Seven Little known facts (and a couple of videos) about Twins pitcher Jason Marquis

The Minnesota Twins have announced that they came to terms with RHP Jason Marquis in a one year, $3 million contract (this is $300K more than what the Rockies signed Kevin Slowey this off-season to avoid arbitration.) I listed some of his numbers when I looked at the remaining SP free agents. He was on the bottom of the list. Nevertheless, I am not very enthusiastic about this signing. I think the upside of Marquis next season is being another Carl Pavano and his downside is to be another Livan Hernandez or Ramon Ortiz. I wish that he exceeds these expectations and wins 20 games for the Twins next season. I am sure that you will read a lot of scouting and pitching reports and analysis out there shortly (so I will not add another one, other that saying that my nickname for Jason for 2012 will be Marquis de Junque - yes he is a junkball pitcher with a mediocre fastball that induces a lot of ground balls, and this might be in play with the Twins' infield defense. Lots like Blackburn but with a 3 mph slower FB.)

Here are seven facts about Jason Marquis and a couple of videos:

• On his 13th birthday he pitched a no-hitter to get his little league team the 3rd place in the Little League World Series.



• He won a Silver Slugger Award in 2005 and his career batting average (.197) and OPS (.499) are higher than those of Drew Butera (.178 and .481 respectively)



• Marquis grew up Conservative Jewish and his grandparents are Holocaust survivors



• He reached the post-season in all nine of his major league seasons through 2008.



• Jason wore uniform number 21 for the last few seasons, a number vacated for the Twins by the Delmon Young trade to the Tigers last season.



• Marquis has never faced the Minnesota Twins.



• Last season he was suspended along with his current teammate with the Twins, Esmerling Vásquez, after both drilled opposing hitters after warnings were issued in a Nationals-Diamondbacks game. He was with the Nats and Vásquez with the Diamondbacks.

Here is a video where Marquis is interviewed after his 100th MLB win



And here is what happened to Marquis last season on August 14th (he has healed from the broken femur) :