Keeping Track

Happy Birthday–April 16

Dutch Leonard (1892)
Paul Waner (1903)
Babe Phelps (1908)
Pete Hughes (1915)
Pete Suder (1916)
Joe Bauman (1922)
Rich Rollins (1938)
Bernie Allen (1939)
Garry Roggenburk (1940)
Jim Lonborg (1942)
Bob Montgomery (1944)
Bruce Bochy (1955)
Curt Young (1960)
Fernando Vina (1969)
Antonio Alfonseca (1972)
Kelly Dransfeldt (1975)

Pete Hughes was a star in the low minors from 1937-1952.  His incomplete career numbers are a .350 average and a .637 slugging percentage, but for some reason he never played above Class B.

Joe Bauman hit 72 home runs for Roswell in the Longhorn League in 1954.

Kelly Dransfeldt was drafted by Minnesota in the seventh round in 1993, but did not sign.

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2013 Twins Game Recaps

The Joe Mauers 8, The No Mauers 2

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Winning Streak: 1

Winning Pitcher: Correia (1-1)
Losing Pitcher: Blanton (0-3)

Joe Mauer either really likes honoring civil rights hero Jackie Robinson, or really hates him and wishes for the day to be called Joe Mauer Day with everyone wearing number 3s and fake sideburns. Either way, Mauer destroyed Angels' pitching and put in a good shift defensively as the Twins' bats came alive.

Correia also struck out 5(!) upping the starters' strikeout total by 25 percent. He was able to overcome a leadoff homer by Bourjos and another by [redacted] to pitch seven innings of 2 run baseball.

All in all, a satisfying victory for the home nine.

2013 Twins Game Log

2013 Game 12: LA Seraphim at Minnesota Gemini

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Three weeks ago I was pretty much done with taxes, except for entering one form that my daughter needed to provide. After weeks of nagging, she finally sent it to me last Friday. I plugged it into the old 1040 today, and my refund got a happy ending. What's the lesson? Perseverance pays off. Maybe if the Twins persevere for the next five and a half months they could win the division. Probably not. But it's a good bet it will all come down to the pitching.

Today is Jackie Robinson day around the major leagues and you might see a number 42 here or there. I'll be going to see the movie on Sunday, so no spoilers, please.

Today the Angels send right-hander Joe Blanton to the hill, while the Twins offer Kevin Correia. Blanton in his last start gave up six runs in just over five innings, while Correia gave up three runs in eight innings and carried a shutout through the first seven. One move of note for the Twins, Oswaldo Arcia is called up before tonight's game to replace Wilkin Ramirez, who went on the three-day paternity list Sunday. I didn't even know there was such a thing.

Keeping Track

Minor League Players of the Week

Rochester:  Chris Colabello was 6-for-19 with two home runs, two doubles, and three walks.  For the season, he is hitting .441/.525/.853 in 34 at-bats.

New Britain:  Daniel Ortiz was 10-for-24 with two home runs, a triple, two doubles, and two walks.  For the season, he is hitting .400/.450/.743 in 35 at-bats.

Fort Myers:  Angel Morales was 11-for-24 with five doubles, a triple, and three walks.  For the season, he is hitting .333/.381/.538 in 39 at-bats.  D. J. Baxendale gave up two runs (one earned) on six hits, walking three and striking out eleven in 10.1 innings (two starts).  Those are also his season stats.

Cedar Rapids:  Dalton Hicks was 7-for-17 with five doubles, a home run, and two walks.  For the season, he is hitting .387/.472/.806 in 31 at-bats.

Keeping Track

Happy Birthday–April 15

Jim Creighton (1841)
Ed Abbaticchio (1877)
Ed Bailey (1931)
Willie Davis (1940)
Ted Sizemore (1945)
Jeromy Burnitz (1969)
Milton Bradley (1978)
John Danks (1985)

Jim Creighton was a star pitcher from 1857-1862, before the National League was created.  He passed away from a ruptured hernia in 1862 at the age of twenty-one.

Until Henry Aaron came along, Ed Abbaticchio held the “first in the alphabet” record.

There do not appear to be any major league players with connections to the Minnesota Twins born on this day.

Remodeled basement. Same half-baked taste.