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mikelink45

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Everything posted by mikelink45

  1. mikelink45
    Glad you brought up Jeter - he was on my mind when I started to read - so there are two answers to your question - he can be there as long as we can win with him there and his bat produces (the Jeter proposition) or until someone comes and beats him out (which is always the best way).
  2. mikelink45
    Mike Marshall is the name that is omitted. 1978 - 1979 he pitched in 54 and then 90 games! His era was 2.45 and 2.65. In his 90 game season he pitched 142 innings! he was 10 - 12 in that 1978 and 10 - 15 in 1979 with 32 saves. I am not sure where you put in on this list, but that is a pretty amazing two year stint. Of course his big year was much earlier in his career when he pitched in 106 games for the Dodgers with a 2.42 era. Then there is Worthington's partner in the pen Johnny Klippstein who, like Worthington was considered too old to pitch any more. Age 36 in 33 games he had an era of 1.97 in 1964 and came back in 1965 to pitch in 57 games with a 2.24 era and he pitched 76 innings. Ray Moore cannot be on this list, but we should acknowledge him as the first MN reliever of note.
  3. mikelink45
    Final thought - so far the rank for the decades 60s 70s (No world series - the only decade so far, but their composite team looks so good. 90s (also despite their world series 80s (despite their world series)
  4. mikelink45
    On a team that had Roy Smith, David West, Bill Krueger, Willie Banks, Carlos Pulido, Frankie Rodriguez, Scott Aldred, LaTroy Hawkins, Eddie Guardado, Mike Morgan, and Mike Lincoln in the starting rotation I have to put Morris at the top of this list. He took us to the World Series and then led us to a win in the series. Nobody on this list comes close. Tapani, Radtke, Willis, and Aquilera are quality, the rest had only one good season - which is why Morris with one good season would be on the list - or a lot of mediocre seasons. While not a starter I would need Every Day Eddie in the bullpen. Forget the other stats - look at how many games he pitched in every year. When pitching is this mediocre you need an arm to fill in innings and Eddie did that.
  5. mikelink45
    How do you compare pitcher to fielder? Outfielder to infielder? Catcher to anyone?
  6. mikelink45
    I Rickey Henderson has the modern record 36 - Cap Anson had 24 when he was 44. julio Franco had 6 at age 47 and 2 in each of the next two years!
  7. mikelink45
    theBOMisthebomb is right - SS and 3B are really weak. I also forgot how slim the choices are - Matt Walbeck the other catcher of the decade (actually the second catcher would be Terry Steinback), Pedro Munoz, Scott Stahoviak 1B, Marty Cordova LF! We could make a really good line up of players who started for us in this decade who should never have been in MLB. I think I might lean towards Coomer too, but Leius is okay for these choices. I might lean to Gladden over Lawton, but I am not sure why. I really liked Lawton when he was here. Thanks for you work putting together these fun lists. I keep wondering who you will have for your interview for this decade.
  8. mikelink45
    Since Aaron asked - this does not do it for me. Nice try, I am sure I am in the minority.
  9. mikelink45
    nice article - I was never a Shane Mack fan - not that I criticized him - I just did not seem to catch on to how good he was. I keep learning more and wonder about why he did not get more attention and appreciation.
  10. mikelink45
    I have really enjoyed all three of these decade discussions and the stories and memories that they are filled with. Thanks for the work.
  11. mikelink45
    Or right - I love it
  12. mikelink45
    In 1980 he was 16 - 13 4.03 era, 243 innings and compared to the others on the list, that is a good year. But I understand and have no argument with your choice
  13. mikelink45
    I knew I would be controversial, but it is fun to be quoted. Good stats, but he is still borderline for me.
  14. mikelink45
    Fascinating look back. Some crazy names for the top ranks other than Viola. I may be the only person who looks at Blyleven's career as not a HOF pitcher, but it does not matter, he is in, still in this stint his figures should have made him #3 or #4 in the rotation. I believe with this reflection I would have thought of the pre-1900s and just gone with two pitchers (do you hear that Old Hoss Radbourne?). I know Koosman had only one good season with us, but I think it is enough to drop Albert or Mike. I would probably move Reardon to the top of the relievers and Berenguer was so much fun he also needs to be where you put him at #2. I have to add that I am one who never wants to see Ron Davis name again so someone has to replace him, but I cannot figure out who it would be. Final thought - so far the rank for the decades 60s70s80s (despite their world series)
  15. mikelink45
    They had a man stationed with binoculars in the scoreboard and outfield.
