Category Archives: Keeping Track

Keeping Track

Happy Birthday–June 5

Jack Chesbro (1874)
Eddie Joost (1916)
Lou Brissie (1924)
Duke Sims (1941)
Bill Spiers (1966)
Ray Lankford (1967)
Mike Coolbaugh (1972)
Russ Ortiz (1974)

Prior to beginning his major league career, Lou Brissie served in World War II.  He suffered severe leg injuries, receiving the Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts, but overcame his injuries to spend seven years in the majors.

As you may remember, Mike Coolbaugh was the first base coach for the Tulsa Drillers when he was struck on the head with a line drive and killed.

There appear to be no major league players with connections to the Minnesota Twins born on this day.

Keeping Track

Happy Birthday–June 4

Tim Murnane (1851)
Tony Venzon (1915)
Billy Hunter (1928)
John McNamara (1932)
Phil Linz (1939)
Terry Kennedy (1956)
Tony Pena (1957)
Kurt Stillwell (1965)
Rick Wilkins (1967)
Scott Servais (1967)
Darin Erstad (1974)
J. C. Romero (1976)

 Tim Murnane had a long and varied career in baseball, but is best remembered as a sportswriter in Boston.

Tony Venzon was a National League umpire from 1957-71.

John McNamara managed six different major league clubs, going to the World Series with Boston in 1986.

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Keeping Track

Happy Birthday–June 3

Don Osborn (1908)
Jim Gentile (1934)
Steve Dalkowski (1939)
Duane Josephson (1942)
Ron Keller (1943)
Jim Dwyer (1950)
Ed Glynn (1953)
Barry Lyons (1960)
Steve Lyons (1960)
Nelson Liriano (1964)
Carl Everett (1971)
Bryan Rekar (1972)
Jose Molina (1975)
Travis Hafner (1977)

Don Osborn won 201 games in the minors.  He later was a minor league manager, pitching coach, and scout.

Some say Steve Dalkowski had the fastest fastball ever.  He struck out 1,396 batters in 995 minor league innings.  However, he also walked 1, 354, which is why he never made the majors.

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Keeping Track

Happy Birthday–June 2

Jack O’Connor (1866)
Frank Verdi (1926)
Bob Lillis (1930)
Larry Jackson (1931)
Bob Bennett (1933)
Jerry Lumpe (1933)
Gene Michael (1938)
Jim Maloney (1940)
Horace Clarke (1940)
Roger Freed (1946)
Jack O’Connor (1958)
Darnell Coles (1962)
Bryan Harvey (1963)
Mike Stanton (1967)
Kurt Abbott (1969)
Raul Ibanez (1972)
Neifi Perez (1973)
Jared Burton (1981)

Bob Bennett was the baseball coach at Fresno State for many years, winning 1,302 games.

Roger Freed was drafted by Minnesota in 1966, but the pick was voided.

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Keeping Track

Players of the Month: May

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ROCHESTER

Position player:  Chris Colabello hit .425/.477/.800 in 80 at-bats, hitting 12 doubles and 6 home runs.  For the season at Rochester, he is hitting .358/.417/.659 in 176 at-bats.

Pitcher:  Andrew Albers was 2-1, 2.48 with 25 strikeouts in 29 innings.  For the season, he is 2-2, 3.25, 1.41 WHIP with 49 strikeouts in 52.2 innings.

NEW BRITAIN

Position player:  Josmil Pinto hit .333/.441/.495 with 19 walks, 7 doubles, and 3 home runs in 99 at-bats.  For the season, he is hitting .333/.427/.528 in 195 at-bats.

Pitcher:  Logan Darnell was 2-3, 2.38, 1.13 WHIP with 33 strikeouts in 41.2 innings.  For the season, he is 4-4, 2.51, 1.28 WHIP with 54 strikeouts in 68 innings.  Michael Tonkin was 0-2, 0.00, with three saves, a 1.05 WHIP, and 20 striekouts in 12.1 innings.  For the season, he is 1-2, 2.22 with 7 saves, a 1.19 WHIP and 30 strikeouts in 24.1 innings.

FORT MYERS

Position player:  Kennys Vargas hit .298/.387/.606 with eight doubles and eight homers in 104 at-bats.  For the season, he is hitting .280/.358/.545 in 189 at-bats.  Miguel Sano hit .318/.485/.574 with nine doubles, a triple, and four homers in 97 at-bats.  For the season, he is hitting .339/.429/.645 in 186 at-bats.  Aderlin Mejia hit .378/.440/.432 in 74 at-bats.  Those are also his season totals.

Pitcher:  D. J. Baxendale was 4-0, 0.82, 0.73 WHIP with 25 strikeouts in 33 innings.  For the season at Fort Myers, he is 7-0, 1.10, 0.78 WHIP with 48 strikeouts in 57.1 innings.  Nelvin Fuentes was 0-0, 1.26, 0.63 WHIP with 22 strikeouts in 14.1 innings.  For the season, he is 0-1, 1.86, 0.67 WHIP with 28 strikeouts in 19.1 innings.

CEDAR RAPIDS

Position player:  Adam Brett Walker II hit .280/.300/.551 with 8 doubles, 3 triples, and 4 home runs in 107 at-bats.  For the season, he is hitting .282/.330/.553 in 188 at-bats.  Dalton Hicks hit .296/.367/.398 in 108 at-bats.  For the season, he is hitting .286/.362/.448 in 192 at-bats.  Byron Buxton hit .294/.382/.454 in 119 at-bats with 6 doubles, 2 triples, 3 home runs, 17 walks, and 17 stolen bases in 119 at-bats.  For the season, he is hitting .333/.435/.545 in 198 at-bats.

Pitcher:  Jose Berrios was 2-2, 2.63, 1.35 WHIP with 31 strikeouts and 6 walks in 27.1 innings.  For the season, he is 4-2, 2.54, 1.28 WHIP with 8 walks and 44 strikeouts in 39 innings.  Tyler Duffey was 0-1, 2.93, 1.11 WHIP with 3 walks and 26 strikeouts in 30.2 innings.  For the season, he is 3-2, 2.78, 0.94 WHIP with 6 walks and 47 strikeouts in 58.1 innings.