Happy Birthday–July 8

Hank O'Day (1862)
Ivey Wingo (1890)
Clint Brown (1903)
Salty Parker (1912)
Antonio Ramirez Muno (1927)
Hector Lopez (1929)
Al Spangler (1933)
Darrell Brandon (1940)
Ken Sanders (1941)
Jim Ollom (1945)
Lerrin LaGrow (1948)
Alan Ashby (1951)
Terry Puhl (1956)
Bob Kipper (1964)
Jerome Walton (1965)
Bobby Ayala (1969)
Danny Ardoin (1974)

We would also like to wish a happy birthday to AMR’s daughter and to Moss' son.

Continue reading Happy Birthday–July 8

Game 84: Twins @ Rangers

Let's all welcome Sam Deduno back to the big leagues. Even if this if probably one of only one or two starts he'll ever make for the team, I'm interested. For the most part, this is because he's not at all a typical Minnesota Twins starter. Through his minor league career, he's struck out lots of batters, walked lots of them, and not given up many home runs. I'm not expecting much, it'll just be interesting to see how another anti-contact pitcher works out.

Deduno's opponent will be Derek Holland. He's making his first start in a month or so. It's going to be sort of boring to look up much info on him, so just imagine a guy who strikes some people out, walks some folk, and gives up some home runs. There. Now you're either picturing Derek Holland, or pretty much any other major-league capable pitcher.

Hopefully Deduno's first major league start is a solid one, and the 'Sam Deduno' tag that I'm debuting today gets to be used for a while longer.

Two Weeks in Twins Transactions

Matt Capps was placed on the fifteen day disabled list.
Tyler Robertson was recalled from Rochester.
Shiaron Martis was acquired from the Pittsburgh organization in a trade and assigned to New Britain.
Kyle Waldrop was recalled from Rochester.
Jeff Manship was optioned to Rochester.
Cole DeVries was recalled from Rochester, then optioned him back to Rochester, then recalled him from Rochester again.
D. J. Baxendale was signed and assigned to Elizabethton.
Liam Hendriks was optioned to Rochester.
Casey Fien was recalled from Rochester.
Nick Blackburn was optioned to Rochester.
Chris Parmelee was optioned to Rochester.
Samuel Deduno was recalled from Rochester.
Matt Maloney was placed on the seven day disabled list by Rochester.
Luis Perdomo was promoted from New Britain to Rochester.
David Bromberg was sent to the GCL Twins on a rehab assignment, then was sent from Rochester to New Britain.
Deolis Guerra was placed on the seven day disabled list by Rochester.
Daniel Sattler was promoted from New Britain to Rochester.
Rene Tosoni was placed on the seven day disabled list by New Britain.
Dakota Watts was promoted from Fort Myers to New Britain.
Andrew Albers was placed on the seven day disabled list by New Britain.
Matt Rizzotti was released by New Britain.
Marty Popham was promoted from Fort Myers to New Britain.
A. J. Achter was promoted from Beloit to Fort Myers.
Jairo Perez was released by Fort Myers.
Kaleb Merck was assigned to Elizabethton.
Joe Benson was sent to the GCL Twins on a rehab assignment.
Adrian Salcedo was assigned to the GCL Twins.
Jose Ramirez was assigned to the DSL Twins.
Ryan Doumit agreed to terms on a two-year contract.

Two Weeks in Ex-Twins

Baltimore options Steve Tolleson to AAA Norfolk.
Baltimore organization (AAA Norfolk) places J. C. Romero on the temporarily inactive list, then activates him.
Baltimore acquires Jim Thome in a trade with Philadelphia.
Boston designates Darnell McDonald for assignment.
Bridgeport of the Atlantic League signs Dan Serafini.
Bridgeport of the Atlantic League signs Juan Rincon.
White Sox place Jesse Crain on the fifteen day disabled list.
White Sox assign Philip Humber to AAA Charlotte on a rehab assignment.
Fargo-Moorhead of the American Association signs Tony Davis.
Long Island of the Atlantic League places Randy Keisler on the inactive list.
Dodgers name Mickey Hatcher special assistant to the general manager.
Miami organization (AAA New Orleans) releases Steve Holm.
Oakland designates Brian Fuentes for assignment.
New Jersey of the Can-Am League activates Jeff Lanning from the disabled list.
Yankees claim Darnell McDonald off waivers from the White Sox.
Mets organization (AAA Buffalo) activates Chuck James from the disabled list, then releases him.
Philadelphia recalls Jason Pridie from Lehigh Valley.
Pittsburgh organization (AAA Indianapolis) places Jose Morales on the temporarily inactive list, the activates him.
Puebla of the Mexican League signs Hector Carrasco.
San Diego claims Mark Hamburger off waivers from Texas and sends him to AAA Tucson.
Tabasco of the Mexican League signs Frank Mata.

Happy Birthday–July 7

George Moriarty (1885)
Double Duty Radcliffe (1902)
Satchel Paige (1906)
Billy Herman (1909)
Sammy White (1927)
John Gordon (1930)
Bill Melton (1945)
Tommy Moore (1948)
Dan Gladden (1957)
Tim Teufel (1958)
Glenn Hoffman (1958)
Dave Burba (1966)
Jeff Shaw (1966)
Chuck Knoblauch (1968)
Matt Mantei (1973)
John Buck (1980)

Ted “Double Duty” Radcliffe played in the Negro Leagues for many years.  He got his nickname because he would sometimes catch one game of a doubleheader and pitch the other.  He played professionally until 1954, when he retired at age 52.  He is the oldest player to ever appear in a professional baseball game, throwing one pitch for the Schaumberg Flyers of the Northern League in 1999 when he was 96.

John Gordon, of course, was a radio broadcaster for the Twins from 1987 through 2011.

Tommy Moore was drafted by Minnesota in the twenty-eighth round in 1966, but did not sign.

Continue reading Happy Birthday–July 7

2012 Game 83: Minnesota Twins at Texas Rangers

Liriano
v
Perez

I was thinking about the general good vibes about this season's team. In April they were awful, managing a meager six wins. May was a big improvement, with the Twins tripling their win total. June was helped by Interleague and the Twins finished 13-12 for the month. Comparing through 82 games last year, the Twins are actually a game behind: 35-47 versus 36-46 from 2011. Last year, however, had The Suck(tm) of August and September: 7-21 and 6-20 for the final two months. With the team healthier this year, they might be able to avoid the free-fall and have a chance to lose fewer than 90 games.