jokin

I think within the context of the venue in which he presented such little evidence for his case against Berrios, exactly as in the case of Kennys Vargas, Keith Law left himself wide open for the option that his opinions deserved to be questioned for his less-than-cogent conclusions- has anyone called him bad, evil or stupid? Just provided evidence that he might be "wrong" on what appears to be a superficially dismissive conclusion.

Stuart Turner....and maybe....Mitch Garver? Turner was the consensus top catcher in the 2013 draft, while Kyle Schwarber was picked #4 overall in this year's draft by the Cubs. Although drafted in the 9th round, the 4th year college player Garver, has been compared favorably to both, finishing runner-up in the Johnny Bench award to Turner in 2013. Quite a bit of eyewitness information in this TD minor league thread: http://twinsdaily.com/showthread.php/11990-Article-Twins-Minor-League-Report-(6-12)-Pino-Wins-Again!

Yeah, that's usually a kind of guy the Twns often like as a back-up- a pseudo-catcher if you will (like Doumit and Hermann). With Morales now in the fold, if the Twins make another move for catcher depth this year, I would think they give more consideration to the defense-first type, but if a guy like Jason Castro goes on the block in Houston (very possible), I hope they consider it as a long-term move to pair with Pinto.

And time in Rochester and mastering that level would fall in line exactly with his development pattern before the Twins attempted to shortcircuit the process and jump him 2 levels in 2013. A restoration of a "planned patience" might be the best approach at this point for Hicks.

Yeah, exactly. And can you imagine the grief Klaw might give Berrios about being a FB pitcher, if he were to put up numbers even better than this in New Britain later this year, with Buxton back and Rosario manning LF?

The D-Backs were desperate for some depth at catcher going into the season, and they had NL claiming priority, currently being the 2nd worst team in that league.

Speculation based on one year ago in June, the Twins DL'd Hicks in early June, sent him to rehab in Rochester, and seemingly only recalled him in early July because Josh Willingham was shut down. Again, we're speculating here, but I would think that Hicks will be sent down in his "rehab" stint to do exactly what the Twins said they wanted him to do, get reps against RHP and get his act together. I think a lot about the Twins intentions will be learned if they eventually option Hicks instead of calling him back. I think they prefer a predictable, if pedestrian performance from Fuld over the Hicks dramatics.

With the Rochester roster being filled up with the reinstatement of Chris Hermann from the DL, it seems, barring a trade, that the Twins are just waiting to announce Hicks to the major league DL a little later on today.

Maybe Hicks could invite "Espinoza" out on a golf date?

"Practice"....and...."during games"....two completely different situations. There are countless examples of many guys who have the drive and natural ability for doing well in the latter...who often come to the conclusion that they don't need to put in as much extra effort into the former.

But then again, Aaron Hicks comes into this whole thing with a reputation for not taking a lot of swings, even at Gardengnomes.

[h=1]D’backs Option Trevor Cahill[/h]By Steve Adams [June 12, 2014 at 1:09pm CDT] JUNE 12: Cahill has been optioned to the Diamondbacks’ Single-A Advanced affiliate, the club announced on Twitter. He will take the ball as the starter for Visalia tonight, tweets Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic, which confirms both that he has accepted the assignment and that he will look to stretch out again as a starter.

[video=youtube;eGDBR2L5kzI]

Twinsights: Sam Fuld leaves rehab assignment, set to meet Twins in Detroit http://blogs.twincities.com/twins/2014/06/12/twinsights-sam-fuld-leaves-rehab-

Twinsights: Sam Fuld leaves rehab assignment, set to meet Twins in Detroit http://blogs.twincities.com/twins/2014/06/12/twinsights-sam-fuld-leaves-rehab-assignment-set-to-meet-twins-in-detroit/

