Monthly Archives: December 2016

Keeping Track

Winter Wonderland: Games of December 2

VENEZUELAN LEAGUE

ANZOATEGUI 3, MAGALLANES 1 IN ANZOATEGUI

All the runs came in the fourth inning, with Humberto Arteaga singling one home for Magallanes in the top of the inning and Balbino Fuenmayor hitting a three-run homer (his fifth) in the bottom half.  Luis Arraez was 1-for-4 for Magallanes and is batting .355.

ZULIA 5, CARACAS 0 IN ZULIA

Wilson Garcia doubled home the first run of the game in the seventh Zulia put the game away with four in the eighth.  Joan Montero struck out four in 3.2 scoreless innings for Zulia, giving up two hits and two walks.

LARA 4, ARAGUA 1 IN ARAGUA

Manny Pina hit a two-run homer in a three-run second that provided Lara with all the runs they would need.  Jorge Martinez pitched six innings, giving up one run on four hits and two walks with four strikeouts for Lara.  Wellington Dotel was 2-for-4 with a home run and a double for Lara, scoring twice.

LA GUAIRA 3, MARGARITA 2 IN LA GUAIRA

La Guaira scored once in each of the first three innings and it was barely enough.  Margarita got two in the eighth and had men on first and third with one out, but a double play ended the threat.  Jose Gil was 2-for-3 with two doubles and a walk for La Guaira, scoring once.

DOMINICAN LEAGUE

LICEY 4, ESCOGIDO 3 IN ESCOGIDO

It was tied at two after two and still tied at two after six, but Licey scored single runs in the seventh and eighth to win.  Jorge Polanco was 1-for-4 with a run for Escogido.

ORIENTE 3, ESTE 2 IN ORIENTE (10 INNINGS)

Este led 2-1 going to the bottom of the ninth, but Junior Lake led off with a double and scored on a sacrifice fly to tie it 2-2.  In the tenth, an infield single, a bunt single, and two walks produced the winning run for Oriente.  Confesor Lara pitched a scoreless inning for Oriente and now has an ERA of 1.80.

GIGANTES 16, AGUILAS 4 AT GIGANTES

Already leading 3-2, the Gigantes had an eight-run inning in the fifth to put the game out of reach.  The Aguilas made three errors in the inning and six in the game.  Eric Wood hit a three-run homer for the Gigantes.

PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE

MAYAGUEZ 5, SANTURCE 0 IN SANTURCE

Kennys Vargas had an RBI single in the third and Benji Gonzalez hit a two-run double in the fourth to give Mayaguez a 3-0 lead.  Vargas was 1-for-5 with an RBI.

CAGUAS AT AGUADILLA

Postponed due to wet grounds.

MEXICAN LEAGUE

JALISCO 6, NAVOJOA 5 IN JALISCO

Jalisco scored three in the fifth to take a lead they would not give up.  Jesus Valdez was 3-for-4 with a double for Jalisco, scoring once and driving in one.

OBREGON 6, CULIACAN 4 IN OBREGON

Obregon scored two in the first and three in the third to take a 5-0 lead.  Leo Heras was 3-for-4 with a double for Obregon, scoring twice and driving in three

MEXICALI 4, HERMOSILLO 2 IN HERMOSILLO

C. J. Retherford hit a two-run homer (his seventh) in the eighth inning to break a 2-2 tie.  Kameron Loe pitched five innings for Mexicali, giving up two runs on three hits and two walks with three strikeouts.  Yordanys Linares was 4-for-5 with a double for Mexicali.  Retherford was 3-for-4 and scored twice.

AUSTRALIAN LEAGUE*

MELBOURNE 7, BRISBANE 3 IN BRISBANE (GAME 1--6 INNINGS)

Trailing 3-1, Melbourne scored six runs in the fifth, hitting three home runs in the inning, to take the win.  Aaron Whitefield was 1-for-3 with a double and is batting .389 for Brisbane.  Logan Wade was 0-for-3 for Brisbane.

