Twin Cities Real Estate BlogRecently posted or modified blog posts by tag - MLBhttps://www.minnesotaconnected.com/blog/Copyright MinnesotaConnected.com2022-10-28T07:15:35-07:00tag:minnesotaconnected.com,2012-09-20:142712018 Minnesota Twins Season Preview<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Minnesota_Twins_Insignia.png"><img class="size-full wp-image-399966 aligncenter" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Minnesota_Twins_Insignia.png" alt="" height="467" width="726"></a>Last season, the Minnesota Twins had a major turnaround following the worst season in Twins history in 2016. They finished last season with a record of 85-77 and made it to the American League Wild Card game in which they were defeated by the New York Yankees.
This year’s team is somewhat different from last season with several players leaving due to free agency or retirement. Some of the key departures from last year’s team include: backup catcher Chris Gimenez, starting pitchers Hector Santiago and Bartolo Colon and reliever Matt Belisle. Also, reliever Glen Perkins retired.
In the offseason, the Twins upgraded their bullpen. They added relievers Zach Duke, Addison Reed and Fernando Rodney. During Spring Training, the roster makeover continued. The Twins added starting pitcher Jake Odorizzi via a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays. They also signed starting pitcher Lance Lynn and Power hitter Logan Morrison to be their DH.
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/41105379961_d9cbb0c8cb_k.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1315622" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/41105379961_d9cbb0c8cb_k.jpg" alt="" height="1543" width="2048"></a>With the start of the season upon us, it’s time to preview the Twins roster.
The Offense
Last season, the Twins had another solid offensive year. On the season, they were forth in the American League in runs scored (815), sixth in doubles (286), fourth in triples (31), ninth in home runs (206) and fifth in stolen bases (95). They were third in walks (593), had the seventh most strikeouts (1342), were fourth in batting average (.260), fourth in on base percentage (.334) and sixth in slugging percentage (.434).
Brian Dozier led the offense in home runs (34), runs scored (106) and RBIs (93). The offense had six players with 70 or more RBIs last season (Dozier, Joe Mauer, Miguel Sano, Eddie Rosario, Jorge Polanco and Eduardo Escobar). Max Kepler nearly became the seventh, but fell short at 69. In the stolen base department, Byron Buxton led the team with 29.
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</a>Going into the season, the Twins should have an even better lineup with the addition of Morrison, who hit 38 home runs with 85 RBIs last season. Sano looks to be back and healthy after a late August stress reaction in his left shin ultimately led him to having surgery last November. He is a huge bat and will be crucial to the Twins success in 2018. Also, if Byron Buxton can continue his improved hitting from late last season, it will be a big help in improving the Twins offense.
One notable absence from the starting lineup will be shortstop Polanco, who won’t be with the club due to being suspended for 80 games due to a failed PED test.
Pitching
Last season, the Twins used 36 pitchers, which set a new record for most pitchers used in a season by the club. The staff was ninth in the American League in ERA (4.59), ninth in runs allowed (788), eleventh in home runs allowed (224), fourth in walks (483) and fourteenth in strikeouts (1166).
Staff ace Ervin Santana, who will miss the first month of the season due to having surgery on a finger on his pitching hand to remove calcium deposits late this past offseason, led the staff this past season in wins (16), strikeouts (167), and innings pitched (211 1/3). Santana will be a big boost to the staff once he returns which figures to be in early May.
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Due to the fact the Twins have several off days the first month of the season, they will in the meantime use mostly a four man rotation consisting of Odorizzi, Kyle Gibson, Jose Berrios and Lynn. Phil Hughes, who had another surgery on his ribs late last season, is on the Disabled List due to a sore left oblique muscle. He is tentatively penciled in to be the fifth starter.
Another thing that will help the pitching staff is if Gibson can continue to pitch the way he did after improving from a very shaky first half of the season last season. Also, the additions of starters Lynn and Odorizzi as well as the additions of relievers Reed, Duke and Rodney will be a boost to the staff as well provided they all perform is they are capable of.
The Defense
The Twins had one of the best defenses in baseball last season. They made only 78 errors, second best in the American League. They also turned 143 double plays and led the American League in fielding percentage at .987. Continuing this strong defensive performance will be a key to another successful season by this team.
Predictions
In an American League Central that figures to be weak with the rebuilding of the White Sox and Detroit Tigers and a weakened Kansas City Royals team, the Twins only real threat to their hopes of winning the division is the Cleveland Indians -- they won the division title for the second time in a row last season. Considering the fact the Twins have a starting pitching rotation with five solid starters once Santana returns and a strong rebuilt bullpen, I would not be at all surprised that the Twins win the American League Central Division Title. I think the Twins have a realistic shot of winning 90 games or more.
To accomplish this, the Twins will need to have sound pitching, have a solid performance at the plate and on the field.
It all starts today in Baltimore when the Twins face the Orioles at 2:05 p.m. CST.
Photos by: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/people/begreen90/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BeGreen90</a> -- <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/keithallison/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Keith Allison</a>2018-03-28T22:00:00-07:002022-10-28T07:08:28-07:00Troy Larsontag:minnesotaconnected.com,2012-09-20:14280After Long Last -- Jack Morris is a Hall of Famer<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/jack-morris-1991-world-series.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1313335" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/jack-morris-1991-world-series.jpg" alt="" height="1500" width="2000"></a>
It was announced on Sunday that Jack Morris had been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Modern Baseball Era Committee. Morris, who had 254 career wins in an 18-season career, received 14 votes from the 16 member committee that consisted of Hall Of Fame members, Major league executives and veteran historians.
Morris, who was elected along with his fellow Detroit Tigers teammate, Alan Trammelll, is best remembered by Minnesota Twins fans for pitching a ten inning, complete game 1-0 shutout in <a href="http://bit.ly/2mduz9Z" target="_blank" rel="noopener">game seven to win the 1991 World Series</a> over the Atlanta Braves.
Morris had a career ERA of 3.90 and struck out over 200 batters in a season three times. He had three seasons in which he won 20 games or more and was the winningest pitcher in the 1980’s with 162 wins. He contributed to four World Series winning teams.
Morris, who grew up in St. Paul, will join Hall of Famers Paul Molitor and Dave Winfield, who also hail from St. Paul. Both Morris and Trammmell will be inducted along with those that win the vote from the Baseball Writers Association of America on July 29, 2018.
While Morris’s career stats may not be as impressive as other Hall of Fame pitchers, he was a major contributor to the success of the teams he played for. Not many pitchers can say that they had pitched a 1-0, ten inning shutout -- hardly any pitcher can say they pitched said shutout in Game 7 of the World Series.
If Morris’s career stats can’t convince you that he deserves to be in the Hall of Fame, the fact he pitched well in his crucial games should convince you that this legend deserves to be immortalized among baseball's greatest.2017-12-12T23:00:00-07:002022-10-28T07:08:32-07:00Troy Larsontag:minnesotaconnected.com,2012-09-20:14287Twins Baseball Returns to WCCO Radio<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Minnesota_Twins_Insignia.png"><img class="alignnone wp-image-399966 size-full" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Minnesota_Twins_Insignia.png" alt="" width="726" height="467"></a>
A long time Minnesota tradition is returning to Minnesota in 2018 -- fans will once again tune into WCCO Radio, 830 on your AM dial to listen to Minnesota Twins baseball.
The Twins had been on WCCO radio since they moved from Washington D.C. back in 1961 until the end of the 2006 season. Broadcasters such as Ray Scott, Herb Carneal and John Gordon called the team’s games for 46 seasons on WCCO whose 50,000 watt signal boomed across the upper Midwest and could be picked up in more distant places at night.
