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bcimmet · 01-06-2004, 04:15 PM

The Journal of Christopher Quinn (2b, Minnesota Twins)

AUGUST 1, 2006

These guys are making good moves. Minnesota’s GM Pete Wijkstrom and manager Walter Hugg are doing very bold things... At the deadline, they made two trades, one with Cleveland and one with Colorado. We sent backup outfielder Victor Bennett (.267, one homer, 5 RBI) and two minor league infielders to Cleveland in exchange for Leonard Holloman, who I have to imagine will go straight into the 3- or 4-spot in the lineup. Holloman is a young player (29), a two-time all-star, and in the last three years has averaged .320-35HR-118RBI a season. He’s arbitration eligible at the end of the year, but I think they’ll re-sign him. Our other trade was to send Tod McNerney to Colorado in exchange for two infield prospects. So overall, we basically lost our backup second baseman and our backup right-fielder for an all-star first baseman. Big-time improvement.

We’ve also re-signed four potential free agents: Michael Acheson (1b/dh, .271-12-42), starting pitcher Francis Hawkinson (4-2, 3.56 this year, partially in relief), left-fielder Juan Acuna (.269-8-49 this year so far), and reliever Mason Sherlock (2-2 with a 7.88 this year, but 45-53 with 103 saves and 4.51 ERA in his Minnesota career, spanning 14 seasons). The only question mark to me is Acuna, who hasn’t really represented his worth as a $3million-plus player. We still haven’t re-signed Terry Miller, our right-field all-star who has hit around .300 with 35-45 homers each of the past three years, and is en route to the same this year. He’ll cost a pretty penny. And our shortstop, Paul Valasquez, will also be expensive to keep... It will be interesting to see how this team develops. It looks like, as we enter the home stretch, this is our roster, more or less (with stats as of August 1):

Code:

vs. RHP         AVG  HR RBI  SB      PITCHERS
Quinn, 2b      .300   7  31  23      Bechtol     12-7   4.52
McKown, c      .324   5  35   0      Moorhouse   13-7   3.29
Holloman, 1b   .319  28  74   1      Hasan       10-8   4.06
Miller, rf     .285  23  76   0      Chancy      8-7    5.62
Acheson, dh    .270  12  42   3      Hawkinson   4-3    3.86
Acuna, lf      .276  11  62   0      
Tye, 3b        .274  33  77   0      Acosta (cl) 1-0-28 1.29
Trahan, cf     .299  10  62   0      
Valasquez, ss  .267   5  23  14

Looks pretty solid for the run toward a title. We’re nine games in front of Kansas City, and are currently tied with Texas for the best record in the AL.

SEPTEMBER 3, 2006

How quickly things can change... We went into a major slump in August, and going into today’s game, held a one-game lead over Detroit. I’ve been hitting fairly well – my average is up to .311, and I’m close to 100 runs and 30 steals, which are terrific milestones.

Today, against the White Sox, we’ve lost five of six, and are trying to turn things around. I actually hit my second homer in as many games, and we win 9-7. But the down side is that after the game, some pain in my elbow wouldn’t go away. I tried just working it out, just shaking it out. After icing didn’t help, I had the team doctor look at it. And now I’ve been asked to take two weeks off to let what seems to be hyperextension heal. So I’ll watch as our team either rides into success or dribbles further into failure... I’m on the DL until probably the end of the month.

SEPTEMBER 19, 2006

Despite a recent 3-game skid, we managed to extend our lead over Detroit to three games in my absence. I’m back from the DL now, and face Anaheim today. First inning, I single and steal second to open the game. I score a run, but we trail 4-2. But in the sixth, I single again, loading the bases for Trahan – who hits a three-run double down the line, and we lead the game 8-6. We won the game, and I was 4-5 with a stolen base and two runs scored. Nice return to the lineup. Acosta got his 36th save, and his era is at a microscopic 1.20. This guy is an excellent closer.

SEPTEMBER 30, 2006

With our eighth straight win, we clinch the American League Central. I’m going to the post-season! Of course, in the clinching game, I was a rollicking 0-5 with two strikeouts. But we’re going to be in the playoffs. First round, we’ll either face AL-East leading Toronto, AL-West’s Texas or the Wild Card team, which at this point, could be either Detroit or Oakland.

