LATEST STORIES FROM OVER THE BAGGY
OtB Twins Notes: 07.06.09
July 05, 2009 by
Over The Baggy
| Comments
| Comments
Twins have placed Kevin Slowey on the DL with a strained right wrist injury. After the game Slowey told the media that "I think more than anything it's concerning because it's in my right wrist. It's in a pretty significant area, and we'll look at it Monday...
For Baker, release matters
July 01, 2009 by
Over The Baggy
| Comments
| Comments
Facing the Royals, a team who struggled to score runs (4.05 per game) and strikes out in hearty portion of their plate appearances (15%) it would be assumed that Scott Baker would slice through them like a butter-knife in melted Velveeta. After all, Baker's most recent start...
OtB Twins Notes (06.29.09)
June 29, 2009 by
Over The Baggy
| Comments
| Comments
Jim Souhan stresses the importance of Justin Morneau's long ball to the Twins' overall play, indicating that the Twins are 13-3 when the big Canadian homers.
In the booth, Dick 'n Bert noted during Friday's broadcast that Morneau had been working on not...
National League ball? Yes, please.
June 27, 2009 by
Over The Baggy
| Comments
| Comments
The intricacies of National League baseball is downright beautiful.
If a style of play were like a television sitcom, National League ball would have a complexity and subtleties like that of the multi-layered Arrested Development. The American League play, on the...
OtB Twins Notes (06.22.09)
June 21, 2009 by
Over The Baggy
| Comments
| Comments
It seems that Joe Mauer gave Jason Kubel the flu. Kubel left in the third inning of Sunday's game vomiting but is expected to be okay for the Milwaukee series starting on Tuesday.
Tom Powers is convinced that Luis Ayala might be the first to...
The Development of Nick Blackburn
June 19, 2009 by
Over The Baggy
| Comments
| Comments
Nick Blackburn’s nine inning gem yesterday afternoon was a thing of beauty. I’ve said it before that I believe Blackburn’s attributes make him a prime candidate to not withstand the ebb and flow of defensive changes. To be sure, by retiring just 10 percent of batters...
Crain optioned to Rochester. What was wrong?
June 16, 2009 by
Over The Baggy
| Comments
| Comments
When Jesse Crain rose to prominence in the Twins bullpen in 2005, the 23-year-old right-hander had vultured 12 wins while maintaining a 2.71 ERA despite walking more than he struck out (29/25 BB/K) in 79.2 innings of work also finishing eighth on the AL Rookie of the Year ballot. ...
OtB Twins Notes (06.15.09)
June 15, 2009 by
Over The Baggy
| Comments
| Comments
Scott Baker's month of June has started off well for the righty. In three starts, Baker is 2-0 with 23-to-1 strikeouts-to-walks in 22 innings of work. One of the biggest trend differences for the Twins number one starters between this month and last is that Baker'...
I could do Shooter's job
June 10, 2009 by
Over The Baggy
| Comments
| Comments
Me (on Sunday): "One right-handed reliever that might be available at the trade deadline is former Twins and current Astro LaTroy Hawkins, who has been filling in for the injured closer Jose Valverde who is returning to Houston shortly. The Twins flirted with the idea of...
Mauer and the fastball
June 09, 2009 by
Over The Baggy
| Comments
| Comments
Baseball analysts league-wide, attempting to do what they are paid to do, are throwing in their two cents trying to explain Joe Mauer's sudden home run capabilities and an .845 slugging percentage.
FSNorth's Ron Coomer told MinnPost's Pat Borzi that the...
OtB Twins Notes (06.08.09)
June 07, 2009 by
Over The Baggy
| Comments
| Comments
Since his return from his bereavement leave on May 24th, Delmon Young is now 5-for-37 with 21 strikeouts and just one walk. At Fangraphs.com, Dave Cameron asks "What To Do With Delmon" and his response is to manufacture a similar mysterious mental "injury...
OtB Twins Notes (06.01.09)
May 31, 2009 by
Over The Baggy
| Comments
| Comments
Charley Walters reports that the Twins are not quite ready to discuss figures with Joe Mauer yet. Twins Sports Inc president Jerry Bell cited former Twin greats in Kirby Puckett and Kent Hrbek as similar players who accepted lower overall contracts to remain in Minnesota...
Twins lacking a true leadoff hitter?
May 26, 2009 by
Over The Baggy
| Comments
| Comments
Former Mets general manager and current ESPN commentator Steve Phillips mentioned during the seventh inning of ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball broadcast of the Twins/Brewers game that Minnesota was swiftly becoming a complete team with one exception: a true leadoff hitter. Phillips...
