Miles

I feel dirty for saying it, but I hope we play hard but lose every game 4-3 the rest of the year. I love our team as much as anyone, but if losing now helps us potentially get a future difference maker, I'm all for it. A front-line SP or legit SS would be nice...

LOVE the attitude and moxie. Bring it with you every game, Stephen!

I saw Ibarra's numbers and thought, "How can you possibly top that?", and then saw Jones' numbers. Pretty impressive month by the top relievers.

You people actually BELIEVE its satire??? I'm betting Buxton doesn't triple again in his Twins career!

Yup. Only 3 things I must do each day: eat, sleep, read the minor league report. Thanks to all of you that contribute to this!

Really liking this kid...

My board: (1) Appel; (2) Gray; (3) Bryant; (4) Stewart How it plays out: (1) Moran; (2) Gray; (3) Bryant; (4) Appel

Can't see it. Even for one year, Bourn's price wouldn't drop so low the Twins would be interested.

Love Revere, but this seems like a great trade for the Twins.

I never check out. But if we're not going to make playoffs, I want to lose as many as possible to get the highest draft pick we can.

Scott Diamond is my new favorite player! Give `em hell, Scott!

On draft day, I was hoping for Gausman/Zimmer at #2, and would have picked Piscotty in a heartbeat at #32. Given the lack of high-quality arms, I thought the strategy was fine, but wasn't excited about Bard, Melotakis, or Duffey. Liked the picks of Powell, Mazilli, and Baxendale. Fast forward to now, and I am pumped about Buxton's rebound from a horrible start, as well as the dominating performances we're seeing from Berrios, Baxendale, and some of the other pitchers. Overall, I feel pretty good about this draft/

Updated statistics on Tyler Grimes: [TABLE=class: sortable stats_table] [TH=class: tooltip sort_default_asc show_partial_when_sorting, align: left]Year[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip sort_default_asc show_partial_when_sorting, align: center]Age[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip sort_default_asc show_partial_when_sorting, align: center]Tm[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip sort_default_asc, align: center]Lg[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip sort_default_asc, align: center]Lev[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip sort_default_asc, align: center]Aff[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]G[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]PA[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]AB[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]R[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]H[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]2B[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]3B[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]HR[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]RBI[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]SB[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]CS[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]BB[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]SO[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip hide_non_quals, align: center]BA[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip hide_non_quals, align: center]OBP[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip hide_non_quals, align: center]SLG[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip hide_non_quals, align: center]OPS[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]TB[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]GDP[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]HBP[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]SH[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]SF[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]IBB[/TH] [TR=class: full] 2011[TD=align: right]20[/TD] Beloit MIDW A MIN[TD=align: right]42[/TD] [TD=align: right]159[/TD] [TD=align: right]138[/TD] [TD=align: right]22[/TD] [TD=align: right]31[/TD] [TD=align: right]5[/TD] [TD=align: right]4[/TD] [TD=align: right]4[/TD] [TD=align: right]17[/TD] [TD=align: right]5[/TD] [TD=align: right]2[/TD] [TD=align: right]13[/TD] [TD=align: right]53[/TD] [TD=align: right].225[/TD] [TD=align: right].316[/TD] [TD=align: right].406[/TD] [TD=align: right].722[/TD] [TD=align: right]56[/TD] [TD=align: right]1[/TD] [TD=align: right]6[/TD] [TD=align: right]1[/TD] [TD=align: right]1[/TD] [TD=align: right]0[/TD] [/TR] [TR=class: full] 2012[TD=align: right]21[/TD] Beloit MIDW A MIN[TD=align: right]91[/TD] [TD=align: right]336[/TD] [TD=align: right]283[/TD] [TD=align: right]44[/TD] [TD=align: right]58[/TD] [TD=align: right]16[/TD] [TD=align: right]3[/TD] [TD=align: right]4[/TD] [TD=align: right]21[/TD] [TD=align: right]7[/TD] [TD=align: right]6[/TD] [TD=align: right]37[/TD] [TD=align: right]84[/TD] [TD=align: right].205[/TD] [TD=align: right].318[/TD] [TD=align: right].325[/TD] [TD=align: right].643[/TD] [TD=align: right]92[/TD] [TD=align: right]3[/TD] [TD=align: right]11[/TD] [TD=align: right]3[/TD] [TD=align: right]2[/TD] [TD=align: right]1 [/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] a 10 for 64 slump (.156) has Tyler Grimes approaching the Mendoza Line, and his OPS has dipped to .643. Another caught stealing has dropped his stolen base percentage to 54%.

