Milwaukee Brewers News - MinnesotaSportsFan https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/tag/milwaukee-brewers/ Minnesota sports, but different Fri, 21 Feb 2025 20:41:56 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=32,height=32,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/cropped-cropped-MSF-favicon-1.jpg Milwaukee Brewers News - MinnesotaSportsFan https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/tag/milwaukee-brewers/ 32 32 Failed Minnesota Twins Outfielder Settles for Minor League Deal https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-twins/minnesota-twins-news/manuel-margot-contract-milwaukee-brewers-spring-training/ Fri, 21 Feb 2025 20:08:18 +0000 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/?p=60531 This offseason, the Minnesota Twins needed outfield help. That’s been the case just about every offseason since Byron Buxton took over as the starting center fielder, just due to his injury proneness.

In recent seasons, they have targeted right-handed hitters who can not just fill in for him in center, but who can provide a good defensive glove and righty bat to compliment the many lefties they have in the corner outfield spots, like Matt Wallner and Trevor Larnach in 2024 and 2025.

This season the Twins signed Harrison Bader, a former gold glove, to be that fourth right-handed hitting outfielder. Minnesota extra outfielder strategy has had a varied amount of success the last couple seasons.

Manuel Margot, Minnesota Twins
Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

In 2023, they hit on Michael A Taylor, who played in 129 games (388 PA) and had a career year (.220/.278/.442) posting his highest OPS (.720) since 2017. That’s the type of season they hope to get from Bader.

What they don’t want from their newest outfielder is what they got out of last season’s Michael A. Taylor replacement, Manuel Margot, who was brought in to fill the same role, but ended up being one of the worst outfield free agent signings in Minnesota Twins history, slashing .238/.289/.337 (.626 OPS) for just a 76 OPS+.

Former Minnesota Twins outfielder Manuel Margot surfaces with Milwaukee

As of this morning, the 30-year-old Margot had yet to find a new home for 2025. But Friday afternoon, after he was spotted in the Milwaukee Brewers clubhouse, Jon Heyman (NY Post) reported that the failed 2024 Twins signing settled for a minor league deal across the border, with an invite to spring training.

The Brewers haven’t made the transaction official, but the minor league deal isn’t going to make any waves. He’ll likely have an opt out if he doesn’t make the roster, and is definitely hoping for a better 2025 season.

Related: Brooks Lee May Not Join Twins on Opening Day

Margot made $10 million in 2024, $6 million of which was paid by the Los Angeles Dodgers. He . He won’t see anywhere near that payday this season even if he’s able to make the Brewers roster.

The real ineptitude for Margot last season was an inability to produce as a pinch hitter. Rocco Baldelli continued to trot him out there, and Margot responded by going a franchise-worst 0-for-30 in pinch hitting situations. As a substitute, routinely inserted as a platoon player, Margot went a dismal 8-for-68 with two extra-base hits.

Broadcaster Cory Provus specifically alluded to Baldelli’s usage of Margot when wondering if the Twins will change managerial style in certain situations this year.

Can Manuel Margot bounce back with Brewers?

It’s not exactly shocking that the Minnesota Twins had belief Margot could be of benefit to them. With Tampa Bay in 2023 Margot slashed .264/.310/.376. He also had a .713 OPS against southpaws, and that certainly lined up with what Minnesota was attempting to get from him.

There was probably no reason to believe that Margot would find the 104 OPS+ he posted with the Rays back in 2022. What the MN Twins didn’t expect was for Margot to a negative defensively. But that’s what they got.

Manuel Margot owned a -3 DRS (defensive runs saved) and -5 OAA (outs above average) across all outfield positions last year. Those were easily the worst marks of his career. Now into his 30’s, he’ll need to prove he has more in the tank.

Related: Carlos Correa Not Wearing Cleats at Twins Practice?

It was a tough pill for Minnesota to swallow after getting exceptional defense in the same role from Michael A. Taylor last season. Not only did Taylor have a 92 OPS+, but his 5 DRS and 8 OAA weren’t much of a drop-off from Buxton’s typical production. It remains to be seen where Margot fits for Milwaukee.

He won’t play over star youngster Jackson Chourio. He’s also a lesser option than Garrett Mitchell and Sal Frelick. The veteran may provide insurance for lefty Christian Yelich. If Margot does make the roster and stick around, he’ll see his former Minnesota Twins teammates for a matchup in mid-May and late-June.