MELBOURNE AT BRISBANE (GAME 2)

Rained out.

SYDNEY 2, PERTH 1 IN SYDNEY (GAME 1--8 INNINGS)

Four walks produced the walkoff win in the eighth.  Luke Wilkins pitched seven innings for Sydney, giving up one run on seven hits and four walks while striking out two.

SYDNEY 2, PERTH 1 IN SYDNEY (GAME 2--7 INNINGS)

Zac Shepherd's two-run triple in the sixth gave Sydney a 2-1 lead.  Craig Anderson pitched 6.2 innings, giving up one run on six hits and no walks while striking out one.

CANBERRA 14, ADELAIDE 6 IN CANBERRA

Canberra scored seven in the second to take a 7-2 lead and led at least by four the rest of the way.  Canberra had four doubles and a triple in the inning.  Lots of Canberra players had big days:  Jason Sloan was 3-for-5 with three doubles, scoring twice and driving in one; Mike Reeves was 3-for-5 with two doubles and a home run (his fourth), scoring twice and driving in three; Aaron Sloan was 3-for-5 with a double, scoring twice and driving in two; and Kyle Perkins was 3-for-5 with two doubles.

*Games played December 3.  It's timey-wimey.

Keeping Track

1987 Rewind: Game Sixty-one

CHICAGO 6, MINNESOTA 2 IN CHICAGO

Date:  Saturday, June 13.

Batting stars:  Tom Brunansky was 2-for-4 with a home run, his fourteenth.  Kent Hrbek was 1-for-3 with a home run (his thirteenth) and a walk.

Pitching star:  Les Straker pitched 7.1 innings, giving up three runs on six hits and a walk with three strikeouts.

Opposition stars:  Richard Dotson pitched seven shutout innings, giving up six hits and two walks while striking out three.  Ivan Calderon was 3-for-4 with a triple and a double, scoring twice and driving in two.  Carlton Fisk was 1-for-2 with a double and a walk, scoring once and driving in one.

The game:  The White Sox scored single runs in the second and fifth to go up 2-0.  The Twins got on the board in the eighth, with a Kent Hrbek homer, but Chicago blew it open in the bottom of the eighth, getting two-run doubles from Calderon and Ken Williams to go ahead 6-1.  Brunansky homered in the ninth but the Twins did not do any more damage.

Of note:  Kirby Puckett was 1-for-4, dropping his average to .311...Roy Smalley was 1-for-4 to make his average .321.

Record:  The Twins were 34-27, in first place by a game over Oakland.

Notes:  Steve Lombardozzi again batted second...Sal Butera was the starting catcher again.  While Tim Laudner was the primary catcher for the Twins in 1987, he only started 76 games, and he and Butera largely shared catching duties once Butera joined the team.

Player profile:  This was the first full season for Ivan Calderon, and it was his best one.  He was signed as a free agent by Seattle in 1979, saw some time in the majors with the Mariners from 1984-86, but was traded to the White Sox as the player to be named later in a deal for Scott Bradley.  He didn't play a lot that season, but in 1987 he had the starting right fielder job and made the most of it, batting .293/.362/.526 with 28 homers.  He struggled through an injury-plagues 1988, but bounced back in 1989 to bat .278, although his OPS dropped to .770.  He had similar number in 1990 and after the season was traded to Montreal in a deal that included Tim Raines. He had a good 1991 for the Expos, making his only all-star team and batting .300/.368/.471, the only time he batted .300.  He was hurt much of 1992, although he did okay when healthy.  That was as good as it got, though.  He was traded to Boston after the 1992 season, was released in August, finished up the season back with the White Sox, and then his playing career was over.  I seem to remember him as a better player than he was, but he had about five pretty solid major league seasons.  His career numbers are .272/.333/.442 with 104 home runs and 97 stolen bases.  Ivan Calderon was killed in a bar in December of 2003.  It appears to have been a deliberate murder, but the reasons for such murder were not apparent from a quick internet search.

