Category: General Blogging

This is a general blogging category.

It was a bad beat, maybe one of the worst ever

Justin Upton flung the ball into the air and the bat out of his hands as his second walk-off homer of the year lifted the Detroit Tigers to a 12-11 win over Minnesota at Comerica Park last night. The home run was part of a six-run comeback Detroit compiled over the final three innings to stun the hot-hitting Twins and snap their season-high six-game winning streak.

Matt Belisle

The Tigers jumped on Jose Berrios and the Twins for a 5-0 lead after just one inning of play but then Paul Molitor‘s boys came back with all their bats blazing and put up 11 of the next 12 runs between the third and sixth innings to take a commanding 11-6 lead. Matt Belisle gave up the walk-off blast by Upton but the relievers before him, Trevor Hildenberger gave up 1 run and Dillon Gee gave up 4 runs of which 3 were earned. Only Ryan Pressly went unscathed in his 2/3 of an inning.

The hitters had a night to remember, 11 runs on 19 hits and a walk, a HBP and an error thrown in for good measure. Eddie Rosario, Max Kepler and Joe Mauer all hit home runs. Everyone that stepped to the plate for Minnesota had at least one hit and Brian Dozier and Jason Castro had 3 apiece.

It is tough to lose a nine inning game when you get 19 hits and score 11 runs, how tough is it? Not counting tie games the Twins have played 9,048 games since they started play in 1061. In those 9,048 the Twins have played 66 nine inning games when they have had at least 11 hits and scored 19 or more runs, their record in those kinds of games is now 64-2.

Willie Banks

Prior to last night the only time the Twins lost a game like this was on August 4, 1992 at Comiskey Park II. The Twins must like hitting against the pitchers from Chicago’s south side as the Twins have had 12 games like this against the White Sox and won 11 of them. The one loss was that game in 1992 when the White Sox blew out the Twins 19-11. This is a game that Willie Banks will never forget, Banks pitched 1.2 inning of relief and gave up 10 earned runs after relieving Twins starter Bill Krueger who lasted just 2 innings giving up 7 earned runs. This game was a blow out from the get-go and last night game was a back and forth affair that was won with a walk-off home run. Either way you have to put a game like this in the “bad beat” category.

Twins set to participate in fun Players Weekend

Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association are introducing the inaugural Players Weekend from August 25-27, when all players will wear colorful, non-traditional uniforms featuring alternate designs, and Twins players are excited for the chance to show off their personalities to the fans.

Miguel Sano uni

The Twins will be in Toronto for a three-game series that weekend, and players will be allowed to have a nickname placed on the back of the jerseys made by Majestic Athletic, as well as wearing and using uniquely colored and designed spikes, batting gloves, wristbands, compression sleeves, catcher’s masks and bats.

Twins set to participate in fun Players Weekend

UPDATE: Twins Players Weekend nicknames explained

Don Baylor Passes away at 68

Minnesota Twins pinch hitter Don Baylor drops his bat after hitting a game winning single with the bases loaded in the eighth inning in the ALCS with the Detroit Tigers, Oct. 8, 1987, Minneapolis, Minn. The Twins went on to score three more runs in the inning to win game one of the series 8-5. (AP Photo/ Rusty Kennedy)

Former American League MVP in 1979 and National League Manager of the Year Don Baylor has passed away at the age of 68 after a 14 year battle with multiple myeloma.

Baylor graduated from Austin High School as one of the first African-Americans to attend the school and the very first to play baseball and football for the school. Baylor had an opportunity to become the first African-American to play football at the University of Texas but Baylor wanted to play football and baseball but Texas football coach Darrell Royal was opposed saying that was put too much pressure on Baylor and wanted him to focus on football so when the Orioles drafted in round 2 in 1967 it was an easy decision for Baylor. By the way, the Minnesota Twins selected 3B Bob Storm in round 2 just 2 picks earlier.

