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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 in 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
14:27exactly where the top of their zone actually is.
14:31Full count now on Walner.
14:35What do you think?
14:36Jeffers moving here.
14:38Three-two count.
14:39Nobody 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.
14:48Some 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.
14:59Three-two outside.
15:00Ball four.
15:01So Matt Walner went 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
15:12to make an impression in game one as a twin.
15:18Looking, you always,
15:19anytime 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
15:27that was some traffic.
15:31As Roger steps off,
15:33Josh Bell,
15:34in advance of the 2025 season with Washington,
15:37he changed up his swing,
15:38but he did not like the results at all.
15:41Then around mid to late May,
15:43went back to his old swing.
15:44And if you look at Bell's season a year ago,
15:46a much different player
15:48the 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
15:58of how they think they can help you improve.
16:00You know, they 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 in a strike.
16:13And I think maybe in a chase
16:16to 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...
16:28But Josh Bell, for me,
16:29is not a guy that you want
16:31hitting the ball on the ground.
16:32He's a power type, drive-in runs.
16:37This is the kind of situation
16:38they envisioned him being up in.
16:41Guys on base,
16:42an opportunity to drive a ball
16:43into the gap or over the fence
16:45and put some runs on the board.
16:47Low strikeout rate, high walk rate.
16:50He's running a seven-game hitting streak
16:52at this ballpark.
16:56To right and down the line
16:58and foul.
17:02Now getting back to his swing
17:03and specifically the right-handed side
17:05with Victor Caratini on deck.
17:08He 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.
17:40Go 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
17:47about as long as it can be
17:49and then just missed in off.
17:51But Bell 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.
18:05It's amazing.
18:06When pests show up uninvited,
18:07Plunkett snucks 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 in the lineup,
18:27how that moment will find you,
18:28Royce, right here.
18:30Gets away and 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 to try
19:05and 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 on this team
19:13that are going to be given an opportunity
19:15to establish themselves
19:17as everyday players in 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 some opportunity
19:25and to see what they can do.
19:28And I think something about being comfortable
19:29in the big leagues
19:30really helps with that.
19:31When you know you're going to be in the lineup
19:33for the next two weeks,
19:34the next month,
19:35you have that extended run
19:37where the 0 for 4 isn't going to eat you up
19:40and it's not going to sit there
19:40and you don't have to linger on it for three days.
19:42It's something that you can right away
19:44the next day go out there
19:45and try and get better and 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 going to play
20:00goes so far with confidence, preparation,
20:04all of those things that are going to help you perform on the field.
20:08Lee was good last season with the bases loaded.
20:11He had a grand slam.
20:13He's been good in his big league career
20:15but down two strikes.
20:21Trevor Rogers at home last season
20:23in seven starts at his own ballpark.
20:26He finished with a sub-1 ERA.
20:28He's been good in the game today.
20:33Acquired trade deadline from Miami
20:36back in 2024.
20:38Bases loaded, two down, no score.
20:41The 0-2.
20:41Got him.
20:43Curve ball from Rogers
20:45and the twins make some noise
20:46but cannot cash in
20:48and leave the maximum.
21:00Talking with Luke earlier today
21:02no surprise
21:03he was all business.
21:05Yes, of course he's excited
21:06but he said the biggest thing
21:07on his mind right now
21:08is staying present
21:09and helping his guys
21:10get off to a good start.
21:12For him, year two
21:13is all about staying true
21:15to who he is.
21:15Never getting too high
21:16never getting too low
21:18and just trusting his abilities.
21:19Things that really helped him
21:21have such a successful
21:22first season.
21:23Now Derek Shelton
21:24is of course thrilled
21:25to see what is in store
21:26for his sophomore year
21:28saying that Luke plays
21:29with his hair on fire.
21:30He plays the right way
21:31and if you are a kid
21:32in the Twin Cities
21:33you should want to embody
21:34the way Luke Keishaw
21:35loves and plays
21:36the game of baseball.
21:37Guys, it's pretty high praise
21:38for Luke Keishaw
21:39from his manager.
21:40Audrey Wright
21:41and Keishaw
21:42put together a great camp
21:43and only struck out two times
21:45and he was playing
21:46all the time.
