Article: Twins Minor League Report (4/29): Killer Bees

[Jeremy Nygaard]

D.J. Baxendale and James Beresford helped lead their teams to victories, but there was plenty of other news in the system on Wednesday.

 

The Twins had a trio of players - Phil Hughes, Casey Fien and Jordan Schafer - leave their game with injuries. The original word is that the players would be re-evaluated before anyone was placed on the disabled list.

 

That seemed to change when Rochester closer Michael Tonkin wasn't used at the end of their game and then after the game it appeared he was recalled to the big club.

 

There was also a self-inflicted wound announced this evening: Chattanooga reliever/spot-starter/former Top 10 prospect Adrian Salcedo will be suspended 80 games for testing positive for both a PED and a stimulant.

 

Let's take a look at the three games that were played today.RED WINGS REPORT

Rochester 5, Columbus 3

Box Score

 

Aaron Hicks extended his hit streak to 10 games when he hit an RBI triple in the third inning. It led to a three-run inning and a lead that remained until the top of the eighth inning.

 

Jason Wheeler struck out three in 7.1 innings. He allowed three eighth-inning runs, though they came in to score after Logan Darnell came in to relieve. Darnell allowed a single and a walk and was promptly replaced by new closer A.J. Achter, who blew a save by giving up a sacrifice fly to score the tying run. The throw from Hicks to Josmil Pinto actually beat the runner, but Pinto dropped the ball, allowing the runner to score.

 

However, in the bottom of the eighth, James Beresford singled in both Eric Farris and Danny Ortiz to give the Red Wings the lead again. Beresford was the only hitter to manage a multi-hit game.

 

This time A.J. Achter retired three of four batters to end the game and get the win.

 

Rochester improved to 11-8.

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Chattanooga 3, Tennessee 1

Box Score

 

Lookout starter D.J. Baxendale had his fourth solid start of the year and the offense provided just enough to avoid dropping their fourth game in a five-game set at Tennessee.

 

The Lookouts got on the board in the fourth after Buxton got a leadoff single and then stole second base. He scored on an Adam Brett Walker groundout.

Baxendale gave that run back in the seventh before being lifted for Jake Reed, who struck out two. In this no-decision, Baxendale went 6.1 innings, striking out eight and only allowing five hits and a walk. Two of those hits occurred in the seventh inning. Baxendale now sports a very healthy 1.07 ERA through 25.1 innings pitched. In his 25 AA-innings last year, the former Razorback gave up a 3.11 OBA and had an ERA of 5.76.

 

In the ninth inning, DJ Hicks singled to lead off the inning. Walker followed that up with a double to drive Hicks in for the go-ahead run. Miguel Sano, 0-3 with a strikeout, walked later in the inning and eventually scored to add an insurance run.

 

Zack Jones recorded his fifth save with a perfect ninth inning that included two strikeouts. The Lookouts improved to 9-10.

MIRACLE MATTERS

Ft. Myers - day off

 

The Miracle enjoyed a day off on Wednesday. They start a four-game series with Charlotte on Thursday. According to the team website the first and last games are in Fort Myers, while the middle two games are in Charlotte. (What?)

 

The 7-13 Miracle are in last place in the FSL South.

KERNELS NUGGETS

Cedar Rapids 0, Quad Cities 4

Box Score

 

The Kernels got a three-hit game from T.J. White and two hits from Zach Granite, but the offense did little else and failed to score a run.

 

Nick Gordon went 0-4 and saw his average drop to .278.

 

Mat Batts struck out six in 6.1 innings, but allowing seven hits and a walk led to four runs, three of which were earned.

 

C.K. Irby faced five batters and retired them all, including two by strikeout.

 

One of the highlights of today’s game was Brian Navarreto’s ability to control the run-game. He caught both potential base-stealers today and has now retired 10-of-15 runners trying to swipe a base. Navarreto, however, is only batting .145, so there is that to work on.