Remembered for his charisma and kindness off the field, Baylor was also a force to be reckoned with at the plate in a terrific 19-year career as a player. A three-time winner of a Silver Slugger Award and an American League All-Star, Baylor hit .260 over the life of a career that was highlighted by Most Valuable Player honors as a member of the 1979 California Angels. 

Baylor, nicknamed “Groove” helped a team to the postseason on seven different occasions and, in the waning stages of his career, was traded from the Red Sox to the Twins for the stretch run in 1987. He’d go on to collect seven hits in 18 at-bats during the playoffs that season, including a game-tying two-run homer in Game 6 of the World Series. Minnesota would rally  for six more runs following that key hit, and the Twins ultimately rode that momentum to a Game 7 victory and a World Series championship.

Following his playing days, Baylor became the first manager in Colorado Rockies history in their inaugural 1993 season. By the time the strike-shortened 1995 campaign rolled around, Baylor’s Rockies finished the season with a 77-67 record, leading to the first postseason appearance in franchise history as well as NL Manager of the Year honors for Baylor. That marked the first of three straight winning seasons for Baylor, who also later spent three years managing the Cubs (2000-02). Baylor’s managing record was 627-689. Baylor is one of four men to win an MVP award and Manager of the Year, joining Kirk Gibson, Frank Robinson and Joe Torre.

Baylor’s time in the dugout would continue for more than a decade, as he also served as a bench coach for the Mets and a hitting coach for the Braves, Mariners, Rockies, Diamondbacks and Angels.

SABR Bio

Baylor is survived by his wife, the former Rebecca Giles; his son, Don Jr.; his brother, Doug; his sister, Connie; and two granddaughters. His marriage to Jo Cash ended in divorce.

Don Baylor Obit New York Times

Austin Legend Don Baylor: A Life Well Lived

 

Twins longest 9 inning games

The Minnesota Twins and Detroit Tigers are used to playing long 9 inning games. The Twins have played 11 nine inning games of 239 minutes or longer and the Tigers have been the opponent on five occasions and to make matters worse the Twins have won just one of those games and they had to score 20 runs to win that one.

Paul Molitor spent more time on the pitchers mound than any of his seven pitchers did in the Twins 9-6 loss at Target Field that lasted a Twins record four hours and 19 minutes.

Sunday afternoon’s 9-6 loss to the Tigers now stands as the Twins longest 9 inning game, fortunately the weather was great at Target Field. Paul Molitor and the Twins burned through seven pitchers, certainly not the kind of game anyone wants on getaway day when you are heading out to face the best team in the National League, the Los Angeles Dodgers.

 

Results
Rk Date Tm Opp Rslt IP H R Pit BF # Attendance GmLen
?
1 2017-07-23 MIN DET L 6-9 9.0 16 9 192 47 7 28,373 259
2 2016-07-23 MIN BOS W 11-9 9.0 15 9 196 48 7 37,600 251
3 2014-08-24 MIN DET L 4-13 9.0 18 13 196 53 5 23,983 250
4 1987-07-25 MIN TOR W 13-9 9.0 16 9   47 5 36,395 245
5 2014-08-03 MIN CHW W 16-3 9.0 8 3 134 37 2 23,471 241
6 2017-04-22 MIN DET L 4-5 9.0 11 5 189 47 7 25,719 240
7 1993-05-26 MIN OAK W 12-11 9.0 14 11 205 48 6 18,276 240
8 1992-06-04 MIN TEX W 15-12 9.0 16 12 171 46 6 31,848 240
9 2000-10-01 MIN DET L 11-12 8.0 19 12 178 46 7 28,293 239
10 2014-08-22 MIN DET W 20-6 9.0 15 6 172 44 6 29,394 239
11 2008-07-09 MIN BOS L 5-18 8.0 23 18 159 49 5 37,470 239
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 7/24/2017.

 

 

Twins pick-off artist’s

It is obviously important for pitchers to keep base runners as close to the base as possible to prevent them from getting a good jump and stealing a base. What Twins pitchers were the best at this seemingly lost art? Jon Lester (Cubs) doesn’t even throw the ball to first any more for fear of throwing the ball away. As you might guess most of the pitchers on this list are lefties but a few right-handed pitchers are sprinkled in.

