greengoblinrulz

Now what makes you think that Lehmann can hit any better than Butera? He has a .524 OPS between AA and AAA this season. Chris Herrmann, Josmil Pinto and Matt Koch are the only 3 Catchers in the Twins system (not named Mauer or Doumit) who can hit their way out of a a paper bag. Listed incorrectly on sites roster, but Pinto is a 6 yr FA after this yr. What do you do with him??? Having a great yr, solid thrower, only 23.....with Mauer/Doumit/Hermann/of course Butera blocking, whats his future with MN?? Would he sign somewhere else is he's not 40 manned, ala Yangervis Solarte, to give him an opportunty to make the majors???

first full wk with MN 6/22 .273 BAve 4runs 1rbi 3k 1bb 3/4sb's Not gonna comment how Twins have changed his stroke already!!!

yup.....just timing.

If they woulda waited another wk to send Danny thru waivers.....could we have gotten more than Pineda now that Middlebrooks broke his wrist???

great article.....do not want back in the PCL. Numbers are so distorted that you have no idea what a player is....remember Michael Ryans 30 HRs in Edmonton??? Tho Id be interested in a Las Vegas trip to see the boys....wife would stay by the pool....sounds like they are last choice of everyone. You'd think that with Arcia/Hicks/Hermann/Hermsen/Gibson etc all heading to AAA next yr.....ROC would be excited with that & knowing that Buxton/Sano/Rosario/Berrios/Walker/Keplar are all a yr or 2 behind them would entice them.

I don't necessarily think that a team should call guys up just because of the option situation. Players have THREE option years. That's a lot of time for a guy who is already at AA. If he is called up, I will be very excited to see it. I'm curious how he would do. The reason to call him up to is as a reward for a good year. Same with Hicks. The reason not to call them up is because Willingham, Span and Revere will and should still play most every day, so it's not like Hicks and Arcia would get more than a handful of at bats over a month. Plouffe has been up and down for two years... if the Twins would have made a decision based on what they knew about him as a big leaguer, they would have let him go long ago. The Twins (or any team) wouldn't make too much about what a player does in a dozen at bats in his big league debut. Parmelee and Benson and Tosoni played every day (pretty much) in September. Parmelee has taken a step forward. Benson and Tosoni have taken a step backwards this year. Don't get me wrong. I love September call-ups and big league debuts, but it has to make sense. There's a reason that 8-12 guys on any 40 man roster don't get September call-ups. Twins do make the playing time a reasoning on calling up/dont call up guys. What about my contention that a player should see what big league life is/how to prepare/knowing what the reward will be when promoted for good is as a reason to get guys up in Sept. Do you agree that they can come up without any guarrantee of playing time?? Money (hotels/meals/salary/etc) may have been a reason in Dome yrs, but shouldnt be here. I also think its good to get that first AB/IP/hit out of the way in Sept, for newbies, so that nervousness isnt there the next year. Of the 40 man (42 w/injuries) players who CAN be called up that arent here now....2 are DLd (Oliveras/Gutierrez). Tosoni has been here & doesnt deserve it (may be DFAd), Waldrop has had 2 very small chances (wont be IMO), but the 7 remaining (Benson(??), Parm, Escobar, Arcia, Hendriks, Guerra & Hernandez are the ones who may be up. Guerra/Hernandez can be argued wont be due to performance. Rest have earned it (Benson due to past performance). & 34/35 players isnt out of hand in the least. Parmelee/Arcia are the only 2 who have hands down earned it (Hendriks also but its his 4rd shot & I think Mn is souring on him)

Think Im with ya on the top 7.....yes it does change day to day...inning to inning. Benson was 99th in Baseball America's top 100 this yr.....what if he makes a AHicks type comeback/breakout yr next yr. Lots of things to be happy with. My favorite, Adam Walker, is making a pitch for that top 10 also.