 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – D.J. Baxendale, Chattanooga

Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – James Beresford, Cedar Rapids

THURSDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

Rochester vs Columbus (10:05 CST) – RHP Mark Hamburger

Chattanooga vs Jacksonville (6:05 CST) – RHP Alex Wimmers

Ft. Myers vs Charlotte (6:05 CST) – RHP Chih-Wei Hu

Cedar Rapids @ Quad Cities (7:00 CST) – RHP John Curtiss

 

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[GMinTraining]

Dalton "DJ" Hicks showed true speed scoring from first base on a routine double down the line by Walker in the Chattanooga win yesterday.  I was impressed.  Dalton Hicks looks slimmer this season and in better shape for a man his size.  I bet his off season conditioning has a lot to do with his impressive start.

 

http://www.milb.com/multimedia/vpp.jsp?content_id=95415983&sid=t498

 

 

[Gagne Fan]

Baxendale has been the Twins Dailey pitcher of the day after each of his first 4 starts. He has not yielded a run in the first 6 innings of any of his starts.

Going back to his 2 playoff starts, he has yielded 3 earned runs in his last 38 innings (.070 era). Appears to be healthy and back to his 2013 form.

[bulldozier14]

Is there any reason Gonsalves won't start for CR? He last pitched a week ago...

[Steven Buhr]

 

Is there any reason Gonsalves won't start for CR? He last pitched a week ago...

Talked to him briefly last night. He's still scheduled to start Friday in CR.

 

Suspect the "TBA" for tonight's starter in indicative that they're hoping to have John Curtiss reactivated from the DL (concussion) to make that start. Otherwise, could be Tillery, would be my guess.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Is there any reason Gonsalves won't start for CR? He last pitched a week ago...

 

I believe he is scheduled to start on Friday. My guess is that they'll take John Curtiss off of the DL and have him start tonight, but I haven't been able to confirm that yet.

[Seth Stohs]

Jinx, SDBuhr!

[Seth Stohs]

 

Dalton "DJ" Hicks showed true speed scoring from first base on a routine double down the line by Walker in the Chattanooga win yesterday.  I was impressed.  Dalton Hicks looks slimmer this season and in better shape for a man his size.  I bet his off season conditioning has a lot to do with his impressive start.

 

http://www.milb.com/multimedia/vpp.jsp?content_id=95415983&sid=t498

 

He is a good baseball player. He's big and  very strong. He has a lot of power, though the concern with him is mostly about his ability to catch up to a good fastball. He's also really good at first base. 

[lightfoot789]

If Hicks can't catch up to a good fast ball - He becomes Joe Mauer.  Dalton can hit to the opposite field with the best of them.  He probably doubles that way as much as he does to his pull side.  He is an excellent fielder too.  

[Mike Sixel]

 

If Hicks can't catch up to a good fast ball - He becomes Joe Mauer.  Dalton can hit to the opposite field with the best of them.  He probably doubles that way as much as he does to his pull side.  He is an excellent fielder too.  

 

Uh, what? Mauer is one of the best hitters ever. 

[Seth Stohs]

 

If Hicks can't catch up to a good fast ball - He becomes Joe Mauer.  Dalton can hit to the opposite field with the best of them.  He probably doubles that way as much as he does to his pull side.  He is an excellent fielder too.  

 

I would say that that would be a good thing! We can certainly hope for that!

[Dantes929]

 

If Hicks can't catch up to a good fast ball - He becomes Joe Mauer.  Dalton can hit to the opposite field with the best of them.  He probably doubles that way as much as he does to his pull side.  He is an excellent fielder too.  

lol,  You mean he becomes a borderline HOFer.?    I have never heard anyone anywhere say Mauer can't catch up to a good fast ball.    

[Tibs]

Aaron Hicks' splits have started to even out a little bit vs RHP. .267/.333/.422/.756. He's also hit .371 over the past 10 games with 7 BB/4 K. I couldn't tell you if that is primarily against RHP or LHP as I don't want to go back and look through all the games 

[bird]

 

If Hicks can't catch up to a good fast ball - He becomes Joe Mauer.  Dalton can hit to the opposite field with the best of them.  He probably doubles that way as much as he does to his pull side.  He is an excellent fielder too.  

 

Although neither Dalton Hicks nor Joe Mauer will ever hold a candle to Adam Brett Walker III.

[ericchri]

 

 

The Lookouts got on the board in the fourth after Buxton got a leadoff single and then stole second base. He scored on an Adam Brett Walker groundout.

