Monthly Archives: September 2011

Keeping Track

This Week in Twins Transactions

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Jim Hoey was recalled from Rochester to Minnesota.
Brian Dinkelman had his contract selected from Rochester by Minnesota.
Kyle Waldrop had his contract selected from Rochester by Minnesota.
Nick Blackburn was transferred from the fifteen day disabled list to the sixty day disabled list.
Liam Hendriks had his contract selected from Rochester by Minnesota.
Joe Benson was recalled from New Britain to Minnesota.
Chris Parmelee was recalled from New Britain to Minnesota.
Matt Tolbert was recalled from New Britain to Minnesota.
Bruce Pugh was promoted from Ft. Myers to New Britain.
Deolis Guerra was placed on the seven day disabled list by New Britain with a right bicep injury.
Matthew Hauser was promoted from Ft. Myers to New Britain.
Steve Hirschfeld was placed on the seven day disabled list by New Britain with tendonitis in his right shoulder.
Sam Spangler was activated from the disabled list by Beloit.
Pedro Guerra was placed on the seven day disabled list by Beloit.

Keeping Track

This Week in Ex-Twins

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Atlanta organization promotes Billy Bullock from AA Mississippi to AAA Gwinnett.
Atlanta organization promotes Jose Lugo from AA Mississippi to AAA Gwinnett.
Boston organization (AAA Pawtucket) activates Matt Fox from the temporarily inactive list.
White Sox activate Philip Humber from the disabled list.
White Sox activate A. J. Pierzynski from the disabled list.
Colorado recalls J. C. Romero from AAA Colorado Springs.
Florida transfers Randy Choate from the fifteen day disabled list to the sixty day disabled list.
Mets send Johan Santana first to A St. Lucie, then to A Savannah on a rehab assignment.
Oakland reinstates Brian Fuentes from the bereavement list.
Oakland organization promotes Tyler Ladendorf from AA Midland to AAA Sacramento.
St. Louis activates Nick Punto from the disabled list.
San Diego outrights Pat Neshek to Tucson.

Son of an ex-Twin:  Washington selects the contract of Steve Lombardozzi from AAA Syracuse.

Friday Music Day

Friday Music Day: Sept 9, 2011

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There's been a lot of music talk this week already. Let's see if we can add to that, eh?

Possible topic: as we near the tenth anniversary of September 11, 2001, do you have any particular musical memories from that period of time? I know I was listening to Neotropic's La Prochaine Fois.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5gthgvtH0E
I had bought the CD the week before at Let It Be. The wordless, bleached out sounds felt like memory and loss at the time. Please keep any discussions well onto the safe side of the topic line.

Also, share your random ten here.

Keeping Track

Happy Birthday–September 9

Abner Dalrymple (1857)
Frank Chance (1876)
Dots Miller (1886)
Doc Johnston (1887)
Frankie Frisch (1898)
Waite Hoyt (1899)
Hugh Mulcahy (1913)
Jay Ward (1938)
Paul Roof (1942)
Jerry Mumphrey (1952)
Tom Foley (1959)
Alvin Davis (1960)
Jim Corsi (1961)
Todd Zeile (1965)
Joey Hamilton (1970)
Dan Miceli (1970)
Felix Rodriguez (1972)
Mike Hampton (1972)
Alex Romero (1983)

Hugh Mulcahy has one of the worst nicknames in the history of baseball.  In four seasons as a starting pitcher for the Phillies, he twice led the league in losses.  He went 45-89 for his career, leading to the nickname “Losing Pitcher Mulcahy”.

The brother of Phil Roof, Paul Roof was a pitcher for four seasons in the Braves’ system, never going higher than Class A.

Continue reading Happy Birthday–September 9 →

2011 Twins Game Recaps

Game 143 Recap: Pale Hose at The Bullseye

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Twins 5, Whities 4
WP: Hot Carl
LP: Danks
SAVE (1): Joe Nathan

Twins Record 59-84 ---->.5 games into the cellar. Booooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.

King of the Savers race update: Craig Kimbrel and Dancie McDouche are knotted atop the leader board with 42 saves apiece. As was noted during the game log the Twins are perfect in converting saves since firing Shortening from the traditional closer role. Small, moral victories are still victories.

Wow. The Twins stink. No, really, they actually smell bad. As a cost saving measure, the front office has turned off the water in the clubhouse for the remainder of the season. They're hoping that Michael Lewis will take note of their radical attempt to change how the game is played. The ensuing movie will undoubtedly star Gene Hackman as the grizzled veteran manager who has to deal with the injuries, the prima donna, and the young upstarts that light a fire which lands the team in the cellar. I'd pay a nickle to watch that movie.

The Twins won this one, although it wasn't a pretty performance. Danny V stroked a blooper with the bases loaded to open the scoring in the third inning. I read that the Twins had been 0-24 this series with RISP before Danny V, and I couldn't believe the number wasn't more like 0-200. Hot Carl was a bit shaky on the mound. He finished the night pitching five and a third innings, allowing 10 hits, 3 runs (only one of which was earned) walking one, and striking out one. Both AJ Burnette and Jose Mijares pitched in tight situations during the 6th inning, but left without causing further harm. The official scorer handed out 4 holds for the Twins bullpen, with perkins the only relief pitcher allowing a run to score. Luke Hughes should have been thrown out attempting to seal second in the bottom of the 6th, but instead no one was covering the bag and the throw ended up in the outfield allowing Hughes to score. Awesome. Joe Nathan came on and pitched a perfect ninth striking out two batters, neither of which were Adam Dunn.

