2017 MLB Draft strong on Pitching

[Twinfan & Dad]

At this point die-hard Twin Fans can only look to the future to escape this season. The following link has broken down the top 100 D1 prospects for 2017.

http://www.d1baseball.com/prospects/top-100-college-prospects-for-2017/

 

I only wanted to look at D1 because I have come to the realization that this will be the only way we will find a true Number 1 pitcher. The last time the Twins had the first pick and used it on a pitcher was 1983 when they chose Tim Belcher and he elected not to sign.

Back then the Twins said they didn't have enough money to sign Belcher and low balled both him and Billy Swift their number 2 pick so neither one signed. This was at the end of the Calvin Griffith period and I can remember how squeaky cheap he was. Now we have Jim Pohlad. Lets hope history doesn't repeat itself!

 

There are a lot of pitchers that will need very little seasoning according to the article so we can only cross our fingers that ownership gets it right this time. I have little faith right now but if the stars align, we get out of the way and let him pitch maybe we will finally have a NUMBER 1 PITCHER by 2018.

 

We have a interesting group of young players I just wish like most of you that we let them all play at some point this lost year. If we can solidify our everyday line-up with youngsters this year(goodbye Plouffe,Dozier,Suzuki) maybe the 3 blind mice composed of Pohlad,Ryan and Molitor can find a catcher and a few more pitchers to complete the pitching staff.

 

With a stud 2017 pick, Berrios,Jay,Stewart,Duffey,Meyer?,May?,Gibson? The cupboard isn't entirely bare it's just that the owner and GM prefer generic products named Nolasco, Hughes,Pelfrey,Santana and not name brand products. After all generic products are cheaper.

[Mr. Brooks]

Good. You can never have too much pitching.

And, even if Berrios figures it out, the Twins are still in dire straits when it comes to pitching.

At least until we see what Gonsalves, Stewart and Jay can do at AA.

[Twinfan & Dad]

I agree but 1, just 1 top tier free agent pitcher either next year or 2018 to go along with our young guys. I'm actually okay with Santana as a number 3 if we can't trade him to a contender. The Hughes and Nolasco contracts are definately awful.

[diehardtwinsfan]

Moving this to the minor league forum.

[glunn]

The player listed #1 is a catcher. I would like to see the Twins get a great long term catcher.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

The player listed #1 is a catcher. I would like to see the Twins get a great long term catcher.

 

Well, we should be drafting first.. or close to it.

[clutterheart]

Best Player available.

If that is a first baseman, I don't care.  Take the best player.  Drafting for need in baseball rarely works.  

- See Levi Michael as an example.

 

 

[Twinfan & Dad]

The last time we had the 1st pick it was used on another catcher who we are now playing at first. I think we should use the pick on a pitcher if indeed the class has many major league ready arms available and trade Dozier and Plouffe along with a top prospect for a mlb ready catcher. I just don't think the Twins would move the catching prospect up as fast as the pitcher and we need help at both spots now.

[Hrbowski]

It may be strong in pitching, but there isn't a top end pitcher available, yet...

[bird]

 

Best Player available.

If that is a first baseman, I don't care.  Take the best player.  Drafting for need in baseball rarely works.  

- See Levi Michael as an example.

 

 

 

Once again, Levi Michael was NOT a need pick. He was the 30th player taken in a very weak draft class. 

 

Of the ten players taken before Michael and the ten players taken after him, only two out of the twenty have distinguished themselves so far in the major leagues. Only four players drafted ahead of Michael in that year have as of this date been impressive as major league players. 

 

People are constantly pulling the Levi Michael pick out of their shorts and claiming it's an example of draft ineptitude on the part of the Twins. The reality is that the ineptitude belongs to those using the pick as an example of what they choose to believe.

[Badsmerf]

You can't force people to ignore history, or not draw correlations. The pick didn't turn out, so it was a failed pick. Many, including me, hated the pick. Say whatever you want about twins drafts, but they have been terrible for a long time.

[dgwills]

 

The player listed #1 is a catcher. I would like to see the Twins get a great long term catcher.

I've read a few articles about J.J. Schwarz. Looks like the real deal to me. He's the reason I root for the Brave's to win now days. 

[bird]

 

You can't force people to ignore history, or not draw correlations. The pick didn't turn out, so it was a failed pick. Many, including me, hated the pick. Say whatever you want about twins drafts, but they have been terrible for a long time.

 

 

If that's the case, pretty much every team has been terrible for a long time.  Where and what are your correlations? Which selections in the past ten years would the experts consider "terrible'? Remind us who YOU picked in 2011, and give us YOUR ten-year track record. You must have hated almost every pick then if you describe their record as "terrible".

 

Say what you want, but when you say the Twins drafts have been terrible for a long time without drawing any comparisons whatsoever, you're saying absolutely nothing. You obviously can't force people to look at history in some context either.

[gunnarthor]

 

You can't force people to ignore history, or not draw correlations. The pick didn't turn out, so it was a failed pick. Many, including me, hated the pick. Say whatever you want about twins drafts, but they have been terrible for a long time.

