10 replies to this topic

[dougd]

All the usual winter leagues are playing baseball, but there is not a lot of news.

 

Jose Miranda has played 15 games for the Criollos de Caguas in the Liga de Roberto Clemente. He is playing third base, batting 3rd or 4th, .302 BA and 849 OPS.

 

Celestino had started the year in the Dominican for the Gigantes and played 4 games in November. Then there was a league-wide Covid pause for over a week, and he hasn't played since. There are huge roster changes in this league, and there could be plenty of reasons why he is not currently playing. Fernando Romero played for the same team, but hasn't played since signing in Japan.

 

Astudillo is playing mostly LF in Venezuela for the Caribes, batting 5th with 914 OPS.

Tomas Telis plays for the same team as catcher or1B, bats third with 821 OPS.

 

Lachlan Wells is pitching for Sydney (is he still our property?). They are just getting started, it seems.

 

There could be others. With no minor league box scores last year, I am not as familiar with Caribbean prospects in particular.

 

In the olden days you could just go to mlb/stats/offseason leagues and click on the Twins logo to see the stats for all the Twins players in the winter leagues. Apparently mlb has lost so much money they can't do that anymore (or there is something about my computer). I have heard it said that mlb tried to get funding for several full-time employees to do this work in the recent stimulus bill, but my sources deep within Congress said someone influential who lost his minor league team squashed it. And including the Venezuela stats raised alarms.

 

 

 

[Seth Stohs]

Great update... Thanks for doing this. Maybe a weekly update here would be great, if you are interested! 

 

 

[theBOMisthebomb]

I watch the Australian Baseball League at my night shift weekend job. I am pleased to report that old friend Delmon Young has returned for another season with defending champ Melbourne Aces.

[ScrapTheNickname]

 

I watch the Australian Baseball League at my night shift weekend job. I am pleased to report that old friend Delmon Young has returned for another season with defending champ Melbourne Aces.

Is he trying to make an MLB comeback or is he just hitting balls for fun?

[theBOMisthebomb]

Is he trying to make an MLB comeback or is he just hitting balls for fun?

I'd have to guess he is just hitting the ball for fun. It is really quite unsettling and amusing when the announcers talk about Delmon's veteran presence and how the younger players look up to him. Which makes some sense since Delmon had a number of years in MLB with some real highlights. Just looking at Delmon now he seems relaxed and enjoying himself.

[h2oface]

 

Just looking at Delmon now he seems relaxed and enjoying himself.

 

How much has he been enjoying himself? Like.... how much does he weigh now?

[Shaitan]

Austudillo in LF is interesting. I've said in other threads that I think the Twins bench spots rely on who can be a 5th OF. Cave/Wade are 100% capable 4th OF, but based on recent years I think they'd like a super utility type who can play adequate IF/OF.

[DocBauer]

Austudillo in LF is interesting. I've said in other threads that I think the Twins bench spots rely on who can be a 5th OF. Cave/Wade are 100% capable 4th OF, but based on recent years I think they'd like a super utility type who can play adequate IF/OF.

As far as Astudilo goes, I think he's a luxury to have around because he's basically adequate wherever you put him. That being said, his "issues" are not being adequate defensively wherever he's put, it's his bat. Healthy, we have seen him do exactly what he's done his entire milb career which is put the ball in play at a high contact rate for a high average, low SO numbers, and even flash some XB power. And he HAS hit in MLB. The problem has been streaks, whether unhealthy or getting back in the swing of things or pitchers making adjustments he hasn't responded to yet, he has also flailed at times while at the plate. Healthy and making adjustments, I think he can be a valuable 27th-28th man in 2021 and perhaps onward.

In regard to the 5th OF or 10th man option, I'm not so sure OF ability is necessary. Let me break it down. OF we have Cave and Wade and Kepler available to fill in CF. So if the Twins brought in a SS and moved Polanco to the 10th man role, they are still covered, for the most part, with Celestino on his way.

Now, if they stick with Polanco at SS, considering the OF option they have, I don't think they would NEED to have a 10th man who could also play the OF, though it would be a nice luxury to have. Hence their interest in Hernandez who can actually play CF. But I'm not convinced it is a MUST.

[theBOMisthebomb]

How much has he been enjoying himself? Like.... how much does he weigh now?

He looks about the same as his MLB days.

[dougd]

Astudillo and Miranda are both batting 4th for their teams in the finals of the Puerto Rican and Venezuelan league that are starting.

 

Astudillo has been playing LF and had a 1.223 OPS in the seven game semifinals. He tied for second in HR in the regular season. Tom Telis has been playing 1B.

 

Jose Miranda is playing 3B and had 3RBI's in the last game as his team Caguas is leading 2-0.

[Out State Twin]

Thanks for the updates.