21:48And batting third
21:49for Derek Shelton
21:51here in opening day.
21:520-2 on Adley Rutschman.
21:55A down season a year ago
21:57for the former
21:58number one overall pick
22:00but man, he has thrived
22:00in opening day.
22:0210 for 14 in opening day
22:04in his career
22:04with three home runs.
22:08Ryan's 0-2
22:10and that one misses outside
22:12a curveball from Joe.
22:13Let's go back to, you know,
22:14Shelton and Keishaw.
22:16I've known Shelton a long time
22:17when he was hitting coach
22:18and bench coach
22:19and everything else
22:20and just have a conversation
22:22with him about guys
22:23on the roster
22:24and talking to him about Keishaw
22:25and just saying,
22:25you're going to fall in love
22:26with the way this guy plays.
22:28Just seeing him about his business,
22:30doing his work,
22:32watching him play,
22:33watching one of the spring
22:34training games towards the end
22:35and he hit a pop-up on the infield,
22:37threw the bat down
22:38and then sprinted to first base.
22:39He just, he just can't turn it off.
22:41He just knows one way to play.
22:43And like Audra said,
22:45it's just you fall in love
22:46with the way he plays.
22:47Runs hard down the line
22:48every time he's going to be
22:49prepared every pitch.
22:52To right.
22:53And playable for Walner.
22:57And Rutschman is retired.
23:00So one away for Samuel Basayo.
23:04Twins and Orioles,
23:05they played six times last year
23:07and the Twins won all six
23:08and both series were early in the year
23:11and the Twins never saw
23:13the young Basayo.
23:15Dominican born,
23:16he is 21 years old,
23:18made his debut last year,
23:19four homers in 31 games.
23:21Rutschman is still the primary catcher,
23:23but Basayo,
23:24he might catch two or three times in a week.
23:28As Ryan runs a slider in, 0-1.
23:31Making up the lineup card today
23:33seeing both catchers,
23:36Rutschman catching and Basayo
23:37per DH-ing,
23:38hitting back-to-back today.
23:40Yeah, it can be risky.
23:41I think the Twins,
23:43both catchers in their lineup as well,
23:45but one at first base.
23:46And so if for some reason
23:48Carantini needs to move behind the plate,
23:50they don't lose the DH.
23:51The Orioles would be in a little tougher spot,
23:53but I think Basayo will get some time this year.
23:56A couple of years ago,
23:57Rutschman caught 110,
23:58two years ago caught 103.
24:00It's a lot of wear and tear on him,
24:02and I think they'll try to find ways
24:03to keep his bat in the lineup,
24:05but maybe not as much behind home plate,
24:07and that's where Basayo comes in.
24:09Sweeper from Joe,
24:11and it's 0-2.
24:12You know, Ryan last year,
24:17if you really kind of break down
24:18some of the numbers,
24:20his chase percentage was down.
24:23He got hit harder,
24:25and the fastball was still
24:26a very good pitchfielder.
24:29Hits sharply to first,
24:30but pick guy Carantini,
24:33and there are two down,
24:34but seeing if Ryan can induce more chase
24:36and swing and miss,
24:37but his off-speed pitches is worth watching.
24:40Speaking of worth watching,
24:41Tyler O'Neill has been worth watching
24:42on opening day
24:43because he has an amazing streak going
24:45entering play today.
24:46He has homered in a Major League record
24:48six consecutive opening days
24:51dating back to 2020.
24:55Six straight opening days.
24:57This guy has homered,
24:58and morning,
24:59a guy you know well.
25:00You were with him recently
25:01with Team Canada at the WBC.
25:03Oh, and he's well aware
25:04of the streak, too,
25:05so it's pretty impressive
25:08that he has that awareness
25:09but still is able to go up there
25:10and go deep.
25:11Hopefully, Twins are able
25:12to keep him in check today.
25:16I was going to ask you
25:17if that would be something
25:18as a hitter
25:19that you would be aware of.
25:21Absolutely.
25:22I mean, especially six.
25:23Maybe like two, three.
25:25You're not really sure.
25:26You probably remember
25:27having a good start to the season,
25:28but it's so hard
25:31to come out of spring training
25:32and, you know,
25:34firing, ready to go.
