Article: Twins Minor League Report (5/21): Walker Powers Wings

[jokin]

 

I tnik most believe he deserves to stay in AAA for a while and continue to get better.  It's just great to see him continue to do what he does best.  Lead the league in HRs.  That Rochester line up is exciting.  Fun watching all those guys grow up together.

 

FWIW- a small ray of sunshine. Three of the four affiliates are either in first place or in the case of the Rochester, a half game out of first. It's not exactly like we envisioned, but for the time being... What an outfield with the current four guys.

 

Speaking of four guys, if Meyer quickly bounces back, along with Berrios, of course, and the surprising Wheeler and perhaps the steadying veteran presence of Milone, you have 4 starters who could soon possibly impact the Twins.

 

And don't forget about Chargois in the pen- nothing short of phenomenal so far in AAA.

Edited May 22, 2016 by jokin

[bird]

 

Yeah, because small sample sizes and expectations of perfection on every single outing should be the ultimate determinants in promoting anyone, particularly your most talented prospects.

 

 

The small sample size is what you and others have been looking at, not me. It includes a number of starts, some mediocre, some good, at least one bad, but that hasn't stopped people from declaring that he is overdue for promotion based on a few overall stats. Sorry about being so unclear that you failed to grasp my point.

[bird]

 

I think his point was that Gonsalves already has a high walk rate at High A ball but is getting away with it due to the competition level and pitcher-friendly league, making his numbers look better than his actual performance. If the Twins are trying to get him to throw better strikes to avoid a blowup at AA then putting up a game like this shows he has work to do still. Walking 4 per 9 and rarely getting past 6 innings is a potential recipe for trouble when jumping from High A to AA. It's just speculation, but it seems logical.

 

 

Nicely said.

[bird]

 

I really don't get the Gonsalves consternation (on both sides). SSS was saying promote him, and now he's had a couple not so good starts.  Overall, he's been fine and will probably see a promotion within the next month baring a complete collapse or injury.  I have no problems waiting beyond a small sample for a promotion.  Anyone can be hot for a month, nothing wrong with making sure that it isn't simply that.

 

Nicely said.

[bird]

 

The issue with looking at season averages is it masks the fact that in half his performances he's been pretty solid and in the other half he scuffled with control. This isn't one bad outing he's being judged on, it's just the one where mild concerns over his control were validated a little bit. In 4 out of 8 starts he's gone 6 or fewer innings with 3+ walks. The hits/ERA look good because he's facing less experienced hitters in friendly ballparks that can't consistently punish him. Based on his elevated pitch counts, even in most of his good starts, I assume he's trying to nibble & throw junk and inexperienced hitters are getting themselves out. For that reason alone I think a taste of AA could be a good test and possibly a wake-up call that he needs to throw better strikes. 

 

Nicely said.

[bluechipper]

 

His defense needs work and he will probably always be a DH and part time OF. He also SO way too much, and probably always will. But even with a ton of SO, if he can keep nudging his BB up, he may be a real 3 part outcome player at the ML level. And those are valuable too. Can you see him hitting in the .250 range with a .325-.330 OB, 30+ doubles and 25-30+ HR? It's still hard no to be excited about him. He's produced at every level he's ever been at.

Walker hasn't hit better than .250 since Cedar Rapids in 2013, when he hit .278 with a career high .319 OBP. I doubt he approaches those numbers in the MLB.

[Pitz]

 

Nicely said.

 

Nicely said.

 

Nicely said.

I think there's a button for that.

 

[ashbury]

I think there's a button for that.

Well put.

[Mr. Brooks]

Kepler was removed early (per LENIII). Anyone know why?

[Guest]

When should we start becoming concerned about Berrios' control and pitch counts? Been going on for awhile now. Was considered to be one of his strengths, I thought.

 

Total guess: Berrios has developed some anxiety and resentment this year, which is causing him to try to be perfect and resulting in overthrowing. I also guess that May and Meyer have similar issues. It's not unusual for young talent that knows it's better than people higher on the organization chart to get a little mentally off if they don't think they're given the shot they deserve.

[ShouldaCouldaWoulda]

Who has the better team in a 7 game series (only 3 or 4 starters needed) and who would win between the Twins and Rochester? 

 

Santana vs. Berrios

Hughes vs. Milone

Duffey vs. Meyer

----------------------

Nolasco v.s Albers

 

Edited May 23, 2016 by ShouldaCouldaWoulda

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

Total guess: Berrios has developed some anxiety and resentment this year, which is causing him to try to be perfect and resulting in overthrowing. I also guess that May and Meyer have similar issues. It's not unusual for young talent that knows it's better than people higher on the organization chart to get a little mentally off if they don't think they're given the shot they deserve.

 

Color me very skeptical on that statement.  If the guy doesn't have the mental makeup to handle not getting promoted on a slightly faster timeline, he's not going to have the mental makeup to make it in MLB at all.  If this were the case, then I'd be really curious why it is that Berrios, May, and Meyer all struggled once they reached the bigs.  Not to mention that there's likely a bit of revisionist history here as none of these guys (minus Meyer who wasn't effective at all last year) have spent extraordinarily long periods of time at the same level.

