Category: General Blogging

This is a general blogging category.

Is Tortuga the most fun player in baseball?

When you come out to Target Field and want to watch Willians Astudillo play ball you have to check out each position on the field to see where he might be playing on any given day. The soon to be 27-year old is in his second year in the big leagues and has just 77 games under his belt. His 5’9″ (probably generous) and 225 pounds (probably understated) suits him fine for his primary position of catcher but Astudillo is more than that. In parts of two seasons with the Twins he has played every position except shortstop and I would expect him to play there at some point too. Astudillo even pitched during his first year with Minnesota.

Astudillo loves to play baseball and it shows, he has fun on and off the field and isn’t afraid to poke a little fun at himself. The “Tortuga” is a fan favorite and the he can play some ball. This season he is only hitting .269 but last season he hit .355 and struckout just 3 time in 97 PA’s. The man can put his bat on the ball no matter where it is pitched.

Astudillo first signed with the Philadelphia Phillies as a 17 year-old free agent in December 2008 but never got above High A ball in the Philly organization. In November 2015 Astudillo became a FA and signed with the Atlanta Braves. The following November he was a FA again and this time was signed by the Arizona Diamondbacks. When 2017 was coming to and end Astudillo was again a FA and this time signed with the Twins. 

The “Turtle” started 2018 with AAA Rochester but was called up my Minnesota in late June and made his big league debut at the age of 26 on June 30th against the Chicago Cubs in Wrigley Field when he replaced Eddie Rosario in left field. Naturally Astudillo singled in his first big league at bat off former Twins pitcher Brian Duensing and knocked in a run. Astudillo made the 2019 Twins team in spring training but has visited the IL twice this season with a hamstring issue and an oblique strain and has missed 71 games.

Astudillo who enjoys playing winter ball back home in his native Venezuela but due to the political unrest in his country MLB is prohibiting MLB players from playing baseball there this coming off-season.

Here is a short video clip from a play Tortuga made just the other day, how can you not love a player like this?

Tortuga clip

Here is another fun Astudillo clip. No-look pickoff throw makes Twins’ Willians Astudillo an internet sensation

 

The Ladies Day Riot of 1897

There is a wonderful story that Mark Hornbaker wrote for today (September 13) on his www.dcbaseballhistory.com site called The Ladies Day Riot of 1897. Take a few minutes to check it out. 

If you are a fan of the Washington Senators history prior to them moving to Minnesota after the 1960 season and becoming our Minnesota Twins you should follow that site.

Former Twins catcher & coach Hal Naragon passes away at age 90

Hal Naragon with Cleveland

Harold (Hal) Richard Naragon was born on October 1, 1928 in Zanesville, Ohio but grew up and spent most of his life in Barberton, Ohio where he passed away on August 31, 2019. Hal was a star high school baseball player and in 2000 the Barberton High School baseball field was named “Naragon Field” in his honor. Naragon, a catcher, was 6’ and weighed about 160 pounds and batted left handed. After signing as a free agent with the Cleveland Indians in 1947 after graduating from high school, Hal started working his way up the minor league chain and made his major league debut on September 23, 1951. Hal missed the 1952 and 1953 season while serving our country in the Marine Corps. Hal was a part of the 111-43 Cleveland Indians team in 1954 that went on to the World Series only to get swept by the New York Giants. When Naragon played in Cleveland he caught future Hall of Fame pitchers Bob Feller, Bob Lemon and Early Wynn until he was traded to the Washington Senators in 1959.

Hal Naragon

After the 1960 season the Senators relocated to Minnesota and Naragon played with the Twins in 1961 and 1962. After being released by Minnesota after the 1962 season he was offered a coaching position under manager Sam Mele and he coached with the Twins from 1963 through 1966. After the 1966 season Naragon moved on to coach for the Detroit Tigers between 1967 and 1969 before he hung up his spikes once and for all. Hal caught in the big leagues for all or parts of 10 seasons with the Indians, Senators and the Twins compiling a career batting average of .266 in 424 games but he was never able to achieve full-time playing status. Never the less, Naragon was a valuable asset behind the plate and swung a good left handed stick and in 985 at bats had 262 hits, 6 home runs and 87 RBI. 

