Twins Daily Minor League Report (7/27): Saints Stun WooSox, Andrew Cossetti's Moonshots, FCL Twins Edged in Opener

15 minutes ago, mikelink45 said:

Please explain to me how precious our 40 man roster is and why we can't bring up Eeles and maybe the entire Saints lineup for the Minneapolis mirages.  Who knows it might just work.

You think replacing the major league team with a AAA team with a losing record will help them win?

That is a terrific example of the backup QB fallacy.

17 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Heck, Lee played 15 games at second in the minors and is struggling there in the majors. Something isn't working at playing everyone at short....

Maybe he just is weak defensively? His skills aren't lateral movement. He's a solid glove with a solid arm. Nothing special. 

Mets have been playing their 3B Bret Baty at 2B and he's worked out great. They also moved their adequate 2B McNeil to CF and he's likewise been adequate. 

This idea of moving players down (or around!) the defensive spectrum is not new and not particularly challenging to talented baseball players.

It's not like they're asking him to put on the gear and catch. 

44 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Heck, Lee played 15 games at second in the minors and is struggling there in the majors. Something isn't working at playing everyone at short....

The only place Lee had steadily good numbers was at 3rd base, they have Lewis there because he cannot play any where else.

Lee should not be at 2nd base.

10 hours ago, Seth Stohs said:

And Adams is fine for that role. I'm sure he'll be optioned tonight/tomorrow since he threw 82 pitches today. He's up because Lopez and Festa and Ober are on the IL... and maybe because Morris is hurt too. 

Adams is fine for what role? He's given up 17 hits in 12.1 innings, along with 3 BB and 2 HBP. That's a WHIP of 1.93. BA against is .354. 

And 3 of the 4 games came against those vaunted juggernauts of PIT, COL, and WAS. 

If the role is Designated Punching Bag, sure, he's a hero. As a reliever, he's actually making me wish we had Alcala back, and I thought I was long done with Alcala. He's doing quite well with the Red Sox, of course.

11 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

Why is Winokur still playing SS? He's never going to start there in Minnesota, unless like three guys die. And don't tell me they can always move him later. That's not working for this team at all. Move him to the OF or first base. 

Just spit balling but they might see Winokur's greatest value in a Willi Castro role.  His bat does not look like that of a starter at the moment.  However, a guy that can back up SS and CF is valuable.  He could end up providing the greatest value by competently backing up several positions.  There are all kinds of options if the bat gets better.

Thanks Seth. Saints' pitchers put them in a big hole but the lineup got on base & hit each other in. Keaschal only got on base 1X out of 6 ABs, but that 1X  was huge. Great offense even w/o Emma.

13 hours ago, mikelink45 said:

Please explain to me how precious our 40 man roster is and why we can't bring up Eeles and maybe the entire Saints lineup for the Minneapolis mirages.  Who knows it might just work.  And please Adams does not belong on the pitching staff, of course a few more don't belong their either.

Bring up the prospects, we aren't going to make meaningful trades, lets get some excitement in the stadium again. 

There's some cognitive dissonance in here: you want the AAA guys to come up, but are also basically advocating for Adams to be thrown off a cliff. There's going to eb a lot more Adams-like performances if/when they turn things over to the AAA guys.

Now, I still think they should sell off (or cut if necessary) every veteran whose contract is up and won't be back next season and open up some PT and roster slots for those AAA guys...but let's be realistic on what we're going to get from most of them, including Eeles.

Cossetti is a guy I can't decide on: he's been pretty good this season, but the BA is low enough that I'm still not sure he could ever hit enough to be even a decent backup. He's still catching, which is good, but is he good enough defensively? He's already 25, but is still relatively inexperienced as a pro. Just don't know about him. Nice for him to have a good day, but I just don't really see it...and I wanted to.

3 hours ago, big dog said:

Adams is fine for what role? He's given up 17 hits in 12.1 innings, along with 3 BB and 2 HBP. That's a WHIP of 1.93. BA against is .354. 

And 3 of the 4 games came against those vaunted juggernauts of PIT, COL, and WAS. 

If the role is Designated Punching Bag, sure, he's a hero. As a reliever, he's actually making me wish we had Alcala back, and I thought I was long done with Alcala. He's doing quite well with the Red Sox, of course.

 

I'd rather they give Prelipp a chance. At this point our pitching options are pretty slim

 Morris is hurt, not that he was pitching well anyway. Raya, C Lewis, Adams and just about everyone else at AAA is getting lit up this year. Hopefully we can get some upper level minor league pitching talent at the trade deadline....

15 minutes ago, mikelink45 said:

Perhaps I need one of those leads that suggest sarcasm - but like most sarcasm there is also some truth in what I am saying and Adams is 18 - 30 with a 4.41 era over five minor league seasons. with a 1.260 WHIP.   

He's one of 7 Saints that's faced at least 90 batters with a WHIP under 1.500. Festa, Matthews, and Funderburk will all remain on the 26 man roster after some sell-off leaving Andrew Misiewicz, Pierson Ohl, Michael Tonkin, and Travis Adams. 

