The Twins DH for the next two weeks should be...

[Willihammer]

Adam Brett Walker III

 

1. The Twins are punting DH right now.

2. ABW's raking. He has 14 HRs and is the best hitter by OPS on the Lookouts with over 100 PAs.

3. There are 2-3 roster spots he could take (Bernier, Stauffer, etc) and he is going to have to be added to the 40 man after the year anyway for Rule 5 protection.

4. With the Arcia injury, the Vargas demotion, and the Twins plans to slow-cook Sano, this could be Walker's best/longest window.

[Willihammer]

5. The dude apparently crushes righties. All 14 of his HRs this year are against righthanders, and the Twins will be facing a string of RHPs

[jimmer]

 

5. The dude apparently crushes righties. All 14 of his HRs this year are against righthanders, and the Twins will be facing a string of RHPs

Curious on your thoughts concerning Kepler.  When might we see him?

[Craig Arko]

Jim Thome.

[James]

I would think that Kepler might be an alternative to Walker in this case.  

 

As much as I want to see Walker up with the big league team and smashing homers, I can't see it happening.  You make some good points though.  I think with the not being on the 40 man, and the fact that he strikes out too much will probably prevent this from happening.

 

Good outside the box thinking though.  He wouldn't have to play only DH.  He could spell Torii in RF some times too.  

[Craig Arko]

I would think that Kepler might be an alternative to Walker in this case.  

 

As much as I want to see Walker up with the big league team and smashing homers, I can't see it happening.  You make some good points though.  I think with the not being on the 40 man, and the fact that he strikes out too much will probably prevent this from happening.

 

Good outside the box thinking though.  He wouldn't have to play only DH.  He could spell Torii in RF some times too.

 

Actually, seeing Kepler up for a cup of coffee is not a bad idea.

[James]

 

Actually, seeing Kepler up for a cup of coffee is not a bad idea.

Credit should go to Jimmer for that one.

[Willihammer]

 

Curious on your thoughts concerning Kepler.  When might we see him?

I know Kepler's already on the 40 man but there is enough chaff, that should not be an issue IMO. Also do we want another singles hitter at DH?

 

ABW is close in OPS but has the power element that I think a DH should have. And he's a decent baserunner and can sub in the OF so is just as flexible as Kepler in that respect unless you think DH should backup 1B too. Kepler would have him there I guess.

[Hrbowski]

 

I know Kepler's already on the 40 man but there is enough chaff, that should not be an issue IMO. Also do we want another singles hitter at DH?

 

ABW is close in OPS but has the power element that I think a DH should have. And he's a decent baserunner and can sub in the OF so is just as flexible as Kepler in that respect unless you think DH should backup 1B too. Kepler would have him there I guess.

You are ignoring the fact that he is striking out 40% of the time at AA. Heck, Ryan Howard is striking out at a much lower rate in the big leagues, and I wonder how many home runs he would have if he was playing in AA, but he is much older... I would rather see Travis Harrison or Max Kepler.

[jorgenswest]

In AA Walker is swinging at 30.6% of pitches out of the zone and making contact with less than 46.6% of those out of zone pitches. Major league pitchers would dominate his inability to recognize a strike.

[GMinTraining]

 

In AA Walker is swinging at 30.6% of pitches out of the zone and making contact with less than 46.6% of those out of zone pitches. Major league pitchers would dominate his inability to recognize a strike.

 

That being said:

We all know that Walker sports a .251 BA; .310 OBP and leads the league in SO with 73.  He does however, still rank second in the entire Southern League in RUNS SCORED!  So despite not getting on base (enough), he still scores more than everyone in the league not named Buxton.  The same flaws everyone pointed out in 2012; 2013; 2014; & 2015; have not affected his consistency with run production.  

 

Can anyone explain how he does it every year in the runs scored department?  Amongst the best in the league every year.  His 35 runs scored are 9 more than the second best player on the MLB Twins.  If you take away Walker's runs scored due to home runs, and all the Twins players home runs from their runs scored total - Walker would be second on the Twins "STILL" in runs scored.  

 

Strike outs do matter and Walker needs to fix his greatest flaw.  That being said again - Walker is a very solid player without the correction of his problem.  If he ever fixes his problem, he becomes one of the best players in Baseball.  IMO

[Craig Arko]

That being said:

We all know that Walker sports a .251 BA; .310 OBP and leads the league in SO with 73.  He does however, still rank second in the entire Southern League in RUNS SCORED!  So despite not getting on base (enough), he still scores more than everyone in the league not named Buxton.  The same flaws everyone pointed out in 2012; 2013; 2014; & 2015; have not affected his consistency with run production.  