25:36The fact that he's done it
25:37that many times is mind-blowing.
25:39See, Junior and Dunn
25:41with eights,
25:42but those weren't
25:43in consecutive seasons.
25:44So, again, O'Neal,
25:46his record six consecutive
25:47opening days
25:49with a home run.
25:50Frank Robinson,
25:52Willie Mays.
25:53Impressive group.
25:56Now, two and one
25:59on O'Neal.
26:00O'Neal, last season,
26:02this is year two
26:02of a three-year contract
26:03he signed with the Orioles.
26:05He was injured
26:05three different aisle stints
26:08for Tyler O'Neal last season.
26:10Just 54 games.
26:13Changed some things
26:14in the off-season training program,
26:16tried to get his swing
26:16back to where he wanted it.
26:19Swung the bat really well.
26:21The WBC numbers
26:22didn't quite show it,
26:23but his swing has felt good.
26:27Good finish to Kemp
26:29for the Orioles
26:30down in Sarasota.
26:32That guy
26:34brings the energy every day.
26:36He's excited to play baseball.
26:37Fun guy to be around
26:38and looking for a bounce-back season.
26:41Ryan fell behind 2-0.
26:42Now, the 2-2 is fouled back.
26:45Challenged O'Neal
26:46to deal with the fastball.
26:47But, Perk, getting back
26:48to the point with Ryan
26:49this season,
26:50are you looking at
26:51to not just the fastball
26:52but seeing if his off-speed pitches
26:54work in a different way this year?
26:56Well, and so that was
26:56what I asked him
26:57when I first saw him
26:58down in campus.
26:59What did you work on
26:59this off-season?
27:00And he said,
27:01just trying to tighten up
27:02the off-speed stuff.
27:04And I love off-speed altogether.
27:07That's the split.
27:08That's the breaking stuff.
27:09He wanted to make those pitches
27:11a little bit better.
27:12I think he knows
27:12he's got the fastball.
27:14That's there.
27:15He'll be able to end
27:16some at-bats quicker.
27:18And that can be
27:18with a strikeout
27:20or just early, weak contact
27:22in and at-bat
27:24with the soft stuff.
27:25And so I think that's,
27:26as he just continues
27:27to develop and refine
27:29himself as a pitcher,
27:31that's the step.
27:32And we've been talking
27:32about that for a couple of years
27:33because we all know
27:34how good his fastball is
27:35and how much he relies on it.
27:37But having those other pitches,
27:38not so much as a decoy
27:40to be able to get back
27:41to the fastball,
27:42but to use those
27:43as a weapon to get out,
27:45I think is the next step
27:46in Joe Ryan's progression.
27:49And that kind of goes back
27:50to the conversation
27:51I asked you last inning
27:52of how tough is it
27:54when you know what's coming.
27:54Well, I think that is something
27:56that is in the hitter's head.
27:57They know he's got
27:57an exceptional fastball.
27:59So you're right.
27:59If he is able to land
28:00some of those off-speed pitches,
28:02some of that softer stuff
28:03early in counts,
28:04get some quick outs
28:05because hitters are going up there
28:06anticipating his fastball,
28:08trying to look for his fastball.
28:11That doesn't necessarily mean
28:12they've done a whole lot with it,
28:14but if you're able
28:15to get a guy out front
28:16just a little bit
28:17cheating to your hitter,
28:18you can get that weak contact.
28:19And being a successful hitter
28:20is eliminating pitches.
28:21And if you know that a guy
28:24might throw them,
28:25but they're not competitive
28:25or they're not in the zone,
28:26you can eliminate those
28:27very quickly.
28:28And it shows how good
28:29his fastball is.
28:32Check swing,
28:33no swings,
28:34is Brian Onura
28:35on a 3-2 sweeper.
28:38So a nine-pitch plate appearance
28:40and O'Neal
28:41draws a 2-on-1
28:43to bring up Fulton Couser.
28:48Put it in a good spot,
28:49but O'Neal was able
28:50to just recognize it in time.
28:52Started his swing,
28:53he was able to stop.
28:57I think Joe would've liked
28:58that one to be in the zone
28:59and just challenge him
29:00with a sweeper
29:01down and away.
