Live from Fort Myers: Twins Spring Training Notes: 3/15/2018

This is my daily live report from Fort Myers on the Twins' Spring Training:

• Eduardo Rosario has started throwing on Wednesday, after nursing a triceps issue, which was  also described  by some as an "elbow" issue.  The play he injured his arm is on video in the above link.  He was the DH in the Thursday's game against the Rays
• Miguel Sano is proving the pundits wrong.  As of yesterday he is hitting .304/.429/.739 with 5 walks and 6 strikeouts in 28 PA.  He will make a great right/lefty combination in the heart of the Twins' order with Logan Morrison who is hitting .385/.467/.538 with 2 walks and 3 strikouts in 15 PA. 
• Tyler Duffey wants to be part of the Twins' rotation.  He last pitched 3 innings with 50 pitches (had 10 more in the pen afterwards) against the Red Sox.  He definitely is not sharp at this point, wasting pitches;  also the fact that he has an option remaining might play against him on the battle for the potential 5th starter after Jose Berrios, Lance Lynne, Jake Odorizzi, and Kyle Gibson.  And that spot on the rotation will definitely go away when Ervin Santana is healthy in early May.  In addition, Trevor May is waiting in the wings with an ETA of early June.
• Gibson had a very strong 5 inning performance at Port Charlotte on Thursday allowing only 4 hits, 1 run, no walks and struck out 5 Rays.  His reworked slider was very effective today.   His Spring ERA is down to 1.80
• Phil Hughes, who has been pitching at 88-90 mph with his fastball, and also aspires for the same short-lived 5th spot in the Twins' rotation, is looking at a former teammate as an example is adjusting to life as a pitcher with a lower velocity fastball.
• Remember the $3 upper deck seats in the Metrodome in the late 1980s?  The Twins are having an equally good deal at the Target Field right now that matches that $3 a game.
• The minor leagues are implementing a whole slew of changes to "speed up the game", the most controversial being the fact that each extra inning will start with a runner on second (that run will not be earned if it happens.)   What to expect from an organization that has already shrunk double-headers to 7 innings a piece?  
• Mike Moen at Minnesota Public Radio, is wondering whether the Twins are still cheap, even with a record payrol

To see all the notes and coverage of the 2018 Twins' Spring Training, including my daily live reports from Fort Myers in the second half of March, please visit here