Southern League Preview

The Twins have a new AA affiliate:  the Chattanooga Lookouts.  That means two things:  1) I have to remember how to spell Chattanooga (two ts, one n, two os) and 2) we have a bunch of new opponents.  It's good-bye Eastern League, hello Southern League.  Good-bye New Hampshire Fisher Cats and Richmond Flying Squirrels, hello Montgomery Biscuits and Pensacola Blue Wahoos.

Here's a quick look at the teams of the Southern League.  Again, "notables" is a list of names you might recognize, not a scouting report, and is based on rosters listed on milb.com this morning.

Continue reading Southern League Preview

Happy Birthday–April 7

John McGraw (1873)
Oral Hildebrand (1907)
Bobby Doerr (1918)
Jerry Hoffberger (1919)
Tom Phoebus (1942)
Bill Stoneman (1944)
Pete Van Wieren (1944)
Bobby Mitchell (1955)
Ricky Bones (1969)
Brett Tomko (1973)
Ronnie Belliard (1975)
Adrian Beltre (1979)

Jerry Hoffberger was the principal owner of the Baltimore Orioles from 1965-1979.

Pete Van Wieren was a broadcaster for the Atlanta Braves from 1976-2008.

Continue reading Happy Birthday–April 7

2015 Game 1: Minnesota Twins at Detroit Tigers

I'd love to type something thoughtful and full of optimism here, but I'm short on time and actual belief in that. We'll start the year off for a team that's full of youthful potential, but bogged down with the aged veterans for some reason. But, let's let the 25-man roster speak for itself:
Continue reading 2015 Game 1: Minnesota Twins at Detroit Tigers

Happy Birthday–April 6

Smokey Joe Williams (1885)
Mickey Cochrane (1903)
Ernie Lombardi (1908)
Phil Regan (1937)
Marty Pattin (1943)
Bert Blyleven (1951)
Kenny Williams (1964)
Bret Boone (1969)
Lou Merloni (1971)

A star in the Negro Leagues, some say that Smokey Joe Williams was a better pitcher than Satchel Paige.

I haven't checked, but my guess is that four Hall-of-Famers born on the same day is the record.

Continue reading Happy Birthday–April 6

Remodeled basement. Same half-baked taste.