It was just another proverbial slap in the face for De Vries. It's that perseverance that I don't know if I would have. Signed as a non-drafted free agent, he's always had to earn everything he's got. 2010 was the only season that he really struggled, and he clearly made good adjustments in 2011. The Twins told him that they didn't invite him to spring training because they know what they have in him. I completely agreed with bringing in a bunch of minor league free agents. While Jared Burton, Casey Fien, Sam Deduno and Luis Perdomo have proven to be worth while, the Twins have also released many of them like Jason Bulger, Brad Thompson, Daryl Thompson. All along, De Vries just continued to work hard and keep proving himself. He finally got a chance. I thought when he was sent down that he would be DFAd at the same time, but they didn't. He went down and came back better. He's a pretty smart guy. I think it goes back to a forum entry I started a couple months ago... The difference between a 4th or 5th start, a long reliever, a AAAA pitcher and a AAA pitcher might just be taking advantage of the opportunities given. As that quote says, you may not get a big chance or many chances, but you have to take advantage of it pretty quickly. I'm not sure what De Vries' upside is, probably a #5/#6 starter. But I now fully expect the Twins to keep him on the 40 man roster throughout the offseason, and he's earned that! Agreed And I bet there is something else (and actually really big) about him that I have not seen it written anywhere, but I sense that it is a huge factor: Support by his parents and family. And you see his folks in all of his games. I am sure that they are well off and were not forcing him to get a real job that paid better than minor league wages, but helped him and were supportive in him reaching his dream. He is lucky this way. Lots of kids don't have this level of support. Yeah. As far as performance goes, he did earn a spot in the roster for 2013. I would be surprised if he didn't. And, really, just watching him closer this season (I watched him pitch live while at AA and AAA around here a few seasons ago to last season) I think that his FB is adequate and his breaking stuff is good. I seriously think that he can replace Blackburn tomorrow and nobody will shed a tear. That quote, in itself, has so many possiblities for humour that Im gonna let it go

I pretty much agree with ya on all of em but untill I see Mr Butera's name on there.....Im not 100% with ya.It is a serious question as nobody will claim him, so you can keep him & you may need the spot for a legit player. You are also gonna add a 3rd C in Chris Hermann this winter....do you need 4 Cs??

no doubt Hicks will be top 50 again. He's already had 3 top 50 yrs & he's finally fullfilling his promise. I just wonder if he could get top 25. Arguement of top 5 order is fun as you can make a solid arguement for any of em after Sano & maybe a couple before him!! I think they will have all 5 in top 50....top 75 for sure. Wonder if Gibson will crack it again despite his age.

Im shocked that you're shocked;)but do you believe he should be?? Dont you think a team should take advantage of option yrs & get a look at someone?? What's the downside?? You only get the 3 yrs. If its service time youre afraid to use...then you think he can play in majors, thereby he should be up in Sept. If its you dont think he can play yet (after a monster yr tho).....let him prove it (again, nobody said he HAS to play....just reward him & see how to act/prepare to be a big leaguer) & he goes to ROC next yr. I see this as dangerous as this is part of how a guy runs out of options & you have NO idea what you have. Twins are done with Guerra & IMO, got lucky with Plouffe....while havin to DFA Hughes. The latter 2 didnt see any time till option yr 3 & MN still was unsure about em this yr. I just dont see a downside. Look at what Parmellee did last yr when nobody expected it. People doubted whether he deserved it. Just cause of that, I think he will be up here. Age shouldnt matter on the decison....either you deserve it or you dont.