Award Context: Rod Carew's 1977 MVP
May 20, 2009 by
Over The Baggy
| Comments
| Comments
Rod Carew's path to the bigs was far from ordinary: Born on a train in the Panama Canal Zone and receiving his name from the Jewish physician that delivered him, Carew's family immigrated to New York where he attended George Washington High School (the same school as...
Gomez's plate discipline improving, Young still needs work
May 19, 2009 by
Over The Baggy
| Comments
| Comments
Beginning the season as Ron Gardenhire’s pariah, center fielder Carlos Gomez spent the latter portion of April watching left fielder Delmon Young turn routine plays into extra bases. When afforded the opportunity to play, Gomez displayed dazzling defense but a mind-bogglingly...
OtB Twins Notes (05.18.09)
May 18, 2009 by
Over The Baggy
| Comments
| Comments
Even with the loss, the Joe Mauer-Brett Gardner play was sick. Swine flu sick. (Editor's note: it would feel much better if it happened in a Twins' win.) According to the Star-Ledger's Colin Stephenson the Yankees center fielder Gardner, who Mauer...
The Starting Five: An Analysis of the Twins' Rotation
May 13, 2009 by
Over The Baggy
| Comments
| Comments
A brief rundown of the starting rotation through the first 33 games of the season:
Scott Baker
1-4 Team Record in Starts | 6.83 Runs Allowed | 4.29 Run Support | 43 Games Score Avg
27 2/3 innings | 21-to-5 K-to-BB ratio
.274/.305/.540 Opponent Batting Line...
OtB Twins Notes (5.11.09)
May 11, 2009 by
Over The Baggy
| Comments
| Comments
There will be plenty of second-guessing on the removal of starter Nick Blackburn after the seventh inning in the Twins 5-3 loss on Sunday. Former Twins pitcher and radio analyst Jack Morris questioned lifting Blackburn after 99-pitches, assuming there should have been plenty...
He sucks. We must have him.
May 07, 2009 by
Over The Baggy
| Comments
| Comments
Dave Cameron spent yesterday afternoon highlighting Alexi Casilla's suckitude at Fangraphs.com writing "Casilla has driven Minnesota's management nuts with his sloppy plays, his lack of fundamentals, and his general underachievement" and adding "his OPS...
Casilla out; Tolbert in.
May 06, 2009 by
Over The Baggy
| Comments
| Comments
The Twins demoted second baseman Alexi Casilla to Triple-A Rochester recalling Matt Tolbert to assume his roster spot reports the Star Tribune. The move is not all too surprising, though it does contradict recent comments by manager Ron Gardenhire who just this past weekend...
OtB Twins Notes (05.04.09)
May 04, 2009 by
Over The Baggy
| Comments
| Comments
Joe Christensen says the Twins sent catcher Jose Morales to Rochester after they activated Jesse Crain from the 15-day DL. Morales has been a decent contributor in Joe Mauer's absence, hitting .349/.391/.419 going into Sunday's game but allowed 13 of 14 would-be base...
Award Context: Frank Viola's 1988 Cy Young
April 30, 2009 by
Over The Baggy
| Comments
| Comments
When the Twins drafted left-handed pitcher Frank Viola in the second round in 1981, they passed on a handful of future stars in Tony Gwynn, Sid Fernandez and David Cone. Viola may owe his draft slot to the proliferation of cable television. In May of 1981, Viola's college...
Repairing the Twins lineup.
April 28, 2009 by
Over The Baggy
| Comments
| Comments
Through the first 20 games, the Minnesota Twins share the dubious honor of having the American League's least productive offense with the Kansas City Royals (4.05 R/G). While there are numerous sources for this dip in production, ranging from Joe Mauer’s absence to the...
OtB Twins Notes (4.27.09)
April 27, 2009 by
Over The Baggy
| Comments
| Comments
When Indians starting right-hander Carl Pavano struck out Michael Cuddyer to open up the 2nd inning on Saturday night, it was the first right-handed batter Pavano had retired through a strike out all year. Pavano has struck out 16 in 18 innings but just the lone righty. ...
SITE INFORMATION
Over The Baggy
Minnesota Twins analysis and commentary
Related Yards
Today's Best Stuff
For Bloggers
Company Info
Help
What is Yardbarker?
Join the Yardbarker Network (YBN) for more promotion, traffic, and money.