]]> Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:41:56 +0000 Minnesota Twins News Minnesota Twins Watch Random Guy Walk Into Miller Park, Steal Tractor and Destroy Field https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-twins/watch-random-guy-walk-into-miller-park-steal-tractor-and-destroy-field/ https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-twins/watch-random-guy-walk-into-miller-park-steal-tractor-and-destroy-field/#respond Fri, 25 Sep 2020 19:02:57 +0000 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/?p=29916

There are a lot of things happening in the Minnesota sports world right now. The Twins are in a heated division race, the Vikings are trying to tank for a new QB and Gopher football is even coming back… but sometimes, you have to be flexible in the sports media world. There are some things the people just need to see…. even if I’m late to the party.

This is one of those things… and it happened right across our MN border. There are so many questions you’ll have about this video, if you haven’t seen it. It’s just best that you watch it first and I’ll explain later.

This happened at Miller Park (home of the Milwaukee Brewers) back in June but the security footage just released yesterday. I’m not surprised we didn’t see the headline back in June. Sometimes words just can’t do a video justice. This is just terribly fantastic…

Mr. Lambert here was just walking around downtown Milwaukee (gross) one day, when he approached Miller Park. Naturally, he thought he’d test the front doors, to be sure they were secure. Much to his surprise, as he stated, one of them was open.

Honey, I’m Home!!!

Reportedly, there were Miller Park security officials who tried to stop Mr. Lambert (except for locking the front door) but he started yelling at them, “‘Black Lives Matter’ among other things” and “scaring the security team by reaching to his waist so they would be afraid to approach him.”

Those are some pretty clever tactics for a guy who is claiming a mental disorder for his defense, but what do I know… Anyway, Mr. Lambert gets onto the field before disappearing out of the scene for a moment. He then re-emerges driving a massive John Deere tractor out of the right field gate…

Who didn’t see that coming?

Mr. Lambert goes on to dig one hole out in right, before turning his attention toward the infield. I’m sure he just wanted to play some baseball… His tax dollars went into that stadium so he deserves some free time to play, too…

Lock your doors, people…

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

]]> https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-twins/watch-random-guy-walk-into-miller-park-steal-tractor-and-destroy-field/feed/ 0 Fri, 25 Sep 2020 14:03:01 +0000 Minnesota Twins Buxton and Maeda Toy with Brewers; Twins Win Big https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-twins/buxton-and-maeda-toy-with-brewers-twins-win-big/ https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-twins/buxton-and-maeda-toy-with-brewers-twins-win-big/#respond Thu, 13 Aug 2020 02:46:08 +0000 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/?p=28689

Trevor May said fans shouldn’t anticipate a ton of 10-run games from the Minnesota Twins just yet. Well, the team must have taken that as a slight because they just took game 3 vs Milwaukee Brewers, 12-2. Wednesday’s W gives the Twins a series win and a much needed rebound after blowing a 4-1 lead the game before.

The win came at a time the Twins needed it most. After dropping five of their last six, Detroit was able to climb to within a half game of the AL Central lead. This should keep them at bay… at least for now. The Twins gained a full game tonight and now sit 1.5 games up on the Tigers.

Early Returns

It didn’t take long for the Twins to score. They posted five runs in the second inning and seven more in innings three through six. The Bomba Squad has put up 52 runs this year, in the first three innings of games.

The scoring burst didn’t come from just a few guys, either. Each player in the starting lineup registered at least one hit. The most important ones came off the bats of Miguel Sano and Byron Buxton. Sano hit a mammoth solo shot in the second while Buxton recorded not one, but TWO, solo Bombas of his own. It’s only the second multi-homer game of his career.

It was exactly what was anticipated from the Twins against Brewer starter Eric Lauer, too. Lauer came into the game ranking below average in a plethora of pitching categories and really only utilizes two pitches (four-seam FB and cutter). Both pitches usually end up in the left side of the strike zone, which gave the Twins plenty to hone in on. And, hone-in they did.

Buxton on Fire…

Buxton has been on fire as of late. He’s hit five home runs during the team’s eight-game road trip, while also scoring eight runs and batting in seven. Oh, and he has raised his average to .298 with a .944 OPS. He’s looked a lot more like the player the Twins have been anticipating he was for years.

Is this latest hot streak just another flash in the pan for Buxton, or a sign of progress? If it’s the latter, Buxton could be back on track to truly becoming a cornerstone of the Twin’s future…finally.

