Happy Birthday–April 22

Bob Smith (1895)
Taylor Douthit (1901)
Ray Benge (1902)
Lew Riggs (1910)
Mickey Vernon (1918)
John Orsino (1938)
Steve Jones (1941)
David Clyde (1955)
Moose Haas (1956)
Dave Schmidt (1957)
Terry Francona (1959)
Jimmy Key (1961)
Jack Savage (1964)
Mickey Morandini (1966)
George Williams (1969)

We would also like to wish a very happy birthday to rowsdower.

Continue reading Happy Birthday–April 22

2013 Game 15: Twins at Hosers

Like most of you, when this team lost five in a row to run their record to 4-7, I figured we'd seen .500 for the last time. Well, here we are again, after getting there with a tenth inning victory in unfriendly US Cellular Field. So, what are the chances we rise above .500?

Scott Diamond, who doesn't seem quite ready to go through the lineup three times yet, faces Gavin Floyd, who's been a thoroughly predictable pitcher for about four years now. He's having a bit of a disastrous season, but it looks to be due to bad luck (.404 BABIP; 25 percent of flies have been homers).

The last time the Twins went through a rough spell, I eventually tuned out. Yes, my life was a mess then, as I was tampering with stupid things at the time that took up most of what would have been my "focus," but I ignored baseball in every sense outside of checking the standings now and then to see that, yes, the Twins were still terrible and looked like they would be for the rest of eternity. I about gave up when they announced Butch Huskey as an important free agent signing, but as the fog in my brain cleared, the Twins started putting a decent product on the field again and thankfully, hooked me anew.

The last two years have been brutal, but - and here's my point, if it qualifies as one - I have elected not to tune out for more than a couple of days because of this community. So do I thank you for keeping me interested in baseball, or blame you for forcing me to watch bad baseball?

I choose the former. Cheers, Citizens!

Happy Birthday–April 21

Hardy Richardson (1855)
Germany Smith (1863)
Ken Strong (1906)
Gary Peters (1937)
Dick Green (1941)
Al Bumbry (1947)
Jesse Orosco (1957)
Les Lancaster (1962)
Ken Caminiti (1963)
Kip Wells (1977)
Terry Tiffee (1979)

A member of the pro football Hall of Fame, Ken Strong played minor league baseball from 1929-1931 and played very well.  He hit 41 home runs and had 130 RBIs in 1930 in what is now the Eastern League and hit .340 in 1931 in the International League.

In addition, we would like to wish a very happy birthday to twayn and to Mrs. freealonzo.

Continue reading Happy Birthday–April 21

Remodeled basement. Same half-baked taste.