 

Can anyone explain how he does it every year in the runs scored department?  Amongst the best in the league every year.  His 35 runs scored are 9 more than the second best player on the MLB Twins.  If you take away Walker's runs scored due to home runs, and all the Twins players home runs from their runs scored total - Walker would be second on the Twins "STILL" in runs scored.  

 

Strike outs do matter and Walker needs to fix his greatest flaw.  That being said again - Walker is a very solid player without the correction of his problem.  If he ever fixes his problem, he becomes one of the best players in Baseball.  IMO

I believe the current prevailing theory to explain anyone's success is 'smoke and mirrors.' Otherwise, I suppose being in scoring position when other guys get hits would be helpful.

[Vanimal46]

He should be 4th in line behind Vargas, Pinto, and Arcia. FREE VARGAS!!

[drjim]

Clearly Walker only performs as part of an offensive cluster. He'd fit right in with this team.

[GMinTraining]

 

I believe the current prevailing theory to explain anyone's success is 'smoke and mirrors.' Otherwise, I suppose being in scoring position when other guys get hits would be helpful.

 

Agreed.  However some guys do it every year and from any spot in the order.   While other guys don't or at least don't do it as well.  I think Vargas deserves another shot, but wouldn't be disappointed to see if Walker could provide some power for this offense.  Walker sports a .311 ISO and has hit into only 1 DP thanks to those K's - Lol

[Willihammer]

 

He should be 4th in line behind Vargas, Pinto, and Arcia. FREE VARGAS!!

Vargas: I would love if he were recalled

Pinto: Sliding pretty badly right now

Arcia: DL stint is over, Twins just exercised an option on him.

 

With those three out of the picture atm, there appears to be a window for someone like Walker. It would take a little finagling with the roster and he would definitely strikeout, but he also could put some balls in the seats which has been sorely missing from DH.

[nicksaviking]

If this team isn't going to clear a 40-man spot for the second best relief pitcher in the organization, they better not do it for a guy who would never see a pitch over the plate at the MLB level and still strike out every other at bat.

[kab21]

Tim Stauffer - he had a .557 OPS one year.

 

[GMinTraining]

 

If this team isn't going to clear a 40-man spot for the second best relief pitcher in the organization, they better not do it for a guy who would never see a pitch over the plate at the MLB level and still strike out every other at bat.

 

MLB Pitchers throw strikes and wouldn't shy away from their fastballs for a No Name Prospect.  They might try to adjust when he starts mashing, but not out the gate.  He just can't afford to miss his pitch (fastball) when he gets it.  Look at the success Vargas had his 1st year.  Teams/Pitchers started adjusting the following year.  

 

59% of Walkers hits are of the XBH variety.  Mauer and Hunter together have 3 more XBH than Walker this season.  He runs well and crosses the plate A LOT!

 

 

[diehardtwinsfan]

I'd vote Vargas personally.  Walker is a 40 man decision this fall if I remember right, so I don't see him up.  I'd say Vargas first, then maybe Kepler or Sano second. 

[nicksaviking]

 

MLB Pitchers throw strikes and wouldn't shy away from their fastballs for a No Name Prospect.  They might try to adjust when he starts mashing, but not out the gate.  He just can't afford to miss his pitch (fastball) when he gets it.  Look at the success Vargas had his 1st year.  Teams/Pitchers started adjusting the following year.  

 

59% of Walkers hits are of the XBH variety.  Mauer and Hunter together have 3 more XBH than Walker this season.  He runs well and crosses the plate A LOT!

 

So MLB pitchers are too stubborn to make a rookie chase pitches even though any kind of analysis will tell them they can strike him out throwing pitches off the plate consistantly?

 

Even if a few were that obtuse, they only would be the first time they face him.

[Willihammer]

If the 30.6% chase rate held in MLB, that would put Walker 82nd highest among qualified batters. In a tie with Freddie Freeman, Hanley Ramirez, and Anthony Gose.

[jorgenswest]

If the 30.6% chase rate held in MLB, that would put Walker 82nd highest among qualified batters. In a tie with Freddie Freeman, Hanley Ramirez, and Anthony Gose.

It doesn't hold so it doesn't matter where his numbers against AA pitchers compare with players facing major league pitchers. Look at Vargas' numbers at his two levels this year. It is not close.

[lightfoot789]

 

I know Kepler's already on the 40 man but there is enough chaff, that should not be an issue IMO. Also do we want another singles hitter at DH?

 

ABW is close in OPS but has the power element that I think a DH should have. And he's a decent baserunner and can sub in the OF so is just as flexible as Kepler in that respect unless you think DH should backup 1B too. Kepler would have him there I guess.

 

Walker was a second team All American at 1B in college.  He was voted by Baseball America as the second best fielding 1st baseman in college (2011) as well.  Don't short change him - lol.  The Twins just like his athleticism in the OF better at this time I would imagine.  

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2012-preseason-all-america-teams-chart-12961/