RE: Players and prospects III

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Mr. Ed -> RE: Players and prospects III (2/7/2015 3:38:37 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: ewen21 quote: ORIGINAL: Steve Lentz He dissed my boy Santana? The guy who carried us the last couple months. I agree with Miles analysis. He has some pop in his bat,can run and has an above average arm. I am worried though about what the organization knows that I don't. It seems to me that Santana at SS is far from a done deal. Levi Michael on the other hand is what I thought he was. Don't see what the problem with Santana is. He performed above expectations. He will most certainly regress, but then again, even if he regresses to about .280 with good speed and some pop from the infield that isn't anything to worry about. I could think of another much higher paid player that I am far more concerned about This. All the hand-wringing over the infield from Gardy over the years and his horrid decisions, should make watching a guy hit .280 or better at SS a joy to watch.

twinsfan -> RE: Players and prospects III (2/8/2015 10:55:42 AM)
Tyler Duffey is the first success story from the Twins' strategy of drafting college relievers and converting them to starters. Will there be more or is he the lone shining light?

Mr. Ed -> RE: Players and prospects III (2/8/2015 11:16:16 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: twinsfan Tyler Duffey is the first success story from the Twins' strategy of drafting college relievers and converting them to starters. Will there be more or is he the lone shining light? So far the rest are failures. Doubtful anyone else is going that route any time soon.

djskillz -> RE: Players and prospects III (2/8/2015 7:37:39 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: twinsfan Tyler Duffey is the first success story from the Twins' strategy of drafting college relievers and converting them to starters. Will there be more or is he the lone shining light? He's a shining light? How dark is the room?

twinsfan -> RE: Players and prospects III (2/8/2015 8:44:24 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: djskillz quote: ORIGINAL: twinsfan Tyler Duffey is the first success story from the Twins' strategy of drafting college relievers and converting them to starters. Will there be more or is he the lone shining light? He's a shining light? How dark is the room? Let's check with Ed. I think Duffey is good.

Mr. Ed -> RE: Players and prospects III (2/8/2015 8:53:50 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: twinsfan quote: ORIGINAL: djskillz quote: ORIGINAL: twinsfan Tyler Duffey is the first success story from the Twins' strategy of drafting college relievers and converting them to starters. Will there be more or is he the lone shining light? He's a shining light? How dark is the room? Let's check with Ed. I think Duffey is good. Ok. 92-ish. better than a pus-thrower

djskillz -> RE: Players and prospects III (2/8/2015 9:07:51 PM)
I just don't think he'll ever be anything. Long man maybe?

Mr. Ed -> RE: Players and prospects III (2/8/2015 9:18:34 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: djskillz I just don't think he'll ever be anything. Long man maybe? If they can put together some hard-throwers, I'd agree with that.

djskillz -> RE: Players and prospects III (2/8/2015 10:08:39 PM)
Ya, I just think something has gone horribly wrong if we aren't seeing at least 3 of the following as key parts in the late innings by 2016: Tonkin Z. Jones Burdi Reed Chargois May

wethrock -> RE: Players and prospects III (2/9/2015 12:17:19 PM)
Duffey looked pretty good 2nd half of 14 at NB. I think I said that at the time; I did not like Wheeler the first time I saw him, but he was better later on. Neither one jumped out at me (like a Garza-type did). But, I could see both of them as solid major-leaguers in the future.

Stacey King -> RE: Players and prospects III (2/12/2015 5:37:14 PM)
Chattanooga Lookouts will look a lot like the L.A. Dodgers this year The Chattanooga Lookouts are just a couple of months away from embarking on their first season as Class AA affiliates of the Minnesota Twins. Yet they will still look a lot like the Los Angeles Dodgers. Due to the pending change in ownership this offseason, the Lookouts will be wearing the same uniforms this year as they have since 2009. Chattanooga's six-year partnership with the Dodgers followed a 21-year relationship with the Cincinnati Reds, with the Twins representing the first American League parent club of the Lookouts since the Seattle Mariners in 1987. "It's a timing issue for us, and it's a timing issue for our uniform company," Lookouts general manager Rich Mozingo said Tuesday. "There is only so much they can do, and if you are going to change things, Minor League Baseball sets deadlines that we could not reach in order to make changes for this season." The Lookouts have been owned by Frank Burke since 1995, but Atlanta-based general partners Jason Freier and John Woods purchased the team in December for a reported $12 million to $13 million. The sale must be approved by the Southern League, Minor League Baseball and Major League Baseball, and that process could be completed within the next several days. "We didn't just miss this by a week or two," Mozingo said. "We missed it by a bunch. Some of these deadlines can be before the prior season ends." One simple alteration that will take place is the removal of the "LA" on each Lookouts jersey sleeve, which now will contain a Twins logo. "It's not ideal, but it's not an issue at all," Twins farm director Brad Steil said Tuesday night. "Our four full-season clubs have different colors, and Rich has been great about keeping us updated on the situation. It's a sensible decision considering the circumstances."