My wife and I were at that game, sitting on the 1B side. Great view of the "action". Also saw something fly through the air when he took his hand out of his pocket. Angels were crushing him - bet they wish he hadn't been tossed. Great times...

Updated statistics on Tyler Grimes: [TABLE=class: sortable stats_table] [TH=class: tooltip sort_default_asc show_partial_when_sorting, align: left]Year[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip sort_default_asc show_partial_when_sorting, align: center]Age[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip sort_default_asc show_partial_when_sorting, align: center]Tm[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip sort_default_asc, align: center]Lg[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip sort_default_asc, align: center]Lev[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip sort_default_asc, align: center]Aff[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]G[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]PA[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]AB[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]R[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]H[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]2B[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]3B[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]HR[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]RBI[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]SB[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]CS[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]BB[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]SO[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip hide_non_quals, align: center]BA[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip hide_non_quals, align: center]OBP[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip hide_non_quals, align: center]SLG[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip hide_non_quals, align: center]OPS[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]TB[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]GDP[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]HBP[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]SH[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]SF[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]IBB[/TH] [TR=class: full] [TD=align: left]2011[/TD] [TD=align: right]20[/TD] [TD=align: left]Beloit[/TD] [TD=align: left]MIDW[/TD] [TD=align: left]A[/TD] [TD=align: left]MIN[/TD] [TD=align: right]42[/TD] [TD=align: right]159[/TD] [TD=align: right]138[/TD] [TD=align: right]22[/TD] [TD=align: right]31[/TD] [TD=align: right]5[/TD] [TD=align: right]4[/TD] [TD=align: right]4[/TD] [TD=align: right]17[/TD] [TD=align: right]5[/TD] [TD=align: right]2[/TD] [TD=align: right]13[/TD] [TD=align: right]53[/TD] [TD=align: right].225[/TD] [TD=align: right].316[/TD] [TD=align: right].406[/TD] [TD=align: right].722[/TD] [TD=align: right]56[/TD] [TD=align: right]1[/TD] [TD=align: right]6[/TD] [TD=align: right]1[/TD] [TD=align: right]1[/TD] [TD=align: right]0[/TD] [/TR] [TR=class: full] [TD=align: left]2012[/TD] [TD=align: right]21[/TD] [TD=align: left]Beloit[/TD] [TD=align: left]MIDW[/TD] [TD=align: left]A[/TD] [TD=align: left]MIN[/TD] [TD=align: right]80[/TD] [TD=align: right]297[/TD] [TD=align: right]254[/TD] [TD=align: right]39[/TD] [TD=align: right]53[/TD] [TD=align: right]16[/TD] [TD=align: right]2[/TD] [TD=align: right]4[/TD] [TD=align: right]19[/TD] [TD=align: right]7[/TD] [TD=align: right]5[/TD] [TD=align: right]30[/TD] [TD=align: right]75[/TD] [TD=align: right].209[/TD] [TD=align: right].314[/TD] [TD=align: right].335[/TD] [TD=align: right].649[/TD] [TD=align: right]85[/TD] [TD=align: right]3[/TD] [TD=align: right]10[/TD] [TD=align: right]1[/TD] [TD=align: right]2[/TD] [TD=align: right]1[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] Icky. Tyler Grimes now carries a .209 BA with an OPS of .649, and is 5-for-35 over his last dozen games. He did add a homer and a SB (plus a CS). He has also committed 23 errors in 80 games, 19 of them at SS.

Trumbo and Trout. They may throw in Weaver to sweeten the deal...

I look forward to reading about our minor league teams each day. You can find info on the major league teams anywhere, but minor league updates are a bit tough to come by. So thanks to the guys that post it each day - great job!

