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00:00Let's take a look at the rest of the Twins starting lineup today.
00:03It is brought to you by Menards.
00:05A bit of a change with Buxton batting second.
00:07Keyshaw hitting third.
00:08More on that coming up later.
00:10Matt Walner, the lone left in the lineup today.
00:12A couple of new Twins, both switch hitters.
00:14Josh Bell, Victor Caratini, and a couple of former first-round picks.
00:18Royce Lewis hitting eighth and Brooks Lee will bat ninth and play shortstop today.
00:24And that group, Kirk, will see Trevor Rodgers coming off an outstanding 2025.
00:28Getting the opening day start.
00:30Started the year last year on the I.L. with a knee injury.
00:33Pitched about a half the season, just a little over.
00:35But it was a spectacular season for Trevor Rodgers.
00:39He had a jump in velocity back closer to when he was a really, really good young pitcher for the
00:45Miami Marlins.
00:46Take a look at that pitch mix.
00:48The four-seam change-up sinker slider.
00:49The sweeper was a new pitch last year.
00:51That was part of what allowed him to have the season that he had.
00:55But the velocity, the command, is what stood out for me.
00:58It'll be a good test here for this right-hand heavy Twins lineup this afternoon.
01:03And defense behind him.
01:05The new Oriole Taylor Bort in left.
01:09Colt Calzer in center.
01:10Tyler O'Neill in right.
01:11Looking for a bounce-back healthy season.
01:15Kobe Mayo third.
01:17Got our Henderson at short.
01:17You got Blaise Alexander trade right before spring training happened.
01:22Coming over to the Orioles, you got Pete Alonso.
01:24Also a new Oriole at first base.
01:26And Adley Rutschman looking for a bounce-back healthy year as well behind the plate.
01:30Your Toyota keys to the game.
01:38For Pete Alonso to catch the ball.
01:39So, it's usually one of the keys.
01:42That helps, yeah.
01:43Embrace opening day and fill up the columns.
01:46The second one, fill up the columns.
01:48Get that first hit out of the way.
01:49Get that first run driven in.
01:51That first run scored.
01:52Go up there.
01:53So, when you're walking up to the plate and you're looking up at your name,
01:55there's not a bunch of zeros for too long as you're strolling up there to make yourself maybe feel a
02:00little bit better.
02:01But it all starts now.
02:03Well, Austin Martin, his first career opening day roster, had a really good 50-game run the last two months
02:11of 2025.
02:12We'll leave things off.
02:14Rodgers is set, the lefty.
02:16And the opening pitch is a ball inside.
02:21No challenge.
02:21We're underway and no challenge on pitch number one here of the season.
02:26Really good spring for Martin.
02:28Battled a concussion towards the end of camp, but good to go on opening day.
02:32Flips it to center.
02:34And Colton Couser will now drift back a few steps.
02:37That one carried a bit more than he thought.
02:39And Martin flies out.
02:41So, one down.
02:42That brings up Byron Buxton.
02:44And Morni, his camp was moving along, wondering what would Shelty do with the batting order.
02:49And he's going to start with Buxton hitting second, Keishaw batting third.
02:52But I think this is a lineup we're going to see pretty frequently for the first two weeks.
02:56Twins expect to see left-handed starters about half of those first 15 games.
02:59I know there's not half of 15, Burke.
03:02So, we will see this lineup.
03:03And we should know by the end of April how they kind of feel about this versus lefties.
03:08Mid-season form with the one-liners.
03:12But you know what I like about the way that they're doing the lineup?
03:16It's that wraparound, that third time through.
03:18And so, that's going to put the Orioles in a tough spot.
03:21Coming back around the other way is when are you going to get that starting pitcher out, bring in that
03:27righty reliever.
03:28You've got pinch hit options in a couple of spots around Buck.
03:32But it all centers around Byron Buxton.
03:35He's the engine that drives this lineup.
03:38That's pulled foul today.
03:40Byron appearing in his 899th career game.
03:44We saw the numbers a moment ago.
03:46What he put up last season.
03:4835 homers stole 24 bases.
03:51And thrived in that leadoff spot.
03:54That's second here today.
03:55Ready for the 1-2 from Rodgers.
03:57And he strikes it out with a fastball.
04:02Almost 95 on the radar gun.
04:04And there are two down.
04:05Well, in tracking Trevor Rodgers over the years, 2021, had a really good year down in Miami.
04:12And he averaged over 95 with the fastball.
04:14His velocity jumped back up a little bit last year.
04:1893 miles an hour.
04:19And that was part of it.
04:21He's got that low three-quarter.
04:23He hides the ball well.
04:24Decent carry on that fastball.
04:26So, he likes to climb the ladder with the four-seamer.
04:28And he got Buck swinging at one there.
04:32Strike on Luke Keshaw.
04:3549 games for Keshaw last season.
04:38And he checked everything in terms of batting average, second best amongst Major League Baseball rookies.
04:45He was third in on base percentage.
04:46He was seventh in slugging.
04:50The question is, how do you react to your first full season?
04:54How do you react when in the league you're not able to sneak up on anybody?
04:58The league has more data.
04:59You guys obviously have more data coming up to the big leagues now with all the information in the minor
05:03leagues.
05:03But one of the things I like, he doesn't chase a whole lot.
05:06And that really is going to help him throughout his entire career.
05:09He's a good two-strike hitter last season.
05:12As he fights off that pitch from Rodgers.
05:14Yeah, with two strikes last year, Mornie Keshaw hit right around 250.
05:19Which is well above league average.
05:22I think his ability to let the ball get deep.
05:25He's so tight in his movement, his swing, everything.
05:28His arms stay so close to his body that, yes, the bat's speed doesn't jump off the page.
05:35But the fact that he's able to let that ball travel, see it deep.
05:39It allows him to track off-speed, allows him to track the change-ups.
05:42All that stuff that really, once the pitcher gets ahead, they're in control of the at-bat.
05:47You're more reactionary, and the longer you can see that ball out of that pitcher's hand,
05:52the longer you can track that ball into the zone, the better chance you have of swinging to good pitches.
05:56And I think all of those things combined lead to him being successful, not only with two strikes, but without
06:00two strikes.
06:03There's a cutter for ball one.
06:05And in terms of the fastball that Rodgers uses, strike out Buxton,
06:10but the breaking balls that the Twins will see from Rodgers last year were unhittable pitches.