29:04Couser,
29:04former first-round pick,
29:05he's in center field
29:07for the Orioles.
29:09Cedric Mullins
29:09no longer with Baltimore,
29:10he is now in Tampa.
29:14So Couser in the pass,
29:15yes, some center,
29:16but more in the corners.
29:19Sub-200 average
29:20despite 16 home runs
29:21a season to go.
29:24Down with an injured
29:25left hand early
29:26a season to go
29:28as Ryan Sinker misses low.
29:31One ball,
29:32one strike on Couser.
29:34Like the Twins,
29:35the Orioles struggled
29:36offensively.
29:3824th in run scoring,
29:40high strikeout rate
29:41as a team,
29:42third highest strikeout rate
29:43of any offense in the game.
29:47So added some new faces
29:48to the roster this season,
29:50one and two.
29:53Well, a couple of down years
29:54we talked about
29:55Gunnar Henderson
29:56and then the next wave
29:57of guys,
29:58and that's Jackson Holiday,
30:01Couser,
30:02Mayo,
30:03haven't really hit
30:04their stride yet
30:05at this level.
30:06That's that second group
30:07of guys to kind of meet
30:08Henderson and Westberg
30:10at third base.
30:12Reaching for a breaking ball
30:13and pops it up.
30:15And Matt Walner
30:16and the Maryland sunshine
30:17will grab it
30:18and a walk leads to nothing.
30:21Byron Buxton
30:22is coming up
30:23with a Twins bat
30:24in the third,
30:25top of the order.
30:25It'll be Martin
30:26followed by
30:28MLB.
30:29Some Twins fans here
30:30on this lovely day,
30:31opening day in Baltimore,
30:32no score.
30:33Second time through
30:33and a good start.
30:34Austin Martin
30:35lies the first pitch
30:37into left field.
30:38So like we saw
30:38in the second,
30:39it was Jeffers' leadoff single.
30:41Now Austin Martin
30:41does the same
30:42and some speed
30:43on here, fellas,
30:44in the third.
30:46It's kind of what you like
30:47about the top part
30:47of this lineup.
30:48All three of these guys
30:49have plus speed.
30:49All three of these guys
30:50can steal your base
30:51when you need to.
30:54Like Austin going up there,
30:55they like the matchup
30:55against left-handed pitching.
30:57See what they have,
30:58if they have anything
30:59on his move.
31:01Anticipate him coming over.
31:02Is this a one-way lead,
31:03trying to draw a pick right here?
31:05Big lead.
31:07He takes off.
31:08First pitch.
31:08Breaking ball is a strike
31:10throw to second base.
31:11The second base is not in time.
31:13So Martin stole 11 bases
31:15last year,
31:16so he swung at the first pitch.
31:17Now he runs.
31:18First chance here
31:19with Buxton batting.
31:21The Twins have their first
31:22stolen base here of the season.
31:24There's something freeing
31:25about knowing that your manager
31:27wants you to run.
31:28And we saw this
31:29with a different manager,
31:30obviously,
31:30at the last part of last year,
31:32but Twins were encouraged to go
31:34and they did it frequently
31:35and they were successful at it.
31:36And I think that's just fed
31:37into the confidence
31:38to start the year.
31:41To short.
31:41Henderson looks Martin back
31:43and throws out Buxton.
31:46So Martin unable to advance.
31:49So one away.
31:50And that'll bring up Keyshawn.
31:51And that'll bring up Keyshawn.
31:57Well,
31:58Luke Keyshawn fell behind 0-2
32:00in the first inning.
32:02Came back to work
32:03an eight-pitch at bat
32:05on a 3-2 count,
32:06eventually grounded out.
32:09Just a 14% strikeout rate
32:11last year.
32:12League average above 22%.
32:15That's Martin at second base.
32:18It's Wentz looking to strike here
32:20against Rogers in the third.
32:23Disengagement number one
32:24and Austin easily back in.
32:26I wonder how much we're going to see
32:28attempts or stolen third base,
32:30stolen base attempts
32:31to see if that's something
32:32that Twins add in as well.
32:35We saw it,
32:36especially with Buxton
32:38not as inclined to steal third base.
32:40Something that's going to open up.
32:42Hopefully score some more runs by it.
