Rocco Baldelli doesn't even like to say it, he finds the word so objectionable.
To the Twins manager, there's no such thing as a "closer."
"I just think of it as our guys getting prepared physically and upstairs, mentally, to finish a ballgame for us," Baldelli said. "Our guys are just ready to pitch."
The Twins pitching staff is basically set with Opening Day on Thursday. The starters will be Kenta Maeda, Jose Berrios, Michael Pineda, Matt Shoemaker and J.A. Happ, with Randy Dobnak as a swingman who will begin in the bullpen.
That leaves Taylor Rogers, Hansel Robles, Alex Colome, Jorge Alcala, Tyler Duffey and Cody Stashak as sure bets for the bullpen. Lefthanders Caleb Thielbar and Brandon Waddell and righthander Derek Law are competing for the final spot.
Rogers had 30 saves in 2019, but the lefthander struggled during the 60-game 2020 season and ended up with nine saves after sharing closing duties with Sergio Romo late in the season.
Colome was signed as a free agent after being the White Sox closer for the past two seasons, saving 12 games in 2020 and 30 in 2019. The righthander was an All-Star in 2016 and had a league-high 47 saves for Tampa Bay the following year.
Robles had 23 saves for the Angels in 2019, but things went awry last year when he lost velocity and had a 10.26 ERA in the shortened season.