  16. mikelink45
    I find it fascinating how many Twins on the three lists you have compiled were traded when they were producing for us - Gary Ward and Smalley here, but in the previous decades pitchers and hitters were regularly dumped. Dave Engle was the catcher for the Twins 1981 - 1985. His high water mark was a 305 average which stands out because all the other years he was a 250 hitter. He would give Laudner a run for the best of the decade. And Brian Harper had only one year in the decade, but he was a terrific offensive catcher for us and underrated for defense. Randy Bush would have to sit on the Bench, but he was there all decade and often the starting DH. Mickey Hatcher could challenge Gary Ward for the OF position. Mickey had some very good years for us - almost a surprise to look at his stats. 342 - two years in a row 1983 - 84 and 308 and 315 the next years before he went to the Dodgers. I would also put Gladden above Ward. Ward had two nice years for the Twins, but that is all.
  17. mikelink45
    I just finished reading Cool of the Evening and I could not recommend a book more. What great history, all based on the 1965 Twins season and roster. Thank you for putting it here. I was trying to figure out how I could recommend it to the TD readers.
  18. mikelink45
    Another great interview - fun to hear the stories - and Reusse is not an easy interview. He had so much he wanted to say. loved it.
  19. mikelink45
    I went through the various years to see if there was a hidden gem and found a lot of one year wonders - Koosman ended the decade with 20 wins and was the real thing, but not long enough - Rodger Erickson epitomized the decade with one great year and no more. Mike Marshall was the most fascinating of the pitchers. He wanted to pitch every game and nearly did. He was in 106 games with a 15 - 12 record, 208 innings and a 2.42 ERA all in relief in 1974. https://twinstrivia.com/interview-archives/dr-mike-marshall/ But like most of these pitchers, if they did well they were gone. What if we had kept Kaat and Blyleven and others who had short successful runs.
  20. mikelink45
    It would require Billy Martin to manage - someone who understands speed!
  21. mikelink45
    Lyman Bostock always seemed so fast when he was in the OF, not the best base stealer, but speed and stealing are not the same. Carew went wild stealing home after Billy Martin taught him and he stole home 7 times in 1969. https://twitter.com/fsnorth/status/895804807423721472?lang=en I loved Guzman's triples. That is speed! Fun story
  22. mikelink45
    Lyman Bostock and Hisle were great together and I hated to see them depart. I really believed that Bostock would be a HOF player if tragedy had not happened. Look at the number for the years he did play! Seth, I like your choices Soderholm had only two good seasons for us and 3B is not a strong position for the Twins in the decade, but I would take Mike Cubbage. As a big Tovar fan I like him on the team, but he had two seasons and Ford had four so I would go with Ford. For the sake of names - I love the last outfield of the decade with Hosken Powell and Bombo Rivera - it only Willie Norwood had played between them! I look forward to your pitchers. This decade has a stronger team than I had expected. Not as good as
  23. mikelink45
    I am not Seth, but I would give it to Carew! Molitor was the igniter, but Carew was a magician with the bat.
  24. mikelink45
    I have been amazed since they signed Chacin that everyone has positive expectations for him. Move on - he is not good for this year or the future.
  25. mikelink45
    Something will happen because the empty stadium will still have TV cameras and TV revenue. I liked the post that reminded everyone of the WWII status of baseball. It is in the record book and will always be there. We had the strike season and that still stands. The same thing impacted WWI ball, its just that less is written about it. They even attempted military drills at the park with the players. The 1919 season was shortened to 140 games - still in the record book. 1972 was a shortened season because of a strike at the beginning of the season. It was 13 days and 85 games were lost. 1981 strike took out the middle of the season - that was weird. They actually had division playoffs between teams that won each half season. 1994 was the only season without a WS as the strike ended the season in August. Then there is the perversion of records with AL expansion in 1961 giving us the record 61 in 61 and Roger Maris became a nationally recognized player. The NL expanded the next year. Then there was an expansion again in 1969 and the AL expanded again in 1977 and the NL waited until 1993 to join them. Of course records have been shattered by the change in the balls, imagine trying to hit massive HRs when the ball is dirty, scrapped, and scratched and softened by the end of nine. Or the change from 50 feet to 60 for the pitchers mound. Or even the lowering of the mound after Bob Gibson terrorized the batters. There was the too long absence of Black players until Jackie Robinson and then the NL was the league that dominated because they led the way for integration. And that changed lots of records. The league did not change drastically but the Korean War also removed players like Ted Williams. And of course steroids made a huge difference - how many 60+ HR seasons have we had since Bonds, McGwire, Sosa and the steroid expose? So whatever happens, bring it on, it will join the records and the lore that is baseball.
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