There is an old saying that goes something like this – “no good deed goes unpunished.” As gesture to honor local military personnel, the Twins give away a “Duke” G.I. Joe action figures to the first 5,000 children attending the Royals game at the Metrodome. A number of “Peace Groups” protest the idea as glorifying war. The team, in an effort to appease protesting peace groups, who see the promotion as glorifying war, asks Hasbro, the toy’s maker, to remove the customary gun from G.I. Joe’s side, but the hand grenades remain visible. Brad Radke pitches a 4 hit complete game shutout and the Twins “bomb” the Royals 9-0. Here is what CBS wrote about the GI Joe give-away and here is the Pioneer Press take on things.
Month: July 2014
How rare is 4 XBH in a game?
In yesterday’s Minnesota Twins 6-5 loss to the New York Yankees at Target Field Yankee second baseman Brian Roberts went four for five with four extra base (three doubles and a triple) hits.
You don’t see that too often so it was time for me to see how often this feat has been done by a Twins player in a 9 inning game. Come to find out it has been done only six times by the Twins and the only player to do it twice was the late great Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett.
| Rk | Player | Date | Opp | Rslt | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | XBH | RBI | Pos Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Cuddyer | 2005-09-21 | OAK | W 10-4 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | RF |
| 2 | Corey Koskie | 2001-07-12 | MIL | W 13-5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3B |
| 3 | Rich Becker | 1996-07-13 | CLE | L 11-19 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 | CF |
| 4 | Kirby Puckett | 1989-05-13 | TOR | W 10-8 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | CF |
| 5 | Kirby Puckett | 1987-08-30 | MIL | W 10-6 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | CF |
| 6 | Cesar Tovar | 1967-05-21 | CAL | W 12-3 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 2B CF |
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The most XBH in a regulation nine inning game since 1961 stands at five. The players that accomplished this were Josh Hamilton (TEX) with four HR and a 2B in 2012, Shawn Green (LAD) with four HR and a 2B in 2002, Steve Garvey (LAD) with three 2B and 2 HR in 1977 and Willie Stargell (PIT) with three 2B and 2 HR in 1970. Catcher Kelly Shoppach (CLE) also had three doubles and a 2 HR in 2008 but it was in a 13 extra-inning game. As far as I can tell, no player has ever had more than five XBH in a game going back to 1914.
According to Elias and a little extra
Zelous Wheeler, called up from the minors by the Yankees on Thursday when slumping Yangervis Solarte was sent down, made a big splash in his major-league debut when he hit a home run in the fifth inning against the Twins’ Phil Hughes. Wheeler is the eighth player to hit a home run for the Yankees is his first major-league game and the first since Marcus Thames in 2002. The most notable player to homer for the Yankees in his big-league debut is Yogi Berra, who did so against the Philadelphia A’s in the first game of a doubleheader in the Bronx on Sept. 22, 1946.
So how many Minnesota Twins players have hit a home run in their first game?
| Rk | Player | Year ? | PA | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Luke Hughes | 2010 | Ind. Games | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Andre David | 1984 | Ind. Games | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 3 | Gary Gaetti | 1981 | Ind. Games | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 4 | Kent Hrbek | 1981 | Ind. Games | 5 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 5 | Tim Laudner | 1981 | Ind. Games | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 6 | Dave McKay | 1975 | Ind. Games | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 7 | Eric Soderholm | 1971 | Ind. Games | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 8 | Hal Haydel | 1970 | Ind. Games | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 9 | Rick Renick | 1968 | Ind. Games | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
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How about if we look to see who has hit a home run in his first game when the opponent was the Minnesota Twins?
