2015 Twins Game Logs, Minnesota Twins, MLB

2015 Game 44: Boston Red Sox vs. Minnesota Twins – Memorial Day Edition

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I hope everyone has had an enjoyable and agreeable Memorial Day weekend. I'm sure there will be plenty of pomp and spectacle during the actual game, but whenever you get a chance today, maybe take a moment and quietly reflect on the holiday and those whose memory it honors.

I was thinking about trying to make yesterday's game in Chicago, but other vague plans (which didn't materialize) and threat of weather kept us away.  A shame as it would have been a good one.

Anyway, now that the Twins aren't playing Chicago, I can actually watch them again.  Score.  They leave the Prairie State with a 4-1 road trip in their back pocket, and six games at home in front of them, where they've enjoyed a .700 record (2nd in the AL).

They'll open up that homestand with 3 games against the 3rd place Red Sox.  Someone posted a link recently that mirrored the exasperation this team has been causing me.  They're just not supposed to be this good, you know?  Regardless, I will continue to cautiously watch, and enjoy the ride.

Happy Memorial Day, you guys.

Continue reading 2015 Game 44: Boston Red Sox vs. Minnesota Twins – Memorial Day Edition →

Keeping Track

Happy Birthday–May 25

Al Reach (1840)
Lip Pike (1845)
Tip O’Neill (1858)
Joe Judge (1894)
Martin Dihigo (1905)
Lindsey Nelson (1919)
Bill Sharman (1926)
Jim Marshall (1931)
W. P. Kinsella (1935)
Glenn Borgmann (1950)
John Montefusco (1950)
Bob Knepper (1954)
Kerwin Danley (1961)
Dave Hollins (1966)
Bill Haselman (1966)
Joey Eischen (1970)
Todd Walker (1973)
Miguel Tejada (1974)
Chris Young (1979)
Scott Hairston (1980)
Jason Kubel (1982)

Al Reach played major league baseball from 1871-1875.  He later founded the A. J. Reach Company, which was the largest sporting goods company in the United States at one time (it eventually merged with Spalding).  This company also published the Reach Guide, an influential baseball publication, from 1883-1927.

Martin Dihigo was a star in the Negro Leagues, winning 250 games as a pitcher and also winning two batting titles.

Lindsey Nelson was one of the most famous broadcasters in the country at one time.  He broadcast New York Mets games from 1962-1978 and San Francisco Giants games from 1979-1981.

Basketball Hall of Famer Bill Sharman was a minor league outfielder from 1950-1953 and in 1955, reaching AAA with St. Paul.

W. P. Kinsella has written several books on baseball, most notably "Shoeless Joe" the book on which the movie "Field of Dreams" was based.

Kerwin Danley has been a major league umpire since 1998.

Continue reading Happy Birthday–May 25 →

2015 Twins Game Recaps, Minnesota Twins, MLB

Game 43: Twins 8, White Sox 1

I keep waiting to wake up from this dream, but it hasn't happened yet. The Twins will start Memorial Day with the third-best record in the AL, only three games out of first place and in position to be host to the AL wildcard game.

After a 1-6 start, the Twins have now gone 24-12 and have outscored their opponents 181-139. They finished this road trip at 4-1 to give them they're first winning road trip of the season. After starting 1-5 on the road, the Twins have since gone 10-7. They've also played three more road games than home games this season. They are 2-7 against the Tigers on the season and 23-11 against everyone else. They are 3-3 vs. the Royals and have a winning record against everyone else.

They've done all this without any truly great performances outside of closer Glen Perkins, whose perfect start to the season would go largely unnoticed if he didn't already have 16 save opportunities.

Other than Perkins, the closest thing the Twins have to legitimate All-Star candidates were on display Sunday. Brian Dozier led off the game with a home run and then added a three-run shot later in the game to essentially put the game out of reach. Dozier now has 9 HRs on the season to lead all AL second basemen and is on pace for career highs in HRs, 2Bs, 3Bs, RBIs and even runs scored. He finished second in the AL in runs scored last year with 112.

The offensive firepower allowed Kyle Gibson to cruise through his latest good start, with this one probably being his best. He went 8 innings, only allowing an opposite field solo home run to Jose Abreu when the Twins led 5-0, and struck out a career-high-tying eight batters with 0 walks. Gibson is now 4-3 with a 2.72 ERA. His peripheral numbers on the season aren't anything to write home about, but he's heating up at the right time. He's 3-1 with a 1.32 ERA in May, which includes a 21-5 K-BB ratio after having a 6-12 K-BB ratio in April.

2015 Twins Game Logs

Game 43: Minnesota @Chicago

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After last night's game, Chicago ace Chris has 2 losses on the year and both of 'em have come courtesy of the Twins. Game three will decide who takes the Memorial Day weekend series.

Today's matchup features Kyle Gibson (3-3, 2.98 ERA, 1.32 WHIP) and Jose Quintana (2-4, 4.13 ERA, 1.35 WHIP).

Gibson's coming off consecutive losses for the first time this season, though the 2-1 loss against Detroit on May 12 wasn't his doing (5 hits, 1 earned run, 0 BB and 6 K's in 7 innings). He wasn't nearly that good on the 17th against Tampa (8 hits, 3 earned runs, 2 BB and 2 K's in 5 innings). Hopefully, we get a bounce-back game from Kyle.

He'll be opposed by Quintana who's coming off a string of five games where he's allowed 2 earned runs or less while averaging 6.2 innings pitched, 6.1 K's and 2 BB per game. During that stretch, he's 2-3 due to a notable lack of offense (a total of 10 runs scored in those five games). His last start against Cleveland on the 19th wasn't great, allowing 8 hits and 4 BB while only striking out 4. Hopefully, we get another game like that and the Twins can put up some runs.

Remodeled basement. Same half-baked taste.