In 2007, the Twins took their broadcasts in house and put the games on AM 1500 KSTP, who outbid WCCO for the rights. Unlike WCCO, KSTP’s signal was not a clear signal despite having 50,000 watts of power. At night, KSTP had to change the direction pattern of its signal to protect other stations on that frequency. As a result, it caused inconveniences to Twins fans who listened to the games on the radio in distant areas. Since 2013, the Twins broadcasts had been on 96.3 FM, a radio station held by Twins owner Jim Pohlad which features alternative music when the Twins aren't playing.<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/wcco-radio-twins-baseball-2018.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-1315426" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/wcco-radio-twins-baseball-2018.jpg" alt="" width="570" height="570"></a>
With the move back to WCCO Radio, the Twins will continue to produce the broadcasts including a half hour pre-game show and post-game show along with the games. It is expected that the current broadcast team of Cory Provus and Dan Gladden will remain the same.
Fans and employees of both the Twins and WCCO radio took to Twitter Friday to express their support of the move.
https://twitter.com/SteveThomsonMN/status/931658857646092288
https://twitter.com/JASONdeanSTERN/status/931605407675703297
https://twitter.com/CoryProvus/status/931559008867094529
https://twitter.com/TwinsPrez/status/931550296060366850
For me as a Twins fan, this is a homecoming of sorts. I remember listening to the Twins on WCCO Radio and being able to pick the games up at night in places like Des Moines, Iowa. Sure, we now have the modern conveniences of streaming the games on our mobile devices and computers if we can’t get the broadcasts on radio -- but there is something different about picking up a broadcast on a radio especially at night when you’re hundreds of miles from the station.
With the Twins move back to WCCO Radio, a homecoming of sorts, I will expect many more memories listening to the broadcasts.
Image courtesy of: WCCO Radio2017-11-17T23:00:00-07:002022-10-28T07:08:34-07:00Troy Larsontag:minnesotaconnected.com,2012-09-20:14291The 1991 World Series is Still the Greatest of All-Time. Period.<a href="http://dev.minnesotaconnected.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/1991-world-series-puckett.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1313334 aligncenter" src="http://dev.minnesotaconnected.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/1991-world-series-puckett.jpg" alt="" width="570" height="341" /></a>
After some time to really let this year's World Series sink in and hearing several fans and sports pundits gloat about 2017 being the best World Series fans had ever seen, I had to dig my heels and boast about 1991 still being the greatest display of championship baseball, ever.
Sure, I'm biased. I'm from Minnesota, I'm a Twins fan -- but I'm sure most baseball experts would agree, the 1991 World Series, a championship bout which featured the Minnesota Twins and the Atlanta Braves, is still the greatest World Series of all-time. And it's not close.
If you want to get some chills and remember what championships feel like, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3c6wEIYlzEI" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">watch this awesome video summarizing the series</a>. I had this on VHS as a kid and watched it more times than I can count. Since then, I've watched it several times online.
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The 1991 World Series showcased four, yes, four walk-off hits to win World Series games for the home team. Four. Five games in the series were decided in the 8th inning or later.
Feeble arguments can be made that either the 2016 World Series, the Chicago Cubs vs. the Cleveland Indians, or this years' World Series, the Houston Astros vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers, were better. Some from St. Louis might even argue for 2011 World Series -- the Cardinals beat the Texas Rangers in dramatic fashion in Game 6 as St. Louis native David Freese had two season-saving hits within two innings of one another to force a Game 7. Or the 2001 World Series between the New York Yankees and Arizona Diamondbacks which went seven games, with the home team winning each contest, the first time that had been done since... 1991.
There are of course plenty of other notable moments, like Joe Carter's walk-off, World Series winning home run, Don Larsen's perfect game in 1956, the Mets 1986 World Series Game 7 victory that was overshadowed by one Bill Buckner, or dominating pitching performances from Sandy Koufax, Randy Johnson, and more recently, Madison Bumgarner.
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But the most competitive, wire-to-wire, nail biting series was, without a doubt, the 1991 World Series. And what a story it was. The series featured dominant pitching performances, two acclaimed Mangers in Bobby Cox and Tom Kelly, fantastic defense, several dramatic plays at the plate, and best of all, clutch hitting from both teams.
The two most recent World Series both went to seven games -- but it's impossible to argue either of those series were as dramatic and down to the wire as the Twins vs. the Braves.
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Last year, the Cubs finally ended their 108 year championship drought, with Cleveland fighting to end a drought of their own. But while the Cubs finally rewarded fans after decades of attrition, many of the games in the series were not close even though the teams scored the same amount of runs when all was said and done.
The 2016 series ended well for the Cubs with an epic Game 7 that went into extra innings and didn't conclude until a 17 minute rain delay was over. But four of the seven games were decisive victories for one team. Three of the four games last year were one run games -- the other four games were not contests, with a five-run, a four-run, and two six-run blow outs. So while those in Wrigleyville were happy the Cubbies finally won, and it most definitely their favorite World Series of all-time, it certainly is not the greatest.
The 2017 World Series was not short on drama showcasing both teams throwing hay makers at one another, game after game. I'd argue this 2017 series bested 2016 with close contests between the foes for the most part. There were two four-run victories, last of which was the relatively ho-hum Game 7 Astros winner. Aside from that, the games were tight contests, with lead changes, two extra inning games, some quality pitching, and lots of big home runs.
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And don't even get me started on the obviously <a href="https://www.theringer.com/2017/6/14/16044264/2017-mlb-home-run-spike-juiced-ball-testing-reveal-155cd21108bc" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">"juiced" baseballs</a> that players are hitting out with relative ease. This year featured the most home runs in a season in MLB history, 412 more than ever before, shattering the previous record. I love home runs, but this really is a ploy by baseball to get young fans excited (chicks dig the long ball) in their dated and some would argue decaying sport. These "juiced" baseballs feel like a disservice to all the hitting statistics of years past -- and we all know baseball loves its history.
But even this year's series didn't feature the story lines and drama that was 1991 -- both the Dodgers and Astros were touted as World Series hopefuls to start the 2017 campaign -- heck, Sports Illustrated even brilliantly predicted the Astros would win the 2017 World Series <a href="https://usatftw.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/10464218_10154263320520431_6241616349984624771_n.jpg?w=1000" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">three years ago</a>. But in 1991, both the Braves and Twins were Cinderella stories -- both teams. In 1990, the pair literally finished in last place in their respective leagues -- in 1991, both teams went from worst to first, in one season. Now that's a story you can't write.
The series itself was rich with baseball greats all facing off against one another -- Jack Morris was in the twilight of his career, but still the ever effective ace. He squared off against a young John Smoltz in two games, a budding superstar pitcher who idolized Morris as a kid when "Black Jack" was with the Detroit Tigers. Both of their match ups were pitching gems, with Game 7 being a career highlight for both pitchers.
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The 1991 World Series featured home teams winning all their games, just like the 2017 Astros/Dodgers bout. This favored the Twins, who took the first two games and had a solid 2-0 lead.
Game 2 had 1991 Cy Young Award winner Tom Glavine facing off against Twins 16-game winner Kevin Tapini. The game was tied 2-2 into the bottom of the 8th inning with the Twins eventually winning on the solo home run from unheralded Scott Leius.
But the Braves were not done - they won both Game 3 and Game 4 on dramatic walk-off hits.
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Game 3 was a 12-inning thriller that is considered by some the greatest game in World Series history that ended with a single from Mark Lemke knocking in David Justice who just beat the throw to the plate -- a throw to the plate to stop a game-winning run, the height of postseason baseball drama.
Game 4 was more of the same, with Lemke again being a late-inning hero and beating out a throw to the plate by inches to tie the series 2-2 -- again, a throw to the plate to stop a game-winning run, the height of postseason baseball drama -- this happened, in back to back World Series games.
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Game 5 was the only blowout of the series, with Atlanta stomping the Twins 14-5. The game was relatively competitive until a six-run 7th inning put the Twins away.