| Rk | Player | Year ? | PA | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | Tm | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zelous Wheeler | 2014 | Ind. Games | 4 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | NYY |
| 2 | Chris Richard | 2000 | Ind. Games | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | STL |
| 3 | Jay Bell | 1986 | Ind. Games | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | CLE |
| 4 | Dave Machemer | 1978 | Ind. Games | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | CAL |
| 5 | Bert Campaneris | 1964 | Ind. Games | 5 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | KCA |
| 6 | John Kennedy | 1962 | Ind. Games | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | WSA |
Twinstrivia.com All-Star selections
That time is here again, time to pick the Twinstrivia.com All-Star team. For me it is always fun to pick the players that I think deserve to play in MLB All-Star game. Some of them might crash and burn and even find themselves in the minors before the season ends and some of them may be total jerks in how they play the game, interact with their fans or just have an “it is all about me attitude” but I like to reward the players that are having a very good season todate. So here are my All-Stars that I would like to see play at Target Field on July 15, 2014. If you like my picks, cool, if you don’t, I don’t care. I don’t rave about how stupid some of the fans voting is so I too am entitled to my opinion.
Sadly you won’t find any Minnesota Twins on this deserving All-Star starter list but I do think that closer Glen Perkins and catcher Kurt Suzuki deserve to be on the team.
American League
C – Derek Norris (A’s) – Runner-up is Salvador Perez (Royals) – Vote leader is Matt Wieters (Orioles)
1B – Jose Abreu (White Sox) – Runner-up is Miguel Cabrera (Tigers) – Vote leader is Miguel Cabrera
2B – Jose Altuve (Astros) – Runner-up is Robinson Cano (Mariners) – Vote leader is Robinson Cano
SS – Alexei Ramirez (White Sox) – Runner-up is Alcides Escobar (Royals) – Vote leader is Derek Jeter (Yankees)
3B – Josh Donaldson (A’s) – Runner-up is Adrian Beltre (Rangers) – Vote leader is Josh Donaldson
DH – Edwin Encarnacion (Blue Jays) – Runner-up is Nelso Cruz (Orioles) – Vote leader is Nelso Cruz
OF – Mike Trout (Angels), Jose Bautista (Blue Jays), and Michael Brantley (Indians) – Runner-ups are Yoenis Cespedes (A’s), Adam Jones (Orioles), and Melky Cabrera (Blue Jays) – Vote leaders are Mike Trout, Jose Bautista and Yoenis Cespedes
P – Masahiro Tanaka (Yankees) – Runner-up is Felix Hernandez (Mariners)
National league
C – Jonathan Lucroy (Brewers) – Runner-up is Devin Mesoraco (Reds) – Vote leader is Yadier Molina (Cardinals)
1B – Justin Morneau (Rockies) – Runner-up is Paul Goldschmidt (Diamondbacks) – Vote leader is Paul Goldschmidt
2B – Anthony Rendon (Nationals) – Runner-up is Chase Utley (Phillies) – Vote leadr is Chase Utley
SS – Troy Tulowitzki (Rockies) – Runner-up is Sterling Castro (Cubs) – Voye leader is Troy Tulowitzki
3B – Casey McGehee (Marlins) – Runner-up is Todd Frazier (Reds) – Vote leader is Aramis Ramirez (Brewers)
OF – Giancarlo Stanton (Marlins), Andrew McCutchen (Pirates), and Carlos Gomez (Brewers) Runner-ups are Charlie Blackmon (Rockies), Yasiel Puig, and Ryan Braun – Vote leaders are Andrew McCutchen, Carlos Gomez, and Yasiel Puig.
P – Adam Wainwright (Cardinals) – Runner-up is Johnny Cueto (Reds)
MLB just announced that All-Stars will wear the same cap template which is modeled after the Minnesota Twins 1970 batting helmets. you can see the article here.
Former Twins pitcher Bobby Castillo passes away
Bobby Castillo who pitched for the Minnesota Twins and the Los Angeles Dodgers died on June 30th in a Los Angeles hospital after a battle with cancer. The 5’10” right-handed pitching Castillo was originally drafted by the Kansas City Royals in round 6 of the Jaanuary 1974 amateur draft. The Los Angeles Dodgers purchased Castillo from the Royals in June of 1977 and Castillo pitched for the Dodgers from 1977-1981 posting a 13-14 record with a 3.42 ERA in 138 games primarily in relief.