06:14And it's the sweeper and the slider combo, and I think it was interesting talking to some of the Orioles
06:19guys earlier today.
06:21The thought process that Rodgers has in his mind on those pitches,
06:25it shows up in the data as a sweeper and a slider.
06:28In his head, he's throwing a curveball and a cutter.
06:31And so it's feel versus real.
06:33What are you thinking about?
06:34What are you throwing?
06:36And then what comes out of your hand?
06:38He's kind of been able to meld those two together, and it's become a pretty nasty combo.
06:42So, together for the forerunners.
06:46He shall come back to work the count full.
06:49This one called, ball three, and he was just off the corner.
06:55It was 0-2, now 3-2.
06:57Ryan Jeffers hoping for a chance to bat.
06:59Next, 3-2.
07:01Got jammed.
07:01Now it's a short.
07:03And Gunnar Henderson makes the play.
07:05And Trevor Rodgers, three up, three down, and the opening inning.
07:11Joe Ryan on the mound when we come back.
07:16Craig Albernaz, who spent the last two seasons as part of Steven Volkstaff in Cleveland,
07:22as he is going to use this forward starting lineup here today.
07:26A couple of new faces with his batting order.
07:28Taylor Ward, the former Angel.
07:30Of course, Pete Alonzo.
07:31Some big years with the Mets.
07:33Back-to-back catchers in Rutschman and Basayo.
07:36DH-ing today.
07:36O'Neal, Couser, Mayo, and Alexander.
07:39And it's a Joe Ryan perk opening day experience.
07:43Opening day start number two for Joe Ryan of his career.
07:45This is opening day number five for him.
07:48And the Twins, they kind of have 1A and 1B with Pablo Lopez, Joe Ryan.
07:53Pablo's gone.
07:54He's out.
07:55I'm sorry.
07:55He is not gone.
07:56He is just out for the season.
07:58But Joe Ryan gets the ball today.
08:00And I tell you what, emotionally, I don't know if there's a better guy equipped to handle
08:06an opening day like Joe Ryan is.
08:08He's so chill.
08:10I love if we had a heart rate monitor on him.
08:12I bet you he's right where he would be for any start during the season.
08:16Going to the cow.
08:18Back-to-back fastballs at 95 on Taylor Ward.
08:21But the numbers we showed you with Joe Ryan brought to you by CarShield and Velocity.
08:26That was a hot topic for Ryan in his spring training starts.
08:28It was low 90s.
08:29But so far, two fastballs, mid-90s.
08:32The former Angel Ward, who had 36 home runs last season,
08:36and fouls that fastball in 96 back to the screen.
08:39I think somebody asked him about that in spring training.
08:41And he said, yeah, I'm not too worried about it.
08:43I was throwing 90 in spring training last year, too.
08:45And then what did I average during the season?
08:46So there are certain guys that are able to turn it up.
08:50It's also adrenaline, right?
08:52Adrenaline pitching in spring training.
08:53By the time you've gone through about eight of them, that adrenaline is almost nonexistent.
08:57Yep.
08:59I think, Perk, question for me,
09:01I think the thing maybe that is also so impressive about Joe Ryan,
09:04and you know his best pitch is his fastball,
09:06and you know walking up to the plate
09:07that at some point in the at-bat he's going to throw you a fastball,
09:10and yet you still can't hit it.
09:11Is that hard as a pitcher, though, to feel like they know what's coming?
09:18Ward reaching and pops it up.
09:20And Brooks Lee, Royce Lewis, it'll be Lee.
09:23The shortstop grabbing it.
09:24And Ward is out.
09:25Number one, we'll get back to that thought perk.
09:27But Morty taking it to the Twins defense here for game one.
09:30Well, Austin Martin getting the start with the lefty on the mound and left.
09:33Good athlete out there.
09:34We got Buck.
09:34We know how much ground he can cover.
09:36Walner and Wright with a good, strong arm.
09:38Throws it as hard as anybody in baseball.
09:39Royce Lewis took a lot of steps forward at third base last year.
09:43Brooks Lee's going to be your everyday shortstop,
09:45and he's going to get more comfortable there as the year goes along.
09:47We got Kieshaw at second.
09:48Caratini, who can catch and play first.
09:51And Gunnar Henderson down a strike.
09:55Henderson last year, some injuries early in the season,
09:58but still a nice season, not what he was in 2024
10:02when he was an all-star, 37 homers, 21 stolen bases two years ago.
10:06It's 17 a season ago.
10:10Remember, Team USA and the WBC.
10:12Chops it to first and right at Victor Caratini.
10:16And quickly two down here for Ryan and a scoreless first inning.
10:19And I think getting back to Joe with the fastball morning,
10:21I think the main thing for him,
10:23and it's going to be a combination of him and Ryan Jeffers,
10:25behind home plate is just making sure that he throws enough,
10:28breaking stuff and off-speed stuff.
10:30Because I feel like Joe thinks he can throw a fastball every pitch
10:34because he believes that it's the best pitch in the game,
10:37and the numbers can back that up.
10:42Pete Alonzo, long-time New York Mets,
10:47signed a five-year contract as a free agent in December.
10:50And since 2019, only Aaron Judge and Kyle Schwarber
10:54have hit more home runs than this man of the plate.
10:5838 last year with the Mets.
11:00He's a five-time All-Star, two-time home run derby champ.
11:04And he bats third and will be the primary first baseman.
11:07And a swing and a miss on a fastball at 95.
11:10Good match up here.
11:11You know, as a hitter,
11:14that the pitcher's going to keep you honest.
11:16And so you have it in the back of your mind.
11:18Even though you know that that's his number one weapon,
11:20it isn't necessarily where he's going to go every pitch, right?
11:24Yeah, and you have to have enough trust in your plan.
11:27Even if he does, though, for me,
11:29even if he flips you, you know, something off-speed first pitch,
11:32something breaking first pitch,
11:33you still feel like in that at-bat at some point
11:35he's going to throw you a fastball.
11:37And you got Pete up there who's trying to make an impression,
11:39going up there aggressive and gets a fastball first pitch
11:42and still isn't able to get on top of it.
11:450-2 off speed on a breaking ball.
11:48So a hook from Joe Ryan.
11:50And he strikes out Pete Alonzo.
11:52And a great start for Joe Ryan.