Most pick-offs in a single season by Twins pitchers

Results
Rk Player PO Year G W L W-L% SV IP SO ERA SB CS
1 Jerry Koosman 14 1979 37 20 13 .606 0 263.2 157 3.38 7 16
2 Mark Guthrie 11 1990 24 7 9 .438 0 144.2 101 3.79 17 12
3 Roger Erickson 10 1978 37 14 13 .519 0 265.2 121 3.96 5 15
4 Allan Anderson 8 1990 31 7 18 .280 0 188.2 82 4.53 10 11
5 Jerry Koosman 7 1980 38 16 13 .552 2 243.1 149 4.03 7 10
6 Mark Guthrie 6 1989 13 2 4 .333 0 57.1 38 4.55 5 6
7 Frank Viola 6 1988 35 24 7 .774 0 255.1 193 2.64 7 8
8 Dave Goltz 6 1977 39 20 11 .645 0 303.0 186 3.36 18 16
9 Vic Albury 6 1974 32 8 9 .471 0 164.0 85 4.12 12 13
10 Eddie Bane 6 1973 23 0 5 .000 2 60.1 42 4.92 3 8
11 Jim Merritt 6 1968 38 12 16 .429 1 238.1 181 3.25 8 2

 

Most career pick-offs as a Twins pitcher

Frank Viola
Results
Rk Player PO From To G W L W-L% SV IP SO ERA SB CS
1 Frank Viola 27 1982 1989 260 112 93 .546 0 1772.2 1214 3.86 70 69
2 Jerry Koosman 24 1979 1981 94 39 35 .527 7 601.1 361 3.77 15 33
3 Mark Guthrie 20 1989 1995 240 29 27 .518 8 489.2 388 4.19 50 30
4 Francisco Liriano 17 2005 2012 156 50 52 .490 1 783.1 788 4.33 67 23
5 Roger Erickson 17 1978 1982 114 31 47 .397 0 712.0 321 4.10 23 32
6 Allan Anderson 15 1986 1991 148 49 54 .476 0 818.2 339 4.11 54 38
7 Dave Goltz 15 1972 1979 247 96 79 .549 3 1638.0 887 3.48 111 76
8 Johan Santana 14 2000 2007 251 93 44 .679 1 1308.2 1381 3.22 28 29
9 Geoff Zahn 14 1977 1980 133 53 53 .500 0 852.0 348 3.90 30 42
10 Jim Kaat 14 1961 1973 468 189 152 .554 5 2959.1 1824 3.28 115 47
11 Bert Blyleven 11 1970 1988 348 149 138 .519 0 2566.2 2035 3.28 221 111
12 Vic Albury 11 1973 1976 101 18 17 .514 1 372.2 193 4.11 24 27
13 Jim Merritt 11 1965 1968 122 37 41 .474 6 686.2 527 3.03 14 13
14 Jim Perry 10 1963 1972 376 128 90 .587 5 1883.1 1025 3.15 43 66
15 Kyle Gibson 9 2013 2017 110 36 43 .456 0 632.2 428 4.78 33 11

Note that current Twin pitcher Kyle Gibson made the career list.

Some items from The New York Yankees 7/17/17 Game Notes

TWIN KILLING: The Yankees are 10-2 in their last 12 games vs. Minnesota and have won each of the last five series between the clubs…have won 10 consecutive season series
vs. the Twins (since 2007) and have won or split 15 straight season series between the clubs (13-0-2 since 2002). Are 19-6 (.760) in 25 games all-time at Target Field, the
highest winning percentage by any team at any ballpark since 1913 (min. 15 games).

