EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. – By the time you read this, I will be taking a little break. But for now, I’m coming to you from my home in the suburbs, taking a little time to answer some questions. Yep, it’s a mailbag, and I thank you all for the good questions. In some cases they’ve been lightly edited for clarity and/or brevity.
From Son of Jay on X: The rotation is currently Ryan, Ober, Paddack, Festa, Woods Richardson. The injured list has Zebby and Pablo. If Twins needed another starter today, who’s most likely to be next man up?
The first and most honest answer is that they really, really, really hope not to have to answer this question. Because there’s not an obvious answer. In Spring Training, the hope was that it would be Marco Raya, who is the only starting pitcher on the 40-man roster but not the 26-man. But Raya has had a very, very difficult year and I can’t imagine it’s him. Travis Adams has been used in a long relief role and occasionally started games, and he’s also on the 40-man. I think if they needed a single start, and he lined up, Adams would get the call.
But if it were a longer absence, I think the answer would almost have to be Andrew Morris. The team’s No. 9 prospect, Morris is neither especially big nor overpowering, but he’s been effective starting regularly at St. Paul, and he has a nice broad repertoire and decent stuff. But, again, see the beginning of the answer: they’d really rather not have to dip any deeper into the starting depth. |
From Hank Mardukas on X: What does the lineup look like when Luke Keaschall returns?
Once again, there’s an honest answer and then there’s getting into the possibilities. The honest answer is that, as a manager I used to cover often said, “these things tend to work themselves out.” That is to say, it’s a very good problem to have if everybody stays healthy and effective until then, and he’s not just taking the spot of somebody who can’t or shouldn’t be getting regular playing time. Most likely, somebody will get hurt, or somebody will struggle, and the answer will be clearer/easier.
But let’s say things go well, everybody produces and nobody gets hurt. Keaschall’s two positions this year have been second base and DH. He’s played outfield in the past, but I don’t expect he’ll play there in his first year back from elbow surgery. He has also played some first base in pro ball.
I don’t think, at first, he’d be in the lineup every day, because almost nobody in this lineup plays every day when everybody is healthy. So I think he’d start at second base against lefties, and get some looks at DH. |
From Baseball and Cats on BlueSky: Will the Twins ever give Carson McCusker a real shot?
It depends what you mean by “a real shot.” If you mean playing him every day or close to it, then really, the short answer is no. Or at least not unless there’s another huge rash of injuries to the lineup. He’s not going to get at-bats over Matt Wallner, Trevor Larnach, Harrison Bader, Ryan Jeffers at DH, etc. And honestly I’m fine with that. I can see the numbers, but from talking to people, I think there is real concern about how his performance and approach would transfer once big league pitchers and staffs saw him every day.
If you mean an opportunity to be a part-time contributor, then … maybe? He’s a right-handed corner bat, and that remains a thing that the Twins sometimes have use for. But I’d say their recent handling of him shows that he’s not a top priority. |
From Matt Trueblood on BlueSky: Which song by The Hold Steady! would make the best walkup music, and which Twin might actually adopt it?
Well, you knew I was getting to this one. I’d love for somebody to use the intro to “Hornets! Hornets!” but that’s not happening. “Sequestered in Memphis” could work, as could the intro to “Stevie Nix” (this was my first thought). But my (far) better half suggested “Massive Nights,” and I think this has to be the answer. Intro or chorus, either way. As for who might adopt … I’m not liking our chances here. Let me get back to you on that one. |
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MLB MORNING LINEUP PODCAST |
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As of the start of play Wednesday, there were 16 pitchers in the Major Leagues with at least 60 innings pitched, and 15 or fewer walks. Three of those pitchers are members of the Twins: Joe Ryan, Pablo López and Bailey Ober. And among those ranks, Ryan stands second in strikeouts with 82, behind only Tarik Skubal (who has a ridiculous 105). |
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“It makes me think about the Dodgers’ situation last year, with [Yoshinobu] Yamamoto going down with a worse version of what Pablo’s got, and then coming back and pitching so well for that team in the postseason and obviously getting them a championship. So I think for us it’s like, ‘Hey, we’re going to get a really fresh arm at that time, and we’ll build him back up properly.’” – Ryan on López’s injury |
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AND, FINALLY, THE PLAYLIST |
Saturday was Prince’s birthday, and Tuesday night was Prince Night at the ballpark, and honestly, it’s never a bad time for some Prince. So here are five personal favorites.
“When You Were Mine”
“Let’s Go Crazy”
“Sign o’ the Times”
“I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man”
“Alphabet Street” |
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