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Indians beat 4/23
Hannahan embracing his return home
By Jordan Schelling / MLB.com
Hannahan last faced the Twins in 2009 in Oakland. His last games at the Metrodome came on Aug. 18-19, 2008, when Hannahan went 2-for-8 with a double and an RBI in the series.
While they didn’t get to play Friday, Hannahan made sure his teammates got a taste of the Twin Cities in the clubhouse. A few hours before the game’s scheduled start, Hannahan had “Juicy Lucy” cheeseburgers brought in from Shamrock’s in St. Paul, a Twin Cities specialty.
While others claim to have invented the burger with cheese inside the patty rather than on top, Hannahan says Shamrock’s makes them the best, though he may be a little biased.
“I got the boys locked in on it,” Hannahan said. “I usually do it anytime I come in here. I tell these guys it’s the best Juicy Lucy they’ll ever taste, so I always bring in 30 of them.
“Mikey Runyon and Teddy Casper, who I graduated with at Cretin, they own it. They always hook me up and bring it in for the boys.”
As Hannahan referenced, he attended high school at Cretin-Derham Hall in St. Paul, which also is the alma mater of Twins catcher Joe Mauer and Hall of Famer Paul Molitor.
While Hannahan’s teammates, especially the pitching staff, may be glad to see Mauer out of the lineup this weekend, it’s a bit disappointing for Hannahan that he won’t get to see a familiar face behind the plate when he goes to bat.
“We never played together, but I graduated with Billy, his middle brother, and then Jake was a year older than me, so I played with those guys growing up,” Hannahan said. “I haven’t talked to Joe since I’ve been home, but we text throughout the year and I get to see him in the offseason.
“Hopefully he can heal up. I heard he’s pretty banged up, but Joey’s a tough guy. Hopefully he’ll be able to get back out on the field soon.”
Acta expects Central foes to make a run
MINNEAPOLIS — By the end of the season, the first-place Indians and last-place Twins very well could switch places in the American League Central standings.
At the very least, Indians manager Manny Acta expects the Twins — and the White Sox and Tigers — to figure things out and make a run at some point.
“Absolutely,” Acta said. “Those teams, they’ve done it in the past. Some of them made additions in the offseason and it’s still very early. A lot of the guys that are struggling right now are not going to struggle the whole year, and vice versa.”
Still, it would seem that the Indians have an opportunity this weekend at Target Field to take advantage of a Twins squad that isn’t playing up to its potential early on in the season.
Acta doesn’t necessarily see it that way, but he likes the way his team is playing so far. In order to stay at the top, he knows they’ll have to continue to play consistently at the same level, while the young players on the team continue to improve.
“You can’t compare yourself to others, you’ve just got to continue to get better yourself and see where that takes you,” Acta said.
One thing Acta does not want to discuss is what constitutes a “good start.” The way he sees it, with how long the baseball season is, if the Indians played poorly over the next few weeks or month, that could become a “bad start” to the season.
What does matter is where the Indians are in the standings at the end of the season.
“It doesn’t make any sense if we go out next month and have the same type of month the other way around that we’re having right now,” Acta said.
“To me, it’s playing consistent baseball throughout the year. It’s a long season. Would you want to go over and ask the Rockies if they would rather have a good April in 2007 and not win the 21 out of 22 that they won to go to the World Series? You think they would trade that? The World Series for starting 7-0 in April and then not making the playoffs?”
Acta very impressed with Gordon’s defense
MINNEAPOLIS — After their 3-2 loss on Thursday to the Royals, defense was a topic of discussion for the Indians. In particular, the notable difference in the outcomes of the throws by Royals center fielder Melky Cabrera and Indians left fielder Michael Brantley.
Whereas Cabrera managed an excellent throw to retire Indians catcher Carlos Santana at the plate to save a run, Brantley had trouble getting a grip on the wet ball, allowing Mitch Maier to score and tie the game.
Had it not been for the defense of Royals left fielder Alex Gordon, however, the Indians may have come away with a sweep, rather than splitting the series in Kansas City.
In the Indians’ 5-4 loss Tuesday, Gordon had a diving grab in the ninth to save a run and preserve the Royals’ one-run victory. Thursday night, Gordon had another defensive gem in left field and also made a diving grab at first base for an inning-ending double play in the ninth, to save at least one more run.