Point being, there's not a ton of options. 

9 minutes ago, NYCTK said:

He's one of 7 Saints that's faced at least 90 batters with a WHIP under 1.500. Festa, Matthews, and Funderburk will all remain on the 26 man roster after some sell-off leaving Andrew Misiewicz, Pierson Ohl, Michael Tonkin, and Travis Adams. 

Point being, there's not a ton of options. 

</s> the pipleline has tons of options, just ask the backers of this FO.

13 hours ago, Seth Stohs said:

In my opinion, the best defensive SS in the Twins organization (MILB), defensively, is Ben Ross. He's been so good with the glove for Wichita the past two seasons at SS. But as soon as Culpepper got to Wichita, Ross has had to play 2B and 3B 

Wonderful he is the best defensive SS, his career OPS in the minors is .683 and hasn't played above AA (AA - OPS is .683). He just turned 24 in June (Which wouldn't be the end of the world if he even had a replacement level bat, which he does not), he shouldn't be playing any position over anybody. His future is a minor league place holder for the next prospect to come up (where ever he is playing)

Got a question, Seth.  And thanks for the report.  Now can you get the FCL Twins to win two straight?

There seems to be a real chance that the Twins will trade one, or even two relievers over the next few days.  Should that happen, who will replace them in the Twins pen?  Are there any good relievers left at St. Paul?  Is there someone down at Wichita who might skip a level and come up? 

Or is there a starter at Wichita, or St. Paul, who could come up for the last two months of the season?  Saw someone mention Prielipp above.  Is that probable?  Or even realistic? 

3 hours ago, big dog said:

Adams is fine for what role? He's given up 17 hits in 12.1 innings, along with 3 BB and 2 HBP. That's a WHIP of 1.93. BA against is .354. 

And 3 of the 4 games came against those vaunted juggernauts of PIT, COL, and WAS. 

If the role is Designated Punching Bag, sure, he's a hero. As a reliever, he's actually making me wish we had Alcala back, and I thought I was long done with Alcala. He's doing quite well with the Red Sox, of course.

 

Adman's stuff isn't good enough to be a starter or back end relief pitcher. So the teams is creating a new type of pitcher in the minors that can pitch multiple innings on less rest with less stuff, and to most people Surprise (NOT) he isn't very good at that. (minors career ERA 4.41, this years ERA 3.68 AAA)

On the radio yesterday they said the same things as Seth, he has been doing well in his role (prior to yesterday) I agree with you if his role is to sacrificial lamb, he is doing well. 

14 hours ago, Seth Stohs said:

Do we think that Eeles would be better than Correa? What prospects are there at Triple-A? (obviously Keaschall, but that's just a rehab). People would just complain if Julien came up, even though he more than deserves it. Martin should get at-bats, so I don't think they want him in that Keirsey role (and he wouldn't be as good at those specific traits - speed, base running, defense) as Keirsey. 

But definitely, there are going to be a lot of interesting decisions in the offseason (or before). There are a lot of fringy players around the 40-man roster, and maybe some difficult arbitration decisions too. 

And Adams is fine for that role. I'm sure he'll be optioned tonight/tomorrow since he threw 82 pitches today. He's up because Lopez and Festa and Ober are on the IL... and maybe because Morris is hurt too. 

Obviously much will hopefully change with the 40 man roster this week; however, I do not understand your reference to the Keirsey role.  The guy is hitting .100 (or thereabouts) and is a defensive replacement or base runner.  It's not a job that belongs on a team that isn't hitting.  Send him down.  And he doesn't belong on the 40 man roster.  The Twins 40 man roster is astoundingly full of players who are unable to make meaningful contributions to the big club.  Keirsey is at the front of the line.

59 minutes ago, rdehring said:

Or is there a starter at Wichita, or St. Paul, who could come up for the last two months of the season?  Saw someone mention Prielipp above.  Is that probable?  Or even realistic? 

Prielipp and CJ Culpepper could be worth trying in relief.

Quote

The Twins 40 man roster is astoundingly full of players who are unable to make meaningful contributions to the big club.  Keirsey is at the front of the line.

There is plenty of room on the 40-man. Easy to cut Keirsey, Fitzgerald, Gillispie, Davis, Misiewicz, Miranda, and McCusker. Plus 6-8 major leaguers should be leaving soon. That's 10-15 spots available for new prospects.

6 hours ago, LewFordLives said:

Thanks for these great updates.

What happened to Dobnak?  At one point he was a serviceable MLB starter, and now he can't throw strikes in AAA. I know he had the finger injury, but it's been a few years now.

 

 

Looks like Dobnak got thrown in on the Paddack trade to the Tigers.  Salary dump.  

2 minutes ago, LewFordLives said:

Maybe a change of scenery will help. I wish him well. He always came off in interviews like a cool guy.

I wish both of them well.  Twins got a 19 year old catcher/1b in the rookie league.  A longshot lottery...but why not?