11:54It's a 1-2-3 first.
11:56Went to the hook.
11:57It got his man.
11:58Good start for Joe Ryan.
11:59Opening day for Baltimore.
12:021592.
12:03Some renovations done before this season.
12:05Some Twins fans are here.
12:07Brand new scoreboard in right center.
12:10Right and sunny on a warm day.
12:12Ryan Jeffers lines it to left,
12:14and that will land in front of Taylor Ward.
12:17So Jeffers hitting over 300 lifetime at this ballpark
12:20as the first Twins hit of 2026.
12:28Saw his bat pick up toward the end of camp.
12:31The last couple of days he started to swing it really well.
12:34Fastball from Rodgers.
12:3693 in.
12:37And just under 110 out.
12:39One hop to the left fielder.
12:41Ryan Jeffers, he's got numbers next to his name
12:44and his stat line.
12:45Morey.
12:46Filling up the columns.
12:49Here's Matt Walner, the lone lefty,
12:52in the lineup here today.
12:54And Walner will challenge.
12:58So we have our first ABS challenge,
13:00brought to you by T-Mobile.
13:02And Walner challenging the first pitch.
13:05And Walner is right.
13:09So it is ball one.
13:11On that Walner.
13:13And each team, if you do not follow us at all in spring training,
13:16each team receives two challenges.
13:18It can only be challenged by the pitcher, batter, or catcher.
13:23And the other side ball two on Walner.
13:27Perk, we were down in Florida for a bit.
13:28What was your takeaway and how ABS was received?
13:31I think everybody loved it.
13:33I think the most important thing is getting the calls right.
13:37Interesting to see there at the top of the zone.
13:39That was the one I was talking about during spring
13:42is who's going to be able to recognize the strike zone up.
13:47That's kind of the biggest gray area for me.
13:50And that was a fastball.
13:51But that top of the zone pitch recognition
13:55is going to be a big part, I think,
13:57as the season goes on with ABS.
13:59I think as the guys learn as the year goes along,
14:01because guys are going to get a printout of their zone,
14:03because now we have them measured and each zone is different.
14:05The box you see on TV is supposed to be the exact zone for that hitter.
14:10Specifically, in the past, it was more of just of a general box.
14:13It was on TV more for reference.
14:15Now it's specific to each hitter.
14:16So it matches what the umpires are calling
14:18and what the hitters are going to learn.
14:19And I think there's going to be learning throughout the year
14:22of looking back and going,
14:23should I have challenged that pitch?
14:24And guys are going to kind of determine exactly
14:27where the top of their zone actually is.
14:31Full count now on Walner.
14:35What do you think, Jeffers moving here?
14:383-2 count, nobody out here in the second
14:40as Walner now takes his time.
14:41Lefty on the mound.
14:46I'm going to lean with no.
14:47Lefty on the mound, some swing and miss in the box.
14:51Risky play.
14:53They want to be aggressive.
14:54This will be a time to be aggressive.
14:58Runner stays 3-2, outside, ball four.
15:01So Matt Walner, what a 12% walk rate last year.
15:05League average over 8%.
15:06And the Twins putting some pressure on here.
15:09Two on.
15:10Nobody out.
15:11So a good chance for Josh Bell to make an impression
15:13in Game 1 as a twin.
15:18Looking, you always, anytime you're with a new team,
15:20every year you want to get off to a good start,
15:22but when you put on a new uniform,
15:24you want to make a good first impression.
15:26Nothing like coming up that first time with some traffic.
15:31As Rodgers steps off.
15:33Now Josh Bell, in advance of the 2025 season with Washington,
15:37he changed up his swing, but he did not like the results at all.
15:41Then around mid to late May, went back to his old swing.
15:44And if you look at Bell's season a year ago,
15:46a much different player the last three and a half,
15:49four months of 2025.
15:52I think sometimes the hardest thing to do,
15:54whether you go to a new organization
15:55or a new hitting coach comes in,
15:57somebody and they have an idea of how they think
15:58they can help you improve.
16:00They see you hit the ball hard,
16:01but maybe you hit it on the ground a little too much.
16:03And then you start trying to make those adjustments
16:05and try to adapt.
16:07And everyone wants to get better, obviously.
16:08And sometimes it can have a negative effect.
16:12Tied up and a strike.
16:14And I think maybe in a chase to try to hit line drives,
16:17you end up hitting some balls on the ground.
16:22Did you call that on the swing?
16:25I don't think so.
16:26No, I think you just...
16:27Hmm.
16:28But Josh Bell, for me,
16:29is not a guy that you want hitting the ball on the ground.
16:32He's a power-type drive-in runs.
16:36This is the kind of situation they envisioned him being up in.
16:41Guys on base,
16:42an opportunity to drive a ball into the gap
16:44or over the fence
16:45and put some runs on the board.
16:46A low strikeout rate,
16:48high walk rate.
16:50He's running a seven-game hitting streak at this ballpark.
16:56To right,
16:57and down the line,
16:59and foul.
17:02Now, getting back to his swing,
17:03and specifically the right-handed side,
17:05with Victor Caratini on deck,
17:07he said,
17:09in order for my right-handed swing
17:11to be where I want it to be
17:13come opening day,
17:15no golf.
17:16The anti-Morno.
17:17No golf.
17:19This winner.
17:24Two on, nobody out.
17:26Got him.
17:27Nasty breaking ball,
17:29and we talked about that earlier.
17:32He has options,
17:34creates so much swing and miss
17:36with his variety of breaking balls.
17:38It's in the zone so long.
17:40You can go all the way back to that fastball
17:42that he got in on the inside corner
17:44and throwing off of that,
17:46but that pitch in the zone
17:48about as long as it can be,
17:49and then just missed in off,
17:51but felt out front over the top.
17:55Caratini lines it to left.
17:56Here comes Ward.
17:57He'll make the catch.
18:00So two down.
18:01It's up to Royce Lewis.
18:06When pests show up uninvited,
18:07Plunkett snocks them out of the park
18:09with trusted professional care.
18:11From first visit to long-term prevention,
18:13get Plunkett's today.
18:17Sorry to interrupt you there, sir.
18:22I was just going to say,
18:23it's amazing how,
18:24no matter what happens in the spring,
18:26no matter where you hit the lineup,
18:27how that moment will find you,
18:28Royce, right here.
