RE: Players and prospects III (Full Version)

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djskillz -> RE: Players and prospects III (6/9/2014 11:26:58 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Stacey King

Lavelle

There's a real chance that Miguel Sano will be able to DH some minor league games before the end of the season.


Would be HUGE. I still think there's a pretty solid chance he starts next season with the club if he's able to do that, some winter ball, and a good spring. I think Buxton at this point is probably held back and maybe joins us in June of next season so they can avoid super-2. Although if they're smart with him they'll work out a long-term contract (7-8 years with team options) right when he hits the majors to control costs. Guess it will all depend on how things shake out in the OF between now and February of next year.

Really fun to think about how good this lineup is becoming WITHOUT Sano and Buxton. AND with Mauer struggling. Everyone should be giddy about the future of this offense.




Mr. Ed -> RE: Players and prospects III (6/9/2014 10:55:15 PM)

3 losses in 3 games Monday night.

Roch lost 2-1

Only run on 8 hits, came from Nelson, a solo HR(#3) 1-3/BB, Fryer 2-3

Johnson 6-3 8IP 8H/2R/5K


NB Off


FTM scored 6 in the last 2 innings, but lost 8-7

Grimes 4-4/triple/2R/2RBI, Gonzales 2-4/double/2R, Mejia 2-5/double/R/2RBi, Wickens 1-3/double/BB/Sac Fly/2RBi

Baxendale 5IP 4H/R/BB/3K/HR
Melotakis 2IP BB/2K
Gilbert BS/0-2 0IP 4H/4R
Boer .2IP 3H/3R/3BB/2-2 IRS
Hermsen .1iP 0-3 IRS


CRapids lost 2-1
Just 3 hits, Murphy 1-3/double/E(1), Walker 1-4/R/SB(3)

Stewart 1-3 6IP 2H/2R/1ER/2BB/2K
Wilson 2IP K




TJSweens -> RE: Players and prospects III (6/10/2014 12:18:09 PM)

In the blind squirrel finds a nut category, Souhan actually wrote a good column on Berrios. It turns out when he sticks to reporting and doesn’t offer his opinions; he doesn’t come off as such an imbecile. There are some real good comments from Mientkiewicz.

FORT MYERS, FLA. – For all of the consternation in the Twin Cities over Joe Mauer’s contract and lack of production, the Twins generally win when they pitch well, and become unwatchable when they pitch poorly, regardless of the health or productivity of their position players.
Their rotation began to falter in 2011, starting a three-year backslide toward oblivion. When Terry Ryan replaced Bill Smith as the Twins general manager that fall, he began pushing to rebuild the organization’s pitching competence and depth.
He traded for Alex Meyer, who could soon become the Twins ace. He traded for Trevor May, who has been the Twins’ most impressive minor league pitcher this season. The Twins took the impressive Kohl Stewart with the fourth pick in the 2013 draft. And the Twins took a sleeper with the 32nd pick in the 2012 draft.
“Jose Berrios is a No. 1 or No. 2,” said Class A Fort Myers manager Doug Mientkiewicz. “And if he’s a No. 2, that means we have an awfully good No. 1. His stuff is electric, and he wants to be great.”

Mientkiewicz is predicting that Berrios will become a front-line starter in the big leagues. Which is funny, considering Berrios wasn’t even a full-time pitcher until recently.
Berrios grew up playing shortstop in Puerto Rico. His high school didn’t field a team, so he played for his father in his country’s version of travel ball. Occasionally, he would be asked to act as a closer.

When the draft approached, his adviser told him that he would he drafted earlier as a pitcher than as a shortstop.
“I said, OK, no problem, I’ll be a pitcher,” Berrios said. “I love baseball. I’ll play whatever position I need to — pitcher, catcher, infielder — to keep playing.”

He chose wisely, and when the Twins selected him, Berrios thrust both fists into the air and held them there while tears streamed down his cheeks.
In pro ball, Berrios, a righthander, has demonstrated that his passion for the game is real, and so is his stuff.