Hal leaves behind his wife of seventy-one years, Joanne; his daughter, Pamela (Jeff) Yeck of Canton; grandsons, Chad (Noel) Bradley of Massillon and Evan (Amber) Bradley of Massillon; great-grandchildren, Whitney and Maverick Bradley; his brother, Thomas (Barbara) Naragon; as well as many nieces, nephews and many many friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Barbara Cole and brother, Jim Naragon. RIP Hal Naragon and thank you for all the memories. About ten years ago I did an interview with Hal that you can listen to here.

The SABR Baseball Biography Project write-up on Hal can be found here.

Hal Nargaon Obituary

A busy transaction day for the Twins

Brusdar Graterol

The Twins announced today that they have selected the contracts of right-handed pitcher Brusdar Graterol and outfielder Ian Miller from AAA Rochester. They have also recalled left-handed pitcher Devin Smeltzer and right-handed pitchers Zack Littell and Kohl Stewart. Additionally, they will return both catcher Willians Astudillo and outfielder LaMonte Wade Jr. from their respective rehab assignments and reinstate both from the 10-day Injured List.

Ian Miller

In a separate transaction, the Twins have placed right-handed pitcher Kyle Gibson on the 10-day Injured List with Ulcerative Colitis, marking Gibson’s first trip to the Injured List since 2016. In 28 games (27 starts) for the Twins this season, Gibson has gone 13-6 with a 4.58 ERA (149.1 IP, 76 ER), 146 strikeouts and 45 walks. Replacing Gibson on the roster, the Twins have recalled left-handed pitcher Lewis Thorpe from AAA Rochester. Thorpe has appeared in six games (1 start) for the Twins this season, going 1-1 with a 4.40 ERA (14.1 IP, 7 ER), three walks and 14 strikeouts.

The Twins also announced today that they have activated Byron Buxton who has been on the IL since August 3. Sean Poppen was moved to the 60 day Injured List.

Minnesota Twins now best home run hitting team in MLB history

The Minnesota Twins are now the best home run hitting team in MLB history. With six home runs yesterday in a 10-7 loss to the Detroit Tigers the Twins now have 268 home runs on the season,  the best in baseball history. Mitch Garver hit number 268 and his second Bomba of the day in the ninth inning at Comerica Park off Tiger pitcher Joe Jimenez. Garver now has 26 home runs on the season and September is still to be played. Jorge Polanco also hit his 20th home run of the season giving the Twins eight players with 20 or more homers in a season, also a new major league record.

The New York Yankees previously held baseball’s all-time single-season home run with 267 in 2018, followed by the Mariners with 264 in 1997 and the Rangers with 260 in 2005.

Gabe Snyder named to post season All-Star roster in MWL.

Gabe Snyder

The Midwest League has announced the 2019 Post Season All-Star Roster. The team was selected by the Field Managers of the sixteen Midwest League member clubs. Gabe Snyder was selected to the Post Season All-Star Roster at first base. Snyder has hit .258 (100-for-387) with 21 doubles, three triples, 16 home runs and 51 RBI in 105 games for the Cedar Rapids Kernels. 

The 24 year old Snyder was selected in the 21st round of the 2018 June draft and received a $1,000 signing bonus.

Max Kepler The New European Home Run King

Single-Season European Home Run King Max Kepler
Max Kepler

With his 33rd home run, a two-run shot last night, Max Kepler now owns the MLB single-season record for most homers by a European-born player. The Berlin, Germany native surpassed Glasgow, Scotland-born Bobby Thomson, who hit 32 home runs for the 1951 New York Giants. Thomson’s final homer in ’51 was the legendary “Shot Heard ‘Round the World” to clinch the NL pennant.

 

Bobby Thomson

Thomson played in the big leagues for 15 seasons from 1946-1960 for the New York Giants, Milwaukee Braves, Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles and 246 career home runs. Kepler has 89 career home runs but has played in 1,247 fewer games than Thomson.

 

Twins announce their 2020 schedule

 

The Minnesota Twins today announced their preliminary regular season schedule for the 2020 season, marking the team’s 60th campaign in Twins Territory.

Minnesota will begin its diamond anniversary season with its earliest Opening Day ever, March 26 at Oakland. That contest will start a seven-game, two-city roadtrip against the Athletics (March 26-29) and the Seattle Mariners (March 30-April 1). The Twins will then host Oakland at Target Field for the home opener on April 2, part of a six-game homestand vs. the A’s (April 2-5) and the Cleveland Indians (April 6-8).