djskillz -> RE: Players and prospects III (2/12/2015 10:44:24 PM)
Thanks for this, Stacey. That sucks. I like the current Lookouts' uniforms anyway, but I'd rather have the Twins' ones since I'll be joining them a lot this year. I guess it'll make those Buxton/Sano jerseys a true novelty though.

djskillz -> RE: Players and prospects III (2/12/2015 10:51:22 PM)
Sure, it's a believe it when I see it kind of thing, but this would be huge if we actually go after him: Twins VP of player personnel Mike Radcliff and several scouts were on hand today to watch Cuban right-hander Yadier Alvarez in the Dominican Republic, tweets Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN. Just 18 years old, Alvarez was clocked between 93 and 97 mph and received positive words from Fangraphs prospect/scouting guru Kiley McDaniel earlier today. Here's some video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=282G4NfN2v8

Stacey King -> RE: Players and prospects III (2/13/2015 4:06:20 PM)
Mound Move For Twins’ Rodriguez So it turns out that Dereck Rodriguez can’t slug a baseball around the park the way his father could. That’s hardly a surprise, considering Ivan Rodriguez built a Hall of Fame-caliber career in his 21 big league seasons. No, the Twins never banked on their Ivan Rodriguez—Dereck is his middle name—matching his father’s production when they drafted him out of Pace (Fla.) High in the sixth round in 2011. For one thing, he was a sleek, speedy center fielder then—not a stout-and-powerful catcher. But junior Rodriguez, now 22, has a chance, the Twins believe, to someday accomplish something in the major leagues that Pudge never did: Pitch. “He’s got plenty of velocity and he throws strikes,” vice president of player personnel Mike Radcliff said. “He’s got a fastball that gives him a real chance to climb the ladder. It’s a question of how good his (offspeed stuff)—change, slider, whatever he ends up with—turns out to be.” Rodriguez took up pitching full time at Rookie-level Elizabethton in 2014, chossing to focus on his double-plus right arm, the result of a realistic appraisal of his prospects as a hitter. In 100 professional games, all at the Rookie level, he hit .216/.279/.336, and he struck out 112 times in 342 at-bats. Most teams projected Rodriguez as a pitcher in the draft, but the Twins let him begin his career as a position player. After three frustrating seasons, he tried pitching during the 2013 Puerto Rican League season, and the results were encouraging. The Twins were thrilled by what they saw from their newfound reliever at Elizabethton last year. “He adapted very quickly,” Radcliff said after Rodriguez posted a 1.05 ERA in 17 games, converting five saves and striking out 19 in 26 innings. “Now it’s a matter of establishing a breaking ball and stretching him out . . . It’s not easy to change course, but he’s got great bloodlines.” TWIN KILLINGS Righthander Blaine Boyer, who rebounded from three injury-plagued seasons to manage a 3.57 ERA in 40 innings for the Padres in 2014, signed a minor league contract with an invitation to big league camp. Outfielder Edgar Corcino, a 26th-round pick of the Tigers in 2006, signed a minor league deal after hitting .302/.351/.456 with 11 homers last year with Rockford of the independent Frontier League

