Keeping Track

Happy Birthday–September 26

Gus Schmelz (1850)
Bob Coleman (1890)
Bobby Shantz (1925)
Mel McGaha (1926)
Dave Duncan (1945)
Jim Gideon (1953)
Rich Gedman (1959)
Steve Buechele (1961)
Dave Martinez (1964)
Brian Shouse (1968)
Brian Looney (1969)

Gus Schmelz managed several teams in the late 19th century.  He is one of the few who became a manager without having played professionally.

Bob Coleman managed in the minor leagues for thirty-five years.  He had the most wins as a minor league manager when he retired, 2,496, a mark since passed by Stan Wasiak.

Former Knicks player Mel McGaha was the manager of the Kansas City Athletics from 1964-1965.

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2013 Twins Game Log

Game 157: Only Five More To Go After This

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Fister (13-9, 3.71 ERA) vs. Diamond (6-11, 5.54 ERA)

I can't tell you how happy I am that Gardy's new favorite player's name is so close to Punto its almost comical. Its a little disappointing his walk-off last night wasn't a dropped third strike in which he slid head first into first to beat the throw (which I presume there would not have been a throw what with the runner from third, in this hypothetical scenario, was coming home), though. Ah well, not everything can be perfect.

So anyway, we're down to the final stretch of another bad season. I had to go to a birthday party for a one year old on Sunday at one of them "adventure" farms. It was not the most pleasant thing to do with my recent surgery, feeling like I was getting kicked lightly in the balls over and over from walking around all day. But, my daughter loved it (goats!), so it was worth the discomfort. The point, however, is that while sitting in the barn where the party was set up, I had no choice but to listen to the Packer game on the radio. (ugh, it was like listening to two Hawk Harrelsons without any of the "cute-ish" catchphrases but all of the awful bitterness and over-seriousness.) It reminded me that I would rather watch the Twins (even though I really can't watch them) during a third straight 90-loss season than ever go back to caring about the Vikings. Blech.

 Anywho, on to another attempt to thwart clinching the division at Target Field.

2013 Twins Game Recaps

2013 Game 156 Recap: Twins 4, Tigers 3

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The quest to stop other teams from clinching at Target Field began with a pitcher's duel through 4. Pelfrey and Verlander, nearly indistinguishable in anything but appearance and pitching ability battled each other until the Ghost of Twins' teams past bounced a pitch of Pelfrey's over the fence for a double. Tigers 1-0.

The Ghost struck again in the top of the seventh with a double, followed by a single, another single, another double and then a walk. Fien got pulled for Pressly and a double play ended the inning, but the Tigers scored two more. Tigers 3-0.

Double was the theme of the game and Escobar bounced one against the left field wall in the bottom of the 8th with Thomas scampering home to give the Twins a run. A Doumit double scored Escobar and minimized the deficit to 1, but that was all the Twins got in the 8th. Tigers 3-2.

Bottom of the ninth, last chance saloon...DOZIER! A lack of a second Dozier in the lineup meant free baseball. 3-3.

Perkmatic, Swizzlestick threw runless frames and on to the bottom of the 11th. More Dozier! This time it was just a single, but it was a lead off one! Gardy wisely realized that Willingham has never bunted once in his life and let him swing away. The strategy paid off when Hammer struck out on a wild pitch and Dozier advanced to second. Up stepped Pinto-don't call me Punto- who shot a line drive to right field. The Ghost from Twins' teams past picked it up as Dozier was digging around third and threw it with all of his strength home. Strength doesn't equal accuracy though and not all ghosts haunt forever. DOZIER SCORES AND THE TWINS WIN! 4-3.

Remodeled basement. Same half-baked taste.