Keeping Track

Happy Birthday–May 1

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Frank Foreman (1863)
George McQuillan (1885)
Victor Starffin (1916)
Johnny Berardino (1917)
Al Zarilla (1919)
Von Joshua (1948)
Rudy Meoli (1951)
Roy Lee Jackson (1954)
Charlie O’Brien (1960)
Jose Lind (1964)
Armando Reynoso (1966)
Marcus Stroman (1991)

Born in Russia, Victor Starffin was Japanese baseball’s first 300-game winner.

Infielder Johnny Berardino played in the major leagues for eleven years and appeared in 912 games, but is best known as Dr. Steve Hardy on General Hospital, a role he played from 1963-1996.

We would also like to wish a happy anniversary to SBG's brother.

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Cup of Coffee

May 1, 2025: Say Hey Day

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[While it's extremely important to recognize and utilize our strength as workers, I'd like to specifically discuss a highly specialized union in this post.]

Holy shit. Another great game. The Wolves couldn't hit a three to save their lives, and it somehow didn't matter. The defense was stifling, and out of nowhere (compared to the earlier games), Rudy took complete control of this match. Just look at the stats. Him dunking over Luka every now and then was also a fun bonus. I mean, yeesh, the Wolves would have been completely lost without him last night. Also, I've talked a lot of crap about Randle this year, but there's absolutely no way we come close to taking this round without him. He was absolutely huge on both sides of the court every game this series. Wow.

I will always be a constant Nervous Nelly pessimistic Minnesota sports* fan, and therefore I certainly have no grand proclamations regarding this year's playoff chase. BUT... I like this team. I feel they were a bit disjointed throughout the season, but I'd like to think it's coming together at the perfect time.

The next round will unquestionably and significantly up the level of difficulty, but hey, for myself, I'm playing with house money now.

*I'm only referring to men's sports here. I'm not pessimistic about the Lynx, though I am annoyed about certain parts of the course of events in the WNBA Finals last year.

2025 Twins Game Logs

2025 Game 31: Minnesota Twins at Cleveland Guardians

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Pablo López
vs
Luis Ortiz

Tough loss last night but it was against someone (pre-2025) good. Tonight's matchup should be a bit easier. Ortiz was acquired from Pittsburgh in a three-team trade involving the Blue Jays. He has a career 4.66 FIP and 4.13 ERA. Cleveland seems to have gotten him to strike out way more batters but now he is walking nearly five per nine along with 1.4 HR/9. Expect strikeouts, walks, and fly balls. If the Twins can get them over the fence, this is a very winnable game.

Keeping Track

Minor Details: Games of April 29

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A short version.

ST. PAUL SAINTS 4, COLUMBUS CLIPPERS 2 IN COLUMBUS (GAME 1)

Jonathan Rodriguez hit a two-run homer in the first, but St. Paul came back with one in the fourth and one in the fifth to tie it.  Mike Ford then hit a two-run homer in the sixth for the deciding runs.  Carson McCusker was 2-for-3 with a home run (his seventh) and two runs.  Anthony Prato was 2-for-3 with a home run (his second).  Mike Ford hit a home run, his fourth.  David Festa struck out seven in six innings, giving up two runs on three hits and no walks.  Richard Lovelady pitched a perfect inning, striking out one.

ST. PAUL SAINTS AT COLUMBUS CLIPPERS (GAME 2)

Rained out.

WICHITA WIND SURGE 5, FRISCO ROUGHRIDERS 4 IN FRISCO

Ricardo Olivar hit a two-run single in the seventh to break a 1-1 tie and added two more in the eighth.  Frisco scored one in the eighth and two more in the ninth and had the tying run on base with two out in the ninth.  Ricardo Olivar was 2-for-5 with a double, a run, and two RBIs.  Christian MacLeod pitched three shutout innings, giving up no hits and two walks and striking out two.  Jarret Whorff struck out three in three innings, giving up one run on one hit.

CEDAR RAPIDS KERNELS 10, IOWA CUBS 4 IN CEDAR RAPIDS

Danny De Andrade hit a two-run homer in a four-run first.  Iowa tied it with four in the fourth, but Khadim Diaw doubled home a run in the firth and Cedar Rapids scored five in the seventh.  Gabriel Gonzalez hit a two-run homer in the inning.  Gonzalez was 3-for-4 with a home run (his second), a double, a walk, two runs, and two RBIs.  Danny De Andrade was 3-for-5 with a home run (his second), two runs, and two RBIs.  Kyle DeBarge was 2-for-5 with a run and two RBIs.  Gabriel Yanez pitched 1.1 scoreless innings, walking one and striking out one.  Logan Whitaker struck out three in two shutout innings, giving up a hit and a walk.  Paulshawn Pasqualotto pitched two shutout innings, giving up two hits and a walk.

JUPITER HAMMERHEADS 14, FORT MYERS MIGHTY MUSSELS 1 IN FORT MYERS

It was 1-1 after two, but Jupiter scored two in the third, one in the sixth, and eight in the eighth.  Jay Thomason was 1-for-2 with a home run (his sixth) and two walks.  Hunter Hoopes struck out two in 1.2 perfect innings.

TODAY'S TILTS

11:05  Jupiter at Fort Myers
5:35  St. Paul at Columbus
6:35  South Bend at Cedar Rapids
6:35  Wichita at Frisco

Keeping Track

Happy Birthday–April 30

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Dave Eggler (1849)
Charley Jones (1850)
Jack Sheridan (1862)
Jumbo Brown (1907)
Chet Laabs (1912)
Ernie Tyler (1924)
Ken Retzer (1934)
Ray Miller (1945)
Phil Garner (1949)
Tracy Ringolsby (1951)
Jeff Reboulet (1964)
Ryan O'Rourke (1988)
Edouard Julien (1999)

Jack Sheridan was the first home plate umpire to crouch behind the catcher in the style that umpires do today.

Ernie Tyler was the umpires’ assistant for Baltimore Orioles home games from 1960 through 2010.  He went from opening day of 1960 through July 27, 2007 without missing a game, a streak of 3,769 games.  He missed two games that weekend to go to Cooperstown for the induction of Cal Ripken, Jr. into the Hall of Fame.

Ray Miller was the manager of the Twins in 1985 and 1986, replacing Billy Gardner and being replaced by Tom Kelly.

Tracy Ringolsby has been a baseball writer since 1976 and was given the Spink Award in 2005.

We would also like to wish a happy birthday to Rhubarb_Runner's brother.

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2025 Twins Game Logs

2025 Game Log 30 – Twins at Guardians

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Twins have a nice little four game win streak and at 13-16, have at least given some hope to the season as we exit April. Seventeen hits, 11 runs, and a nice Bailey Ober outing of 7.2 innings of one run pitching against the hated Clevelanders is also fun to see.

Chris Paddack on the mound for the Twins and one has to imagine, he's on a short lease at this point. The Twins have lost all five games he's pitched in this year with three recorded losses. There's enough ready arms in St. Paul so if we see another poor outing tonight I don't think there will be a lot of pushback if the Twins DFA his ass.

Game time 5:10 meaning you can watch before Andor or the Wild get going later in the evening.

Remodeled basement. Same half-baked taste.