32:44Well,
32:45the Twins for a long time last year
32:46were the only team in baseball
32:48without a stolen base of third.
32:50Then the first one came
32:52late in the first half.
32:53It was at Dodger Stadium.
32:54Deshawn Kersey Jr.
32:56was the one that first stole third.
32:59And you see the numbers.
33:00The Twins just totally
33:01changed their mentality
33:03after the trade deadline
33:04a season ago.
33:06A block there from Rutschman.
33:08That's the strength of his.
33:10Framer smothered that breaking ball
33:12from Rodgers.
33:13And I think part of the strategy
33:15for the Twins
33:15those last couple of months
33:16last year was just
33:17let's see what we can get away with.
33:18How much can we steal
33:21before it becomes
33:24problematic
33:25or we start getting thrown out?
33:27Push the limits
33:28on those attempts.
33:29And I don't think
33:30they reached that point.
33:34Hard hit in the hole.
33:35Henderson diving stuck.
33:37Pops to his feet
33:37and not in time.
33:41Kieshaw fired up.
33:44Fill up that column.
33:46Hard high five over there
33:47for Grady Sizemore
33:48the new first base coach.
33:50A tremendous player
33:52back in his day as well.
33:56Talk about running hard
33:57out of the box.
33:58One hop.
34:00Henderson's got a cannon
34:02but Kieshaw first step
34:03out of the box going hard
34:0590 feet.
34:06Yeah he's not only running hard
34:07but he thinks he can get a hit.
34:08He's going hard down the line
34:09every single time.
34:13Now Ryan Jeffers
34:14in the hole left side.
34:16Diving stop made by Mayo.
34:17Second for Lando.
34:18A turn throws in time.
34:19And the Orioles turn two.
34:23Mayo, Alexander to Alonso.
34:25The Twins threaten
34:26but a 5-4-3 inning ending
34:29double play
34:30and the Twins cannot capitalize.
34:33The Orioles will come up
34:348-9-1 due up
34:35in a scoreless third.
34:37It does appear to rise
34:38on the way there
34:39and I think that's what makes
34:40it so challenging for the hitters.
34:41It looks like
34:42you know you should be able
34:44to get on top of it.
34:45You should be able to get
34:46to his fastball
34:47and it just never comes down
34:48and for me it has to do
34:49with the release height
34:50as much as anything
34:51as opposed to
34:52you know the arm angle
34:53and all the other stuff
34:54which does add to the deception.
34:56But for me it's how low
34:57he releases the ball
34:58to the to the ground
34:59but not being a sidearm guy.
35:01And I think the way
35:02his fastball plays
35:03and how difficult it is
35:04to get on top of it.
35:06It's just so exceptional
35:07and by the time your eyes
35:08adjust he's out of the game
35:09and you've struck out
35:09a couple of times.
35:13One ball one strike
35:14on Kobe Mayo as we go
35:16take a look at the delivery
35:17from Ryan.
35:20So he's got a lead extension
35:22so he gets down the mound.
35:23He's getting on top of it.
35:24heavy with his stride
35:25where he releases that ball
35:27distance to home plate
35:28and then also the height
35:29on top of it.
35:31It's just so exceptional
35:32and I think the Twins
35:33what a great trade.
35:35Just to think of adding a guy
35:37nobody could really explain
35:38why he was so successful
35:39in the minor leagues.
35:40The Rays didn't really know
35:42what they had
35:42because there's a guy
35:44throwing 90 to 92 mile an hour
35:45fastballs when he was
35:46in the minor leagues
35:47and he was absolutely
35:48dominating everywhere he was at
35:49and they just weren't sure how
35:51it was going to play at the
35:52big league level and Twins took
35:53a chance and it's really
35:54turned into something.
35:58Two and two on Mayo who's
36:00playing at third base for the
36:01injured Jordan Westbrook.
36:04Male a guy that isn't known
36:06well for his defense made a
36:07good play on a ball to left
36:08Jeffers bat at one hundred
36:10seven miles an hour.
36:12Now three and two.
36:14The Orioles are dealing with
36:15some early season injuries.
36:17No Jordan Westbrook.
36:18He's got a torn ligament
36:19in his elbow.