Keeping Track

Happy Birthday–December 3

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Billy McLean (1835)
Bennie Tate (1901)
Joe Collins (1922)
Ray Bellino (1932)
Clay Dalrymple (1936)
Chico Salmon (1940)
Jerry Johnson (1943)
Wayne Garrett (1947)
Pat Putnam (1953)
Gene Nelson (1960)
Damon Berryhill (1963)
Darryl Hamilton (1964)
Paul Byrd (1970)
Chad Durbin (1977)
Andy Oliver (1987)
J. T. Chargois (1990)

Billy McLean was the umpire in the first National League game ever, April 22, 1876.  He umpired in the National League through 1890.

Shortstop Ray Bellino played and managed in the Twins minor league system and also was a scout for them.

Andy Oliver was drafted by Minnesota in the seventeenth round in 2006, but did not sign.

We would also like to wish a happy birthday to DK.

Continue reading Happy Birthday–December 3 →

WGOM Videos

VNV Nation – Everything

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A calming voice over occasionally booming EDM. I like this dichotomy. I actually haven't watched this video, as I posted it at 1 in the morning and the whole house (besides me) is sick and I'm trying to stay silent, so I hope they're good live.

When I need to get pumped up about something, this is the song. I attach emotion to it that I'm still unsure whether it deserves, which I suppose is the point of music? Hell, I don't know. I've got rum in me, dudes.

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Friday Music Day

FMD: Trying Something New

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Alright, last week was sort of the inaugural "here's a theme, pick a song for it" effort, but it was the Friday after Thanksgiving, and weak all around. I blame the post-fundraiser lull. We'd all been seeing so much of each other that we just needed space, right? Like when you talk to your kids about sex, but then need to not see them for a few days. I've lost my train of thought here... Back to the issue at hand: music.

Every year around this time The New Standards put on a holiday concert. I've never been, but I'd love to go. Largely because I adore the "standards" and, maybe even more so, the concept of "new standards." So, today I'm looking for two songs on the theme: your favorite standard, and your nomination for a new standard (preferably not one covered by The New Standards).

I'll kick us off with my favorite standard: "Mack the Knife".
I'm still working on my suggestion for a new standard... a few ideas, but they're just not quite right.

Keeping Track

Winter Wonderland: Games of December 1

VENEZUELAN LEAGUE

ARAGUA 8, LARA 3 IN LARA (10 INNINGS)

Lara led 3-0 after seven, but Daniel Alvarez hit a two-run homer in the eighth and Hernan Perez doubled and scored in the ninth to tie it 3-3.  Aragua then scored five in the tenth to put the game away, with the big hit coming on a three-run single-plus-error by Perez.  Perez was 3-for-5 with a double for Aragua, scoring twice and driving in two.  Alvarez was 2-for-5 with the two-run homer (his fourth), scoring twice.

LA GUAIRA 4, ANZOATEGUI 1 IN ANZOATEGUI

La Guaira got only one hit in the third inning, but three walks and two errors produced three runs, which was more than enough.  Kelvin De La Cruz pitched five shutout innings for La Guaira, giving up one hit and three walks with four strikeouts.  Christian Herrera was 3-for-4 with a home run and two runs for La Guaira.

ZULIA 7, MARGARITA 4 IN ZULIA (5 INNINGS--RAIN)

Zulia scored two in the second and three in the third to go up 5-0.  Margarita got two in the fourth and fifth to cut the lead to 5-4, but Zulia got two in the bottom of the fifth.  Jose Pirela was 2-for-3 with a home run (his second) and two runs for Zulia.
MAGALLANES AT CARACAS
Rained out.

