cmb0252

Damn you Boras and your choke hold on all the too draft prospects! I'm not too worried about any of the prospects the Twins are looking at 4 to sign but it would be nice to save a few hundred million like last year with Buxton. Especially if Boldt is falling and someone will have to pay him over slot to get him to sign at let's say...pick 43.

An article about Manaea from Mayo at mlb.com. Sean Manaea's cool exterior masks inner fire as First-Year Player Draft nears | MLB.com: News Mayo notes Manaea's stuff and pitch limit from his game this week. Manaea gave up one unearned run on five hits, walking two and striking out five. He was on a 60-pitch limit because conference tournament play begins on Tuesday. The reports -- 89-93-mph fastball, inconsistent slider -- were similar to his Alcorn State start.

Mayo released two articles about the Astros and how they are getting ready for the draft. The first article is about them getting ready to have draft work outs and had this interesting line: " This is something in St. Louis we had a lot of success with, and a lot of the later kids [drafted] were kids who attended the workouts," Elias said. "They weren't drafted high or for a significant amount of money, but they got in front of Jeff and the crosscheckers and brought some extra attention to themselves prior to the Draft and put themselves more firmly in our mind on Draft day. When you're staring at the board, you can put a face to the magnet and have a clearer picture of who the player was. It really helps those players get drafted and helps us make better decisions in the Draft." The second article is about Jim Crane, owner of the Astros, going to an Astros game after personally scouting UNC college game. Luhnow said it was the first time Crane had been out in person this year to watch potential Draft targets. The Astros have the No. 1 overall pick in the First-Year Player Draft on June 6. Luhnow wouldn't say which player they were watching, but North Carolina third baseman Colin Moran is a top prospect. "We don't comment on Draft-eligible players for obvious reasons, but we continue to put in a lot of time against it, and it was great Jim was willing to go out and see a player with his own eyes," Luhnow said. "We might try another couple before it's all said and done." Crane was a standout college pitcher at Central Missouri State, so he provides anything but the layman's eye. Articles below: http://mlb.mlb.com//news/article.jsp?ymd=20130519&content_id=47986054&notebook_id=47986774&vkey=notebook_hou&c_id=hou Astros to hold first Draft workout on Sunday | astros.com: News

Mayo over at mlb.com released his first mock and has the Twins taking Manaea. He also has one of my personal favorites, Kyle Serrano, not being taken in the first round. I would jump for joy if he fell to the Twins in the second round. Here is a link to his mock. Jonathan Gray, Mark Appel project to be first two picks in MLB First-Year Player Draft | MLB.com: News

While the stat line isn't bad, only throwing 5 innings is.

In the most updated mocks Law has Anderson going 17, BA has him going 20, Sickels 32, and Crawford not in the 1st. While he would be a solid pick at 43 if there I'm guessing he goes in the 20s. Pitched himself out of consideration in the top 10 but not out of the first round.

This is one great conversation and both sides have done a great job arguing their sides. One thing I would like to note is that the scouts grading system has some gray areas. An example below: A 80 grade fastball for a RHP isn't the same as a 80 grade fastball for a LHP. LHP tend to throw slower than RHP but don't tell the Red's Chapman this. If a RHP throws a 100 mph fastball and a lefty throws a 98 mph fastball even though the speed is 2 mph different they get the same grade. Movement also can affect a fastball grade. I bring this up because while both Hamilton and Buxton have 80 speed I have read they are a little different. Hamilton has better burst which results in more stolen bases while Buxton has better top end speed which should lead to more extra base hits. Dont get me wrong, to have 80 speed they both have ridiculous top speed/burst, but there speed has been noted as different.

I like to look at it as even with the law of probability coming into play and some of these guys busting, we have too much elite talent not to get several studs from this group of specs.

From Matt Eddy's chat over at baseball America: Reportedly Buxton's walk off grand slam last night went 450 feet. While Buxton only has 6 HRs most of them have been no doubters. What is his future power potential? Matt Eddy: Substantial. Think of all the five-tool big league center fielders playing right now. He can be one of them in time. You don't need to apologize for Buxton having "just" six homers. He's got 20 extra-bats hits in 38 games as a middle-diamond teen in the Midwest League (.594). That's amazing. BA gave Buxton a 60 grade for power which should be 15-20 HRs for a CFer. Buxton is still raw and once he fills out more could end up having more power but comparing his power upside to Upton's is a little much for my blood. At age 24 Upton already has 121 HRs, 13 on the year, and a 31 HR campaign when he was 22. Personally I can see JUp having at least one 35+ HR season, if not multiple, if he can stay healthy. As I say this, I could also see Buxton having a few years in the mid 20's for HRs. Power wise Upton >Buxton. But, if Buxton keeps developing he should end up better than Upton in every other category.