Onto Game 6, without a doubt one of the most memorable games in Minnesota sports history. Step to the stage, Kirby Puckett. He famously told his team before the game to "You guys should jump on my back tonight. I'm going to carry us." The game was a tight affair, with Puckett making his <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQksDqxG36s" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">famous leaping catch</a> at the wall to keep the Braves from scoring. Fast forward to the 11th inning, another tied game, 3-3, with Puckett up to bat. He launched a home run to give the Twins their first walkoff victory of the series to which renowned announcer Jack Buck famously coined, "We'll see you tomorrow night."
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Quick sidebar: although I am by no means a Joe Buck hater, current World Series announcer and son of Jack Buck, I'll take Jack Buck over Joe Buck any day.
Now, onto Game 7. This game was a pitcher's duel between the aforementioned Jack Morris and John Smoltz. Both pitchers threw shutouts into the 8th inning -- Smoltz was removed in the 8th and Morris pitched a 10 inning complete game. Now, some people today will argue in favor of the blitzkrieg of home runs and deep balls produced by the 2017 World Series, which again, saw a record of home runs, but I'll take a pitcher's duel with the World Series on the line, ten times out of ten.
In the bottom of the tenth, with the bases loaded for the Twins, in steps another unknown Twins pinch-hitter, Gene Larkin, who won the game with a walk-off single. Ultimate finish, to the ultimate World Series. Jack Buck again famously shouted after Larkin's hit soared high into left field, "The Twins are going to win the World Series!"
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Now, let's look at those other Game 7's. Yes, the Cubs victory was a memorable finish, but the rest of the series featured several blow outs as previously mentioned. The Astros won their Game 7 decisively, 5-1. The Cardinals won their Game 7 decisively in 2011, with a 6-2 victory. The Yankees/Diamondbacks 2001 World Series Game 7 was a walk-off winner from Luis Gonzalez, and featured two walk-off winners from the Yankees in New York -- but it also featured an eight run, four run and thirteen run blowouts. The best part about that series was seeing the Yankees come up short trying to win their fourth(!!) straight title. In 1986, the first game post Buckner, the Mets won comfortable, 8-5, to beat the Red Sox.
So all this talk aside, you can see that while many of the series mentioned had their drama and heroic moments, none were as close as Twins/Braves. None. Each game in 1991 (besides Game 5) was a tight race. The Braves had their backs against the wall after starting down 0-2 -- the Twins had their backs against the wall after losing three straight in Atlanta.
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There was no shortage of dramatic finishes, with games decided on back to back nights with Atlanta runners scoring just before a throw home -- the series had the best pitchers pitching their best and hitters breaking through in memorable fashion. It wasn't artificially inflated by juiced baseballs (though some of the players were likely using steroids) with home run after home run to turn the tide for one team or the other -- the 1991 World Series was a strategic, scratch runs across, pitch and play defense type of series.
Maybe I'm just caught up on the last championship this state achieved minus the Minnesota Lynx in the past 50 years -- but I'd say not. There are plenty of numbers and relevant arguments to prove the 1991 World Series still stands as the greatest championship bout Major League Baseball has ever seen.
Photos courtesy of: <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Madison_Bumgarner_2016_NL_Wild_Card_Game_1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Wikipedia</a> -- MLB
2017-11-08T23:00:00-07:002022-10-28T07:08:36-07:00Matthew Deerytag:minnesotaconnected.com,2012-09-20:14307Ervin Santana Continues to Be the Twins Rock in the Rotation<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/34723964181_26d0c0f4f0_z.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-1313144" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/34723964181_26d0c0f4f0_z.jpg" alt="" width="570" height="500" /></a>
When I look at the success of the Minnesota Twins thus far this season, there’s one pitcher that stands out -- Ervin Santana.
When Santana takes the mound tonight against the Seattle Mariners at Target Field, he would be making his 13th start of the season which leads the club. He has a record of 8-3 with a 2.20 ERA in 90 innings pitched. He’s allowed 23 runs, 22 of which are earned. He has held opponents to a .154 batting average, but unfortunately has given up 11 home runs. He also has 33 walks with 63 strikeouts.
Santana has pitched three complete game shutouts this season which leads the majors. His most recent shutout Occurred on Friday in the Twins 4-0 victory over the San Francisco Giants. Not only did Santana pitch a shutout, he also provided most of the offense by driving in three runs on a bases clearing double in the fourth inning.
Santana should have nine wins to this point. Unfortunately, the one game he didn’t win occurred on Memorial Day when the Twins took on the Houston Astros.
Heading into the eighth inning, the Twins were up 8-2. Santana had pitched seven innings, allowing five hits and two runs to the potent Houston offense, with only one of those runs earned. In the eighth, the bullpen couldn’t shut the game down. When the faucet was finally turned off, Houston had scored eleven runs in the eighth and 3 more in the ninth to make the final score 16-8.
The worst start for Santana so far this season occurred the next start he made against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He had already allowed three runs to the Angels when Albert Pujols came to bat with the bases loaded in the fourth inning. Pujols would go on to hit a historic grand slam. Pujols made MLB history by becoming the ninth player to have 600 home runs in his MLB career. He would also become the first player to hit a grand slam for his 600th career home run.
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When the dust had settled, Santana would allow seven runs, all of them earned in four innings pitched. His ERA would go from 1.75 to 2.44.
Ervin Santana is on track to contend for the Cy Young Award if he keeps up what he’s been doing on the mound this season. With the Twins bullpen struggling lately, it is a big boost to the team if Santana can pitch late into his starts.
There’s no guarantee that Santana will have a solid outing every time he toes the rubber. However, when he does pitch, he oftentimes has provided a solid start. Santana is a key to the Twins successful turnaround this season thus far -- his contributions have help take this team from a dumpster fire to first place. Now let's see where the summer takes us.
Photos courtesy of: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/keithallison/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Keith Allison</a> -- <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/begreen90/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">BeGreen90</a>2017-06-13T22:00:00-07:002022-10-28T07:08:42-07:00Troy Larsontag:minnesotaconnected.com,2012-09-20:14317Miguel Sano Stays Red Hot<a href="http://minnesotaconnected.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/20992761851_c00363d0af_b.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-1312974" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/20992761851_c00363d0af_b.jpg" alt="" width="570" height="321" /></a>
The Minnesota Twins have completed their first month of play, finishing above most fans' expectations. This is a much improved ball club from the Twins of last April where they had a record of 7-17 that month and would go on to finish the season 59-103 and would never get out of the cellar.
Part of the Twins much improved play is the performance of Miguel Sano. Sano currently has a batting line of .317/.446/.707 with 8 HRs, 27 RBIs and 19 runs scored. He also has 19 bases on balls and 33 strikeouts.
In Sunday’s 7-5 win over the Kansas City Royals, Sano was basically a one man wrecking machine. He drove in five of the Twins runs on three hits in five at bats with three of those RBIs coming on a homerun in the third inning.
Last night, in a 9-1 victory over the Oakland Athletics, Sano hit a no-doubter bomb that went into the restaurant over centerfield (and sadly <a href="https://bustedcoverage.com/2017/05/03/miguel-sano-home-run-lady-hit-by-ball/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">hit a woman</a> in the restaurant). The homerun made ripples around the league as people awed at Sano's power. The homerun is said to be the <a href="http://minnesotaconnected.com/arts-entertainment/the-longest-home-runs-in-the-history-of-target-field_614147/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">longest</a> in Target Field history.
Miguel Sano hits monster HR over batter's eye in CF <a href="https://t.co/8q05BnB7bX">pic.twitter.com/8q05BnB7bX</a>
— That Dude (@cjzer0) <a href="https://twitter.com/cjzer0/status/859578095791210497">May 3, 2017</a>
If you were to calculate Sano’s stats out for the whole season, they would be MVP type numbers. He would have 49 HRs with 176 RBIs and 120 runs scored.