“He might have saved more than two runs [Thursday night],” Acta said. “He not only saved runs there, he turned that into an out. He played tremendous defense in that series.”
Jordan Schelling is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Indians beat, 4/22
Acta in favor of expanded playoffs
By Jordan Schelling / MLB.com
When asked Friday about it, Acta was in favor of adding one more team into the mix, though he admitted he had little say in the matter.
“It will give everybody else more opportunity to get to the playoffs,” Acta said. “When I can’t change things, I just adjust to them.”
Though Acta has tended to be more of a traditionalist when it comes to baseball and its rules, he sees nothing negative that would come from the addition of another team in each league.
There seems to be a consensus that expansion is a good idea, though exactly how to implement it remains a question. Potential options if the field is expanded to 10 teams include a one-game playoff or three-game series between the two Wild Card teams.
“If you’re adding one more team, it’s not going to hurt anybody,” Acta said. “It can only help people.”
Sizemore free to turn on jets
MINNEAPOLIS — Indians center fielder Grady Sizemore still has the green light on the basepaths. The same is true of everyone else, said Indians manager Manny Acta, until they get the red light.
All joking from Acta aside, he said Friday afternoon that he liked what he saw in terms of speed from Sizemore since his return Sunday from the disabled list.
“He’s been able to chase balls back there and get extra bases,” Acta said. “I’m happy with the way he looks. We timed him in the Minor Leagues, and we can see him running. He’s not clogging the bases. He’s not going to do that.”
In five games since his return, Sizemore has settled in nicely to the Indians lineup, batting .421 (8-for-19) with two runs, three doubles, a home run and three RBIs. Sizemore has played four games in center field, converting all eight putout chances.
Jordan Schelling is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Twins to host 2011, ’12 RBI World Series
MINNEAPOLIS — The championship game for Major League Baseball’s Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities program is moving to Target Field for 2011 and ’12.
MLB announced in a release on Monday, issued during a news conference in Minnesota, that the Twins’ ballpark would host the baseball finale of the 19th and 20th RBI World Series, after the previous two were played at the Roger Dean Stadium complex in Jupiter, Fla.
Preceding games of the RBI World Series, taking place Aug. 2-14, will be held at various other locations in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.
“It is a tremendous honor for the Minnesota Twins organization and for Target Field to host the 2011 and 2012 RBI World Series in the Twin Cities,” Twins president Dave St. Peter said. “We have been actively pursuing this opportunity for more than two years, and are very eager to show the nation what the Twin Cities offers in terms of a national youth championship.”
Twins center fielder Denard Span, the club’s RBI ambassador, was on hand to share his thoughts about the merits of the program, and his excitement about the championship coming to Target Field. Though he did not participate in the program growing up, Span saw the benefits of RBI baseball through friends and teammates who played in the program.
Span is the latest in a long line of Twins players who have supported the program, including Hall of Famers Kirby Puckett and Dave Winfield, and Torii Hunter. The Minnesota Twins ballclub has supported RBI baseball since 1993.
“Torii, I remember coming up in the Minor Leagues, everything that he told me,” Span said. “Back then, I didn’t realize and understand some of the things that he said, but I kept my eyes open and I watched him, and I just listened to the things that he told me.
“Now that I am where I am, and I’m older, I realized why he did certain things with me and brought me along with him with certain things. It’s just an honor just to be here and carry on the legacy of Kirby Puckett and [Hunter] and now me.”
The RBI World Series is the crowning event for a program that aims to provide free year-round baseball and softball opportunities to kids growing up in rough environments. Founded in 1989, the RBI program now features 300 leagues and about 200,000 kids ages 5-18 participating.
In the 2010 RBI World Series, Houston claimed the Senior Division (16-18-year-olds), the Dominican Republic won in the Junior Division (13-15) and Los Angeles took the softball crown (19 and under).
“RBI is a program that provides underserved children with a chance to learn and play baseball and softball, but more importantly, gives them a chance to make new friends, and learn life lessons,” said Tom Brasuell, vice president of community affairs for Major League Baseball. “Since RBI’s inception in 1989, more than one million kids have gone through the program and gone on to be productive citizens throughout their lives.”
