Category Archives: Keeping Track

Winterball Whiparound: The Batters

With the winter leagues completed, a final look at how Twins players fared.  We’ll do the batters today and the pitchers tomorrow.

The good:  Aaron Bates (Caguas) hit .356/.396/.556 in 45 at bats.  Sean Burroughs (Margarita) hit .316/.396/.382 in 136 at-bats.  Alexi Casilla (Cibao) hit .336/.419/.412 in 119 at-bats.  Brian Dozier (Mesa) hit .296/.358/.454 in 108 at-bats.  Pedro Florimon (Escogido) hit .300/.413/.400 in 90 at-bats.  Chris Herrmann (Mesa) hit .380/.456/.620 in 50 at-bats.  Aaron Hicks (Mesa) hit .294/.400/.559 in 102 at-bats.  Luke Hughes (Perth) hit .344/.500/.656 in 64 at-bats.

The average:  Joe Benson (Aragua) hit .216/.355/.373 in 51 at-bats.  Darin Mastroianni (Zulia) hit .255/.369/.363 in 102 at-bats.  Daniel Ortiz (Mayaguez) hit .246/.246/.404 in 57 at-bats.  Jairo Perez (Lara) hit .231/.375/.269 in 26 at-bats.  Wilkin Ramirez (Este) hit .247/.307/.358 in 81 at-bats.  Dereck Rodriguez (Caguas) hit .273/.273/.364 in 11 at-bats.  Jacob Younis (Sydney) hit .252/.319/.290 in 131 at-bats.

The bad:  Matt Carson (Estrellas) hit .115/.233/.192 in 26 at-bats.  Estarlin De Los Santos (Cibao) hit .158/.200/.211 in 19 at-bats.  Joshua Hendricks (Melbourne) hit .118/.211/.118 in 17 at-bats.  Angel Morales (Ponce) hit .220/.313/.305 in 59 at-bats.  Rory Rhodes hit .170/.284/.330 in 100 at-bats.  Rene Rivera (Carolina) hit .211/.242/.267 in 90 at-bats.  Deibinson Romero (Escogido) hit .176/.300/.176 in 17 at-bats.  Eddie Rosario (Mayaguez) hit .214/.313/.286 in 42 at-bats.  Rene Tosoni (Lara) hit .195/.283/.195 in 41 at-bats.

The insignificant:  Oswaldo Arcia (Aragua) was 0-for-2.  Josmil Pinto (Aragua) was 1-for-5.  Ramon Santana (Este) was 0-for-7.

Happy Birthday–February 14

Joe Gerhardt (1855)
Arthur Irwin (1858)
Morgan Murphy (1867)
Candy LaChance (1870)
Bob Quinn (1870)
Earl Smith (1897)
Mel Allen (1913)
Red Barrett (1915)
Len Gabrielson (1940)
Ken Levine (1950)
Larry Milbourne (1951)
Will McEnaney (1952)
Dave Dravecky (1956)
Alejandro Sanchez (1959)
John Marzano (1963)
Kelly Stinnett (1970)
Damaso Marte (1975)

John Marzano was drafted by Minnesota in the third round in 1981, but he did not sign. 

We would also like to wish a very happy birthday to Mother 6. Continue reading Happy Birthday–February 14

Australian League Championship Series: Game Three

Perth 7, Melbourne 6 (13 innings).  The teams were tied at three after one inning, Melbourne took a 6-3 lead after three, Perth came back to tie it after five, and there things stood until the thirteenth.  Perth won the game on a Twins-like rally:  James McOwen was hit by a pitch, went to second on a sacrifice bunt, took third on a ground out, and scored on a wild pitch. 

Mychal Givens led Perth with a 4-for-5 day, getting two doubles and two singles.  Ex-Twin Allan de San Miguel hit the game’s only home run, a two run shot for Perth in the first.  Perth starter Geoff Brown surrendered five runs (four earned) on five hits and two walks in 1.2 innings, but the Heat bullpen bailed them out.  Jacob Clem gave up one run on four hits and two walks in 6.1 innings of relief.  Brendan Wise pitched a perfect ninth.  Jack Frawley then came on for Perth and went the final four innings, giving up just one hit and striking out four to get the win. 

For Melbourne, Jack Givens went 4-for-6.  Elliot Biddle singled and tripled, driving in three.  Melbourne starter Jeff Jamnik yielded five runs on eight hits in four innings.  Bubbie Buzachero took a tough loss, giving up just two runs on four hits and a walk while striking out seven in eight innings of relief.  Andrew Russell threw the game-ending wild pitch.  Joshua Hendricks went 1-for-6 and scored once for Melbourne.

The win gives Perth the Australian League championship.  The Heat won the best-of-three series two games to one.

Australian League Championship Series: Game Two

Melbourne 3, Perth 2 in Perth (13 innings).  Brad Harman singled in Josh Davies in the top of the thirteenth.  Perth put runners on first and third with one out in the bottom of the inning, but could not tie the score.  Davies had two hits and scored twice for Melbourne.  Justin Huber drove in two runs.  Three Melbourne relievers combined to pitch 8.1 scoreless innings:  Bubbie Buzachero went 3.1, Andrew Russell pitched two, and Kevin Reese worked the final three to get the win.  Mitchell Graham went 4-for-6 to lead Perth.  Benn Grice took the loss, giving up the winning run in his third inning of work.  Joshua Hendricks was 1-for-4 for Melbourne.  The two teams are tied at one win apiece, with the deciding game of the best-of-three series to be played today.

Happy Birthday–February 12

Chick Fulmer (1851)
Mike McGeary (1851)
Pants Rowland (1879)
Chick Hafey (1903)
Dom DiMaggio (1917)
Joe Garagiola (1926)
Pat Dobson (1942)
Mike Martin (1944)
Ray Corbin (1949)
Lenny Randle (1949)
Don "Full Pack" Stanhouse (1951)
Cam Bonifay (1952)
Chet Lemon (1955)
Greg Johnston (1955)
Joe Bitker (1964)
Ryan Lefebvre (1971)

Ryan Lefebvre appeared in six minor league games for the Watertown Indians in 1993.  He was a Twins broadcaster in the 1997 and 1998 before moving to Kansas City in 1999, where he has been a broadcaster for the Royals ever since.

Joe Bitker was drafted by Minnesota in the sixth round in the 1984 January draft, but he did not sign.

This is a great day for players with colorful nicknames.  In addition to those listed above, we have Sweetbread Bailey (1895), Kiddo Davis (1902), and Monk Dubiel (1918).

Continue reading Happy Birthday–February 12

This Week In Ex-Twins

Arizona agrees to terms with Craig Breslow on a one year contract.
Baltimore signs Luis Ayala to a one year contract.
Cubs sign Ryan Rowland-Smith to a minor league contract.
Colorado signs Steve Holm to a minor league contract.
Oakland extends the contract of general manager Billy Beane through the 2019 season.
Texas signs Joe Beimel to a minor league contract.

Australian League Championship Series: Game One

Perth 4, Melbourne 1 in Perth.  The Heat scored single runs in the first, fourth, sixth, and seventh.  James McOwen led the way for Perth with three hits, including a fourth-inning home run that gave the Heat a lead they never relinquished.  Tim Kennelly added two hits.  Virgil Vasquez got the complete game victory, striking out eight while giving up five hits and no walks.  For Melbourne, Kevin David singled and homered for the lone Aces run.  Travis Blackley took the loss, allowing all four runs on nine hits in seven innings.  No Twins players appeared in the game.  The win gave Perth a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three championship series.