STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
Statistically speaking
July 8, 2017 at 11:12PM
Brandon Kintzler's addition to the AL All-Star team makes him the fourth Twins closer selected since 2002, a group (Eddie Guardado, Joe Nathan and Glen Perkins) that has 10 selections between them. But it's much rarer for Twins starting pitchers to go to the game, as Ervin Santana will this year. Here are the starting pitchers chosen since 2002:
Ervin Santana: 2017
Johan Santana: 2005, 2006, 2007
Francisco Liriano: 2006
• • •
If Santana is chosen Monday to start for the AL, he would become the fourth Twins pitcher ever chosen for that honor. The three previous All-Star Game starters from Minnesota:
Jack Morris: 1991
Frank Viola: 1988
Dean Chance: 1967
• • •
Santana's 117-pitch complete game Wednesday was the most pitches thrown by a Twin since his 119-pitch game in 2015; it's been six years (Nick Blackburn in 2011) since a Twins pitcher has thrown 120 pitches in a game. As a reflection of how the game has changed, here are the highest pitch counts in Twins history:
151: Willie Banks, Aug. 14, 1993, at Oakland
143: Rich Robertson, June 24, 1996, vs. N.Y. Yankees
143: Frank Viola, June 13, 1989, vs. Seattle
140: Scott Erickson, Sept. 18, 1993, vs. Toronto
137: Jack Morris, Aug. 22, 1991, vs. Seattle
about the writer
After an incredible 25-year career that saw him become MLB's all-time stolen bases leader and the greatest leadoff hitter ever, Rickey Henderson died Friday at age 65.
