Monthly Archives: May 2011

Keeping Track

Where They Stand

Rochester is 18-27, sixth (last) in the IL North, 10 games behind Lehigh Valley.  The Red Wings have lost two in a row and are 4-6 over their last ten games.

New Britain is 27-18, third in the EL East, 3 games behind New Hampshire.  The Rock Cats have lost one in a row and are 5-5 over their last ten games.

Ft. Myers is 27-21, second in the FSL South, 0.5 games behind St. Lucie.  The Miracle has lost two in a row and is 7-3 over their last ten games.

Beloit is 22-26, sixth in the ML West, 12 games behind Burlington.  Then Snappers have won one in a row and are 1-9 over their last ten games.

Keeping Track

This Week in Ex-Twins

Atlanta organization promotes Eliecer Cardenas from Lynchburg (A) to Mississippi (AA).
Atlanta promotes Julio Lugo from Mississippi (AA) to Gwinnett (AAA).
Boston places Darnell McDonald on the fifteen day disabled list.
Cubs place Matt Garza on the fifteen day disabled list.
Detroit places Brad Thomas on the fifteen day disabled list.
Dodgers assign Casey Blake to Albuquerque on a rehab assignment, then activate him from the disabled list.
Dodgers organization (AAA Albuquerque) activates Randy Keisler from the disabled list.
Philadelphia organization promotes Jeff Lanning from Lakewood (A) to Reading (AA).
San Diego places Orlando Hudson on the fifteen day disabled list.
Tabasco of the Mexican League signs J. D. Durbin.
Tampa Bay options Rob Delaney to Durham (AAA), then sends him outright to Durham.
Veracruz of the Mexican League activates D’Angelo Jimenez.

Keeping Track

Minor Details: Games of 5/25 – 5/27

ROCHESTER

Wednesday—No games scheduled.

Thursday—Lehigh Valley 3, Rochester 2 in Lehigh Valley.  The IronPigs scored three in the first and it was all they needed.  Matt Brown singled and doubled and Ben Revere and Brian Dinkelman each had two hits.

Friday—Lehigh Valley 10, Rochester 2 in Lehigh Valley.  The IronPigs scored three in the seventh and four in the eighth.  Kyle Waldrop surrendered four runs on seven hits and a walk in 1.1 innings.

NEW BRITAIN

Wednesday—New Britain 4, Binghamton 3 in New Britain. (Game 1—8 innings—scheduled 7 innings).  Mark Dolenc doubled to bring in Chris Cates with the winning run.  Dolenc was 4-for-4 on the game.

Binghamton 6, New Britain 2 in Binghamton (Game 2—Scheduled 7 innings).  Santos Arias allowed four runs on three hits and two walks in one inning of relief.

Thursday—New Britain 7, Binghamton 3 in New Britain.  Mark Dolenc doubled and homered, driving in three runs.  Tyler Robertson got the win with three shutout innings of relief.

Friday—New Hampshire 15, New Britain 3 in New Hampshire.  Steve Singleton had two singles and a double.  Santos Arias surrendered nine runs on eight hits and two walks in three innings of relief.

FT. MYERS

Wednesday—Tampa 12, Ft. Myers 1 in Tampa.  Kane Holbrooks surrendered eleven runs on fourteen hits and two walks in 3.1 innings.  Jhon Garcia struck out four in two shutout innings.

Thursday—Clearwater 5, Ft. Myers 0 in Ft. Myers.  Brian Dozier had two of the three Miracle hits.  Edgar Ibarra worked 5.2 scoreless innings, giving up four runs and three walks.

Friday—Postponed.  Will be made up as part of a doubleheader today.

BELOIT

Wednesday—Burlington 5, Beloit 4 in Beloit.  Lance Ray singled and doubled and Tobias Streich had two hits.

Thursday—Burlington 2, Beloit 0 in Beloit.  The Snappers had four hits. A. J. Achter struck out five in three shutout innings, giving up just one hit and one walk.

Friday—Beloit 10, Clinton 1 in Clinton.  Nate Roberts was 3-for-3 with three doubles and a walk, scoring four times.  Manuel Soliman walked five in five innings, but he allowed just one hit and one run while striking out five.

Keeping Track

Happy Birthday–May 28

Spider Baum (1882)
Jim Thorpe (1887)
Warren Giles (1896)
John Allyn (1917)
Bob Kuzava (1923)
Frank Saucier (1926)
Kirk Gibson (1957)
Bill Doran (1958)
Duane Ward (1964)
Mike Maksudian (1966)
Mike Defelice (1969)
Jhonny Peralta (1982)

Spider Baum won 325 games in the minors between 1902-1920.  267 of those wins came in the Pacific Coast League.

Frank Saucier is the player Eddie Gaedel pinch-hit for in 1951.

