Cabin Twelve

Could Micheal Inoa be playing in the US as soon as next summer? According to Contra Costa Times sports writer Joe Stiglich, Inoa might be playing with A’s Rookie league team in Phoenix in 2009. At 17 (b. Sept 24, 1991). The interesting point here is the fact that Inoa might not spend a season playing in the Dominican Summer League, though 17 year old players in a short season Rookie League is hardly unprecedented. From the Chin Music blog:

Michael Inoa, the 16-year-old pitching phenom they signed to a $4.25 million bonus in July, is beginning Instructional League at the team’s Dominican Republic headquarters. The league runs through December. Forst said a possible next step would be bringing Inoa to the United States to pitch for the Arizona Athletics, the A’s Phoenix-based rookie league team that begins play in June.

2008 17 year old players in the Arizona League:

*17 year old players at the start of 2008 league play (June 22, 2008).

Joe Mauer became the first catcher to win the American League batting title since … Joe Mauer in 2006. In 2006, Joe Mauer was the first catcher ever to win the AL batting title (and the first catcher to lead the Major Leagues in batting average). Two National League catchers have won the batting title a total of three times (see below).

Catchers that won the National League Batting Title:

Long time Minnesota Twins minor league pitching coordinator Rick Knapp was hired by the Detroit Tigers as their new pitching coach.

If you buy into the Twins organization’s ability to develop minor league pitching, the news could turn out to be a blow to Minnesota’s farm system. Rick Knapp was known, predominately, for preaching the age old to young Twins pitchers. Throw strike one and don’t walk anybody. It’s so simple, it just might work.

Knapp said he has one foremost pitching conviction: Make the first pitch a strike. He adopted that mantra when he heard a veteran pitcher, Bob Wells, say it in spring training several years ago. “He made it sound so simple. I knew it had to be perfect,” Knapp said.

From a Jeff Passan article in late August:

“If you buy into it and trust it and believe it, it’ll work for you,” Knapp said. “No question about it. You can latch on to different philosophies, but I can guarantee that if you throw the ball over the plate, you’re going to be successful. If velocity is third or fourth on the list for elements of success for a pitcher, you’ll be way better off.

“And if you’re walking more guys than the recommended daily allowance, you will hear from me.”

We don’t often hear about coaching in the minor leagues, so it’ll be interesting to see if this has a lasting impact on the Twins organization over the next few years, though you would think that such a basic philosophy could be preserved by Knapp’s replacement.

And with the stability the Twins coaching staff and front office has enjoyed over the last number of years, Knapp’s move will provide Twins’ fans with a relatively rare opportunity to see a former member of the organization seek fame and fortune with a new team. For his sake, I hope it ends better than this.

A quick look at the Minnesota Twins 3B hitting numbers since 2004 (Corey Koskie’s last year as a Twin):

Does anyone else think the Twins could have managed one more win in 2008 with a 3B that resembled a 2004 Corey Koskie? That was the last time the Twins got an above AL average OPS at the position. All I want for Christmas is a new third baseman.

On September 19th, 2008, the Twins were involved in the first reversal of a home run call via instant replay. It was the 3rd review of a disputed call, but the first that resulted in a change of the umpire’s call on the field. The play occured at Tropicana field against the Tampa Bay Rays. Carlos Pena hit a ball off of Boof Bonser in the bottom of the 4th, with the score 6-0 in favor of the Rays. There were 2 outs, with runners at 1st (Akinori Iwamura) and 2nd (Eric Hinske).

The play was initially ruled as fan interference, resulting in a two run ground rule double. From the AP:

Pena’s drive to right field off Boof Bonser appeared to be touched by a fan before bouncing off the top of the fence. First base umpire Mike DiMuro signaled fan interference, and Pena stopped at second base for a two-run double.

The umpires huddled immediately and decided to look at the video for the third test of the system since Aug. 28, when baseball allowed umpires to begin using it to determine boundary calls.

The crowd of 28,306 broke into cheers when the umpires returned to the field after a delay of 4 minutes, 10 seconds, and crew chief Gerry Davis signaled home run, giving Pena a three-run shot that made it 9-0.

The umpire crew for the game:

HP: Mike Everitt
1B: Mike Dimuro
2B: Gerry Davis (Crew Chief)
3B: Larry Vanover

Interestingly, the first use of instant replay in Major League Baseball also took place at Tropicana Field, when replay was used to uphold a home run by Alex Rodriguez (of course).

On May 7th, 2008, Carlos Gomez became the first Minnesota Twins player to hit for the cycle in 22 years. He accomplished the feat in a 13-2 romp against the Chicago White Sox at US Cellular Field in Chicago.

Livan Hernandez got the win. Mark Buerhle took the loss.

Carlos was 4-6 on the game. His AB’s went thusly:

Top of the 1st: Home Run (Line Drive to Deep LF)
Top of the 3rd: Strikeout Swinging
Top of the 5th: Triple to CF (Fly Ball to Deep LF/CF); Tolbert Scores
Top of the 6th: Double to LF (Fly Ball to LF/CF); Punto Scores; Gomez to 3B; adv on E8
Top of the 9th: Single to P (Ground Ball to weak SS-2B)
Top of the 9th: Strikeout Swinging

A couple of notes about the game: Gomez struck out twice and still managed to hit for the cycle. He made the last out for the visiting team, and yes, still managed to hit for the cycle. If you watched Carlos Gomez play in 2008, you probably aren’t surprised by either of those things. And if you watched Carlos Gomez play in 2008, it’s no surprise that his single in the 9th was an infield hit. The pitcher for the Sox was Ehren Wasserman, who deflected a ball hit up the middle, Alexei Ramirez couldn’t corral it and couldn’t throw Gomez out at 1st.

The last time a Twins player hit for the cycle? That’s right, Kirby Puckett. 8/10/1986. The same night Bert struck out #3000.