Maeda’s Been a Steal

With Tuesday’s game having been a bullpen game, intrigue surrounded how long Baldelli would keep Kenta Maeda on the mound. Six solid innings from Maeda would go a long way…

The Twins new pitcher delivered, and then some. Maeda cruised through the first five innings (going perfect through 3.2), retiring 17 of 18 to begin the game. His 6.2 innings make the longest outing by a Twins starter this year…. yikes.

Looking back on the Maeda acquisition (for Brusdar Graterol), some had questions about his viability as a full-time starter. Remember, he had been relegated to the bullpen on numerous occasions with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He has proven doubters wrong, so far. His contract tops out at only $3 million/year through 2023. The Twins may have robbed the Dodgers, finding a high-end piece to add to their rotation for years to come.

Headed Home

It was clearly a frustrating road trip for the Twins, going 3-5 and losing winnable games. Thankfully, they are headed home to face a familiar opponent in the Kansas City Royals. After being swept by them in the previous series, they are hoping the recent offense outburst can carry over for some redemption.

The Minnesota Twins also get an off-day on Thursday. Baldelli mentioned the team is looking forward to a day off, giving them a chance to refresh before embarking on a stretch of 26 games in 27 days.

Jake Odorizzi (0-0, 6.00 ERA) faces off against Jakob Junis (0-0, 4.00 ERA) Friday night. After a less than stellar first start, Odorizzi is looking to be healthier and more prepared in start #2.

Jack Kewitsch | Minnesota Sports Fan

]]> https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-twins/buxton-and-maeda-toy-with-brewers-twins-win-big/feed/ 0 Wed, 12 Aug 2020 22:07:45 +0000 Minnesota Twins Bomba Squad Out Bomba’d in Milwaukee https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-twins/bomba-squad-out-bombad-in-milwaukee/ https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-twins/bomba-squad-out-bombad-in-milwaukee/#respond Wed, 12 Aug 2020 04:05:05 +0000 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/?p=28661

Bombas…and lots of them tonight. They didn’t all come from the Minnesota Twins, though, so that’s a problem. Do we still call those Bombas? After getting back in the win-column Monday, Baldelli and Co surrendered four long balls (including a devastating one late), during a 6-4 loss Tuesday to the Milwaukee Brewers. The Twins, now 11-7 on the season, see their lead in the AL Central shrinking fast. They now sit atop the Detroit Tigers by just .5 games.

THE POSITIVES

The game started with a bang. Jorge Polanco took the first pitch he saw, a four-seam fastball, for a home run. With Josh Lindbolm has thrown fastballs 35.8% of the time so far this year. Baldelli said in his pregame presser than his hitters would look to key in on fastball early in counts.

It paid off immediately, when Eddie Rosario went deep for another solo shot. That gave the Twins 20 solo shots (out of 28 home runs total) on the season. Not ideal, but runs are runs I guess…

But Rosario wasn’t done there. Homering again in the in the third, this time a two-run blast, to give the Twins a 4-1 lead. Showcasing the increased patience at the plate he has developed from last year.

Byron Buxton

Bombas weren’t the only positives from this game though. Buxton found a way to get three hits, including two infield singles, while the bullpen found a way to keep the Brewers relatively punchless for most of the game. This included Cody Stashak showcasing better command after “the worst outing of his career” (according to Dan Hayes – Athletic) and Matt Wisler efficiently working through 2.2 innings.

THE NEGATIVES

Yet the Twins still ended up losing the game after being up 4-1. A reoccurring theme so far this year. Score runs early and then taper off in the later innings. Giving up four bombs to the Brewers, including two to catcher Manny Pina and a death-dealing blow in the eighth to Jedd Gyorko.

Gyorko’s home run came at the hands of Taylor Rogers. While it wasn’t a save situation, it is still frustrating for Twins fans to see their stopper surrender runs at an alarming rate over the last week.

On top of that, Luis Arraez struck out multiple times, in consecutive games, for the first time in over two years. He was playing Class A ball in Fort Meyers the last time he did that. After striking out just 26 times in 92 games last year, Arraez already has 8 Ks in 15 games this season.

TIME TO WIN THE SERIES

While not an ideal outcome, after jumping out to an early lead, the Twins still have a chance to win the series tomorrow against the Brewers. First pitch is scheduled for 6:10 pm. It will be Kenta Maeda (2-0, 2.65 ERA) dueling Eric Lauer (0-1, 9.53 ERA).