To put it in historical context, if Sano were to continue his current pace, he would have the fourth highest RBI total in a season, seven behind Hall Of Famer Hank Greenberg, who had 183 RBIs for the Detroit Tigers in 1937 for the third highest RBI total.
Sano’s projected homerun total of 49 would tie Harmon Killebrew, who hit 49 HRs in 1964 and 1969, for the most homeruns for a season in Twins history.
To illustrate how important Sano’s success thus far this season has been to the Twins, the Twins have scored 110 runs. Sano figured in 37 of those runs -- roughly a third of the runs the Twins runs scored.
Sano has quietly put up an excellent season thus far. Realistically, he probably won’t keep up his current pace. Yet, we can’t help to wonder if Sano really could continue this current performance. Baseball is a game of ups and downs as far as performance is concerned.
If Sano does continue his current pace, the Twins and the residents of Twins territory could be talking playoffs by the time the season nears the end. It’s almost certain the performances of other players that are currently struggling are bound to pick up.
One thing is for sure -- the production of Miguel Sano is a key to the Twins success thus far and will be a key to how successful the Twins are the rest of the season, and for years to come.
Photo by: <a class="owner-name truncate" title="Go to beisbolsinaloa's photostream" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/51630963@N06/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-track="attributionNameClick" data-rapid_p="76">beisbolsinaloa</a>2017-05-02T22:00:00-07:002022-10-28T07:08:46-07:00Troy Larsontag:minnesotaconnected.com,2012-09-20:143232017 Minnesota Twins Season Preview<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Minnesota_Twins_Insignia.png"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-399966" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Minnesota_Twins_Insignia.png" alt="" width="570" height="367" /></a>
The Minnesota Twins had an awful season last year -- they finished with a record of 59-103 -- the worst in Twins franchise history and the worst record in the majors last year. This performance by the club prompted a front office overhaul with Derek Falvey hired from the Cleveland Indians as the Chief Baseball Officer and Phad Levine hired from the Texas Rangers as General Manager.
Yet, most of the players that were here this past season still remain. Catcher Kurt Suzuki was not re-signed, but was replaced by Jason Castro, a free agent signing to be the Twins starting catcher. Matt Belisle and former Twin Craig Breslow were signed to add depth in the bullpen. Besides that, not a whole lot has changed except for a couple of members of the coaching staff and the departure of Trevor Plouffe.
With the start of the season upon us, I'm going to dive in and break down the Twins roster. I will also make predictions on how I feel this team can do this season.
The Offense
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/20640138308_b452fd929e_z.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-732639" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/20640138308_b452fd929e_z.jpg" alt="" width="570" height="336" /></a>Despite sputtering on fumes at times, the offense was actually the most positive area of the team last year. They were ninth in the American League in runs scored (722), eighth in home runs (200), fourth in doubles (288), first in triples (35) and fifth in stolen bases (91). They were fifth in walks (513) and ninth in slugging percentage (.421). The most glaring area was strikeouts, with 1426, the third most in the AL.
The offense also saw the remarkable performance of second baseman Brian Dozier, who clubbed 42 home runs, becoming the first Twins player to hit 40 home runs in a season since Harmon Killebrew hit 41 back in 1970. Dozier’s performance also saw a new American League home run total for a second baseman with 40 of those home runs hit while playing second base.
However, both Kennys Vargas nor Byung–ho Park, the two leading candidates to be the Twins designated hitter this season, will not be with the club to start the season. Park will begin the season at Rochester -- that is surprising considering the fact that he led the Twins with six home runs this spring and a .353 batting average. Vargas isn’t with the club as a result of limited play in the World Baseball Classic and also an injury suffered as a result of fouling a ball off of his foot in a spring training game a week ago Friday. Robbie Grossman will be the Twins DH to start the season.
Pitching
<img class="aligncenter wp-image-232418" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Target-Field-2014-Matthew-Deery.png" alt="" width="570" height="321" />
The pitching staff has a couple of question marks heading into the season, both injury related:
How will Glen Perkins perform once he returns later this season after surgery to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder last June?
Also, will Phil Hughes be an improved pitcher after having surgery to remove a rib below his right shoulder last season?
As for the performance of the pitching staff, they had an ERA of 5.08, last in the American League. Also, they allowed 479 walks last season, which puts them in the middle of that category.
Ervin Santana had the best performance of the starting pitchers last season. In 30 starts, he had a record of 7-11, 3.38 ERA, 149 strikeouts and 52 walks in 181 1/3 innings pitched.
Another thing to note about the pitching staff is there are currently eight relievers in the bullpen to start the season. Part of it is due to the fact that the bullpen was overworked last season -- bad starting pitching will do that to you.
The Twins kept Justin Haley whom they acquired in the Rule 5 draft last December from the Boston Red Sox. As a result, Haley has to remain on the Twins big league roster or the Twins have to send him back to the Red Sox.
Defense
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/26189072562_71a12b8e00_z.jpg"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-1193256" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/26189072562_71a12b8e00_z.jpg" alt="" width="570" height="380" /></a>
The Twins fielding was the worst in the American League last year. Not only that, but they allowed the most runs with 889. A more positive note on the defense is the Twins did turn 172 double plays, which is more than one double play per game.
Miguel Sano had the most errors with 18. A lot of those errors had to do with the fact that the Twins were experimenting with Sano in the outfield early in the season last year before finally moving him back to third base.
Although the Twins defense is mostly the same from last year, Castro should be an upgrade to Suzuki behind the plate. Suzuki only threw out 12 out of 64 attempted base stealers for a caught stealing rate of 19%. Castro meanwhile threw out 14 out of 59 attempted base stealers for a caught stealing rate of 24% while with Houston last year. Also, Castro is better at the "art of pitch framing" compared to Suzuki.
Predictions
The Twins were the worst team in all of baseball last year.
I can’t see any reason at all to see a playoff leap this season. With a competitive American League Central, I don’t expect to see the Twins contend for the division title or a playoff spot.
However, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if the Twins had something close to an 81-81 record given the talent on this roster. A more realistic record would be 75-87. All it would take is a turn around by the pitching staff and an improvement in the defense. Plus, the offense would have to put up similar numbers to last year.
The season will all begin Monday as the Twins take on their division rivals in the Kansas City Royals at Target Field.
First pitch is at 3:10 p.m. Ervin Ervin Santana will take the hill for the Twins while Kansas City goes with Danny Duffy. Hopefully we can get a win and start the season off on the right foot.
Images courtesy of: Minnesota Twins -- <a href="http://matthewdeery.com/" target="_blank">Matthew Deery</a> -- <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/keithallison/" target="_blank">Keith Allison</a>
2017-04-02T22:00:00-07:002022-10-28T07:08:49-07:00Troy Larsontag:minnesotaconnected.com,2012-09-20:14348Minnesota Twins Caravan and Twinsfest Prep Fans for Summer of Baseball<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Screen-Shot-2017-01-19-at-9.21.53-PM.png"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-1312615" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Screen-Shot-2017-01-19-at-9.21.53-PM.png" width="570" height="576" /></a>
It’s the middle of winter and we have all been hibernating as much as possible from the cold weather. Yet, it’s only about a month before the Minnesota Twins officially arrive at Spring Training on February 13 with pitchers and catchers reporting. The rest of the players report on February 17. However, if you’re looking for a baseball fix, the Twins have some events to get you ready for the upcoming season.
The first is <a href="http://m.mlb.com/twins/tickets/info/twinsfest">Twinsfest</a> which will be held at Target Field on January 27-29 and will feature around 60 current, former and future Twins players. There will be many activities such as autographs, photo opportunities and sports memorabilia and card shows.
