Monthly Archives: May 2012

WGOM Videos

Ben Kweller – Penny on the Train Track

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It's Algonad week!  The best week of the year!!!!

I have to admit it, I don't understand the music industry.  I primarily listen to rock/pop.  It can have a little country flavor or a little bit of soul, but it is primarily rock.  There are a lot of songs out there where I just can't understand why they aren't mainstream hits.

I decided to make that my theme for the week.  These aren't exactly underground songs but they are songs that don't get as much mainstream love as I would think that they should get.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVsBmyp5tUo

5 votes, average: 7.40 out of 105 votes, average: 7.40 out of 105 votes, average: 7.40 out of 105 votes, average: 7.40 out of 105 votes, average: 7.40 out of 105 votes, average: 7.40 out of 105 votes, average: 7.40 out of 105 votes, average: 7.40 out of 105 votes, average: 7.40 out of 105 votes, average: 7.40 out of 10 (5 votes, average: 7.40 out of 10)
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Keeping Track

Happy Birthday–May 20

Walt Burnham (1860)
Joe Harris (1891)
George Grantham (1900)
Pete Appleton (1904)
Hal Newhouser (1921)
Herman Wedemeyer (1924)
Tom Morgan (1930)
Ken Boyer (1931)
Sadaharu Oh (1940)
Bobby Murcer (1946)
Ralph Bryant (1961)
David Wells (1963)
Todd Stottlemyre (1965)
Ramon Hernandez (1976)
Jayson Werth (1979)
Austin Kearns (1980)

Outfielder Herman Wedemeyer played for Class C Salt Lake City in 1950.  He was a star running back in the All-America Football Conference and later appeared in over 300 episodes of the original Hawaii Five-O, playing Sergeant Edward "Duke" Lukela.

Right-hander Tom Morgan was with Washington at the end of 1960, appearing in fourteen games with them.  On January 31, 1961, before the franchise played a game in Minnesota, he was sold to the Los Angeles Angels.

Outfielder Ralph Bryant was drafted by Minnesota in the thirteenth round of the January draft in 1981, but he did not sign.

There do not appear to be any other major league players with connections to the Minnesota Twins born on this day.

We would like to wish a very happy birthday to hungry joe.

2012 Twins Game Log

Game 40: Twins @ Brewers

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Well, hey. It looks like we've got ourselves a little winning streak here. Let's do some in-depth analysis and see how the odds look for extending it.

PITCHERS
Carl Pavano (2-3, 4.38 FIP, 4.28 xFIP, 0 k/9)
Yovani Gallardo (2-4, 3.89 FIP, 3.96 xFIP, made up name)

Edge: Initially, it would seem that the Brewers have the edge here, but even though Pavano seems to have taken a sacred vow to never strike anyone out ever, I'm going to go with the Twins here. Unless you're Randy Johnson, pitching is 90% luck, 10% facial hair, and Pavano's rebounded nicely after a tough 2011.

HITTERS
I'd be a fool to bet against a lineup that prominently features a catcher sporting a .350/.381/.450 slash line. Twins, it is.

BALLPARK
Miller Park can't possibly hope to match Target Field, so even though they're not playing at Target Field today, I'm giving the advantage to the Twins.

INTANGIBLES
Morneau's radiant good cheer (that is how he won that MVP in 2006, right?) is worth a hundred of whatever the Brewers might have in this department (beer, maybe? brats? Ryan Braun's contaminated urine?)

Adding all of that up (4-0), I'd say it's pretty much a sure thing. The Twins are going to sweep this series!*

* yes, I might be getting ahead of myself here, but with literally every indicator saying that they'll win this game, why wouldn't they win the next one, too?

Soccer

Champions Leage Final: Chelsea v. Bayern-Munich

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What:  UEFA Champions League Final

Who:  Chelsea (England); Bayern-Munich (Germany)

Where:  Allianz Stadium Munich Germany

TV:  Fox, Game at 1:45p

Stakes:  Bragging rights as top football club in Europe

Today is one of international soccer’s biggest days, probably only behind the World Cup or perhaps the European Cup finals.  The Champions League final is this afternoon and if you don’t mind spending a couple of hours inside watching the game, I think you will enjoy it regardless of your soccer knowledge.  To give you a little edge if you do decide to watch, here are a few reasons why each team could win.  I’ll stay away from the technical aspects but Andrew, Pirate, Homer Dome or others feel free to chime in through the comments.  If you want a technical review, this one is pretty good.

Continue reading Champions Leage Final: Chelsea v. Bayern-Munich →

Keeping Track

This Week in Twins Transactions

Matt Maloney was sent outright to Rochester.
Chris Parmelee was optioned to Rochester.
Justin Morneau was activated from the disabled list.
Ben Revere was recalled from Rochester.
Nick Blackburn was placed on the fifteen day disabled list.
Sean Burroughs was activated by Rochester.
Clete Thomas was activated by Rochester.
Tsuyoshi Nishioka was activated from the disabled list by Rochester.
Lester Oliveros was promoted from New Britain to Rochester.
Matt Rizzotti was sent from Rochester to New Britain.
Wilkin Ramirez was promoted from New Britain to Rochester.
Aaron Bates was released.
Joe Thurston was released.
Kyle Waldrop was assigned to Fort Myers.

Keeping Track

This Week in Ex-Twins

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A few citizens' favorites made the list this week.

Arizona sends David Winfree outright to AAA Reno.
Baltimore purchases Lew Ford’s contract from Long Island of the Atlantic League and assigns him to AAA Norfolk.
Baltimore adds Steven Tolleson to their forty man roster.
Boston places Darnell McDonald on the fifteen day disabled list.
White Sox activate Jesse Crain from the disabled list.
Cincinnati organization releases Ron Mahay.
Angels place Torii Hunter on the restricted list.
Angels fire batting coach Mickey Hatcher.
Dodgers designate Trent Oeltjen for assignment, then sends him outright to AAA Albuquerque.
Mexico City of the Mexican League activates Julio DePaula.
Milwaukee assigns Carlos Gomez to Class A Wisconsin on a rehab assignment.
Mets organization (AAA Buffalo) activates Chuck James from the disabled list.
Mets organization (AA Binghamton) places Kevin Mulvey on the seven day disabled list.
Yankees organization (Class A Charleston) activates Pedro Guerra from the disabled list.
St. Louis releases J. C. Romero.
San Diego places Jason Bartlett on the fifteen day disabled list.
San Diego releases Orlando Hudson.
San Francisco organization (AAA Fresno) activates Eli Whiteside from the temporarily inactive
list.
Washington places Wilson Ramos on the fifteen day disabled list, then transfers him to the sixty day disabled list.
Blayne Weller was traded from River City of the Frontier League to Windy City of the Frontier League for a player to be named later.
Nick Lockwood was placed on the injured list by Washington of the Frontier League.
Mike Tarsi was signed by Bridgeport of the Atlantic League.

It's not my place to tell a guy to give up on his dream, but when you're in the Frontier League and you get traded for a player to be named later, it may be time to get on with your life.