Game 53: Rays at Twins

Kyle Gibson (0-3, 6.10 ERA) comes off the DL for his first start* former starter Phil Hughes comes out of the pen, looking for his first win in over a month (0-5, 6.43 ERA in that span w/ a 0-3, 7.43 ERA in May) to face Matt Moore (2-3, 5.31 ERA).

After averaging 6 runs per game in Seattle, the Twins offense reverted to a more anemic 2.33 runs per game in Oakland. This limited run production will likely continue as their RBI & HR leader, Miguel Sano, has been placed on the DL with a hamstring injury. That being said, Nunez & Mauer (AL Player of the Week for June 29!) the two Twins with higher BA's, OBP's and OPS's are still available. And, in a dozen games with the Twins, left fielder Robbie "Not Rex" Grossman is slashing .359/.457/.667 with 9 RBI's and 8 extra-base hits ... So they got that going for 'em.

The Twins play only 3 road games in their next 20. With visits from Tampa, New York and Philadelphia (all currently owners of sub-.500 records) combined with the Twins record of 4-6 in their past 10, it could be argued that there will be wins at Target Field in the next three weeks. Furthermore, at 15-37, I can assure you that good seats will be available for cheap (though I'd wager the "good seats" will be filled with BoSox and Yankme fans when those teams are here).

*Gibson scratched due to a sore back.

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)
Horace Clarke (1940)
Jim Maloney (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)
Tim Stauffer (1982)

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.

Continue reading Happy Birthday–June 2

Remodeled basement. Same half-baked taste.