Article: Draft Preview: "Personal Cheeseballs" (Hitters)

[Jeremy Nygaard]

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php?r=1675-Draft-Preview-Personal-Cheeseballs-(Hitters)

[cmb0252]

Haha, I almost completely missed this article because it got pushed down pretty quick. Good read and I'm excited to see your next list with pitchers on it.

[ashbury]

I have nothing to add, except to express my awe at people who have intelligent-sounding opinions about amateur players who don't crack top-75 types of lists. Thanks for the insights on these second/third/fourth-round sleepers.

[nicksaviking]

I have nothing to add, except to express my awe at people who have intelligent-sounding opinions about amateur players who don't crack top-75 types of lists. Thanks for the insights on these second/third/fourth-round sleepers.

 

Hear hear.

 

Though the Twins did draft a middle infielder in the first ten rounds last year, LJ Mazzilli just happened to be a soundrel who did not sign.

[Jeremy Nygaard]

Though the Twins did draft a middle infielder in the first ten rounds last year, LJ Mazzilli just happened to be a soundrel who did not sign.

 

True story. I should have said they try to draft a guy that has a chance to stick at shortstop. Mazzilli was a great pick, in fact, though his value was tied up entirely in his bat.

[Brad Swanson]

Okey is my cheeseball. I hope he's there at 41 or whatever.

[Jeremy Nygaard]

After noticing that I only included prep hitters, I'm going to do three more lists. So hopefully you all enjoy. Not sure what group is next.

 

On another note, Torii Hunter Jr is draft-eligible this year. I don't think the Twins will.

[Rick Niedermann]

Jeremy, what is your take on MLBTR's report the Twins are negotiating with Reese McGuire, HS-C, out of Washington? You list Okey and Collins as the top two catchers. Why are the Twins focusing on this young man with so many good Pitchers on the board and the two catchers you see with a higher upside? We got burned pretty bad by the last kid we drafted #1 from Washington.

[Jeremy Nygaard]

The Twins consider McGuire to be the top prep catcher on the board for the reasons you'd expect: smart and really good defensively. He has a nice swing, but there are questions about his hit tool

 

I don't make much of the BA-started-MLBTR-reported-Law-confirmed-rumors. The Twins are doing their homework. McGuire isn't a Top 4 talent. He knows that and the Twins know that. I posted this in another thread, but I asked someone with the Twins about this rumor and was told that "cutting a deal" isn't even something they'll begin to approach until the week of the draft.

 

The Twins are in a position where they draw the line for what they're going to spend, and if no one bites, they can sign McGuire for considerably cheaper. Regardless of what happens in round 1, I'd anticipate a lot of pitchers drafted in rounds 2-10. I also believe that the addition of May and Meyer, plus the early success of Berrios, Baxendale, Rogers and Melotakis really have the Twins thinking their pitching stable isn't as bare as it was last year when they took Buxton.

 

As far as Okey and Collins being the top two catchers I listed... I'm not sure what that list is, currently, I consider McGuire and Denney to be the top two, though I really like a couple other guys that could go later (including one in the above article).

[cmb0252]

The farm system has a ton of good arms with several of them being close to the bigs in Gibson, Meyers, and May. Add in the fact the Wimmers will be back at some point and the solid group of arms drafted last year, I have no idea why people are obsessed with grabbing a arm at 4. Obviously you can never have enough pitching but there is no point to reach for an arm at 4 when the draft is deep in them.

[diehardtwinsfan]

The farm system has a ton of good arms with several of them being close to the bigs in Gibson, Meyers, and May. Add in the fact the Wimmers will be back at some point and the solid group of arms drafted last year, I have no idea why people are obsessed with grabbing a arm at 4. Obviously you can never have enough pitching but there is no point to reach for an arm at 4 when the draft is deep in them.

 

I'm not sure this system has a ton of good arms. It has a lot more than what it did last year at this time, but it's still barren in that area... Also hurting up the middle, but there's nothing in this draft (at least for their first pick) that can help in that area.

[Rick Niedermann]

The farm system has a ton of good arms with several of them being close to the bigs in Gibson, Meyers, and May. Add in the fact the Wimmers will be back at some point and the solid group of arms drafted last year, I have no idea why people are obsessed with grabbing a arm at 4. Obviously you can never have enough pitching but there is no point to reach for an arm at 4 when the draft is deep in them.

In this draft you have 4 great arms in Appel, Manaea, Grey and Stanek. Were pretty deep in quality bats that are up and coming. With our history of Gibson and Wimmers both needing a year after surgery I'd like to deepin the pool with one of the above college pitchers. Can you imagine a rotation of Meyer, May, Gibson, Diamond and one of the above a couple of years down the line if they all stayed healthy? I think you can get a pretty good catching prospect in Round 2. Besides Josmil Pinto is looking like a great prospect at catch.

[cmb0252]

In this draft you have 4 great arms in Appel, Manaea, Grey and Stanek. Were pretty deep in quality bats that are up and coming. With our history of Gibson and Wimmers both needing a year after surgery I'd like to deepin the pool with one of the above college pitchers. Can you imagine a rotation of Meyer, May, Gibson, Diamond and one of the above a couple of years down the line if they all stayed healthy? I think you can get a pretty good catching prospect in Round 2. Besides Josmil Pinto is looking like a great prospect at catch.

 

Manaea and Stanek are great arms? They have been incredibly inconsistent this year and have shown no signs of being top of the rotation arms. I think people are just blinded by the fact they want a college arm that they are ignoring the many defaults. This draft is incredibly deep in college arms. If they want an advanced arm with flaws grab one in the second round.