Culture Club: The next time you're up nort stop by the Duluth Art Institute. They've been an influence and a resource for many emerging artists from Minnesota, and the region, for more than 100 years. Their mission is to create a diverse, creative community of art makers and appreciators. Their current exhibit features a former studio mate of mine.

Keeping Track

Minor League Players of the Year

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Note:  this is players of the year for each individual minor league team.  Thus, a player needs to have been with one team for a significant portion of the year to be that team's player of the year.  What consitutes a "significant portion of the year" is somewhat subjective.

ROCHESTER

Position Player:  Aaron Bates hit .316/.408/.439, leading the team in OPS among players with at least 200 at-bats.  Honorable mention:  Jeff Bailey hit .252/.357/.442 with 15 home runs.

Pitcher:  Chuck James was 3-2, 1 save, 2.30, 1.21 WHIP with 67 strikeouts in 62.2 innings (38 appearances).  Honorable mention:  Kyle Waldrop was 5-5, 3 saves, 3.87, 1.29 WHIP.

NEW BRITAIN

Position Player:  Brian Dozier hit .318/.384/.502.  He led the team in OPS and slugging and was second in batting average and OBP.  Honorable mention:  Joe Benson hit .285/.388/.495.  He led the team in OBP, was tied for the team lead in home runs (16) and was second in slugging.

Pitcher:  Liam Hendriks was 8-2, 2.70, 1.14 WHIP in 16 appearances (15 starts).  He struck out 81 in 90 innings.  Honorable mention:  Tyler Robertson was 10-3, 16 saves, 3.61, 1.29 WHIP in 55 appearances.  He struck out 88 in 89.2 innings.

FT. MYERS

Position Player:  No one did all that well after Brian Dozier was promoted to New Britain, but we'll give it to Oswaldo Arcia, who hit .263/.300/.460, leading the team in OPS and slugging among players with at least 200 at-bats.  Honorable mention:  Aaron Hicks hit .242/.354/.368, leading the team in OBP.

Pitcher:  Andrew Albers was 4-1, 4 saves, 1.55, 1.05 WHIP in 22 appearances (2 starts).  He struck out 46 in 52.1 innings.  Honorable mention:  Matt Schuld was 4-1, 3.99, 1.30 WHIP in 70 innings.  He appeared in 15 games, 11 of them starts.

BELOIT

Position Player:  Jairo Perez hit .337/.413/.580 with 20 doubles and 15 home runs in just 276 at-bats.  He also stole 11 bases.  Honorable mention:  Michael Gonzales hit .289/.371/.468 with 27 doubles and 15 home runs.

Pitcher:  Jose Gonzalez was 5-3, 13 saves, 2.47, 1.16 WHIP with 63 strikeouts in 62 innings (48 apperances).  Honorable mention:  Adrian Salcedo was 6-6, 2.93, 1.17 WHIP.  He struck out 92 in 135 innings (29 appearances, 20 starts).

ELIZABETHTON

Position Player:  Eddie Rosario hit .337/.397/.670.  He led the team in slugging, batting average, OPS, walks, home runs, runs, RBIs, and stolen bases (17 of 23).  Honorable mention:  Miguel Sano hit .292/.352/.637.  He led the team in doubles and was second in most of the categories Rosario led.

Pitcher:  Matthew Summers was 1-1, 6 saves, 0.87, 0.77 WHIP in 20 appearances.  He struck out 36 in 20.2 innings.  Honorable mention:  Tim Shibuya was 8-2, 3.30, 1.10 WHIP in 13 starts.  He struck out 70 in 73.2 innings.

GCL TWINS

Position Player:  Phillip Chapman hit .308/.392/.442, leading the team in all three of those categories for players with over 100 at-bats.  He also led the team in doubles and RBIs.  Honorable mention:  Stephen Wickens hit .245/.370/.340.

Pitcher:  Angel Mata was 0-1, 1.46, 1.14 WHIP in 12 appearances (11 starts).  He struck out 30 in 37 innings.  Honorable mention:  Luis Nunez was 5-0, 5 saves, 1.67, 0.90 in 16 appearances.  He struck out 37 in 32.1 innings.

DSL TWINS

Position Player:  Erick Gonzalez hit .286/.445/.392.  He led the team in all three of those categories, plus runs, hits, doubles, total bases, and walks.  Honorable mention:  Adonis Pacheco hit .285/.364/.398, leading the team in triples.

Pitcher:  Junior Subero was 3-4, 0.77, 0.96 WHIP in 12 appearances (10 starts).  He struck out 49 in 46.2 innings.  Honorable mention:  Francisco Nunez was 9-1, 5 saves, 1.47, 0.76 WHIP in 20 appearances (1 start).  He struck out 61 in 49 innings.