Archive for September, 2010

If you go on twitter at all during a Twins game this year, you’d think they’re in danger of getting their playoff berth taken away. But here is a nice little chart that shows the Twins recent form is nothing new, and it’s nothing to be worried about note: “down stretch” refers to the teams last 20 games This chart compares the Twins to the last 7 World Series champions (I momentarily forgot who won the 2002 Series, so I just decided to stop after 2003). As you can see, the Twins record in their last 20 games is right [...]

I had to fire up the excel for an assignment in one of my accounting classes, so I made this pretty chart showing how Man Muscles stacks up against the all-time greatest catchers in baseball history, at least in terms of wins above replacement by player age (according to baseball-reference.com).  I have two tests this week, so this is about as in-depth of analysis as I’m going to provide until sometime next weekend.  Please to enjoy: (click to embiggen)

I am sick. Not “oh he’s a little under the weather, he’ll be good to go tomorrow” sick. I am coughing every 5 seconds, can’t swallow without it feeling like two armies are fighting it out inside my throat sick. Yet, like a crazy person, I stayed up to watch the A’s defeat the White Sox and to see the Twins clinch the AL Central title at roughly midnight. The moral of the story is not that I’m tough, however. Let me explain… A couple years ago I got my tonsils out. Much like how I’m feeling now all I [...]

And with a little help from our friends: (via Fangraphs) For the sixth time in nine years, the Twins have clinched the AL Central.  That’s a pretty good run.

Fangraphs takes a look at Danny Valencia’s rookie of the year chances. Oddly enough I like John Jaso’s credentials. Not his chances, mind you, but his credentials.

Assuming no Scott Baker comeback, the Twins are prepared to go with Nick Blackburn over Kevin Slowey for their 4th playoff starter. Oh boy. The Twins no doubt want Blackburn in there because he had a great game 163 v. the White Sox in 2008 and has pitched well in some other important games. Blackburn still isn’t the better pitcher. Let’s make a quick comparison: FIP: Slowey – 3.94 Blackburn – 5.04 xFIP: Slowey – 4.48 Blackburn – 4.69 k/9 Slowey – 6.76 Blackburn – 3.53 BB/9 Slowey – 1.71 Blackburn – 2.21 About the only thing Blackburn has going [...]

This team is just one win a way from 90 with 13 games left to play, making it very likely they will win at least 90 games for the first time since 2006, and the fourth time they have done so in ten years.  Since moving to Minnesota in 1961, the Twins have had twelve 90+ win seasons.  I’ll have a much more definitive look at the all-time greatest Twins teams once the season is over, but for right now, here’s a quick-and-dirty look at how the current squad stacks up among the teams that have won at least 90 [...]

Fox’s Jon Morosi wrote a terrible article where he says either CC Sabathia or David Price should win the AL Cy Young. Rather than give this idiot any kind of attention by talking about him, I instead am going to use the people’s champ, CC Sabathia, and compare him to Felix Hernandez, who most of the statistical community is tapping for the award, and Francisco Liriano, who I think is the best candidate, but mostly just because he’s a Twin. To do this, I am going to compare every start they have, from their best start to their worst start. [...]

Jim Thome is now in sole possession of 8th place on the all-time home run leaders list, blasting his 587th career home run in Cleveland on Saturday night. He’s just 13 home runs shy of 600, which isn’t bad considering that he started the season behind Rafael Palmeiro on the all-time list, with 564 career homers. In just 302 plate appearances this year, he’s mashed 23 taters and jumped four spots on the all-time home-run leaders list. I’ve already discussed how good Thome has been for the Twins, but now is a good time to examine his career numbers and [...]

(via Fangraphs) I am working on a much lengthier post about Jim Thome that I hope to have finished by tomorrow night, but in the meantime, consider this: of all Jim Thome’s 587 career home runs, 108 have come in high-leverage situations. He’s hit 126 home runs in tie games, 72 in late and close games (from the seventh inning on, with the score within three runs), and twelve in extra-innings. He’s hit 142 of his 587 career home runs against the Twins, while batting .311/.410/.628/1.038 (he’s actually pretty much terrorized the AL Central for years). The Twins are now [...]