Baltimore Orioles Jesse Orosco set a major league record by pitching in his 1,072nd game, breaking a tie with Dennis Eckersley atop the career list. The 42-year-old Orosco took the mound with two outs in the seventh inning of Baltimore’s 8-3 victory over Minnesota at Camden Yards. Orosco was originally drafted by Minnesota in 1978 but did not pitch for them until 2003 which was his 24th and final big league season. Orosco played for 9 different major league organizations, some more than once. Orosco remains the all-time leader in games pitched with 1,252, in all those games, Orosco had just 4 starts. Jesse Orosco also has the rare distinction of playing in the major leagues in four different decades. To see a nice recap of his 24 year career stop by Simply Baseball Notebook.
Month: August 2013
According to Elias
Ron Gardenhire was pushing the right buttons on Thursday night. Pinch-hitter Chris Herrmann drove in pinch-runner Doug Bernier with the winning run in the bottom of the ninth as the Twins topped the White Sox, 4-3. Minnesota had only one other walk off victory for Gardenhire in which a pinch-hitter and pinch-runner combined for the winning run. That was in 2009, also against the White Sox, when Jose Morales drove in Nick Punto for the victory. We were at this game last night and it was a fun game to watch, but then again I always enjoy a Twins victory over the “Mighty Whitey’s” no matter what their record might be.
According to Elias
Joe Mauer was 5-for-7 yesterday, including a game-tying home run in the 10th inning of the Twins 9-8 home loss to the Indians. Mauer is the second player in franchise history to record five hits and an extra-inning homer in one game. Justin Morneau went 5-for-5 with a go-ahead 11th-inning shot at Detroit on July 10, 2008.
Bonus trivia question – Andrew Albers threw the Twins first complete game of the season the other day leaving the Orioles and Astros as the only two teams in MLB in 2013 to not have a complete game. Four native Minnesotans have thrown 10 or more complete games in a season while wearing a Minnesota Twins uniform, can you name them?
Will Dozier become top Twins 2B home run slugger?
Twins second baseman Brian Dozier has put on a nice power display this season while playing a position that is not expected to hit for power, at least not for the Minnesota Twins. The most home runs hit by a keystone position player was back in 1973 when Davey Johnson hit 43 long balls for the Atlanta Braves. The only other 2B to hit 40 or more home runs in a single season is Ryne Sandberg who hit 40 for Chicago’s Cubbies in 1990. The most home runs hit by an AL 2B was 39 by Alfonso Soriano of the Yankees back in 2002. No Twins 2B has come close to those kind of power numbers and the Twins top long ball hitting 2B is Tim Teufel who hit 14 in 1984. Here is a list of Twins second baseman that have hit 10 or more home runs in a single season while playing at least 75% of their games at second base.
| Rk | Player | HR | Year | Age | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | RBI | BB | SO | HBP | SB | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tim Teufel | 14 | 1984 | 25 | 157 | 568 | 76 | 149 | 30 | 3 | 61 | 76 | 73 | 2 | 1 | .262 | .349 | .749 |
| 2 | Rod Carew | 14 | 1975 | 29 | 143 | 535 | 89 | 192 | 24 | 4 | 80 | 64 | 40 | 1 | 35 | .359 | .421 | .919 |
| 3 | Chuck Knoblauch | 13 | 1996 | 27 | 153 | 578 | 140 | 197 | 35 | 14 | 72 | 98 | 74 | 19 | 45 | .341 | .448 | .965 |
| 4 | Brian Dozier | 12 | 2013 | 26 | 103 | 380 | 51 | 92 | 25 | 4 | 48 | 35 | 81 | 5 | 9 | .242 | .312 | .736 |
| 5 | Todd Walker | 12 | 1998 | 25 | 143 | 528 | 85 | 167 | 41 | 3 | 62 | 47 | 65 | 2 | 19 | .316 | .372 | .845 |
| 6 | Bernie Allen | 12 | 1962 | 23 | 159 | 573 | 79 | 154 | 27 | 7 | 64 | 62 | 82 | 0 | 0 | .269 | .338 | .741 |
| 7 | Chuck Knoblauch | 11 | 1995 | 26 | 136 | 538 | 107 | 179 | 34 | 8 | 63 | 78 | 95 | 10 | 46 | .333 | .424 | .911 |
| 8 | John Castino | 11 | 1983 | 28 | 142 | 563 | 83 | 156 | 30 | 4 | 57 | 62 | 54 | 1 | 4 | .277 | .348 | .751 |
| 9 | Luis Rivas | 10 | 2004 | 24 | 109 | 336 | 44 | 86 | 19 | 5 | 34 | 13 | 53 | 1 | 15 | .256 | .283 | .715 |
