All posts by Jeff A

This Week in Ex-Twins

Atlanta organization (AAA Gwinnett) activates Jose Lugo from the disabled list.
White Sox organization (AAA Charlotte) places Michael Restovich on the seven day disabled list., then activates him again.
Milwaukee reinstates LaTroy Hawkins from the disabled list.
Milwaukee assigns LaTroy Hawkins to Nashville (AAA).
Philadelphia organization promotes Jeff Lanning from Williamsport (short-season) to Lakewood (A).
Pittsburgh selects the contract of Joe Beimel from Indianapolis (AAA).
St. Louis activates Nick Punto from the disabled list.
Toronto organization acquires Yohan Pino for cash considerations, promotes him from New Hampshire (AA) to Las Vegas (AAA) for two days, then sends him back to New Hampshire (AA).

Also, Seth Greisinger has been demoted from the Yomiuri Giants to the Kawasaki Giants (a demotion to the Japanese minor league).  H/t AMR.

Minor Details: Games of 4/21

Buffalo 4, Rochester 2 in Buffalo (Game 1—10 innings—scheduled 7 innings).  Kirk Nieuwenhuis homered to tie the score in the seventh, Nick Evans homered to tie it again in the eighth, and then Evans hit a two-run walkoff to win the game for Buffalo.  Kyle Gibson pitched six no-hit innings and was removed after allowing the home run to start the seventh.  He walked none and struck out six.  Kyle Waldrop faced two batters in the tenth, walking the first and then allowing the game-ending homer.  Chase Lambin had three hits.

Buffalo 4, Rochester 1 in Buffalo (Game 2—scheduled 7 innings).  Ruben Tejada doubled with the bases loaded as the Bisons scored three in the sixth to break a 1-1 tie.  Trevor Plouffe singled, doubled, and tripled.  Scott Diamond allowed three runs on five hits and three walks in six innings.  He struck out eight.

Portland 5, New Britain 1 in Portland.  The Sea Dogs scored two in the first and three in the fourth.  Steve Singleton singled and doubled.  Chris Parmelee homered.  Bobby Lanigan lasted only four innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on eight hits and three walks.  Brett Jacobson and Michael Tarsi each threw two scoreless innings.

Ft. Myers 5, Bradenton 4 in Ft. Myers.  Nick Romero’s RBI single drove in Anderson Hidalgo to break a 4-4 tie in the seventh.  Hidalgo had three hits and scored three times.  Romero had two hits.  Starter Matt Schuld pitched five innings, allowing four runs on six hits and a walk.  Shooter Hunt got the win, throwing three scoreless innings and giving up just one hit and one walk.  Dakota Watts worked a scoreless ninth for the save.

Peoria 5, Beloit 4 in Peoria (7 innings—scheduled for 9).  The Snappers scored four in the fifth to overcome a 4-0 deficit, but the Chiefs scored one in the bottom of the fifth and it was all they needed.  Beloit had only five hits and made three errors.  B. J. Hermsen took the loss, allowing five runs (four earned) on six hits and two walks in 4.2 innings.  Michael Tonkin threw two shutout innings.

Happy Birthday–April 22

Bob Smith (1895)
Taylor Douthit (1901)
Ray Benge (1902)
Lew Riggs (1910)
Mickey Vernon (1918)
John Orsino (1938)
Steve Jones (1941)
David Clyde (1955)
Moose Haas (1956)
Dave Schmidt (1957)
Terry Francona (1959)
Jimmy Key (1961)
Jack Savage (1964)
Mickey Morandini (1966)
George Williams (1969)

We would also like to wish a very happy birthday to rowsdower.

Continue reading Happy Birthday–April 22

Snappers Snippets

Where they stand:  Beloit is 7-4, tied for second in the ML West, two games behind Burlington.

Who’s hot Daniel Ortiz is hitting .351/.419/.649 in 37 at-bats.  Oswaldo Arcia is hitting .342/.422/.605 in 38 at-bats.  Blayne Weller is 1-0, 0.00 in nine innings (four appearances).  He has allowed seven hits and four walks and struck out eight.  Manuel Soliman is 0-0, 1.80 in ten innings (three appearances, two starts).  He has given up six hits and five walks and struck out fifteen.

Who’s coldDerek McCallum is batting .148/.242/.148 in 27 at-bats.  Lance Ray is batting .194/.275/.333 in 36 at-bats.  Daniel Santana is batting .220/.273/.366 in 41 at-bats.  Michael Tonkin is 1-0, 5.06 in 5.2 innings (four appearances).  He has allowed seven hits and three walks.

TransactionsReggie Williams was promoted from Beloit to Ft. Myers.  Jamaal Hawkins was promoted from Elizabethton to Beloit.

What’s next:  The Snappers will play in Peoria for their next three games.  They then come home to host Burlington for three and Peoria for three.