Maeda has 16 strikeouts in 17 innings (3 starts). He is heavily utilizing his changeup and slider vs years past. This has lead to a decreased walk rate and higher whiff rates. With so much of the bullpen being utilized today, Baldelli is hoping to see Maeda go seven innings.

Jack Kewitsch | Minnesota Sports Fan

]]> https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-twins/bomba-squad-out-bombad-in-milwaukee/feed/ 0 Tue, 11 Aug 2020 23:05:08 +0000 Minnesota Twins Twins Get Back in the Win Column and it Feels So Good https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-twins/twins-get-back-in-the-win-column-and-it-feels-so-good/ https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-twins/twins-get-back-in-the-win-column-and-it-feels-so-good/#respond Tue, 11 Aug 2020 03:28:47 +0000 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/?p=28603

One pitch was all it took for the Minnesota Twins to get back in the win column Monday night. This 4-2 win over the Milwaukee Brewers can be credited to an Eddie Rosario grand slam and another all-star performance from Randy Dobnak on the mound.

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JUST GIVE DOBNAK ROOKIE OF THE YEAR ALREADY

You read that right, Randy Dobnak has been the Twins best pitcher this season. While it has been a small sample size, he doesn’t really have competition so far. He has easily been the most consistent and confident starting arm, allowing four hits and a single run, while striking out three over five innings.

We all know Dobnak isn’t a guy who will rack up strikeouts. Currently, he sits in the 14th percentile for both strikeout and whiff rate. Blowing batters away doesn’t matter when you’re minimizing baserunners (0.93 WHIP) and surrendering minimal to no runs.

His improvement, as cited by Rocco Baldelli in his pregame presser, has only increased his confidence and benefitted the Twins. Dobnak now holds a 3-1 record, 0.93 ERA, and an absurd .205 BABIP and 92.3% left on-base percentage.

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It is yet to be seen if this streak of consistency will continue through the rest of the year. If it does, expect some hardware for a future star. If he doesn’t win AL Rookie of the Year, expect commissioner Rob Manfred’s office and every voter’s inbox to be flooded with strongly worded letters.

IS THE BOMBA SQUAD BACK?

While Dobnak out-dueled another early season stud in Adrian Houser, this win couldn’t have happened without one important swing of the bat. With one out in the fourth and down a run, Eddie Rosario took the first pitch he saw yard. It was his fourth career grand slam and it gave the twins a three-run cushion.

So, is the beloved Bomba Squad back? Eddie’s home run, to keep the Brewers at bay, was a step in the right direction but the whole team isn’t back quite yet. Strikeouts have remained high for the team as a whole. Tonight was no exception. They whiffed 10 times for the third straight game. Aggressiveness in the box works, but must be done with some level of caution.

BALDELLI HEARD THE BULLPEN PLEAS

As for the bullpen, it seems that Baldelli took to heart the pleas to put in his best arms to secure the win. Or at least fans and writers like to think he did. Count it as a win, regardless.

After sitting on the team’s best relief arms during the four game losing streak (in which each game was winnable), the frustration was palpable among Twins fans. Yet Baldelli utilized those arms effectively in this win. Throwing Trevor May, Tyler Duffey, Sergio Romo, and Taylor Rogers at the Brewers. Although Romo gave up a solo home run in the eighth, the Rosario grand slam provided enough for the pen to work with.

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EXPECT A LOT OF BULLPEN TUESDAY

Baldelli and Wes Johnson are yet to announce a starter for Tuesday’s matchup. Kenta Maeda’s start got pushed back a day. Rich Hill and Homer Bailey are still recovering so I expect Baldelli to lean on Lewis Thorpe, Cody Stashak or Devin Smeltzer to start the game. We’ll see.

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Whoever takes the mound, will face off against Josh Lindbolm (1-0, 4.15 ERA). The Minnesota Twins are back into the win column, if only for a day, and hoping to build off of it into the remainder of this road trip. We’ll take more grand slams from Eddie Rosario too.

Jack Kewitsch | Minnesota Sports Fan

]]> https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-twins/twins-get-back-in-the-win-column-and-it-feels-so-good/feed/ 0 Tue, 11 Aug 2020 16:26:07 +0000 Minnesota Twins