 

He scored from 2nd on a groundout? Nice. Video please... 

Edited April 30, 2015 by ericchri

[Dantes929]

 

Aaron Hicks' splits have started to even out a little bit vs RHP. .267/.333/.422/.756. He's also hit .371 over the past 10 games with 7 BB/4 K. I couldn't tell you if that is primarily against RHP or LHP as I don't want to go back and look through all the games 

Don't know if it was updated or not but I checked and his LH split was .700 OPS. and his right handed were over 1.00.       I've said before but his stats all along have shown that he does jus fine from the right side.   His readiness for the Bigs should be based on how he does from the left side.    

[TRex]

 

He scored from 2nd on a groundout? Nice. Video please... 

Did he say he scored from 2nd on the groundout?

 

In actuality, he took 3rd on a groundout by Polanco, and scored on the ABWII groundout.

 

<snip>

 

On an unrelated note, how about Zack Jones?

 

Last night, he retired the side on 10 pitches... ALL strikes!  His 13:1 SO:W ratio looks great, and the pitch location via gamecast looks even better! Anybody have any radar readings or know if he is using any secondary pitches?

[Steven Buhr]

 

I believe he is scheduled to start on Friday. My guess is that they'll take John Curtiss off of the DL and have him start tonight, but I haven't been able to confirm that yet.

 

Curtiss now listed as tonight's starter for the Kernels on their website. Miles Nordgren no longer shows up on their roster, so assume he was sent back to EST (he was calle up when Curtiss went on the DL).

[Cap'n Piranha]

 

Don't know if it was updated or not but I checked and his LH split was .700 OPS. and his right handed were over 1.00.       I've said before but his stats all along have shown that he does jus fine from the right side.   His readiness for the Bigs should be based on how he does from the left side.    

 

It is laughable that Hicks remains in AAA while Jordan Schafer eats up AB's in the bigs.  There are no words.

[Thrylos]

 

 

James Beresford, Cedar Rapids

 

I had to look twice to see whether he was rehabbing there or something

[Seth Stohs]

 

Curtiss now listed as tonight's starter for the Kernels on their website. Miles Nordgren no longer shows up on their roster, so assume he was sent back to EST (he was calle up when Curtiss went on the DL).

 

Yeah, I updated the Probable Starters earlier this mornign when I heard that it would be Curtiss (And Hu for Ft. Myers). 

 

 

[Mike Sixel]

 

It is laughable that Hicks remains in AAA while Jordan Schafer eats up AB's in the bigs.  There are no words.

 

????

 

hicks is learning how to hit, and become a real MLB player. Schafer is in MN to play CF until Hicks or someone else is ready. This is about tomorrow, not today.

[Cap'n Piranha]

 

????

 

hicks is learning how to hit, and become a real MLB player. Schafer is in MN to play CF until Hicks or someone else is ready. This is about tomorrow, not today.

 

Not really.  Let's say Aaron Hicks is in AAA until June 1, giving him a decent sample size.  Let's say he's hitting .300/.375/.450 at that point.  Does that guarantee he'll hit in the bigs?  What if that was his line after being at AAA until August 1?  The time to find out if we have soemthing in Hicks is now.

 

Let's say he's not in the Twins plans going forward, because of Buxton/Rosario/Arcia/ABW/Plouffe; is there any GM out there who will think more of him because he has a great line at AAA?  The only way to build his value is to have him succeed at the Major League level, and the time to do that is growing shorter.

[Mike Sixel]

There are no guarantees. 

 

I don't agree that the "only way to build his value" is at the ML level. He needs to learn how to hit, he is working on that in AAA. That, to me, makes sense for where he is right now. For him, not every player, for him where he is right now.

 

"we" know a lot about Hicks from the last two years. What we know is that he really needs to work on hitting. For him, imo, that's best done in AAA right now. If he keeps this up for another 2 weeks or so, I would promote him, and then see what he has. So, we are arguing over 2 weeks or so.....

 

And, in no way would I have had him up at the beginning of the year. He wasn't ready. Sometimes guys need to learn in the minors, sometimes in the majors. He had 2 shots already at the MLB level, this time it was time to do it in AAA.