2014 – Game 116: Twins at Athletics

I won't talk about May here ... things can only improve for him, right?

As for today's game, I wouldn't mind avoiding the sweep, but that's about all the energy I've got to invest at this point.

Hughes (11-8, 4.01 ERA, 98 ERA+, 2.68 FIP, 1.246 WHIP) v. Hammel (9-9, 3.70 ERA, 104 ERA+, 3.78 FIP, 1.203 WHIP)*

*2014 combined stats: Cubs & A's

Following yesterday's game, the Twins did what most (all?) of us thought they should be doing at this point in another lost season by trading veteran pitcher Kevin Correia to the Los Angeles Dodgers for cash or a player to be named later. There was some brief discussion of it here yesterday. Comments were pretty matter of fact. Between insufficient run support and about average stuff, Correia provided about as was expected. Even so, according to sean:

Correia had a 1.6 rWAR last season and a -0.0 rWAR this season. FanGraphs rates them 1.4 fWAR and 0.9 fWAR respectively. The Dodgers are paying the final $1.5 million, so that's 1.6 rWAR and 2.3 fWAR for $8.5 million. That's $5.3 million / rWAR and $3.7 million / fWAR. He did everything the Twins expected, plus some.

That's kind of a nice way to sum up that FA signing...they got what was expected, plus some.

Happy Birthday–August 10

Jim Clinton (1850)
Odell Hale (1908)
Willie Wells (1908)
Taffy Wright (1911)
Buddy Lewis (1916)
Bob Porterfield (1923)
Rocky Colavito (1933)
Tom Brookens (1953)
Tim Brookens (1953)
Jerald Clark (1963)
Andy Stankiewicz (1964)
Gerald Williams (1966)
Sal Fasano (1971)
Brandon Lyon (1979)
Wilson Ramos (1987)

Willie Wells is considered, along with Pop Lloyd, one of the two greatest shortstops in the history of the Negro Leagues.

Tim Brookens is the twin brother of Tom Brookens and played four years in the minors, reaching AA.

We would also like to wish a happy birthday to freealonzo's son.

Continue reading Happy Birthday–August 10

Game 115: The Arrival

M'AIDEZ!! (to oblige DW)

Well, he's here. I'm trying to keep my expectations reasonably low, but this is more about what it all represents.

The Twins post-2011 have sucked. Tonight represents the possibility that they might not suck forever. Even if May only ends up being the third or fourth best starter on the staff of the future, maybe we'll have the type of team that has a fairly decent starter in the third or fourth spot. We can hope, right?

In the mean time, he's only got to make a start against the best team in baseball. No pressure!