The Twins will again play 20 Interleague games over the course of the 2020 regular season (2 in April/ 3 in May/ 5 in June/ 5 in July/ 2 in August/ 3 in September). The home Interleague schedule includes the first-ever Target Field appearance by the San Francisco Giants (May 4-6), along with visits by the Milwaukee Brewers (June 16-17), the Colorado Rockies (June 26-28) and the Los Angeles Dodgers (July 28-29). The Twins will also face the Dodgers (April 28-29) and Brewers (August 25-26) on the road, along with trips to the Arizona Diamondbacks (July 20-22) and the San Diego Padres (September 22-24).

The Twins 2020 schedule features 16 home games in the month of April, 13 in May, 16 in June, 10 in July, 14 in August and 12 in September, along with showcase weekend series against the Boston Red Sox (April 24-26), Los Angeles Angels (June 4-7), New York Yankees (June 18-21), Toronto Blue Jays (July 9-12) and Houston Astros (July 31-August 2). After its successful debut in 2019, weekday (Monday-Thursday) night games at home will again start at 6:40 p.m. in the months of April, May (prior to Memorial Day) and September (after Labor Day), while Minnesota will host 46 of its 81 home games between those two holidays.

The Twins will play each of their American League Central Division rivals 19 times apiece: the Chicago White Sox (9 home/10 away), the Cleveland Indians (10 home/9 away), the Detroit Tigers (9 home/10 away) and the Kansas City Royals (9 home/10 away). The Twins will face each AL Central Division team for three series apiece at home and three series on the road.

2020 Season Tickets

Fans who purchase the 2019 Playoff Push Plan or a season ticket package for 2020 will have 2019 postseason ticket priority. Fans interested in buying season tickets can visit twinsbaseball.com.

All game times and broadcast information will be announced at a later date

Nelson Cruz on a record breaking roll!

Nelson Cruz

Stolen from today’s MN Twins GameNotes. This is just crazy, the man is 39 years old. We are lucky to have watched him this year.

ALL ABOUT THE BOOMSTICK: Historic night in Nellyville:

Nelson Cruz has 30 home runs on the season, tied for second most in the AL.

He now has 30 for the sixth straight season. Active players with 30+ homer streaks include Albert Pujols (12) from 2001-12, Edwin Encarnacion (8) from 2012-19, and Miguel Cabrera (7) from 2007-13.

Cruz’s 30 home runs pass Chili Davis‘ 1991 total (29) for the most by a DH in club history, (MLB all-time record is 54 by David Ortiz in 2006).

Current .652 slugging percentage is the highest in club history (next: Killebrew, .606 in 1961).

Three homers last night marked the 12th time in club history:  Bob Allison (’63), Harmon Killebrew (’63), Tony Oliva (’73), Justin Morneau (’07), Max Kepler (’16), Brian Dozier (’16), Eddie Rosario (’17), Byron Buxton (’17), Eddie Rosario (’18), Max Kepler (’19), Nelson Cruz (’19) and Nelson Cruz (’19).

Becomes the 23rd player in baseball history with multiple three-homer games in a season (first in Twins history). The first in MLB history with multiple after turning 39.

After Cruz’s three-homer game July 25 at CWS, he joins Doug DeCinces (8/3 & 8, 1982) and Johnny Mize (7/13 & 20, 1938) as the only players to homer three times within 10 days.

Leads baseball in home runs since ASG (14), next players, Max Kepler and Mancini have nine. Also leads baseball in RBI since ASG (26)

Joins Jason Kubel (2009) as the only two players in club history with four five+ RBI games in a season.

Thanks for the show Boomstick!

The Minnesota Twins are real road beasts

1976 – 1986 primary logo

According the MN Twins  July 26 GameNotes:

The Twins have gone 31-19 on the road this season, a .620 road winning percentage
that is the best in baseball. The Twins went 29-52 on the road in 2018. Twins have outscored opponents on the road 307-242. Their 110 road home runs have already surpassed their total of 80 from last year, and are only three shy of the Twins record of 113 set back in 1963.

At 30-20 (.600), Atlanta is the only other club with a .600-plus winning mark.