36:20And also without second
36:21baseman Jackson Holiday.
36:23He's rehabbing right now
36:25recovering from a broken
36:26handmaid bone.
36:303-2 from Ryan.
36:31He'll do it again.
36:32Did you break your handmaid
36:33Mornie?
36:33Nope.
36:34Which amazes everybody
36:35because I wasn't off the
36:36knob off the bottom
36:38of the back hitter.
36:40I don't know.
36:41Andrew was 80.
36:42Maybe it was the one-handed
36:42finish and did it.
36:44Andy Andy's good evening.
36:46In case we forgot that we've
36:47forgot that that never comes
36:48up.
36:50So there is holiday.
36:533-2 hit hard to left.
36:57Male.
36:59It's a fourth round pick back
37:00in 2020.
37:02Third base and first base.
37:05Now back at third he's only
37:07twenty four years old and 11
37:08home runs.
37:09High strikeout rate last year.
37:16once again Ryan's 3-2.
37:21Well he pulled that pitch
37:24before was a fastball about
37:25ninety four miles an hour.
37:27Pull and follow.
37:28It's an auto off-speed
37:29something.
37:30Could be a split if you want to
37:31do that right or right.
37:32Could be a breaking ball.
37:33He went to the slider.
37:34I was surprised to see him.
37:51stay back long enough to pull
37:52that slider.
37:53Keep it.
37:54Keep the bat alive.
37:56And then Joe Ryan front door
37:57breaking ball.
37:59Locked him up.
38:00Speaker 1.
38:02I'm pitching bad Ryan picks up
38:03his second strikeout.
38:05And now Blaze Alexander fired
38:09from Arizona back in February.
38:12It was interesting to listen to
38:14Derek Shelton talk before the
38:16game about how we used to see
38:18he said there was a lot there's
38:19been a lot less interactions
38:20between the hitters and the
38:21umpires.
38:21Now it's on you.
38:23There was so much.
38:23It was always complaining about
38:25guys thought they knew the
38:26strike zone.
38:27Now it's really going to be put
38:28your money where your mouth is.
38:29Do you know the strike zone as
38:30well as you think you do?
38:33Because it did look like now
38:34obviously he froze him with that
38:36front front door curveball but it
38:37looked like there was an initial
38:38thought of like that's a ball and
38:40then you don't turn around and
38:40say anything to the umpire because
38:42it's like well if you don't if
38:43you think it's a ball just tap
38:44your helmet.
38:44You disagree with me.
38:45You're free to make that
38:47determination.
38:47It's going to be really
38:48interesting to follow that as the
38:49year goes along and especially
38:51seventh the eighth ninth inning
38:53tie game.
38:54How are guys going to react.
38:56Struck came out ninety five.
38:58So Ryan makes quick work of
39:00Alexander.
39:02So two down here are the Orioles
39:05third and the batter will be
39:06Taylor Ward.
39:07Oh here's that fastball from the
39:08low arm slot see Jeffers give
39:10him the high target.
39:11It's a good shot of it.
39:12You can see that ball is just on
39:14a string from Joe Ryan's hand
39:16right to the top of the strike
39:17zone by him.
39:20Alexander underneath.
39:21He's going to be with it as well.
39:26Ricky ball first pitch strike one
39:29on 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
39:41that's good or bad.
39:43In fact on day one of camp he
39:44used a bowling lane analogy
39:46saying of course they want
39:47everyone rolling right down the
39:48middle.
39:48but if they ever veer off course
39:50he and the other coaches are
39:51there as bumpers to get them back
39:53on track before they ever land in
39:56the gutter and that approach has
39:57been very well received by these
39:58players.
39:59A group of players who can tell us
40:01also how much this opportunity
40:03means to Derek Shelton.
40:04So it's a really excited group of
40:06guys in that clubhouse.
40:07But you know what guys not even just
40:09about playing for Derek Shelton.
40:10A lot of guys have mentioned the
40:12opportunity to work with Latroy
40:13Hawkins guys like Grady Sizemore.
40:15There's 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.
40:23The Twins did retain a few coaches
40:26assistant hitting coaches are back
40:28from last year assistant bullpen
40:30coach and no swing there from
40:32Walner and Luis Ramirez Raiden
40:35Sierra Trevor Amacone part of the
40:37hitting staff in the past they
40:38remain but many new faces in that
40:41third base dugout here this season.