| 10 | Tim Teufel | 10 | 1985 | 26 | 138 | 434 | 58 | 113 | 24 | 3 | 50 | 48 | 70 | 3 | 4 | .260 | .335 | .734 |
It will be very interesting to see what happens next with Brian Dozier. Dozier has been playing great on defense and showing signs of becoming a better hitter. Hitting lead-off is not Dozier’s strong suit due to his poor OBP but since Gardy has no one else to fill the role, Dozier has been doing his best. Dozier is only 26 and in only his first full big league season so he still has a lot to learn but in my eyes he has earned the position. The question is if he can keep it since the Twins having been grooming Eddie Rosario for that role ever since they moved Rosario from the outfield a couple of years ago. Rosario may well be the better hitter long-term but you need a good defender at 2B and right now Dozier seems to fit the bill.
By the way, did you ever wonder why 2B is called the keystone position? Here is a nice explanation I found – It’s because first, second and third base can be connected to form an arch (think of the curved cut of the grass around the infield, for example) 2nd base is at the middle or top of the arch, and the stone that is put into the top of the arch is called a keystone. Ergo, the keystone position.
According to Elias
Andrew Albers shut out the Indians last night 3-0 after he threw 8 1/3 scoreless innings last Tuesday in his big-league debut against the Royals. Albers is the first pitcher not to allow a run in either of his first two games in the major leagues, while pitching at least eight innings in each game, since Baltimore’s Tom Phoebus began his career with consecutive shutouts in September 1966.
Brian Dozier‘s solo home run and Trevor Plouffe‘s two-run shot accounted for the Twins’ scoring in Monday night’s 3-0 win over the Indians. Minnesota’s last 22 runs have been scored on home runs, the longest such streak by a major-league team since the Phillies scored 22 straight runs with homers back in 2002.
Jamey Carroll traded to Royals
The Twins announced after yesterday’s game in Chicago that they had traded infielder Jamey Carroll to the Kansas City Royals for a PTBNL or cash. The 39-year-old Carroll wasn’t have a great season in 2013 hitting just .230 in 59 games and 191 at bats and the Twins weren’t going to resign him after this season anyway. The Twins will not get much of a player if they get one at all from Kansas City but it is a nice move by the Twins to send Carroll to a winning team that needs some infield help for the stretch run for a playoff spot. The Royals are at best a fringe team in the hunt for the wildcard spot but it will still be more enjoyable for Carroll playing there then playing out the string in Minnesota in what may well be his last season as a player in the major leagues. But I would not be surprised at all if we see Carroll in the big leagues again in the years to come as a coach or manager. I was not a fan when Terry Ryan signed Carroll to be the Twins shortstop prior to the 2012 season at the age of 38 but I had no issue with Carroll filling a utility role with the Twins. I never met Carroll but he seemed like a true professional who went about his business every day and never had a bad thing to say about anyone and was always willing to help the Twins youngsters learn the tricks of the trade. Carroll’s 59 game appearances this season is the fewest he has had in the major leagues since his rookie season as a Montreal Expos player in 2002. When 2013 comes to an end, Carroll will have 12 big league years in the books, not a bad ride for someone who has 13 career home runs and never had 500 at bats in a big league uniform during any season. The Twins will save a couple of million dollars a season with Carroll moving on and someone like Doug Bernier taking his place.
As I write this I still have not heard what roster move the Twins will make to replace Carroll on the 25 na roster but it seems like Gardy could use another infielder but then again there outfield situation is not that great either. The Twins don’t have that much to pick from in Rochester as far as infield help is concerned with Eduardo Escobar probably the best candidate but maybe they want to take a look at someone like James Beresford.