In some ways I wonder if we aren't still underestimating De Vries a little. His underlying numbers: 59 IP, 41K, 12BB are plenty good enough to be a starting pitcher in the majors. That's a solid strike rate and decent control. He's not going to be an ace, but he could have decent career with numbers like that and be a mid-rotation starter. I'm certainly higher on him than I am on Deduno or Blackburn right now. that Gardy quote is what sometimes frustrates me with this organization. 'If you're not a top prospect' Cole was extremely good in Beloit/Ft Myers in 07/08 (3.17ERA in 283IP 213K) goin a level at a time BUT at age 22/23, they never promoted him in-season or showed any real confidence in him despite him being a VERY solid performer. In 09 @ New Brit...first 16 starts(thru July 12) 90.1IP 95h 31er (3.09ERA) 57k 26bb....pretty respectable correct?? They refused to promote him as a 24yr old--3 yr player who'd had great minor league numbers but they (like ASlama??) didnt deem to be a 'prospect'??? Possibly started doubted himself/organizations belief in him?? Last 10 starts 47.1IP 67h 45er (8.55era) 33k 20bb....so does MN see a great first 16 starts to build on or a bad last 10 starts to have him be 'organizational depth'??? Well in 2010, he's demoted to pen & has to repeat AA (tho he gets a 9 gm AAA bump) & then again is bumped back to New Brit as an afterthought in 11' but gets promoted again. This is a part of what frustrates me about slow promotions in this organization....show no confidence in a player or show him that if you put up the numbers....the goal to get to the majors is there. Instead, you're just organizational depth & if we need a pitcher for the big team/AAA tm, we'll go out & get a Jeff Gray/Andrew Baldwin/Luis Perdomo/Aaron Thompson type (one example..not whole point). This (tho ages are drastically different) is a reason Im a BJ Hermsen fan. He gets guys out without 'great stuff' while guys with 'great stuff' that cannot get hitters out regularly are rewarded (hello Jeff Gray/NBlackburn 'types') Im not the most confident Cole is a fixture for the future rotation, but am elated that he proved the front office/team scouts/media wrong with his solid...yet unspectacular....season

Think Plouffe will be a pitcher....Manship or Perdomo (both w/options as Gods gift Jeff Gray doesnt---why that matters baffles me). Pavano will be the 40th man on the 40 man when re-activate. Think he's a solid 2 wks out. Walters, I dont think will make it back till Sept. I agree with all the players who could be DFAd for him/Sept callups.......Nishi, Tosoni for sure.....Gray (??) I dont see this team re-adding Slama. They, for some reason, do not like him. He is a FA but does have an option remaining for next yr, but ar age 29 next yr.....dont see em changing their mind. They only like other teams retreads...not their own. Florimon is a 6 yr FA after this yr....will add him either in Sept or this winter, if they cannot find the space. They wont need any more 40 man space this yr then as they've hinted hard they wont recall players who will be added this offseason.....Hicks/Gibson/Hermsen/Hermann/Florimon etc In fact, they havent even committed to saying their best 40 man prospect, OArcia, will be recalled. If not, they totally waste an option year on him getting no look at him at all. Think they will change their mind/were never really considering NOT recalling him.

-sigh- Trout dominated A ball a lot more than either Sano or Rosario did, and didn't get his face broken during batting practice. Heck his "not great" 50 game run at A+ is better than what Sano is doing now. Trout's hit tools were obvious in the minor leagues which is why he was rushed, he was also the rare 17 yr old senior who immediately signed with the Angels. Sano is striking out at a scary pace. He's a great prospect but he's not a sure thing. He's striking out over 27% of his at-bats in low A ball. The Twins have only had one prospect on Trout's level - Mauer, and they did rush him. He spent the same number of seasons in the minors as Trout (actually had slightly fewer PA). Was bein a 'lil' tongue in cheek with this Dont think Trout bein a 17 yr old senior is all that rare (aug 7 bday....just late summer) I 100% believe there is no way MN woulda promoted a 19 yr old last summer....this yr I would buy it. People were even surprised by LAA promoting Trout in 2011. Rosario wouldnt have broken his jaw if he HAD been promoted as was bein rumoured......butterfly effect. I am fine with Sano staying in Beloit all yr OR bein promoted. Can easily argue it either way....but Trouts numbers in High A have no comparison to Sano's in Low A.....apples to apples.