This year, baseball tournament games will be held at Parade Stadium and Neiman Sports Complex in Minneapolis, and Toni Stone Stadium in St. Paul. Softball tournament games will be played at Neiman Sports Complex and Dunning Softball Fields in St. Paul.
Softball’s championship game is slated to be played at the University of Minnesota’s Jane Sage Cowles Stadium.
Twenty-four teams will compete in the RBI World Series, composed of winners from eight divisions in the RBI Regionals.
Mike Hahn, director of parks and recreation for St. Paul, and Cordell Wiseman, assistant superintendent of recreation in Minneapolis, were both on hand to thank the Minnesota Twins and Major League Baseball. Hahn and Wiseman expressed gratitude not only for the RBI World Series coming to the Twin Cities, but for just having the RBI program itself.
As a Florida native, Span acknowledged that many of his friends growing up saw other sports, especially basketball and football, to be more appealing than baseball. Now, when he goes home, his friends all tell them they wish they had chosen baseball.
“We’ve just got to try to get kids to realize that at a younger age before they do get older,” Span said. “Even though there aren’t a lot of African-Americans in the game, there still are [some], and it seems like the African-Americans that are in the game, that they are successful.
“I think it’s just good to make ourselves visible by going to the community, going and speaking to kids, so that they can see that this dream is obtainable.”
Jordan Schelling is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Brewers’ 1992 club highlighted tough decade
MILWAUKEE — Some of the great moments in Milwaukee Brewers history occurred in the 1990s, the third decade in franchise history. But for all those moments, there were not many wins to go along with them, and even fewer winning seasons.
After finishing second in the American League East and posting just the fifth 90-win season in club history in 1992, the rest of the decade did not go nearly as well for the Brewers. In fact, the Brewers did not have another winning season, or even a .500 record, through the rest of the 90s.
This weekend, as a part of the 40th anniversary of the move from Seattle, the Brewers are celebrating and reflecting on the club’s third decade in Milwaukee. On Friday, the Brewers will wear reproductions of the club’s 1997-99 uniforms, featuring “BREWERS” in block letters on the front, while the cap features an “M” logo.
On Sunday, all fans in attendance will receive a collectible bobble head doll featuring Hall of Famer and Brewers legend Robin Yount recording his 3,000th career hit on Sept. 9, 1992, a sharp single to right field at County Stadium.
The Garner Era
Despite a winning 1991 season, the Brewers introduced a new general manager, Sal Bando, and a new manager, three-time All-Star infielder Phil Garner, before the next season. Much like the club’s first year under previous manager Tom Trebelhorn in 1987, the Brewers’ 1992 season was among the best in club history.
With just over a month remaining in the season, they put together one of the best offensive displays in club history. On August 28, the Brewers scored a franchise-record 22 runs, while setting an American League record with 31 hits in a 22-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.
But while that certainly was a memorable moment in one of the greatest seasons ever for the Brewers, three other aspects of the 1992 season stand out as the true highlights.
One of those was 24-year-old rookie shortstop Pat Listach, whose arrival with the big league club came due to an injury to Bill Spiers.
After spending the previous four seasons in the Minor Leagues, Listach was perhaps the biggest surprise of the season for the Crew.
“Pat had his bags packed for Denver,” said Garner in the book “True Blue,” referring to the Brewers’ Triple-A affiliate at the time. “Then he went out and had a Rookie-of-the-Year-type season. He was a consistent, solid player from Day 1.”
Listach batted .290 in his rookie season while driving in 47 runs and recording 54 stolen bases, becoming the first Brewers player to swipe more than 50 bases in a single season.
That performance earned Listach the American League Rookie of the Year Award as well as a handful of votes for AL MVP in 1992.
“Rookie of the Year. That’s a pretty good first season,” Yount said of Listach. “He was an exciting player. What I remember specifically about him was that he seemed to deliver a large amount of big hits that season, which is unusual for a rookie.
“He was able to deliver in key situations numerous times, which impressed me quite a bit because he was such a young player coming up so big for us so often.”
As great as Listach’s individual season was, the Brewers as a whole put together their best campaign since the club’s AL-pennant-winning season of 1982.
As the Brewers’ leadoff hitter, Listach led an offense that featured Yount in center field, B.J. Surhoff behind the plate, Greg Vaughn in left field and designated hitter Paul Molitor, playing his final season with the Brewers.