18:30Gets away,
18:31and that hit Lewis
18:33on a changeup at 89.
18:37So Lewis will take his base.
18:40Looks to be okay.
18:41And now here comes Brooks Lee.
18:44Base is loaded two down here in the second.
18:46The ball found him.
18:47Not only a moment,
18:48looked like he got it right off the toe.
18:51That'll bring a mound visit here.
18:54Hopefully Royce is all right,
18:54but I was just saying,
18:55it's amazing.
18:56Royce kind of struggled
18:57throughout the spring.
18:58Home run first at bat
18:59and then sort of battled his way through.
19:01All of a sudden you look up,
19:02you're hitting eighth
19:03and a big moment
19:04to try and give your team a lead.
19:06Pick your teammates up
19:06and drive in a run
19:07and that'll just pass the baton
19:09to Brooks Lee.
19:10But there's some players
19:12on this team
19:13that are going to be given
19:15an opportunity
19:15to establish themselves
19:17as everyday players
19:18in the big leagues.
19:19I think Brooks Lee,
19:20one of those guys.
19:22Royce Lewis,
19:23another one of those guys
19:23where there's going to be
19:25some opportunity
19:25and to see what they can do.
19:27And I think something
19:28about being comfortable
19:29in the big leagues
19:30really helps with that
19:31when you know
19:32you're going to be
19:32in the lineup
19:33for the next two weeks,
19:34the next month.
19:35You have that extended run
19:37where the 0 for 4
19:39isn't going to eat you up
19:40and it's not going to sit there
19:40and you don't have to linger
19:41on it for three days.
19:43It's something that you can
19:43right away the next day
19:45go out there
19:45and try and get better
19:46and improve on.
19:47The game is so hard
19:48you don't want to spend it
19:50looking over your shoulder
19:52or waiting for that next day
19:54when you show up to the field
19:55to see if you're in the lineup
19:56to just know that you're
19:59going to play go so far with
20:02confidence preparation all of
20:04those things that are going to
20:05help you perform on the field.
20:08Lee was good last season with
20:10the bases loaded hit a grand
20:12slam he's been good in his big
20:14league career but down two
20:16strikes Trevor Rogers at home
20:22last season and seven starts at
20:25his own ballpark he finished
20:26with a sub one ERA.
20:33Acquired trade deadline from
20:35Miami back in 2024.
20:38Bases loaded two down no score
20:40the 0-2.
20:41Got him.
20:43Curveball from Rogers to the
20:45Twins make some noise but cannot
20:47cash in and leave the maximum.
21:00Talking with Luke earlier today no
21:02surprise he was all business yes of
21:05course he's excited but he said the
21:07biggest thing on his mind right now
21:08is staying present and helping his
21:10guys get off to a good start.
21:12For him year two is all about
21:14staying true to who he is never
21:16getting too high never getting too
21:17low and just trusting his abilities
21:19things that really helped him have
21:21such a successful first season.
21:23Derek Shelton is of course thrilled
21:25to see what is in store for his
21:27sophomore year saying that Luke
21:28plays with his hair on fire he
21:30plays the right way and if you are
21:32a kid in the Twin Cities you should
21:33want to embody the way Luke
21:35Keishaw loves and plays the game of
21:37baseball guys it's pretty high
21:38praise Luke Keishaw from his
21:39manager.
21:40Audrey Wright and Keishaw put
21:42together a great camp and only
21:44struck out two times and he was
21:46playing all the time and batting
21:49third for Derek Shelton here in
21:51opening day 0 and 2 on Adley
21:54Rutschman a down season a year
21:57ago for the former number one
21:59overall pick but then he has
22:00thrived in opening day 10 for 14
22:03in opening day in his career with
22:04three home runs Ryan's 0 2 and
22:11when this is outside a curveball
22:12from Joe let's go back to you know
22:14Sheltie and Keishaw don't Sheltie a
22:17long time when he was hitting
22:18coach and bench coach and
22:19everything else and just have a
22:21conversation with him about guys
22:23on the roster talking about
22:24Keishaw just said you're going to
22:26fall in love with the way this
22:27guy plays just seen him about his
22:30business going doing his work
22:32watching him play watch one of
22:34the spring training games towards
22:34the end and he hit a pop up on
22:36the infield through the bat down
22:38and then sprinted to first base
22:39and he just he just can't turn it
22:40off he just knows one way to play
22:44like Audrey said it's just you
22:45fall in love with the way he
22:46plays runs hard down the line
22:48every time he's going to be
22:49prepared every pitch to write
22:53and playable for Walner and
22:57Rutschman is retired so one
23:01away for Sam well but Sio twins
23:05and Orioles they played six times
23:06last year and the twins won all
23:08six and both series were early in
23:10the year and the twins never saw
23:13the young Basayo Dominican born
23:15he is 21 years old made his debut
23:18last year four homers in 31 games
23:21Rutschman is still the primary
23:23catcher but Basayo he might catch
23:24two or three times in a week as
23:28Ryan runs a slider in on one but
23:32making up the lineup card today
23:33seeing both catchers Rutschman
23:36catching and Basayo per DHing getting
23:39back to back today yeah can be can
23:40be risky I think the twins both
23:43catchers in their lineup as well but
23:45one at first base and so if some
23:48reason Carantini needs to move
23:49behind the plate they don't lose the
23:50DH the Orioles would be a little
23:52tougher spot but I think Basayo will
23:55get some time this year a couple of
23:57years ago Rutschman caught 110 two
23:59years ago caught 103 it's a lot of
24:01wear and tear on him and I think
24:02they'll try to find ways to keep his
24:04bat in the lineup but maybe not as
24:06much behind home plate and that's
24:07where Basayo comes in sweeper from
24:10Joe and it's 0 and 2 Ryan last year
24:17if you really kind of break down
24:18some of the numbers his chase
24:21percentage was down he got hit
24:24harder and the fastball was still
24:26a very good pitch for it sharply
24:30to first but pick guy Carantini and
24:33there are two down but seeing if
24:34Ryan can induce more chase and
24:36swing and miss but his off speed
24:37pitches is worth watching speaking
24:40of worth watching Tyler O'Neill has
24:42been worth watching on opening day
24:43because he has an amazing streak
24:45going entering play today he has
24:47homered in a major league record six
24:49consecutive opening days dating back
24:52to 2020 six straight opening days
24:57this guy is homered and morning a
24:59guy you know well you were with
25:00him recently with team Canada at
25:03the WBC oh and he's well aware of
25:05the streak too so it's it's pretty