Stacey King -> RE: Players and prospects III (2/13/2015 4:09:33 PM)
Twins’ Garver Stays Put The Twins set out last season to find Mitch Garver’s best position. Turns out, it was the one he already had. Garver, one of four catchers Minnesota drafted in 2013, came to camp last spring expecting to get some playing time at first base and perhaps learn to play the outfield, ideas the Twins floated to keep his bat in the lineup. Instead, the Albuquerque native blossomed into a low Class A Midwest League all-star behind the plate, and convinced the Twins that he’s got the potential to do it at higher levels, too. “We thought it was questionable that he could stay there,” Twins vice president for player personnel Mike Radcliff said of the 6-foot-1, 220-pound Garver “He’s strong, but he’s got a stiff body, like a football player. But he was really good back there (in 2014). He worked hard, he got better and he answered some doubts.” Garver, 24, led all collegiate catchers by batting .390 during his senior season at New Mexico, compelling the Twins to draft him in the ninth round. Even more impressive was his plate discipline with the Lobos, and after a so-so first season in Rookie ball, he displayed that skill again last season at low Class A Cedar Rapids, where he walked 61 times in 120 games, posting a .399 on-base percentage. He hit 16 home runs, too, making him a genuine major-league prospect—especially if he can catch. Garver committed eight errors and allowed eight passed balls in 63 games behind the plate, so there still is work to be done. “He’s an older guy who had a lot of success as an amateur, so I don’t think we had much doubts about the bat,” Radcliff said. “This guy’s bat is his ticket. It’s a matter of continuing down this path as a catcher. He’s got some physical things he still has to take care of—moving his hips, coming out of a crouch—but it’s been encouraging.

Stacey King -> RE: Players and prospects III (2/13/2015 4:11:35 PM)
Graham’s Shoulder Is Twins’ Focus Sore elbows get repaired, the pitching axiom goes; sore shoulders get retired. The Twins, though, hope they can rewrite that prognosis. In J.R. Graham’s case, the team’s scouts believe, the sore right shoulder can be relocated. “We think moving him to the bullpen will help keep him healthy,” said Rob Antony, the Twins’ assistant general manager. “We think the injury is in the past.” If that’s true, perhaps Graham’s future can be restored as well. Graham, 24, was ranked as the No. 2 prospect in Atlanta’s system entering the 2014 season, and the Twins likely could never have pried him away from the Braves. But a second summer of trying to overcome shoulder pain left Graham with a 5.55 ERA at Double-A Mississippi, reduced his once-elite velocity by 5-7 mph, and convinced Atlanta to leave him off its 40-man roster. The Twins grabbed him with the fifth pick in the Rule 5 draft, calculating that he might be able to recapture his 98-mph fastball if he’s throwing an inning per outing. “We had pretty good luck with (Ryan) Pressly, and Graham fits that mold, too,” Antony said of the Twins’ 2012 Rule 5 pickup, another converted starter who has found success in the bullpen. “He’ll be a candidate to make our team.” Graham, a former Santa Clara ace and the Braves’ fourth-round pick in 2011, expected to be in the majors by now after jumping three levels in his first two seasons. He struck out 110 batters in 148 innings in 2012, while walking just 34 and averaging nearly six innings per start. His 6-foot, 190-pound frame occasionally generated 100-mph fastballs, making him one of the top prospects in Double-A. But his shoulder began bothering him in May 2013. He’s avoided surgery, but averaged only 3 1/3 innings per start last season. “He’s a smallish guy, but very strong,” said Vern Followell, the Twins’ director of pro scouting. “Like most young guys, he’ll have to throw it over, just throw strikes and challenge guys. But we think in the end, (the bullpen) might be a better fit for him.”

Stacey King -> RE: Players and prospects III (2/13/2015 4:17:51 PM)
The Baseballist: A Dozen Players To Monitor After Big Winter-Ball Performances Scouts acknowledge that evaluating players in spring training or during roster expansion in September can be deceiving based on the non-standard level of competition. Can you imagine, then, what they would say about the nature of an abbreviated look in the Latin American winter leagues? Nevertheless, Baseball America trudges on and identifies a dozen top performances from this winter that could presage a step forward for some of these players in 2015. Or maybe not. It’s just a month or two against uneven competition, after all. 3. Jorge Polanco, 2b, Escogido (Dominican Republic) A future middle-infield fixture for the Twins, Polanco showed the broad set of skills—feel to hit, gap power, strike-zone discipline—in the DL that make him a top prospect. Perhaps just as significantly, he played only one game at shortstop for Escogido, while spending most of his time as the double-play partner for former Twins shortstop Pedro Florimon. 4. Kennys Vargas, 1b, Mayaguez (Puerto Rico) The burgeoning Twins slugger validated a 17-homer effort at Double-A New Britain by smashing nine home runs and slugging .456 in 53 big league games. Vargas then tacked on another six bombs in the PRL, while also ranking among the league leaders in RBIs (22), slugging (.482), walks (33) and on-base percentage (.430). He connected for five more homers during the PRL playoffs and appears ready to claim his share of the first base/DH gig in Minnesota after going deep 37 times in 2014.

