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The 2014 All-Star Game was finally given to the Twin Cities this week but there were plenty of other happenings for Twins Territory. Joe Mauer was placed on waivers and the national media freaked out over what turned out to be a none story. After sitting for over a week and then playing in a handful of games, Denard Span was finally put on the DL even though rosters expand this weekend. Chris Parmelee destroyed Triple-A pitching for most of the year and he finally got called up. Now he has to sh
Concerns over Joe Mauer’s defense has grown exponentially as the number of opposing kleptomaniacs have continued to accumulate more and more bases. A one-time Florida State quarterback recruit, earlier in his career Mauer had thwarted over 30% of would-be base-stealers but has seen that number drop to league average as injuries and age have taken a toll on him. This year, however, that rate has dropped to a league-worst six percent – stopping just three runners with his own arm. What’s more is
Early this season, I wrote about 10 prospects who I believed would have breakout seasons. These are not top prospects but 25-50 ranking prospects who I believed would emerge into serious big league contenders down the road. Here is an update on them and my prognostication results are definitely mixed. (age), team, PA, slash, 2B/3B/HR, BB/K, SB/SBA or (age), team, IP, ERA, K/BB, WHIP The Good: Nate Roberts: (23-6), Beloit, 339, .303/.435/.435, 18/3/4, 43/34, 27/34. Roberts stayed in Beloit
Over the last three seasons, (min 450 IP), Jeremy Hellickson has accumulated 6.8 Fielding dependent wins. FDP wins are calculated based on a pitchers combined ability to limit hard contact on balls in play and strand runners ie. throw strikes from the stretch, limit the running game, etc. Hellickson's 6.8 FDP wins leads all qualified pitchers, by far. Next closest is Jared Weaver, at 5.4 FDP wins. Which brings me to Deduno, who in 10 starts has already accumulate 1.0 FDP-wins. 0.3 of which i
The minor league season is about to wrap up. A couple teams -- E-Town and Beloit -- are headed to the playoffs, which is great for fans of the minor league system. Let's take a look at the action down on the farm. ROCHESTER -- OFF NEW BRITAIN 3, TRENTON 1 It still has been a solid season for the Rock Cats, but their performance in August has been dreadful. Unfortunately, they're fighting a very uphill battle for the final playoff spot. They did, however, turn in a good performance tonight. L
When you’re losing matches, it seems like nothing goes your way. Every ball bounces the wrong way, those inches that win points are against you and every opposing player appears to be having a great game. The Indians knew exactly how that felt earlier this month, when they came close to equalling the worst run of mlb scores in the franchise’s history. They suffered 11 straight defeats in total and there appeared few rays of sunshine on a horizon that had become increasingly clogged up with g
Niko Goodrum is far from an elite prospect. He was a 2nd round pick in 2010 out of a high school in Georgia. Baseball America and Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus both listed Goodrum as the 19th best prospect in what is generally considered a weak Twins farm system. Aaron Gleeman listed him 16th and Seth Stohs listed him 19th. Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com did not have him in his top 20 and Keith Law did not have him in his top 10 (which really should not surprise you if you read the previo
Originally posted at The Terrific (Minnesota) Twins blog, http://terrificmntwins.blogspot.com/ A look at five Twins who the team should consider giving a long term deal. They all have their own speerate reasons for why they are in the discussion, from lack of better options to actually deserving the deal. Jared Burton After signing with the Minnesota Twins in the offseason as a minor league free agent, Jared Burton quickly worked his way onto the big club, and almost as quickly worked his way
Originally posted at The Terrific (Minnesota) Twins blog, http://terrificmntwins.blogspot.com/ A look at five Twins who the team should consider giving a long term deal. They all have their own speerate reasons for why they are in the discussion, from lack of better options to actually deserving the deal. Jared Burton After signing with the Minnesota Twins in the offseason as a minor league free agent, Jared Burton quickly worked his way onto the big club, and almost as quickly worked his way
As I watched the game on TV last night (trying to put comparative images of The Towering Inferno out of my mind) I found myself wondering why I even loved this game so much. I even tried watching some basketball instead, but inevitably my finger kept moving toward the “last” button on the remote to check back on the game. Why? What is it about baseball that has me so ensnared, even when my home team is the Minnesota Twins? After reflection, here are five reasons I still love the game – even this
I was afraid Gardenhire and Anderson would fool with Deduno, and it looks like it happened. Deduno looked nothing like his former self in his previous start. Why? My bet is, that Gardy and Andy just could not stand a guy they see as so atypical, "you can't walk that many batters and be successful, Andy...." Hey guys, look a guy you passed on might be the Cy Young in the NL...same reason.. You have to allow Deduno to be what he is....a pitcher with wicked stuff..some of the best in ba
This was announced this morning on ESPN. I'm shocked no one is even discussing it yet. http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/8309691/minnesota-twins-host-2014-all-star-game-report
Originally published at The Tenth Inning Stretch --- Here is this week's installment: Kyle Gibson returned to Rochester about a year or so after he was injured there This is a really interesting article (and well researched too) about Baseball announcers favoring certain kind of players. Interesting to see whether there is a follow up about managers following suit. Great read. The New Britain Rock Cats (Twins' AA affiliate) will host the 2013 Eastern League All Star Game. Speaki
So what kind of fan am I? When I was in Fort Myers that was one of the season-long advertising gimmicks they were touting – the varied nature of those who attend ballgames. Yesterday, attending my first Twins game since my minor league trip (I love watching a pitching duel!), I found myself thinking back to the various minor league parks I was at and comparing them to the relative cathedral that is Target Field. I also found myself thinking about who had attended those games, and who I saw aroun