Category Archives: MLB

History, Minnesota Twins

September 24, 2008: Random Day in Twins History

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I used a random number generator to pick a season from the past with the idea that I would quickly highlight the Twins history that occurred today in that year.  The generator sent me to the year 2008.

Twins 3, White Sox 2 - BR Boxscore

The Twins pieced together four shutout innings of relief to win their second straight game against the White Sox while pulling within a half game of first place in the AL Central.  Nick Blackburn allowed two runs in five innings despite pitching around ten baserunners (sound familiar?).  Craig Breslow, Boof Bonser (?!), and Jose Mijares each pitched a scoreless inning before Joe Nathan's 1-2-obligatory-4 ninth inning save, the 200th of his career.  “You couldn’t ask for anything better than that,” Blackburn said of the bullpen.  “They came in, did their job and got those guys out.  No drama.  It was great.”  In Mijares's eighth inning, he retired JI JIM, Paul Konerko, and Ken Griffey, Jr. in order. Continue reading September 24, 2008: Random Day in Twins History →

Minnesota Twins, MLB

Hope for the Hopeless

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After consecutive disastrous seasons for the Twins, it will be difficult for most to find hope for 2013; 2014 is another matter, what with the All-Star Game and the Twins' top prospects finally knocking on the door. Oswaldo Arcia, Aaron Hicks and B.J. Hermsen will start in Rochester next year barring a flurry of trades from the Twins clearing room for them (or Hermsen just winning a starting job) and Miguel Sano, Eddie Rosario, Jose Barrios and Byron Buxton could be in New Britain or even Rochester in 2014, meaning a midseason callup in 2014 wouldn't be out of the question. I think the Twins will be looking to load up for a legitimate run at the postseason in 2014 to help generate excitement for the All-Star Game, but I think next season can still be a successful one for the Twins, maybe not a postseason appearance, but maybe a flirtation with contention that leads to multiple division titles in following years, such as 2001 and 2008.

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Miscellaneous, MLB

Messing Around with the 1987 Bill James Abstract

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Last November, Sheenie and I were in Duluth for a wedding and wandered around town.  We stumbled upon an antique store that had a massive collection of books on the second floor.  Eventually, we ended up leaving with about $40 in books (which mean about fifteen books).  Among the ones I snagged was The Bill James Baseball Abstract 1987.  I slowly flipped through it in recent months and found a few items particularly interesting.

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2012 Twins Game Recaps, History, Minnesota Twins, MLB

Game 95: Twins 7, Royals 5

Doumit hit homeruns from both sides of the plate, went 3-4 and drove in 4 runs. Deduno earned his first major league "W" going 6.1 innings and allowing only 1 earned run. Swarzak and Perkins both gave up homeruns. The Twins beat the original Jeremy, recently acquired by the Royals from Colorado for Jonathon Sanchez.

The Twins take the series 2-1 and are now 40-55, a half-game back of the Royals.

Congratulations to:

Continue reading Game 95: Twins 7, Royals 5 →

2012 Twins Game Recaps, Minnesota Twins, MLB

Game 89: Orioles 7, Twins 19!

Couldn't leave that one without a recap, though I did not see it or hear much of it.

Twins scored 7 runs in the bottom of the first, added 1 in the second, 2 in the third and another in the fourth. It wasn't until the fifth that they failed to score during the home-half of an inning. Meanwhile, Baltimore didn't put up a crooked number until the fifth and Diamond did what he had to do with all of the run support: finished 6 innings and allowing 5 runs on 9 hits while striking out 3 and walking 1.

Every Twins starter had a hit except Doumit who still managed to pick up 2 RBI and a run scored. Morneau went 4-5 to continue his hit streak as did Plouffe. Span only managed 5 RBI on 3 hits including 2 doubles. Mauer jacked a donger, just because he felt like it.

Oh, and just for fun, the Twins added 5 more runs in the 8th to get that nice round number - 20 hits on the night.

Thome did not hit.

Capps gave up a 2-run homer to Chavez and is hurt again.

2012 Twins Game Recaps, Minnesota Twins, MLB

Game 88: Athletics 9, Twins 4

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Long balls v. no balls....long balls win.

Parker gets the win after his guys managed a cumulative 13 hits off of 5 different pitchers (out of 7 total used by the home club) including 4 more homeruns*.

Duensing gets the loss after a 41 pitch first and a total of 7 earned runs during his 2 completed innings. Poor shlub even walked in a run.

The Twins are now 36-52 (and a ghastly 17-28 at home) and 13 games behind the AL Central leading White Sox.

Good news:

Justin Morneau extended his hitting streak to 15 games with a single in the sixth.

Zach Parise threw out the first pitch before the game. That's right - the Wild signed a couple of amazing free agents this off season. Bring on the snow!

Continue reading Game 88: Athletics 9, Twins 4 →