Stacey King -> RE: Players and prospects III (3/6/2015 5:17:37 PM)
Twins Confident Reed Will Add Pitch To Arsenal March 6, 2015 by Phil Miller One pitch isn’t enough, not at the big league level. Even Mariano Rivera had a repertoire of complementary pitches to his legendary cut fastball. The Twins are confident that righthanded reliever Jake Reed understands that his slippery-sideways fastball alone isn’t going to make him a successful big leaguer. Still, “when you’ve got a pitch like that one,” said Mike Radcliff, the Twins’ vice president for player personnel, “you can understand why he’s reluctant to throw anything else.” Not as reluctant as righthanders are to face it, though. Reed, Oregon’s converted closer who was drafted in the fifth round last June, punished righthanded hitters in his first season as a pro, holding them to four singles and a double in 61 plate appearances. That’s an astonishing .085/.115/.102 line—not that his .130/.167/.152 line against lefthanders was anything short of amazing, either. It all added up to one earned run—and none after June 30—in 31 innings at the rookie and low Class A levels, a performance he followed up with one run in 12 2/3 innings against much more advanced competition in the Arizona Fall League. “It’s not unusual for college guys to start off well in the low minors,” Radcliff said. “We thought Arizona would really challenge him, but it looked like he barely noticed (the change).” That’s because of that fastball, which sits in the mid-90s and can hit 97 mph. Impressive enough, but Reed’s heater, thrown three-quarters rather than over the top, has a cutting movement that drills its way toward the hands of righthanders. “It’s just a sharp inside movement that hitters aren’t used to,” Radcliff said. “It busts a lot of bats.” Combined with a hard slider that slices in the opposite direction, that pitch means the 22-year-old Reed is positioned to move quickly. As long, Radcliff said, as he brings a breaking ball or changeup along with it. “Once he’s able to mix in something offspeed to keep hitters off-balance,” Radcliff said, “who knows how far that pitch will take him.”

Mr. Ed -> RE: Players and prospects III (3/8/2015 6:15:19 AM)
The Twins are preparing to spend as much as $4 million to land one of the top Latin American prospects this year. Wander Javier, a shortstop from the Dominican Republic with some power potential, is in the Twins' crosshairs, according to sources with knowledge of the interest. The international signing period doesn't begin until July 2, when teams can ink players who have turned 16 by then. If the bonus does rise to $4 million, it would set a club record for the largest bonus awarded to an international prospect, surpassing the $3.15 million the Twins signed Miguel Sano for in 2009. Signing Javier for that much would require some maneuvering. The Twins have the fifth-largest international signing bonus pool this year, but it is only $3,948,500 - $51,500 shy of the $4 million it's expected to cost to land Javier. The Twins would have to pay a 100 percent tax on the $51,500 overage but since it's less than five percent over their cap they won't face further penalties. So the Twins could simply accept the penalty to sign Javier and move on. But they also could trade for allocation money and avoid the tax. They also might decide to trade for much more than $51,500 so they can sign more players. I was told that the Twins are looking at all options on this one. And the word aggressive was used to describe their approach to this. The Twins haven't stepped out into the deep international waters since they singed Miguel Sano in 2009. Sano has yet to play in the majors, but has tantalizing power. Keep in mind that we are four months - four - from international signing season. And all kinds of things could happen. But the Twins are definitely in on this one. [&o]

Trekgeekscott -> RE: Players and prospects III (3/9/2015 8:16:23 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Stacey King Twins Confident Reed Will Add Pitch To Arsenal March 6, 2015 by Phil Miller One pitch isn’t enough, not at the big league level. Even Mariano Rivera had a repertoire of complementary pitches to his legendary cut fastball. The Twins are confident that righthanded reliever Jake Reed understands that his slippery-sideways fastball alone isn’t going to make him a successful big leaguer. Still, “when you’ve got a pitch like that one,” said Mike Radcliff, the Twins’ vice president for player personnel, “you can understand why he’s reluctant to throw anything else.” Not as reluctant as righthanders are to face it, though. Reed, Oregon’s converted closer who was drafted in the fifth round last June, punished righthanded hitters in his first season as a pro, holding them to four singles and a double in 61 plate appearances. That’s an astonishing .085/.115/.102 line—not that his .130/.167/.152 line against lefthanders was anything short of amazing, either. It all added up to one earned run—and none after June 30—in 31 innings at the rookie and low Class A levels, a performance he followed up with one run in 12 2/3 innings against much more advanced competition in the Arizona Fall League. “It’s not unusual for college guys to start off well in the low minors,” Radcliff said. “We thought Arizona would really challenge him, but it looked like he barely noticed (the change).” That’s because of that fastball, which sits in the mid-90s and can hit 97 mph. Impressive enough, but Reed’s heater, thrown three-quarters rather than over the top, has a cutting movement that drills its way toward the hands of righthanders. “It’s just a sharp inside movement that hitters aren’t used to,” Radcliff said. “It busts a lot of bats.” Combined with a hard slider that slices in the opposite direction, that pitch means the 22-year-old Reed is positioned to move quickly. As long, Radcliff said, as he brings a breaking ball or changeup along with it. “Once he’s able to mix in something offspeed to keep hitters off-balance,” Radcliff said, “who knows how far that pitch will take him.” Guy sounds like a Mariano Rivera clone. Are they trying to convert him to starter?