Minor Details: Games of 4/20

Rochester at Buffalo.  Postponed.  Will be made up as part of a doubleheader this afternoon.

New Hampshire 6, New Britain 2 in New Britain.  All the runs were scored in the first three innings, with the Fisher Cats getting a four-run fourth.  Ray Chang’s two-run single produced both Rock Cats runs.  Joe Benson and Evan Bigley each had two hits.  Deolis Guerra surrendered six runs on nine hits in just three innings to take the loss.  He did not walk anyone.  Cole DeVries, Jake Stevens, and Tyler Robertson each threw two shutout innings of relief.

Ft. Myers 9, Bradenton 5 in Ft. Myers.  Nate Hanson hit a walk-off grand slam to break a 5-5 tie.  Brian Dozier had three hits and scored three times.  Danny Rams singled and tripled, with his triple coming with the bases loaded in the fifth to give the Miracle a 5-4 lead.  Hanson also singled.  Brad Stillings lasted 4.2 innings, allowing four runs (two earned) on three hits and four walks.  Andrew Albers pitched 2.1 scoreless innings, giving up only one hit and one walk.  Bruce Pugh got the win despite giving up a run on five hits in two innings.

Beloit at Wisconsin.  Postponed.  Will be made up as part of a doubleheader May 19.

Happy Birthday–April 21

Hardy Richardson (1855)
Germany Smith (1863)
Ken Strong (1906)
Gary Peters (1937)
Dick Green (1941)
Al Bumbry (1947)
Jesse Orosco (1957)
Les Lancaster (1962)
Ken Caminiti (1963)
Kip Wells (1977)
Terry Tiffee (1979)

A member of the pro football Hall of Fame, Ken Strong played minor league baseball from 1929-1931 and played very well.  He hit 41 home runs and had 130 RBIs in 1930 in what is now the Eastern League and hit .340 in 1931 in the International League.

Today is also the birthday of Twins’ farmhand Justin Parker (1990). 

In addition, we would like to wish a very happy birthday to twayn.

Continue reading Happy Birthday–April 21

Miracle Moments

Where they stand:  Ft. Myers is 7-6, second in the FSL South, four games behind St. Lucie.

Who’s hot Chris Herrmann is hitting .370/.423/.565 in 46 at-bats.  Nate Hanson is at .333/.352/.510 in 51 at-bats.  Bruce Pugh is 0-0, 0.00 with three saves in 5.1 innings (four appearances).  He has allowed six hits and a walk and struck out eight.  Miguel Munoz is 1-0, 1.59 in 5.2 innings, allowing two hits and four walks.

Who’s cold Steven Liddle is batting .121/.211/.152 in 33 at-bats.  Tom Stuifbergen is 0-2, 10.00, 2.00 WHIP in two starts (nine innings).  He does have eight strikeouts.  Edgar Ibarra is 0-0, 6.14, 2.18 WHIP in 7.1 innings (four appearances).  Ryan Mullins is 0-1, 6.00 in six innings.

Transactions Ryan Mullins was sent from Rochester to Ft. Myers.  Daniel Rohlfing was promoted from Ft. Myers to New Britain.  Reggie Williams was promoted from Beloit to Ft. Myers.

What’s next:  The Miracle starts a six-game homestand, hosting Bradenton for three and Charlotte for three.

Minor Details: Games of 4/19

Rochester 3, Buffalo 1 in Buffalo (Game 1—scheduled 7 innings).  Rene Tosoni hit a two-run double to give the Red Wings all the runs they needed.  Anthony Swarzak threw a complete game, allowing one run on four hits and a walk.  Tosoni also singled.  Brandon Roberts had two hits.

Rochester 2, Buffalo 0 in Buffalo (Game 2—scheduled 7 innings).  The Red Wings again scored two in the first, this time on a Trevor Plouffe home run.  The call-up of Eric Hacker made this a bullpen game.  Yorman Bazardo pitched the first three, allowing two hits and a walk.  Jeff Manship got the win with two scoreless innings.  Phil Dumatrait got the last out to get the save.  Rochester had only three hits in the game.

New Hampshire at New Britain.  Postponed.  No makeup date has been announced.

St. Lucie 11, Ft. Myers 2 in St. Lucie.  The Miracle got eleven hits but only two runs.  Chris Herrmann had two singles and a double.  Aaron Hicks singled and tripled.  Nate Hanson had two hits.  Ryan Mullins lasted only three innings, surrendering five runs (four earned) on six hits.  Shooter Hunt was the only pitcher to emerge unscathed, allowing a hit and no walks in one inning while striking out two.  Edgar Ibarra gave up four runs on six hits and a walk in just one inning.

Beloit at Wisconsin.  Postponed due to snow.  Tonight’s game has already been postponed as well.  The games will be made up as part of doubleheaders on May 18 and May 19.

Happy Birthday–April 20

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)

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

Continue reading Happy Birthday–April 20