Pitching at advanced Class A Fort Myers at age 20, Berrios is 5-2 with a 2.24 ERA while facing mostly older, more experienced hitters. On June 1, he pitched his best game as a pro, giving up only one hit and striking out 13 in a seven-inning shutout of the Tampa Yankees.

One of his fastballs reached 98 mph. “His last pitch of the game was a slider,” Mientkiewicz said. “It broke so much that the hitter swung at it — and it hit him in the shin.”

Berrios followed that start up by giving up two earned runs in eight innings in a no-decision against Lakeland, a Tigers affiliate, Friday. He had nine strikeouts in that game.
Berrios calls that “slider” a curveball, or a “slurve.” He also throws a changeup that helps keep lefthanders off-balance.

Listed at 6 feet, 187 pounds, he’s not big, but is built like a middleweight boxer.
“He’s in tremendous shape,” Mientkiewicz said. “He does everything we could ask of him and more. I came in one day at noon, for a 7 p.m. game. He had pitched the night before, and he was already fully sweating, running on a back field.

“You don’t get that kind of drive from many 20-year-olds. That’s what big-leaguers do. This kid’s got it.”


Berrios made the Florida State League All-Star team. When pitching coach Gary Lucas asked him recently what his goals were for the rest of the season, Berrios told him he wants to pitch in the Futures Game, the showcase for the best minor leaguers in baseball that will precede the All-Star Game at Target Field, and that he wants to be called up to Class AA New Britain “and finish the season strong and healthy.”
His father, Angel, flies in from Puerto Rico to see him pitch with Jose’s brother, also named Angel. “My father played pro baseball for one year,” Berrios said. “My father and my brother are my inspiration.”

Meyer, May, Stewart and Berrios have infused the Twins farm system with stuff and promise.
“Hopefully we keep this kid moving in the right direction,” Mientkiewicz said. “Because he can pitch.”




SoMnFan -> RE: Players and prospects III (6/10/2014 3:05:50 PM)

Move Dougie up ..... Now! [:D]




Stacey King -> RE: Players and prospects III (6/10/2014 5:22:55 PM)

Splits vs. Kohl Stewart thru 11 starts:

vs. LHB .242/.317/.297 104 PA
vs. RHP .162/.244/.210 119 PA




Steve Lentz -> RE: Players and prospects III (6/10/2014 6:02:32 PM)

Pitching and more pitching.
The Twins could turn things around quickly when we finally get some PITCHING.




SoMnFan -> RE: Players and prospects III (6/10/2014 9:58:29 PM)

Twins OF Sam Fuld (concussion) went 1 for 3 in a rehab game at Double-A New Britain, hitting a leadoff home run in the first




djskillz -> RE: Players and prospects III (6/10/2014 10:14:13 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Stacey King

Splits vs. Kohl Stewart thru 11 starts:

vs. LHB .242/.317/.297 104 PA
vs. RHP .162/.244/.210 119 PA



So huge. Good stuff on Berrios too. He could be ready for the Twins by mid-season 2015 honestly.




SoMnFan -> RE: Players and prospects III (6/10/2014 10:52:37 PM)

Spent a few days in Fort Myers with the Class A Miracle last week. The Miracle is the Twins' high-Class A affiliate.

Wrote about ace Jose Berrios, one of the most promising players in the farm system.

The position players who jumped out at me were shortstop Jorge Polanco, and infielder/outfielder Eddie Rosario.

Polanco played mostly second base last year at low-A Cedar Rapids, but with Brian Dozier looking like a long-term keeper in the majors at second, the Twins are trying out players at other positions. Polanco has made too many errors at short, but when I was in town he made spectacular plays, displaying great range and plenty of arm. He can hit, too.

But the best player on the field was Rosario, recently reinstated after a 50-game drug violation.

