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MINNESOTA ( HUGHES )
CHI WHITE SOX ( SAMARDZIJA ) |
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| 923 | MINNESOTA | +130 | Ov 8,-115 | +105 | Ov 7.5,+105 | | 924 | CHI WHITE SOX | -140 | Un 8,-105 | -115 | Un 7.5,-125 |
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| All Games | 23-17 | +10.7 | 21-17 | 4.6 | 0.257 | 0.310 | 0.385 | 0.695 | 4.4 | 0.278 | 0.327 | 0.433 | 0.760 | | Road Games | 9-11 | +0.9 | 10-9 | 3.6 | 0.230 | 0.288 | 0.337 | 0.624 | 4.7 | 0.283 | 0.339 | 0.465 | 0.804 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 10-12 | -0.1 | 9-12 | 3.3 | 0.234 | 0.284 | 0.340 | 0.624 | 4.8 | 0.287 | 0.332 | 0.457 | 0.789 | | Past 7 Games | 5-2 | +4 | 4-3 | 4.4 | 0.252 | 0.304 | 0.409 | 0.713 | 5.7 | 0.314 | 0.356 | 0.487 | 0.843 | | Grass Games | 23-17 | +10.7 | 21-17 | 4.6 | 0.257 | 0.310 | 0.385 | 0.695 | 4.4 | 0.278 | 0.327 | 0.433 | 0.760 | | Night Games | 14-6 | +12.2 | 8-11 | 4.8 | 0.258 | 0.308 | 0.392 | 0.700 | 2.9 | 0.245 | 0.295 | 0.366 | 0.661 | | Division | 14-14 | +2.8 | 14-12 | 4.2 | 0.262 | 0.308 | 0.384 | 0.692 | 4.6 | 0.286 | 0.340 | 0.444 | 0.783 |
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| All Games | 4.6 | 0.257 | 0.310 | 40 | 1371 | 353 | 67 | 9 | 30 | 0.385 | 171 | 104 | 317 | 15 | 255 | 38 | 25 | 37 | 24 | | Road Games | 3.6 | 0.230 | 0.288 | 20 | 701 | 161 | 33 | 6 | 10 | 0.337 | 65 | 57 | 171 | 8 | 133 | 17 | 13 | 16 | 16 | | Righty Starters | 3.3 | 0.234 | 0.284 | 22 | 723 | 169 | 32 | 3 | 13 | 0.340 | 67 | 51 | 193 | 11 | 134 | 20 | 10 | 17 | 11 |
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| All Games | 4.13 | 1.332 | 130.7 | 64 | 60 | 138 | 15 | 36 | 86 | 6-4 | 16 | 3 | 84.2% | | Road Games | 4.57 | 1.476 | 63 | 33 | 32 | 72 | 7 | 21 | 36 | 3-3 | 7 | 2 | 77.8% |
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| All Games | 18-20 | -3.2 | 15-22 | 3.7 | 0.252 | 0.305 | 0.362 | 0.667 | 4.6 | 0.265 | 0.330 | 0.415 | 0.745 | | Home Games | 11-8 | +1.3 | 5-13 | 3.7 | 0.248 | 0.305 | 0.371 | 0.677 | 3.6 | 0.246 | 0.327 | 0.355 | 0.682 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 16-16 | -1.1 | 13-18 | 3.8 | 0.260 | 0.313 | 0.374 | 0.686 | 4.7 | 0.263 | 0.328 | 0.419 | 0.748 | | Past 7 Games | 4-3 | +0.8 | 2-5 | 3.7 | 0.233 | 0.287 | 0.333 | 0.620 | 3.6 | 0.245 | 0.336 | 0.373 | 0.709 | | Grass Games | 18-20 | -3.2 | 15-22 | 3.7 | 0.252 | 0.305 | 0.362 | 0.667 | 4.6 | 0.265 | 0.330 | 0.415 | 0.745 | | Night Games | 11-9 | +0.7 | 6-14 | 3.8 | 0.260 | 0.311 | 0.371 | 0.682 | 4.0 | 0.244 | 0.316 | 0.385 | 0.700 | | Division | 11-17 | -8.1 | 9-18 | 3.2 | 0.240 | 0.293 | 0.344 | 0.637 | 4.5 | 0.266 | 0.327 | 0.409 | 0.736 |
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| All Games | 3.7 | 0.252 | 0.305 | 38 | 1278 | 322 | 55 | 4 | 26 | 0.362 | 134 | 97 | 280 | 7 | 249 | 46 | 29 | 37 | 27 | | Home Games | 3.7 | 0.248 | 0.305 | 19 | 638 | 158 | 25 | 3 | 16 | 0.371 | 66 | 53 | 148 | 4 | 129 | 16 | 12 | 20 | 15 | | Righty Starters | 3.8 | 0.260 | 0.313 | 32 | 1084 | 282 | 48 | 3 | 23 | 0.374 | 118 | 83 | 230 | 7 | 215 | 41 | 26 | 32 | 22 |
