MWLFan

Another start and another win for Jason Wheeler. The Wisconsin weather today was stormy, humid and cloudy. Considering the downpours spreading across the southern part of the state the question was whether this game would get in and the Snappers warm run would be interupted by tha rain. Fortunatly the skies did not open up on Pohlman Field and the starter with the best record on the team was able to face the Kane County Cougars. Wheeler pushed the Snappers 4 games over .500 with another excellent outing in Low A Ball. The righty got 6 innings in with 5 hits, 1 walk, 4 strikes (2 swinging.) and one HBP. He dropped his ERA to 1.91 and his record to 4-0. He recorded 18 outs, 8 in the air, 6 on the ground and 4 K's. The Snappers supported his efforts with 5 runs highlighted by home runs by Tyler Grimes and the suddenly hot Rory Rhodes. Eddie Rosario was 2 for 4 with his 11th double, former Gopher Kyle Knudsen had his first action of the year going zero for three with 2 strikeouts. Bart Carter put in a inning and two thirds, giving up 2 runs and striking out three. Then Micheal Tonkin finished the game with a inning and a third also recording three strike outs for the save. Wheeler is now leading the league in wins, with 6 other pitchers. He is however the only one not to have a loss on his record so far. How WHIP stands at 1.15. He hasn't given up a run in 12 innings. He will get a chance to run this streak to lucky number 13 later this week.

Can't wait for your eval of Sano and Rosario. Thought about heading to Cedar Rapids Friday night, just not sure we will have time. Saturday or Sunday games are much more palatable for that trip. Enjoy!

One word, Pitching. Dozier or Carrol, doesn't matter all that much. Butera or Burroughs, really? Thomas or Abreu, yawn. The issue is and will continue to be pitching for the next few years. We could put a outifield of Span, Benson and Hicks out there next year and all three could far exceed their career numbers. Then have Dozier, Parmalee, Carroll and pick a 3rd baseman all be great table setters for the DH combo of Willingham or Morneau with Mauer doing his normal on base and single double parade routine. But if you can't hold the Royals under 6 runs consistently, that just will not work for the long season. Next year who is the pitching staff? (God it's May 2nd and I am talking about next year, when did I become a Pirates fan?) Pavano leaves, thanks Carl it was great. Frankie is no longer our enigma, good luck to your next teams pitching coach with your head. Marquis, Jason we hardly knew ya and hope your little girl is healthy. Baker, I faintly remember somebody by that name. It's not like the Red Wings staff is poised to make any Cy Young runs. Talking about the position players is like moving the deck chairs, very expensive ones mind you, around on the Titanic. The big gash in the side has been caused by the lack of quality pitching and that goes back to the failed line of higher pitching draft choices. The Tootle-Hunt club. Until we get some guys, more then one mind you, that can consistently get major league batters out by missing a few bats and keeping the ball in the park it won't matter much if we have a bunch of slap hitting mighty mites running around or a few big time bashers sitting in the corner spots. You either lose 8 to 7 or 8 to 1. And yes I want the Twins to draft the Catcher instead of the College Arm, I am gun shy from the last group of college arms they have been working with. Probably not a bright way to look at it, but I just don't see us getting lucky with a healthy college guy who has been throwing 150 pitches a game. But who the heck am I to make such decisions, I have a hard enough time balancing my check book and keeping the budget in line with a wife, two kids, a dog, a bird and a snake in the house.

Jim Crikket is such a downer. Trying to take all the fun out of bitching about how stupid the Twins are. Well sir, you shall not take our mojo. We will still whine and demand for Vavra, Gardy or Childress to be fired no matter who the Twins screw up and take at number two. Just like we did last time they had that slot. Then you watch next year when we have the number one pick! Failure will be a certainty. Because we the denizons of the deep message board know better, right up until the point this player turns into a star in which case we reserve the right forget all that we have written before and praise him constantly until he fails in the "clutch", has too high a WHIP for our taste, see his range drop to Valenica levels or is started to be refered to as a battler. So there! P.S. I would like the catcher as the college arms make me nervous they will fall off sometime in instructional league after being abused by their coaches. I see most of those guys as highly probable clients of Dr. Andrews. But then again how many of us really know wtf to make of the MLB draft.

jtrindaldi- I pray it doesn't happen that the Twins move out of the MWL as my baseball viewing will become non-existent. I could do Cedar Rapids or Clinton, but for my family it will be the death knell of live baseball I am afraid. But that is life.

Ashburyjohn makes a good point on the competitive game part you watch enough minor league ball and you understand there is a shell game taking place to some degree, in the low minors I have seen this. Also, the team you see in April will NOT be the team you see in June or August in Beloit. I was lucky enough to see Arcia when he dropped in and he was the best hitter on the team by far last year, by June he was gone to Fort Meyers. But it is part of the game isn't it.