Rosario looks smooth at second, and the Miracle also played him in left and center. Again, this is due to Dozier's presence.

Rosario might be a wonderful big-league second baseman. He also looks comfortable in the outfield, and can throw well enough to play out there.

But what really jumps out at you is his bat. He has an unconventional swing. He looks like he's throwing the bat-head at the ball. He has an uncanny knack for hitting the ball hard to all fields, and for serving tough pitches on a line to centerfield.

Rosario could be the Twins' future leftfielder. He's insurance in case Dozier doesn't hold up. But with his talent and the trouble he's caused, he also might be a prime candidate to be traded if the Twins can drum up a market.

Personally, I'd keep him.

Again, here's my future Twins dream lineup: Buxton CF, Mauer 1b (if he regains his form and usual on-base percentage), Sano 3b, Arcia RF, Pinto C, Vargys DH, Rosario LF, Dozier 2b, Santana SS.

That's 7 guys who could hit 20 homers, three or four guys who could steal 30 bases, and three or four guys who could win Gold Gloves.




djskillz -> RE: Players and prospects III (6/10/2014 11:00:33 PM)

Rosario's always been my guy. Hoping we keep him still. But won't be upset if he can net us another stud pitcher in a deal. I'd definitely keep him until he at least gets MLB ready. That will only dramatically add to his trade value and distance him from the suspension. Then you see what you can get or keep him and look at other options. Keep playing him at 2b though; also ups his value.

Can't wait to see him play again in a few days at NB.




SoMnFan -> RE: Players and prospects III (6/10/2014 11:01:57 PM)

Still would like to see Dozier move back to short, to make room at second.
I know most sheep would go into convulsions over that, but I'd try it.




djskillz -> RE: Players and prospects III (6/10/2014 11:04:06 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: SoMnFan

Still would like to see Dozier move back to short, to make room at second.
I know most sheep would go into convulsions over that, but I'd try it.


Same page, buddy. Same page.




Mr. Ed -> RE: Players and prospects III (6/11/2014 5:29:08 AM)

Roch won 7-4 Tuesday night.

Colabello 3-5/2doubles/R/2RBI/E(1), Romero 2-4/2doubles/BB/R, Beresford 3-5/double/2R, Florimon 1-3/BB/Solo HR(2)

May 6-4 5.1IP 6H/3R/3BB/4K/HR
Pressly 1.1IP 1-2 IRS2H/2K
THompson 1.1IP 0-2 IRS BB/K
Tonkin IP 2H/R/K


NB won 5-4. Thomas 2-4/R/RBI, Vargas 1-4/Solo HR(10)/2RBI, Fuld 1-3/Solo HR(1), Rosario 1-3/BB/R/SB(1)


Duffey 6IP 5H/2R/2BB/3K
Turpen IP
Summers (BS) .1IP 3H/2R/BB
O'Rourke.1IP 0-2 IRS K
Oliveros 3-1 1.1IP 0-2 iRS H/3K


FTM won 10-0. 8 run 5th, only 5 hits for the game

Wickens 2-4/triple/grand slam(HR)/2R/5RBI, Mejia 1-3/2BB/2R, Turner 1-2/2BB/R/RBI

Shibuya 4-2 7IP 2H/4K
Hermsen IP 2H
Wimmers IP 3K


CRapids lost 6-2

Christensen 2-4/R, Vavra 2-4, Haar 1-4/double(12)

Slegers 5-3 4.1IP 7H/5R/3ER/BB/3K
Montanez 2.2IP 0-2 IRS 2H/UER/6K
Mazza 2IP H/2K




djskillz -> RE: Players and prospects III (6/11/2014 2:58:24 PM)

Vargas and Rosario; studs.




ewen21 -> RE: Players and prospects III (6/11/2014 3:00:35 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: djskillz

Vargas and Rosario; studs.