Continue reading Happy Birthday–May 28 →

2011 Twins Game Recaps

2011 Game 49 Recap: City of Angels Squared 6, Land o’ Lakes Twins 5

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Weather: 53 degrees and overcast
Wind: 10 mph, right to left
Time: 3:21
Attendance: 38,976

 

Box Score
Fangraphs

The boys from last year, so freewheelin',
are back on their heels now and reelin'
from a punch to the nose
and a heel to their toes
and a knee to the groin they're still feelin'.

It's not what we thought we were getting
and I'm glad that I'm not fond of betting;
I'd be down on my luck
and I'd lose my last buck
on a wager I'm best off forgetting.

Intemperate spring soon turns to summer,
but this season has been such a bummer
that I don't think I'll mind
when we leave it behind.
Reading Souhan always makes me feel dummer.

The Twins tilt tonight was no fans delight,
carnage in the bullpen's a terrible sight.
But no crying, no sorrow,
there's another game tomorrow
and maybe we'll have something go right.

Minnesota Twins, MLB

Kevin’s Saga

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Kevin grabbed his Treat Ticket from Ronnie, the Team Mom, and ran with his Little League teammates toward the snack bar. He already knew what he was going to get. It was what he always got and what he loved: a Twix bar.

Kevin got in line behind some of his teammates and peered in the snack bar. Twix is a popular item at the snack bar, and he could see that only a few were left. He counted five in the box on the shelf and then looked to see how many were in front of him in line.

Carl was first in line. He was the oldest player on the team and always got in line first. Frankie was next. He was big and fast, so he usually wound up near the front of the line.

Then came Nicky. He was slow and uncoordinated, but he was Ronnie's favorite and could usually sweet talk his way to getting his Treat Ticket first.

Finally, it was Scott, Kevin's closest friend on the team. The two of them had played on the same team together several times. Scott was a little older and a little faster and could usually stay ahead of Kevin, but he didn't mind. Today, Kevin was just happy to know that there was just enough Twix to guarantee him his favorite treat.

Kevin finally got to the front of the line and saw that there was exactly one Twix left. He ordered his favorite treat and held it triumphantly as he started to look for his mom.

Brian also was in line, just behind Kevin. Brian was a little younger and a little slower than Kevin, but he was Ronnie's son, which provided him with extra privileges. Brian also wanted a Twix bar and ordered one at the snack bar. He was disappointed to find out none were available, but he told the lady at the snack bar, "OK. Give me a Mr. Goodbar, then."

Ronnie was with Brian and saw that Kevin had taken the last Twix. She marched over to Kevin and snatched it from him and gave Kevin the Mr. Goodbar.

"That's mine!" Kevin said.

"Not anymore, it's not," Ronnie retorted.

"It's OK. He can have the Twix. I like Mr. Goodbar, too," Brian said.

"No son of mine is going without a Twix!" Ronnie said.

"But it was mine first and he said he's fine with it!" Kevin pleaded.

"You're lucky you get any candy at all," Ronnie said. "This is why nobody likes you!"

Ronnie stormed off with Brian in tow. Kevin looked down at the Mr. Goodbar. He had a taste of one before, and it was fine. But it wasn't a Twix. He opened the wrapper and took a small bite. A peanut made his tooth hurt and the chocolate turned bitter in his mouth after the anticipation of that sweet Twix bar. He tossed the Mr. Goodbar in the nearest trash can and looked for his mom.

Kevin told his mom what happened.

"Don't worry about it Kevin," his mom said as they pulled out of the parking lot. "There are plenty of stores that sell Twix. We'll go get you one. Maybe even a giant size bar."

Friday Music Day

Friday Music Day: Memorial Weekend, 2011

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For the past 7 or so summers, I've pieced together a mix CD for my wife and our sisters that's my attempt at, well, a Summer mix for that summer. I try to put together a pop collection of stuff I think is good and will be popular with all of us. (And I try to keep the lyrics kid-friendly.) I generally stick to broadly-defined "Pop," but that has included everything from Bonnie 'Prince' Billy to Buju Banton, White Stripes to Kanye West, Justin Timberlake to Zola Jesus, Taylor Swift to Sleigh Bells, and Grizzly Bear to Gang Gang Dance.

I'm just putting my thoughts together for this year (mix usually ready for the 4th of July), but here's what I've got so far:
EMA "Milkman"
Hooray for Earth "No Love"
Nicki Minaj "Super Bass"
Eric Copeland "Puerto Rican"
JKR70 presents Clay Hughes "The Love I Gave Ya"
I'm also thinking of maybe some Current 93, Fovea Hex, Andy Stott, and Gang Gang Dance, but that's already way too much weird for a year's worth of summers. I'm going to look into Adele (I haven't heard anything other than that she's HUGE), and maybe find good summer songs of the new Thurston Moore and Low LPs, but I'm very short on actual pop. I tried listening to about 15 minutes of KDWB and whatever became of B96, but that was difficult and those songs stunk.

So, you got any suggestions of upcoming new things that would be good? (I can especially use some help finding my obligatory country single.) Thanks much!