One of the new activities at Twinsfest will be a taproom located in the Metropolitan Club. It will feature the Twinsfest first ever beer garden with craft beers, pub games, yard games and classic arcade games. It is being advertised as a place for friends and family to meet.
Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for kids 14 and under. Metro Transit will be providing free rides to Twinsfest. You can find out more information and or to purchase tickets by following this <a href="http://m.mlb.com/twins/tickets/info/twinsfest">link</a>.
The next Twins event is the annual Twins Caravan. The Twins Caravan will run from January 16 to January 26. It will feature more than 40 stops by Twins players and other Twins personnel at schools, hospitals, service clubs and corporations during the day and a stop in the evenings that will feature a program.
I will say this again. I would recommend fans to check out a Twins Caravan stop since it allows fans to interact with the players and to get free autographs. If you would like more information, go to this <a href="http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/min/community/winter-caravan/">link</a>.
I know it’s hard to think about baseball with the cold of winter upon us. However, I believe that attending either Twinsfest or a Twins caravan stop will put you in the mood for the summer and baseball.
Image courtesy of: Minnesota Twins
2017-01-18T23:00:00-07:002022-10-28T07:08:59-07:00Troy Larsontag:minnesotaconnected.com,2012-09-20:14370Twins Hire Young Talent for Front Office -- Who is Derek Falvey? <a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/derek-falvey-twins.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1256050 aligncenter" alt="derek falvey - twins" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/derek-falvey-twins.jpg" width="553" height="311" /></a>
Back in the fall of 1986, the Minnesota Twins promoted 33 year-old Andy MacPhail to General Manager. MacPhail had been serving as Vice President of Player Personnel since August of 1985 with the Twins. He had been an executive in the Houston Astros organization early in his career and had previously worked in the Chicago Cubs organization as well.
When the Twins were sold to Carl Pohlad back in 1984, then owner Calvin Griffith suggested to keep Howard Fox on as General Manager. Griffith had been the Twins GM since moving to Minnesota from Washington D.C back in 1961. This meant the front office was staffed by largely members and friends of the Griffith family.
It was a shift in the Twins philosophy promoting from within when MacPhail was brought in. The Twins have had several losing seasons when he joined the front office.
When MacPhail became GM a little more than a year after first hired, he inherited a club that featured several talented players such as Kent Hrbek, Gary Gaetti, Kirby Puckett and Frank Viola, all of whom had been developed by the Twins farm system. They were coming off a season in which they had a record of 71-91 and finished in sixth place in a seven team American League West Division. Tom Kelly had finished the season as Interim Manager after Ray Miller was fired in September, going 12-11 in the season’s final 23 games.
MacPhail would keep Kelly on as the permanent Manager. Not only that, he made several trades, getting players such as outfielder Dan Gladden and relief pitcher Jeff Reardon. This team was poised to compete and would go on and win the 1987 World Series. Some of the players who were on the 1987 World Series team would go on and win the 1991 World Series as well.
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Screen-Shot-2016-07-25-at-1.31.29-PM.png"><img class="wp-image-1155147 aligncenter" alt="terry ryan - twins - fired - 2016" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Screen-Shot-2016-07-25-at-1.31.29-PM.png" width="570" height="368" /></a>
MacPhail left the Twins organization after the strike shortened 1994 season. The Twins promoted Terry Ryan to General Manager. Ryan would be the Twins GM from 1995-2007 and then again from 2012-2016 when he was replaced by Rob Antony in July on an interim basis. The Twins promoted Bill Smith to GM after the 2007 season and he would remain until after the 2011 season.
Now, the Twins are again going outside the organization for someone to lead their baseball operations. They have hired 33-year-old Derek Falvey, an executive assistant from the Cleveland Indians organization, to be their Executive Vice President and Chief Baseball Officer.
Several losing seasons have necessitated a restructuring of the baseball operations and a change in philosophy. Falvey is known for helping the Indians develop one of the best pitching staffs in the game which have led them to a Game 7 in this year’s World Series.
The Twins will no doubt need Falvey’s expertise moving forward when it comes to developing their future pitching staff, considering the fact they have had one of the worst collection of pitchers in the majors the past few seasons. This year, the Twins had the second worst ERA in the majors at 5.08.
One of the more immediate changes I believe we can expect to occur is a change in at least some of the coaching staff. When a club has its worst season at 59-103 after having a winning season at 83-79 the previous year, it is necessary to change some of the leadership. I wouldn’t be surprised if Manager Paul Molitor isn’t canned as well, although the Twins have said that Molitor will be back next year.
I believe that we will be seeing changes in the Twins organization when Falvey begins his new job now that Cleveland’s World Series run is over. However, unlike when MacPhail led the Twins baseball operations, I don’t expect a World Series championship next season. For one thing, most of the core on the 1987 championship team had been playing in the majors for a few seasons, unlike the current core of Miguel Sano, Brian Dozier, Byron Buxton, Max Kepler and Eddie Rosario, who have with the exception of Dozier only played at most almost two seasons in the majors.
However, what I do believe will happen is there will be a new look Twins for years to come. And, the changes will be for the better. Like MacPhail, I believe that Falvey will turn the club around. It will take a little more time than when MacPhail was the GM. What I can tell you for certain is better days are ahead for the Twins and fans of Twins Territory.
Photos courtesy of: Wikipedia
2016-11-01T22:00:00-07:002022-10-28T07:09:07-07:00Troy Larsontag:minnesotaconnected.com,2012-09-20:14397The MLB 'Hall of Fame' Tour Set to Visit the Mall of America<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Screen-Shot-2016-07-15-at-4.42.42-PM.png"><img class="wp-image-1143206 aligncenter" alt="MLB Hall of Fame Tour - MOA - Minnesota" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Screen-Shot-2016-07-15-at-4.42.42-PM.png" width="570" height="260" /></a>
Are you a baseball nut like me? Well, I have just the event just for you.
From September 16 to September 29, the Hall of Fame Tour will be at the Mall Of America. This tour combines artifacts from the Baseball Hall of Fame that is located in Cooperstown and cutting edge technology that will bring fans close to the game.
There are several exhibits that feature various interactive activities, covering many aspects of the game. You can learn about inspirational stories from the game’s greats in the "Our Stories" exhibit, test your baseball knowledge in the "Our Traditions" exhibit and experience and unique presentation of sights, sounds and artifacts from the game’s biggest moments in the "Our Memories" exhibit.
Also, every plaque of every Hall of Famer that was inducted into Cooperstown will be on display. And, if you really want to go high tech, put on a virtual reality headset in the tour’s Jaunt VR Lounge and experience being on the field or in the dugout with some of today’s greats.
The price for all this is $26 for adults, $22 for seniors, $17 for students 11 years old and up and $10 for children ages 4-10. If you want more info or to purchase tickets, <a href="http://m.mlb.com/hall-of-fame-tour/" target="_blank">follow this link</a>.
This sounds like a really fun event and one that all baseball fans should attend.
Image courtesy of: Wikipedia
2016-07-13T22:00:00-07:002022-10-28T07:09:18-07:00Troy Larsontag:minnesotaconnected.com,2012-09-20:14401How the iPhone Helps a Blind Baseball Fanatic<a href="http://minnesotaconnected.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/iphone6-how-it-helps-the-blind.jpeg"><img class=" wp-image-1123698 aligncenter" alt="iphone6-how it helps the blind" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/iphone6-how-it-helps-the-blind.jpg" width="570" height="304" /></a>
There are many ways an iPhone can help a blind person like myself. You might wonder how since the device relies heavily on a touch screen. Let me share with you my experiences with my iPhone.
When I got my first iPhone last December, I never dreamed of how big of a role the device would play in my baseball fandom. Initially, I had gotten the iPhone in order to have a phone that was more accessible than my flip phone. With the iPhone, I can send and receive messages and add phone numbers to my phone book, things I couldn’t do on my flip phone since I could not see the screen on it. I also wanted to be able to check things like email and Facebook while I was on the go, something the iPhone has helped me with tremendously.