DOMINICAN LEAGUE

ORIENTE 4, ESCOGIDO 3 IN ORIENTE

Junior Lake's RBI single in the seventh broke a 3-3 tie; Escogido got the tying run to second with two out in the ninth but did not score him.  Jorge Polanco was 1-for-2 with a double and a walk, driving in one for Escogido.

GIGANTES 11, LICEY 6 IN LICEY

Cam Perkins hit a three-run homer in the first and the Gigantes added four in the fourth and four in the fifth to build an 11-1 lead before Licey scored some runs late to make the final score look better.  Terry Doyle pitched five innings for the Gigantes, giving up one run on two hits and no walks with four strikeouts.  The Gigantes had lots of offense, of course:  Wilmer Difo was 4-for-6 with a double, scoring twice and driving in three; Garabez Rosa was 4-for-6 with a double, scoring once and driving in one; Leury Garcia was 3-for-5 with a walk and two runs; and Ramon Torres was 3-for-3 with a double and two walks, scoring twice.

PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE

MAYAGUEZ 13, CAGUAS 0 IN MAYAGUEZ

Mayaguez scored three in the third, three in the fourth, five in the sixth, and two in the eighth.  Kennys Vargas was 0-for-2 with three walks for Mayaguez, scoring once and driving in one.

SANTURCE 1, CAROLINA 0 IN CAROLINA

It was scoreless for eight innings.  With two out in the ninth, Juan Silva homered (his fifth) for the game's only run.  J. J. Fernandez was 1-for-4 for Carolina.

MEXICAN LEAGUE

HERMOSILLO 5, JALISCO 4 IN HERMOSILLO (13 INNINGS)

Agustin Murillo's three-run homer (his third) in the eighth put Jalisco ahead 4-3, but a single, a bunt, and an error tied it 4-4 in the bottom of the ninth.  In the thirteenth, an error, a bunt, and an intentional walk put men on first and second with one out.  A force out put them on first and third with two out and Efren Navarro singled home the winning run.  Pablo Ortega pitched seven innings for Hermosillo, giving up one run on six hits and a walk with two strikeouts.

NAVOJOA 8, OBREGON 7 IN NAVOJOA (11 INNINGS)

Obregon led 5-2 in the bottom of the ninth, but Yosmany Guerra delivered a three-run double with two out to tie it 5-5.  Leo Heras singled in two for Obregon in the top of the tenth, but Alan Sanchez hit a two-out two-run homer (his third) in the bottom of the tenth to tie it 7-7.  In the eleventh Alejandro Gonzalez singled, was bunted to second, and scored on a two-out single by Jesus Castillo to win the game.

MAZATLAN 6, CULIACAN 4 IN MAZATLAN

Mazatlan led 3-0 after three, but trailed 4-3 going to the eighth.  Yancarlo Angulo singled in a run to tie it, and Carlos Munoz delivered a two-out two-run single to put Mazatlan up 6-4.  Roberto Valenzuela was 3-for-3 with a triple and a run for Mazatlan.

LOS MOCHIS 10, MEXICALI 5 IN MEXICALI

A five-run seventh broke a 4-4 tie and gave Los Mochis a victory.  Saul Soto hit a two-run homer (his fifth) and Ramon Urias hit a two-run homer for Los Mochis.

AUSTRALIAN LEAGUE*

MELBOURNE 8, BRISBANE 0 IN BRISBANE

Melbourne scored two in the second and led the rest of the way.  Aaron Whitefield was 0-for-3 with a walk and is batting .394 for Brisbane.  Logan Wade was 0-for-4 for Brisbane.  Mark Hamburger struck out twelve in a complete game for Melbourne, giving up just two hits and one walk.

CANBERRA 8, ADELAIDE 4 IN CANBERRA

Adelaide led 4-2 after four, but Canberra scored three in the fifth (aided by three walks) to take the lead and added three in the sixth (aided by two walks and a hit batsman) to take control of the game.  Aaron Sloan was 3-for-4 with a walk and an RBI for Canberra.

