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mikelink45

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Everything posted by mikelink45

  1. mikelink45
    Since Aaron asked - this does not do it for me. Nice try, I am sure I am in the minority.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. mikelink45
    Or right - I love it
  5. 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
  6. mikelink45
    I knew I would be controversial, but it is fun to be quoted. Good stats, but he is still borderline for me.
  7. 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)
  8. mikelink45
    They had a man stationed with binoculars in the scoreboard and outfield.
  9. 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.
  10. 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.
  11. 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.
  12. 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.
  13. mikelink45
    It would require Billy Martin to manage - someone who understands speed!
  14. 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
  15. 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
  16. mikelink45
    I am not Seth, but I would give it to Carew! Molitor was the igniter, but Carew was a magician with the bat.
  17. 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.
  18. 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.
  19. mikelink45
    What a great program. You gave me a wonderful evening of memories and stories. Thank you.
  20. mikelink45
    I love Mudcat but he really only had a three year period of dominance for us, but Jim Perry would be the one that really needs to find a way into the top five, but I am not sure where. from 1969 - 74 he won 105 games for the Twins. He really was our Ace. Camilo Pascual is another that deserves to be on the list. in the first four years that the Twins were in MN he won 15, 20, 21, and 15 games. It is amazing that in almost 60 years Blyleven is our only HOF pitcher (not counting the Twins own HOF) other than the less than stellar time with Steve Carlton. If we go back in Franchise history we have number one all time - Walter Johnson, Early Wynn in the HOF
  21. mikelink45
    I have less optimism about this group than you do, but I enjoyed your essay. Wisler is a question mark, Duffey or May could regress and we are counting heavily on them. Littell could be a regress or continue to step up. Mr Slowball Romo is good for laughs, but is this the year that they really clobber his stuff? I am hoping you are right and my concerns are a waste of energy.
  22. mikelink45
    I am partial to Mudcat Grant - I was at so many of his good games. Camilo Pascual was a near HOF pitcher and Jim Kaat (along with Tommy John) should be in the HOF. A pitcher I liked a lot was Pedro Ramos who only pitched one year for us and lost 20 games - I have read that only really good pitchers lose 20 games because poor pitchers would not be allowed to start that much. He was the hard luck pitcher of the 1950s and should not be on this list, but I wanted to give him a little love. Johnny Klippstein in 1964 when we acquired him, already a 14 year vet posted a 1.97 ERA in 33 games, In 1965 he was 9-3 with a 2.24 ERA in 56 games. and in his final year with us - his 17th year in MLB he had a 3.40 ERA in 26 games. He was a major factor in our championship run.
  23. mikelink45
    Based on his 13 years of 20 wins it is not hard to believe that Spahn would have amassed over 400 wins without his service time. Many service guys did light duty, but as you mention - not Spahn. http://baseballegg.com/2018/12/03/warren-spahn-talks-about-his-experiences-in-world-war-ii/ Burdette was under rated in history https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/bc3fde89 his record In an 18-year career, Burdette posted a 203–144 record with 1074 strikeouts and a 3.66 ERA in 3067.1 innings, compiling 158 complete games and 33 shutouts is better than some HOF pitchers. https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/bc3fde89 Burdette is best known for winning the 13 inning game against Pittsburgh when Harvey Haddix pitched 12 innings of a perfect game only to lose in 13. Burdette was known for giving up lots of hits, but few runs and he told his clubhouse - ""He's not going to beat me. Get a run or else we're going to be here all night!" After Adcock hit a Home Run (and only got credit for a double) the game ended and Burdette called Haddix in the locker room, "You deserved to win," Burdette said, "but I scattered all my hits, and you bunched your one." Haddix hung up on him.https://vault.si.com/vault/2009/06/01/the-greatest-game-ever-pitched Imagine the duo - Burdette with 203 wins and Spahn with 363! And, by the way, Buhl had 166 wins.
  24. mikelink45

    Total Bases

    mikelink45 commented on mikelink45's blog entry in mikelink45's Blog

    Agreed, but they are not. "In baseball statistics, total bases is the number of bases a player has gained with hits. It is a weighted sum for which the weight value is 1 for a single, 2 for a double, 3 for a triple and 4 for a home run. Only bases attained from hits count toward this total."
  25. mikelink45
    I too was devastated because annually my dad and mom took me to see the Braves play the Dodgers. So great. Mathews and Aaron make it on any team. Billy Bruton would have won out for CF. Schoendeinst would have beat out all second basemen but Carew. Adcock was underrated. Logan would be the SS and Crandall was a great catcher who would be even more appreciated today. Wait until the Pitchers - Spahn, Burdette, and Buhl versus the Twins!
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