There were only 2 Twins questions for this weeks prospect hot sheet chat. Thoughts on Corey Dickerson...hitting for high average in AAA. Also, long term projection for Adam Brett Walker? Matt Eddy: You have to give Rockies LF Corey Dickerson credit: Even in a system that features the most hitter-friendly collection of ballparks around, he goes above and beyond. He went 13-for-27 (.481) with two homers, four doubles and a triple this week, spending most of his time at home at Triple-A Colorado Springs. He just missed the Hot Sheet, and some scouts see him a starting-caliber left fielder based on his power. As to Walker, that's a great start, but for a maxed-out corner guy in Low-A, he's got to keep mashing. Reportedly Buxton's walk off grand slam last night went 450 feet. While Buxton only has 6 HRs most of them have been no doubters. What is his future power potential? Matt Eddy: Substantial. Think of all the five-tool big league center fielders playing right now. He can be one of them in time. You don't need to apologize for Buxton having "just" six homers. He's got 20 extra-bats hits in 38 games as a middle-diamond teen in the Midwest League (.594). That's amazing.

Nice. Thanks for passing this forward because I completely missed it. Lots of Twins love!

BA released it's update prospect list today going from 100 prospects to 250.

BA released its 6th installment of its Prospect Hot Sheet and for the first time in 6 weeks we don't have a prospect that is on the list. While that is a little disappointing it is to be expected. One thing that should be noted their not-so hot section of the article, as the name suggests is for prospects who had poor weeks, hasn't had a single Twin on it yet. Like always I will get up the Twins chat questions once the chat is over. Link to the article below: Prospect Hot Sheet (May 17): Archie Bradley Deals At Double-A - BaseballAmerica.com

Matt Garrioch released his new draft board today. Enjoy. 2013 MLB Draft: Matt Garrioch's Draft Board - Minor League Ball

Buxton game winning grand slam!

Sorry, didn't mean to derail the article. I was just trying to pass forward information. I personally don't know much Tarpley outside of the fact he is a J.C. LHP with easy arm action and two current major league quality pitches. I have no idea what make up issues Law was referring to.

Stewart at 4 would be a solid pick. I did find it interesting in Laws mock he had Frazier, who is another name often linked with the Twins, fall all the way to 13. In his chat he mentioned the highest he has heard Frazier is 7.

Let's not get our hopes up. Rockies biggest need is pitching too so if some how the Astros are dumb enough to pass on an arm I doubt the Rockies do. Unless there is an injury I put the chances of Appel or Gray to the Twins at under 5%.

I think dream is the key word. While Houston could do something crazy I still don't see either of Appel or Gray making it past both the Cubs/Rockies

From Laws chat this week: You buying into any of this superstar-level hype Buxton is receiving? As a Twins fan, I want to, I just don't know if I should get too worked up over a month of low-A ball. [h=6]Klaw (12:24 PM) [/h] Best prospect in last year's draft, so not just hype.

From Laws chats today: A few people have been saying Twins are thinking of taking Reese McGuire at 4 to save money and potentially get some harder to sign prospects later in the draft. I don't understand since they have a deep system. Wouldn't you rather add the best player at number 4? [h=6]Klaw (12:08 PM) [/h] I've heard that as well, and I do know they like McGuire, but that would be a really poor use of the pick with Kohl Stewart on the board. Who do you honestly think the Twins will take at 4? Hopefully they dont make a deal with mcguire but that sounds like a Twins move. [h=6]Klaw (12:55 PM) [/h] Stewart. Their scouting director has seen him at least three times including Monday. And they want power arms.

From Laws chat today: What's the biggest difference between Manaea last summer and now?Was the Cape a fluke, or is their an injury concern, or is it something else? [h=6]Klaw (12:32 PM) [/h] Not throwing as hard. Rolled his ankle in mid-March, has had some hip soreness since then, not clear if that's a major or minor factor since his stuff was down a tick before then. He pitches tonight and there will be a ton of heat in there.

From Laws chat today: As a Padres fan, I'd be thrilled to see Frazier there at their pick...do you think this is likely or just couldn't place him anywhere above them? [h=6]Klaw (12:10 PM) [/h] The market for him doesn't start till 7, and then he's not the top choice for any team until probably 13. Austin Meadows move quickly or slowly through minors? [h=6]Klaw (12:51 PM) [/h] Closer to "slowly."

From Laws chat today regarding Tarpley Where do you see Stephen Tarpley being drafted? [h=6]Klaw (12:23 PM) [/h] Fourth or fifth rounds. Decent stuff, delivery isn't great, bad makeup.

He would be a steal in the second round based on his talent alone. Twins would have to find extra money some where because you most likely would have to go over slot on him.