01-06-2004, 04:15 PM	#30
bcimmet Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: New York City Posts: 65	The Journal of Christopher Quinn (2b, Minnesota Twins) AUGUST 1, 2006 These guys are making good moves. Minnesota’s GM Pete Wijkstrom and manager Walter Hugg are doing very bold things... At the deadline, they made two trades, one with Cleveland and one with Colorado. We sent backup outfielder Victor Bennett (.267, one homer, 5 RBI) and two minor league infielders to Cleveland in exchange for Leonard Holloman, who I have to imagine will go straight into the 3- or 4-spot in the lineup. Holloman is a young player (29), a two-time all-star, and in the last three years has averaged .320-35HR-118RBI a season. He’s arbitration eligible at the end of the year, but I think they’ll re-sign him. Our other trade was to send Tod McNerney to Colorado in exchange for two infield prospects. So overall, we basically lost our backup second baseman and our backup right-fielder for an all-star first baseman. Big-time improvement. We’ve also re-signed four potential free agents: Michael Acheson (1b/dh, .271-12-42), starting pitcher Francis Hawkinson (4-2, 3.56 this year, partially in relief), left-fielder Juan Acuna (.269-8-49 this year so far), and reliever Mason Sherlock (2-2 with a 7.88 this year, but 45-53 with 103 saves and 4.51 ERA in his Minnesota career, spanning 14 seasons). The only question mark to me is Acuna, who hasn’t really represented his worth as a $3million-plus player. We still haven’t re-signed Terry Miller, our right-field all-star who has hit around .300 with 35-45 homers each of the past three years, and is en route to the same this year. He’ll cost a pretty penny. And our shortstop, Paul Valasquez, will also be expensive to keep... It will be interesting to see how this team develops. It looks like, as we enter the home stretch, this is our roster, more or less (with stats as of August 1): Code: vs. RHP AVG HR RBI SB PITCHERS Quinn, 2b .300 7 31 23 Bechtol 12-7 4.52 McKown, c .324 5 35 0 Moorhouse 13-7 3.29 Holloman, 1b .319 28 74 1 Hasan 10-8 4.06 Miller, rf .285 23 76 0 Chancy 8-7 5.62 Acheson, dh .270 12 42 3 Hawkinson 4-3 3.86 Acuna, lf .276 11 62 0 Tye, 3b .274 33 77 0 Acosta (cl) 1-0-28 1.29 Trahan, cf .299 10 62 0 Valasquez, ss .267 5 23 14 Looks pretty solid for the run toward a title. We’re nine games in front of Kansas City, and are currently tied with Texas for the best record in the AL. SEPTEMBER 3, 2006 How quickly things can change... We went into a major slump in August, and going into today’s game, held a one-game lead over Detroit. I’ve been hitting fairly well – my average is up to .311, and I’m close to 100 runs and 30 steals, which are terrific milestones. Today, against the White Sox, we’ve lost five of six, and are trying to turn things around. I actually hit my second homer in as many games, and we win 9-7. But the down side is that after the game, some pain in my elbow wouldn’t go away. I tried just working it out, just shaking it out. After icing didn’t help, I had the team doctor look at it. And now I’ve been asked to take two weeks off to let what seems to be hyperextension heal. So I’ll watch as our team either rides into success or dribbles further into failure... I’m on the DL until probably the end of the month. SEPTEMBER 19, 2006 Despite a recent 3-game skid, we managed to extend our lead over Detroit to three games in my absence. I’m back from the DL now, and face Anaheim today. First inning, I single and steal second to open the game. I score a run, but we trail 4-2. But in the sixth, I single again, loading the bases for Trahan – who hits a three-run double down the line, and we lead the game 8-6. We won the game, and I was 4-5 with a stolen base and two runs scored. Nice return to the lineup. Acosta got his 36th save, and his era is at a microscopic 1.20. This guy is an excellent closer. SEPTEMBER 30, 2006 With our eighth straight win, we clinch the American League Central. I’m going to the post-season! Of course, in the clinching game, I was a rollicking 0-5 with two strikeouts. But we’re going to be in the playoffs. First round, we’ll either face AL-East leading Toronto, AL-West’s Texas or the Wild Card team, which at this point, could be either Detroit or Oakland.