Who is this guy?



He is a senior at SDSU , and the ace of the jackrabbits pitching staff, as you may have heard South Dakota State went real deep in the collegiate season this summer. (still on-going) Winning the Summit Lg Division I title in the regular season; The Right hander Somsen was named the Summit League pitcher of the year. He has a Plus curveball, a low 90's fastball , and a slider..... he Just developed his senior season. He has an average to below average change. Recorded something like 77 K's in 75 1/3 innings pitched.

He is from Yankton, SD my hometown, and I grew up with Layne in my neighborhood and we're both Twins fans. I remember playing catch with him and seeing Him pound fastballs to his dad in their back yard. His dad was a brave man to stand in their about 50+ feet away, this when Layne was a middle schooler. (or even 5th grader)

I've seen him pitch he really has his head turn in a downward or side tilting motion kind of like Scott Diamond, but He reminds me VERY much of Tim Lincecum in the way that he pitches, similar stride. Or of an early day Tim Hudson a little bit. And in a way similar stuff. Somsen topps out at about 91 to 93 MPH but Lincecum at the same age, was only 1 or 2 MPH ahead of that.


I REALLY hope the Twins sign and Draft Somsen well ahead of the 20th round. Especially given the success of Caleb Thielbar.

I would guess Somsen will be looked at hard by the Athletics, Indians and I've heard from his father the Mariners, Angels and Cardinals have had some contact.

I wouldn't be surpised if he is taken in the 10th to 15th rounds....So if the Twins like what they see.... They better make sure they go ahead and grab him. He has had some past injury troubles and I think is a 23 year old senior....But he could be a rapid riser in the system. I'd be really suprised if he went undrafted all-together, but i suppose its possible due to missing most of his sophmore year and I believe some of his Junior Year due to injuries.

2012 - July Trade Deadline Moves

#1 - Josh Willingham, Francisco Liriano, Alexi Casilla to Pittsburgh Pirates

for AAA OF - Robbie Grossman (b- grade), A+ SP - Jameson Taillon (a- grade), A SS - Alen Hanson (b/b+ grade), AAA SP - Kyle McPherson (c+ grade), & AAA/MLB RP - Evan Meek.

* if they're unwilling to part with Taillon , get A Ball pitcher Luis Heredia instead....a rich man's version of Adrian Salcedo with strikeout potential.

#2 - Matt Capps to Any contending team with a need of a closer. (ideas are any team from L.A. and the N.Y. Mets)
Angels Infield prospect Kaleb Cowart OR Taylor Lindsey would be a good target , maybe too rich..... also Dodgers Pitching prospect Allen Webster or even Garritt Gould....and Mets SP prospect Juerys Familia or Jennry Mejia.

#3 - Denard Span (either now or off-season) to Washington Nationals

for MLB 2B- Steven Lombardozzi (c+ type of grade) , & AA SP Danny Rosenbaum (b-/b grade) *southpaw.

TOTAL savings apprx. 20-21 Million from willingham, span, liriano, capps.


2012 Off-season

-Let Carl Pavano walk - TOTAL savings $8 Million
-Re-Sign Scott Baker after declining option TOTAL savings $2 Million
-Sign FA OF Torii Hunter to 2 yr. 12 Million dollar deal with a 5.5 Million dollar option for 2015...make it incentive laden early on if a must.
-DFA Nick Blackburn TOTAL savings NA


Sign 1 Top of the Rotation SP = ***Cole Hamels at 4 yrs $78 Million. apprx. $ 19.5 a year with incentives that can make the deal 85/86 Million with a 21 Million dollar option for 2017. *** (probably un-realistic)

** Eric Bedard at 2 yrs $11 Million. apprx 5.5 per.
* Shawn Marcum at 2 yrs $13 Milliion. apprx 6.5 per. with option for 2015.

ONLY ONE SP alloted for.