25:07impressive that he has that
25:09awareness but still is able to go
25:10up there and go deep hopefully
25:11twins are able to keep him in
25:12check today I was going to ask you
25:17if that would be something as a
25:19hitter that you would be aware of
25:20about the game and a half absolutely
25:22I mean especially six maybe like
25:24two three you're not really sure
25:26you probably remember having a
25:27good start to the season but it's
25:31so hard to come out of spring
25:32training you know firing ready to
25:35go the fact that he's done it
25:37that many times mind blowing see
25:40Junior and done with eight but
25:42those weren't in consecutive
25:44seasons so again O'Neill his
25:46record six consecutive opening
25:48days with a home run Frank Robinson
25:51Willie Mays impressive group two
25:57and one on O'Neill O'Neill last
26:01season this is year two of a
26:03three year contract he signed with
26:04the Orioles he was injured three
26:06different aisle stints for Tyler
26:08O'Neill last season just 54
26:10games change some things in the
26:14offseason training program try to
26:16get his swing back to where he
26:17wanted it swung the bat really
26:20well the WBC numbers didn't quite
26:22show it but said his swing has
26:25felt good good finish to camp for
26:29the Orioles down in Sarasota
26:34brings the energy every day he's
26:36excited to play baseball fun guy
26:38to be around and looking for a
26:39bounce back season Ryan fell
26:41behind 2-0 now the 2-2 is fouled
26:44back challenged O'Neill with a
26:46fastball but per getting back to
26:48the point with Ryan this season
26:50are you looking at to not just the
26:51fastball but seeing if his off
26:53speed pitches work in a different
26:55way this year well and so that was
26:56what I asked him when I first saw
26:58him down in campus what did you work
26:59on this offseason and he said just
27:01trying to tighten up the off speed
27:03stuff and I love off speed all
27:06together that's the split that's the
27:08breaking stuff he wanted to make
27:10those pitches a little bit better I
27:12think he knows he's got the fastball
27:14that's there he'll be able to end
27:16some at bats quicker and that can be
27:18with a strikeout or just early week
27:21contact in and at bat with the soft
27:24stuff and so I think that's as he just
27:27continues to develop and refine
27:29himself as a pitcher that that's the
27:31step and we've been talking about
27:32that for a couple of years because we
27:34all know how good his fastball is and
27:36how much he relies on it but having
27:37those other pitches not so much as a
27:39decoy to be able to get back to the
27:41fastball but to use those as a weapon
27:44to get out I think is the next step in
27:46Joe Ryan's progression and it kind of
27:50goes back to the conversation asked you
27:51last inning of how tough is it when you
27:54know what's coming well I think that is
27:55something that is in the hitter's head
27:57they know he's got an exceptional
27:58fastball so you're right if he is able
28:00to land some of those off speed pitches
28:02some of that softer stuff early and
28:03counts get some quick outs because hitters
28:05are going up there anticipating his
28:07fastball trying to look for his
28:08fastball it doesn't necessarily mean
28:12they've done a whole lot with it but
28:14if you're able to get a guy out front
28:16just a little bit cheating to your
28:18heater you can get that weak contact
28:19being a successful hitter is
28:20eliminating pitches and if you know
28:22that a guy might throw them but
28:25they're not competitive or they're not
28:26in the zone you can eliminate those
28:27very quickly and it shows how good
28:29what his fastball is check swing no
28:33swings is Brian Onura on a three two
28:36sweeper so a nine pitch plate
28:39appearance and O'Neal draws a two
28:42out walk to bring up Fulton Cowes
28:48put it in a good spot but O'Neal was
28:50able to just recognize it in time
28:52started his swing he was able to
28:54stop I think Joe would have liked that
28:58one to be in the zone and just
29:00challenge him with a sweeper down and
29:02away Couser former first round pick
29:05he's in center field for the Orioles
29:08Cedric Mullins no longer with
29:10Baltimore he is now in Tampa so
29:14Couser in the past yes some center
29:16but more in the corners sub 200
29:19average despite 16 home runs a season
29:22to go with an injured left hand
29:25early a season ago as Ryan sinker
29:29misses low ball one strike on
29:32Couser like the twins the Orioles
29:36struggled offensively 24th and run
29:39scoring high strikeout rate as a
29:41team third highest strikeout rate
29:43of any offense in the game so that
29:47is some new faces to the roster
29:49this season wanted to
29:53play a couple of down years we
29:54talked about Gunnar Henderson and
29:56then the next wave of guys and
29:58that's
30:00Jackson holiday Couser Mayo
30:03haven't really hit their stride yet
30:05at this level that that's that
30:07second group of guys to kind of meet
30:08Henderson and Westberg at third base
30:12reaching for breaking ball and pops
30:14it up
30:14and Matt Walner and the Maryland
30:17Sunshine will grab it and a walk
30:20leads to nothing Byron Buxton is
30:22coming up with a twins bat in the
30:24third top of the order it'll be
30:26Martin followed by
30:28MLB some twins fans here on this
30:30lovely day opening day in
30:31Baltimore no score second time
30:33through and a good start Austin
30:34Martin
30:35Martin lies the first pitch into
30:37left field so like we saw in the
30:39second it was Jeffers leadoff
30:40single now Austin Martin does the
30:42same and some speed on your
30:43fellows in the third
30:45it's kind of what you like about
30:47the top part of this lineup all
30:48three of these guys have plus
30:49speed all three of these guys can
30:50steal your base when you need to
30:52get a good good good good good good
30:54going up there they like the
30:55matchup against left handed
30:56pitching see what they have if
30:58they have anything on his move
31:01anticipated him coming over is
31:02this a one way lead trying to
31:03draw pick right here big lead he
31:07takes off first pitch breaking
31:09ball is a strike throw to second
31:10base is not in time so Martin
31:14stole eleven bases last year so
31:16he swung at the first pitch now
31:18he runs first chance here with
31:20Buxton batting the twins have
31:22their first stolen base here on the
31:23season there's something freeing
31:25about knowing that your manager
31:27wants you to run and we saw this
31:29with a different manager
31:30obviously at the last part of
31:31last year but twins were
31:33encouraged to go and they did it
31:35frequently and they were
31:35successful at it and I think
31:36that's just fed into the
