On June 27, 2007 a special Old Timers Day in Major League baseball occurred when 7 pitchers in their 40′s were slated to take the mound as starters.

The New York Roger Clemens (44), Philadelphia’s Jamie Moyer (44), San Diego’s Greg Maddux (41), the New York Mets Tom Glavine(41), Houston’s Woody Williams (40) and Atlanta’s John Smoltz (40) were all set to pitch on the same day. More…

On Thusday the Twins trades J.J. Hardy and Brendan Harris to the Orioles for minor league pitchers Brett Jacobsen and Jim Hoey. On that same day, the Target Field dwellers selected left-handed pitcher Scott Diamond from the Atlanta Braves in the Major League portion of the Rule 5 draft.

Clearly, the team is after “cheap pitching” to fill the anticipated void that will be left by the departures of Matt Guerrier, Jesse Crain and “others” from last year’s bullpen. To coin a phrase from Twins 2000-2001 marketing campaign, it’s to “GET TO KNOW EM.” Read on…

One of my favorite things about opening week for Twins baseball is Bert Blyleven’s unabated self-promotion of his birthday on April 6^th each year.

Call me a sucker for personality, but I find Bert to be very entertaining, and I am glad he is Twins baseball’s color commentator.  I don’t laugh at loud at his jokes (all the time), or slap my knees and drop to the ground in giddiness, but I do like his presence in the booth.

This last Tuesday, as the Twins were winning 5-3 against the Angels, Bert was at it again. This year the TV broadcast from the big A was a virtual tribute to Bert with gifts, cake, and a Tsunami of birthday wishes.

It got me thinking, just what exactly is the Twins record on this unofficial Twins Territory National Holiday? How many games have the Twins played on April 6- the very obvious day of Bert Blylevn’s birth?

I “tweeted” a post on Twitter, and added a wall comment on the Twinnin Facebook fan page to see if anyone had  the answers.  The response was null, so I did the research, and found the following stats:

Bert’s Birthday Baseball Facts:

• The Twins have a record of 13-13 all-time on Bert’s Birthday.
• The Regular Season opener for the Twins has occurred 8 times on Bert’s Birthday . (’71, ’73, ’79, ’82, ’92, ’93, ’99, ‘09)
• There was no game on Bert’s Birthday for the Twins World Championship Years (87 & 91)
• Bert pitched 5 times on his birthday (1973- Twins, 1979-Pirates, 1983 &1984- Indians and 1989- Angels) posting 2-1 record,
• In 1973, Bert pitched a complete game on his birthday, a 2-1 win on Opening Day over the Oakland Athletics. He gave up 10 hits, 2 earned runs, allowed 2 bases on balls, and struck out 7 batters. The losing pitcher was Hall of Famer  Jim “Catfish” Hunter
• In 1979, Bert pitched on his birthday for the eventual World Champion Pittsburgh Pirates on Opening Day vs. the Montreal Expos.  He took a no decision for seven innings of work, allowing just 5 hits, 2 earned runs, 2 walks and 3 strikeouts.  Gary Carter, another eventual Hall of Famer, hit a solo homer off Bert in the 5^th inning.
• In 1983, Bert took a loss on his birthday, starting for the Cleveland Indians at Oakland-Alameda Coliseum. Bert lasted only 4.1 innings, giving up 6 hits, 3 earned runs, 5 walks and striking out 4.
• Bert won his second game on his birthday in 1984, a 2-0 shutout at Royals Stadium in Kansas City. Pitching for Cleveland, he lasted 7 innings, allowed just 4 hits, no runs, 2 walks and struck out 8.
• Pitching for the Angels in 1989 at Anaheim stadium, Bert lasted 5 innings, allowing 2 earned runs, on 6 hits with 2 walks in a no decision vs. The White Sox on his special day. He gave up homers to Hall of Fame Catcher Carlton Fisk, and Ivan Calderon
• Brad Radke is the unofficial All-Time MVP of Twins who have pitched on Bert’s Birthday, going 2-2 in 4 starts.

