October 30, 2023
Would the Twins have been better off with Torey Lovullo as manager?
From 2011 through 2014, the Twins never won more than 70 games, a streak that finally had dire consequences for longtime manager Ron Gardenhire and longtime general manager Terry Ryan, both of whom were let go. The Twins replaced Ryan with the tandem of Derek Falvey and Thad Levine and then the organization had to... Continue Reading »
December 17, 2018
Jim Palmer and the Hall of Fame case for Tony Oliva
Harold Baines, the longtime DH and outfielder for the Chicago White Sox, was inducted into the Hall of Fame last week, along with longtime Chicago Cubs reliever, Lee Smith. Smith’s enshrinement went down relatively easy for most baseball fans, but that was not the case for Baines as the twitterverse and blogosphere came up choking... Continue Reading »
May 15, 2018
Thinking of you, Ron Gardenhire
Forget that the Twins were shutout on four hits Monday night and consider this: The Detroit Tigers beat the Cleveland Indians and are now 18-22 this season. I know you’re thinking: So what? Well, the Tigers were picked by many to finish dead last in the American League Central with 90 or more losses in... Continue Reading »
April 11, 2017
Did Falvey & Co. simply flip a switch?
The Twins improved to 5-1 on Sunday after their 4-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field (Ugh). It’s the best start for the Twins in years and yet the question remains: How are they doing it? Of course, I’m pleased with the results and want them to win, but this team... Continue Reading »
January 14, 2017
Meet the new boss, not the same as the old boss
Falvey & Co. made a small but significant move this week when they signed pitcher, Ryan Vogelsong, best known for his years with the San Francisco Giants, to a new contract with the Twins. Here’s what stood out to me: Vogelsong was signed to a minor league contract, not a multiyear, major league deal. And... Continue Reading »
December 1, 2016
There is life after the Twins — just ask Terry Ryan
Terry Ryan, who spent 31 years with the Twins, including 19 as the club’s general manager, has found work again after he was fired during the team’s disastrous 2016 season. His new employer is the Philadelphia Phillies, who have hired Ryan as a special assignment scout. The hire is also interesting because Ryan is once... Continue Reading »
October 4, 2016
Twins finally confirm hiring of Derek Falvey as chief baseball officer
A week after Derek Falvey was rumored to be the Twins’ new front-office executive, the team finally announced his hiring as executive vice president and chief baseball officer on Monday. Falvey, 33, had spent his entire baseball career with the Cleveland Indians, including as assistant general manager, before coming to the Twins. He arrives as... Continue Reading »
July 29, 2016
Twins trade Nunez, finally beat Orioles and other things I missed while on vacation
After a short vacation, I came home to learn that All-Star Eduardo Nunez is gone, the Twins finally beat the Baltimore Orioles and the team was swept by the Atlanta Braves. Rob Antony on trading Nunez: “It was difficult but our perspective from the start of this process was to try to acquire starting pitching.”... Continue Reading »
July 20, 2016
Twins ‘improve’ to 1-7 versus Tigers
Update: How about that? The more time I spend predicting the worst for the Twins, the better they seem to play. Now, I just have to figure out how to turn this entire season around… The Twins beat the Tigers 4-1 on Wednesday to take two of three from the Detroit-based club. Each team scored... Continue Reading »