31:37confidence to start the year to
31:41short Henderson looks Martin
31:42back and throws out Buxton so
31:46Martin unable to advance so one
31:49away and that'll bring up
31:57back and throw it out Luke Kishol
31:59fell behind 0-2 in the first
32:00inning he came back to work an
32:03eight pitch at bat and a 3-2
32:06count eventually grotted out just a
32:1014 percent strikeout rate last
32:12year league average above twenty
32:14two percent as Martin at second base
32:18when's looking to strike here
32:20against Rogers in the third
32:23disengagement number one and
32:24Austin easily back in I wonder how
32:27much we're gonna see attempts or
32:29stolen third base stolen base
32:30attempts to see if that's
32:32something that twins add in as
32:34well we saw it especially with
32:37Buxton not as inclined to steal third
32:39base something that's gonna open
32:41up hopefully score some more runs
32:43by it well the twins for a long
32:45time last year with the only team
32:47in baseball without a stolen base
32:49of third than the first one came
32:52late in the first half it was at
32:53Dodger Stadium Deshaun Kersey
32:55Junior was the one that first
32:57stole third you see the numbers the
33:00the twins just totally changed their
33:02mentality after the trade deadline a
33:05season ago the block there from
33:07Rutschman that's the strength of
33:08his framer smothered that breaking
33:11ball from Rogers and I think part of
33:14the strategy for the twins those
33:16last couple of months last year was
33:17just let's see what we can get away
33:18with how much can how much can we
33:20steal before it becomes problematic
33:25or or we start getting thrown out
33:27push the limits on those attempts and
33:30and I don't think they reach that
33:31point hard hit in the hole Henderson
33:35diving stop pops to his feet and not
33:38in time he should fire it up pull up
33:44that column hard high five over there
33:47for Grady Sizemore the new first
33:48base coach a tremendous player back
33:53in his day as well but talk about
33:56running hard out of the box one hop
34:00Henderson's got a cannon but Keshaw
34:03first step out of the box going hard
34:0590 feet yeah he's not only running
34:07hard but he thinks he can get a hit
34:08he's going hard down the line every
34:10single time now Ryan Jeffers in the
34:15hole left side diving stock made by
34:17Mayo second for Lando to a close in
34:19time and the Orioles turn two male
34:24Alexander to Alonzo the twins threaten
34:26but a 5 4 3 inning ending double play
34:30and the twins cannot capitalize the
34:33Orioles will come up 8 9 1 do up in a
34:36scoreless third does appear to rise on
34:38the way there and I think that's what
34:40makes it so challenging for the hitters
34:41it looks like you know you should be
34:44able to get on top of it you should
34:45be able to get to his fastball and it
34:47just never comes down and all for me
34:49it has to do with the release height
34:50as much as anything as opposed to you
34:53know the arm angle and all the other
34:54stuff which does add to the deception
34:56but for me it's how low he releases the
34:58ball to the to the ground but not being
35:00a sidearm guy and I think the way his
35:02fastball plays and how difficult it is
35:04to get on top of it it's just so
35:06exceptional by the time your eyes
35:08adjust he's out of the game and he
35:09struck out a couple of times one
35:13ball one strike on Kobe Mayo as we
35:15go take a look at the delivery from
35:18Ryan so he's got a lead extension so
35:22he gets down the mound he's he's
35:24getting on top of you with his stride
35:25where he releases that ball distance
35:27the home plate and then also the
35:29height on top of it it's just so
35:31exceptional and I think the twins
35:33what a great trade just to think of
35:36adding a guy nobody could really
35:38explain why he was so successful in
35:40the minor leagues the Rays didn't
35:41really know what they had because
35:43he's a guy throwing 90 to 92 mile
35:45an hour fastballs when he was in the
35:46minor leagues and he was absolutely
35:48dominating everywhere he was at and
35:50they just weren't sure how it was
35:51going to play at the big league
35:52level and twins took a chance and
35:54it's really turned into something
35:582 and 2 on Mayo who's playing at
36:00third base for the injured Jordan
36:02Westbrook a guy that isn't known well
36:06for his defense made a good play on
36:07a ball to left Jeffers bat at 107
36:10miles an hour now 3-2 the Orioles
36:15are dealing with some early season
36:16injuries Jordan Westbrook he's got a
36:18torn ligament in his elbow and also
36:21without second baseman Jackson
36:22Holiday he's rehabbing right now
36:25recovering from a broken handmaid
36:29boom 3-2 from Ryan we'll do it again
36:31did you break your ham a morning
36:33nope which amazes everybody because
36:36I wasn't off the off the knob off
36:37the bottom of the back hitter I don't
36:41know Andrew's eight maybe it was the
36:42one-handed finish that did it what
36:43Andy Andy's Canadian in case we
36:47forgot that we forgot that that never
36:48comes up so there is holiday 3-2 and
36:54hard to left the male it's a
36:59fourth round pick back in 2020
37:02third base and first base now back
37:06at third he's only 24 years old
37:08and 11 home runs high strikeout
37:10rate last year once again Ryan's
37:173-2 well he pulled that pitch before
37:24it was a fastball about 94 miles an
37:26hour bullet foul it's an auto
37:28off speed something could be a
37:31split if you want to do that right
37:32or right could be a breaking ball
37:33he went to the slider I was
37:34surprised to see him and a
37:38breaking ball a curve locks up
37:40Mayo a couple of fastballs and
37:43then Jeffers and Ryan
37:47go off speed great pitch I was
37:50surprised to see him stay back
37:52long enough to pull that slider
37:53keep it keep the at bat alive and
37:56then Joe Ryan front door breaking
37:57ball locked him up
38:01nine pitch at bat Ryan picks up his
38:04second strikeout and now blaze
38:09Alexander fired from Arizona back in
38:12February it was interesting to
38:14listen to Derek Shelton talk
38:15before the game about how we're
38:17used to see he said there was a
38:18lot there's been a lot less
38:19interactions between the hitters
38:21and the umpires now it's on you
38:22there was so much it was always
38:24complaining about guys thought
38:25they knew the strike zone now it's
38:27really going to be put your body
38:28where your mouth is do you know
38:29the strike zone as well as you
38:30think you do because it did look
38:34like now obviously he froze him
38:35with that front front door curve
38:37ball but it looked like there was
38:38an initial thought of like
38:39that's a ball and then you don't
38:40turn around and say anything to
