Minnesota Twins Daily Dip: First notable manager
Minnesota Twins Daily Dip, January 21st, 2018
Welcome to the January 21st 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 split a double-header against Perth on Saturday. In the first game, Aaron Whitefield started in left field and led off, going 1-3 with a run scored, double, walk, and a strikeout as Brisbane won 9-5.
Brisbane dropped the second game 5-0 as Whitefield played left and went 0-3 with a walk. He also stole his 9th base of the ABL season.
Dominican Winter League Update
None of the Twins representatives in the DWL were in action on Saturday.
Puerto Rican Winter League Update
The Indios de Mayaguez had the only game in the Puerto Rican Winter League on Saturday, defeating Cangrejeros de Santurce. Kennys Vargas played first base, going 0-4 with a strikeout. He also committed an error at first base.
Venezuelan Winter League Update
In the first game of the championship series, the Caribes de Anzoategui defeated Cardenales de Lara 4-2. Willians Astudillo played left field, going 1-4.
Minnesota Twins news and notes
Pohlad encouraging Darvish pursuit
The Minnesota Twins had their TwinsFest this weekend, and in spite of many fans having negative opinions on the majority owners, Jim Pohlad expressed his desire to continue in the pursuit of Yu Darvish this offseason.
Dozier willing to discuss extension
In spite of a feasible 9-figure free agent deal to come, Brian Dozier has expressed that he would be willing to consider an extension to remain part of the Minnesota Twins long-term.
Twins lead Vikings chant for big game
With the Minnesota Vikings headed to a major game on Sunday, the Twins led the “Skol” chant in preparation for the big game.
More from Puckett's Pond
- 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
- Minnesota Twins: After missing out on Correa, what comes next?
Notes from around baseball
- Making sense of offseason of un-signings
- Frazier meets thumbs-down fan
- Lindor on cover of RBI Baseball 18
- Mets pursuing Colon
- MLB Network reveals top RF, 2B right now
- Springer latest player to wed
- Hanley hoping to see Boston in WS
- HOF class could be largest living class ever
- Reds will have Fiona the hippo bobblehead
- Phillies and Phanatic visit Children’s Hospital
- Blue Jays not talking extension with Donaldson
- Blackmon and Arenado go fly fishing together
- Pitch clock may be implemented by MLB in 2018
Next: Twins must learn from Pirates
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One Last Thing
Just last May, the Minnesota Twins community lost its first manager of importance, Sam Mele. Mele would have been 96 today.
Mele had decade-long career in the majors as an outfielder and first baseman, playing 3+ seasons with the Senators. When he retired, he began coaching in the Senators organization, and in the Twins first season in Minnesota, Mele and Cookie Lavagetto swapped off as manager on the season. Mele took over going forward, just 39 when he got the job.
The Yale and NYU alum managed for 7 seasons with the Twins, accumulating a 524-436 record, leading the team to three 90-win seasons, including the 1965 campaign that led to the Twins in the World Series against the Dodgers in just the 5th season for the franchise in Minnesota.