Being blind, how do I use this touchscreen device? If you were to go to the settings menu, under general you will find accessibility. Under that, you will find an option called voiceover. If you turn this option on, you will hear the iPhone begin to speak. Not only that, it will change how a person interacts with the touch screen. With this option enabled, the iPhone will speak what’s on the screen, allowing a blind person to use it.
Given I am a huge baseball fan, the iPhone has helped me in even more ways than my sports-loving mind could imagine.
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Screen-Shot-2016-07-01-at-12.11.49-PM.png"><img class=" wp-image-1123709 aligncenter" alt="mlb baseball app - twins fan" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Screen-Shot-2016-07-01-at-12.11.49-PM.png" width="524" height="309" /></a>
Back in March, I downloaded the MLB.com "At Bat" app to my phone. The app itself is free and through it I can check the latest Twins news, find out the latest scores and check the standings.
There is one feature I especially enjoy called "Gameday Audio" which allows fans to listen to any Major League Baseball game that is carried on the radio. Even better, you have your choice of the home or visiting team’s feed to pick from. And if you prefer to listen to the games in Spanish, some teams have that option as well. It only costs about $20 per season to use this feature. I would gladly pay the price for Gameday Audio over cable any day since I can’t see the picture on the television screen anyway.
When I usually attend a Twins game, I bring along my radio and headphones since I cannot see the game on the field. The only time this isn’t possible is if I attend a Spring Training game down in Florida where there is no local station carrying the game. Then, my Dad does his best to describe the action on the field.
This past March, I attended a Twins Spring Training game while I was in Florida. I had my iPhone and headphones at this Spring Training game because the Twins broadcast team was broadcasting this particular game. It was like I was at home sitting in the stands at Target Field, listening to the Twins radio team of Cory Provus and Dan Gladden paint a picture of what was happening.
I should point out a down side to streaming the game. The stream was an average of a couple of pitches behind. Sometimes it would drop and when it came back on, it would be further behind the action. I would then close and reopen the app to shorten the delay. Despite this, I still think it was worth it to be able to listen to the broadcast.
The iPhone is a wonderful tool for the blind and one that has enriched my life immensely. With different apps, a blind person can use it for many activities, including using it like a radio at a baseball game. The possibilities are seemingly endless.
Photos courtesy of: Apple -- iMore
2016-06-29T22:00:00-07:002022-10-28T07:09:20-07:00Troy Larsontag:minnesotaconnected.com,2012-09-20:14410Twins Pitching Coach Arrested on Suspicion of Drunken Driving<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Minnesota_Twins_Insignia.png"><img class=" wp-image-399966 aligncenter" alt="Minnesota_Twins_Insignia" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Minnesota_Twins_Insignia.png" width="508" height="327" /></a>
It was reported late Thursday that Minnesota Twins Pitching coach Neil Allen was suspended indefinitely following a DWI arrest early Thursday morning. According to the report, Allen was stopped by Hennepin County Sheriff’s Officers at Sixth Street and Park Avenue at around 2 a.m. in Minneapolis. Allen refused a test and was arrested for suspicion of drunken driving. He was booked in the Hennepin County Jail around 4 a.m. and was released around 10:30 a.m.
The Twins organization had this to say in a statement.
“The Minnesota Twins are aware of the pending DWI charge against pitching coach Neil Allen. Mr. Allen has been suspended, with pay, indefinitely and the matter will be handled in accordance with the policies and procedures of the Minnesota Twins Baseball Club.”
Allen, who was hired as the Twins pitching coach before the 2015 season, has admitted that he had struggled with alcohol throughout his eleven-year major league pitching career. In 1989, while with Cleveland, he blew a .285 in a breathalyzer test administered by a concerned teammate after a night of drinking. In the spring of 2015, he told the Star Tribune that he had not had any alcohol since 1994.
Minor league pitching coordinator Eric Rasmussen will take over the pitching coach duties. Rasmussen has been with the Twins organization for 26 years. He has served several stints as pitching coach for several of the Twins minor league affiliates. For the past eight seasons, he has been the pitching coordinator, traveling to all the Twins minor league affiliates.
It is a shame that something like this has happened. The fact the Twins are currently struggling with a pitching staff near the bottom in the American League in most statistical categories won’t help matters in whether or not Allen does return. We will have to wait and see what develops.
2016-05-28T22:00:00-07:002022-10-28T07:09:23-07:00Troy Larsontag:minnesotaconnected.com,2012-09-20:14414A Quarter of the MLB Season Complete -- Twins Struggles Are Many <a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/12726389803_8c2c75c801_z.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-1076814 aligncenter" alt="miguel sano - twins - 2016 awful" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/12726389803_8c2c75c801_z.jpg" width="512" height="384" /></a>
The Minnesota Twins have had an awful start to the season. They are 14.5 games behind the Chicago White Sox who lead the American League Central. Everything that could go wrong has gone wrong. The offense seems to be running on fumes. The starting pitching at times has been inconsistent. As for the bullpen, it seems like these days you expect a bad performance by most of the relief core. Not only that, the Twins have been shuffling players on and off the 25-man roster either due to injury or lack of performance. Losing streaks of nine and eight games certainly didn’t help matters.
There’s a thought in baseball circles that after 40 games or roughly 25 percent of the season, you have a fairly good impression of a team's identity. As of Sunday, May 22, the Twins have a record of 11-32 through 43 games. They are on pace to surpass the 1962 New York Mets for the most losses in a baseball season at 121. However, they will have one more win than those Mets at 41.
When I look at the Twins season thus far, I think one of the biggest factors for their horrid start is the offense. They are near the bottom in most offensive categories in the American League. They’re 14th in runs scored (152), 14th in hits (338), ninth in doubles (71), 11th in home runs (40), ninth in walks (126), 13th in strikeouts (381), 14th in batting average (.231), 14th in on base percentage (.296) and 15th in slugging percentage (.370). They are however fourth in stolen bases with 30.
Korean slugger Byung-ho Park leads the club with nine home runs and Miguel Sano is second with seven. No one else has no more than four. As for RBIs, Sano leads the club with 19 and Eduardo Nunez is second with 17. Nunez also has a batting average of .320.
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/24782287304_4ca64e5356_z.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-1076815 aligncenter" alt="twins 2016 - park - korean slugger" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/24782287304_4ca64e5356_z.jpg" width="512" height="381" /></a>
The other biggest factor as for why our season has gotten the start it has is our pitching which ranks near the bottom in most categories in the American League. They are 15th in ERA (4.91), 15th in runs allowed (226), 14th in earned runs (207) and 15th in home runs allowed (62). The one positive stat is they are seventh in walks allowed with 129.
Ervin Santana has probably been our most consistent starting pitcher this season. In seven starts, he has an ERA OF 3.13, 14 bases on balls and 32 strikeouts. As for our bullpen, Fernando Abad has been our best reliever. In 19 appearances, he has pitched to an ERA of 0.56 with 5 walks and 15 strikeouts.
The Twins season has certainly gone south. At the beginning of the season, most fans in Twins territory were looking forward to what was shaping up to be an exciting season. Now, it looks like we might be suffering through a long summer.
The Twins could still turn it around this season. However, the one thing that is certain is not to expect a season like last year where the fans of Twins territory followed a club that nearly made it to the playoffs.