Twins Games on Bert’s Birthday:

1971: vs Milwaukee Brewers 2-7    L      0-1* (Loss: Jim Perry)

1973: at Oakland Athletics 8-3  W     1-1* (Win: Bert Blyleven)

1974: at Kansas City Royals     6-23  L     1-2   (Loss: Bill Hands)

1978: at Seattle Mariners          5-4    W   2-2   (Win: Roger Erickson)

1979: at Oakland Athletics        5-3   W   3-2* (Win: Dave Goltz)

1982: vs. Seattle Mariners          7-11  L    3-3* (Loss: Pete Redfern)

1983: vs. Detroit Tigers              5-9    L     3-4   (Loss: Rick Lysander)

1984: vs. Baltimore Orioles       9-4    W    4-4   (Win: Mike Smithson)

1988: at New York Yankees      3-5     L     4-5   (Loss: Juan Berenguer)

1989: vs New York Yankees      7-1      W   5-5   (Win: Shane Rawley)

1992: at Milwaukke Brewers     4-2      W   6-5* (Win Carl Willis)

1993: vs Chicago White Sox       5-10   L    6-6* (Loss: Kevin Tapani)

1994: vs. California Angels        1-4      L    6-7   (Loss: Jim Deshaies)

1996: vs. Baltimore Orioles        8-3     W  7-7   (Win: Brad Radke)

1997: vs. Kansas City Royals     2-12    L    7-8   (Loss: Brad Radke)

1999: vs Toronto Blue Jays         6-1       W   8-8* (Win: Brad Radke)

2000: vs Tampa Bay Devil Rays 6-7      L    8-9   (Loss: Hector Carrasco)

2001: at Kansas City Royals        6-2      W   9-9   (Win: Joe Mays)

2002: at Toronto Blue Jays          7-5      W   10-9 (Win: LaTroy Hawkins)

2003: vs. Toronto Blue Jays        1-8       L   10-10 (Loss: Brad Radke)

2004: vs. Cleveland Indians        7-6       W   11-10 (Win: Joe Roa)

2005: at Seattle Mariners            4-1         W   12-10 (Win: Carlos Silva)

2006: at Toronto Blue Jays         3-6         L    12-11 (Loss: Carlos Silva)

2008: vs. Kansas City Royals     1-3         L   12-12 (Loss: Boof Bonser)

2009: vs Seattle Mariners            1-6         L   12-13*(Loss: Francisco Liriano)

2010: at Los Angles Angels         5-3        W  13-13 (Win: Nick Blackburn)

The Twins announced prior to Friday’s game against the Phillies that they outrighted outfielder Garrett Jones to Triple-A Rochester. They also reassigned left-handed pitchers Ricky Barrett and Randy Kiesler, and infielders Randy Ruiz (he’ll be back) and Tommy Watkins to Minor League camp.

It will be interesting to see who wins the position of back-up first baseman now. I thought it would be going to Ruiz, who had been swinging a hot bat all Spring or Jones, who has seen time in the Metrodome before. It looks like John Knott and Brian Buscher will be etting the back-up innings now, but I still believe that Craig Monroe should be the one breaking out that first baseman’s mitt. Of course, Jason Kubel isn’t doing much in the field lately, either. Maybe he should get involved in the first base back-up derby.

The Twins now have 35 players in camp, including four non-roster invitees: 16 pitchers, four catchers, seven infielders, and eight outfielders.

The Twins signed Zach Day on January 8th and if he wins the 5th starter spot, and IF he actually stays healthy all year, the Twins could expect (based on his career stats averaged over 162 game season) 7 wins, 10 losses, 40 appearances, 161 innings, a 4.66 ERA and maybe 30 K’s. That might be okay, but the Twins are looking for more.

According to a recent story at TwinCities.com. the Twins are looking at other veteran pitchers.

“The pool is mildly deeper this spring, with free agents like Josh Fogg, John Thomson and ex-Twin Kyle Lohse still available, along with a handful of pitchers returning from injuries such as Kris Benson, Freddy Garcia and Bartolo Colon. Only Fogg, 9-9 last season with Colorado, is known to have had contact with the Twins.”