You overuse that word




TJSweens -> RE: Players and prospects III (6/11/2014 3:09:46 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: djskillz

quote:

ORIGINAL: Stacey King

Splits vs. Kohl Stewart thru 11 starts:

vs. LHB .242/.317/.297 104 PA
vs. RHP .162/.244/.210 119 PA



So huge. Good stuff on Berrios too. He could be ready for the Twins by mid-season 2015 honestly.


With that small frame and the way he can pop the radar gun, he makes me think of Ron Guidry aka Louisiana Lightning.




Steve Lentz -> RE: Players and prospects III (6/11/2014 8:34:39 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: djskillz

Rosario's always been my guy. Hoping we keep him still. But won't be upset if he can net us another stud pitcher in a deal. I'd definitely keep him until he at least gets MLB ready. That will only dramatically add to his trade value and distance him from the suspension. Then you see what you can get or keep him and look at other options. Keep playing him at 2b though; also ups his value.

Can't wait to see him play again in a few days at NB.


If we can get the right pitcher I would trade him. Dozier appears to be the real deal and we are only a pitcher or 2 from really competing.




Mr. Ed -> RE: Players and prospects III (6/12/2014 5:35:37 AM)

NB won Wednesday 8-5

Waring 3-2/BB/2 HRs(5)/3R/2RBI, Fuld 3-5/double/BB/R/RBI/E(1), Koch 2-4/BB/2R, Vargas 2-5/2RBi, Thomas 2-4/BB/R/RBI

Gilmartin 7-3 5IP 11H/4R/6K/E(1)
Hamburger 2IP H/R/BB/2K/HR
Fuller IP 2H/K
Johnson IP 2K/Save(5)


FTM bullpen gave up 4 in the 9th, but held on to win 7-6

Gonzales 1-3/BB/3R HR(6), Turner 1-3/BB/2R HR(2)/E(1), Harrison 1-3/double(18)/BB/R/RBI, Walker 1-3/BB/2R, Wickens 1-3/BB/R

Berrios 6-2 6IP 4H/2R/2BB/7K/HR
Gruver 2IP 2K
TJones IP 3H/4UER/BB/K


CRapids scored 3 in the 8th, gave up 3 in the 9th, won 5-4

Christensen 1-4/triple(3)/R/3RBI, Vavra 2-4/R, Kanzler 1-4/Solo HR(6), Haar 2-4, Vielma 1-4/2R/SB(7)

Romero 4IP 5H/R/2BB/K
Bixler 4-3 3IP 2K
Boyd 1.2IP 3H/3R/BB/K
Van Steensel .1IP 0-2 iRS Save(6)




SoMnFan -> RE: Players and prospects III (6/12/2014 5:51:56 AM)

Ahhh, all these damn wins ..... whatarewegonnado? [:D]




TJSweens -> RE: Players and prospects III (6/12/2014 7:47:16 AM)

Well, at least Berrios cut his strike-outs down to 7 in 6 IP. Not quite so garish. Maybe he is finally learning how we do things around here.




SoMnFan -> RE: Players and prospects III (6/12/2014 7:29:09 PM)

From Keith Law


The 2014 Rule 4 Draft is over, which means every club just got an influx of top talent into its farm system. Assuming all these top picks sign, here are five teams who just acquired a new No. 1 prospect as well as notes on two other teams' first overall picks and where they might slot into the prospect rankings of each organization.

Chicago White Sox: Carlos Rodon, LHP

The White Sox's top two prospects coming into 2014, Erik Johnson and Matt Davidson, have disappointed thus far. (Johnson has also lost eligibility for the list by passing the 50-inning threshold.) That makes the top of their list muddled. There's Courtney Hawkins, who is having a strong second go with Winston-Salem of the high-Class A Carolina League; Tim Anderson, who is hitting for average (.309) and playing good defense at shortstop for Winston-Salem but has shown poor plate discipline; and Micah Johnson, now up in Triple-A after a brief but successful run with Double-A Birmingham.

