All Things 2026 Minnesota Twins In-Season Thread

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Gopher_In_NYC said:
A reason for hope?

The last time the Twins were projected to be this bad (2017), they made the playoffs, per Gleeman -

For anyone looking for reasons to believe in the 2026 Twins, there’s this: In both 2015 and 2017, the Twins were projected to be awful after being so bad the previous season that it got the manager or general manager fired. And in both 2015 and 2017, they surprised everyone with a winning record.

Paul Molitor replaced Gardenhire as manager in 2015 and led the Twins to a 13-game jump, narrowly missing the playoffs at 83-79. Everything fell apart in 2016 and Terry Ryan was let go. Derek Falvey replaced the longtime GM in 2017 and the Twins improved by 26 games, making the playoffs at 85-77.
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Well, I guess there is that. Color me skeptical though. Starting pitching might be pretty good but Abel, Taj and SWM all have to perform and Ober needs to find some velocity again. Hitting is, at best, fair. Will be very few 4 or 5 hit innings. Bullpen is a couple of injuries from becoming arsonists.
If they are bad into May, just call the kids up and let them learn.
BTW, trading Larnach for a bullpen arm wouldn't kill me. Not sure how much Larnach can get you, though, at this point.
 

TNGophfan said:
Well, I guess there is that. Color me skeptical though. Starting pitching might be pretty good but Abel, Taj and SWM all have to perform and Ober needs to find some velocity again. Hitting is, at best, fair. Will be very few 4 or 5 hit innings. Bullpen is a couple of injuries from becoming arsonists.
If they are bad into May, just call the kids up and let them learn.
BTW, trading Larnach for a bullpen arm wouldn't kill me. Not sure how much Larnach can get you, though, at this point.
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Agree 💯

I realize it’s faint hope at best, but…..

Larnach being on the opening day roster is insane; he -and Wallner have similar skills and Wallner has a better arm, more power and is cheap. Paying Larnach $4.75M is crazy either way a crappy pen.
 

Gopher_In_NYC said:
A reason for hope?

The last time the Twins were projected to be this bad (2017), they made the playoffs, per Gleeman -

For anyone looking for reasons to believe in the 2026 Twins, there’s this: In both 2015 and 2017, the Twins were projected to be awful after being so bad the previous season that it got the manager or general manager fired. And in both 2015 and 2017, they surprised everyone with a winning record.

Paul Molitor replaced Gardenhire as manager in 2015 and led the Twins to a 13-game jump, narrowly missing the playoffs at 83-79. Everything fell apart in 2016 and Terry Ryan was let go. Derek Falvey replaced the longtime GM in 2017 and the Twins improved by 26 games, making the playoffs at 85-77.
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Remember, Red, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.

- Andy Dufresne
 


Ope3 said:
I love those unis. Let's bring those back.

I wonder when and where that photo took place.
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Good question. Opposing team might be the Red Sox. Definitely the 60's. Tinker Field in spring training?
 


TNGophfan said:
Good question. Opposing team might be the Red Sox. Definitely the 60's. Tinker Field in spring training?
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That would be a decent guess but if the Twins are wearing grey, I assume it would be on the Road and not in Orlando/Tinker Field.

Also it looks like the Catcher is wearing pinstripes and AI is saying the Red Sox have not had those since 1931.

Also a 2 deck stadium, I am thinking...not likely spring training?
 
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Ope3 said:
That would be a decent guess but if the Twins are wearing grey, I assume it would be on the Road and not in Orlando/Tinker Field.

Also it looks like the Catcher is wearing pinstripes and AI is saying the Red Sox have not had those since 1931.

Also a 2 deck stadium, I am thinking...not likely spring training?
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Ok. I didn't notice the 2nd deck. However, it might just be the roof over the infield seats and not a 2nd deck for seating. Cardinals spring training in St. Pete? Al Lang field.
How about Washington Senators? That's all I got.
 


TNGophfan said:
Ok. I didn't notice the 2nd deck. However, it might just be the roof over the infield seats and not a 2nd deck for seating. Cardinals spring training in St. Pete? Al Lang field.
How about Washington Senators? That's all I got.
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Cardinals ditched pinstripes in the 1960s.

The Senators call looks solid. The expansion replacement for the Twins in 1961 did wear Home pinstripes. They spent the season in the Griffith Stadium, which the Twins had just bailed from.

This photo shows similar features as the Harmon photo. They moved in 1962 to RFK, so I think we also have the time frame.

Screenshot 2026-03-23 133331.png
 



Ope3 said:
That would be a decent guess but if the Twins are wearing grey, I assume it would be on the Road and not in Orlando/Tinker Field.

Also it looks like the Catcher is wearing pinstripes and AI is saying the Red Sox have not had those since 1931.

Also a 2 deck stadium, I am thinking...not likely spring training?
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The Reds wore pinstripes in the 60s.

Phillies did too.
 

Ope3 said:
Cardinals ditched pinstripes in the 1960s.

