Monthly Archives: May 2021

Keeping Track

Happy Birthday–May 25

Al Reach (1840)
Lip Pike (1845)
Tip O’Neill (1858)
Joe Judge (1894)
Martin Dihigo (1905)
Lindsey Nelson (1919)
Bill Sharman (1926)
Jim Marshall (1931)
W. P. Kinsella (1935)
Glenn Borgmann (1950)
John Montefusco (1950)
Bob Knepper (1954)
Kerwin Danley (1961)
Bill Haselman (1966)
Dave Hollins (1966)
Joey Eischen (1970)
Todd Walker (1973)
Miguel Tejada (1974)
Chris Young (1979)
Scott Hairston (1980)
Jason Kubel (1982)
Eric Young (1985)
Pat Dean (1989)
Neil Ramirez (1989)

Al Reach played major league baseball from 1871-1875.  He later founded the A. J. Reach Company, which was the largest sporting goods company in the United States at one time (it eventually merged with Spalding).  This company also published the Reach Guide, an influential baseball publication, from 1883-1927.

Martin Dihigo was a star in the Negro Leagues, winning 250 games as a pitcher and also winning two batting titles.

Lindsey Nelson was one of the most famous broadcasters in the country at one time.  He broadcast New York Mets games from 1962-1978 and San Francisco Giants games from 1979-1981.

Basketball Hall of Famer Bill Sharman was a minor league outfielder from 1950-1953 and in 1955, reaching AAA with St. Paul.

W. P. Kinsella has written several books on baseball, most notably "Shoeless Joe" the book on which the movie "Field of Dreams" was based.

Kerwin Danley has been a major league umpire since 1998.

Continue reading Happy Birthday–May 25 →

2021 Twins Game Logs

2021 Game Log 47: Baltimore Orioles at Minnesota Twins

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In my CoC post today I joked that Baltimore was hanging out in the basement with us, but I hadn't realized they were coming to town. As mentioned, we've got the two worst teams in baseball here, so I'm sure it will be a riveting game. The Battle for the Basement!

Matty Shoes is coming off one of his better starts of the year against the White Sox, though that's a bit of a low bar. He's had success against the Birds in his career (again, low bar), so hopefully he turns in a solid performance. John Means is actually leading the AL with a 1.70 ERA, so everyone might want to prepare for Assbats™.

Minnesota Wild, NHL

NHL PLAYOFFS: Game 5 – Wild @ Vegas

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*Deep breath*

Well, let's do this one more time. The Wild play their first absolute "must-win" game of the year.  They are back in Vegas, so we get another real late start, and it would be understandable if interest in this playoff season is waning. Disappointment and frustration are the dominant Wild fan feelings at this point, and the temptation is to write a post-mortem on this season already.

But!

The Wild aren't done until they lose one more game, so let's see what they can do with their backs against the wall. Continue reading NHL PLAYOFFS: Game 5 – Wild @ Vegas →

Keeping Track

Happy Birthday–May 24

Fred Jacklitsch (1876)
Jack Pfiester (1878)
Joe Oeschger (1892)
Willy Miranda (1926)
Ellie Rodriguez (1946)
Rob Ducey (1965)
Carlos Hernandez (1967)
Todd Rizzo (1971)
Danny Bautista (1972)
Bartolo Colon (1973)
Brad Penny (1978)
Adam Conley (1990)

Adam Conley was drafted by Minnesota in the thirty-second round in 2008 but did not sign.

Continue reading Happy Birthday–May 24 →

2021 Twins Game Logs

Game 46: Twins in Cleveland

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J.A. Happ vs. Zach Plesac

Two pitchers who violate the WGOM style guide for the spelling of first names face off in yet another Sunday rubber match.

Miguel Sano has been very good at hitting the baseball lately. He's got at least one hit in 8 of his last 9 games, and in that time he has 2 singles, 3 doubles and 6 home runs (.333/.405/.970). Any time Sano has as many hits (11) as strikeouts (11) over a stretch, you know things are going well.