By the way, did you know that Carroll scored the final run in Montreal Expos history, scoring on a Terrmel Sledge RBI single in the 1st inning of their final game on October 3, 2004? Good luck in Kansas City Jamey!
Twins Minor League Player of the Week
Rochester (AAA – International League) first baseman Jeff Clement is the Twins Minor League Player of the Week. In seven games for the Red Wings, Clement hit .375 (12-for-32) with two home runs (including a grand slam), 12 RBI, three doubles and three runs scored. In Rochester this season Clement has played 1B in 47 games and served as the DH in 53 games. In 104 games and 425 plate appearances the 29-year-old Clement is hitting just .218 but he does have 15 home runs and 62 RBI.
Clement is in his ninth season of pro ball and has appeared in 152 big leagues games, 75 with the Seattle Mariners in 2007-2008 and 77 with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2010 and 2012. The Twins originally selected Clement in round 12 of the 2002 June amateur draft out of Marshalltown High School (Iowa) as a catcher but he chose not to sign and went on to attend USC. He was then drafted by the Mariners with the third overall pick in the 2005 First-Year Player draft. Although drafted as a catcher, Clement has only caught 35 big league games and he last caught in the majors in 2008. Clement signed as a minor league free agent with the Twins in November of 2012 and has spent all season in AAA – Rochester.
According to Elias
Justin Morneau hit two homers and drove in five runs in the Twins’ win over the White Sox in the day portion of the day/night doubleheader at U.S. Cellular Field. Morneau is the first Twins player in almost two years to hit two homers and drive in at least five runs in a game. Luke Hughes was the last Twins player to do it on Aug. 28, 2011. It’s the sixth time in his career that Morneau has accomplished this, five of them have come in road games. Only two other players in Minnesota Twins history had six games with at least two homers and five runs batted in: Harmon Killebrew and Gary Gaetti had six each.
Twins reliever Brian Duensing picked up the win in both games as the Twins swept their day/night doubleheader against the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field. Duensing is only the second pitcher in the history of the Twins franchise to win two games in one day. Walter Johnson won both games of a doubleheader against the Browns on September 17, 1923. “The Big Train” won the first game with three shutout innings in relief and then went out and threw a seven-inning complete game in the nightcap. Game 1 box score. Game 2 box score. The last major-league pitcher to win twice in one day was Luis Vizcaino for the Yankees against Tampa Bay in 2007.
However, I think a case could be made that Jim Perry was actually the first Twins pitcher to win two games in one day. According to MLB the Twins did not win two games on July 20 but if you are splitting hairs, here is what happened.
7/19/1969 – The Twins and the Seattle Pilots play for 16 innings and the game is deadlocked at 7-7 at Sick’s Stadium and the game is suspended by league curfew and resumed the next day (July 20). I believe there was also a 20 minute delay in the game for the Apollo 11 moon landing. Box score.
7/20/1969 – The Twins and Seattle Pilots resume play in the 17th inning. The pitchers in the 17th inning are todays scheduled starting pitchers, Jim Perry for Minnesota and John Gelnar for Seattle. After a scoreless 17th inning, the Twins break through for 4 runs in the top of the 18th and win the game 11-7. The team’s end up stranding 44 base runners, the Twins had 16 hits and 18 walks in the game. Gelnar was pulled after pitching 1 1/3 innings and was the loser. In the regularly scheduled game, Jim Perry again faced off against John Gelnar and Perry pitched a complete game shutout with the Twins winning 4-0 and Gelnar took the defeat. So in reality, Jim Perry won two games on this date and John Gelnar lost both games on this date. Box score.
Winning and losing on the same day
5/20/1962 – The Twins split a double-header at Yankee Stadium losing the first game 4-3 and winning the second game 4-2. Twins reliever Ray Moore becomes the first Twins pitcher to lose and win a game in the same day. Box score game 1. Box score game 2.
On the losing end twice in one day
5/27/1983 – Twins reliever Rick Lysander becomes the first Twins pitcher to lose both games of a double-header as the Tigers beat the Twins 7-4 and 2-1 at Tiger Stadium. Box score game 1. Box score game 2.
And leading off for the Twins…..
