Article: Movin' on Up?

[ashbury]

If any of you were Koch or Pinto, and did not feel mis-treated because of that, please let me know.

One thing I know for sure is that the players I've talked with don't share my mindset. (Yogi would remind me that you can't hit and think at the same time.) So I have little confidence answering "maybe" to your question.

 

BUT, for what it's worth: it would depend on what I had been told to work on. It's not all about OPS, particularly for catchers. If I was consistently told that my framing of pitches still left a lot to be desired and it was what was holding me back, I would at least understand. If I was given a different story each time ("it's the hitting" when my OPS was low, "the footwork" or "the throws to second" when the OPS was good), then I'd be angry at them.

[Thrylos]

Given this info as fairly valid- and given the evidence that the MWL is pitching around Sano, wouldn't it be better to have him working against pitchers pitching against him in A+ than around him in A?

Yeah. I see no reason that Sano (and Rosario and a couple more) should not be in high A instead of Beloit.

[Turd Furgeson]

Here is the difference between high A (like Fort Myers), A (like Beloit) and low A (like a team in the short season New York/Penn League, and I think that I posted that before) :

In most cases (90% plus), for a pitcher to be in high A, he has to have at least one secondary pitch that is "above average" or "plus", in addition to their main "plus" or "above average" pitch (usually a fastball). So, these days, if a hitter can dominate high A pitching, it is a good bet that he will make it to the majors (even for a cup of coffee) So moving to high A, hitters see more and better breaking and slow stuff, pitching against the count and such and they have to make adjustments.

Thanks. So, Sano will have to make adjustments as he moves up a level but I don't see any harm in promoting him. He's been good overall, and pitchers are afraid to pitch to him now. He should continue to be challenged.

[Seth Stohs]

Rohlfing and Knudson might be backup catchers. They likely really want Pinto and Kochh to continue to play most every day.

[roger]

Dan Rohlfing (.581 OPS) was promoted from Ft. Myers to New Britain. Josmil Pinto (.738 OPS) in the same team (and the same age as Rohlfing) was passed over.

Former Gopher catcher Kyle Knudson (.680 OPS) was promoted from Beloit to Ft. Myers. Matthew Koch (.957 OPS) in the same team and a year younger than Knutson was passed over.

 

I think that the Twins organization needs to do some serious soul searching with their promotions and reward merit, otherwise there will be some pretty upset minor league players...

If any of you were Koch or Pinto, and did not feel mis-treated because of that, please let me know.

There are two good reasons to keep Pinto at Fort Myers. First, he is on the all-star team which is coming up. Let him stay in the FSL and enjoy it. Second, the player moving up will see a lot of bench time while Herrmann plays. Keep the better catcher at Fort Myers where he will play most of the time rather than sit.

[Mchans24]

Sano at third is a HUGE asset, keep him there for another year. If he is athletic at all the outfield or 1B will be no problem adjusting to. Remember, he signed as a SS so he obviously has athletic ability.

[60ft6in]

There are two good reasons to keep Pinto at Fort Myers. First, he is on the all-star team which is coming up. Let him stay in the FSL and enjoy it. Second, the player moving up will see a lot of bench time while Herrmann plays. Keep the better catcher at Fort Myers where he will play most of the time rather than sit.

How about the fact that Knudson will be turning 25 in August and they need to see if he can stick... Seems old for A ball? In fact Koch and Rodriguez will be 24 this year. Compared to the few other Midwest teams I looked at we are very old at that position...all 3 catchers(knudson, koch and rodriguez) are older then Pinto and Rohlfing who were at high A.....?? I know age isn't the main determining factor but 24/25 in low A.

 

Rams officially not a catcher? With not catching, he seems to be at risk of sticking around...?

[YourHouseIsMyHouse]

I was thinking Daniel Santana to AA, Mata to Beloit, Albers to AAA, and Romero to AAA. Albers and Romero don't have fantastic stats, but they have been at the same level for some time now and are both over 25. Albers could be the rotation replacement for Hendriks if he gets called up (instead of Hermsen who is advancing rapidly as you suggested). Romero is on a power surge as of late and he could fit in really well with Rochester's infield. Luis Perdomo should be in AAA, so if there is a spot in bullpen (Oliveros promo) it should be his.

[Thrylos]

How about the fact that Knudson will be turning 25 in August and they need to see if he can stick... Seems old for A ball? In fact Koch and Rodriguez will be 24 this year. Compared to the few other Midwest teams I looked at we are very old at that position...all 3 catchers(knudson, koch and rodriguez) are older then Pinto and Rohlfing who were at high A.....?? I know age isn't the main determining factor but 24/25 in low A.

