Archive for May, 2010

Before we get going, Alexi Casilla was placed on the DL, and Matt Tolbert was called up. Way to ruin my mood with a terribly stupid move, Twins. Best hitter: Delmon (+.172) Worst hitter: Thome (-.091) Best pitcher: Rauch y Guerrier (+.078) Worst pitcher: Frankie (+.050) Most important play: Kotchman double play (+.192)

I am way too lazy to do any head-to-head comparisons of the two teams numbers-wise, but Lookout Landing has a pretty good table in their series preview. In short, the Twins are the better team in almost every way except fielding, where Seattle’s 11.9 team UZR is slightly better than our boys’ 11.0. The Twins should win at least two of these games. Of course, that doesn’t mean they will. Some of the Twins’ most heartbreaking losses in recent years have come against Seattle. Remember when Glen Perkins took that 6-1 lead in to the seventh? And then the Mariners [...]

First of all, Happy Memorial Day to all of our veterans out there. I don’t get into politics at all on this blog (and I’m not going to start now), but I think we can all appreciate the sacrifices made by those in the armed forces in defense of our country. So, thanks to those who gave their lives serving America (and those currently serving overseas); it is because of you that we can spend today grilling, shopping, or just enjoying the nice weather in relative peace and security. You make all of this possible. Anyway, here’s a little reading [...]

(Oh Fangraphs, how would I ever write game recaps without you?) Of course I am talking about Denard Span’s spectacular tumbling catch right into Orlando Hudson’s knee (and Hudson’s subsequent glove to DSPAN’s groin, inspiring the greatest postgame quote ever). Hudson initially spent a lot of time crumpled on the ground, but it looks like he’ll be OK (UPDATE:  Hudson is having x-rays on his wrist  Eep). Also ugly: Scott Ullger’s decision to send Kubel from second on a single by Delmon Young, with two outs in the seventh. Now, in context, it wasn’t a terrible decision. The Twins were [...]

(viva la Fangraphs) For five innings, C. J. Wilson outdueled Carl Pavano, allowing just a couple of hits and no runs whatsoever. Then Orlando Hudson jacked a game-tying donger off of Wilson in the sixth. And then all hell broke loose in the bottom of the seventh, when the Twins apparently figured Wilson (and the Rangers’ bullpen) out, scoring six more runs and apparently putting the game to bed. Um, and then they gave a run back in the top of the eighth, thanks to a couple of errors by J. J. Hardy and Jason Kubel. Jesse Crain pitched pretty [...]

(via Fangraphs) Kevin Slowey finally managed to pitch out of the fifth inning for the second time this season. I guess all he needed was a stern talking-to.  In all seriousness, though, Slowey pitched an absolute gem.  He scattered six hits, struck out five, and walked only one, surrendering just one run in 6.2 innings.  He didn’t give up any homers either, for the first time in any of his home starts (Target Field oddly seems to play like an AL version of Petco for everyone else except Slowey; it’s more like his own private version of the Cell).  I [...]

Jason Kubel loves playing Game 3s of series vs. the Yankees apparently. Best hitter: Jason Kubel (+.178) Worst hitter: Alexi Casilla (-.055) Best pitcher: Nick Blackburn (+.232) Worst pitcher: Alex Burnett (+.003) Most important play: Alex Rodriguez GIDP (+.111)

When the Twins drafted Kyle Gibson in the first round last year, I did a fist pump, but with trepidation. Being a college baseball fan (and a Kansas Jayhawks fan) I was familiar with Gibson’s exploits at Missouri. But of course I was wary of his stress reaction in his forearm that caused his velocity to drop near the end of the 2009 college season. In the end I decided it was an acceptable risk: there was a chance that Gibson would struggle with injuries and flame out, but there was also the chance he could become a very good [...]

Just one game (well, 1.5 games). No biggie. Best hitter: Delmon Young (+.168) Worst hitter: Joe Mauer (-.246) Best pitcher: Francisco Liriano (+.155) Worst pitcher: Jon Rauch (-.278) Most important play: Swisher homer (+.402)

While the Twins have struggled in Yankee stadium, they generally play much better at home. Hopefully that continues this week at Target Field. Interestingly the Twins are statistically much better than the Yankees, although it should be noted that they get to face the Indians and Royals rather than the Red Sox and Rays. Still, these teams are probably equal at worst and this is a probable division series preview, so it would be nice to win 2 of 3 if nothing else than for the mental benefit. Hitting wise it’s been all about Robinson Cano and his .408 wOBA. [...]