Rodon passes all three as a near-MLB-ready starter with a grade-70 slider and above-average fastball. Issues with Rodon's delivery have led to command problems and slightly reduced velocity, but the White Sox have an excellent track record of working with pitchers with unusual or difficult arm actions. Getting Rodon better extension out front and a cleaner finish will help him throw more strikes and maybe add more to his fastball. If all goes well, he should be in their rotation by this time next year -- perhaps with Micah Johnson playing somewhere behind him.

Los Angeles Angels: Sean Newcomb, LHP

The Angels didn't have a top-100 prospect coming into 2014, but they almost certainly will this offseason with Newcomb, a power lefty from the University of Hartford who has been up to 96-97 mph and can sit 92-94 with minimal effort, flashing two above-average secondary pitches in a curve and changeup. He's a clear starter who is probably just two years away from the majors as he works on improving his command and control; both were better toward the end of the spring.

Newcomb needs to develop more consistency with his off-speed stuff, probably by ditching the slider to focus on the curveball. He's an easy choice over two teenage arms in the Angels' extended spring training, Hunter Green and Ricardo Sanchez, as well as fast-rising shortstop Jose Rondon, who is hitting .333 for high-Class A Inland Empire.

Seattle Mariners: Alex Jackson, C

The Mariners' top prospect coming into the year was Taijuan Walker, but he has missed the majority of the season with recurring shoulder soreness, a malady likely caused by an upright finish in his delivery that has also softened his once-plus (and sharp) curveball. Walker is still a promising starter if he can get and stay healthy, but the risk, now even greater than the risk normally associated with pitching, slides him just behind Jackson, one of the best prep hitters in the draft class.

Jackson projects to hit, and for serious power. While he is fully capable of catching in pro ball, the general sense in the industry is that his team would pull a Bryce Harper/Wil Myers and move Jackson to third base or right field. He slots in ahead of D.J. Peterson, whose stat line is artificially boosted by playing his home games in the hitter-friendly park in High Desert, and Austin Wilson, who's too old for the low-Class A Midwest League and should have started the year with Peterson in high Class A.

Detroit Tigers: Derek Hill, CF

The Tigers had one top-100 prospect coming into 2014, Nick Castellanos, who has since graduated from the list and locked down an every-day job in the majors. No one else was particularly close. Eugenio Suarez has had a great 2014 season and provides huge value on defense, but he's also in the majors and I don't think the Venezuelan shortstop is heading back to Toledo at any point.

That leaves a big void up top for Hill, a plus runner and plus defender in center with a compact swing and plenty of physical projection to add some pop as he matures. The cousin of Darryl Strawberry and son of a longtime Dodgers scout, Hill spent most of his childhood in Iowa and played only the last three years in NorCal, so he's not quite as experienced as your typical California high school pick. Still, his thin résumé presents the potential for tremendous growth. I had him as the 11th-best player in the draft, and the Tigers nabbing him at 23 seems like a steal.

New York Mets: Michael Conforto, OF

This is a toss-up for me between Conforto, an advanced college hitter who had a .504 OBP this year at Oregon State, and Noah Syndergaard, who came back from a forearm strain only to hurt his nonthrowing shoulder in the first inning of his start Thursday. Syndergaard's injuries aren't a concern for his long-term outlook, but he's a pitcher. Given the choice between a topflight pitching prospect like Syndergaard (also known as "Thor") and a topflight hitting prospect like Conforto, I lean toward the latter for the simple reason of predictability.

Conforto could go right to high Class A or Double-A with his approach. If the Mets want to be aggressive, he could an option for their major league outfield by the end of 2015. Outfielder Brandon Nimmo is a solid No. 3 on this list. I'm also not concerned about Dominic Smith's stats to date because low-Class A Savannah has a horrendous ballpark for left-handed power hitters.

