Keeping Track

Minor Details: Games of 5/17

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Rochester 7, Gwinnett 6 in Gwinnett.  The Red Wings led 4-0 after two, fell behind 5-4 after five, but came back to win.  Rene Tosoni had three hits.  Jason Repko homered and singled.  Brian Dinkelman had a pair of doubles.  Starter Eric Hacker gave up all five of his runs in the fifth; his line was five runs on four hits and five walks in 4.1 innings.  Carlos Gutierrez got the win with 2.2 scoreless innings, striking out three.  Kyle Waldrop came in with the tying run on second and struck out the only man he faced to get the save.

New Britain 4, Harrisburg 1 in Harrisburg.  The Rock Cats scored all of their runs in the eighth.  Evan Bigley had two hits.  Steve Hirschfeld got the win, going seven innings and giving up one run on six hits and no walks.  He struck out seven.  Cole DeVries threw two shutout innings of relief to get his ninth save.

Ft. Myers 6, Daytona 5 in Daytona.  The Miracle scored three in the third and three in the fourth to build a 6-1 lead, then hung on.  Ramon Santana had three doubles and drove in three.  Aaron Hicks singled and homered.  Anderson Hidalgo had two doubles.  Logan Darnell got the win in his FSL debut, giving up three runs (two earned) on six hits and two walks in five innings.  Bruce Pugh allowed a run in the ninth but still got the save.

Beloit 7, Wisconsin 0 in Wisconsin.  Beloit scored three in the fourth and was never challenged.  Manuel Soliman struck out eleven in six innings, giving up two hits and three walks.  Clinton Dempster struck out three in two innings, and Jose Gonzalez fanned two in a perfect ninth.  Nate Roberts singled and tripled, scoring three times.  Jamaal Hawkins and Michael Gonzales each singled and doubled.

Keeping Track

Happy Birthday–May 18

Babe Adams (1882)
Arndt Jorgens (1905)
Gil Coan (1922)
Jack Sanford (1929)
Carroll Hardy (1933)
Brooks Robinson (1937)
Reggie Jackson (1946)
Osamu Higashio (1950)
Dennis Leonard (1951)
Eric Gregg (1951)
Jim Sundberg (1951)
Andre David (1958)
Jim Bowden (1961)
Erik Hanson (1965)
Eric Young (1967)
Rich Garces (1971)
Joakim Soria (1984)

Two players who share a name with Minnesota Twins players, Scott Baker (1970) and Roy Smith (1976), were also born on this day.

Today is also the birthday of Twins’ farmhand Randy Rosario (1994).

Continue reading Happy Birthday–May 18 →

NBA

NBA Lottery Alternatives

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There's something about tweaking the rules of sports leagues that really appeals to me. It's probably because I'm a control freak, but there could be other factors.

No one seems all that happy about the NBA's lottery process. If I understand correctly, it used to be evenly weighted amongst non-playoff teams, which would reduce the incentive for tanking at the end of the season. Under that system, some didn't feel the worst teams were getting enough help. Fair enough. Now there's a weighted lottery, but some teams clearly play to lose "improve their draft position" at the end of the season. The system opens itself up to conspiracy theories, and it doesn't seem to be all that fair to fans of some of the most terrible teams in the league. Is there a better way?

I'm not really sure that there's an absolute better way, but I like exploring alternatives.

Continue reading NBA Lottery Alternatives →

2011 Twins Game Logs

2011 Game Logs: Game 40 Minnesota @ Seattle

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Franky

@

King Felix

I was kind of hoping to make this game log a eulogy for Harmon. There are plenty of people out there who could do a better job than me though. I thought maybe I'd write a clever story about the Killer looking down from the big Diamond in the sky, talking with Kirby, Lyman, and Delmon Young's zone judgment but thought better of it. I thought about writing about the game itself but it somehow seems insignificant.

Tonight, you have two pretty good young pitchers. If you have the chance, watch the game with your fathers, your sons, your mothers, or your daughters. Watch it with your grandparents, your brothers, sisters, or spouses. Life is a fickle thing. It takes away people who are by all accounts are amazing to everyone with little or no explanation. So raise your glass, thank those around you for the good times and hope that maybe, just maybe there might be a couple of people in Heaven rooting for Minnesota tonight.

 

Minnesota Twins

Harmon Killebrew, 1936-2011

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image by Flickr user BaseballBacks, used under a Creative Commons license

Harmon Killebrew, the first Minnesota Twin inducted into the Hall of Fame, passed away today at home in the same manner in which he lived his life, quietly and with exceptional dignity. Esophageal cancer claimed the gentle giant at age 74. At his side was his wife, Nita, and their family. For perspective on Harmon and his accomplishments, I direct you to Joe Posnanski's piece, "The Gentleman Called Killer", published just yesterday.

