MWLFan

We all need to do a well baby check here and repeat it is the first weekend, it is the first weekend. So that being my mantra my family and our friends from St. Paul headed back to Pohlman Field.It was a much more comfortable afternoon in Beloit. The sun was out for awhile and the temps slipped in the low 60's. Unfortunatly the same result as I saw on Thursday occured, a Snapper loss. Today it is was Tim Shibuya that started the game for the Twins A Leaguers and his afternoon was not much better then Madison Boers start two evenings ago, he too had a short start with a few well struck balls and not a lot of help from his defense. Wang Lei-Lin air mailed ball from right field causing a couple of runners to move up and into scoring position and for the second game in three Eddie Rosiario had a error at second that plated later in the inning. One series but here are the first impressions of a guy who never played beyond High School and works with Spread sheets all day long- (So take it for what it is worth) Rosario- I saw the power yesterday and Friday with a double and a laser homer to right. But he is going to need some work at second getting comfortable in making the plays at this level. The ball is having issues staying in his glove and his positioning still needs some work. But it is worth it, if he develops to his potential and stays at second he could be one of those guys who provides power at position one does not normally find it. But this maybe one of times were we need to temper our natural tendencies for instant gratifiation. Rosario has time to improve and grow into that player. Sano- I have not heard him make solid contact yet and have seen him chase a couple of wide pitches. Heard his Grand Slam was a good shot on Saturday, but didn't see it. I will say he has been a pleasant surprise with his defense. He looks like the most comfortable and seasoned defensive player on the infield, and I am not short changing Tyler Grimes and Rory Rhodes. Sano just looks smooth, he isn't going to make you remember Brooks Robinson, but he handles the balls hit to him very well. Can't say I have seen his range, but he has the arm and showed good hands. Starting Pitching- Ah...lets hope Boer and Shibuya have better days ahead. Relief- Looks good. Best pitchers I saw were the guys out of the bullpen. Yesterday Ryan O'Rourke domainated the two innings he was in. It wasn't a contest. His second year in Low A started well. 3 K's in six batters. Corey Willams looked good yesterday too. Offense-Besides Sano and Rosario. Not a lot. Ortiz impressed me with his swing. Yesterday 17 ground ball outs were hit into by the Snappers. 17! It's gotta to get better, right? We need to remember it is April, I am watching the Masters and not the PGA on TV. So I will not see them for a week or so as they travel and I have stuff to do. Maybe by then things will improve and I can see a team with tight starting pitching and the scary offense we all anticipate. As far as the Masters goes...BUBBA!!!

Sano got his GS on Friday. I was not there, of course. I went Saturday again. Saw Rosario rip one. Still have not seen Sano make contact.

Last night myself and about 700 other folks decided to tempt frostbite to catch a baseball game between a bunch of guys who have spent the last few months in Florida as they tried to adapt to 35 degree weather. This was not a enjoyabe experience for all concerned. Most noticeably Madison Boer. Our starting pitcher hung in for a a couple innngs with some good stuff for game more suited for Lambeau then Pohlman Field. But this promising start was not how the night would be ending for Madison. The Peoria team strung together a few hits on him and his team gave back some with a few well placed errors. It was a mix of both hard hit balls, a very nice bunt and a seeing eye single here and there. But the kid from Minnesota was not fooling anyone by the third and was gone by the games midway point with 5 on the board for the Chiefs. The Snappers bullpen came in and held the Chiefs scoreless the rest of the way. Some good pitching from the four guys out of the pen. The Matts (Tomshaw and Summers) looked particularly good. The offense for the Snappers looked like it was a bunch of guys from the Caribbean and Florida trying to stop shivering long enough to swing the bat. Sano and Rosiaro are the headliners here and both had good moments and bad moments in what might have been the coldest night of baseball in their lives. Sano was plunked in the second and stole second fairly easily, he looks slower because he is a big guy out there running around. After that he was not really a factor waving at a few balls out of the strike zone and taking some first and second ball strikes. He does look good in the field, smooth. Not flashy but solid at 3rd. Rosairo was having some issues at the plate until he caught a ball up and roped into the wind aganist the right field wall. He ended up at 3rd after the ball was chucked home looking to catch Jonathan Gonclaves scoring. Gonclaves had 2 hits for the Snappers and Rosario, Daniel Ortiz and J.D. Williams the other 3. Ortiz had a hard double down the right field line for other Snapper ball that rang off the fence. I found myself wondering just what the boys of Puerto Rico, the Dominican and much warmer climates were thinking, probably something like. "When is it going to start to snow?" "There really are 700 people who live in the god forsaken tundra?" "Damn you Kepler, how come you got to stay in Fort Meyers. Can I go back to extended Spring Training." "Are my fingers still attached?" "What is that coming out of my mouth? My life force is escaping with every breath!" or it could have just been strings of expletives in various languages. I will be heading back Saturday and hope for a warmer time as it is a 2:00pm start.