Seth, I think from a big picture big league consumes all the oxygen perspective it being about 100% development is a fact. However if you are attending Beloit, Fort Meyers, New Britain and I think in particular Rochester games regularly it is harder to accept that. I know for instance that I am fortunate to get to see Sano and Rosario play this year, but I also know it is a fleeting thing and I have to enjoy it now. When they are gone something needs to remain, the circus just can't pull up it's tent and leave town. When I go to games I want to see a victory. If I was a casual fan and see one or two or four of these I am more likely to come back and spend my money. It really does drum into you as a minor league fan that you are, well minor league. Most people in the stateline area of Wisconsin are either Brewer or Cubs fans, some Sox fans but they are usually excluded at the gates, so they have no interest in Twins prospects past Beloit. I worry about Rochester, great baseball city and a proud tradition that I think the Twins are soiling to some degree. But it is a business and the bottom line is the ticket sales at Target Field. Also, besides my 9 year old whose goal is to wear a Snappers uniform, no player at these levels wants to stay here. They want to get to Minnesota and play in the Major Leagues, don't we all. It is about develpment, but it does not make having an awful team in these cities any easier.

Fanatic Jack has never drank any teams Kool Aid. Gotta to respect that. But it doesn't make reading his opinions any easier I know.

Nothing wrong with some Snapper love. Look at it this way, they are all heading to New Britain sooner or later.

April goes out like a Lion as far as Mr. Wheeler is concerned and he controlled the Dayton Dragons for 6 innings. 2 Hits, 1 walk and 7 k's. 5 of the strikeouts were of the swinging variety. He faced 20 batters in those six innings, helped out by his defense a couple of times however for the most part Big Jason was impressive and he owned this one. His record improves to 3 wins and no losses, 2.33 era, 1.19 WHIP, 19 k's, 6 BB, opponents are batting .238 against him. Now that April is done where does Jason Wheeler fit in the hierarchy of Twins Organization of Starting pitchers? Where will Seth Stohs put him on his Minor League pitchers of the month? How long will the college pitcher stay at Low A Ball?

Sano was 2-2 with a HBP and a Walk. Just struck out looking. Announcer said it was a curve that fooled him.

Dayton has a outfielder named Kyle Waldrop, had to do a double take on that one. Thought I had missed something.

Jairo grounds out. End of the 7th.

The Aussie comes through with a sharp single and drives into two. 7 to 0 Snappers.

Rosario walks on 4 pitches, brining up Adam Bryant. Ortiz would have been here protecting Rosario. Bryant grounds into a 5-3 Fielders Choice scoring one. Goncalves up. 5-0 Snappers. Goncalves grounds out 5-3, Rory Rhodes up. 2nd and 3rd. Two out.

Sano singles, drives in one and takes 2nd on throw to 3rd. Rosario at bat.

Just back from a meeting and catching up, Wheeler went six scoreless. 2 hits, 1 walk and 7 strike outs ( 5 swinging). Snappers up 3-0 in the 7th with two on and Sano at bat. No outs.

very confusing play to score the first run of the game. Announcer is not helping the situation. But either way, Snappers 1-0 heading to the 3rd.

So far the game is the middle of the 2nd with no score. My adopted minor leaguer Jason Wheeler is starting and he has given up 2 hits, a walk and struck out 3. Sounds like he got some help in the second with a great diving play by Wang Lei-Lin out in right field and runner thrown out trying to steal second by Jairo Rodriquez. His first inning he struck out the side swinging.

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I agree with your thoughts on Sano and I know there is a lot of talk about when he should be in Fort Meyers, next year at the earliest is my take. When I have seen him I wasn't alarmed with his fielding, I guess I was prepared for Delmon at third. I thought his instincts around the position were good, his hands seemed quick and soft, and his arm was plenty strong for 3rd base. For a 18 year old in his first taste of A ball, and a Wisconsin "spring", I think he did enough to say the kid will be alright in the field. The bat will need to find the ball more and I think he is adjusting to the strike zone somewhat, he has taken a few called 3rd strikes at the games I have been at. He was faster then I anticipated and was pretty good on the bases. That being said he seems to have some mental lapses that anyone who has been or knows a 18 year old male understands. It is not constant or sustained, but you get the feeling that the mind might drift a bit here and there, any of us guys have that happen when we were that age or ask yourself about your son, what is he thinking about. Rosario I thought was the second most impressive bat I have seen there, Danny Ortiz was actually swinging better then either Sano or Rosario, and he made me nervous at second. Not for the long haul as I thought he would improve and it sounds as if his athletic talent is catcing up with his inexperience at second base. That is good to hear. Also good to hear about Shibuya, I have seen him once and it was not a great night for him. The K's are a plus, but he doesn't project to have those every night. Thanks for the post. I can't wait to hear what others think about the Snappers this year. Tyler Grimes, yup. Has some work to do. How did Lin look? He was really struggling when I saw him, sounds as if he picked it up when he got moved up in the order.

Ortiz was flying under the radar for most people this year due to the Sano-Rosario focus on the Snappers. But he looks impressive for a low A ball hitter. Hopefully Fort Meyers will not trip him up. Kind of surprised that Boer was the first pitcher called up, a couple of relievers could have gotten the call. But Hermensen is a starter and guess they needed to replace that slot. This is not a slap at Boer, I just thought he could have used a bit longer in Beloit. I hope I never see him in a Snappers uni again, in a good way.

If I had to put together a list of Snappers that I was most impressed with by position since I have been going to games here-Beresford would easily be the Shortstop. He fielded the position very well and had a air of confidence and command of the middle infield most of the kids playing out there don't possess. He is not going to hit many homers, but he may fill out enough to keep the defense honest in playing him.

Mr Wheeler visiting some Beloit Kindergartners. Looks kind of cramped in that chair for a 6'8: 260 plus guy.