Keeping Track

Happy Birthday–March 19

Jose Mendez (1887)
Bill Wambsganss (1894)
Gee Walker (1908)
Bob Davids (1926)
Richie Ashburn (1927)
Al Solerno (1931)
Paul Ray Powell (1948)
Tim Corcoran (1953)
Mike Norris (1955)
Ivan Calderon (1962)
Jason LaRue (1974)
David Ross (1977)
Clayton Kershaw (1988)

Jose Mendez was a star in Cuba and in the Negro Leagues, pitching from 1906-1925.

Bob Davids was one of the founders of the Society for American Baseball Research.

Al Solerno was an American League umpire from 1961-1968.  His firing was one of the things that led to the formation of the first umpires union.

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Keeping Track

2003 Rewind: Twins Team Leaders

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POSITION PLAYERS

Games

  1. Torii Hunter, 154
  2. Cristian Guzman, 143
  3. Doug Mientkiewicz, 142

Plate appearances

  1. Hunter, 642
  2. Guzman, 585
  3. Mientkiewicz, 574

At-bats

  1. Hunter, 581
  2. Guzman, 534
  3. Jacque Jones, 517

Runs

  1. Hunter, 83
  2. Guzman, 78
  3. Jones, Koskie 76

Hits

  1. Jones, 157
  2. A. J. Pierzynski, 152
  3. Mientkiewicz, 146

Doubles

  1.  Mientkiewicz, 38
  2. Pierzynski, 35
  3. Jones, 33

Triples

  1. Guzman, 14
  2. Luis Rivas, 9
  3. Hunter, 4

Home runs

  1. Hunter, 26
  2. Matthew LeCroy, 17
  3. Jones, 16

RBIs

  1. Hunter, 102
  2. Pierzynski, 74
  3. Jones, Koskie, 69

Stolen bases

  1. Guzman, 18
  2. Rivas, 17
  3. Jones, 13

Caught stealing

  1. Guzman 9
  2. Rivas, Hunter 7

Walks

  1. Koskie, 77
  2. Mientkiewicz, 74
  3. Hunter, 50

Strikeouts

  1. Koskie 113
  2. Hunter, Dustan Mohr, 106

Average

  1. Pierzynski, .312
  2. Jones, .304
  3. Mientkiewicz, .300

OBP

  1. Mientkiewicz, .393
  2. Koskie, .393
  3. Pierzynski, .360

Slugging

  1. LeCroy, .490
  2. Pierzynski, .464
  3. Jones, .464

OPS

  1. Koskie, .845
  2. Mientkiewicz, .843
  3. LeCroy, .832

OPS+

  1. Koskie, 122
  2. Mientkiewicz, 122
  3. LeCroy, 116

Total bases

  1. Hunter, 262
  2. Jones, 240
  3. Pierzynski, 226

GIDP

  1. Rivas, 20
  2. Hunter, 15
  3. Pierzynski, 13

Hit by pitch

  1. Pierzynski, 15
  2. Koskie 7
  3. 4 tied at 5

Sacrifice hits

  1. Guzman, 12
  2. Rivas, 8
  3. Denny Hocking, Kyle Lohse, 3

Sacrifice flies

  1. Koskie 9
  2. Mientkiewicz, Hunter 6

Intentional walks

  1. Pierzynski, 12
  2. Hunter, 7
  3. Koskie, 5

PITCHERS

Wins

  1. Kyle Lohse, Radke, 14
  2. Kenny Rogers, 13

Losses

  1.  Rick Reed, 12
  2. Lohse, 11
  3. Radke, 10

Winning percentage

  1. Johan Santana, .800
  2. LaTroy Hawkins, .750
  3. Rogers, .619

ERA

  1. Hawkins, 1.86
  2. Eddie Guardado, 2.89
  3. Santana, 3.07

Games

  1. Hawkins, 74
  2. J. C. Romero, 73
  3. Guardado, 66

Starts

  1. Lohse, Radke, 33
  2. Rogers, 31

Games finished

  1. Guardado, 60
  2. Juan Rincon, 20
  3. Romero, 17

Complete Games

  1. Radke, 3
  2. Reed, Lohse, 2

Shutouts

  1. Lohse, Radke, Reed 1

Saves

  1. Guardado, 41
  2. Hawkins, 2