Last night myself and about 700 other folks decided to tempt frostbite to catch a baseball game between a bunch of guys who have spent the last few months in Florida as they tried to adapt to 35 degree weather. This was not a enjoyabe experience for all concerned. Most noticeably Madison Boer. Our starting pitcher hung in for a a couple innngs with some good stuff for game more suited for Lambeau then Pohlman Field. But this promising start was not how the night would be ending for Madison. The Peoria team strung together a few hits on him and his team gave back some with a few well placed errors. It was a mix of both hard hit balls, a very nice bunt and a seeing eye single here and there. But the kid from Minnesota was not fooling anyone by the third and was gone by the games midway point with 5 on the board for the Chiefs. The Snappers bullpen came in and held the Chiefs scoreless the rest of the way. Some good pitching from the four guys out of the pen. The Matts (Tomshaw and Summers) looked particularly good. The offense for the Snappers looked like it was a bunch of guys from the Caribbean and Florida trying to stop shivering long enough to swing the bat. Sano and Rosiaro are the headliners here and both had good moments and bad moments in what might have been the coldest night of baseball in their lives. Sano was plunked in the second and stole second fairly easily, he looks slower because he is a big guy out there running around. After that he was not really a factor waving at a few balls out of the strike zone and taking some first and second ball strikes. He does look good in the field, smooth. Not flashy but solid at 3rd. Rosairo was having some issues at the plate until he caught a ball up and roped into the wind aganist the right field wall. He ended up at 3rd after the ball was chucked home looking to catch Jonathan Gonclaves scoring. Gonclaves had 2 hits for the Snappers and Rosario, Daniel Ortiz and J.D. Williams the other 3. Ortiz had a hard double down the right field line for other Snapper ball that rang off the fence. I found myself wondering just what the boys of Puerto Rico, the Dominican and much warmer climates were thinking, probably something like. "When is it going to start to snow?" "There really are 700 people who live in the god forsaken tundra?" "Damn you Kepler, how come you got to stay in Fort Meyers. Can I go back to extended Spring Training." "Are my fingers still attached?" "What is that coming out of my mouth? My life force is escaping with every breath!" or it could have just been strings of expletives in various languages. I will be heading back Saturday and hope for a warmer time as it is a 2:00pm start.

I would hope he would accept the minor league assignment considering the Twins working with him during this time and quite frankly he does have other more important things on his mind. So he should take some time in less stressful enviornment, maybe allowed some considerations around travel on off days ala Roger Clemens with a much better reason. Now the question of what does Mr. Burnett add to the roster versus a extra bench player? I don't think much, but depends on the bench player. Butera vs. Burnett- I take Burnett. Burnett versus Nishi- Burnett. Burnett vs. Dinkleman- I will take Dinkleman but he looks alot like Plouffe and Hughes in positions he plays. Burnett versus who else? Benson and Dozier need to play everyday, leave them in Rochester for now.

