Tag Archives: Minnesota Twins

Keeping Track

This Week in Twins Transactions

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Billy Smith was fired as general manager.
Terry Ryan was hired as interim general manager.
Kelvin Silvania was released.
Jason Repko elected free agency.
Jeff Bailey became a minor league free agent.
Andy Baldwin became a minor league free agent.
Allan de San Miguel became a minor league free agent.
Jair Fernandez became a minor league free agent.
Toby Gardenhire became a minor league free agent.
Dusty Hughes became a minor league free agent.
Chuck James became a minor league free agent.
Paul Kelly became a minor league free agent.
Chase Lambin became a minor league free agent.
Brandon Roberts became a minor league free agent.
Yangervis Solarte became a minor league free agent.
Jake Stevens became a minor league free agent.

Yesterday, a report was noted that Brian Dinkelman would re-sign with the Twins.  I don't dispute that, but it has not shown up on the official lists yet.  It probably will for next week's list.

Keeping Track

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.

Keeping Track

Happy Birthday–October 27

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Joe Mulvey (1858)
Patsy Dougherty (1867)
Shad Berry (1878)
Ralph Kiner (1922)
Del Rice (1922)
Pumpsie Green (1933)
Lee Stange (1936)
Mike Lum (1945)
Pete Vuckovich (1952)
U. L. Washington (1953)
Barry Bonnell (1953)
Tom Nieto (1960)
Bill Swift (1961)
Bip Roberts (1963)
Brad Radke (1972)
Jason Johnson (1973)
Kyle Waldrop (1985)

Bill Swift was drafted by Minnesota in the second round in 1983, but he did not sign.

Continue reading Happy Birthday–October 27 →

Keeping Track

This Week in Twins Transactions

Rene Rivera was outrighted to Rochester.
Matt Tolbert was outrighted to Rochester.
Jason Repko was outrighted to Rochester.
Anthony Slama was outrighted to Rochester.
Nick Blackburn was reinstated from the disabled list.
Alexi Casilla was reinstated from the disabled list.
Brian Dinkelman was outrighted to Rochester.
Phil Dumatrait was outrighted to Rochester.
Jeremy Reed elected free agency.

2011 Twins Game Recaps

Game #159: Twins 6, Indians 4

Twins record: 61-98
Fangraphs
MLB Game Wrap

I didn't watch a bit of this game today. I barely paid attention to it online. But, I was glad to see they won it in the extra frame. Obviously, my ideas and enthusiasm for recapping games this season were tapped out by the end of July. I would apologize to the WGOM Nation for that, but I don't think the Twins are going to be apologizing to me any time soon, so we'll all just have to live with it.

Without going into too many specific points or breakdowns, I will say that I am not at this time particularly optimistic about this organization's chances for success in the near-term going forward. I was on record (privately, but I know I told this to at least one Citizen) before the season as believing the Twins would definitely not win the division or make the playoffs. I didn't foresee a collapse this large, but I didn't foresee the injury disasters of this season, either. However, I don't believe the injuries alone account for the weaknesses of this roster's construction. I believed in March, and I still do, that this roster, even at full strength, was not as good as last year's team and not good enough to make the playoffs. I hope the organization takes some major steps this offseason to address turning the team back around. I'm not sure I have much faith in the current regime's ability to do that meaningfully and successfully, though. I hope they prove me wrong.

Since this is the last Sunday recap of the season, I tallied up my non-joke Hitter and Pitcher of the Week awards. I now present you with the Second Annual DK Hitters and Pitcher of the Season.

Co-Hitters: Jim Thome and Jason Kubel each were awarded weekly honors five times. It's hard to remember (for me, anyway), but for a couple of months before he got hurt and the Team MVP took over, Kubel basically was the Twins' entire offense. I think all but one of his awards came in April or May. Thome, meanwhile, is the sentimental and very deserving pick for reaching a career milestone in a Twins uniform.

Pitcher: Scott Baker was also named five times this season. This, too, may be hard to remember, since he was shelved by injury for almost the entire second half, but Light Rail was by far the best starting pitcher the Twins had, showing, I hope, those who doubt him that he really can be a very valuable piece of the rotation puzzle when he's healthy.

2011 Twins Game Recaps, MLB

2011 Game 156 Recap: Twins 5, Gentleman Masher 3, Other Indians 3

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Weather: 61 degrees, drizzle
Wind: 12 mph, L to R
Time: 2:52 (:27 delay)
Attendance: 36,807

Box Score
Fangraphs

By the banks of the mighty Cuyahoga River (Non-flammable for Half a Century!â„¢), the good people of Cleveland paid tribute tonight to Jim Thome. The Gentleman Masher rose to the occasion with a home run, a double, and an infield single, driving in half of the Tribe's runs for the night. I'm going to miss that guy. Oh, hell - I miss him already.

Like many games this season, the Twins could just as easily have won this one had they been able to coax a clutch hit with men in scoring position. The Twins left a team total of 11 runners on base, and left runners in scoring position in seven innings.

Despite that brain-rattling level of offensive impotence, the Twins managed to score five runs off Cleveland, four of them off starter Justin Masterson, who struggled with his command and didn't make it out of the fifth inning.

Chris Parmelee earned his coffee tonight by leading off the Twins' scoring in the top of the first, driving in Ben Revere and Trevor Plouffe! with a roller up the middle that made it to the grass just in time. In his next at bat leading off the third inning, Parmelee jacked one into the right field seats and took a 360-foot stroll. Joe Benson added to the Twins' tally with a productive out, scoring Dinkleman on what would have been a double play if not for a throwing error by pivot man Jason Kipnis.

With the game tied 5-5 going to the home half of the ninth inning, Twins skipper Ron Gardenhire sent seven-million dollar man Matthew Dicus Capps to the mound to extend the game. Instead, he extended an invitation to mash a tater to pinch hitter Carlos Santana, who deposited said tuber over the fence in right center. Meanwhile, in the District of Columbia, young Wilson "League Minimum" Ramos has played in 109 games and booked 420 plate appearances. He's batting .267 with a 112 OPS+. Drew Butera is not.