The Twins just can’t find a leadoff hitter this season. After trading both Denard Span and Ben Revere this past off-season, manager Gardenhire has been searching high and low to find someone who can fill that role. The Twins have tried 6 players leading off the game and they have all failed miserably but since someone has to hit first, Gardy has given that job to 2B Brain Dozier since July 2. During those 29 games Dozier has 135 PA’s and is hitting .258 with a .306 OBP. Not exactly all-star caliber production but it is what it is.
Twins leadoff hitters in the games first at bat
| Rk | I | Player | Year | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | TB | HBP | ROE | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clete Thomas | 2013 | 16 | .313 | 16 | 14 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | .214 | .527 | 3 | 0 | 1 | |
| 2 | Eduardo Escobar | 2013 | 7 | .286 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .167 | .452 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 3 | Jamey Carroll | 2013 | 25 | .280 | 25 | 23 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | .217 | .541 | 6 | 0 | 1 | |
| 4 | Brian Dozier | 2013 | 51 | .235 | 51 | 48 | 5 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | .188 | .610 | 18 | 2 | 0 | |
| 5 | Aaron Hicks | 2013 | 10 | .200 | 10 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | .000 | .200 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 6 | Darin Mastroianni | 2013 | 2 | .000 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
How does 2013 compare to how the Twins leadoff hitters has done over the years? I know this is not probably going to shock you but the 2013 team is on a historically bad pace and if thing don’t improve quickly, this will finish as the worst OBP for a leadoff hitter in their history, even worse than the 1982 Twins who finished 60-102. A good leadoff hitter is nice to have but it certainly does not guarantee that you will be in the playoffs or even play .500 ball for that matter.
Historical Twins teams leadoff hitters in the games first at bat
| Rk | Year | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | TB | HBP | ROE | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1995 | 144 | .507 | 144 | 120 | 34 | 49 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 20 | 21 | .408 | 1.107 | 72 | 4 | 0 |
| 2 | 1996 | 162 | .481 | 162 | 133 | 37 | 49 | 8 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 21 | 20 | .368 | 1.038 | 74 | 8 | 2 |
| 3 | 1992 | 162 | .414 | 162 | 144 | 41 | 49 | 9 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 16 | 27 | .340 | .948 | 77 | 2 | 5 |
| 4 | 1970 | 162 | .407 | 162 | 151 | 40 | 55 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 10 | .364 | .891 | 73 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | 1994 | 113 | .398 | 113 | 95 | 25 | 27 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 18 | 16 | .284 | .893 | 47 | 0 | 1 |
| 6 | 1987 | 162 | .383 | 162 | 141 | 29 | 41 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 20 | 23 | .291 | .808 | 60 | 1 | 3 |
| 7 | 1977 | 161 | .379 | 161 | 143 | 37 | 43 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 18 | 12 | .301 | .777 | 57 | 0 | 5 |
| 8 | 1997 | 162 | .370 | 162 | 140 | 38 | 38 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 20 | 23 | .271 | .763 | 55 | 2 | 0 |
| 9 | 2009 | 163 | .362 | 163 | 142 | 26 | 38 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 21 | 19 | .268 | .735 | 53 | 0 | 1 |
| 10 | 1990 | 162 | .358 | 162 | 151 | 37 | 47 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 23 | .311 | .775 | 63 | 3 | 3 |
| 11 | 1976 | 162 | .358 | 162 | 148 | 33 | 44 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 10 | .297 | .730 | 55 | 0 | 1 |
| 12 | 1966 | 162 | .358 | 162 | 150 | 28 | 46 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 24 | .307 | .758 | 60 | 3 | 2 |