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| All Games | 3.53 | 1.378 | 114.7 | 51 | 45 | 113 | 9 | 45 | 104 | 7-6 | 9 | 1 | 90% | | Home Games | 3.47 | 1.332 | 62.3 | 27 | 24 | 52 | 3 | 31 | 58 | 6-3 | 4 | 1 | 80% |
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| 5/8/2015 | PELFREY(R) | @ CLEVELAND | BAUER(R) | 9-3 | W | 155 | 9 un | O | 13 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 1 | | 5/9/2015 | HUGHES(R) | @ CLEVELAND | CHEN(L) | 7-4 | W | 120 | 8.5 un | O | 16 | 9 | 1 | 13 | 10 | 1 | | 5/10/2015 | MAY(R) | @ CLEVELAND | SALAZAR(R) | 2-8 | L | 160 | 8 un | O | 2 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 8 | 0 | | 5/12/2015 | GIBSON(R) | @ DETROIT | SIMON(R) | 1-2 | L | 135 | 9 un | U | 7 | 6 | 0 | 9 | 8 | 0 | | 5/13/2015 | NOLASCO(R) | @ DETROIT | LOBSTEIN(L) | 6-2 | W | 125 | 8.5 un | U | 12 | 6 | 1 | 8 | 10 | 0 | | 5/14/2015 | PELFREY(R) | @ DETROIT | SANCHEZ(R) | 1-13 | L | 170 | 8 un | O | 5 | 3 | 2 | 20 | 10 | 0 | | 5/15/2015 | HUGHES(R) | TAMPA BAY | ODORIZZI(R) | 3-2 | W | +100 | 7.5 un | U | 9 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 6 | 1 | | 5/16/2015 | MAY(R) | TAMPA BAY | COLOME(R) | 6-4 | W | +100 | 8.5 un | O | 11 | 8 | 0 | 9 | 5 | 2 | | 5/17/2015 | GIBSON(R) | TAMPA BAY | ARCHER(R) | 3-11 | L | +115 | 8 ev | O | 6 | 3 | 1 | 19 | 12 | 0 | | 5/19/2015 | NOLASCO(R) | @ PITTSBURGH | LIRIANO(L) | 8-5 | W | 150 | 7.5 un | O | 8 | 3 | 1 | 13 | 10 | 0 | | 5/20/2015 | PELFREY(R) | @ PITTSBURGH | LOCKE(L) | 4-3 | W | 130 | 7.5 ev | U | 10 | 9 | 0 | 10 | 9 | 0 | | 5/22/2015 | HUGHES(R) | @ CHI WHITE SOX | SAMARDZIJA(R) | | | 5/23/2015 | MAY(R) | @ CHI WHITE SOX | SALE(L) | | | 5/24/2015 | GIBSON(R) | @ CHI WHITE SOX | QUINTANA(L) | | | 5/25/2015 | NOLASCO(R) | BOSTON | KELLY(R) | | | 5/26/2015 | PELFREY(R) | BOSTON | BUCHHOLZ(R) | | | 5/27/2015 | | BOSTON | | | | 5/29/2015 | | TORONTO | | |
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| 5/9/2015 | NOESI(R) | CINCINNATI | CUETO(R) | 4-10 | L | +100 | 7.5 un | O | 6 | 4 | 2 | 13 | 11 | 0 | | 5/9/2015 | RODON(L) | CINCINNATI | MARQUIS(R) | 8-2 | W | -135 | 8.5 ev | O | 14 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0 | | 5/10/2015 | DANKS(L) | CINCINNATI | LORENZEN(R) | 4-3 | W | -105 | 8.5 ov | U | 11 | 13 | 0 | 10 | 9 | 0 | | 5/11/2015 | SAMARDZIJA(R) | @ MILWAUKEE | PERALTA(R) | 7-10 | L | 100 | 8 un | O | 14 | 7 | 2 | 10 | 3 | 2 | | 5/12/2015 | SALE(L) | @ MILWAUKEE | FIERS(R) | 4-2 | W | -105 | 7.5 un | U | 9 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | | 5/13/2015 | QUINTANA(L) | @ MILWAUKEE | NELSON(R) | 4-2 | W | 110 | 7.5 un | U | 9 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 0 | | 5/15/2015 | RODON(L) | @ OAKLAND | HAHN(R) | 7-6 | W | 115 | 7 ev | O | 9 | 5 | 1 | 12 | 13 | 1 | | 5/16/2015 | DANKS(L) | @ OAKLAND | CHAVEZ(R) | 4-3 | W | 150 | 7.5 un | U | 13 | 9 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 1 | | 5/17/2015 | SAMARDZIJA(R) | @ OAKLAND | KAZMIR(L) | 7-3 | W | 125 | 7.5 un | O | 10 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 6 | 4 | | 5/18/2015 | SALE(L) | CLEVELAND | KLUBER(R) | 2-1 | W | -140 | 7 un | U | 7 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 0 | | 5/19/2015 | QUINTANA(L) | CLEVELAND | BAUER(R) | 1-3 | L | -145 | 7.5 un | U | 4 | 7 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 1 | | 5/20/2015 | RODON(L) | CLEVELAND | MARCUM(R) | 3-4 | L | -165 | 8.5 ev | U | 6 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 0 | | 5/21/2015 | DANKS(L) | CLEVELAND | SALAZAR(R) | 2-5 | L | +120 | 8.5 un | U | 7 | 7 | 2 | 11 | 11 | 1 | | 5/22/2015 | SAMARDZIJA(R) | MINNESOTA | HUGHES(R) | | | 5/23/2015 | SALE(L) | MINNESOTA | MAY(R) | | | 5/24/2015 | QUINTANA(L) | MINNESOTA | GIBSON(R) | | | 5/25/2015 | RODON(L) | @ TORONTO | HUTCHISON(R) | | | 5/26/2015 | DANKS(L) | @ TORONTO | DICKEY(R) | | | 5/27/2015 | | @ TORONTO | | | | 5/28/2015 | | @ BALTIMORE | | | | 5/28/2015 | | @ BALTIMORE | | | | 5/29/2015 | | @ HOUSTON | | |
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| |  | MINNESOTA: MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Paul Molitor was hired as Minnesota's new manager, bringing Hall of Fame membership and renowned intelligence and intuition to a team seeking a fresh start.
The Twins brought back one of their most popular players ever, Torii Hunter, to help solidify an unsettled outfield, mentor a fledgling team and hit a few home runs. They have collected plenty of promising young hitters, either slated for the opening day lineup or waiting in the minor league wings.
None of that will matter much if the starting pitching continues to wobble the way it has the last four seasons.
Phil Hughes had by most measures a career year, his first away from the New York Yankees, but his ability to match that is low on the list of 2015 goals. Ricky Nolasco needs to rebound from a terrible first season with the Twins. Ervin Santana must show he's worth that $55 million, four-year contract. Kyle Gibson has to reduce the times (five of 31 starts in 2014) he goes three innings or less and gives up six runs or more. The fifth spot winner, Trevor May, Tommy Milone or Mike Pelfrey, needs to keep it.
''We'd put up a couple good starts and somebody would get hurt or we'd take a step backward,'' said Hughes, whose 2014 season has been one of the few true success stories of the rotation since it unraveled in 2011. ''Every good team I've been on, it seems like the rotation gets on a roll.''
New pitching coach Neil Allen will have more impact on the staff than Molitor, but after 13 years under manager Ron Gardenhire the clubhouse has been naturally buzzing with excitement about the new boss.
''He's one of the smartest baseball people I've ever been around,'' first baseman Joe Mauer said.