Mr. Ed -> RE: Players and prospects III (3/9/2015 8:25:07 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Trekgeekscott quote: ORIGINAL: Stacey King Twins Confident Reed Will Add Pitch To Arsenal March 6, 2015 by Phil Miller One pitch isn’t enough, not at the big league level. Even Mariano Rivera had a repertoire of complementary pitches to his legendary cut fastball. The Twins are confident that righthanded reliever Jake Reed understands that his slippery-sideways fastball alone isn’t going to make him a successful big leaguer. Still, “when you’ve got a pitch like that one,” said Mike Radcliff, the Twins’ vice president for player personnel, “you can understand why he’s reluctant to throw anything else.” Not as reluctant as righthanders are to face it, though. Reed, Oregon’s converted closer who was drafted in the fifth round last June, punished righthanded hitters in his first season as a pro, holding them to four singles and a double in 61 plate appearances. That’s an astonishing .085/.115/.102 line—not that his .130/.167/.152 line against lefthanders was anything short of amazing, either. It all added up to one earned run—and none after June 30—in 31 innings at the rookie and low Class A levels, a performance he followed up with one run in 12 2/3 innings against much more advanced competition in the Arizona Fall League. “It’s not unusual for college guys to start off well in the low minors,” Radcliff said. “We thought Arizona would really challenge him, but it looked like he barely noticed (the change).” That’s because of that fastball, which sits in the mid-90s and can hit 97 mph. Impressive enough, but Reed’s heater, thrown three-quarters rather than over the top, has a cutting movement that drills its way toward the hands of righthanders. “It’s just a sharp inside movement that hitters aren’t used to,” Radcliff said. “It busts a lot of bats.” Combined with a hard slider that slices in the opposite direction, that pitch means the 22-year-old Reed is positioned to move quickly. As long, Radcliff said, as he brings a breaking ball or changeup along with it. “Once he’s able to mix in something offspeed to keep hitters off-balance,” Radcliff said, “who knows how far that pitch will take him.” Guy sounds like a Mariano Rivera clone. Are they trying to convert him to starter? Not yet. Wouldn't surprise me though.

sixthwi -> RE: Players and prospects III (3/16/2015 10:01:31 AM)
Here's the Twins first round pick in 2016: Stanford righty Cal Quantrill, who appeared likely to be a top draft pick in 2016, is out for the rest of the season with elbow trouble and will have Tommy John surgery Friday, Jeff Blair of Sportsnet.ca tweets. Quantrill posted a 2.68 ERA with 8.0 K/9 and 2.8 BB/9 in 110 2/3 innings in his freshman year at Stanford in 2014 and was off to a good start in three outings in 2015. The Yankees drafted him in the 26th round in 2013. He is the son of former big-league reliever Paul Quantrill.

Mr. Ed -> RE: Players and prospects III (3/16/2015 10:09:05 AM)
Buxton, Sano, and probably Adam Brett Walker in that Chattanooga lineuip. and Harrison, Polanco, Michael, Turner and Kepler.

sixthwi -> RE: Players and prospects III (3/16/2015 11:08:30 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Mr. Ed Buxton, Sano, and probably Adam Brett Walker in that Chattanooga lineuip. and Harrison, Polanco, Michael, Turner and Kepler. And a bunch of garbage in Rochester.

Mr. Ed -> RE: Players and prospects III (3/16/2015 11:42:44 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: sixthwi quote: ORIGINAL: Mr. Ed Buxton, Sano, and probably Adam Brett Walker in that Chattanooga lineuip. and Harrison, Polanco, Michael, Turner and Kepler. And a bunch of garbage in Rochester. As usual. Pitching will be ok, the position will be the normal overall collection of has-beens/never were veterans.

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