I really don't understand the point or interest in mock drafts. "This thing with a thousand variables maybe possibly might could happen this way....... or maybe this way!?"
April 17, 2024: Mock Duck
April 16, 2024: The Awakening
I've been a big fan of Hanif Abdurriqib for a long time. For some reason, he's been a fan of the Wolves by choice for years. I hope we all have a great ride.
To be very earnest, it was really special for me to get to do this. I have been a fan for so long, have seen this team through so many eras of its life and my own life and you never think you’re gonna get a call asking you to write a thing and perform it for something like this. https://t.co/twNTwUw67E
— Hanif Abdurraqib (@NifMuhammad) April 16, 2024
Happy Birthday–April 16
Dutch Leonard (1892)
Paul Waner (1903)
Babe Phelps (1908)
Pete Hughes (1915)
Pete Suder (1916)
Joe Bauman (1922)
Rich Rollins (1938)
Bernie Allen (1939)
Garry Roggenburk (1940)
Jim Lonborg (1942)
Bob Montgomery (1944)
Bruce Bochy (1955)
Curt Young (1960)
Fernando Vina (1969)
Antonio Alfonseca (1972)
Kelly Dransfeldt (1975)
Nolan Arenado (1991)
Pete Hughes was a star in the low minors from 1937-1952. His incomplete career numbers are a .350 average and a .637 slugging percentage, but for some reason he never played above Class B.
Joe Bauman hit 72 home runs for Roswell in the Longhorn League in 1954.
Kelly Dransfeldt was drafted by Minnesota in the seventh round in 1993, but did not sign.
Rich Rollins, Bernie Allen, and Garry Roggenburk all played for the Twins at the same time. I wonder how unusual it is for a team to have three players who share the same birthday. They also all were born or raised in the state of Ohio. Rollins and Allen were also business partners for a while.
Big Head Todd and the Monsters – Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl)
Looking Glass scored a number one hit in the US and UK with this old favorite back in 1972. I remember it was on the radio quite a lot that summer. I like this update from 2020.
2024 Game Log 15: Minnesota Twins vs. Baltimore Orioles
I'll keep it brief.
Go Twins.
April 15, 2024: One For You, Nineteen For Me
If you haven't already, get 'um done, citizens.
Minor Details: Games of April 14
ST. PAUL SAINTS 13, IOWA CUBS 11 IN ST. PAUL
The Saints led 8-0 after three, 9-2 after four, and 12-3 after five, then held on to win.
Multi-hit games: Diego Castillo was 3-for-4 with a home run, three runs, and two RBIs. Chris Williams was 3-for-5 with a home run, a double, two runs, and two RBIs. Tanner Morris was 3-for-5 with a double. Yoyner Fajardo was 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs. Yunior Severino was 2-for-5 with a home run, a double, two runs, and five RBIs.
Home runs: Castillo (2), Severino (2), Williams (1).
Multi-RBI games: Severino, 5; Castillo, 2; Williams, 2; Fajardo, 2.
Stolen bases: Fajardo (2).
Pitching prowess: None.
Opposition standout: Chase Strumpf was 2-for-5 with a home run, two runs, and two RBIs.
Record: St. Paul is 7-7, in fourth place, 2.5 games behind Omaha.
SPRINGFIELD CARDINALS 8, WICHITA WIND SURGE 7 IN SPRINGFIELD
Wichita led 7-1 after four and a half. It was still 7-3 after seven, but Springfield scored five in the eighth to win it. Matt Lloyd hit a three-run homer to give the Cardinals the lead.
Multi-hit games: None.
Home runs: Carson McCusker (1), Jeferson Morales (1).
Multi-RBI games: Morales, 4.
Stolen bases: None.
Pitching prowess: A. J. Alexy pitched 3.2 innings, giving up one run on one hit and six walks and striking out two. Regi Grace struck out two in a scoreless inning, giving up one hit.
Opposition standout: Nathan Church was 3-for-4 with a double, a walk, and two runs.
Record: Wichita is 1-8, in fifth (last) place, eight games behind Springfield.
CEDAR RAPIDS KERNELS 4, DAYTON DRAGONS 2 IN CEDAR RAPIDS
Jay Harry hit a three-run homer in the seventh, turning a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 lead.
Multi-hit games: Luke Keaschall was 2-for-3 with a home run and a walk.
Home runs: Keaschall (2), Harry (2).
Multi-RBI games: Harry, 3.
Stolen bases: Keaschall (5).
Pitching prowess: C. J. Culpepper pitched four innings, giving up one run on two hits and a walk and striking out three. Juan Mercedes struck out three in 2.2 innings, giving up an unearned run on two hits and a walk. Jordan Carr pitched 2.1 scoreless innings, walking three and striking out two.
Opposition standout: Javi Rivera pitched four innings, giving up one run on a hit and a walk and striking out three.
Record: Dayton is 4-5, in fourth place, two games behind Great Lakes.
CLEARWATER THRESHERS 5, FORT MYERS MIGHTY MUSSELS 3 IN CLEARWATER
TJayy Walton hit a three-run homer in the fifth to give Clearwater a 5-3 lead.
Multi-hit games: None.
Home runs: None.
Multi-RBI games: None.
Stolen bases: None.
Pitching prowess: Ben Ethridge pitched two perfect innings. Aaron Holiday pitched a scoreless inning, giving up one hit and striking out one.
Opposition standout: Braydon Tucker pitched 4.1 scoreless innings, giving up two hits and a walk and striking out three.
Record: Fort Myers is 4-5, in fourth place, three games behind Dunedin and Lakeland.
TOMORROW'S TILTS
5:05 St. Paul (Randy Dobnak, 1-1, 3.65) at Indianapolis
6:05 Jupiter at Fort Myers (Ty Langenberg, 0-0, 9.00)
6:40 Cedar Rapids (TBD) at Wisconsin
7:05 Tulsa at Wichita (TBD)
Happy Birthday–April 15
Jim Creighton (1841)
Ed Abbaticchio (1877)
Chaney White (1894)
Ed Bailey (1931)
Willie Davis (1940)
Ted Sizemore (1945)
Jeromy Burnitz (1969)
Milton Bradley (1978)
John Danks (1985)
Chris Tillman (1988)
Jim Creighton was a star pitcher from 1857-1862, before the National League was created. He passed away from a ruptured hernia in 1862 at the age of twenty-one.
Until Henry Aaron came along, Ed Abbaticchio held the “first in the alphabet” record. Now, of course, David Aardsma has them both beat. Abbaticchio is now eighth in alphabetical order, behind, among others, ex-Twin Fernando Abad.
There do not appear to be any major league players with connections to the Minnesota Twins born on this day.
Sam Bush – In Tall Buildings
Happy Monday. Here's a new take on an all-time favorite of mine by John Hartford. Enjoy your work week, citizens. And don't forget, taxes are the price of living in a civilized society.
April 14, 2024: That’s The One
Was great to see the Twins have a pretty good all around day of baseball. Felt nice. Wouldn't mind seeing it again.