  3. James Baldwin, Micheal Nakamura, 1

Innings

  1. Radke, 212.1
  2. Lohse, 201
  3. Rogers, 195

Hits

  1. Radke, 242
  2. Rogers, 227
  3. Lohse, 211

Runs

  1. Radke, 111
  2. Rogers, 108
  3. Lohse, 107

Earned runs

  1. Radke, 106
  2. Lohse, 103
  3. Rogers, 99

Home runs

  1. Radke, 32
  2. Lohse, 28
  3. Rogers, 22

Walks

  1. Rogers, 50
  2. Santana, 47
  3. Lohse, 45

Intentional walks

  1. Romero, Rincon 7
  2. Rogers, 5

Strikeouts

  1. Santana, 169
  2. Lohse, 130
  3. Radke, 120

Hit batsmen

  1. Rogers, 11
  2. Romero, 6
  3. 3 tied at 5

Balks

  1. Rogers, 4
  2. Romero, Santana, 2

Wild PItches

  1. Lohse, 10
  2. Romero, 9
  3. Rincon, 7

Batters faced

  1. Radke, 888
  2. Rogers, 851
  3. Lohse, 850

ERA+

  1. Hawkins, 244
  2. Guardado, 157
  3. Santana, 148

FIP

  1. Hawkins, 2.38
  2. Guardado, 3.23
  3. Santana, 3.24

WHIP

  1. Guardado, 0.98
  2. Hawkins, 1.09
  3. Santana, 1.10

Hits per nine

  1. Guardado, 6.9
  2. Santana, 7.2
  3. Rincon, 7.8

Homers per nine

  1. Hawkins, 0.5
  2. Rincon, 0.5
  3. Rogers, 1.0

Walks per nine

  1. Radke, 1.2
  2. Hawkins, 1.7
  3. Reed, 1.9

Strikeouts per nine

  1. Santana, 9.6
  2. Hawkins, 8.7
  3. Guardado, 8.3

Strikeout/walk ratio

  1. Hawkins, 5.00
  2. Guardado, 4.29
  3. Radke, 4.29
Keeping Track

Happy Birthday–March 18

Nixey Callahan (1874)
Johnny Cooney (1901)
Al Benton (1911)
Hi Bithorn (1916)
Elbie Fletcher (1916)
Eddie Lake (1916)
Bob Broeg (1918)
Hal White (1919)
George Plimpton (1927)
Charley Pride (1938)
Pat Jarvis (1941)
Dwayne Murphy (1955)
Geronimo Berroa (1965)
Corky Miller (1976)
Tomo Ohka (1976)
Scott Podsednik (1976)
Fernando Rodney (1977)

Hi Bithorn was the first Puerto Rican to play in the major leagues, making his first appearance for the Cubs in 1942.

Sportswriter Bob Broeg covered the St. Louis Cardinals for forty years and was on the Hall of Fame Board of Directors for twenty-eight years.

Author George Plimpton introduced the world to Sidd Finch in 1985.

Country singer Charley Pride pitched in the minor leagues for parts of three seasons from 1953-1960.  He also played in the Negro Leagues for a couple of seasons as those leagues were nearing the end of their existence.

We would also like to wish a happy anniversary to Mr. and Mrs. Rhubarb_Runner.

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Keeping Track

2003 Rewind: League Leaders

Twins in the top ten in the American League in various categories:

POSITION PLAYERS

Defensive WAR

  1. Hank Blalock, Tex, 3.0

10.  A. J. Pierzynski, 1.5

Batting average

  1.  Bill Mueller, Bos, .346

8.  Pierzynski, .312

OBP

  1.  Manny Ramirez, Bos, .427

9.  Doug Mientkiewicz, .393

Triples

  1.  Cristian Guzman, 14

4 (tie).  Luis Rivas, 9

Hit by pitch

  1. Jason Giambi, NY, 21

6 (tie).  Pierzynski, 15.

Sacrifice hits

  1.  Ramon Santiago, Det., 18

3. Guzman, 12.

9 (tie). Rivas, 8

Sacrifice flies

  1.  Jeff Conine, Bal., 12

6 (tie).  Corey Koskie, 9.