As for Hunter? His presence was desired for more energy and stronger camaraderie.
''If there's no tension between players and you're comfortable with everyone, you're going to play better,'' closer Glen Perkins said. ''So that's chemistry, I guess. I think we've held it together as much as we can, as much as we've struggled.''
Here are some key angles to know about the Twins in 2015:
MAUER IMPROVEMENT
Mauer, soon to turn 32, will make $23 million each of the next four years. Injuries have limited him to an average of 116 games from 2011-14. His batting average hit a career-low .277 last season, and he had a career-most 96 strikeouts despite time lost to an oblique muscle injury.
The Twins haven't lost faith in their franchise player, the homegrown guy who was the first overall draft pick in 2001. Playing for Molitor, whom he grew up admiring as an alumnus of the same St. Paul high school, ought to help.
''He's healthy. I think he's anxious to prove that last year was just an aberration,'' general manager Terry Ryan said.
LINEUP FLEXIBILITY
Molitor has been touting his options at the top and in the middle of the order, with a team that quietly scored the third-most runs in the majors after the All-Star break last year and added an accomplished hitter in Hunter.
One decision is whether to bat Mauer third, where he was most of his career until Gardenhire began to bat him second often over the last two seasons.
With Hunter, Kennys Vargas, Trevor Plouffe and Oswaldo Arcia, Molitor has power to play with in the heart of the order. The downsides are Arcia's inconsistency, leadoff man Danny Santana being the only player with a 2014 average above .290 and an unsettled situation in center field.
''It's a small sample, our track record from last year, but it's something you can use as a foundation to see potentially how your offense can work. We're going to have depth, I think, all the way down to the bottom,'' Molitor said.
BULLPEN SHUFFLE
The Twins could return as few as three relievers to their roles from last season: Perkins, Casey Fien and Brian Duensing. Blaine Boyer and Tim Stauffer, from San Diego, were signed. At least one of the losers in the fifth starter competition was headed for the seven-man bullpen. Rule 5 draft pick J.R. Graham, who must be returned to Atlanta if he's not on the 25-man roster, has been pushing for a spot, too.
Reliever use will be one area in which Molitor's strategy could differ from that of Gardenhire.
''I want to get them out of a one-inning mentality. Not that they all have it, or don't want to pitch more. But we've talked a lot about some of those guys, trying to get two innings out of them here, if we can,'' Molitor said. | | CHI WHITE SOX: CHICAGO (AP) - A decade removed from their most recent championship, the Chicago White Sox once again are eyeing a big season.
Their sights are set on an AL Central title after consecutive losing records, maybe even more. The White Sox added to their offense, boosted their rotation, overhauled their bullpen and sent expectations soaring.
''Obviously postseason first, and World Series,'' new closer David Robertson said. ''I mean that's what I look forward to every year. That's where I want to be.''
The addition of Robertson to the bullpen is among the reasons the White Sox believe they are armed and ready after going 73-89. But it's not the only one.
They added All-Star Jeff Samardzija to a rotation that already included ace Chris Sale. They added free agent Adam LaRoche to their lineup, giving AL Rookie of the Year Jose Abreu more protection, and brought in Melky Cabrera to solidify the No. 2 spot in the order behind Adam Eaton.
Is that enough to compete with Cleveland, Kansas City and Detroit in the division and make a run in the playoffs? The White Sox believe it is. Their fans are pumped, too.
With that in mind, here are some things to look for this season:
LINED UP: It would be hard for Abreu to match, let alone exceed, what he did last season. He batted .317 with 36 homers and 107 RBIs, one year after defecting from Cuba. While the White Sox tied for fourth in the AL in homers, they were just eighth in runs, ninth in batting average and 12th in on-base percentage.
LaRoche, who signed a $25 million, two-year contract, should give them power from the left side. He hit 26 homers and drove in 92 runs for Washington last season. Cabrera, a .301 hitter with Toronto, helps the top of the order.
''I think we're jelling together as a team. Hopefully that translates to wins in April,'' Eaton said.
SALE-ING ALONG: With Sale, Samardzija and Jose Quintana, the White Sox appear strong at the top of the rotation.
