Blog Comments

This is good stuff, Shane, and I enjoy the discussion. Do you really want to see Sano and Rosario struggle in Ft. Myers the way that Arcia did (and does)? Arcia dominated in Beloit during April last year (almost as much as Danny Ortiz did) and then after his surgery went right to Ft. Myers where he was OK, but really struggled to make contact. We see his splits vs lefties and all those strikeouts. He is where he needs to be. I believe in Rosario and Sano, but I do think that thye should not be promoted until at least the half-way point of the season, just to see if they can make some of the adjustments they need to at Beloit. Again, Ortiz started the season with an 1.100 OPS in Beloit and ended the year well south of .700 OPS. I'm not comparing Sano/Rosario to Ortiz, but I just think that a little patience is good for two guys that aren't going to be with the Twins for 2 1/2 to four years anyway.

I'm good with Clete Thomas in Rochester until Joe Benson turns things around in New Britain. Once he does that, then they can let him go. But right now, the Red Wings outfield is filled with Mastroianni, Revere, Tosoni, and Carson has played well too. It's about getting at bats, and I don't know that Thomas will get a ton, certainly not in front of those three. Ramirez is interesting because he is still young enough to believe he has a future of some sorts, but again, might as well keep him playing every day.

DJ Romero used to be a good prospect, one the Twins put on the 40 man roster. But reports indicated that he stopped working and got really lazy. His numbers in AA last year were OK... I think he'd be ready to move up, but frankly, I think that Chang and Burroughs have more of a future with the Twins. But I don't disagree with the thought of finding out based on Valencia's performance.

I love promotions, writing and talking about promotions, so I really enjoyed this blog. I don't even disagree with it as much as it probably sounds. Look at AAA rosters around MLB... they're not a place for prospects. They're generally for older, veteran, former big leaguers (in many cases).

Thanks for the update. Always good to read something about BiG 10 BB. My uncle played on the Gophers in 56 and 60 and my boss has a nephew on the Boilers. So I am was kind of watching for Brad Schrieber, looks like he is shut down for the year. Question for you, what do you think of some of the proposals I have heard about Big 10 baseball looking for alternatives to the NCAA? Becoming like a summer wooden bat league,playing some pro clubs here and there.

I was wondering the same thing. I'd love to see you start this as a topic in the forum.

I agree that Liriano should go to the bullpen but I don't think or expect that he will become a dominant reliever. It doesn't make sense that a guy who has seemed to melt under the pressure in the early innings would have the mental makeup to succeed in late innings with high leverage. Liriano has often shown great stuff, but he hasn't produced. Perhaps a trip to the bullpen will help him find what works again and be an effective pitcher.

I have been saying this for the last two seasons. Liriano is a relief pitcher not a starter. I think in two years he could be the closer with Perkins as set up.

Put Liriano in the pen now and give Swarzek and Hendricks the ball every 5th day and maybe Duensing too.

TJ Oakes has looked real good since he stepped foot on campus, having your pitching coach as your father must be an interesting dynamic.

Including Nebraska, 22 Big 10 players were chosen in the 2011 MLB draft.

I will comment on my own blog first. I should add that if I am right about Grimes and Santana, what has been a lack for the Twins (middle infield) suddenly becomes a strength, with good prospect depth (Rosario, Dozier, Michael, Goodrum at the top).

Originally Posted by Fanatic Jack

Hicks is just another #1 first round bust by Deron Johnson our great scouting director. Hicks in 2008, Gibson in 2009, Wimmers in 20120, and Michael in 2012. We need Mike Radcliff back in charge of the scouting department.

That Levi Michael -- what a bust!

I'd like this idea if we could watch the AAA team on TV, instead of the MLB team.

Darin617, honestly, I would hope that Danny Lehmann gets the most time catching there, at least until Herrmann moves up. Butera and Rivera clearly don't belong and Towles likely doesn't either.

Daan4786, I do agree that Parmelee could be the exception. Baseball is not "more mental than physical" though.

I mostly agree, but I think the Twins are doing it right with Parmelee. Hes been hot since he got called up last year and seems confident. The coaches showing confidence in him will only help him: baseball is more mental than physical. Investing in his upside makes sense, even at his age; I hear he's a real hard worker, so he'll do what he can to make adjustments. And even if they were wrong, and Parmelee is too young for the big leagues and doesn't produce, they can bring up Burroughs to replace him and let him get some time at AAA.

Which catcher would you put on this list Butera or Towles? Neither one should make majors.

Yeah, I would have liked Derrek Lee. And easily on the cheap too.

I would like this idea better if they had decided on it 2 months ago and brought in one more decent MLB-quality player (or even a potential MLB-quality player) to round out the outfield/1b/DH mix. As it is, there are too many question marks on the MLB team to go north with so many scrubs that might not even be AAA players.

I'd Hicks defense and arm over Revere right now. He is a potential 5 tool player and the best Revere ever will be is a 3 tool player and right now is only a 2 tool player.

The high number of walks AND strikeouts worries me. And an OPS of barely 700 in High A ball isn't anything to write home about, though Fort Myers is definitely a pitchers park and league. But I'm going to look forward to seeing what he can or can't do in AA. That's often a make or break year, and he'll be 22 most of the year, which isn't old but isn't super young, either. There's no reason to panic - what good would it do exactly? - but it'll help the Twins considerably if he gains back a little luster. After the AFL, I'm hopeful he will.

I wonder if NB will have Hicks-Herrmann 1-2 in the lineup? That is some serious isolated discipline (though maybe they could swing a bit more).

Prospect rankings don't only account for statistics. They also consider projected ceilings (Hicks' ceiling is very high, obviously) and how they play. Still, the statistics aren't that bad, especially his career OBP. That's coupled with stellar defense.

I've never understood why Hicks has been placed at the top of the list year after year. It's become a joke with some of my buddies.