Intentional walks

  1.  Ramirez, Bos., 28

5 (tie).  Pierzynski, 12.

GIDP

  1. Paul Konerko, Chi, 28

6 (tie).  Rivas, 20.

Caught Stealing

  1.  Alex Sanchez, Det., 18

5 (tie). Guzman, 9.

AB per strikeout

  1. Deivi Cruz, Bal., 11.2

9 (tie).  Doug Mientkiewicz, 8.9
Pierzynski, 8.9

PITCHERS

Walks per nine innings

  1. David Wells, NY, 0.85

3. Brad Radke, 1.09

6.  Kyle Lohse, 2.02

Games

  1.  Trever Miller, Tor, 89

5. LaTroy Hawkins, 74

6 (tie).  J. C. Romero, 73

Saves

  1.  Keith Foulke, Oak., 43
  2. Eddie Guardado, 41

Strikeouts

  1. Esteban Loaiza, Chi, 207

8 (tie).  Johan Santana, 169

Starts

  1. Roy Halladay, Tor, 36

8 (tie).  Radke, 33
Lohse, 33

Complete games

  1.  3 tied at 9

7 (tie).  Radke, 3

Shutouts

  1. 5 tied at 2

6 (tie).  Rick Reed, 1
Lohse, 1
Radke, 1

Home runs allowed

  1.  3 tied at 34

4. Radke, 32.

Hits allowed

  1. Halladay, Tor., 343

3 (tie).  Radke, 242

8 (tie).  Kenny Rogers, 227

K/BB

  1.  Halladay, 6.38

5. Radke, 4.29

10.  Lohse, 2.89

Earned Runs allowed

  1. 2 tied at 123

4 (tie).  Radke, 106

Wild pitches

  1. Victor Zambrano, TB, 15

6 (tie).  J. C. Romero, 9

Hit by pitch

  1. Zambrano, TB, 20

8 (tie).  Rogers, 11.

Games finished

  1.  Foulke, Oak, 67

3.  Guardado, 60.

Adjusted pitching runs

  1.  Pedro Martinez, Bos., 49

8.  Santana, 27.

Adjusted pitching wins

  1. Martinez, Bos., 5.1

8. Santana, 2.7

Base-out runs saved

  1.  Martinez, Bos., 52.61

6.  Santana, 33.22

WPA

  1. Loaiza, Chi, 5.3

7.  Hawkins, 4.1

9.  Santana, 3.7

Sit. Wins Saved

  1. Tim Hudson, Oak, 4.8

8.  Santana, 2.7

Championship WPA

1. Martinez, Bos, 5.5

3.  Hawkins, 4.7

8.  Santana, 2.5

Base-out wins saved

  1.  Martinez, Bos., 5.5

6.  Santana, 3.3

Keeping Track

Happy Birthday–March 17

Fred Pfeffer (1860)
Oscar Stanage (1883)
Joe Fitzgerald (1897)
Charlie Root (1899)
Sammy Baugh (1914)
Hank Sauer (1917)
Pete Reiser (1919)
Vic Voltaggio (1941)
Cito Gaston (1944)
Kurt Russell (1951)
Tim Lollar (1956)
Frank Wren (1958)
Danny Ainge (1959)
John Smiley (1965)
Dan Masteller (1968)
Bill Mueller (1971)
Raul Chavez (1973)
Scott Downs (1976)
Robb Quinlan (1977)
Chris Davis (1986)

Joe Fitzgerald had a long association with the Minnesota/Washington franchise, serving as bullpen catcher from 1945-1947, coach from 1948-1956, and scout from 1957 until he passed away in 1967.

Hall of Fame quarterback Sammy Baugh was an infielder in the minors for St. Louis in 1938, batting .200 in the American Association and the International League.

Vic Voltaggio was an American League umpire from 1997-1996.

Actor Kurt Russell spent three years in the low minors (1971-1973), batting .292 in 356 at-bats.

Frank Wren has been the general manager of the Baltimore Orioles and the Atlanta Braves.

NBA star Danny Ainge was a third baseman for Toronto from 1979-1981.

We would also like to wish a happy birthday to AMR's sister.

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Remodeled basement. Same half-baked taste.