Updated statistics on Tyler Grimes: [TABLE=class: sortable stats_table] [TH=class: tooltip sort_default_asc show_partial_when_sorting, align: left]Year[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip sort_default_asc show_partial_when_sorting, align: center]Age[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip sort_default_asc show_partial_when_sorting, align: center]Tm[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip sort_default_asc, align: center]Lg[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip sort_default_asc, align: center]Lev[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip sort_default_asc, align: center]Aff[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]G[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]PA[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]AB[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]R[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]H[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]2B[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]3B[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]HR[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]RBI[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]SB[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]CS[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]BB[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]SO[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip hide_non_quals, align: center]BA[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip hide_non_quals, align: center]OBP[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip hide_non_quals, align: center]SLG[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip hide_non_quals, align: center]OPS[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]TB[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]GDP[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]HBP[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]SH[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]SF[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]IBB[/TH] [TR=class: full] [TD=align: left]2011[/TD] [TD=align: right]20[/TD] [TD=align: left]Beloit[/TD] [TD=align: left]MIDW[/TD] [TD=align: left]A[/TD] [TD=align: left]MIN[/TD] [TD=align: right]42[/TD] [TD=align: right]159[/TD] [TD=align: right]138[/TD] [TD=align: right]22[/TD] [TD=align: right]31[/TD] [TD=align: right]5[/TD] [TD=align: right]4[/TD] [TD=align: right]4[/TD] [TD=align: right]17[/TD] [TD=align: right]5[/TD] [TD=align: right]2[/TD] [TD=align: right]13[/TD] [TD=align: right]53[/TD] [TD=align: right].225[/TD] [TD=align: right].316[/TD] [TD=align: right].406[/TD] [TD=align: right].722[/TD] [TD=align: right]56[/TD] [TD=align: right]1[/TD] [TD=align: right]6[/TD] [TD=align: right]1[/TD] [TD=align: right]1[/TD] [TD=align: right]0[/TD] [/TR] [TR=class: full] [TD=align: left]2012[/TD] [TD=align: right]21[/TD] [TD=align: left]Beloit[/TD] [TD=align: left]MIDW[/TD] [TD=align: left]A[/TD] [TD=align: left]MIN[/TD] [TD=align: right]68[/TD] [TD=align: right]255[/TD] [TD=align: right]219[/TD] [TD=align: right]34[/TD] [TD=align: right]48[/TD] [TD=align: right]16[/TD] [TD=align: right]2[/TD] [TD=align: right]3[/TD] [TD=align: right]17[/TD] [TD=align: right]6[/TD] [TD=align: right]4[/TD] [TD=align: right]24[/TD] [TD=align: right]56[/TD] [TD=align: right].219[/TD] [TD=align: right].323[/TD] [TD=align: right].352[/TD] [TD=align: right].674[/TD] [TD=align: right]77[/TD] [TD=align: right]3[/TD] [TD=align: right]10[/TD] [TD=align: right]1[/TD] [TD=align: right]1[/TD] [TD=align: right]1[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] Since my last update, Grimes is 18 for 74 (.243) with a homer and a couple of steals. Also, he has 5 walks and 20 strikeouts over this period. Although most of his time in the field has been at shortstop (56 games), he has also played 6 games at 2B, 1 game at 3B, and has DH'ed 5 times. Overall, not hitting for average or power, is being thrown out 40% of the time as a base stealer, and is iffy with the glove. He's still just 21, but right now he seems to be more of a suspect than a prospect.

Love this. 2 years, $7m for a solid hitter with some pop and serviceable defense at a few positions. Obviously not a cornerstone-type, but solid.

Also... Baseball America lists Merck as signed, but lists 8th round pick Christian Powell as unsigned. Everything else I've read listed Powell as signed. Anyone know the fact from fiction on this one?

Any idea if Baxendale will sign, now that Arkansas has been eliminated from the CWS?

Rhett Bollinger ‏@RhettBollinger #Twins signed 10 of 43 Draft picks including Martinez (6) Rogers (11) Muren (12) Proctor (14) Hicks (17) Murphy (19) Licon (25) Haar (34)

A couple good games, and Tyler Grimes has pulled his batting average up to .219. He was also selected for the Midwest League All-Star Game with some other guys named Sano and Rosario... 7 Snappers in all made the All-Star Game, with Sano the only starter.

At least we've cornered the market on toolsy outfielders and relief pitchers. New strategy consists of pitch-to-contact fly-ball soft-tossers with five outfielders...

Stats on the Rice pitchers from this season: [TABLE=width: 631] Player era app-gs cg sho sv ip h r er bb so 2b 3b hr ab b/avg wp hbp bk sfa sha Tyler Duffey 1.93 36-0 0 0/2 7 51 33 12 11 21 68 4 1 2 182 .181 3 2 0 0 3 J.T. Chargois 2.15 25-0 0 0/2 8 37 28 11 9 12 38 5 2 1 133 .211 3 2 0 0 8 [/TABLE]