Category: General Blogging

This is a general blogging category.

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.

 

As the trade deadline approaches

Derek Falvey and Thad Levine

Some time ago I saw that Derek Falvey was quoted as saying and I translate loosely here that-

At the trade deadline you are required to make some moves. If you are out of the race you should make some trades to improve your team by acquiring young talent. If you are in the race you need to make some moves to make your team better for the push to the play-offs and beyond. Standing-pat is not an option.

To me that makes perfect sense and I don’t know why every team does not do this. Now in the next handful of days we will see if Falvey and his partner-in-crime Thad Levine will walk their talk. The Twins are surely in the race and since no team is perfect, there is always room for improvement. Pitching is always in demand and the Twins bullpen has been purged lately of relievers Adalberto Mejia, Mike Morin, Matt Magill and Blake Parker. The starting rotation is starting to wobble as of late and the Twins could use an ace to lead their rotation and take some pressure off Jose Berrios.

Luis Arraez

But as the old saying goes, you have to give up something to get something and that is always tough. Personally I have no issue with trading prospects for a proven commodity that will stay in your organization. I am not a fan of trading for a short-term rental player. Having said that, I would not consider trading a number one overall pick like Royce Lewis. Keep in mind though that there are always new and better prospects. Prospects don’t always come to fruition and players you did not see as a prospect develop over-night and become big leaguers.

There are also certain players like Luis Arraez that I wouldn’t trade unless the deal was a real steal. Arraez is the kind of player that the Twins need in the long run, a young guy that can get on base, the Twins don’t have many of these kinds of players and they don’t come around often. 

The next week or so will be interesting for sure, bring it on Mr. Falvey and Mr. Levine.

Couple of things about A’s and Twins

The Oakland A’s team that the Twins are playing are no slouches and are a very good team. The Twins have split the first two games and it will be interesting to see how the final two games go. 

The Oakland A’s are 37-17 (.685) dating back to May 16, which is tied with the Yankees for the best record in the majors over that span. They have a 3.66 ERA (201 er in 493.2 ip), which is second lowest to the Dodgers (3.27). The A’s lead the majors in home runs (104), slugging (.491), and extra base hits (226), are tied for second in runs (321) and are fifth in OPS (.824). The A’s have outscored the opposition 321-215 for a run differential of +106.

Since moving to Oakland in 1968, the A’s are 308-304 against Minnesota, that includes 172-131 in Oakland and 136-173 in Minnesota (19-18 at Target Field). The Athletics are 365-373 all-time against the Twins and have a 1,012-1,009 record against the Twins/Senators. The 1,012 are the A’s most against any franchise.

Tonights starter for the Twins Jose Berrios has thrown his curveball 37.4% of the time (337/900) vs right-handed batters this season, 3rd highest among qualified SPs in MLB; League Average is 15.1%. José Berríos has induced opposing hitters to ground into just 5 double plays in 94 opportunities (5.3%) this season, 6th worst among qualified SPs in MLB, the league average is 10.6%. 

Twins DSL minor leaguer Jesus Medina suspended for 72 games

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball announced yesterday that three Minor League players have been suspended following their violations of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.

Minnesota Twins Minor League pitcher Jesus Medina was one of the players suspended and has received a 72-game suspension without pay after testing positive for Stanozolol, a performance-enhancing substance in violation of the Program.

The suspension of Medina, who is on the roster of the Dominican Summer League Twins is effective immediately. 

Medina, a Venezuelan right-handed pitcher was signed by the Minnesota Twins on July 4, 2018 as a 16 year ol free agent and started his pro career in the Dominican Summer League this year. Medina, was 0-2 with a 7.13 ERA in two starts and six relief appearances this year for the Dominican Summer League Twins.

How can you not like Luis Arraez

Luis Arraez – Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Since being recalled back to Minnesota on June 18, Luis Arraez is hitting .389 (28-for-72) with four doubles, one home run, four RBI, 10 runs scored, seven walks, a .443 on-base percentage and a .929 OPS. Among all rookies with a minimum of 70 plate appearances since that date, he ranks first in batting average, second in on-base percentage and tied for third in hits. Arraez has 37 hits through his first 30 career games, tied for fourth most in Twins history through 30: Kirby Puckett (42 in 1984), Kennys Vargas (40 in 2014), Chuck Knoblauch (38 in 1991), Danny Santana (37 in 2014).

His AB this past Tuesday was certainly one of the best ever seen by Twins fans. The Twins were down 3-2 to the New York Mets going into the bottom of the ninth against Mets closer Edwin Diaz. Diaz struck out Miguel Sano swinging for out one and then had to face Jonathan Schoop and on his second pitch Schoop grabbed his ribs and was removed from the game. Twins manager Rocco Baldelli brought in Luis Arraez to face the hard-throwing Diaz with an inherited 0-2 count. Arraez fouled off four pitches while working the count full before taking a walk bringing the Target Field crown to its feet. Mitch Garver singled but Jorge Polanco struck out for the second out of the inning. Marwin Gonzalez reached first base loading the bases on an infield single and Nelson Cruz stepped to the plate with the bases loaded but on a full count he popped up to the Mets third baseman in foul territory retiring the Twins and giving the Mets a 3-2 victory. The Arraez AB is an AB that will go down in Twins lore as one of the best ever.

Looks like second base is all his (Arraez) but he may have to wait until next season. Jonathan Schoop is a streaky hitter but I think he deserves to keep his job at second through this year and having a player like Arraez on the bench is a real luxury.

Former Minnesota Twins pitcher Joe Grzenda passes away at 82

Joe Grzenda

Former major league pitcher and one-time Minnesota Twins pitcher Joseph Charles Grzenda, 82, of Covington Twp, PA. passed away on Friday, July 12, 2019 at home. Grzenda was born on June 8, 1937 in Scranton, PA. the son of the late Joseph C. and Josephine (Jankowski) Grzenda. Joe Grzenda graduated from Moosic High School in Greenwood in 1955 and went on to serve in the U.S. Army. 

The left-handed Grezenda was first signed in 1955 as an amateur free agent by the Detroit Tigers and worked his way up the Tigers minor league system playing in D, B, AA and AAA ball before finally getting his shot in the big leagues with the Tigers in 1961.

Continue reading Former Minnesota Twins pitcher Joe Grzenda passes away at 82

This is what baseball has come down to? Oh My!

Credit to Stew Thornley

This is the Twins shift in the game against the Texas Rangers Joey Gallo yesterday. A catcher (Mitch Garver) and pitcher (Devin Smeltzer) and first baseman (Miguel Sano) in their normal positions but no one else is on the dirt. Five outfielders and yet Gallo hits a double off the right field wall, he also had a bunt single. My friend Wayne Hattaway would tell you “this isn’t real baseball”. Everytime you go to a baseball game you have a chance to see something you have never seen before.