Sam Fuld is not in the New Britain lineup tonight, but Eddie Rosario is back in CF: [TABLE=class: batting_data, width: 553] [TH=bgcolor: #000000, colspan: 12]New Britain Rock Cats[/TH] [TR=class: hed] [TD=class: player_name, bgcolor: #999999]Player[/TD] [TD=class: position_cell, bgcolor: #999999]Pos[/TD] [TD=bgcolor: #999999, align: center]AB[/TD] [TD=bgcolor: #999999, align: center]R[/TD] [TD=bgcolor: #999999, align: center]H[/TD] [TD=bgcolor: #999999, align: center]2B[/TD] [TD=bgcolor: #999999, align: center]3B[/TD] [TD=bgcolor: #999999, align: center]HR[/TD] [TD=bgcolor: #999999, align: center]RBI[/TD] [TD=bgcolor: #999999, align: center]BB[/TD] [TD=bgcolor: #999999, align: center]SO[/TD] [TD=bgcolor: #999999, align: center]AVG[/TD] [/TR] [TD=class: player_name]Brad Boyer[/TD] [TD=class: position_cell]SS[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center].246[/TD] [TD=class: player_name]Eddie Rosario[/TD] [TD=class: position_cell]CF[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center].350[/TD] [TD=class: player_name]Nate Hanson[/TD] [TD=class: position_cell]2B[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center].253[/TD] [TR=bgcolor: #CCCCCC] [TD=class: player_name]Kennys Vargas[/TD] [TD=class: position_cell]1B[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center].320[/TD] [/TR] [TD=class: player_name]Reynaldo Rodriguez[/TD] [TD=class: position_cell]RF[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center].295[/TD] [TD=class: player_name]Brandon Waring[/TD] [TD=class: position_cell]3B[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center].183[/TD] [TD=class: player_name]Matt Koch[/TD] [TD=class: position_cell]DH[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center].265[/TD] [TD=class: player_name]Mike Kvasnicka[/TD] [TD=class: position_cell]LF[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center].215[/TD] [TD=class: player_name]Kyle Knudson[/TD] [TD=class: position_cell]C[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center]0[/TD] [TD=align: center].162[/TD] [TD=class: totals_row, colspan: 2]Totals[/TD] [TD=class: totals_cell, align: center]0[/TD] [TD=class: totals_cell, align: center]0[/TD] [TD=class: totals_cell, align: center]0[/TD] [TD=class: totals_cell, align: center]0[/TD] [TD=class: totals_cell, align: center]0[/TD] [TD=class: totals_cell, align: center]0[/TD] [TD=class: totals_cell, align: center]0[/TD] [TD=class: totals_cell, align: center]0[/TD] [TD=class: totals_cell, align: center]0[/TD] [TD=class: totals_cell, align: center].258[/TD] [/TABLE]

I don't have an opinion either way. I'm assuming that Hicks got an MRI work-up today, which should shed more light on the injury situation. But in terms of money earned and service time, an injury works in Hicks' favor over a straight demotion.

Hey Klaw, how about the 28% K-rate, stadium-related? (3rd best in FSL, the two pitchers ahead of him are 25 and 21 years old).

Yeah, I caught that, too. Pretty simplistic dismissal of Berrios, attributing most of his success to Hammond Stadium?: Vic (hopeful twins fan in Minnesota) [via mobile] Jose Berrios has been pitching great as of late(12.0 K/9). What is his ceiling in the majors? Klaw (1:58 PM) Still an extreme flyball guy - and he's been helped by throwing about 70% of his innings at home this year.

He may not always follow every game, but a good reporter always follows the money.

Here's a beat guy who seems to have his doubts about Hicks: Derek Wetmore @DerekWetmore · Jun 11 Pretty convenient time for Aaron Hicks to get hurt when a trip to the minors was right around the corner.

Good work, JB. (Couldn't you have posted a couple minutes earlier so I didn't look bad?)

Terry Ryan went on and on gushing about Fryer last fall, perhaps he's giving Eric a little window of opportunity here to see if he can click, and in the meantime keeping his options open for pursuing names outside the organization.

It's pretty late in the day, today, and still no roster announcement. That would make one speculate that no deal will be done today for a catcher outside the organization. So probably means Fryer plays for the Wing tonight and catches the first flight out tomorrow morning to join the Twins in Detroit?

Darren Wolfson ‏@DarrenWolfson 5h Tough morning playing Rush Creek. But got an email about Sam Fuld. Reads: "Looks good for Friday."