Article: Twins Minor League Report (5/23): Arcia and Willingham lead the Red Wings

[Eric R Pleiss]

You can view the page at http://www.twinsdaily.com/content.php/3011-Twins-Minor-League-Report-(5-23)-Arcia-and-Willingham-lead-the-Red-Wings

[Chance]

Pretty soon I would like to see some starters in Cedar Rapids head back to EST and bring in the top arms that are waiting in the wings.

[Shane Wahl]

Never been a fan of Eades.

[lightfoot789]

Adam Brett Walker II is hitting .300 over the last 10 games with a .317 OBP (his career norm) and .650 Slugging %. His 4 HRs and 16 RBI in that span (10 games) is encouraging as well. It was especially nice to see him hit 2 HRs against the best pitching staff and team in the FSL (Dunedin). His average sucks, but his production is on pace for what he did last year. His HRs and RBI are also tops in the Twins minor league system. The Miracle just have to put their hits togehter more often as a team. They leave too many guys on base (Especially Walker this year). Let's get one at home tonight now (Miracle).

[tjsyam921]

They'll be looking to make room for Arcia after the Giants series. What about Willingham? I haven't really missed him but I'm sure he's got to be close to a return.

[twinsbaby]

Anyone knew why we drafted Ryan Eades in the 2^nd round last year? His stat lines were terrible. I thought our player development had VERY BIG problems. LOOK out:

 

Kevin Ziomek drafted by Tigers in the 2^nd round and he was younger than Eades and also more dominant than Eades.

 

Nick Petree drafted by Cardinals in the 9^th round and he was more dominant than Eades.

[ScrapTheNickname]

I like Jason Kubel and was glad when he made the team, but he has 13 RBIs and has done almost nothing since the first 2 or 3 weeks of the season.

 

Same with Colabello, but worse, which is sad because we're all rooting for him so much.

 

And especially horrific, is Hicks. Sick of Hicks. Gotta go. Send down. See if he can ever improve, but do it at AAA.

 

So surely there is room for Arcia and Willingham (and Fuld when he's ready).

 

Reinforcements, please.

[Dantes929]

No big deal but you have Arcia as pitcher of the day and Pelfrey as hitter.

[ScottyB]

No big deal but you have Arcia as pitcher of the day and Pelfrey as hitter.

 

I was going to say - all the more reason to bring up Arcia, he can both hit AND pitch.

[Dantes929]

I am one of the few supporters of Pelfrey and while the 5 scoreless is nice I don't think it should be much of a factor. 43 strikes in 83 pitches is horrible. Is his velocity back to near 95? Comes down to command and velocity for Pelfrey. If he doesn't have it, keep him down there til he does.

[Jeff A]

I am one of the few supporters of Pelfrey and while the 5 scoreless is nice I don't think it should be much of a factor. 43 strikes in 83 pitches is horrible. Is his velocity back to near 95? Comes down to command and velocity for Pelfrey. If he doesn't have it, keep him down there til he does.

 

Pelfrey had zero strikeouts in his five innings. That makes me doubt that he's throwing anywhere near 95.

[jokin]

Adam Brett Walker II is hitting .300 over the last 10 games with a .317 OBP (his career norm) and .650 Slugging %. His 4 HRs and 16 RBI in that span (10 games) is encouraging as well. It was especially nice to see him hit 2 HRs against the best pitching staff and team in the FSL (Dunedin). His average sucks, but his production is on pace for what he did last year. His HRs and RBI are also tops in the Twins minor league system. The Miracle just have to put their hits togehter more often as a team. They leave too many guys on base (Especially Walker this year). Let's get one at home tonight now (Miracle).

 

Dave Kingman's first 5.25 years of his MLB career from the past are likely as close a comp to hope for as to ABW2's first 5.25 years of his MLB career in the future (and he still has a long ways to go to possibly hit these #s):

 

HR 150 ISO .254 BB% 8.1 K% 28.5 Slash .229/.296/.482/.778

 

He's a much better athlete than the typical lumbering lumber king slugger. But even during this 10 game stretch, his K% is rising from his season average of 29.1% up to 34.1%.

 

Don't get me wrong, he's an exciting talent, and I'm pulling for him to flip the switch and somehow figure out how to take more walks and K less in order to take his game to a new level, but even the 5-year Oliver projections suggest that the above numbers would be about the best-case scenario (http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=sa621791&position=OF).

 

If you look around baseball stats since 2009, there just aren't many guys who stick around in the majors who have a K% over 28% and a single-digit BB%. Chris Davis is the one name that stands out on the plus side (wouldn't that be nice), while all the other few surviving names are around Kelly Shoppach level, and only 2OFs in the group (Drew Stubbs and Rick Ankiel). And there are no DHs in this list, which leaves that career option out. http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=bat&lg=all&qual=y&type=8&season=2014&month=0&season1=2009&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&sort=10,d

[Dantes929]

Pelfrey had zero strikeouts in his five innings. That makes me doubt that he's throwing anywhere near 95.

I would agree with that though even when he is touching that he doesn't seem to miss a whole lot of bats. I don't believe it is a phhyscal thing with him and whatever mechanical flaw that is keeping him from throwing hard is also keeping him from throwing accurately. If he can get back to the way he was throwing last July I would like him replacing Correia. If not then May or Meyer replacing Correia.

[Dantes929]

I have liked Willingham a lot but not excited about him coming back. Definitely looking forward to Arcia coming back and staying back.

[h2oface]

I am one of the few supporters of Pelfrey and while the 5 scoreless is nice I don't think it should be much of a factor. 43 strikes in 83 pitches is horrible. Is his velocity back to near 95? Comes down to command and velocity for Pelfrey. If he doesn't have it, keep him down there til he does.

