This Week in Twins Transactions

Joe Nathan had his 2012 option declined.
Jeff Gray was claimed off waivers from Seattle.
Matt Maloney was claimed off waivers from Cincinnati.
Tom Brunansky was named hitting coach for AAA Rochester.

The Twins released the following minor league players:  Nick Alloway, Nick Cicio, Jamaal Hawkins, Brandon Henderson, Marcus Limon, Derek McCallum, Bobby O’Neill, Justin Parker, Nick Romero, Sam Spangler, Matt Tone, and Kyle Wahl.

This Week in Ex-Twins

Actually two weeks:

Arizona exercised its side of a mutual contract option on Henry Blanco.  Blanco declined his side of the option.  Arizona then signed Blanco to a contract for 2012 with a mutual option for 2013.
Detroit assigns Brad Thomas outright to AAA Toledo.
Mets reinstate Johan Santana from the disabled list.
Philadelphia releases Juan Morillo.
Seattle re-signs Carl Willis as pitching coach.
Toronto declines its 2012 option on Jon Rauch.
Toronto re-signs Bobby Korecky.

Venezuelan View

Aragua 1, Caracas 0 in Aragua.  The game's lone run scored in the third inning, when Jorge Cortes doubled and scored on a Guillermo Rodriguez single.    Hector Gimenez had two hits for the Tigres.  Yangervis Solarte made his season debut for Aragua and was 0-for-4.  Joe Benson was used as a defensive replacement and did not bat.  Sergio Perez (Houston) gave up three hits and a walk in 6.2 innings to get the win.  Francisco Butto retired the only man he faced for the save.

Margarita 7, Magallanes 5 at Magallanes.  The Bravos led 6-0 after two and a half, but Navegantes scored five in the bottom of the third to make it a close game throughout.  Sean Burroughs had four hits to lead Margarita.  Marcel Prado pitched 2.2 scoreless innings to get the win, with Ronald Belisario retiring all four batters he faced to get the save.  Jose Altuve (Houston) had two doubles and a single to lead Magallanes.  Deolis Guerra retired all five batters he faced.  Albert Suarez (Tampa Bay) allowed four runs on five hits and two walks in 1.2 innings to take the loss.

In a game in which no Twins played, Lara edged La Guaira 4-3.

In one that we missed, Lester Oliveros made his debut for Anzoategui Wednesday, allowing a run on three hits in one inning.

In this evening's action, La Guaira is at Zulia, Magallanes hosts Caracas, Margarita travels to Aragua, and Anzoategui goes to Lara.

Solar Sox Summary

Brian Dozier walked and scored on a double by Junior Lake (Cubs) in the bottom of the ninth to give Mesa an 8-7 victory over Phoenix.

The double was Lake's third hit of the game, as he also singled and tripled.  Tyler Saladino (White Sox) and Jarek Cunningham (Pittsburgh) each singled and doubled.  Dozier was 0-for-4 with a walk and a run.  Aaron Hicks was 1-for-3 with a walk, scoring once and driving in three.  Cole DeVries started and went three hitless innings, walking two and striking out two.  Brett Jacobson retired all five batters he faced, striking out two.  Jeff Inman (Pittsburgh) got the win despite allowing two runs on a hit and a walk in one inning.

Adeiny Hechavarria (Toronto) hit a home run for the Desert Dogs.  Preston Claiborne (Yankees) allowed the winning run in his second inning of work to take the loss.

Mesa hosts Salt River this afternoon.

FMD: Deer Opener (11-4-11)

I've been pretty absent here the past few weeks, I've been very busy at work. My absence will continue over the weekend: I'm driving up to Swanville, MN to hunt deer. At my great-uncle-in-law's. Both my father and father-in-law are in the hunting party. Which I quite enjoy.
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As I mentioned earlier, my week's soundtrack has been pretty much 70% Beyoncé (with 20% Merle, and 10% Random). When I put together my end-of-the-year lists, her new album 4 is going to be hard to file: an 8-song album might challenge* Colin Stetson, but those other five or so songs are still there on the album, and she might not get listed at all. At the same time, there's too many good songs for me to pick just one for my singles list (which is where I put songs not on listed albums: otherwise both lists would pretty much be copies of each other.

*Or maybe it's just a brief infatuation with the record and I'll be sick of it by December 1.

I like Kanye West's work, but I hope he never again shows up on a Beyoncé album. Three seconds into "Party", and three seconds of his voice, and I'm hitting the "next track" button.

So anyways, share your list.

Happy Birthday–November 4

Bobby Wallace (1873)
Tommy Leach (1877)
Skeeter Webb (1909)
Carl Sawatski (1927)
Dick Groat (1930)
Tito Francona (1933)
Dick Selma (1943)
Doug Corbett (1952)
Jon Shave (1967)
Eric Karros (1967)
Carlos Baerga (1968)
Kevin Frederick (1976)
Carmen Cali (1978)

We would also like to wish a very happy birthday to davidwatts, kalarson, and eschapp (formerly yickit).

Continue reading Happy Birthday–November 4

Remodeled basement. Same half-baked taste.