I will try, but I have one boy in Scouts and another in baseball. So I am a catch a game when I can kind of guy. I do encourage anyone with a spare weekend to head down to Beloit for a couple of games. Except for the gas prices the games are very affordable for great seats. Pohlman Field is what it is, think Midway Stadium circa 1992. But the staff is great, the food is good and the beer is..well it is Wisconsin. Also the parking is free and Kane County, Quad Cities, Clinton and Cedar Rapids are easy trips if you want to expand things a bit more. I will be at opening and probably Saturday too. Now that I know Boer is starting Thursday I am intrigued by that, also I have a feeling it is going to be around 40 degrees by the time the game is done. Hope Sano, Rosario and the rest of the warm weather guys are ready for the MWL, going to have some stinging hands I am afraid. But at least they will get a taste of what early April in the Twin Cities will be like if they get that far.

Money. If a economy is going well the leader is seen as doing a good job whose pockets have some extra cash in them, in baseball that is the owners and to a greater degree then in the past the players. Why is David Stern still running the NBA? We change heads of the Major Sports Leagues a bit less often then the British Empire changes Monarchs or the Catholic Church changes Popes. Becasue they are making $$ hand over foot and when the rich white guy sells their team that has a brand new tax payer funded stadium the return on that investment is sweet music to their spouses divorce attorneys ears, if they didn't sign a pre nup. Not that a new stadium is bad, it is the price of admission to be seen as a Big City. Without it, you are Portland. Great place to live, drink coffee, watch some NBA basketball, cheer for Seattle teams (yeah right) and see AAA baseball. That will work for some folks.

My wife, two boys and I went to the event last night. Great to see Nelson Prada there! The Skippper looked good and had Tommy Watkins to keep him entertained and shaking his head most of the night I am sure. Madison Boer told us he is starting tomorrow night for the opener. We all got to meet and greet the guys and they all seemed very excited to be this close to the start of the season. I cannot not emphasize how well these players interacted with the kids getting autographs, Clinton Dempster and Bart Carter in particular were very interactive with our two guys. Gary Lucas also made our youngest boys night when he said that some day he might be a Snapper. Awesome! All the pitchers were kind of grouped together except for Tim Shibuya who was exiled to the end of the table with the Manager, he seemed a bit surprised that he was dropped in the middle of all the position players. Some guys are returning to Beloit to start another season and I am sure are hoping to move up to at least Fort Meyers. Chatted with Ryan O'Rouke about a game we saw him baffle a team for about 4 innings and then labor a bit in the next two. He said that was his MO last year. AJ Petterson will need to make sure the DVR is recording on Thursday night for the NCAA Hockey game. Nice to see a Gopher back with Snappers, my uncle played on the Gophers teams in 1956 and 1960 so I have a family connection to the program that goes beyond the normal Minnesota roots. Wang-Wei Lin was bigger then I expected, don't know why just thought of him as more of a Revere type. But on the subject of Big you have to mention Miguel Sano who was signing autographs and rocking a great ballon hat! He is not Matt LeCroy or John Kruk or Loek Van Mil big, but a young man with a mature atheltic build. You don't see many teenagers who physically imposing and solid like him. At least no one outside a major college football program playing linebacker. I cannot wait to see him with a bat in his hand, considering I will be behind the screen and not at 3rd base anymore that is just fine. This guy should be one scary dude when he fills out. (I am half joking on that, the thought of him bigger is hard to comprehend and at the same time is totally possible as he is still yet to turn 20.) A lot can happen between Beloit and Target Field, but first impression of Sano has me optimistic for his future. Events like this one is one of the reasons I love minor league baseball and this is an evening we all love to get too. Nice crowd last night and thanks to the Front Office staff for putting it on. Only in the Minor leagues do you the whole team (High Prospects, free agents and late draft choices) and field staff, fans, and front office all sitting around a high school cafeteria eating hot dogs and beans and talking baseball. It is now 30 hours before the coals hit the grill in the Telfar Park Lot, have the Brats, Dogs and Stadium Sauce ready. Bringing some Potosi Root Beer in a Growler, alcholol is not ok in the lot, and going to prep a dutch oven for dessert. Baseball is next! Does anyone out there get to the Miracle, Rock Cats or Red Wings events of this type?