YANKEES AT MINNESOTA
OVERALL TRENDS/FACTS: The Yankees and Twins will meet six times in 2017: with three-game series scheduled for tonight-Wed. in Minneapolis and 9/18-20 at Yankee
Stadium…are 10-2 in the last 12 matchups…had an eight-game winning streak from 7/25/15-6/18/16…have won five consecutive series (since 7/3/14)…are 51-21 (.708)
against the Twins since 2007, their best record vs. any AL club over the last 11 seasons…are 74-29 since 2002…IN 2016: Went 5-2 vs. Minnesota, including 2-1 at home and
3-1 in Minneapolis (all games occurred in an 11-day span from 6/16-26/16)…had opportunities to sweep both series but dropped the finales…IN SEASON SERIES: Have
won 10 consecutive season series since 2007…have won or split 15 consecutive season series vs. the Twins, going 13-0-2 since 2002 (went 3-3 in 2005 and 2006)…marks
their longest active streak of non-losing season series vs. any AL opponent…since 1993, are 20-1-3 in season series (went 2-4 in 2001)…AT YANKEE STADIUM: Are 5-1 vs.
Minnesota in the Bronx since the start of 2015…are 12-2-1 in their last 15 home series (min. 2G) vs. the Twins (went 1-2 in 2014 and ’13, 2-2 in ‘12)…are 18-9 vs. the Twins at
the current Yankee Stadium and 37-12 since the start of 2002…AT TARGET FIELD: Are 13-3 in their last 16 games in Minnesota and 22-6 since the start of 2009…have won
eight straight road series at Minnesota (2009-16)…are 19-6 (.760) at Target Field since its 2010 opening, their best record at any current AL ballpark…are 37-17 at Minnesota
since 2002…IN POSTSEASON: Are 4-0 all-time in postseason series vs. Minnesota (2010 ALDS, 3-0; 2009 ALDS, 3-0; 2004 ALDS, 3-1; 2003 ALDS, 3-1)…own a 12-2 all-time
record against the Twins in postseason games…have won nine straight postseason meetings since 10/6/04, their second-longest postseason win streak vs. any opponent
(10G vs. Texas).

Good Grief! Should the Minnesota Twins even show up?

Will Molitor be back as the Twins manager in 2018?

The All-Star game is now over and the Twins resume play on Friday against the 60-20 Houston Astros. The rumors are flying around that the Twins are looking for controllable pitching, both from a starting perspective and the bullpen. Will the Twins make any moves? Historically the organization has stood pat at the trade deadline but the Twins have a new captain at the helm so it will be very interesting to see what transpires there.

Another item not talked about much at all but that I think is very interesting and important is what will happen with manager Paul Molitor. Molitor is in year three of a three-year deal.

When Derek Falvey and Thad Levine moved to town it was apparently with the understanding that Molitor would stay on as the Twins manager in 2017. Well, 2017 is half over and the only mention I have heard about Molitor staying or leaving was a quick blurb that his situation would be resolved after the season ends.

I have stated here previously that I am not a big fan of Molitor as a MLB manager and to my way of thinking I have seen nothing after 2 1/2 years to change my mind. I see Molitor as a “Gene Mauch” type of manager, technically very bright but not a manager who can motivate today’s players, manage a winning team and sell his brand of baseball to the fans of Minnesota. To me he seems like a manager who thinks he can win with his managing skills versus letting the players play. He has to be one of the worst managers the team has ever had in terms of bullpen management and use and his line-ups have often wonder what the man is thinking . I have never heard anyone complain as much as he does about his bullpen being over worked.

I know that Molitor has worked with most of the Twins young players in the minors but what has he done in his term as the Twins skipper to take them to the next level and become big league caliber? Do the players respect him? I would have to guess the young players do but the older players, not so much. How do you explain the recent situation with Hector Santiago deciding to pitch the way he wanted versus following the game plan?

Does Molitor help sell tickets? I say no, most of the time he is unapproachable and ducks fans when ever he can, he is not one to talk baseball with the average fan. Baseball is entertainment and should be fun, Molitor makes every game look like a war.

I can’t help but wonder also how Molitor is enjoying his managing gig under Falvey and Levine. Every time I see him on TV he looks older and older and more stressed out. Does the man ever smile or laugh? 

