Do the Twins have the best group of prospects right now that they ever had?

[TRex]

Let's also remember that, by the time any objective measure is completed after the end of the season, Hicks, Arcia, and Gibson will not (likely) be on the list.

[Turd Furgeson]

The minor league teams in the 90s was pretty great. Mientkiewicz, Cristian Guzman, Luis Rivas, David Ortiz, Torii Hunter, A.J. Pierzinski, J.C. Romero, Jacque Jones.

 

This was on the same team in the minors. I'm surprised no one else has talked about this group. You have two all-star caliber players and several others who have had lengthy careers.

 

I will also add, Corey Koskie (same team), and Michael Cuddyer was in the minors at that time as well.

[stringer bell]

Allison was not a great player. He was a decent power hitter reaching 30 HR's only 3 times and striking out a lot. His lifetime BA was .255. Also, he was a continuous adventure in the outfield. I believe he led the league in outfield errors 3 times.

If anyone has read Sid's biography, Sid remarked that he didn't like Allison. It seems that Allison had the "big league" attitude when he came to Minnesota. He was a fine player, a three-time All-Star, with a lifetime OPS+ of 127. He was big, but pretty fast and a good outfielder with a great arm. I recall that for some reason Harmon and Allison switched positions for a season and that Allison was a pretty good 1B as well. Lots of walks and a lot of homers for #4 and he was as good at breaking up a double play as anyone I ever saw.

[stringer bell]

Regarding Allison's fielding, he was a really good outfielder and if he committed a lot of errors, it probably was from making throws and having them get by or hit a runner. Then, as now, judging an OF because they did or did not commit errors is ridiculous.

[stringer bell]

Ever is a long time

 

Killebrew was signed in '54 and Allison in '55 (and I'd put those 2 ahead of Sano & Buxton at this point) Then Kaat came in '57, Versalles in '58 and Tovar in '59. I'd say the core of the young Senators who came to Minnesota was probably the best "prospect core" (but they did not call it that then) the Twins had. Supplemented it with Oliva in '61, added a couple of pitchers and '65 happened.

 

I hope that today's prospects some day are as good as these guys, but we need a good 20 years to find out

 

You listed a lot of good players, but they weren't all in the Twins' minor league system at once. Harmon and Allison were in the majors for good in '59, Kaat in '61. Tovar was acquired from the Reds for Jerry Arrigo in '64 or '65. Tony's first year in the minors was '61 IIRC, and Zoilo was already the starting SS for the Twins by then.

[jorgenswest]

Allison was not a great player. He was a decent power hitter reaching 30 HR's only 3 times and striking out a lot. His lifetime BA was .255. Also, he was a continuous adventure in the outfield. I believe he led the league in outfield errors 3 times.

 

Did you see him play? I was a kid and my memory is a guy that was a good athlete with a very good arm. Injuries in the mid 60's shortened his career. By OPS+, he was probably the best hitter in the AL over the 1963-1964 seasons. He may not have been a great player for a long period but he was very good in the context of a decade with low offensive numbers throughout.

 

Only three Twins have led the AL in OPS+ in a season, Mauer(2009), Carew(1977) and Allison(1963).

[rikker49]

The Twins rarely move people quickly through the minors. Especially if they are young. The Twins recently moved up two infielders, Petterson and Hanson. No Rosario or Sano. My point is that for every Arcia there are two Pirdie's. You sound like one of those fans who think that success at one level means instant success at the next. That is why I gave the examples of Parmelee and Hendriks.

[rikker49]

In response to righty 8383

[lightfoot789]

How about those Kernels as far as prospects are concerned. Travis Harrison with his 5th HR (should be 6 with grand slam / single )and 3 RBIs - Dalton HIcks (underrated) went 4 for 5 - and Adam Brett Walker II continues to put up RBI numbers with 5 tonight (including his 2nd Grand Slam of year). He now has Twins minor league high of 32 RBI through 29 games (batting .303 too). Oh yeah Buxton only reached base again to extend his streak. "He's a Baaaaaad Man"

[Sleestax]

We probably all think that our prospects and system increased in talent the most it ever has in one year..or two even. Thanks to the internet and fanatics we all get to casually follow how everybody is doing..from top to bottom. There is more hype now as well. Regular folks debating who we should take in the first round is like...new. It never used to happen. We just got to read a snippet the next day in the STRIB. I love it though! I personally can't get enough!

[righty8383]

The Twins rarely move people quickly through the minors.\

 

Thats because they rarely have players worthy of moving quickly. An indictment on drafting and player develpment maybe but not on promtions.

 

for every Arcia there are two Pirdie's

 

For every Arcia there are 2(or a lot more) players simply not worthy of quick promotions.

 

You sound like one of those fans who think that success at one level means instant success at the next

 

What???

 

That is why I gave the examples of Parmelee and Hendriks

 

Hendriks was fast tracked once he sustained success in the minors. Parmelee move at the pace he deserved to based on his production.

[stringer bell]

Did you see him play? I was a kid and my memory is a guy that was a good athlete with a very good arm. Injuries in the mid 60's shortened his career. By OPS+, he was probably the best hitter in the AL over the 1963-1964 seasons. He may not have been a great player for a long period but he was very good in the context of a decade with low offensive numbers throughout.

 

Only three Twins have led the AL in OPS+ in a season, Mauer(2009), Carew(1977) and Allison(1963).

Nice point Jorgen. I was a kid when Allison played, but he was pretty doggone good. It was a pitcher's era and Allison was a power hitter, not a percentage hitter, but he drew a lot of walks and hit a lot of balls over the fence. He was big and strong and fast, with a really good arm. Allison won the Rookie of the Year award in '59 and was an All-Star three times. IMHO, Allison is a more powerful but less versatile Cuddyer.

[cmathewson]

Allison was a great hitter. And he was slowed by injuries. But he was never a very good fielder. He played on a team with Harmon and Vic Power, so they had to put him in left. In today's game, he'd be a 1b/DH. But a great one.

[stringer bell]

Allison was a great hitter. And he was slowed by injuries. But he was never a very good fielder. He played on a team with Harmon and Vic Power, so they had to put him in left. In today's game, he'd be a 1b/DH. But a great one.

Did you see him play? According to Baseball Ref, he was decent as an OF. It wasn't Vic Power that moved Allison, it was Tony-O, who was only a right fielder. Harmon would have been the DH--he was never a great fielder and always slow--Allison was pretty good in the OF IIRC and had a fine throwing arm.