Photos courtesy of: <a title="Go to Arturo Pardavila III's photostream" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/apardavila/" target="_blank" data-track="attributionNameClick" data-rapid_p="79">Arturo Pardavila III</a> -- <a title="Go to Bryan Green's photostream" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/begreen90/" target="_blank" data-track="attributionNameClick" data-rapid_p="79">Bryan Green</a>
2016-05-22T22:00:00-07:002022-10-28T07:09:25-07:00Troy Larsontag:minnesotaconnected.com,2012-09-20:14531Minnesota Twins Tied For First Place in the AL Central<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Minnesota_Twins_Insignia.png"><img class=" wp-image-399966 aligncenter" alt="Minnesota_Twins_Insignia" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Minnesota_Twins_Insignia.png" width="508" height="327" /></a>
As unbelievable as it sounds, our hometown ball club has proven the so-called experts wrong thus far in the 2015 season.
Many of those experts believe the Twins are going to have another bad season and finish in last place in the American League Central Division. And many of those experts believe this was the most competitive division in baseball given the fact that all five teams made various moves to improve their clubs this past offseason.
And now, here we are at the end of May, 46 games into the season and the Twins and Kansas City Royals are tied for first place with a record of 28-18. Meanwhile, the favorite to win the AL Central, the Detroit Tigers, sit 1.5 games behind in third place with a record of 28-21 after losing the first of a four game set against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
With the success the Twins have had on the diamond so far this season, I’d say that they’ve exceeded my expectations. If you’d ask me this past winter how the Twins were going to do this season, I would have said they were a .500 ball club. The signings of <a href="http://minnesotaconnected.com/arts-entertainment/sports/torii-hunter-returns-to-minnesota_375897/" target="_blank">Torii Hunter</a> and <a href="http://minnesotaconnected.com/arts-entertainment/sports/minnesota-twins-sign-ervin-santana_379392/" target="_blank">Ervin Santana</a> certainly fueled my optimism for this.
However, there were other factors as well that also needed to be improved upon in order for that to happen. Most of all, improved starting pitching from Ricky Nolasco and Mike Pelfrey. And so far, both have pitched significantly better this season.
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/ricky-nolasco-twins.png"><img class="wp-image-273645 aligncenter" alt="ricky nolasco - twins" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/ricky-nolasco-twins.png" width="457" height="369" /></a>
Nolasco currently is 5-1 (very good), but with an unimpressive ERA of 5.12. However, part of the reason his ERA is high is because of his first start of the season where he gave up 6 runs in 3+ innings to the Tigers during the opening series of the season -- shortly after he landed on the Disabled List due to elbow soreness. In May, Nolasco is 5-0 with an ERA of 3.77.
As for Pelfrey, he is much improved from last season where he had an Era of 7.99 in 5 games before he landed on the Disabled List the rest of the season. This year, he has an ERA of 2.77 with a 4-1 record in nine starts.
I should note that Pelfrey wasn’t even in the starting rotation before the season started. However, when Santana was <a href="http://minnesotaconnected.com/arts-entertainment/sports/twins-pitcher-ervin-santana-suspended-80-games_477584/" target="_blank">suspended</a> for 80 games before the season, Pelfrey was moved from the bullpen into the rotation.
Another factor that boosted my optimism that the Twins were going to be a better ball club was the fact they were fifth in runs scored in the American League with 715 last season. This season so far, they are sixth with 212 runs scored. However, it should be noted that they have only allowed 191 runs this season so far to 777 last season.
At this point, when I look into my crystal ball, I see no reason why not to continue to be optimistic that the Twins can continue winning at the current pace they’re on now. For one thing, the pitching so far this season has mostly been solid. The only starting pitcher that hasn’t performed up to par with last season is Phil Hughes who has an ERA of 4.59 with a record of 4-4. However, Hughes has pitched better in his more recent starts.
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/phil-hughes-minnesota-twins-2014.png"><img class="wp-image-261759 aligncenter" alt="phil hughes - minnesota twins - 2014" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/phil-hughes-minnesota-twins-2014.png" width="570" height="401" /></a>
Another thing has to do with our offense. During the first part of the season, the offense was sputtering. We were near the bottom in almost every offensive category in the American League.
Since the end of April, the offense has picked up. We’re now sixth in runs scored, fourth in batting average, tenth in on-base percentage and tenth in slugging percentage. We’re still near the bottom in home runs with a rank of 13th in the American League, but hey we’ll take it as long as we’re scoring runs and winning.
There’s another reason why I’m optimistic that the Twins will do well. That reason has to do with their record since the first seven games of the season where they were 1-6. If you subtract that, they have a record of 27-12, 15 games over .500. This record has been helped by a May record of 18-6.
Logic would tell you that the Twins won’t be able to sustain this pace throughout the season, but as long as you continue to win series, it makes a world of difference as far as contending for a playoff spot.
If you add in the number of games the Twins have with what are now shaping up to be the other possible contenders in this division for the title, I think that’s another reason to be optimistic about this team. They have 13 games left with the Royals and 10 with the Tigers. The Twins have plenty of opportunities to win games against these teams.
The Twins are certainly having a successful season to this point. They have proven the so-called experts wrong thus far. I’m certainly looking forward to what the rest of the season brings. Who knows, we could be talking World Series contention come October. I know one thing. At this point in the season, anything is possible.
Photos courtesy of: Minnesota Twins -- <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/begreen90" target="_blank">BeGreen90 </a>
2015-05-28T22:00:00-07:002022-10-28T07:10:16-07:00Troy Larsontag:minnesotaconnected.com,2012-09-20:14659Torii Hunter Returns to Minnesota<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/torii-hunter-retruns-to-MN-.jpg"><img class="wp-image-375898 aligncenter" alt="torii hunter retruns to MN" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/torii-hunter-retruns-to-MN-.jpg" width="553" height="472" /></a>
Many fans will remember his outstanding catches. Not only that, but they will remember the many times he would crash into the wall while making those catches. Sometimes, you would wonder if he actually got seriously injured on the play.
Torii Hunter is <a href="http://m.twins.mlb.com/news/article/103009494/twins-sign-torii-hunter-to-one-year-contract" target="_blank">coming back</a> to play for the Minnesota Twins, after signing a one year $10.5 million deal for the 2015 season. He may not be the defensive outfielder he once was, but the 39-year-old veteran will still have a major impact both on the field and in the Twins clubhouse. It is expected that he will play in right field, moving Oswaldo Arcia to left field.
Hunter had played 11 seasons previously with the Twins where he batted .271/.324/.469 with 192 home runs, 251 doubles and 126 stolen bases in 1,234 games. He also won seven gold glove awards and appeared in two All-Star games while with the Twins.
He left Minnesota to sign a 5-year deal with the Anaheim Angels after the 2007 season. The past two seasons, he spent with the Detroit Tigers. Last season with the Tigers, he batted .286/.319/.446 with 17 home runs and 83 RBIs.
For his career, he’s batting .279/.334/.465 with 331 home runs. He’s won nine gold glove awards, all from 2001-2009. He has also won two silver slugger awards (2009 and 2013) and has appeared in five All-Star games.
Hunter still has plenty to offer on the field, but he will be a mentor to the Twins young outfielders. Not only that, but he will be an excellent leader in the Twins clubhouse.
The price tag might seem to be steep for someone who’s not as good as he once was, especially in the field. However, Hunter offers a lot more to the Twins than what his career stats indicate.
Photo by: <a title="Go to Keith Allison's photostream" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/keithallison/" target="_blank" data-track="attributionNameClick" data-rapid_p="56">Keith Allison</a>
2014-12-04T23:00:00-07:002022-10-28T07:11:09-07:00Troy Larsontag:minnesotaconnected.com,2012-09-20:14856The Minnesota Twins Greatest Ambassador: Tony Oliva<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/TonyOliva.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-274165 aligncenter" alt="Pedro 'Tony' Oliva" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/TonyOliva.jpg" width="400" height="400" /></a>
It was grainy and certainly not in HD. A faint black and white figure with the familiar Twins script across his chest was at the plate swinging the bat from the left side -- slowly, a wider shot showed Bloomington’s Metropolitan Stadium with the formidable Bob Gibson on the mound. The hazy screen showed it was the bottom of the 9th inning and the American League was losing the 1965 All-Star Game 6 - 5.