40:44One two to Walner now two and two
40:47Walner walked in the second and
40:50what stands out to about the staff
40:52is and we mentioned Grady Sizemore's
40:54name Troy Hawkins is the bullpen
40:56coach as well it's a big league
40:58experience the Twins have understand
41:00it was something that we talked
41:01about for the last couple of
41:03years there wasn't a ton of
41:06experience playing experience on
41:07the coaching staff Rocco we had
41:09the most and so to bring in some
41:11guys that have some experience
41:14playing this game I think is huge
41:16Grady Sizemore Latroy those two
41:18guys combined I'm guessing have
41:20over 30 years of major league
41:21service.
41:22Well Hawks got about 22 on his
41:24own.
41:25It helped the math a little bit
41:27knowing that Hawk was 21 of them.
41:303 2 and Matt Walner has worked
41:33his second walk today he fell
41:35behind 0 2.
41:37I think it actually hit him on the
41:38hand by his reaction I believe
41:40but I think last just said well
41:43whether it hits you or not either
41:44way or go to first base either
41:47way you're going to first but yes
41:49good job of battling through the
41:50at bat I think I'm not under the
41:54belief that you had to have played
41:56in the big leagues to be a good
41:58major league coach that had great
42:00coaches that haven't but I think
42:02there is something about having a
42:03conversation with the guy of you
42:05know when you were in an over 22
42:08what did you do to get out of it
42:09and just to know that that guy's
42:11been through exactly what you've
42:12been through 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
42:18on opening day for the guys who
42:20it's their first opening day how
42:21did you and go to a guy like
42:22Grady Sizemore I think who was one
42:26of the best all-around players every
42:28time he took the field it was an
42:29incredible baseball player could do
42:31absolutely everything to add a guy
42:32like that to the staff to add the
42:33experience like we talked about
42:34there is there is something to that
42:36as well and I think a good blend
42:37of a little bit everything helps
42:40and it's not necessarily or always
42:43everyone's able to identify the
42:44the problems it's sometimes
42:46somebody just uses different
42:48language and they're able to get
42:49that message across in a way that
42:50sometimes relates with with
42:51different guys and I think guys
42:53are excited to hear some new ideas
42:57high strike and Bell will challenge
43:03it's one for one in challenges so
43:05far today called strike one and it
43:10was 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
43:31these challenges and what's the
43:32importance of it this was a spot
43:33that we had talked about Corey might
43:35have been off air but the 3-0 do you
43:36challenge that one early in the
43:38inning yes yeah and there's your
43:40answer right there I think a ball is
43:41a ball or a challenge is a
43:44challenge and so Josh Bell he wanted
43:45to get on first base 3-0 count he's
43:48fine knew that pitch was outside and
43:50so he took the chance and that's
43:52that's one of the ones like so the
43:53hitters are aware of umpires
43:56expand the zone more in 3-0 counts
43:58than they do rather than shrinks
43:59more in 0-2 counts than it does in
44:00any other count so hitters are
44:02aware of that also two on nobody
44:06out for Caratini that might be the
44:09one that hurts the pitchers more
44:10than anything like real throw it
44:12near the plate it was going to be
44:13a strike in the past for whatever
44:15reason they're human beings it's
44:17the way it goes and now there's
44:20not going to be that automatic 3-0
44:23throw it somewhere near the
44:24the outside edge double play ball
44:26the third Alexander on the first
44:29and or two down Trevor Rogers last
44:40year was seventy fourth percentile
44:43in ground ball rate we're seeing
44:46that be a factor here today to 5 4
44:49three double plays and he's had
44:51some traffic but he's been able
44:53to work out of it by getting that
44:54we contact on the ground Twins one
44:56for seven so far with runners in
44:58scoring position so infield back
45:00Walder a third it's up to Royce
45:02hit by a pitch on his foot his
45:05first time up changeup misses low
45:09football one the spring numbers
45:10not great for Lewis but the last
45:13week or so he was pleased with the
45:16the final contact certainly the
45:18ball came off the bat louder the
45:20last four or five days than it was
45:23for the bulk of camp good spot for
45:27Lewis early in this game trying to
45:29come up with a clutch two out
