TWINS TRIVIA is hopefully a fun and informative site that will help you to better enjoy the Minnesota Twins and their wonderful history. “History never looks like history when you are living through it” – John Gardner, former Secretary of Health
With four more home runs yesterday, the 2019 Minnesota Twins have homered in 11 straight games, their longest streak of the season. It marks their longest stretch since homering in 16 straight games twice in 2017 and again in 1979. The Twins have hit 76 home runs, third most in baseball, trailing Seattle and Houston, both with 83. What I find interesting too is that only one AL team (Angels) have struck out fewer times than the Twins.
This article I ran across has nothing to do with the Minnesota Twins or their history but nevertheless I found it to be a very interesting read and informative story that I thought more of you might enjoy. Iit was written by “Jasoncards” as part of the SABR Baseball Cards series. Please check it out.
High A Fort Myers Miracle outfielder Trevor Larnach and High A Fort Myers Miracle right-handed pitcher Jordan Balazovic have been named as the Twins minor league Player and Pitcher of the Week.
In six games for the Miracle, Larnach hit .440 (11-for-25) with two doubles, two home runs, five RBI, seven runs scored, three walks and a 1.260 OPS. Larnach, 22, was drafted by the Twins in the first round (20th overall) in the 2018 First-Year Player Draft out of Oregon State University and signed for a $2.55 million signing bonus. Larnach in his second season of pro ball is entering the 2019 season as the fifth best prospect in the Twins system by Baseball America.
The Canadian born Balazovic made his FSL debut in start on Sunday at Palm Beach, pitching 7.0 no-hit innings with no walks and 10 strikeouts. Balazovic, 20, was drafted by the Twins in the fifth round of the 2016 First-Year Player Draft out of St. Martin Secondary School in Mississauga, Ontario and signed for a reported $515,000 signing bonus. The 6’4″ right-hander has been used as a starter since he began pro ball and is rated as the Twins 19th best prospect.
I have gotten on the Minnesota Twins case over the years for their high ticket prices but the flash sale $5 ticket plan announced by the ballclub on May 7 that all upper deck (Home Run Porch and Grandstand) tickets for remaining Twins games in May would be sold for $5 with no processing fees is a winner. The Twins reported that approximately 20,000 tickets were available and they sold out in under 24 hours.
The next day the Twins announced another flash sale for $5 ballpark access only tickets again with no processing fees for the remaining May home games. With these tickets you get in the ballpark but have no seat.
NOTES FROM REMARKABLE, FROM INSIDE EDGE:
The Twins have used a defensive shift 245 times in 426 plate appearances (57.5% shift rate) vs right-handed batters this season — highest in MLB; League Avg: 22.5%.
Kyle Gibson has induced opposing right-handed batters to ground into 21 double plays in 83 opportunities (25.3%) since the start of last season — best among qualified SPs in MLB; League Avg: 12.1%.
Kyle Gibson has walked 3 of 75 left-handed batters (4.0%) this season — 4th best among qualified SPs in MLB; League Avg: 9.0%.
Kyle Gibson has recorded 10 of his 15 strikeouts (66.7%) vs right-handed batters with his slider this season — 7th highest in MLB among starting pitchers with at least 16.0 IP; League Avg: 26.2%.
Jonathan Schoop has not drawn a walk in his last 72 PA’s against a RHP dating back to April 13th — Manuel Margot has the longest active streak at 97.
Byron Buxton has 16 Extra-Base hits out of 22 total hits (72.7%) against RHP this season — best in MLB; League Avg: 39.0%
Source: Twins GameNotes 05/08/19.
Major League Baseball announced yesterday that right-handed starter Jake Odorizzi was named American League Player of the Week. Odorizzi claimed his first career weekly award, the first for a Twins player since Eduardo Escobar for the week ending June
11, 2018, and the first by a Twins pitcher since Francisco Liriano for the week ending May 8, 2011.