I think we should have a better understanding of that history, though.  From 95(?)-07, the draft was under Radcliff and Ryan, and those drafts were pretty good, with the team nailing a lot of non-first round picks even in drafts where they missed in the first round.  From 08-11 it was under Johnson and Smith.  And from 12-present, it was under Johnson and Ryan (with input from Radcliff).  

 

I think the Johnson/Smith drafts were pretty bad.  They've drafted better since 2012 but that might be because they drafted in the top of the rounds but they've nabbed some interesting players late - Berrios, Gonsalves, Duffy, Burdi, Cabbage, Benninghof.  So that might be Johnson getting better at his job or more input from Ryan/Radcliff than before.  

 

Johnson has a bit of a different philosophy than Radcliff did (although this is just in generalizations).  Johnson appears to want velocity whereas Radcliff targeted control.  (Again, it's not a perfect example as Radcliff nabbed guys like Garza and Durbin and others and Johnson took Wimmers and Eades but generally, that does seem to be a difference).  Both Johnson and Radcliff love the toolsy HS prep bat (for good reason, obviously).  The Twins have increased their scouting in the SE under Johnson and taken several GA and FL HS bats (Buxton, Gordon, Goodrum, Baddoo).  So I imagine they'll continue to do that.

 

In any event, since 2012, the Twins minor league farm system has greatly improved.  I expect that the Twins will pick a pretty big talent next year and I'm not as worried about that pick even though the Michael pick didn't work.

[nicksaviking]

Once again, Levi Michael was NOT a need pick. He was the 30th player taken in a very weak draft class. 

 

People are constantly pulling the Levi Michael pick out of their shorts and claiming it's an example of draft ineptitude on the part of the Twins. The reality is that the ineptitude belongs to those using the pick as an example of what they choose to believe.

I agree Michael wasn't a need pick, for many of us though, the problem with he and Wimmers before him was that they were a "safe" pick but in reality, when you're drafting that low there really aren't any safe picks. Like Wimmers before him, many of us were banging the drum for the higher ceiling HS players because if the odds are long anyway, why not take a guy who's payout is higher?

 

At least that's where many of us in the anti-Wimmers/Michael crowd came from. It's probably just dumb luck that both years the HS kids drafted after the Twins "safe" picks have, or appear to have Made it, and the Twins clearly have reversed course regarding their top picks since, so there's no need to hammer them for past approaches as they are now moot.

[diehardtwinsfan]

I'm just hoping for #1 overall at this point and a player being billed as once in a generation talent.  I really don't care the position, though pitching and catching would be a preference if it could be chosen.  The real problem with catcher at least is that to develop the defensive side, that player stays in the minors a lot longer.  Bryce Harper, if I remember right, was moved off of C for this reason.  Same with Schwarber.  The bat may be ready, but with a C, the glove usually needs work, even for the best. 

[Mike Sixel]

I would take the catcher.....he's in an elite conference and he mashes the ball. Oh, and he's a catcher.*

 

*a lot can change in a year....but that's where my head is now.

[DocBauer]

I guess it's off topic since it concerns this year and not next year, but I really, really like what the Twins did in the draft this year. Now, only time will tell how the Twins, or anyone else, truly did with their selections, but I thought the approach was smart and much more forward thinking than in years past.

 

There is some pretty darn good pitching in the lower minors, but its lacking a bit in position player talent. (though there are some young Latin kids with ability) So the Twins hit the HS ranks hard with their first few selections. Then, they went hard after some college players with tools, or pitchers with velocity or a wicked pitch instead of just a safe control college pitcher.

 

They also took some real chances on a couple of guys that were later picks than expected due to injury or financial concerns. But they saved money where they could, then overspent slot to get these guys in. Could be a couple really nice steals here. But even if they don't turn out, what a change in philosophy...actually being aggressive and taking a shot on potential instead of the safe!

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

I guess it's off topic since it concerns this year and not next year, but I really, really like what the Twins did in the draft this year. Now, only time will tell how the Twins, or anyone else, truly did with their selections, but I thought the approach was smart and much more forward thinking than in years past.

 

There is some pretty darn good pitching in the lower minors, but its lacking a bit in position player talent. (though there are some young Latin kids with ability) So the Twins hit the HS ranks hard with their first few selections. Then, they went hard after some college players with tools, or pitchers with velocity or a wicked pitch instead of just a safe control college pitcher.

 

They also took some real chances on a couple of guys that were later picks than expected due to injury or financial concerns. But they saved money where they could, then overspent slot to get these guys in. Could be a couple really nice steals here. But even if they don't turn out, what a change in philosophy...actually being aggressive and taking a shot on potential instead of the safe!

 

Yes, I was very happy with what they did.  They used their resources to get their biggest needs filled.  Granted, they may not have gotten a clear BPA at every round, but they ended up with more talent by being smart about it than they would have otherwise. 

 

Now let's hope they can develop said talent.