Milwaukee finished 92-70 in Garner’s first year at the helm, good for the fourth-best record in franchise history. The Brewers ended the season four games out of first place in the AL East, behind the Toronto Blue Jays, who went on to win the World Series.
Though they came up short in the end, the Brewers thrilled fans in the season’s final month, posting a 20-7 record in September. In the club’s home finale, the Brewers beat the Oakland A’s, 5-3, on Sept. 27, to complete the sweep and cut the Blue Jays’ lead to just 2 1/2 games with six games remaining in the regular season.
“The players need to take a curtain call,” Garner told reporters that day after a standing-room-only crowd of nearly 55,000 gave the Brewers a standing ovation. “They could not have played more inspiring ball than they have the last five or six homestands.
“There was an air of excitement all around today.”
3,000 hits
Of course, Yount had a handful of highlights of his own in the 1990s.
Along with the pennant race and Listach’s impressive rookie campaign, the 1992 season was highlighted by Yount’s push for 3,000 career hits.
The moment finally came in early September. With a seventh-inning single to right field off Cleveland pitcher Jose Mesa on Sept. 9, 1992, at County Stadium, Yount became the third-youngest member of the 3,000-hit club at 36 years, 11 months and 24 days old.
After collecting the hit, Yount was mobbed by teammates and lifted onto their shoulders in a celebration that lasted nearly 10 minutes.
“Obviously it was an exciting moment,” Yount said. “But it was more about the pennant race than the 3,000th hit for me. It was September and every game meant something.
“Certainly, the 3,000th hit was a highlight from an individual standpoint, but more importantly, we were in a pennant race, so that made it doubly exciting.”
Yount retired after the 1993 season with 3,142 career hits.
A year later, on May 29, 1994, Yount had his No. 19 retired by the Brewers in a ceremony at County Stadium. As a part of the festivities, the Brewers and Harley Davidson gave Yount a new motorcycle, which he rode a lap on around the stadium, recalling memories of his famous ride following the 1982 World Series.
“That was always fun,” Yount said of the motorcycle ride. “It kind of ended up to be a circus a little bit, but I’ll ride a motorcycle any time somebody gives me a chance.”
Five years later, Yount was honored again, this time by the Baseball Writers Association of America. Included on 77.5 percent of ballots in 1999, Yount was a first-ballot Hall of Famer, the first player to ever enter Cooperstown wearing a Brewers cap.
During his speech, Yount borrowed from Lou Gehrig’s famous farewell address.
“Now’s the time where I’m supposed to wake up from all of this. I mean, it’s OK, it’s been a great dream,” Yount said. “But if in fact this is reality, then with all due respect Mr. Gehrig, today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the Earth.”
We’re taking this thing National
In the years between Yount’s retirement and his induction into the Hall of Fame, a number of changes were introduced by Major League Baseball.
First, in 1994, the Central Divisions were added in the AL and NL. The Brewers, along with the White Sox, Twins, Indians and Royals, formed the AL Central Division.
The Brewers would spend just four seasons in the AL Central, however. In 1998, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Arizona Diamondbacks joined the AL East and NL West, respectively. Their addition forced the move of one club from the American League to the National League, in order to preserve an even number of teams in each league.
After the Royals opted not to switch leagues, the Brewers decided to make the move.
“I think it’s a wonderful thing for baseball,” former home run king Hank Aaron said at the time. “It’s a great day for Milwaukee. Milwaukee’s first identification was with the National League.
“Nothing against the AL. They won a championship there [in 1982]. But we won a World Series [in 1957].”
Thanks to a pair of home runs by Jeromy Burnitz, including a grand slam in the top of the 11th inning, the Brewers secured their first National League victory on April 2, 1998.
Fittingly, they defeated the Atlanta Braves, 8-6, at Turner Field.
“I was ready to get out of here,” Burnitz told reporters after the game. “I hope all our National League games aren’t this tough.”
Jordan Schelling is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Extra Innings 4/29
Uecker will be missed, but will return
By Jordan Schelling The Badger Herald
Extra Innings 4/21
Extra Innings: 2nd week too early to pick All-Stars?
By Jordan Schelling The Badger Herald
A Schelling For Your Thoughts 
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