| 13 | 1973 | 162 | .352 | 162 | 146 | 27 | 41 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 24 | .281 | .770 | 61 | 0 | 2 |
| 14 | 2005 | 162 | .352 | 162 | 150 | 19 | 45 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 17 | .300 | .725 | 56 | 2 | 2 |
| 15 | 1969 | 162 | .352 | 162 | 146 | 36 | 41 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 15 | 11 | .281 | .770 | 61 | 1 | 4 |
| 16 | 1998 | 162 | .352 | 162 | 150 | 24 | 45 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 28 | .300 | .765 | 62 | 2 | 2 |
| 17 | 1971 | 160 | .350 | 160 | 149 | 21 | 45 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 5 | .302 | .706 | 53 | 1 | 2 |
| 18 | 2002 | 161 | .348 | 161 | 153 | 29 | 48 | 12 | 2 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 33 | .314 | .982 | 97 | 0 | 4 |
| 19 | 1975 | 159 | .346 | 159 | 143 | 24 | 39 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 14 | .273 | .682 | 48 | 0 | 1 |
| 20 | 1999 | 161 | .342 | 161 | 147 | 29 | 41 | 9 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 24 | .279 | .811 | 69 | 1 | 1 |
| 21 | 1978 | 162 | .340 | 162 | 146 | 28 | 39 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 23 | .267 | .696 | 52 | 0 | 1 |
| 22 | 1980 | 161 | .335 | 161 | 151 | 28 | 44 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 11 | .291 | .733 | 60 | 0 | 3 |
| 23 | 1967 | 164 | .335 | 164 | 150 | 36 | 41 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 17 | .273 | .755 | 63 | 2 | 2 |
| 24 | 1989 | 162 | .333 | 162 | 143 | 32 | 35 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 17 | .245 | .641 | 44 | 2 | 3 |
| 25 | 1986 | 162 | .333 | 162 | 151 | 28 | 43 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 23 | .285 | .797 | 70 | 3 | 1 |
| Rk | Year | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | TB | HBP | ROE | |||
| 26 | 2004 | 162 | .333 | 162 | 153 | 24 | 45 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 16 | .294 | .784 | 69 | 1 | 1 |
| 27 | 2000 | 162 | .327 | 162 | 149 | 32 | 40 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 27 | .268 | .777 | 67 | 0 | 1 |
| 28 | 1993 | 162 | .321 | 162 | 153 | 21 | 43 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 20 | .281 | .628 | 47 | 2 | 3 |
| 29 | 2010 | 162 | .321 | 162 | 144 | 28 | 34 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 18 | .236 | .654 | 48 | 2 | 2 |
| 30 | 2007 | 162 | .321 | 162 | 147 | 23 | 37 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 17 | .252 | .614 | 43 | 0 | 4 |
| 31 | 2006 | 162 | .321 | 162 | 145 | 22 | 35 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 21 | .241 | .611 | 42 | 0 | 2 |
| 32 | 2001 | 162 | .321 | 162 | 146 | 19 | 36 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 15 | 24 | .247 | .739 | 61 | 1 | 0 |
| 33 | 1968 | 162 | .321 | 162 | 147 | 27 | 37 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 13 | .252 | .661 | 50 | 5 | 1 |
| 34 | 1962 | 163 | .319 | 163 | 143 | 29 | 32 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 13 | .224 | .613 | 42 | 3 | 1 |
| 35 | 1961 | 161 | .317 | 161 | 148 | 25 | 38 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 18 | .257 | .655 | 50 | 0 | 2 |
| 36 | 2011 | 162 | .315 | 162 | 148 | 29 | 37 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 22 | .250 | .646 | 49 | 0 | 2 |
| 37 | 1972 | 154 | .312 | 154 | 142 | 25 | 36 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 9 | .254 | .600 | 41 | 3 | 3 |
| 38 | 2003 | 162 | .309 | 162 | 153 | 28 | 41 | 9 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 28 | .268 | .766 | 70 | 0 | 3 |
| 39 | 1964 | 163 | .307 | 163 | 151 | 31 | 38 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 23 | .252 | .704 | 60 | 3 | 0 |
| 40 | 1985 | 162 | .302 | 162 | 149 | 25 | 36 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 18 | .242 | .598 | 44 | 0 | 2 |
| 41 | 2012 | 162 | .302 | 162 | 152 | 22 | 39 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 15 | .257 | .651 | 53 | 0 | 0 |