Sale made the AL All-Star team for the third time last season while going 12-4 with a 2.17 ERA with 208 strikeouts and 39 walks. Samardzija, acquired from Oakland, moves into the No. 2 spot. With Sale recovering from a broken foot, Samardzija - who grew up a White Sox fan - could wind up starting the opener at Kansas City after pitching the previous two for the Cubs.
CLOSING TIME: Chicago tied for seventh in the majors with 21 blown saves and had the fourth-lowest save percentage (63.2) last season. Robertson, who took over as closer after Mariano Rivera retired, saved 39 games for the New York Yankees last season. Chicago also brought in Zach Duke.
RODON WATCH: Whether he starts the season in the rotation or gets sent down to the minors, expect to see top prospect Carlos Rodon in a White Sox uniform at some point this season. The No. 3 pick in last year's amateur draft, he is on a fast track to the majors after three standout seasons at North Carolina State. Rodon, who made nine minor league appearances in 2014, could start the year in the rotation. If Rodon starts in the minors, veteran Brad Penny could make some early starts. |
| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER AL PREVIEW (MINNESOTA-CHI WHITE SOX) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Twins-White Sox Preview* =========================
By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer
Minnesota (23-17) at Chicago (18-19), 8:10 p.m. EDT
The Minnesota Twins' turnaround can be traced to their series sweep of the Chicago White Sox three weeks ago.
The Twins look to continue rolling as they face the White Sox in the opener of this three-game set on the South Side on Friday night.
Minnesota (23-17) was three games under .500 before outscoring Chicago 31-8 and winning all four games from April 30-May 3. The Twins had five homers among their 50 hits, batted .347 and posted a 1.75 ERA.
That started Minnesota on a 14-5 stretch, moving it six games over .500 this late in a season for the first time since ending 2010 as AL Central champion.
Joe Mauer delivered the latest victory, hitting a solo homer in the 13th of a 4-3 win at Pittsburgh on Wednesday. He's 7 for 20 with five RBIs in five games after connecting for his first homer since Aug. 17, a span of 76 games.
"They can come in bunches, hopefully that's the case," Mauer said. "It was a matter of time before I got the first one under my belt. Took a little longer than it has before, but I'm glad it came when it did."
Phil Hughes (3-4, 4.76 ERA) takes the mound, and he's won three straight starts despite a 5.12 ERA after his first five ended in defeat for the Twins. The right-hander is also coming off his best outing of that stretch, yielding two runs in seven innings of a 3-2 win over Tampa Bay last Friday.
"Everybody has to step up and do their job. You can't really afford to have guys that aren't pitching well in the rotation," Hughes said. "I knew I had to be better. Hopefully this puts me in a spot where I can continue to improve."
Hughes has a 4.50 ERA while losing three consecutive starts against the White Sox (18-20), and he's 0-3 with a 4.32 ERA over his last four in Chicago.
He didn't pitch in Minnesota's sweep of Chicago, but he allowed three runs and eight hits in six innings of a 6-2 road loss April 12 as Minnesota dropped two of three at U.S. Cellular Field.
Chicago has lost a season-high three straight games at home after falling 5-2 to Cleveland on Thursday.
Turning to Jeff Samardzija (3-2, 4.58) could help since he's 3-0 with a 1.50 ERA in five career starts at U.S. Cellular - two as a visitor.
The right-hander has won his last two games there, yielding two runs in 13 innings. However, that came after he gave up four runs and eight hits in seven innings while not figuring in the decision of a 5-4 win against Minnesota on April 11.
He's 1-1 with a 7.56 ERA in three career starts versus the Twins.
Samardzija was solid at Oakland on Sunday, yielding three runs and eight hits while throwing a season-high 120 pitches over eight innings of a 7-3 win.
"He's always been a high-pitch guy," manager Robin Ventura told MLB's official website. "I think as the game went along you're looking at him as just getting sharper. You understand he's been there. I think he thrives on it somewhat."
Jose Abreu has a .323 average during a 16-game hitting streak, the longest active run in the majors. While the stretch started with a single at Minnesota on May 3, he's 4 for 25 against the Twins this season after hitting .391 in 18 meetings last year.
Abreu is 6 for 13 with three doubles versus Hughes.
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| | Last Updated: 4/24/2024 12:04:07 PM EST. |
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