Molitor’s future may well depend on how the Twins fare during the rest of this season, it would be very difficult for Falvey and Levine to let Molitor go regardless of what they may think of him as the Twins manager if the Twins make the playoffs in 2017 although the odds of that happening are long. If you think you know what the future holds, you should be aware that baseball odds for the MLB are available at William Hill where you can put a few dollars down on your favorite team to win it all.

I think Molitor’s days as the Minnesota Twins manager are numbered and that at the end of the season he will walk away from his current job and both sides will be happier for it. But stranger things have happened in baseball and if you think

What do you think? Does Paul Molitor deserve to be the Twins go-forward manager?

baseball odds for the MLB are available at William Hill

Twins minor league pitcher Cam Booser suspended for 50 games

Twins minor leaguer pitcher Cameron Booser will miss 50 games due to violations of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. Minnesota Twins left-hander Cam Booser has been suspended 50 games after testing positive for a drug of abuse for the second time.

Cam Booser

Cam Booser was signed by the Minnesota Twins as a non-drafted free agent on Aug. 12, 2013. Booser, a 25-year-old on the Rookie-level Elizabethton Twins, had pitched 2 2/3 innings this season for Class A Advanced Fort Myers, allowing one run while walking seven and hitting two batters over three relief appearances. He went 0-4 with an 8.53 ERA, 34 strikeouts and 31 walks over 25 1/3 innings for Class A Cedar Rapids and Fort Myers in 2016.

Booser’s ban will begin with Elizabethtown’s season opener Thursday against Danville. These suspensions are the 43rd and 44th handed down for violations of the Minor League drug program in 2017.

Minnesota Twins top third basemen

Third base is known as the “hot corner”, because the third baseman is relatively close to the batter and most right-handed hitters tend to hit the ball hard in this direction. Now days the third base position is expected to provide power. There are fewer third basemen in the Baseball Hall of Fame than there are Hall of Famers’ of any other position.

The Twins have had their share of good players at that position and the list below shows Twins players that have played in at least 200 games and played at least 51% of their games at third base from 1961 through 2016. Current Twins third sacker Miguel Sano will be moving up this list very quickly.

Gary Gaetti has always been one of my all-time favorite Minnesota Twins. I enjoyed watching him play third base and the man got his uniform dirty, he went all out all the time. Plus, he was a very good hitter. If I was asked for my Twins top 10 list, he would be near the top.

Gaetti played in the Metrodome from 1982 – 1990. Gary took a “liking” to the Dome the first time he played there by going 4-4 and hitting 2 home runs. Gaetti was an All-Star in 1988 and 1989 and was the 3B on the 1987 World Championship team.
Results
WAR/pos G From To AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB 1 Gary Gaetti 27.1 1361 1981 1990 4989 646 1276 252 25 201 758 74 .256 .744
2 Corey Koskie 22.1 816 1998 2004 2788 438 781 180 13 101 437 66 .280 .836
3 John Castino 15.1 666 1979 1984 2320 293 646 86 34 41 249 22 .278 .727
4 Rich Rollins 11.8 888 1961 1968 3048 395 830 117 20 71 369 15 .272 .727
5 Eric Soderholm 10.2 407 1971 1975 1345 184 345 56 7 36 161 14 .257 .725
6 Trevor Plouffe 8.1 723 2010 2016 2638 332 651 148 10 96 357 11 .247 .727
7 Mike Cubbage 6.9 555 1976 1980 1681 195 447 66 18 29 226 6 .266 .715
8 Scott Leius 4.9 476 1990 1995 1373 201 346 58 10 26 155 15 .252 .693
9 Mike Pagliarulo 4.0 246 1991 1993 723 79 197 40 4 9 68 8 .272 .693
10 Danny Valencia 0.8 273 2010 2012 989 106 257 52 4 24 129 4 .260 .695
11 Brent Gates 0.8 217 1998 1999 639 71 161 28 2 6 80 4 .252 .656
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 5/25/2017.