After a solid 10 yr run, MN had grown comfortable with how to run the minor leagues/promotions & had reasonings to why they did such things. They are definately still attempting to find a comfort level now that they are one of the laughingstock teams for the past 2 yrs. They are trying to stay with their philosiphy (older players/younger players needed to develop) but they tried that in 93/96 & got them stuck for another 4/5 yrs. Just hope they stubbornly wont change with the times & their past 2 yrs dont turn into another decade of bad ball. They have some high level position players & hopefully they dont burn em out sitting in minors/levels too long.

Just think how impressive Trout would be right now in Ft Myers or New Britian if MN had drafted him instead of Kyle Gibson. While Trout started in Midwest Lg at age 19 (2010) & LAA promoted him to High A halfway during yr (Sano/Rosario cannot get this)....MN has shown with higher OF high school picks, they wouldnt have started him till May/June...nullifying his July promotion to High A This would have meant at age 20 he would have spent the whole year in Ft Myers (Trout skipped High A that yr after a good but NOT great 50gms yr before) & this year would be in New Brit. He would obviously be dominating but MN wouldnt promote him as A: they have Clete Thomas/Wilkin Ramirez/Matt Carson in AAA---B: New Brit is challenging for a playoff spot & need him & C: wouldnt have to be 40 manned for another season, so why rush him.

I posted this in another thread about Joe......but while they may love his ceiling, I havent really heard anyone in orgainization (Ryan/Gardy/Molitor/Rantz) compliment/praise him for past 2 yrs but in interviews always seem to continually point out his faults/struggles. Dont know, but maybe he's type of guy who could use some positive reinforcements....heard he easily gets down on himself when he struggles.Specific point was Ryans radio show when question was about Joe hitting well since returning from injury (was 15/46 at time in New Brit w/power) & Ryans response was a 'blah' "well he should be hitting AA pitching at his age"......no compliment that he was coming around/turning his season around but a 'so what' comment. Slama, they definately dont like him cause he ONLY gets guys out consistently, but they like the 'stuff' Jeff Gray has:cry:

anyone hear what the injury to Jimmenez was?? Hasnt played since July 26 & heard Jim Rantz....when announcing the Buxton promotion....say it was do to an OF injury in ELIZ Guy has not been able to stay healthy & play.....too bad

Its all in personal perception.Twins got the benefit of the doubt for a decade on how they operated. For me, coming off the Bill Smith era, they've lost that trust from many fans & some think have been passed by many organizations in how they operate. Im fine with Sano/Rosario staying in Beloit as next yr they 'could' move up quickly like Arcia did & that would be fine. However, I dont hear of/see other teams keeping high prospects at a level so they can play in the playoffs but rather are trying to get them advanced ASAP to help the major league team....not the minor league ones. On Hicks (Hermann/Hermsen etc), I believe 100% in promoting guys in Sept that will either WILL be added to 40 man that winter/spent the entire yr on 40 man & deserve it. WHY?? Seein the preverbial carrott of how good the life in the majors is should give these guys the work ethic that winter/next spring to bust their ass (not that they dont anyways). Twins/Gardy have always used the excuse that there isnt enough playing time.....who said they had to play?? They can sit & watch & see HOW to act as a major leaguer/see what they have to do to be there full time. I truly believe in that. While service time matters, at that point I dont make the decisions on it yet.

15rbi in 21gms also to compare Ramirez 30 in 75gms Thomas 31 in 85gms Carson 45 in 106gms

Slama & Benson, IMO, are just 2 prospects that the front office does not care for

some reports lately that Hermsens velocity has picked up....any verification on that

really struggling.....couple nites off to clear his headHe's screwed cause if he plays well....Terry Ryan has already commented that 'he should @ AA' & if he doesnt, he's done as a prospect

The Iowa flash continues to amaze with a complete game win with 10h 1 er 4k 1bb 94pitches 71strikes..... 13 groundouts vs 7 airouts Now 6th in EL w/3.09ERA but of the 34 pitchers who qualify (0.8IP per team gm).....Hermsen is 30th in Ks

Are you counting AFL IP for Cole as well for last season? No....was only a reliever the last 2 yrs also