Rochester / Chattanooga 5 Game Series

[ExpectMorePayLess]

Who Wins a 5 Game Series?
Pitcher Heavy Red Wings or Hitter Heavy Lookouts

 

RED WINGS
Rotation
Trevor May
Alex Meyer
Logan Darnell
Taylor Rogers
Jason Wheeler

 

Bullpen
AJ Achter
Ryan Pressly
Steplen Pryor
Michael Tonkins
Aaron Thompson
Lester Oliveros
Mark Hamburger

 

Line-up
1) Eric Farris - RF  
2) Eddie Rosario - LF
3) Aaron HIcks - CF
4) Reynaldo Rodriguez - DH
5) Brock Peterson - 1B
6) Tony Thomas - 3B
7) James Beresford - 2B
8) Eric Fryer - C
9) Doug Bernier  - SS

 

Vs

 

LOOKOUTS
Rotation
Jose Berrios
Tyler Duffy
Brett Lee
Alex Wimmer
DJ Baxendale

Bullpen
Tim Shibuya
Madison Boer
Zach Jones
Nick Burdi
Steven Gruver
David Hurlbut
Cole Johnson

 

Line-up
1) Byron Buxton - CF  
2) Jorge Polanco - SS
3) Miguel Sano - 3B
4) Dalton Hicks - 1B
5) Adam Brett Walker - RF
6) Michael Gonzalez - DH
7) Travis Harrison - LF
8) Stuart Turner - C
9) Levi Michael - 2B

 

cOULD BE THE GAME OF THE DAY TODAY.  INTRASQUAD GAME BETWEEN AA & AAA

[Platoon]

So what would happen if you took the pitching staff from Rochester, and the position players from Chatanooga, and played the Twins best of 5 straight up?

[Hrbowski]

 

So what would happen if you took the pitching staff from Rochester, and the position players from Chatanooga, and played the Twins best of 5 straight up?

And how about a cross between the Chatanooga and Rochester bullpens?

[Gagne Fan]

Darnell is not a starter any more

 

Lee was moved to Ft Myers

[KirbyHawk75]

It would be very cool if FSN plays some Chattanooga games..

[Platoon]

And how about a cross between the Chatanooga and Rochester bullpens?

. Believe me I thought about that, or this! An All Star team off of the above two rosters vs the team going north.

[Halsey Hall]

the game started at 10 so I got there late but did see a few innings.  Tonkin got hit around pretty good.  Max Kepler's got a sweet swing and I saw him get a line drive single and a line drive triple.  Max must be bouncing between the two teams, (we want him, no we want him more) as he hit for both teams.  Buxton tripled and hit a bloop single to right.  Someone tried to steal 3rd on Burdi and was thrown out with Sano making the tag.  Quite a few fans today, many family I assume watching.  A nice morning for baseball. 

[diehardtwinsfan]

I was going to say Rochester till I saw their lineup.  The Lookouts have some decent pitchers in there.  Granted the caliber is better in AAA, but I'm not sure it's that much better to make up for the difference in the lineup.

[Rosterman]

The Twins have an abundance of talent at both teams. And some pitchers are in the wings at Ft. Myers. The thing is, most of the talent at Rochester HAS to make an impression this year (as well as in a major league call-up) or most ALL of those Lookout guys will be with the Twins in 2016!

[lightfoot789]

There are still several outfielders in AAA and what do they do when Buxton shows in 2 months that he is ready for AAA?

Wilken Ramirez

Danny Ortiz

Aaron HIcks

Eddie Rosario

Eric Farris

Reynaldo Rodriguez (1B/OF)

Tony Thomas (2B/LF)

Recently cut Krisnicka

Will anyone else go before next week?

Will they go with 5 outfielders?

[Thrylos]

 

There are still several outfielders in AAA and what do they do when Buxton shows in 2 months that he is ready for AAA?

 

That's an IF not a WHEN question.  Buxton was not ready for AA or the Arizona league.  If you had a look at him vs. off-speed stuff this Spring, you'd cry.

[Bob Sacamento]

Well like Hal, I was at the game and Chattanooga "won", Brett Lee starting the game, DJ Johnson in relief followed up by an inning of Burdi.  Rochester's pitchers of Rodgers and Tonkin were not very effective.

 

Wrote about it on other place:

 

 

 

Sunday practices and games are always the best to attend, at least from a fans' perspective as the players are usually more relaxed and antsy waiting for the last week of spring training to finish up. Today was no different, the listed game time was 12p but the coaches (and players) wanted the day done with early so the players took to the field at 9:15 for pregame stretches and throwing before starting the game at 10am. The rosters for AAA and AA were stacked with all the players that had just recently been cut by the MLB team. Suiting up for the AAA team was Aaron Hicks leading off and playing Center, followed by Eddie Rosario batting Second and playing left field. On the other side of the diamond was Byron Buxton leading off and playing Center with Miguel Sano hitting third and playing third base.

