Last Man Standing: ABW

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

He has been on top 10 prospect lists, so I disagree.

Top 10 prospect lists don't mean a whole lot and ABW was always a fringe entry on those lists. He never made Seth's top 10 list, peaking at #11 after the Twins graduated several players.

 

For example, ABW has never made Sickels' top 150-175 list.

 

He's an interesting prospect, not a highly regarded prospect.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

 

Top 10 prospect lists don't mean a whole lot and ABW was always a fringe entry on those lists. He never made Seth's top 10 list, peaking at #11 after the Twins graduated several players.

 

For example, ABW has never made Sickels' top 150-175 list.

 

He's an interesting prospect, not a highly regarded prospect.

But organizationally he was on our own top 10 lists.

 

Seth had him at 10 

http://twinsdaily.com/_/minnesota-twins-news/minnesota-twins-minor-leagues/seths-top-30-minnesota-twins-prospects-2016-r4434

 

Sickels had him at 8

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2015/11/5/9677606/minnesota-twins-top-20-prospects-for-2016

 

For the record, I agree with everyone who argues that he strikes out too much to have much promise as a major leaguer, I just appreciate the angle the OP came at it from. I also appreciate the explanation spy cake gave, with maybe a tiny dash of "full locker room" theory for good measure

[bluechipper]

 

And what is the one tool that R. Grossman has?

Plate discipline is the 6th tool.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

But organizationally he was on our own top 10 lists.

 

Seth had him at 10 

http://twinsdaily.com/_/minnesota-twins-news/minnesota-twins-minor-leagues/seths-top-30-minnesota-twins-prospects-2016-r4434

 

Sickels had him at 8

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2015/11/5/9677606/minnesota-twins-top-20-prospects-for-2016

 

For the record, I agree with everyone who argues that he strikes out too much to have much promise as a major leaguer, I just appreciate the angle the OP came at it from. I also appreciate the explanation spy cake gave, with maybe a tiny dash of "full locker room" theory for good measure

Ah, I stand corrected. Seth had him at #10 but he never made the top 10 Twins Daily list.

[GMinTraining]

 

Ah, I stand corrected. Seth had him at #10 but he never made the top 10 Twins Daily list.

We say this as if the Twins Top 10 prospects have been setting the league on fire.  Contributions yes - But on fire no.  I'm only talking a cup of coffee to see if he performs better in the MLB than he did in the minors (ala Vargas and Sano).  Worth looking at - That's all

[Brock Beauchamp]

We say this as if the Twins Top 10 prospects have been setting the league on fire. Contributions yes - But on fire no. I'm only talking a cup of coffee to see if he performs better in the MLB than he did in the minors (ala Vargas and Sano). Worth looking at - That's all

And that's fair, I guess. I simply don't care very much and would rather see Vargas worked into the lineup more frequently. ABW is quite a ways down my list of priorities.

[Otto von Ballpark]

New theory: maybe the Twins are priming Walker to accept a sale to Korea?

[Major League Ready]

 

And that's fair, I guess. I simply don't care very much and would rather see Vargas worked into the lineup more frequently. ABW is quite a ways down my list of priorities.

Yes!  Why take away ABs from Vargas and others with a better chance of making it.  I was on the ABW bandwagon and watched the box scores for signs he was improving his contact rate because he could be a real contributor if he could improve his contact.  I am over it now.  If somehow he manages to get it together, great but he has made no improvement over the past two years.  That makes him very suspect in terms of making it on any MLB roster.

[diehardtwinsfan]

I've got to think he gets another chance next season. We did see some change in those peripherals. Hopefully that continues, but I'm not really sold on him at this point.  All world potential, but until that K rate drops, he's in trouble.

[Otto von Ballpark]

If he is to get another chance next season, why wouldn't he get called up now?

 

How many upper minors players, already on the 40-man roster, don't get called up when rosters expand?

 

It's hard not to think the writing is on the wall for Walker (or at least the team is going to push hard to sell him overseas).

[Seth Stohs]

Walker's strikeout rate dropped quite a bit from the first half to the 2nd half. He'll obviously start next season in Rochester too, and hopefully he can continue that improvement. Hey, if he can get that K-Rate in AAA down to the 26-30% range, why not. Palka's way over that. Buxton was over that in his most recent stint. 

 

But Brock is right... he's likely a 12-18 range Twins prospect this year even with some more graduations. 

 

I just want to see him continue to make improvements in Rochester. His power is way too intriguing to give no hope to him ever being a productive big leaguer. I think he can be. 

[Seth Stohs]

 

If he is to get another chance next season, why wouldn't he get called up now?

How many upper minors players, already on the 40-man roster, don't get called up when rosters expand?

It's hard not to think the writing is on the wall for Walker (or at least the team is going to push hard to sell him overseas).

 

It's very common. I'm sure there are a couple in every organization every year. 

 

Guys get three option years. Walker has used one. There's no rush to call him. And I say that as someone who would have liked to have seen him come up, especially now that I see Schafer getting a start or two a week. 

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

It's very common. I'm sure there are a couple in every organization every year. 

Note that I said "upper minors" (AAA), and I also meant to refer specifically to position players.  I don't think it's all that common.  Usually it's to send a message after a recent stretch of bad performance, injury, and/or a prelude to cutting the player.  Recent Twins examples:

 

2015: Arcia, Pinto

2014: Colabello, Florimon

2013: Hicks

2012: Dozier

 

It's most definitely a doghouse spot, and for Walker to be in it at this point is odd.

[nicksaviking]

I would guess the next GM may do his or her best to exorcise some of these corner power bats with excessive strikeout numbers. I'd think Walker would be one of the top options to go considering most of the other power corner bats with strikeout issues can also get on base. He's at AAA with lots of power and lots of options, he'd probably be a decent low value throw in piece in part of a larger move.