Joe Grzenda, a 31-year old right-handed pitcher was purchased from the New York Mets by the Minnesota Twins on November 29, 1967 and spent the 1968 season with the AAA Denver Bears who were managed by Billy Martin after he replaced the fired Johnny Goryl. Martin used Grzenda as a reliever and he used him often as Grzenda appeared in a team leading 56 games posting a 5-8 record and a 3.14 ERA. Grzenda threw 86 innings and struck out 60 batters.
When Billy Martin was named the Twins 1969 manager he obviously remembered Grzenda and Grzenda made the Twins team out of spring training. Strangely enough Grzenda was the losing pitcher in the 1969 season opener on April 8th as the Twins were walked off 4-3 by the new Kansas City Royals in 12 innings at Municipal Stadium and was the winning pitcher in the 1969 regular season finale on October 2nd when the Twins beat the Chicago White Sox 6-5 at Met Stadium. Grzenda appeared in game 3 of the 1969 ALCS and retired Boog Powell and Frank Robinson, the only two batters he faced. On March 21, 1970 the Twins traded Grzenda along with pitcher Charlie Walters to the Washington Senators for outfielder Brant Alyea.
Cedar Rapids Kernels (Low A) infielder Chris Williams and AA Pensacola Blue Wahoos right-handed pitcher Jorge Alcala have been named Twins minor league Player and Pitcher of the Week.
In seven games for the Kernels, the 22 year old Chris Williams hit .333 (6-for-18) with three home runs, six RBI, six walks, six runs scored and a 1.333 OPS. The 22-year-old was drafted by the Twins in the eighth round of the 2018 First-Year Player Draft out of Clemson University as a catcher. In 2019 he has played 8 games at first base, 8 as a DH and caught just 5 games.
Alcala made one start for the Blue Wahoos, coming on Thursday vs. Biloxi, pitching
5 shutout innings with five hits allowed, no walks and eight strikeouts. The 23-year-old, Dominican Republic native, was acquired by the Twins via trade with Houston at the deadline last season, in exchange for right-handed pitcher Ryan Pressly.
In his fifth pro season Alcala has a career ERA of just 3.32 and in 325.2 innings only given up 257 hits while striking out 326. Although he can use more work on his control, Jorge knows how to keep the ball in the ballpark. You have to like Alcala’s potential.
Both the AA Pensacola Blue Wahoos and the High A Fort Myers Miracle are 19-10 and in first place in their divisions.
Pressly’s Tear: RHP Ryan Pressly has been scoreless in his last 32 games (30.1IP), the longest scoreless appearance streak in club history and the longest scoreless innings streak by a reliever in club history. Overall, Pressly’s streak of 30.1 consecutive scoreless innings is the fourth-longest in club history, behind a 32.1 IP streak by RHP Roy Oswalt in 2008
and two separate 31.0-inning streaks put together by RHP J.R. Richard (1979-80 and in 1980).
At the trading deadline last season, Houston acquired RHP Ryan Pressly from Minnesota
in exchange for RHP Jorge Alcala and OF Gilberto Celestino…since the trade, Pressly has posted a 0.50 ERA (2 ER/35.2IP) in 37 games as the Astros setup man. Source: Astros GameNotes
We will have to wait and see if Alcala or Celestino can save Derek Falvey’s and/or Thad Levine’s bacon.
| Rk | Player | #Matching |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harmon Killebrew | 35 |
| 2 | Justin Morneau | 20 |
| 3 | Tony Oliva | 18 |
| 4 | Kent Hrbek | 16 |
| 5 | Bob Allison | 15 |
| 6 | Kirby Puckett | 13 |
| 7 | Gary Gaetti | 13 |
| 8 | Tom Brunansky | 11 |
| 9 | Don Mincher | 9 |
| 10 | Torii Hunter | 9 |
| 11 | Eddie Rosario | 8 |
| 12 | Corey Koskie | 8 |
| 13 | Jacque Jones | 8 |
| 14 | Jimmie Hall | 8 |
| 15 | Brian Dozier | 8 |
.
Eddie Rosario is climbing this list pretty quickly.