SYDNEY 6, PERTH 4 IN SYDNEY

Sydney led 3-0 after two innings.  Perth cut the lead to 3-2 and 5-4, but could never tie the score.  Tyler Foss struck out eight in 6.2 innings for Sydney, giving up two runs on five hits and two walks.  Malik Collymore was 3-for-5 with a double for Sydney, scoring once.

*Games played December 2.  It's timey-wimey.

 

Keeping Track

1987 Rewind: Game Sixty

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MINNESOTA 7, CHICAGO 4 IN CHICAGO (SECOND GAME OF DOUBLEHEADER)

Date:  Friday, June 12.

Batting stars:  Dan Gladden was 1-for-2 with three walks, scoring once and driving in two.  Roy Smalley was 1-for-3 with a double and two walks, scoring once.  Sal Butera was 1-for-3 with a double and a walk, scoring once and driving in one.

Pitching stars:  Juan Berenguer struck out four in 3.1 innings of relief, giving up four hits and no walks.  Keith Atherton retired all four batters he faced, striking out two.

Opposition stars:  Harold Baines was 3-for-5 with a home run (his seventh) and three RBIs.  Jim Winn pitched 3.1 scoreless innings of relief, giving up three hits and five walks while striking out one.  Daryl Boston was 1-for-4 with a walk and a stolen base (his eleventh), scoring twice.

The game:  Gladden's two-run single capped a four-run second that put the Twins up 4-0.  Baines hit a two-run homer in the third to make it 4-2, but the Twins got the runs back in the fifth on a two-run single by Gary Gaetti.  In the bottom of the fifth, the White Sox scored two on four consecutive singles to make it 6-4 and chase starter Mike Smithson from the game.  Benerguer came in to retire the side and the White Sox only once got the tying run on base after that, getting a pair of two-out singles in the seventh.  The Twins added an insurance run in the ninth on a pair of errors.

Of note:  Gaetti was 2-for-5 with two RBIs...Smalley raised his average to .324...Gene Larkin was 1-for-4 with a walk and a run to make his average .345...Berenguer lowered his ERA to 2.79.  Smithson pitched 4.1 innings, giving up four runs on six hits and three walks while striking out three...Chicago starter Scott Nielsen pitched 4.2 innings, giving up six runs on six hits and three walks while striking out one.

Record:  The Twins were 34-26, in first place, 1.5 games ahead of Kansas City.  They would play .500 the rest of the season, but it would be good enough.

Notes:  Gladden played center, with Kirby Puckett going to the bench...Steve Lombardozzi was the number two hitter...Randy Bush batted third and played right field, with Tom Brunansky moving to left...Larkin played first base, with Kent Hrbek on the bench...Butera caught in place of Tim Laudner.

Player profile:  Daryl Boston was never a full-time player, but he was a part-timer for a long time.  He was a first round draft choice, taken with the seventh pick in 1981.  He was up-and-down between AAA and the majors from 1984-86, always putting up good numbers in AAA but not exactly making the most of his chances in the big leagues.  He spent about one more month in AAA in 1987, but then finally was in the majors to stay.  He was mostly used in center field, but saw significant time in left and occasionally played right field as well.  He had some power and some speed, but not really a lot of either one.  His offensive numbers were for the most part not terrible but not quite good, either.  He always seemed on the verge of putting things together with the White Sox, but never quite got there.  He was waived in late April of 1990 and claimed by the Mets.  He had some decent years for them as a platoon outfielder, posting an OPS in the .760s from 1990-92.  A free agent after that, he signed with Colorado for 1993 and had slightly better numbers, which one would assume is attributable to playing in Colorado.  He signed with the Yankees for 1994 but didn't play much or well for them.  He was in independent ball in 1995 and 1996 then retired as a player.  He has been a coach since then, mostly in the White Sox organization, and was the first base coach for the White Sox in 2016.