| 42 | 2008 | 163 | .301 | 163 | 147 | 25 | 33 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 27 | .224 | .614 | 46 | 0 | 2 |
| 43 | 1974 | 163 | .301 | 163 | 148 | 25 | 34 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 12 | 19 | .230 | .638 | 50 | 3 | 5 |
| 44 | 1963 | 161 | .298 | 161 | 154 | 24 | 41 | 8 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 15 | .266 | .740 | 68 | 0 | 1 |
| 45 | 1984 | 162 | .296 | 162 | 154 | 27 | 40 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 17 | .260 | .601 | 47 | 1 | 1 |
| 46 | 1979 | 162 | .296 | 162 | 150 | 22 | 36 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 16 | .240 | .576 | 42 | 0 | 1 |
| 47 | 1981 | 110 | .291 | 110 | 103 | 17 | 25 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 16 | .243 | .592 | 31 | 0 | 0 |
| 48 | 1983 | 162 | .290 | 162 | 153 | 24 | 38 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 19 | .248 | .650 | 55 | 1 | 2 |
| 49 | 1991 | 162 | .278 | 162 | 149 | 23 | 32 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 12 | 21 | .215 | .587 | 46 | 1 | 1 |
| 50 | 1988 | 162 | .272 | 162 | 155 | 25 | 37 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 19 | .239 | .659 | 60 | 0 | 2 |
| Rk | Year | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | TB | HBP | ROE | |||
| 51 | 1965 | 162 | .265 | 162 | 153 | 29 | 34 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 31 | .222 | .625 | 55 | 1 | 3 |
| 52 | 1982 | 162 | .253 | 162 | 151 | 12 | 30 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 29 | .199 | .465 | 32 | 0 | 0 |
| 53 | 2013 | 111 | .252 | 111 | 101 | 16 | 18 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 20 | .178 | .529 | 28 | 2 | 2 |
Let’s take a look at some of the Twins best ever leadoff hitters and see who had the best years and when they had them. I don’t think there is much question that Chuck Knoblauch was the best leadoff hitter the team has ever had.
Best Twins leadoff hitters in the games first at bat
| Rk | I | Player | Year | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chuck Knoblauch | 1995 | 134 | .500 | 134 | 111 | 32 | 44 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 19 | 20 | .396 | 1.068 | |
| 2 | Chuck Knoblauch | 1996 | 151 | .497 | 151 | 125 | 36 | 49 | 8 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 18 | 19 | .392 | 1.089 | |
| 3 | Cesar Tovar | 1970 | 156 | .417 | 156 | 145 | 39 | 54 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 10 | .372 | .913 | |
| 4 | Chuck Knoblauch | 1997 | 155 | .374 | 155 | 134 | 36 | 37 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 19 | 21 | .276 | .777 | |
| 5 | Jacque Jones | 2002 | 132 | .364 | 132 | 124 | 27 | 40 | 10 | 2 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 26 | .323 | 1.065 | |
| 6 | Denard Span | 2009 | 143 | .364 | 143 | 125 | 20 | 34 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 18 | 17 | .272 | .716 | |
| 7 | Cesar Tovar | 1971 | 142 | .359 | 142 | 133 | 19 | 42 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 4 | .316 | .735 | |
| 8 | Denard Span | 2010 | 151 | .338 | 151 | 133 | 27 | 33 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 17 | .248 | .684 | |
| 9 | Lenny Green | 1962 | 149 | .315 | 149 | 133 | 25 | 31 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 13 | .233 | .624 | |
| 10 | Kirby Puckett | 1985 | 160 | .300 | 160 | 148 | 25 | 36 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 18 | .243 | .597 | |
| 11 | Zoilo Versalles | 1965 | 155 | .258 | 155 | 148 | 27 | 33 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 30 | .223 | .616 |
Here we are looking at the Twins best players leading off in any inning. I know a good leadoff hitter is important but when you look at the numbers over an entire season and the number of times that the leadoff hitter actually leads off any inning, I think you will find that none of them even average two leadoff plate appearances a game. I think the best you will find on the list below is about 1.97 per game.
