Forget the fire sale, forget the muted spending and forget the lack of high-profile free agents because if Monday’s win over the Pittsburgh Pirates is an indication of things to come, then this Twins team is going to be OK.
They put it all together in the 5-1 victory.
Starter Joe Ryan, taking the mound for only the second time this spring, breezed through the Bucs’ lineup, allowing just a run across four innings with a walk and six strikeouts on 68 pitches.
Perhaps more encouraging, though, was the bullpen’s performance.
There have been a lot of questions about the state of the Twins’ relief corps, and why wouldn’t there be? After you trade 10 players, including your best relievers, there’s bound to be a number of fans chomping on their fingernails down to the quick as they ponder whether the new-look bullpen will be able to stop anyone.
Well, there was good news because after Ryan exited, he was followed by Anthony Banda, Cole Sands, Justin Topa, Andrew Chafin and Kody Funderburk, and they limited the Bucs to just one more hit across five innings with six more strikeouts, giving the pitching staff 12 on the day.
At the plate, Luke Keaschall, who appears to be the real deal, folks, doubled and homered, Matt Wallner chipped in with two hits, Ryan Jeffers did the same and fellow catcher Victor Caratini connected on a long ball, too.
Besides the bullpen, what fears lie in the hearts of Twins fans?
The team’s health. If Kid Keaschall can avoid injury, plus Byron Buxton, Royce Lewis… hell, if anyone on the entire team can remain relatively injury free during the regular season, then the optimism for this team points even higher.
Bailey Ober gets the ball Tuesday against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Extra innings…
–Monday made me a believer again. It needs to continue.
–Ex-Twin Luis Arraez had a hit and RBI in team Venezuela’s win over Italy, 4-2. Arraez and the rest of the guys, including ex-Twin and Venezuela pitching coach, Johan Santana, take on team USA in the World Baseball Classic final. I miss those dudes.