 

Before the game, one could see Hicks was pretty down on being back to AAA yet he was still taking it in stride talking to fans before and after the game. Eddie Rosario was in good spirits and happy as always. There was some trash talking between Hicks and Buxton/Sano, asking if "you ringers were ready for the game to start". Had the pleasure of meeting Catcher Dan Rohlfing mother who I overheard giving Aaron a pep talk and revisiting old times when Dan and Aaron plus others living in the same house.

 

Pitching for the AAA team was Lefty Taylor Rogers, his pregame pitches in the pen were all over the place but he started to settle after the first inning where he walked Buxton to start the game  For the AAA squad Aaron Hicks faced lefty Brett Lee in his first at bat and also his second at bat, hitting from the right side.

 

In case you were wondering, he looked pretty much like he did all Spring Training, worked counts but never made hard consistent contact. Which is a shame, he's a really nice guy, I think as fans we often overlook the fact that these guys are all human as well. When I asked him for his autograph, he jokingly said you don't want mine, you want those guys (pointing to Buxton and Sano). The man acted like a defeated man.

 

Of the upcoming superstars, Byron Buxton was "hotter than two squirrels in a wool sock" as Stu Cliburn had said, Buxton coaxed a walk, a LCF gapper that he turned into an easy triple, a bloop single over the first baseman's head, as well as stealing third base with ease. Buxton is, what Twins fans had hoped Aaron Hicks would be. A healthy season under Byron's belt and he'll have a chance of a late season callup.

 

Sano had a quiet day, hitting into a double play, striking out looking and popping out. What did impress me was Miguel's glove at third, I've had a chance to see him over the past few years and gone back and forth on him at third. But after seeing him this spring, I'm a believer he can stay at third for at least the next five years. In one inning he made two good plays a diving play to his glove side and threw out the runner at first, almost the next batter hit a slow roller that he charged, barehanded and almost threw out the runner at first. I will say his lateral movement to his non-glove side appears minimal so it's best to pair him with a strong defensive SS. When I asked Sano after the game about the plays at third, he said "I work real hard and it pay off" in English so he's been working on his interview skills as well.

There were two instances of MLB's new rules that were evoked during the game, the first time was James Beresford left the batters' box after a ball that brushed him and was called for his second strike of the at bat. The other instance was Mike Kvaskiva leaving the batter's box after a ball and was called for his third strike and the pitcher was warranted a strikeout.

 

The final showing was Nick Burdi throwing an inning, he was a little inconsistent with his fastball and he voiced his displeasure with his showing afterwards. He was at least challenged at the plate by Argenis Diaz, Max Kepler (who was batting for AAA, AA, and High A), and Aaron Hicks.

 

I'll apologize ahead for the camera angle but these guys were in my way. Seemed like every minor league pitcher, from Alex Meyer, Jose Berrios, Trevor May, JT Chargois, Tyler Duffey, and may more. Duffey sure loves to give the big boys crap on how hard they throw, more than once when a kid asked for Meyer and Chargois autograph he asked to see their card which said can reach 100 mph.

 

On my way out of the Complex, I couldn't help but notice the group of middle aged professional men who looked out of place. It turned out to be former Twins GM Bill Smith guiding a group through the Twins new Complex discussing who paid for what and how to get the county to help pay for the project. Other teams' representatives that were present that I could identify were from the New York Mets, Houston Astros, and Washington Nationals. According to Bill Smith, the Twins IT guy was integral into getting the project passed through with Lee County.

 

To end everything here are a few other pictures from the game along with the the updated MiLB Twins Workout Groups that weren't put out til noon on 3/29

 

Pictures and Video here 

 

My twitter

 

I'll be at a couple of the games this weekend as well

[GMinTraining]

When do you suppose the next cuts are and who will move where?

[Seth Stohs]

Thursday they have to make the call on Shane Robinson. He's a given to be added, unless there is a trade.

 

They'll wait to feel certain on Pinto. Once he's deemed healthy, Herrmann and Fryer go down. If he goes to the DL, one of them goes down.

 

Bernier probably sticks to the end.

[Platoon]

And how about a cross between the Chatanooga and Rochester bullpens?

. On second thought, that would not be fair. You have to give the Twins a chance!

[eLee612]

 

It would be very cool if FSN plays some Chattanooga games..

 

Speaking of this... does anyone know if MLB.tv has minor league games and/or is worth it? 

[amjgt]

As of a couple weeks ago, the Lookouts did not have a TV contract with MiLB, and thus, were not scheduled to have any of their games televised.

 

I assume that hasn't changed.