| Rk | I | Player | Year | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chuck Knoblauch | 1996 | 152 | .462 | 288 | 242 | 65 | 87 | 15 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 35 | 38 | .360 | 1.024 | |
| 2 | Chuck Knoblauch | 1995 | 136 | .458 | 240 | 202 | 52 | 72 | 13 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 32 | 32 | .356 | .988 | |
| 3 | Shane Mack | 1992 | 133 | .413 | 213 | 189 | 52 | 64 | 14 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 19 | 34 | .339 | .948 | |
| 4 | Kirby Puckett | 1986 | 147 | .385 | 270 | 253 | 58 | 87 | 12 | 2 | 10 | 10 | 13 | 29 | .344 | .911 | |
| 5 | Cesar Tovar | 1970 | 156 | .376 | 303 | 277 | 67 | 88 | 17 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 23 | 17 | .318 | .817 | |
| 6 | Denard Span | 2009 | 144 | .369 | 260 | 230 | 43 | 66 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 30 | 38 | .287 | .743 | |
| 7 | Chuck Knoblauch | 1997 | 156 | .368 | 272 | 242 | 59 | 70 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 27 | 34 | .289 | .768 | |
| 8 | Cesar Tovar | 1971 | 147 | .365 | 271 | 257 | 49 | 85 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 10 | .331 | .766 | |
| 9 | Denard Span | 2010 | 151 | .361 | 277 | 242 | 50 | 65 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 32 | 37 | .269 | .716 | |
| 10 | Zoilo Versalles | 1966 | 130 | .347 | 236 | 217 | 36 | 63 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 31 | .290 | .735 | |
| 11 | Jacque Jones | 2002 | 135 | .345 | 232 | 220 | 49 | 68 | 18 | 2 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 49 | .309 | .931 | |
| 12 | Lenny Green | 1962 | 151 | .336 | 298 | 268 | 52 | 70 | 12 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 26 | 18 | .261 | .712 | |
| 13 | Cesar Tovar | 1968 | 142 | .333 | 255 | 234 | 43 | 64 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 14 | .274 | .726 | |
| 14 | Zoilo Versalles | 1964 | 137 | .322 | 242 | 225 | 42 | 61 | 12 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 14 | 27 | .271 | .780 | |
| 15 | Kirby Puckett | 1985 | 161 | .320 | 300 | 282 | 42 | 78 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 18 | 31 | .277 | .664 | |
| 16 | Dan Gladden | 1988 | 130 | .315 | 248 | 230 | 46 | 60 | 12 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 17 | 29 | .261 | .715 | |
| 17 | Cesar Tovar | 1967 | 136 | .311 | 241 | 223 | 48 | 57 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 15 | 16 | .256 | .670 | |
| 18 | Cesar Tovar | 1972 | 131 | .311 | 238 | 221 | 43 | 57 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 15 | .258 | .614 | |
| 19 | Zoilo Versalles | 1965 | 157 | .285 | 284 | 267 | 54 | 64 | 20 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 47 | .240 | .645 |
This Day in Twins History – August 7, 1976
Steve Luebber‘s Twins pitching career was relatively short, just 58 games with 24 starts in parts of three seasons (71, 72, and 76). But on this day Luebber felt confident, he was facing the Rangers for the second time in a two-week period and he was coming off of a complete game shutout of the Oakland A’s. After 6 perfect innings, Luebber had faced 18 batters and retired everyone one of them and the Twins had staked him to a 3-0 lead. In the 7th the Rangers loaded the bases with 2 walks and an error but Luebber buckled down and retired Toby Harrah for the final out of the inning and the no-hitter was still in play. Luebber retired the Rangers 1-2-3 in the 8th inning and went on to retire the first two batters in the ninth inning and was one batter away from a no-no. Roy Howell was the Texas batter and Lubber had him 2-2 and threw what he thought was strike 3 but umpire Art Frantz didn’t see it that way and the count went full. Luebber tried a fastball again but this time Howell hit a sharp single to center and the normally slick fielding Lyman Bostock let the ball get past him and Howell ended up on third base. The next batter, Mike Hargrove followed with a single and Howell scored and Luebber had lost both his no-hitter and the shutout. At this point manager Gene Mauch had seen enough and brought in reliever Bill Campbell who struck out Jeff Burroughs to end the game, preserve the victory for Luebber and the Twins were 3-1 winners in Arlington Stadium.
Luebber is and has been the pitching coach for the Wilmington Blue Rocks since 2007. Wilmington is an “A” ball affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. He has also coached in the Padres, Orioles, Rangers and Marlins organizations.
Although several Twins pitchers have come close on a couple of occasions the Twins still have not had one of their pitchers throw a perfect game.