*2013 Opening Day Roster, theoretical*

1. CF - Ben Revere
2. 2B - Steven Lombardozzi
3. C -- Joe Mauer
4. RF - Torii Hunter
5. 1B - Justin Morneau
6. 3B - Trevor Plouffe
7. DH - Ryan Doumit
8. OF - Robbie Grossman
9. SS - Brian Dozier
---------
bench:
INF - Jamey Carroll
OF - Joe Benson
C -- Drew Butera
DH - Chris Parmelee

SP1 Hamels/ Marcum/ Bedard/ other , SP2 Scott Baker, SP3 Kyle McPherson, SP4 Scott Diamond, SP5 Kyle Gibson


Relief corps ::: - Jared Burton, Glen Perkins, Alex Burnett, Brian Duensing, Evan Meek, Anthony Swarzak, LR Cole DeVries


AAA top players : Liam Hendriks, Danny Rosenbaum, B.J. Hermsen, David Bromberg, Deolis Guerra, Lester Oliveros, Carlos Gutierrez, Caleb Theilbar, Anthony Slama? .
Aaron Hicks, Rene Tosoni, Evan Bigley, James Beresford, Chris Herrmann, Pedro Florimon? .
(15)

AA top players : *Jameson Taillon, Alex Wimmers, Logan Darnell, Pat Dean, Madison Boer, Luke Bard.
Oswaldo Arcia, Daniel Santana, prospect from Capps.
(9)

A+ / A top players: Hudson Boyd, J.O. Berrios, Adrian Salcedo, Matt Summers, Matt Hauser, Manuel Solimon, J.T. Chargois, Mason Melotakis, Matt Tomshaw.
Miguel Sano, Eddie Rosario, Byron Buxton, Travis Harrison, Max Kepler, Rhory Rhodes, Niko Goodrum, Danny Ortiz, Jorge Fernandez, Jorge Palonco, Nathan Roberts., ALLEN HANSON
(21)

Maybe not a .500 Team or ball-club , but a competitive team none the less in a weak AL Central.
Keeping an eye on an edge for the future as well.

First things first, I want to say that I firmly believe these players, while mostly currently in the Minor Lgs. are A) Big League Ready and B) More than likely available for Trade within their respective organizations. & C) Should fit well within the Twins budget as many of these players have no to little Service Time. & D) Are young/ Prospects, green or raw because that Clearly is the best way to invest you're time energy and Money and NOT Free Agency as proven time and time again also should be the Twins primary focus at this point.
Also I believe in these players as breakout regulars or even stars, and are undervalued a bit presently. I've seen a few of them play live before. And I am as close to 100% positive as I can be that they would make the Twins better TODAY. :D

#1 SP RHP Neil Ramirez AAA Texas Rangers. Turns 23 in 1 Month.




The Rangers are sooo loaded with both Pitching and Offense both at the Major Lg. Level and the Minor Lg. Level that they may not be open to making deals with any team unless injuries occur. Well, even with that said, I think Ramirez is more than expandable. He is a FB pitcher who the Rangers NEVER like in the ballpark in Arglinton, see: Wieland, Joe and Erlin, Robbie from a year ago. *Also Even If Ramirez continues to impress and pitches even more dominant He'll likely not even be called up as a SP if he stays a Ranger: Feliz, Darvish, Lewis, Harrison, Holland, Feldman, Martin Perez. I don't really see room there... :-) !

Ramirez's tendencies are getting fly balls, striking people out, and not walking anyone. His K's per 9 are about well 9!! While a late bloomer really breaking out not untill last year in the minors, even today he's seen as more of a mid-rotation starter (upside) and the Rangers may even view him as more of a #4. But for the Twins he'd have #2 Upside or potential , with our staff/ strategies, tendencies, ballpark and situation.

