Tag Archives: Minnesota Twins

Happy Birthday–June 18

Charlie Ganzel (1862)
Russ Hodges (1910)
Roy Partlow (1912)
Ron Necciai (1932)
Lou Brock (1939)
Bill James (1949)
Andres Galarraga (1961)
Sandy Alomar (1966)
Felix Heredia (1975)
Tommy Watkins (1980)
Steve Cishek (1986)
Jason Castro (1987)
J. B. Shuck (1987)
Matt Moore (1989)
Tomas Telis (1991)

Russ Hodges was a baseball broadcaster from 1929-1970, most notably with the Giants.  He is most famous for his home run call on Bobby Thomson's "Shot Heard 'Round the World" in 1951.

Ron Necciai struck out 27 batters in a nine inning game while playing for Bristol in the Appalachian League in 1952.

It may never happen, but Bill James belongs in the Hall of Fame.

Continue reading Happy Birthday–June 18

2023 Game 69. Detroit at Minnesota

a rare 6:10 non weekend home start time

In the standings Detroit are closer to the Twins (7 games back) than they are to the Royals in last place (10 games up )

Matthew Boyd goes for the Tigers, he has 2 decisions in his last 4 starts (0-2). Sonny Gray gets the nod for the Twins, he has 1 decision in the his 7 starts (0-1)

Byron Buxton is back. and batting cleanup. We almost got a full lineup on our hands! With just Jorge Polanco still on the IL.

2023 Game Log 67 – Brewers at Twins

Time for my semi-annual, why does MLB hate money and schedule the Brewers for a two-game mid-week series when a weekend series would guarantee near capacity crowds screed. Whew, I feel better already.

Brewers season similar to Twins in that they play in a crappy division yet only find themselves 2 games over .500. They are especially feeling a little down after being swept by the lowly A's this past weekend. Corbin Burnes on the mound for the Brewers. He's considered their ace I guess but has been pretty humdrum in 2023. His one strikeout per inning may cause issues for the strikeout prone Twins however.

Pablo Lopez up for the Twins and we all would like to see the April version of Lopez, not the May version, especially given that Louis Arraez is still tearing it up it in the National League. Lopez pitched really well against the Rays last week in a losing effort. Hopefully he can continue to pitch like that and the Twins bats can come alive.

Looks like a gorgeous night for some baseball. First pitch at 6:40p.

Happy Birthday–June 10

Due to personal time constraints, this is a reprint from last year, which was a reprint from the year before, which has not been updated.  We did add Patrick Murphy to the list, but did not have time to do a bio for him.

Jack Graney (1886)
Garland Braxton (1900)
Danny McFayden (1905)
Vic Harris (1905)
Mike Kreevich (1908)
Frank Demaree (1910)
Chuck Thompson (1921)
Hank Foiles (1929)
Carmen Cozza (1930)
Ed Palmquist (1933)
Kazuhisa Inao (1937)
Johnny Edwards (1938)
Ken Singleton (1947)
Elias Sosa (1950)
Gerry Hunsicker (1950)
Francisco Barrios (1953)
Floyd Bannister (1955)
Scott Ullger (1955)
Pokey Reese (1973)
Al Alburquerque (1986)
Patrick Murphy (1995)

Jack Graney had a few unusual "firsts".  He was the first major leaguer to bat against Babe Ruth.  He was the first player to wear a number on his uniform.  He as also the first player to become a broadcaster.

Outfielder Vic Harris was a long-time Negro League player and manager, leading the Homestead Grays to nine Negro National League pennants.

Chuck Thompson was a long-time broadcaster for the Baltimore Orioles.

Outfielder Carmen Cozza played in the low minors in 1952-1953, batting .242.  He later became a college football coach, most notably at Yale.  Upon his retirement in 1996, he held the record for most coaching victories in the Ivy League (179) and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2002.

Kazuhisa Inao is one of the greatest pitchers in Japanese baseball history.

Gerry Hunsicker is a long-time baseball executive, working for the Mets, the Astros, and the Rays.

Continue reading Happy Birthday–June 10

2023 Game Log 61 – Twins at Rays

Twins head down to St. Pete to play the scorching hot Rays for a three game series. Rays by far have been the best team in MLB this year with a 43-19 record and only six losses at the horror dome known as The Trop. They are doing this with the 3rd lowest payroll, at $73.2 million, or roughly the cost of two Carlos Correas.

Louie Varland on for the Twins and he's showing signs that he can be a serviceable number 4 or 5 guy. Zach Eflin for the Rays and of course his 7-1 record is going to reflect how well the Rays are playing but his WHIP of 1.0 and nearly a strikeout an inning may play havoc with the assbats the Twins seem to be lugging from town to town these days.

First pitch at 5:40p

Happy Birthday–June 5

Jack Chesbro (1874)
Sandy Thompson (1895)
Harry Williams (1905)
Eddie Joost (1916)
Lou Brissie (1924)
Duke Sims (1941)
Bill Spiers (1966)
Ray Lankford (1967)
Mike Coolbaugh (1972)
Russ Ortiz (1974)
Robinson Chirinos (1984)
Jake Petricka (1988)
Andrew Heaney (1991)
Dereck Rodriguez (1992)
Joe Ryan (1996)
Royce Lewis (1999)

Prior to beginning his major league career, Lou Brissie served in World War II.  He suffered severe leg injuries, receiving the Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts, but overcame his injuries to spend seven years in the majors.

Mike Coolbaugh was the first base coach for the Tulsa Drillers when he was struck on the head with a line drive and killed.

Continue reading Happy Birthday–June 5