Game 12: Twins 7, Indians 2

This time we'll play Good News, Bad News.

Good News: The Twins won consecutive series to give them  a 4-2 homestand.

Bad News: It was the first time the Twins won consecutive series since July 7-13, 2014 (at SEA and at COL) , and their first winning homestand of at least two series since May 13-18, 2014 (BOS & SEA). That Red Sox series was the one where the Twins pwned Andrew Miller with two walkoff hits (Parmelee HR, Hicks 1B).

Good News: The Twins got 8 IP of one-run ball from Trevor May (6) and Aaron Thompson (2).

Bad News: Neither pitcher would have been on the roster if it weren't for Santana's suspension and Nolasco's injury, meaning the decision-makers demoted them in favor of Nolasco, Pelfrey, Stauffer and Boyer.

Good News: Torii Hunter hit a three-run homer.

Bad News: Torii Hunter hit a three-run homer. (Anything ii does this year is going to be a good news/bad news sort of thing. I had an Angels fan friend today tell me Torii Hunter is going into the Hall of Fame. I laughed in his face).

Good News: The Twins won a game without using Fien or Perkins.

Bad News: Perkins still had to warm up while J.R. Graham wobbled through the ninth with a 6-run lead. The HR wasn't as big a deal as the walk, which led to Perkins getting up in the bullpen. Fortunately, he got through it, but the more he struggles, the more will see of Boyer and Stauffer in critical situations prior to the 8th inning (or in the 8th when Fien needs a day off).

Good News: Trevor Plouffe and Shane Robinson each had three hits. Plouffe consistently went to the opposite field, which was impressive considering his walk-off homer to left field the other day. Robinson got hits to all three fields and is now hitting .368. With Schafer batting .143, Robinson needs to start more against righties until Schafer at least shows he can make more consistent contact.

Bad News: Eduardo Escobar struck out two more times and is batting just .160. With Danny Santana also struggling to make contact, that could mean seeing some of Eduardo Nunez at shortstop.

Good News: The Twins will now play the Royals, who the Twins just won 2 out of 3 from.

Bad News: The Royals are 8-1 in their other 10 games and the game will be in Kansas City. The Twins are 1-5 on the road so far and were 3-6 at Kansas City last year.

Happy Birthday–April 20

Germany Smith (1863)
Tommy Dowd (1869)
Charlie Hemphill (1876)
Charlie Smith (1880)
Mike Mowrey (1884)
Dave Bancroft (1891)
Roy Hofheinz (1912)
Preston Gomez (1923)
Tom Hutton (1946)
Milt Wilcox (1950)
Doug Clarey (1954)
Floyd Chiffer (1956)
Don Mattingly (1961)
Greg Brummett (1967)
Dan Smith (1969)
Todd Hollandsworth (1973)

Judge Roy Hofheinz was the leader of a group that brought an expansion team to Houston.

Dan Smith was drafted by Minnesota in the twenty-second round in 1987, but did not sign.

Continue reading Happy Birthday–April 20

Game 12: Cleveland at Minnesota

Twins sending Trevor May to the mound to face Glenn Anthony (TJ) House with a chance to secure the second series win in a row. In just over 100 innings last year, Mr. House struck out 80 batters and walked 22. For comparison, Mr. Salazar (yesterday's starter) struck out 120 in only 8 more innings while walking 35...hopefully the boys can put some balls in play today.

Santana is taking a day off and Escobar is filling in at SS - Dozier leading off. Lineup pretty much the same otherwise (Escobar batting 8th, Shane Robinson in Center, batting 9th).

Trevor May

2015 season

0-1, 8.44 ERA, 1.69 WHIP, 4 Ks

vs. Indians last 5 years

1-1, 8.38 ERA, 1.97 WHIP, 6 Ks

TJ House

2015 season
0-1, 40.50 ERA, 6.75 WHIP, 2 Ks
vs. Twins last 5 years
3-0, 2.01 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 20 Ks

Happy Birthday–April 19

Bucky Walters (1909)
Hector Maestri (1935)
Rick Miller (1948)
Ed Hodge (1958)
R. J. Reynolds (1959)
Frank Viola (1960)
Spike Owen (1961)
Scott Kamieniecki (1964)
Brent Mayne (1968)
Jose Cruz (1974)
Joe Beimel (1977)
George Sherrill (1977)
Dennys Reyes (1977)
Joe Mauer (1983)
Zach Duke (1983)
Alberto Callaspo (1983)

Right-hander Hector Maestri was with the Washington franchise in 1960, making one appearance in the majors.  Before the 1961 season started, however, he was selected in the expansion draft by the new Washington franchise, for whom he made one more appearance in 1961.

Continue reading Happy Birthday–April 19