 

Rams officially not a catcher? With not catching, he seems to be at risk of sticking around...?

Koch was drafted in 2011 from college... and played a handfull of games in Etown. So this is practically his first Pro season. Rams is still very young, was a high school draftee. Not catching any more and not sure what's up with him these days.

[Seth Stohs]

How about the fact that Knudson will be turning 25 in August and they need to see if he can stick... Seems old for A ball? In fact Koch and Rodriguez will be 24 this year. Compared to the few other Midwest teams I looked at we are very old at that position...all 3 catchers(knudson, koch and rodriguez) are older then Pinto and Rohlfing who were at high A.....?? I know age isn't the main determining factor but 24/25 in low A.

 

Rams officially not a catcher? With not catching, he seems to be at risk of sticking around...?

Some great points. Thank you! Knudson missed so much time last year, his first full-season, and just was activated by the Snappers maybe 2 weeks ago. Koch is in his first full season. Rodriguez has been around awhile.

 

And yes, being something like 5-54 might put a player on the hot seat, I'd say! He was listed as a LF.

[Shane Wahl]

Wow there are a lot of things to comment on. About Sano and 3B . . . I would hope that if he isn't the Twins 3B of the future, that he is the 1B of the future next. And there is NO reason to move him over there for awhile yet as making that transition is nothing really to worry about.

 

I am generally with Thrylos on a lot of these moves, though I can see why, if not promoting Herrmann, they don't promote Pinto and Koch at the moment. With regard to Herrmann, greengoblinrulz pointed out in my adopt-a-prospect Herrmann thread that Chris has now played a full season at AA with these numbers:

 

151gms 546ABs .260/.360/.397 29doubles 5 triples 12HR 67RBI 10/13SBs 84bb 112Ks

 

That is worth noting, regardless of the decline in the BB/K rate and other issues. The power has increased. I would definitely like to see how he does at the next level and there is no worry about him being the full-time catcher at Rochester. And this also could allow for more movement with Pinto and Koch to move up levels as they deserve to do.

 

I would keep Danny Santana at Fort Myers for awhile yet. Albers and Romero, I agree with promoting, but in the latter case the problem is that the Twins sent their two 3B down to Rochester!

 

I would like to see some movement in the system and an unclogging of plenty of "veteran" has-beens (never weres) like Thomas, Roof, et al.

[MWLFan]

Please send back plenty of Snapper reports early and often, as it might be Sano's last weekend in Beloit. ie: How does he do on the charging, barehand pick-up and throw, going to his left/right, short-hop, hot smash, relay to second, relay to home, relay to first from deep behind 3B, etc.

 

I will try, but it's Fathers day and I will have both my boys at the game this weekend. Which means a lot of distractions. Some of what I have seen is he moves to his left pretty well and charges the ball with authority. His reactions are quick and he gets himself in position to make the throw pretty well. When I saw him earlier he kind of non chalented a few balls and seem to "lolly gag" a bit. But one needs to stop and say 19 years old. How many 19 year old males don't non chalent and lolly gag.

[Thrylos]

Albers and Romero, I agree with promoting, but in the latter case the problem is that the Twins sent their two 3B down to Rochester!.

I don't think many will cry if the soon to be 32 year old Burroughs is cut and Romero is up there to fill his role as a 1B/3B/DH. I don't see Burroughs having a future with the Twins at this point, so he should go his happy way and stop blocking players who can be considered somewhat of prospects.

[2and31guy]

Wondering if someone like Caleb Thielbar in AA New Britian would ever get looked at to move up to AAA bullpen...has been in the system for not quite a year yet, but his numbers were outstanding in ft myers and have continued to be very strong in AA. He was a pickup from St. Paul saints last year, and he seems to be a strike throwing pitcher that gets the job done very consistently

[twinsfan214]

Ugh just heard abour Rosario's injury. No promotion for him anytime soon as he'll be out around 6 weeks.

[old nurse]

 

I would like to see some movement in the system and an unclogging of plenty of "veteran" has-beens (never weres) like Thomas, Roof, et al.

 

While it appears the Twins are in no hurry to move people up to Rochester, Wilkin Ramirez is the only player on the Rock Cats roster appearing to be doing that well at the plate. They wouldn't be clogging up the system if there were players to be moved up. Although the role of the minor leagues is to develop players, the bottom line is they have to put out as competitive team as they can. No fans when the team plays consistently poor means no money for the owner.