The Twins acquired Castillo along with outfielder Bobby Mitchell from the Dodgers in a January 1982 trade for pitcher Paul Voigt and utility man Scotti Madison. The Twins turned Castillo into a starter in 1982 and the man who had never pitched more than 99 innings in a season for the Dodgers had a career season going 13-11 with 3.66 ERA in 25 starts. Castillo also pitched 15 games in relief and when the Twins dismal 60-102 season finally ended, Castillo had pitched 218.2 innings. In 1983 Castillo was 8-12 in 25 starts with a 4.77 ERA and in 1984 he pitched sparingly for the Twins mostly in relief (just 10 games) and had a 2-1 record with a 1.78 ERA. Castillo became a free agent after the 1984 season and resigned with the Dodgers where he pitched his final big league season in 1985. Castillo, who attended Lincoln High School, finished with a career record of 38-40 with a 3.94 ERA in 250 games, making 59 starts. He pitched for LA in the 1981 National League Championship Series, the World Series that same year and the 1985 NLCS. After his big league career had ended, Castillo pitched for the Monterrey Sultanes and the Mexican League in 1986 and the Chunichi Dragons in the Japanese Central League in 1987.
Castillo, also affectionately known as “Babo,” has often been credited with teaching former Dodger great Fernando Valenzuela his infamous screwball. “I was very saddened to hear about Bobby’s passing this morning,” Castillo’s former teammate Fernando Valenzuela said.”“He was a great teammate and friend. I’ll always be grateful for his influence on my pitching. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.”
Castillo has been dedicated member of the Dodger organization since his retirement, participating in events including hospital visits, autograph signings and kids holiday parties and baseball clinics.
He is survived by his mother, Nellie, daughters, Mellanie and Sara, son-in-law, Andrew Sanchez, son Robert III, and his sister, Lorraine, and her husband, Peter Gonzalez. Castillo had three nieces and nephews, nine grand nieces and nephews and two grandchildren, Jackson and Lila.
Bobby Castillo is the 65th former Minnesota Twins player to pass away. RIP Mr. Castillo and thank you for the memories!
Welcome to pro baseball Nick Burdi
The Twins second round pick in this years June amateur draft was right-handed pitcher Nick Burdi. The 6 foot 4 inch 215-pound Burdi used primarily as a closer for the University of Louisville had a 0.49 ERA with 65 strikeouts in 37 innings as a junior for Louisville this past season. He recorded 18 saves in 32 games.
The Twins originally drafted Burdi in 2011 in the 24th round out of Downers Grove South High School in Illinois, outside of Chicago, but he went to school instead. Burdi’s fastball has been clocked above 100 miles per hour.
According to the Louisville Courier-Journal Burdi was upset that it took 46 picks to have his name called, telling reporters after the draft that he was “pissed” and would enter professional ball with a chip on his shoulder. Burdi signed with Minnesota on June 24th for $1.218 million (per Baseball America) and was assigned to the Twins Cedar Rapids Low-A team.
Burdi made his first appearance with the Kernels this past Sunday when he entered the game against the Clinton LumberKings in the top of the ninth with his home team leading 4 to 0. Burdi walked the first four batters he faced and was relieved by Jared Wilson who proceeded to give up four hits and a walk and when the smoke cleared the LumberKings had put a “7” on the board and the shucked Kernels ended up losing the game 7-4.
Burdi’s line for the game? Zero innings pitched, four walks, four runs, all earned and an ERA of infinity. A game I am sure that Burdi will never forget. Hopefully the man with a chip on his shoulder will take this game for what it was, a learning experience. Good luck in the future Nick, your humble pie is on the way.