38:41the umpire because it's like well
38:42if you don't if you think it's a
38:43ball just tap your helmet you
38:44disagree with me you're free to
38:46make that determination it's
38:47going to be really interesting to
38:48follow that as the year goes
38:50along and especially seventh to
38:52eighth ninth inning tie game our
38:55guy's going to react struck him out
38:57ninety five so Ryan makes quick
38:59work of Alexander two down here
39:04the Orioles third of the batter
39:06will be Taylor Ward oh here's
39:07that fastball from the low arm
39:09slot see Jeffers give him the
39:10high target it's a good shot of
39:12it you can see that ball is just
39:14on a string from Joe Ryan's hand
39:16right to the top of the strike
39:17zone by him Alexander underneath it
39:21as well
39:26the ball breaking ball first pitch
39:28strike one on Taylor Ward
39:33Orioles had a part ways with
39:35Grayson Rodriguez a promising
39:37young starter but often injured
39:39exactly like it is whether that's
39:41good or bad in fact on day one of
39:44camp he used a bowling lane
39:45analogy saying of course they want
39:47everyone rolling right down the
39:48middle but if they ever veer off
39:50course he and the other coaches
39:51are there as bumpers to get them
39:53back on track before they ever land
39:55in the gutter and that approach has
39:57been very well received by these
39:58players a group of players who can
40:00tell us also how much this
40:02opportunity means to Derek Shelton
40:04so it's a really excited group of
40:06guys in that clubhouse but you know
40:08what guys not even just about playing
40:09for Derek Shelton a lot of guys have
40:11mentioned the opportunity to work
40:13with Latroy Hawkins guys like Grady
40:14Sizemore this whole staff a lot of new
40:16faces new voices and this is a
40:18clubhouse that has been really
40:20receptive of the message that has
40:21been sent from day one of camp
40:22yeah the Twins did retain a few
40:25coaches assistant hitting coaches
40:27are back from last year assistant
40:30bullpen coach and no swing there
40:31from Walner and Luis Ramirez
40:34Raiden Sierra Trevor Amacone part
40:36of the hitting staff in the past
40:38they remain but many new faces in
40:41that third base dugout here this
40:42season 1 2 to Walner now 2 and 2
40:47Walner walked in the second and
40:50what stands out too about the staff
40:52is and we mentioned Grady Sizemore's
40:54name the Troy Hawkins is the
40:56bullpen coach as well it's a big
40:58league experience the Twins have
40:59and their staff it was something
41:00that we talked about for the last
41:03couple of years there wasn't a ton
41:05of experience playing experience on
41:07the coaching staff Rocco we had the
41:10most and so to bring in some guys
41:12that have some experience playing
41:14this game I think is huge Grady
41:16Sizemore Latroy those two guys
41:19combined I'm guessing have over 30
41:20years of major league service
41:22Hawks got about 22 on his own it
41:26helped the math a little bit
41:27knowing that Hawk was 21 of them
41:303 2 and Matt Walner has worked his
41:34second walk today he fell behind 0
41:362 actually hit him on the hand by
41:39his reaction I believe but I think
41:42Laz just said well whether it hits
41:43you or not either way or go to
41:46first base either way you're going
41:48to first but yes good job of
41:50battling through the at bat I think
41:53I'm not under the belief that you
41:55had to have played in the big
41:56leagues to be a good major league
41:58coach I had great coaches that
42:01haven't but I think there is
42:02something about having a
42:03conversation with the guy of you
42:05you know when you were in an over 22
42:08what did you do to get out of it and
42:09just to know that that guy's been
42:11through exactly what you've been
42:12through at a high-pressure
42:13environment like we have today a
42:15full house here Baltimore you know
42:17how did you control your emotions on
42:19opening day for the guys who it's
42:20their first opening day how did you
42:21and going to a guy like Grady
42:22Sizemore I think who was one of the
42:26best all-around players every time he
42:28took the field it was an incredible
42:30baseball player could do absolutely
42:31everything to add a guy like that to
42:33the staff to add the experience like
42:34we talked about there is there is
42:35something to that as well and I
42:36think a good blend of a little bit
42:38everything helps and it's not
42:41necessarily or always a everyone's
42:43able to identify the problems it's
42:46sometimes somebody just uses
42:47different language and they're able
42:48to get that message across in a way
42:50that sometimes relates with with
42:51different guys and I think guys are
42:53excited to hear some new ideas high
42:57strike and Bell will challenge
43:03the Twins one for one in challenges
43:04so far today called strike one and
43:10it was outside the Twins are two for
43:12two leveraging those those
43:15situations right that's a chance
43:17that's early in the ballgame but
43:20you're willing to take a chance
43:21here because it has a chance to
43:22completely alter the whole course of
43:24the inning now he's on base as
43:25opposed to being in a 3-1 count
43:27guys are gonna get really used to
43:28this in the regular season as it
43:30goes along for when do we use these
43:31challenges and what's the importance
43:32of it this was a spot that we had
43:34talked about Corey might have been
43:35off air but the 3-0 do you challenge
43:37that one early in the inning yes yeah
43:39and there's your answer right there I
43:41think a ball is a ball or a challenge
43:43is a challenge and so Josh Bell he
43:45wanted to get on first base 3-0 count
43:47he's fine knew that pitch was outside
43:50and so he took the chance and that's
43:52that's one of the ones like so the
43:53hitters are aware of umpires expand
43:56the zone more in 3-0 counts they do
43:58rather than shrinks more in 0-2 counts
44:00than it does in any other count so
44:01hitters are aware of that also two
44:05on nobody out for Caratini that
44:09might be the one that hurts the
44:10pitchers more than anything just
44:12like real throw it near the plate
44:13and it was going to be a strike in
44:14the past for whatever reason
44:16they're human beings it's the way
44:17it goes and now there's not going
44:20to be that automatic 3-0 throw it
44:23somewhere near the outside edge
44:25there's a double play ball to third
44:28Alexander on the first and or two
44:30down Trevor Rogers last year was
44:41seventy fourth percentile in
44:44ground ball rate we're seeing that
44:46be a factor here today to five
44:49four three double plays and he's
44:51had some traffic but he's been able
44:53to work out of it by getting that
44:54weak contact on the ground