WHAT would it take to ACQUIRE him? Anyone not named Sano, Hicks or Rosario. How about Oswaldo Arcia and Tyler Robertson straight up. Has to sound Great for both teams as Texas will possilby need LH reliever help this season.
You know somthing else... come this July Francisco Liriano may be the perfect Left-handed Reliever for the Rangers out of the bullpen setting- up Ogando, Adams and Nathan ..before Uehara, Feldman, Scheppers and Kirkman. Liriano for Ramirez might be very appealing to them in a few months. AND if I was the Twins i woudln't even so much as HESITATE to pull the trigger.

#2 SP LHP Erik Surkamp AAA San Francisco Giants Turns 25 in 3 months.


While he may be seen as the eventuall replacement to LHP Barry Zito in the Starting Rotation (thats why the Twins better Hurry HERE while he's struggling a bit in AAA) , Surkkkamp as I like to call him doesn't exactly fit the Giants persona as a power pitching, deep into ball games, lots of innings pitched guy. Surkamp is a southpaw throws high 80's, doesn't K a lot of guys but more than he's given credit for. And Doesn't walk many. Would be the Perfect Fit for Twins style of pitching and Rick Anderson would love Him!

To give you some idea, 2 years ago in the mid level minors he struck out 108 batters in 101 Innings pitched.
Last year he stuck out 170 batters in 148 IP at AA. Was a Cup of coffee call-up for the Giants last September.

He basically is Scott Diamond with potential and upside!
He can strike guys out at much better rates gets swings and misses with less than 90-91 MPH stuff. And would fitt perfectly as a #3 or #4 starter in both the short and long term.

*The Giants have Cain, Bumgarner, Lincecum, Vogelsong, and Zito in their rotation right now. Cain and Bumgarner just inked LONG-Term deals.


WHAT Would it take to ACQUIRE him? Any half-way decent bat. Luke Hughes? Joking. Ryan Doumit. I'd throw Alexi Casilla and Carlos Gutierrez at them if their middle infield woes continue... And Casilla gets hott. or Maybe Brian Dozier?
I woudlnt' be in favor of the ladder but they'd strongly be behind that I'd like to think. Gutierrez, Doumit and Casilla this trade deadline might suffice.


#3 SS Adieny Hechavarria AAA Toronto Blue Jays. Turned 23 last week.


Bats R, Throws R.
There is no doubt, the Blue Jays are one of the up and coming teams, possibly ranking in as the BEST farm system in all of baseball this year and LOADS of young pitching talent in the minors. But When it comes to many of their position players they are pretty well set at the AAA/ Major Lg. Level. Yunel Escobar is their everyday SS, and Hechavarria could be on the trading block for them.

Often compared to the Royals' Alcides Escobar, Hech can pick it with the best of them, he plays an above average defense something certainly good in the Twins clubhouse. Also similarly to the Royals' Escobar -Hechavarria's offensive game has many similarties, (which may lead to his downfall.) Although, Hechavarria for about the past year now, SEEMINGLY after all the prospect gurus in the Industry... Baseball America, Baseball Prospectus and even John Sickles have GIVEN up on him. Has BeeN Tearing The COVER off the baseball over almost the last year dating back towards the end of the 2011 Minor Lg. Season. Remember When Trevor Plouffe got soooo many of us excited based on what he did in 2 months in AAA last year? Thats nothing compared to this guy! - AND He's a REAL SS.

Idealy he'd probably bat 8th or 9th right away but could become or mold into a decent #2 type hitter, or 7 hole guy even.
This would allow us to Move J. Carroll over to 2nd base and DFA or Demote Alexi Casilla or keep his much appreciated versitlity as the 5th infielder. His Strikeouts this year in the PCL are a little worriesome right now he's at 16 K's to only 4 BB's but based on what he's done for years before that i'm not too worried about it.

He should be a high 270's-280's hitter or better in him prime with marginal power and some stolen bases mixed in.

WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO AQCUIRE HIM? Not much, in my honest opinion, unless the Jays really don't see Yunel Escobar as part of their 2013 roster in which case most of this is just jibberish at that point. I think he could be had for a few marginal players or a solid pitcher. Maybe Carl Pavano or Matt Capps at the trade deadline if we're faar out of the race. Would be MORE than enough to net him.