There's much which can be said about Harmon Killebrew, and what he meant to Twins fans, either as a great player, a matchless ambassador of the game and representative of the Twins, or as a Minnesota icon. Feel free to pay your respects below, either by relating a story about Harmon, by sharing some thoughts on his accomplishments, or any other way you see fit.

Keeping Track

Minor Details: Games of 5/13 – 5/16

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ROCHESTER

Friday—Charlotte 6, Rochester 4 in Charlotte.  Ray Chang had three hits.

Saturday—Charlotte 2, Rochester 0 in Charlotte (5 innings).  Rene Tosoni and Jeff Bailey each doubled for the only Red Wings hits.

Sunday—Charlotte 8, Rochester 4 in Charlotte.  Aaron Bates had three doubles.  Chuck James struck out four in 2.2 scoreless innings.

Monday—Rochester at Charlotte.  Postponed.

NEW BRITAIN

Friday—New Britain 2, Portland 0 in New Britain.  Bobby Lanigan gave up three hits and no walks in eight innings.  Steve Singleton doubled and homered.

Saturday—New Britain 6, Portland 3 in New Britain (Game 1—Scheduled 7 innings).  Deolis Guerra gave up one run on two hits and now walks in five innings.

New Britain 4, Portland 0 in New Britain (Game 2—Scheduled 7 innings).  Brett Jacobson and Ryan Mullins each threw three scoreless innings.  Chris Herrmann hit a two-run homer.

Sunday—Portland at New Britain.  Postponed

Monday—No games scheduled.

FT. MYERS

Friday—Dunedin 3, Ft. Myers 2 in Ft. Myers (Game 1—Scheduled 7 innings).  Ramon Santana’s double was the only extra base hit.

Dunedin 7, Ft. Myers 1 in Ft. Myers (Game 2—Scheduled 7 innings).  Nick Romero had two hits.

Saturday—Ft. Myers 4, Daytona 1 in Daytona.  Matt Schuld struck out nine in six innings, giving up one run on three hits and a walk.  Blake Martin struck out four in two shutout innings and Bruce Pugh struck out the side in the ninth.

Sunday—Daytona 8, Ft. Myers 3 in Daytona.  Brian Dozier had three hits.  Brad Tippett gave up one run on three hits in five innings of relief.

Monday—Daytona 6, Ft. Myers 4 in Daytona.  Anderson Hidalgo had three hits.  Steve Liddle had two doubles.

BELOIT

Friday—Quad Cities at Beloit.  Postponed.

Saturday—Beloit 6, Quad Cities 4 in Beloit (Game 1—Scheduled 7 innings).  The Snappers scored all six runs in the third inning.  They got four of their five hits that inning.

Quad Cities 6, Beloit 2 in Beloit.  (Game 2—Scheduled 7 innings).  Wang-Wei Lin had two hits.  Jose Gonzalez struck out three in two scoreless innings.

Sunday—Quad Cities 5, Beloit 4 in Beloit.  Daniel Ortiz had two doubles.

Monday—No games scheduled.

2011 Twins Game Recaps, View from the Ballpark

2011 Game 39: Mariners 5, Twins 2

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Weather: "indoors"
Attendance: 14,859
Time: 2:31

Twins record: 12-27 (last in AL Central, 13.5 GB)
Fangraphs boxscore | MLB Game Wrap

"Highlights":

  • Highest WPA, hitter: Morneau .038 (1-4, SO) | Highest WPA, pitcher: Some band-aid whose name I've already forgotten .003 (1.1 IP, ER, 2 BB)

Lowlights:

  • Lowest WPA, hitter: Cuddyer, -.138 (1-4, R) | Lowest WPA, pitcher: Baker, -.172 (6.0 IP, 7 H, 2 BB, 8 SO, 4 ER)
  • Pretty much all of it.

Last night Scott Baker had a very Scott Baker-y outing. The Twins lost.

What else can I say about the game? I fell asleep after Pineda came out, it's now 2:30am, and I'm going to bed. If I've missed something important, talk about it below.

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This week's View from the Ballpark might be too easy, but I like the history behind it too much to let it go.

photo by Flickr user joshbousel

Over the years at least two former Twins have managed here. | photo by Flickr user joshbousel

Remember, no embiggening.

Remodeled basement. Same half-baked taste.