Article: Wet Wednesday in the Minors

[Cody Christie]

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php?r=1547-Wet-Wednesday-in-the-Minors

[clutterheart]

Will Fort Meyers every lose?

Sano had 2 errors today in the same inning, leading to 4 runs. - One fielding, one throwing.

IF he can't stick at 3B his status as a prospect goes down. Still a fantastic hitter with amazing power but he will fall in the Rankings due to positional value.

[Pitz]

I don't think Sano's status as a prospect is really tied to his position much. It seems that most rankers I've seen already thought that he was unlikely to stick at third and still ranked him highly so I don't think a position shift would cause a fall in the rankings. His ranking is about his bat.

It would be great for the Twins if he could stick at 3rd. But, if his bat gets anywhere close to its ceiling, I don't think it'll matter too much which position he plays.

[Han Joelo]

I was listening on the radio when Sano made the errors. Stuiffie was getting hit hard and then finally had a grounder that should've been an out and Sano bobbled it. Very next hitter and Sano fields cleanly but airmails the throw to first.

 

However, an inning or two later, he made what sounded like a quick reaction/medium hard fielding play, maybe to his right, and then threw a total strike to first to nail the hitter. With that arm, I love the potential at third. Hell, if Miguel Cabrera can do it...

[Mike Sixel]

If they won't promote him until his glvoe is ready, we lose years of HRs and watching Parmalee man first.....or RF.

[Steve Penz]

Why does Josmil Pinto not draw more attention?

 

His line last year between Ft. Myers and NB was .295/.362/.844. He hit 14 homeruns and only played in 117 games. He is 24 and still in AA so that is a minor knock but some develop later. Hermson and Rohlfing have gotten some attention lately without super impressive numbers. It seems strange that Pinto would not grab more attention. The twins seem to have locked into at catcher, FB, DH rotation which I like because it seems to keep folks healthy and keep their bats active in the lineup. For next season could he be a solid contender to take the part the Doumit currently plays. Doumit could be a valuable trade piece this year if a front running team has a catching need.

 

Thoughts anybody?

[clutterheart]

Pinto

He is on the 40 man roster so clearly the twins like him. His previous years were not amazing so he didn't jump on many people's radar. But if he repeats his performance from last year he will get a lot of notice.

[Halsey Hall]

I was listening on the radio when Sano made the errors. Stuiffie was getting hit hard and then finally had a grounder that should've been an out and Sano bobbled it. Very next hitter and Sano fields cleanly but airmails the throw to first.

 

However, an inning or two later, he made what sounded like a quick reaction/medium hard fielding play, maybe to his right, and then threw a total strike to first to nail the hitter. With that arm, I love the potential at third. Hell, if Miguel Cabrera can do it...

 

Two things: First, he didn't airmail it to first he airmailed it to home, which was a force play. Second, he made a play that anyone should make, it's just that when he does everyone including the announcer is surprised, and I'm not sure that throw to Vargas was a strike. I know Vargas dug at least one from him on the bounce. He's got miles to go before he can even be considered at 3rd base.

[TwinsFanInPhilly]

From what I have heard he has already come miles, so it is not a foregone conclusion that he won't be able to continue to grow as a fielder. And isn't he one of the youngest players in the league? Why gripe about not promoting his faster?

[bird]

Clearly his glove's not ready for the next level, but let's wait awhile before declaring that his bat is. Early indications on that are great, but it's early.

[Steve Penz]

Clearly his glove's not ready for the next level, but let's wait awhile before declaring that his bat is. Early indications on that are great, but it's early.

 

A nice thing I see is that if his performance merits going to AA before the end of this summer, it is not like the fielding is harder. The pitching he will see will jump in quality but the grounders will not come any harder.

[Seth Stohs]

I agree birdwatcher. I'll be watching Sano's strikeout numbers this year. I'd like that K% to at least stay the same, and ideally improve a little bit. I think there's little question that Sano will likely move up to New Britain for the second half, probably along with Rosario, where he will again be the youngest player in the league.

[TwinsAce]

One thing nice about Sano being in High-A is that Doug is the manager. I'd imagine he is faced with at least part of the task of getting Sano to use the glove better.

[Twins Twerp]

One thing nice about Sano being in High-A is that Doug is the manager. I'd imagine he is faced with at least part of the task of getting Sano to use the glove better.

 

And his batting gloves less

[mudcat14]

What's the prognosis on Pinto's defense behind the plate? A solid year at AA/AAA this year could certainly put him in line for a spot behind Mauer if he's not a Matt LeCroy on D.