I was disappointed I hadn’t seen the entire game as it was rebroadcast on Fox Sports North, but my focus was now on the 26-year-old Tony Oliva. Suddenly his bat moved with lightning speed through the strike zone slicing a Gibson pitch to the gap in left center field. As the ball one-hopped against the chain link fence, Oliva pulled into second base and the hometown fans cheered enthusiastically. Oliva represented the All-Star Game’s tying run.
Bob Gibson made a career out of extinguishing dreams -- the next hitter inexplicably popped up a bunt for the first out, then Harmon Killebrew struck out (ouch), and Joe Pepitone fanned weakly for the final out as the young Oliva was stranded on base. Decades later Tony Oliva is still representing baseball, the Minnesota Twins and now another All-Star Game. And he always does it with a smile.
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Screen-Shot-2014-07-14-at-5.31.58-PM.png"><img class=" wp-image-274166 aligncenter" alt="Screen Shot 2014-07-14 at 5.31.58 PM" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Screen-Shot-2014-07-14-at-5.31.58-PM.png" width="279" height="363" /></a>
Tony Oliva signed with the Minnesota Twins when he was 22, made his MLB debut a year later, and was an All-Star and Rookie of the Year when he was 25. Amazingly he also won his first batting title as a rookie, and then did it again following year in 1965. That ‘65 season ended with him playing in the World Series.
Tony Oliva was an 8-time All-Star, become a player coach in 1976 and would permanently coach with the Twins in some capacity until 1994. His guidance as hitting coach in the 1980s transformed a speedy singles hitter named Kirby Puckett into a Hall of Fame player. Oliva now is seen wherever the Twins are represented. Want a Tony Oliva Cuban sandwich at Target Field? There’s a good chance Oliva will be there and he’s more than happy to take a picture with you. Need a soundbite about Target Field or some Twins great from the past? Tony O is your man.
Try to keep track of the amount of times you see Tony Oliva during this All-Star week. He will be promoting baseball and the Twins brand with a smile and a story. Tony Oliva is now 75 and has devoted over 50 years of his life to the Minnesota Twins and there is no sign he’s slowing down. There is no finer ambassador for the Minnesota Twins and this week’s All-Star Game than the great Tony Oliva.
Photos via: Wikipedia
2014-07-13T22:00:00-07:002022-10-28T07:12:29-07:00Jeff Schwenntag:minnesotaconnected.com,2012-09-20:14861Justin Morneau Returns to Target Field<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/justin-morneau-rockies.png"><img class=" wp-image-274138 aligncenter" alt="justin morneau - rockies" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/justin-morneau-rockies.png" width="570" height="350" /></a>
If you haven’t heard, the All-Star Game is coming to Target Field and Justin Morneau will be in tow. Morneau has done everything he could to be part of the actual game by posting a .313 batting average, a fine .509 SLG%, and 100 hits this season -- but despite those numbers, it was not to be. Other lesser players were chosen (I see you Charlie Blackmon).
Morneau was involved in a dynamic hashtag battle on Twitter against Anthony Rizzo of the Cubs trying to be the fans choice for the final All-Star slot, but he finishing a disappointing second. But fear not, because Morneau will take part in the Home Run Derby and this should provide a final chapter to his time in Minnesota. When his name is announced before the Home Run Derby, fans should rise in a standing ovation for one of the best hitters the Twins franchise has produced.
Before concussions staggered him, Justin Morneau was one of the five best players in baseball. He was an MVP in 2006, a MVP runner-up in 2008 and a four-time All-Star. Other than Harmon Killebrew, Morneau is the best pure power hitter in team history. If he stayed healthy he may have found himself on the Twins Mount Rushmore with Killebrew, Carew, Oliva, Puckett and Mauer (think past accomplishments with Joe).
<a href="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/home-run-derby-justin-morneau-2014.png"><img class=" wp-image-274139 aligncenter" alt="home run derby - justin morneau - 2014" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/home-run-derby-justin-morneau-2014.png" width="570" height="374" /></a>
Justin Morneau deserves more than a fleeting final moment during a Home Run Derby -- let’s hope after a clamorous response from fans, he puts a few home runs onto the right field plaza or even beyond. Fans want a glimpse back to those dynamic seasons he gave us from 2006-2010 when few hitters were more feared than Justin Morneau.
Photos via: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/people/wandrus/" target="_blank">William Andrus</a> -- <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/alanenglish/2729418268/in/photolist-5abYXE-6mic7v-6mnhAY-4FBac7-5abZjC-6mi8Gg-4FxGVh-4Ftung-4FsCTF-6mieu8-6mibZg-6miexc-4FAQQ5-87WLoK-7u1Ly3-4Ft6je-6xMRGR-51pi1s-8aCP5t-e9BTty-e9ve3K-e9ukVe-4FsjgH-9CjeNK-6mniM5-e9dRCK-e9dN9M-e8Whmc-e9jAHj-e9u9TF-e93ea1-e9dR5R-e9dWzB-e9dgCZ-jddVZ-5hQG45-5hQGhj-5ajGgW-6KFwj4-6KFTMV-6KFCcz-556A5M-9zMygV-9A3DnF-e9jzuG-e9jt77-e9cMRi-6xMRB4-6xMRDP-537c6R/" target="_blank">Alan English CPA</a>
2014-07-11T22:00:00-07:002022-10-28T07:12:31-07:00Jeff Schwenntag:minnesotaconnected.com,2012-09-20:15300Minnesota Twins Rising Prospect Miguel Sano Needs Surgery -- Out For Season<a href="http://minnesotaconnected.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Sano-pic.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-177450 aligncenter" alt="Sano - out 2014 - tommy john" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Sano-pic.jpg" width="570" height="400" /></a>
The Minnesota Twins season got off to a turbulent start when it was <a href="http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/10536530/miguel-sano-minnesota-twins-needs-season-ending-tommy-john-surgery" target="_blank">announced</a> last week Miguel Sano would be lost for the 2014 season. The 20-year-old third basemen is one of the Twins most promising prospects -- he will need Tommy John surgery on his throwing arm.
He had been working to rehabilitate the injury as Twins personnel and famed surgeon Dr. James Andrews recommended rest for Sano in early November. But now it appears surgery is necessary for Sano to return to 100%.
The <a href="http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2014/mar/01/spring-training-twins-prospect-miguel-sano-have-to/?print=1" target="_blank">Associated Press</a> has the details of the story:
Despite making strides during a two-month throwing program, Sano reported pain in his elbow after making an off-balance throw during an intrasquad game Thursday, Feb. 27.
An MRI exam revealed a partially torn ligament.
“When I threw a couple days ago, (there was) no injury, no pain, nothing. When I threw to first, it hurt a little and I talked to the trainer,” Sano said. “I think when I come back I will be the same player.”
The Twins said the surgery will likely take place within the next several weeks.
The recovery period for position players is shorter than it is for pitchers undergoing Tommy John surgery.
The Twins expect Sano to resume hitting in about four months, and he should return to playing the field in eight months.
<img class=" wp-image-177451 aligncenter" alt="miguel sano - out for season - 2014 - tommy john" src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/693/image/minnesotaconnected/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/miguel-sano-out-for-season-2014-tommy-john.jpg" width="570" height="318" />
In the meantime, Trevor Plouffe should feel less pressure to maintain his starting job at third base for the Twins. Whether or not that is a good thing remains to be seen. On a positive note, Plouffe has added ten pounds of muscle this spring and appears more focused than prior seasons, according to multiple <a href="http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/245476951.html" target="_blank">reports</a>.
Photo via: Google and AP Photo
2014-03-02T23:00:00-07:002022-10-28T07:15:35-07:00Joseph Friedrichs