All posts by Jeff A

Keeping Track

Happy Birthday–December 26

1 Comment

Morgan Bulkeley (1837)
Dad A (1922)
Stu Miller (1927)
Al Jackson (1935)
Wayne Causey (1936)
Ray Sadecki (1940)
Carlton Fisk (1947)
Chris Chambliss (1948)
Dave Rader (1948)
Ozzie Smith (1954)
Mike Sodders (1958)
Storm Davis (1961)
Jeff King (1964)
Esteban Beltre (1967)
Omar Infante (1981)

Mike Sodders was a first-round draft choice for the Twins in 1981. A star third baseman at Arizona State, he never could adjust to wooden bats, never hit, and never made the major leagues.

Dad A has been a Twins fan ever since the team started, and was a baseball fan before that. He coached, he ran the public address system, and he was on the board of the local baseball association. One of the many gifts he has given me is a love of baseball. Dad, I know you'll never read this, because you don't have a computer and can't think of a reason why you'd want one, but thank you and happy birthday. May you have many more. Continue reading Happy Birthday–December 26 →

Keeping Track

Happy Birthday–December 25

Pud Galvin (1856)
Joe Quinn (1864)
Barry McCormick (1874)
Walter Holke (1892)
Lloyd Brown (1904)
Ben Chapman (1908)
Jo-Jo Moore (1908)
Ned Garver (1925)
Nellie Fox (1927)
Gene Lamont (1946)
Manny Trillo (1950)
Luis Quintana (1951)
Jeff Little (1954)
Charlie Lea (1956)
Wallace Johnson (1956)
Rickey Henderson (1958)
Marty Pevey (1962)

There have been 22 major league players with the first name “Jesus”, including ex-Twins Jesus Vega and Jesus “Bombo” Rivera.  There have been no major league players with the last name “Christ.”  There have been eleven players whose first name was “Christian” (honorable mention to Cristian Guzman), fifteen players whose middle name was “Christian” (including ex-Twins Marcus Jensen, David Lamb, and Kevin Maas), and two players whose last name was “Christian”.  We would be remiss if we did not also mention 1980s journeyman catcher Steve Christmas and Matt Holliday.

The staff of Happy Birthday would like to wish everyone a very merry and blessed Christmas.

Continue reading Happy Birthday–December 25 →

Keeping Track

Spanning the Globe

1 Comment

MEXICAN LEAGUE

Mazatlan 5, Los Mochis 3 in Mazatlan.  Anthony Slama pitched a perfect ninth to get the save for Mazatlan.

PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE

Ponce 6, Mayaguez 5 (11 innings).  Angel Morales was used as a pinch-runner for Ponce.  Daniel Ortiz was 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI for Mayaguez.  Nelvin Fuentes worked a scoreless inning despite giving up a walk and a hit batsman for Mayaguez.

VENEZUELAN LEAGUE

Anzoategui 3, Caracas 2 in Caracas.  Lester Oliveros retired the only batter he faced for Anzoategui.

Magallanes 5, Aragua 4 in Magallanes.  Pedro Guerra allowed two runs on two hits in two-thirds of an inning for Magallanes.

Keeping Track

This Week In Ex-Twins

2 Comments

Arizona agrees to terms with Jason Kubel on a two year contract.
Cubs name Brian Harper manager of Daytona (A).
Cubs name Dave McKay first base coach.
Cubs name Bobby Mitchell manager of Mesa (Rookie).
Colorado agrees to terms with Casey Blake on a one year contract.
Colorado signs Michael Cuddyer to a three year contract.
Kansas City agrees to terms with Jose Mijares on a one year contract.
Giants agree to terms with Eli Whiteside on a one year contract.
Toronto names Mike Redmond manager of Dunedin (A).
Toronto sends Jim Hoey outright to Las Vegas (AAA).
Washington names Matthew LeCroy manager of Harrisburg (AA).

Keeping Track

Spanning the Globe

1 Comment

DOMINICAN LEAGUE

Cibao 7, Este 3 in Cibao.  Alexi Casilla was 1-for-4 with a walk for Cibao.  Wilkin Ramirez was 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI for Este.

MEXICAN LEAGUE

Culiacan 4, Mazatlan 3 in Culiacan (10 innings).  Anthony Slama struck out two and gave up one hit in a scoreless inning for Mazatlan.

PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE

Caguas 6, Mayaguez 2 in Mayaguez.  Daniel Ortiz was 1-for-3 for Mayaguez.  Eddie Rosario played in the field for Mayaguez but did not bat.

VENEZUELAN LEAGUE

Anzoategui 7, Caracas 5 in Caracas.  Lester Oliveros got the win for Anzoategui, retiring all four batters he faced.

Keeping Track

Spanning the Globe

DOMINICAN LEAGUE

Tuesday

Escogido 3, Este 1 in Este.  Pedro Florimon was 1-for-2 with two walks for Escogido.  Wilkin Ramirez was 1-for-4 with a double and a run for Este.

Cibao 8, Estrellas 5 in Cibao.  Alexi Casilla was 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs for Cibao.

Wednesday

Cibao 4, Licey 3 in Licey (10 innings).  Alexi Casilla was 1-for-6 for Cibao.

Este 4, Aguilas 2 in Aguilas.  Wilkin Ramirez was 1-for-4 with a run for Este.

Escogido 6, Oriente 2 in Oriente.  Manuel Soliman pitched a scoreless inning, giving up a hit and a walk, for Escogido.

MEXICAN LEAGUE

Tuesday

Mazatlan 5, Culiacan 4 in Culiacan (10 innings).  Anthony Slama worked two shutout innings, giving up only a walk, for Mazatlan.

PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE

Tuesday

Mayaguez 8, Carolina 2 in Mayaguez.  Daniel Ortiz was 2-for-3 with a double and two runs for Mayaguez.  Nelvin Fuentes pitched a perfect inning for Mayaguez.

Wednesday

Mayaguez 2, Caguas 0 in Caguas.  Daniel Ortiz was 1-for-4 for Mayaguez.  Nelvin Fuentes faced only three batters in a perfect 1.1 innings for Mayaguez.

VENEZUELAN LEAGUE

Wednesday

Caracas 8, Anzoategui 7 in Anzoategui.  Lester Oliveros gave up a hit but no runs in a third of an inning for Anzoategui.

AUSTRALIAN LEAGUE

Tuesday

World All-Stars 8, Team Australia 5.  Brendan Wise retired both batters he faced for Team Australia.