with 7 complete games, winning 17 games and throwing 221 innings with a 3.75 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. After 2010, the Twins signed Pavano to a 2-year contract on this day in 2011.
He would pitch to a 4.30 ERA over 222 innings in 2011, but his 2012 exploded on the Twins, leading to a 6.00 ERA over just 63 innings as the Twins paid him $8.5 million in 2012.