 

Pelfrey manages 43 strikes in 83 pitches. That is not promising. I don't see how Pelfrey can help this team now with May and Meyer knocking at the door. The way he gives up first inning runs and hits, I don't see how he could be a fit in the bullpen either.

[jokin]

No big deal but you have Arcia as pitcher of the day and Pelfrey as hitter.

 

And not only that, we also apparently have moved our AA team closer to home:

 

The Top of the New Brighton order did their job, with the one through five hitters going a combined 8-20.*

 

*Sorry Eric, I really do appreciate your efforts

[Eric R Pleiss]

Thanks for spotting my errors, team. Fixed. Wrote this up between 4 and 5am this morning and my brain was still asleep. But hey, AA in New Brighton would be pretty rad. Let's start a petition!

[jokin]

Thanks for spotting my errors, team. Fixed. Wrote this up between 4 and 5am this morning and my brain was still asleep. But hey, AA in New Brighton would be pretty rad. Let's start a petition!

 

I'm all in!

[Eric R Pleiss]

Pretty soon I would like to see some starters in Cedar Rapids head back to EST and bring in the top arms that are waiting in the wings.

 

You may see some of the EST arms move up to Rookie League following the draft, but I think for the most part the guys at Low-A are sticking.

[Eric R Pleiss]

Never been a fan of Eades.

 

Eades had a disappointing final college season, but he pitched for a big time program and has MLB stuff. He might not stick as a starter, but he's a quality get. He's striking out just under 20% of the hitters he faces, have to like that. And Walk rate is way down in 2014.

[Eric R Pleiss]

Adam Brett Walker II is hitting .300 over the last 10 games with a .317 OBP (his career norm) and .650 Slugging %. His 4 HRs and 16 RBI in that span (10 games)

 

He's heating up with the weather. Could turn into a big, big year for ABW.

[Eric R Pleiss]

They'll be looking to make room for Arcia after the Giants series. What about Willingham? I haven't really missed him but I'm sure he's got to be close to a return.

 

Sounds like they're both coming north after the San Francisco series, thinking Herrmann and Santana are the casualties. But Colabello could be vicim as well, hasn't started more than a handful of times in past couple weeks.

[Eric R Pleiss]

Anyone knew why we drafted Ryan Eades in the 2^nd round last year? His stat lines were terrible. I thought our player development had VERY BIG problems.

 

Eades was seen as a late first early second draftee before the draft, Twins didn't reach. He just didn't have sexy results. Is improving in 2014 and could still be a back rotation starter with occasional bursts of brilliance.

[Eric R Pleiss]

I like Jason Kubel and was glad when he made the team, but he has 13 RBIs and has done almost nothing since the first 2 or 3 weeks of the season.

 

Same with Colabello, but worse, which is sad because we're all rooting for him so much.

 

And especially horrific, is Hicks. Sick of Hicks. Gotta go. Send down. See if he can ever improve, but do it at AAA.

 

So surely there is room for Arcia and Willingham (and Fuld when he's ready).

 

Reinforcements, please.

 

There is room, but I think Kubel is safe, for now.

[Eric R Pleiss]

Pelfrey had zero strikeouts in his five innings. That makes me doubt that he's throwing anywhere near 95.

 

 

He was throwing 88-90, so there is work to be done. If he can get back to 93ish, consistently, with flashes of 95, that's more like the player the Twins hoped Pelfrey would be another year removed from TJ surgery.

[Eric R Pleiss]

Dave Kingman's first 5.25 years of his MLB career from the past are likely as close a comp to hope for as to ABW2's first 5.25 years of his MLB career in the future (and he still has a long ways to go to possibly hit these #s):

 

HR 150 ISO .254 BB% 8.1 K% 28.5 Slash .229/.296/.482/.778

 

He's a much better athlete than the typical lumbering lumber king slugger. But even during this 10 game stretch, his K% is rising from his season average of 29.1% up to 34.1%.

 

Don't get me wrong, he's an exciting talent, and I'm pulling for him to flip the switch and somehow figure out how to take more walks and K less in order to take his game to a new level, but even the 5-year Oliver projections suggest that the above numbers would be about the best-case scenario (http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=sa621791&position=OF).

 

If you look around baseball stats since 2009, there just aren't many guys who stick around in the majors who have a K% over 28% and a single-digit BB%. Chris Davis is the one name that stands out on the plus side (wouldn't that be nice), while all the other few surviving names are around Kelly Shoppach level, and only 2OFs in the group (Drew Stubbs and Rick Ankiel). And there are no DHs in this list, which leaves that career option out. http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=bat&lg=all&qual=y&type=8&season=2014&month=0&season1=2009&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&sort=10,d

 

Excellent dig, jokin. The Ks are going to continue to be ABW's biggest issue. He's hitting the ball hard lately, and if he can just brign that K% down closer to a quarter (rather than a third) of his plate appearances, he could be a Jason Kubel type weapon. Early career Kubel, not the current variety.

[Paul Pleiss]

Dear brother,

When Arcia and Hammer return from their Rochester vacations, who will the Twins cast off the roster, and what should be make of another horrendous effort from Ricky NoLOLasco?

[Eric R Pleiss]

Dear brother,

When Arcia and Hammer return from their Rochester vacations, who will the Twins cast off the roster, and what should be make of another horrendous effort from Ricky NoLOLasco?

 

I predict Herrmann and Colabello. I write you from the future, where I know this to be true.

 

Ricky gonna Ricky.