Category Archives: Keeping Track

Happy Birthday–September 13

Mike McNally (1893)
Dutch Reuther (1893)
Pat Collins (1896)
Eddie Rommel (1897)
Rabbit Worstler (1903)
Thornton Lee (1906)
Ed Sudol (1920)
Rick Wise (1945)
Rick Dempsey (1949)
Jim Obradovich (1949)
Mike Fischlin (1955)
Erik Bennett (1968)
Bernie Williams (1968)
Denny Neagle (1968)
Brent Brede (1971)
Armando Rios (1971)
Daisuke Matsuzaka (1980)

Continue reading Happy Birthday–September 13

Minor Thoughts

This is just kind of a wrap-up post of various thoughts on the Twins minor league teams and players.  I claim no particular credentials as either an analyst or a scout, so feel free to disagree with anything that follows.

--You can understand why Rochester management is getting upset with the Twins.  I know the minors are about player development, but you'd still like to be able to field a competitive team.  Given how bad they've been the last two years, attendance hasn't suffered as much as you might think--the Red Wings were ninth out of fourteen teams, with an average of 6493 fans.  All the injuries to the major league club obviously played a part in how bad the team was, but a failure to develop players has also played a part.

Continue reading Minor Thoughts

Happy Birthday–September 12

Nick Young (1840)
Bob Groom (1884)
Fred Luderus (1885)
Spud Chandler (1907)
Charlie Keller (1916)
Andy Seminick (1920)
Stan Lopata (1925)
Albie Pearson (1934)
Mickey Lolich (1940)
John Montague (1947)
Scotti Madison (1959)
Thom Brennaman (1963)
Keith Hughes (1963)
Luis Castillo (1975)
Carmen Pignatiello (1982)

And a happy birthday as well to CarterHayes.

Continue reading Happy Birthday–September 12

Happy Birthday–September 11

Con Daily (1864)
James Dunn (1866)
Steve Brodie (1868)
Frank Kitson (1869)
Ellis Clary (1916)
Eddie Miksis (1926)
Luis Garcia (1929)
Jackie Hernandez (1940)
Larry Bearnarth (1941)
Dave Roberts (1944)
Larry Cox (1947)
Jeff Newman (1948)
Yoshinori Soto (1954)
Brad Lesley (1958)
Scott Patterson (1958)
Don Slaught (1958)
Ellis Burks (1964)
Quinn Mack (1965)
Eduardo Perez (1969)
Toby Gardenhire (1982)

Infielder Ellis Clary was a scout for the Twins for over two decades.

Actor Scott Patterson, best known for his role on The Gilmore Girls, was a minor league pitcher for seven seasons, pitching 373 AAA innings but not reaching the majors. He was in the Yankees and Braves systems.

Quinn Mack is Shane Mack’s brother and got 21 at-bats with Seattle in 1994.

Brad Lesley was drafted by the Twins in seventh round in the 1977 January draft, but did not sign.

Toby Gardenhire, of course, is the son of the current Twins’ manager and a player in the Twins’ minor league system, reaching AAA in 2010.

We also want to wish a very happy birthday to Rhubarb_Runner.

Additionally, it seems appropriate on this day to mention former minor league players Marty Boryczewski and Brent Woodall, both of whom were killed in the terrorist attacks of 2001.

Continue reading Happy Birthday–September 11

Where They Stand

Minnesota is 59-84, fifth in the AL Central, 22 games behind Detroit.  The Twins are on a one game winning streak and are 3-7 in their last ten games.

Rochester finished 53-91, sixth in the IL North, 29 games behind Pawtucket.  The Red Wings finished on a two game losing streak and were 4-6 in their last ten games.

New Britain finished 72-70, third in the EL East, 5 games behind New Hampshire.  The Rock Cats finished on a one game losing streak and were 5-5 in their last ten games.

Ft. Myers overall was 63-76, fifth in the FSL South, 12 games behind Bradenton.  In the first half, the Miracle was 34-36, second in the FSL South, 4 games behind St. Lucie.  In the second half, the Miracle was 29-40, fifth in the FSL South, 16 games behind Bradenton.  The Miracle finished on a one game losing streak and was 6-4 in its last ten games.

Beloit overall was 69-69, third in the ML West, 12.5 games behind Quad Cities.  In the first half, the Snappers were 38-32, tied for third in the ML West, 7 games behind Burlington.  In the second half, the Snappers were 31-37, tied for fourth in the ML West, 10 games behind Quad Cities.  The Snappers finished on a one game losing streak and were 5-5 in their last ten games.

Elizabethton finished 42-46, second in the AL West, 3 games behind Johnson City.  The Twins finished on an eight game winning streak and were 9-1 in their last ten games.  They qualified for the playoffs, losing two games to one to Bluefield in the first round.

The GCL Twins finished 31-29, second in the GCL South, 7 games behind the Orioles.  The Twins finished on a one game winning streak and were 8-2 in their last ten games.

The DSL Twins finished 42-26, second in the B. C. B. C., 3.5 games behind the Orioles.  The Twins finished on a three game losing streak and were 6-4 in their last ten games.

This Week in Twins Transactions

Jim Hoey was recalled from Rochester to Minnesota.
Brian Dinkelman had his contract selected from Rochester by Minnesota.
Kyle Waldrop had his contract selected from Rochester by Minnesota.
Nick Blackburn was transferred from the fifteen day disabled list to the sixty day disabled list.
Liam Hendriks had his contract selected from Rochester by Minnesota.
Joe Benson was recalled from New Britain to Minnesota.
Chris Parmelee was recalled from New Britain to Minnesota.
Matt Tolbert was recalled from New Britain to Minnesota.
Bruce Pugh was promoted from Ft. Myers to New Britain.
Deolis Guerra was placed on the seven day disabled list by New Britain with a right bicep injury.
Matthew Hauser was promoted from Ft. Myers to New Britain.
Steve Hirschfeld was placed on the seven day disabled list by New Britain with tendonitis in his right shoulder.
Sam Spangler was activated from the disabled list by Beloit.
Pedro Guerra was placed on the seven day disabled list by Beloit.