Close but not quite

San Francisco Giants: Tyler Beede, RHP

Righty Kyle Crick has more upside and southpaw Edwin Escobar is closer to the majors, but if Beede can throw enough quality strikes, he has the potential to be better than both of them. Still, given Beede's history of inconsistent command and poor responses to on-field adversity, that's an enormous "if."

Beede will pitch at 92-95 mph and has a plus changeup that he can cut or fade as needed. His breaking ball varies from start to start, but it's fair to call it a future grade-55 pitch. If I were reordering the Giants' top 10 right now, I would slot Beede in third, but he's close enough to the top to mention here and monitor going forward. If the Giants get him out to a full-season affiliate, we'll get to see if his command is any better.

Houston Astros: Brady Aiken, LHP

Aiken was the best player in the draft class and the first overall pick, but he's entering the majors' top farm system. Shortstop Carlos Correa is the No. 2 prospect in all of baseball, behind only Minnesota's Byron Buxton, and I believe reports of Mark Appel's demise as a prospect are exaggerated, as he has still been hitting 95-97 despite struggling with a nerve issue in his thumb and having no command in his last outing for Lancaster.

I'd put Aiken after those two but ahead of right-hander Mike Foltynewicz and third baseman Rio Ruiz.




Mr. Ed -> RE: Players and prospects III (6/13/2014 7:22:14 AM)

Thursday:

Roch combined 3-hitter, 4-0 win

Pino 9-1 7IP 2H/3BB/9K
Pressly 2IP H/3K

Beresford 2-4/triple/R/2RBI/E(8), Farris 2-4/R/RBI, Florimon 1-3/R/SB(4)


NB was off


FTM lost 8-7 in 11 innings

Grimes 2-5/double/R/RBIHicks 2-5/R, Harrison 1-5/2R, Walker 1-4/2BB/RBI

Tomshaw 6Ip 10H/5R/4ER/3K/HR
Melotakis (BS) 3IP 2h/R/BB/4K/HR
Peterson 1-1 1.1Ip 3H/2R/BB/4K
Gilbert .2IP 1-1 IRS 2H


CRapids 5-2 win

Just 5 Hits, Garver 2-3/2doubles(16)/R/2RBI, Kanzler 1-4/RBI

Eades 4-7 7IP 9H/2R/BB/2K
Muren 2IP BB/3K/Save(1)




Stacey King -> RE: Players and prospects III (6/13/2014 10:49:18 AM)

Pino could be one of those lightning in a bottle for for 2 outings as a spot starter on the big league club.

it would probably only work for a couple starts before the league caught up to him but he seems to have it all working with whatever he's got.

and I suppose 7IP regardless og the 9 hits allowed but only 2 ER is a baby step in the right direction for Ryan Eades at Cedar Rapids




Stacey King -> RE: Players and prospects III (6/13/2014 11:13:12 AM)

Ryan Eades (4-7) had his best start in more than a month and recorded his first win since throwing five shutout innings against Peoria May 4.

Eades, the Minnesota Twins’ second-round draft pick out of LSU a year ago, gave up two runs and spread out nine hits over seven innings. He walked just one and struck out two Bandits.

Eades’ catcher on the night, Mitch Garver, was enthusiastic after the game about his pitcher’s performance.

“He was lights out,” said Garver. “He was throwing everything I wanted him to throw where I wanted him to throw it. He was able to locate three different pitches for strikes. He kept their hitters really off balance. That was awesome, we really needed that.”




Mr. Ed -> RE: Players and prospects III (6/13/2014 4:34:54 PM)

Someone will get a promotion, or they'll pick up a lifer for Roch

Twins Triple-A lefty Matt Hoffman has opted out of his deal with the club, the team announced via press release (hat tip: Phil Miller of the Star Tribune, who tweeted the news of the release, and the Pioneer Press’ Brandon Warne, who noted the Triple-A press release indicated it was an opt-out). The 25-year-old Hoffman pitched well at Triple-A, posting a 3.80 ERA with 8.0 K/9 and 3.8 BB/9 in 21 1/3 innings of work.




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