The Senators call looks solid. The expansion replacement for the Twins in 1961 did wear Home pinstripes. They spent the season in the Griffith Stadium, which the Twins had just bailed from.

This photo shows similar features as the Harmon photo. They moved in 1962 to RFK, so I think we also have the time frame.

View attachment 43267
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I think you got it.
 


Ope3 said:
Cardinals ditched pinstripes in the 1960s.

The Senators call looks solid. The expansion replacement for the Twins in 1961 did wear Home pinstripes. They spent the season in the Griffith Stadium, which the Twins had just bailed from.

This photo shows similar features as the Harmon photo. They moved in 1962 to RFK, so I think we also have the time frame.

View attachment 43267
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Yeah, I agree.

I don't think it was a spring training stadium. Do any spring training stadiums even have outfield bleachers?

And all the players are wearing sleeves, so I am assuming it was a little colder.

In 1961, the Twins played at Washington in the last half of September, so I would guess it was during that road trip.
 



Unregistered User said:
Yeah, I agree.

I don't think it was a spring training stadium. Do any spring training stadiums even have outfield bleachers?

And all the players are wearing sleeves, so I am assuming it was a little colder.

In 1961, the Twins played at Washington in the last half of September, so I would guess it was during that road trip.
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Not many Spring Training facilities had bleachers like that in the outfield, maybe a couple that also served as AAA/Minor League stadiums in Miami, Tampa, St Pete etc.
 

Unregistered User said:
Yeah, I agree.

I don't think it was a spring training stadium. Do any spring training stadiums even have outfield bleachers?

And all the players are wearing sleeves, so I am assuming it was a little colder.

In 1961, the Twins played at Washington in the last half of September, so I would guess it was during that road trip.
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Ope3 said:
Not many Spring Training facilities had bleachers like that in the outfield, maybe a couple that also served as AAA/Minor League stadiums in Miami, Tampa, St Pete etc.
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I think the bleachers in the photo would also track as being used for when the Washington NFL football team had their home games in Griffith Stadium.

They moved to RFK in the fall of 1961, which was called District of Columbia Stadium when it opened through 1969.
 

Ope3 said:
Cardinals ditched pinstripes in the 1960s.

The Senators call looks solid. The expansion replacement for the Twins in 1961 did wear Home pinstripes. They spent the season in the Griffith Stadium, which the Twins had just bailed from.

This photo shows similar features as the Harmon photo. They moved in 1962 to RFK, so I think we also have the time frame.

View attachment 43267
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Interesting as the field dimensions appear to be the mirror opposite of Fenway Park with a similar wall in RF to the Green Monster.
 


GophersInIowa said:
I think you're right:

View attachment 43268
www.ballparksofbaseball.com

Griffith Stadium - history, photos and more of the Washington Senators former ballpark

Information and pictures of Griffith Stadium, former home of the Washington Senators
www.ballparksofbaseball.com www.ballparksofbaseball.com
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Interesting to note, that first season for the Expansion reborn Senators, when the Twins (old Senators) returned to DC they got swept in May. When they returned in September, they dropped 2 of 3.

That had to not sit well with the Owner (Cal) whose last name still graced the facility.

As luck would have it, I just picked up some rather useful information for Today's Baseball Grid.
 

Gopher_In_NYC said:
Ober follows up with a nice outing himself.

4 IP
2 H
2 BB
1 ER
Lowers ERA to 2.08.

Not concerned about his lack of Ks this far, as he knows how to pitch, since he isn’t a power pitcher to start with and since he had to tweak his motion because of the hip injury he had last year, he’s still figuring it out and building up his strength.

I think he and Ryan will excellent campaigns and give us a chance to win in most of their outings.
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howeda7 said:
Per Twins twitter he's cooked because his fastball only hit 88 and he should retire ASAP.
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Team Twins twitter might be valid.

Today's line.

Ober4.110443314.15

I keep hoping there is some undisclosed injury.
 

Ope3 said:
Team Twins twitter might be valid.

Today's line.

Ober4.110443314.15

I keep hoping there is some undisclosed injury.
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We’ll have a better idea after about 3-4 regular season starts.

Personally I think having three young uns in the starting rotation is one to many and they should have already grabbed a vet arm, especially with Ober finding his way back.

But we shall remain hopeful🤠

For Now 😎
 


howeda7 said:
As expected...

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They both had an opportunity and it didn’t work 🤷‍♂️; just like in baseball, 🌭 , apple 🥧 and Chevrolet. You move on and adjust, just like in life based on my 59 years of experience living it.

Based on his experience, maybe Rodgers will get the initial opportunities.
 
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Twins on their way to a third consecutive W,

I’m sure @howeda7 is as giddy as moi and has already started icing the bubbly for our Shermanesque March through the AL Central 💪
 

Outman flipping his name goes deep twice today, for his team leading 4 HR PuffinStuff of the sprang!!
Gopher_In_NYC said:
Twins on their way to a third consecutive W,

I’m sure @howeda7 is as giddy as moi and has already started icing the bubbly for our Shermanesque March through the AL Central 💪
Click to expand...
tm
 







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