44:55the Twins one for seven so far with
44:57runners in scoring position so
44:59infield back Walder at third it's
45:01up to Royce hit by a pitch on his
45:04foot his first time up a change
45:08up misses low for ball one the
45:10spring numbers not great for
45:11Lewis but the last week or so he
45:14was pleased with the content
45:16and certainly the ball came off the
45:18bat louder the last four or five
45:22days than it was for the bulk of
45:24camp good spot for Lewis early in
45:28this game trying to come up with
45:29a clutch two outswing Lewis a
45:35year ago good numbers against
45:36breaking balls not so much with
45:38fastballs to right in the
45:40sunshine O'Neill backpedaling has
45:42a play and again the Twins make
45:44some noise and cannot cash in two
45:47on nobody off they do not score
45:53for today
45:57no score bottom four Gunnar
45:59Henderson Pete Alonso and Adley
46:01Rutschman to bat for the Orioles
46:04as Joe Ryan deals with hitters two
46:05three and four
46:08Rutschman grounded I should say
46:10Henderson grounded out to
46:11Caratini his first time up mentioned
46:20Henderson was ripped in USA the
46:22WBC and then he thrived six for
46:25fifty eight a double homer twice
46:34good pass said that Ryan fastball
46:37at ninety three and now two and one
46:44his percentile ranks in terms of
46:46run value last season really good
46:50base runner to one to two still
47:00above average hitter just not as
47:03high as the bar he said the year
47:04before 30 plus home runs it was a
47:10health issue in there that he was
47:11dealing with and played through
47:12last year nothing better when you
47:17grind through like half of a
47:18season with some type of nagging
47:20injury and get into the winter
47:21and finally goes away pick up a
47:23bat again and starts to feel good
47:24you look forward to hitting that's
47:26where he's hoping he's back at
47:28Jack Swig you bet he went sure
47:34that's what he's doing it and he
47:35did fourth strikeout for Ryan
47:36nasty pitch one away sped him up
47:41with the fastball in and then went
47:43to the breaking ball and you see
47:44Gunnar Henderson there probably
47:45thought that was going to be
47:46another fastball in the inside
47:47corner so he gets started early
47:50and not able to hold up it's
47:52worth that is a sword that's how
47:56it's pronounced beat Alonzo struck
48:00out into Ryan breaky ball the
48:02first American American English
48:04Canadian English it's all the
48:07good of this sword sword
48:160 2 Alonzo his average 42 home
48:22runs over his major league career
48:2831 years old no longer New York
48:33Met Ryan went breaking ball to
48:40strike him out last time slider
48:45low shadows are starting to creep
48:50towards home plate twins had a
48:52lot of opportunities early in this
48:53game but Rogers made some pitches
48:56and able to get out of this is
48:58loaded jams in trouble interesting
49:02to see if it does get more
49:04difficult for these hitters as it
49:05goes along both pitchers have been
49:06good the Ryan's been really good
49:10attacking the strike zone ton of
49:11strikes
49:15Richmond on deck the 2 2 struck
49:19ball came out went back to the
49:20breaking ball a curve again so
49:23Ryan twice has struck out Alonzo
49:25perk with curveballs he's got
49:27Alonzo twice he's got Gunnar
49:29Henderson once he froze Colby
49:31Mayo with that front door curve
49:34ball four strikeouts for Joe and I
49:35tell you what as this season wears
49:37on I'm curious about Joe we've
49:40seen him have in one start it's a
49:42good split another start it's a good
49:43sweeper a slider curveball there
49:47hasn't been anything consistent are
49:49we going to see him maybe develop
49:51one of those off speed pitches
49:52that's a little bit more consistent
49:54that he can go to regularly where
49:56he feels like he could throw it in
49:57the strike zone on one pitch and
49:59then get it down and away for the
50:02strikeout later in the at-bat we're
50:05seeing him kind of move that
50:07breaking ball around to lefties and
50:08righties with success
50:10there's base hit Ryan has allowed
50:12it's an Adley Rutschman two out
50:14single
50:17so Ryan walked O'Neill in the
50:19second and now Rutschman reaches
50:20with the base hit the two down here
50:22the fourth the only two base
50:23runners Baltimore's had against Joe
50:26today do you feel like that
50:28sometimes makes it more difficult
50:29to game plan for the fact that it
50:31isn't the same secondary pitches
50:33every time he goes out there and
50:34it's not like okay when it's not
50:36the fastball it's gonna be this
50:37there could be some truth to that
50:39however when you're going out of
50:40the mound it might be nice to
50:41know what you have and not have
50:44to spend an inning or two trying
50:45to find hey which one of these
50:46is going to work for me today that
50:50was something that Joe Bauer
50:52talked about all the time he
50:54refers to this conversation he
50:55had with Brad Radke early in his
50:57career of how many days did he
50:59have all of his pitches working
51:00out of his 30 32 starts and I
51:02would say Radke told him it was
51:04five outings maybe where they
51:06were all working he had a good
51:07feel for all of them I think so
51:10that's part of it too that's we've
51:12heard a lot about the two outs
51:14not the right time to get into
51:15this conversation but of the
51:16pitch calling happening in the
51:17fire leagues across the game
51:19it just couldn't be called from
51:20the dugout I think the challenge
51:21of that is how is his slider
51:23working today can he land his
51:25curveball if he needs to is that
51:26change up a good go to pitch
51:28behind the count when he needs to
51:29be able to throw something off
51:30speed for a strike and the feel
51:32between the pitcher and catcher
51:33is important and I think that's
51:37maybe part of the challenge also
51:38of catching Joe Ryan is when you're
51:40back there in your Jeffers and
51:41which off speed pitch is our go to
51:43today what do we what do we like
51:44if we need to get a strikeout or
51:45swing and miss something other
51:47than the fastball and it may be
51:51something that he finds in the
51:52bullpen I know things can change
51:54we're going to pregame warm up to
51:55when you get out on the mound for
51:58the actual game but I do think and
52:01that was a conversation with Joe
52:03that he wanted to refine those he
52:05wanted to tighten them up was the
52:06word that he used and I think part
52:09of that is so he knows when he goes
52:10into a start that I'm not going to
52:12spend the first time through here
52:13trying to find another pitch and I
52:15know that I've got one other pitch
52:17that I can go to if I need it
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