45:30swing Lewis a year ago good
45:36numbers against breaking balls
45:37not so much with fastballs to
45:39right in the sunshine O'Neill
45:42backpedaling has a play and again
45:44the Twins make some noise and
45:45cannot cash in two on nobody off
45:48they do not score
45:53for today
45:57no score bottom four
45:59Gunnar Henderson Pete Alonso and
46:01Adley Rutschman to bat for the
46:03Orioles as Joe Ryan deals with
46:05hitters two three 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
47:21it finally goes away pick up a
47:23bat again it starts to feel good
47:24you look forward to hitting that's
47:26where he's hoping he's back at
47:28that's what he's going to do it
47:29check swing you bet he went sure
47:31did fourth strike out 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 in the
48:02first American American English
48:04Canadian English it's all the
48:07good of this sword sward 0 2
48:20Alonzo his average forty two
48:22home runs over his major league
48:25career 31 years old no longer a New
48:33York men Ryan went breaking ball
48:40to strike 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 it Rogers made some pitches
48:56able to get out of his loaded jams
48:59in trouble interesting to see if
49:03it does get more difficult for
49:04these hitters as it goes along
49:05with both pitchers have been good
49:07the riots but really good attack
49:10in the strike zone ton of strikes
49:15Richmond on deck the two two struck
49:19Alonzo came out went back to the
49:20breaking ball a curve again so Ryan
49:24twice has struck out Alonzo perk with
49:26curveballs he's got Alonzo twice he's
49:29got Gunnar Henderson once he froze
49:30Colby Mayo 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 seen
49:40him have in one start it's a good
49:42split 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 breaking
50:07ball around to lefties and righties
50:09with success Ryan has allowed it's
50:12an Adley Rutschman two out single
50:17Ryan walked and kneel in the second
50:19and now Rutschman reaches with the
50:21base hit the two down here the fourth
50:22the only two base runners Baltimore's
50:25had against Joe today do you feel
50:27like that sometimes makes it more
50:29difficult to game plan for the fact
50:31that it isn't the same secondary
50:32pitches every time he goes out there
50:34and it's not like okay when it's not
50:36the fastball it's going to be this
50:37there could be some truth to that
50:39however when you're going out on
50:40the mound it might be nice to know
50:42what you have and not have to spend
50:44an inning or two trying to find
50:45hey which one of these is going to
50:46work for me today.
50:50That was something that Joe
50:52Bauer talked about all the time
50:53he refers to this conversation he
50:55had with Brad Radke early in his
50:57career of how many days did he have
50:59all of his pitches working out of
51:00his thirty thirty two starts and
51:03it's a wreck you told him it was
51:05five outings maybe where they were
51:06all working he had a good feel
51:07for all of them.
51:09I think so that's part of it too
51:11and that's we've heard a lot about
51:13the two outs not the right time to
51:15get into this conversation but of
51:16the pitch calling happening in
51:17the minor leagues across the game
51:19which is being called from the
51:21dugout I think the challenge of
51:22that is how is his slider working
51:24today can he land his curveball if
51:25he needs to is that change up a
51:27good go to pitch behind the
51:28count when he needs to be able to
51:30throw something off speed for a
51:31strike and the feel between the
51:33pitcher and catcher is important
51:36and I think that's maybe part of
51:38the challenge also of catching
51:39Joe Ryan is when you're back there
51:40in your Jefferson which off speed
51:42pitch is our go to today what do
51:43we what do we like if we need to
51:45get a strikeout or a swing and
51:46miss something other than the
51:48fastball and it may be something
51:51that he finds in the bullpen I
51:53know things can change we're in
51:54pregame warm up to when you get
51:56out on the mound for the actual
51:58game but but I do think and that
52:02was a conversation with Joe that I
52:03had from training that he wanted to
52:05refine those he wanted to tighten
52:06them up was the word that he used
52:08and I think part of that is so he
52:09knows when he goes into a start
52:11that I'm not going to spend the
52:13first time through here trying to
52:14find another pitch and I know that
52:16I've got one other pitch that I can
52:17go to if I need it.
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