Nick, I can't argue your points with much passion. Well thought out piece and agree with much of what you have here. If last year was the bottom then this year starts the progress back I hope, my worry like yours is pitching. Not only at the Major League Level but in the Minors. I am seeing a lot of bats, but not a abundance of arms that inspires me. Maybe this draft coming up can add some of that, but in the draft I think sometimes you need to catch lightning in a bottle. Enjoy the articles.

Seth, For those of us able to catch some games at the Minor League Level who are some of the people we should try to see in other Organizations. I few years I ago I missed Kershaw but saw Trout and Moustokis, (I know I butchered that one) in MWL. Now I follow the Twins prospects but other teams not so much. So who in the MWL, FSL, and EL should we make a effort to see, players you would want to check out if you could. For instance I am going to see the Snappers and the Chiefs this weekend and have no idea who on the Chiefs is worth keeping a eye on. If you have time that would be great. Thanks for all the info on the Twins guys.

Nick, I think the point is that it has been covered by others to death, I just finished listening to the G&G podcast and they droned on about it for a few minutes at the end. To those of us with no dog in this fight it is becoming a bit of a bad reality show, the Real Housewives of the Twins Blogosphere. I would beat that most of us read you, Gleeman, Bonnes, Stohs and company quite a bit. But we also read LEN3, JC, Ben and Rhett. We probably listen to a bit of Sports radio. I find all this interesting, even Mackey's Wrestling obsession, Bonnes beer choices and Gleemans travel phobia. I draw the line at hair pulling though. All involved find a house, lock the doors for a week while the Twins are on the road, send Reusse and Shooter to cover them if you must, turn on the cameras and have it out. Drink Nordeast, eat chicken and ribs, talk sabermetrics or not, discuss the intelligence of most of us commenters, trash Gardy or not, exchange some really great Mauer stories if any exist, compare Punto versus Nishi versus Butera as a internet topic and not as player, Drink some more Nordeast have some more Chicken and have TK throw the losers out the back door wrapped in a Houston Jiminez jersey. You know I would watch that. But then again we are a easily amused species and I reflect that. Heck I would watch what would happen with Reusse and Shooter on the road too.

The best hitter I saw last year in a Snapper uni was Arica, then it was a big drop to Ray as second. That is more about Oswaldo then about Ray. (Besides you got to love saying Oswaldo, if this was the 90's there would have had to have been a cheesy game on the "Jumbotron" around wheres Oswaldo? Between the Hotdog song and the Great Tire race.)

Yes he will go in, if only to get some Japanese tourists to visit Cooperstown. But cynicism aside he also belongs. Question who playing today is a lock? Mariano, Jeter are tow that jump at me. Chipper and Ichiro should be. Albert. Those come off the top of my head.

Thanks for the Podcasts guys. It gets me through a morning of Spreadsheets and numbers crunching once a week. May I suggest a Podcast from a Snappers game this year, of course someone would need to drive Aaron. Maybe a multi part cast recorded in the car on the way down with stops at various Wisconsin watering holes. I would choose some Brew pubs, Eau Claire has one just off the Interstate, the Dells has one and Madison has a couple that stand out, but you could choose some small town pubs with a less "cosmopolitan" feel then what would find in the Big City of Eau Claire. I have a feeling the outtakes would become the thing of legend. Either way it would be fun to hear one done down here while Sano and Rosario are around.

I enjoy Camden Park, the locale is exceptional due to it being walking distance from the Inner Harbor. (It is a decent walk, not across the street. Think Dome to Warehouse district.) But the options of activities in the Inner Harbor are worth the trip. I am going to DC this year, but won't make it to the Nationals Park. I am hoping to get up to Harrisburg and see a game up there if the Rock Cats are in town. Enjoy the trip.