#4 SS Didi Gregorius AA Reds Turned 22 Two Months ago FromAmsterdam, Netherlands


Bats L, Throws R.
Now listen here folks, Out of all of these players this one is Easy as Pie to make a Twin. No? I'm scoffing, you heard me (*or Yourself cough) *cough again* Or go, "yeah right i'm on something".... ? Well think again. The Cincinnati Reds....Ahhh Yes those Wayne Krivisky lovin waiver claimin pitchin Cinncinatti Reds. Please Let me do a little informing very quickly. They have this Kid named Zack Cozart (National League rookie of the Yr. in 2012 Candidate) as their brand spanken new Starting SS. And he can play he can hitt, he is the complete package, however he may not stick as SS because of his size. Therefore the Reds surely wouldn't want to give up Gregorious right? WEll GUESS AGAIN! There is a little someone in AA as well named Billy Hamilton, yeah you now the guy who stole 100 Bases last year in High A. That Billy Hamitlon who happens to play SS. SO even if Cozart fails, faulters, gets moved to different postion they have their sights Squarely on Hamilton as their SS of the future. Because Hamilton is soooo fast he Makes Carlos Gomez look like Delmon Young and Hamilton apparently can hitt. and Hitt with Ben Revere like quality, at least.

Okay, maybe Gregorius isn't exactly Major League Ready as I'm typing this, but he will be IMO by Mid-season surely by the end of 2012.

Gregorious is similar to Hech in that he'll only have marginal power, but decent to slighlty above average speed, maybe Alexi Casilla like base stealing abilites. But I like him because unlike Casilla he should be able to Hitt VERY WELL in the not so distant future, probably even better than Hechavarria.
The Reds subconciously may very likely vastly underrate Didi, just do to the simple fact their blinded by the fascinating and over achieving young offensive outburts within their own system. Guys like Hamilton, Cozart, Todd Frazier Chris Heisey and Devin Mesoraco. No The Twins wouldnt' be able to steal him, but if they like a pitcher in our org, thats a match i'd strongly consider if I was the Twins and Krivisky. Unfortunately for the Twins, Baseball America's Jim Callis recently stated in a Public Chat that Gregorius, " May be the best unherladed SS in all of the Minors." Or Best SS currently on nobody's radar. But now may be on everbody's map.

WHAT Would it Take to ACQUIRE him? Pitching most likely. Maybe Scott Diamond. Or David Bromberg + Gutierrez if David bounces back strong? How about Anthony Swarzak? I don't want to speculate too much here, but i'm sure theres a great match somewhere for Krivisk'ys EX club- and Gregorious is DUTCH how could he not want to be a Twin?


#5. Come May they'll be a new set of four i'll post. As you know, following the minor leagues, AND Major League fringe guys as closely as i do, a lot can change with each passing month. May and June (especially around draft time) This list could change completely Ramirez may already be gone, he may get hurt, he May be in Texas thriving, we just don't know.

(4) Four games in, and not the start we all envisioned to be sure.
(5) Five letters for us all to consider

R-E-L-A-X I just hope the Twins, particularly the coaches and the players can just take a deeeeep breath relax, stay calm, not panick and just play baseball.

Getting 1 out of these next 2 against the Angels would be a great start and if they just play ball they can do that.

Next is the Texas Rangers, after stud southpaw Matt Harrison in game 1, Neftali Feliz and Yu Darvish go in the next 2 games, if you ask me thats a winnable series right there, especially at Home in Target Field.
The Hapless Helpless Mariners offense just about Imploded Darvish the other day in his big lg. debut, of course Ichiro had something to do with that.

I think many of us Twins fans, myself included just need to remember its a loooong season and in this rutt to start the year we're far far from the butt of jokes this early.

Breathe. Exhale. And repeat.

Thank you all.