Tagged: Jesse Crain

January 2, 2010

All-Decade Team: Pitchers

The infielders and outfielders are wrapped up, and now is the final group, the pitchers. Over the past ten years there have been many pitchers who have gone through the bullpen and rotation, but there were definitely a few who stuck out as potential pitchers of the decade for the Minnesota Twins.

In this final section of the All-Decade Team, the best three starters, the best bullpen arm, and the best closer of the last ten years is unveiled.

Starters

Who pitched: Brad Radke, Joe Mays, Mark Redman, Eric Milton, Sean Bergman, Kyle Lohse, Rick Reed, Johan Santana, Kenny Rogers, Carlos Silva, Francisco Liriano, Boof Bonser, Scott Baker, Matt Garza, Kevin Slowey, Nick Blackburn, Glen Perkins, Ramon Ortiz, Livan Hernandez, Carl Pavano

	Seth Stohs	John Bonnes	Nick Nelson	Michael Rand	Alex
Starter #1	Johan Santana	Johan Santana	Johan Santana	Johan Santana	Johan Santana

Johan Santana is an obvious unanimous selection as one of the three best starters of the decade. Santana pitched for the Twins in eight seasons during the decade, and started at least 14 games in six of them.

In his time with the Twins, Santana posted a record of 93-44 to go along with a 3.22 ERA and a total of 1,381 strikeouts. Santana appeared on five Cy Young ballots in his tenure with the Twins, winning the award in 2004 and 2006. The lefty made three All-Star Games, won the pitcher’s Triple Crown in 2006, won the Warren Spahn award twice, and won the Gold Glove award in 2007.

	Seth Stohs	John Bonnes	Nick Nelson	Michael Rand	Alex
Starter #2	Brad Radke	Brad Radke	Brad Radke	Brad Radke	Brad Radke

Brad Radke was also a unanimous selection after pitching for the Minnesota Twins for his entire career. Radke began with the team in Minneapolis in 1995, and played for the Twins through 2006.
In his tenure with the Twins, Radke went 148-139 with a 4.22 ERA and 1,467 strikeouts. Radke pitched for the team for seven seasons during the decade, and pitched in the postseason during four of those years. The decade ended on a strong note for the retiree as the team inducted him into their Hall of Fame during the 2009 season.

	Seth Stohs	John Bonnes	Nick Nelson	Michael Rand	Alex
Starter #3	Scott Baker	Scott Baker	Francisco Liriano	Scott Baker	Scott Baker

Scott Baker began his career with the Minnesota Twins during the 2005 season, and pitched for five seasons during the decade.
In the past five seasons, Baker has posted a 43-33 record to go along with a 4.27 ERA and 499 strikeouts. His greatest feat of the decade was his near no-hitter against the Kansas City Royals in 2007 when he came two outs from completing the feat.
BullpenWho pitched: Juan Rincon, Eddie Guardado, LaTroy Hawkins, Pat Neshek, Joe Nathan, Matt Guerrier, Jesse Crain, J.C. Romero, Grant Balfour, Jose Mijares, Jon Rauch, Tony Fiore, J.D. Durbin, Willie Eyre, Dennys Reyes, Craig Breslow, Boof Bonser

	Seth Stohs	John Bonnes	Nick Nelson	Michael Rand	Alex
Reliever	Jesse Crain	LaTroy Hawkins	LaTroy Hawkins	Juan Rincon	Jesse Crain

No clear winner emerged from the reliever section as both Jesse Crain and LaTroy Hawkins received two votes apiece. Hawkins pitched for the Twins for nine seasons, and four of them came during the decade. Meanwhile, Crain has pitched for the Twins for six seasons, all coming in the past 10 years.
Hawkins’ best seasons were during the decade as he posted ERAs of 3.39, 5.96, 2.13, and 1.86. Hawkins hadn’t had an ERA below 5.25 in the previous five seasons with the team. In his final seasons with the organization, Hawkins saved a total of 44 games before leaving for Chicago.
Crain began his career in 2004, and has a combined ERA of 3.50 with the Twins. In his first two seasons, Crain posted ERAs of 2.00 and 2.71. Those were followed by ERAs of 3.52, 5.51 and 4.70. Crain has pitched in 314 innings for the Twins and has two total saves.

	Seth Stohs	John Bonnes	Nick Nelson	Michael Rand	Alex
Closer	Joe Nathan	Joe Nathan	Joe Nathan	Joe Nathan	Joe Nathan

Joe Nathan was the obvious selection for the closer of the decade. After coming to Minnesota from the San Francisco Giants in 2004, Nathan was converted to a closer and his career officially took off. He has spent six seasons with the Twins, and has become a perennial All-Star closer.
In six seasons with the Twins, Nathan has posted a 1.82 ERA in 412 appearances. The closer has 246 saves, just eight shy of the team record. In addition, Nathan has struck out 518 hitters in his tenure with the organization. Nathan has been selected to the All-Star Game four times, and holds the Minnesota Twins single season saves record with 47.

July 8, 2009

Theyll Be Coming

Whether it be this September, next season when outdoor baseball returns to Minnesota, or shortly thereafter, the Minnesota Twins have several players, including infielders and pitchers, who will soon be making debuts, and in some cases, making returns.

While the infield has been year-to-year since the days of Corey Koskie, Luis Rivas, and Christian Guzman, the organization may finally have mainstays currently making their home in Rochester, New York. Several players including Nick Punto, Brendan Harris, Joe Crede, Mike Lamb, Tony Batista, and others have held down the fort at second base, shortstop, and third base. Nonetheless, all three positions have seen a magnitude of players over the past three seasons.

Several players, including Steven Tolleson and Danny Valencia, could soon change that if they continue their success from double-A and triple-A. Tolleson has thus far played in nearly 40 games at the closest level to ‘The Bigs’, while his teammate, Valencia, has appeared in only 15. Both still have work to do, primarily in sharpening their defense, but their bats seem to be getting closer to major league quality.

Outside of Valencia and Tolleson, players that could eventually settle in at third (Valencia), shortstop or second (Tolleson), Alexi Casilla, who turns 25 later this month, has hit well since his demotion and could also play a factor in the team’s future infield.

Player	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
Valencia	71	272	55	81	19	4	9	41	33	47	0	3	.298	.372	.482	.855
Tolleson	75	294	49	85	20	3	5	23	36	42	11	4	.289	.373	.429	.802
Casilla	35	138	20	46	3	3	1	14	10	19	8	6	.333	.373	.420	.794

* Numbers for Valencia/Tolleson are from both double-A and triple-A.

Long term players in the infield may not arrive until next season or further down the road, but the bullpen could see some pitchers from triple-A Rochester anytime the team needs help.

Both Juan Morillo and Jesse Crain have seen the Metrodome this season, and both could have opportunities to return before the second half comes to a close. Morillo has pitched well since he was originally sent down two months ago, but Crain has struggled until recently.

With Morillo’s strong pitching for the Red Wings, and Crain’s recent improvement, the Twins could have options as the season progresses. One other name, a guy that has been in New York all season, is Armando Gabino.

Player	G	W	L	ERA	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	AVG	WHIP
Morillo	22	3	3	2.91	34.0	22	11	11	21	44	.185	1.26
Crain	7	1	0	3.72	9.2	7	4	4	7	13	.212	1.45
Gabino	26	3	2	3.25	52.2	42	20	19	15	33	.228	1.08

There is a chance that the likes of Crede, Harris, Punto, and others will continue to hold down the fort along with Justin Morneau in the infield, and that the bullpen won’t need any help. But it seems that the Twins finally have aid for their bullpen, and a future for their infield.