[blindeke]

But did he hit the bull?

[Seth Stohs]

 

FWIW- a small ray of sunshine. Three of the four affiliates are either in first place or in the case of the Rochester, a half game out of first. It's not exactly like we envisioned, but for the time being... What an outfield with the current four guys.

 

A couple of weeks ago, someone posted some comments about how the Twins losing culture starts in the minor leagues and has worked its way up. That couldn't be further from the truth. The Twins minor league system has finished in the Top 4 in winning percentage the last 4 years (full season teams). I'd say that's a culture of winning and learning how to win together. 

[jokin]

 

A couple of weeks ago, someone posted some comments about how the Twins losing culture starts in the minor leagues and has worked its way up. That couldn't be further from the truth. The Twins minor league system has finished in the Top 4 in winning percentage the last 4 years (full season teams). I'd say that's a culture of winning and learning how to win together. 

 

Time to search for precisely where the disconnect takes place, because somehow, someway, the developmental program isn't translating to the majors at an acceptable rate.

[Mr. Brooks]

A couple of weeks ago, someone posted some comments about how the Twins losing culture starts in the minor leagues and has worked its way up. That couldn't be further from the truth. The Twins minor league system has finished in the Top 4 in winning percentage the last 4 years (full season teams). I'd say that's a culture of winning and learning how to win together.

Maybe, but aside from Sano and Duffey, was anyone on the Twins roster today a part of these last 4 winning milb seasons?

[Guest]

Color me very skeptical on that statement.  If the guy doesn't have the mental makeup to handle not getting promoted on a slightly faster timeline, he's not going to have the mental makeup to make it in MLB at all.  If this were the case, then I'd be really curious why it is that Berrios, May, and Meyer all struggled once they reached the bigs.  Not to mention that there's likely a bit of revisionist history here as none of these guys (minus Meyer who wasn't effective at all last year) have spent extraordinarily long periods of time at the same level.

Let's stop blaming the players. It's clear that some teams do better than others in helping players succeed as they enter the majors. It's why more and more teams have mental counsellors. It doesn't imply some kind of "mental weakness." It simply means that performing in sports is high stress and everything the team can do to improve the environment will be to everyone's benefit.

 

With the Twins, there is little indication of awareness of the mental side and lots of behaviors that would increase a player's stress. What causes stress? Criticism by your GM or manager in the newspaper, not feeling you get a fair shot, the feeling that you're supposed to immediately solve a major problem, believing that you are more capable than the people who got the job.

 

Most mentally tough people will still perform below their abilities in bad environments. Further, players with lower levels of mental toughness might still have great skills. It's a much better investment to figure out to help those players succeed than it is to write them off as not having the mental makeup to succeed.

[Guest]

A couple of weeks ago, someone posted some comments about how the Twins losing culture starts in the minor leagues and has worked its way up. That couldn't be further from the truth. The Twins minor league system has finished in the Top 4 in winning percentage the last 4 years (full season teams). I'd say that's a culture of winning and learning how to win together.

 

Agree 100%. Culture starts at the top. If lower levels, less involved with the top, do well, but start falling as they get closer to the top, it's a pretty good sign that the top is setting the wrong tone or direction. Edited May 23, 2016 by Deduno Abides

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

 

Color me very skeptical on that statement.  If the guy doesn't have the mental makeup to handle not getting promoted on a slightly faster timeline, he's not going to have the mental makeup to make it in MLB at all.  If this were the case, then I'd be really curious why it is that Berrios, May, and Meyer all struggled once they reached the bigs.  Not to mention that there's likely a bit of revisionist history here as none of these guys (minus Meyer who wasn't effective at all last year) have spent extraordinarily long periods of time at the same level.

What do you consider an extraordinarily long period of time for a top 10 prospect to play in the minors? Just curious/no idea

[FormerMinnasotan]

So disappointing to see Gonsalves and Berrios struggle so much. I mean since we can't just go out and buy an ace it would be GREAT if we could have a highly touted pitching prospect ACUTUALLY turn out. I mean then in reality who do we have that can be a potential staff ace if not Berrios or Gonsalves? Kohl Stewart? Well strike outs are not as much as his first few starts of the season. Tyler Jay? Maybe, but at the same time it is not known for sure if Jay can remain a starter. Lewis Thorpe? Well most of the questions on Thorpe will be answered next year since if healthy ge should get a whole season to pitch.

 

Bottom line, Berrios and Gonsalves right now represent the Twins best hopes for a near top to top of the rotation starter. If they fail, the rest of the higher ranked pitching prospects have as more questions yet to be answered than Berrios and Gonsalves.

[GMinTraining]

 

Walker hasn't hit better than .250 since Cedar Rapids in 2013, when he hit .278 with a career high .319 OBP. I doubt he approaches those numbers in the MLB.

I would tend to agree with you normally, but Walker has hit those same numbers (.314 OBP) every year - Low A - High A - AA - AAA.  Easy to imagine he would fail at the MLB level, but he has been as consistent as any player in our system to date.  High K's and Production.  Every year we say, "won't be able to do it at the next level."   I'd like to see him try, if not only for a week.