Happy Birthday–June 10

Jack Graney (1886)
Garland Braxton (1900)
Danny McFayden (1905)
Vic Harris (1905)
Mike Kreevich (1908)
Frank Demaree (1910)
Chuck Thompson (1921)
Hank Foiles (1929)
Carmen Cozza (1930)
Ed Palmquist (1933)
Kazuhisa Inao (1937)
Johnny Edwards (1938)
Ken Singleton (1947)
Elias Sosa (1950)
Gerry Hunsicker (1950)
Francisco Barrios (1953)
Scott Ullger (1955)
Floyd Bannister (1955)
Pokey Reese (1973)

Outfielder Vic Harris was a long-time Negro League player and manager, leading the Homestead Grays to nine Negro National League pennants.

Chuck Thompson was a long-time broadcaster for the Baltimore Orioles.

Outfielder Carmen Cozza played in the low minors in 1952-1953, batting .242.  He later became a college football coach, most notably at Yale.  Upon his retirement in 1996, he held the record for most coaching victories in the Ivy League (179) and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2002.

Kazuhisa Inao is one of the greatest pitchers in Japanese baseball history.

Gerry Hunsicker is a long-time baseball executive, working for the Mets, the Astros, and the Rays.

Continue reading Happy Birthday–June 10

2013 Game 60: Twins at Nationals

It's been a long, sucky day already and it's only looking to get worse, so I'll get in and out on this one. Sam Deduno faces Nate Karns, who makes his third start in the majors. In the minors, he walked too many but struck out an impressive number (262 in 216 innings).

I'd love to have a day off for this doubleheader, but unfortunately that wasn't in the cards. At best, I'll see the end of the first game.

Happy Birthday–June 9

Dude Esterbrook (1857)
Irish Meusel (1893)
Mike Ryba (1903)
Frank McCormick (1911)
Jimmy Newberry (1922)
Roy Smalley (1926)
Bill Virdon (1931)
Howie Gershberg (1936)
Jake Jacobs (1937)
Julio Gotay (1939)
Bruce Look (1943)
Tom Egan (1946)
Dave Parker (1951)
Tom Edens (1961)
Randy Winn (1974)

Jimmy Newberry was the first black player in Japanese baseball.

Howie Gershberg was a long-time college and minor league pitching coach.

We would also like to wish a happy birthday to SBG’s uncle and to his brother.

Continue reading Happy Birthday–June 9

This Week in Twins Transactions

Chris Colabello was optioned to Rochester.

Clete Thomas had his contract selected by Minnesota.

Tyler Robertson was designated for assignment.

Blake Martin was promoted from New Britain to Rochester.

Tom Stuifbergen was promoted from Fort Myers to New Britain.

Manuel Soliman was promoted from Cedar Rapids to Fort Myers.

Tyler Duffey was promoted from Cedar Rapids to Fort Myers.

Niko Goodrum was placed on the seven day disabled list by Cedar Rapids.

Caleb Brewer was assigned to Cedar Rapids.

Joel Licon was promoted from Elizabethton to Cedar Rapids.

Christian Powell was promoted from Elizabethton to Cedar Rapids.

This Week in Ex-Twins

Atlanta signs Joe Beimel to a minor league contract and assigns him to AAA Gwinnett.

Atlanta organization sends Billy Bullock from AAA Gwinnett to A Lynchburg on a rehab assignment.

Baltimore signs Jon Rauch to a minor league contract and assigns him to AAA Norfolk.

Cubs designate Alex Burnett for assignment, then sent him outright to Iowa.

Cincinnati organization sends Ray Chang from AAA Louisville to AA Pensacola.

Cleveland signs J. C. Romero to a minor league contract and sends him to AAA Columbus.

Kansas City assigns Chase Lambin to AAA Omaha.

Toronto selects the contract of Ramon Ortiz from AAA Buffalo, then places him on the fifteen day disabled list with a strained right elbow.

Toronto designates Henry Blanco for assignment.  They're going to miss him.

Washington organization announces that J. C. Romero has elected to become a free agent.

Washington claims Tyler Robertson off waivers and options him to AAA Syracuse.