REFLECTIONS
Get your vocal cords ready. It’s time to sing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.”
The Twins open the 2023 season on Thursday in Kansas City. Kansas City is leading all American League teams in victories (18) for Spring Training. The Twins are third from the bottom (11).
I definitely want to return to Target Field. I haven’t been to a Twins game in three years, mainly because of COVID and because of a fear of the impending trouble on the streets of Minneapolis.
My friend Clyde Doepner makes daily trips to the ballpark and said he finds travel to Target Field “very safe.”
Major League Baseball will have some new twists this year with rule changes announced last Septmeber. The most significant will be that “the shift” will be gone. The bases are also bigger this season, giving an advantage to the base stealer. Hopefully, Byron Buxton can use that to his advantage.
The pitcher will be forced to take less time between pitches.
Changes also include increasing the size of the bases, limiting how many times a pitcher can attempt a pickoff throw, and instituting more rigid balk guidelines. Players aren’t just being incentivized to steal more – they’re being guided, like air traffic control brining in a plane.
It may be a long season again for the Twins, or it could be a “surprise” season with Carlos Correa picking up his second World Series ring. He won a ring when playing for the Houston Astros.
The Twins are boasting some fine starting pitching in opening day starter Pablo Lopez, and four other starters: Kent Maeda, Sonny Gray, Joe Ryan, and Bailey Ober.
The Twins starting pitcher lineup may be the best ever.
The Twins were very busy in the off-season signing shortstop Carlos Correa to a six-year lucrative contract.
Here’s the projected lineup: Jose Miranda, 1b; Carlos Correa, ss; Max Kepler, rf; Joey Gallo, lf; Byron Buxton, dh; Kyle Farmer, 3b; Christian Vasquez, catcher; and Jorge Polanco, 2b.
All Twins highlights from the 2022 season center around the talented Correa. Other prospects include Royce Lewis, ss, and Emmanuel Rodriguez, an outfielder.
Correa had been courting the San Francisco Giants and the New York Mets. These two teams pulled out of negotiations the night before free agency discussions. Correa managed to fall back to the Twins.
This is a key year for Manager Rocco Badelli. If he doesn’t do well in the playoffs, he’s gone.
The Twins still need a Big Bopper at the plate. Sammy Sosa is available and maybe even Mark McGwire.
Look for the Twins to continue their losing ways to the New York Yankees. The Twins will be riding the strong arms in the bullpen to get far into the playoffs. You will enjoy the efforts of Byron Buxton, Carlos Correa, and Kent Maeda.
WIN TWINS!