Darn. You are using the same argument I was using comparing Chilly (who albeit more successful, fans and writers wanted out of town) with Gardy (who even though less successful than Chilly had major teflon.) Same with Ryan and Spielman. People wanted Spielman's head before last season, while Ryan was treated like everyone's nice little uncle or something
a. He is not walking enough b. Very few AAA pitchers have good breaking balls. c. I'd love to see his slash line against breaking balls because his total does not matter. We are talking about a player with one huge flaw. He needs to fix that one, because MLB pitching will eat him alive (again). It is irrelevant how well he can hit AAA fastballs, even if his OPS were 1500. In other words, if you were selling razors, you would not sell to a guy who cannot grow his beard no matter how long his hair were.
On a personal level I hope that he gets his act and life together. Much more important that baseball. As a Twins' fan I hope that he does the aforementioned elsewhere.
Buxton's slash line etc are irrelevant unless he proves that he can hit (or lay off) good quality breaking balls. All I would look for right now are BBs and Ks. In 109 AAA PAs he has 9 BBs and 24 Ks. This makes me think that he is not there with his issue yet and will get killed (again) in the bigs.
There is an 18 year old centerfielder by the name of Jean Carlos Arias who has not made it to the States yet, but might be the best of the oufielders in the Twins' minors. The other thing is that one can make outfielders out of other spots, but it difficult to make Catchers and Shortstops. I would be totally disappointed if the Twins select and OF in the first 3-4 rounds. Bigger fish to fry
These 2 do not belong in the same sentence (and Palka is a much better prospect IMHO than Walker who has exactly one tool). Palka has a career .273/.353/.498 (.851 OPS). Unlike Walker, he is an OBP and OPS guy. Other than Arcia, Palka is the only LHB in the organization with power potential. The Twins might not need Walker (who as a DH, his best position, is behind at least 3-4 players, depending how you are counting,) but they need Palka
Would you use the same argument for keeping Pierzynski at C and Mientkiewicz at 1B and move Mauer and Morneau to the OF? This is what Ryan has done this season. (And worse, because the two mentioned above were better players than Plouffe) Cannot defend the Sano move, without complaining about the Mauer and Morneau. Same situation. And the results are in the standings.
I am saying that Plouffe has both a scholarship and a tenured position. This is a Morneau/Mientkiewicz situation (and Plouffe is not as good as Mient was)
Believe it or not, Nolasco leads the Twins' starters in: FIP, SIERA, K/9, K%, K/BB, IP, normalized WHIP, and is second in IP/GS, BB%. He is not going anywhere. The Twins (should) have bigger fish to fry including their hitting coach.
I totally agree, that's why in my lists Sano was always ahead of Buxton (and Polanco was ahead of Buxton once,) and that's why Gordon barely made it into top 10. The problem is that minor league performance, esp for pitchers and esp below AAA, does not always equal expected MLB-performance, because, since the minors are developmental leagues, these guys may get shelled by throwing 10 changeups in a row, if that's what they need to work on a particular game. Stuff and potential is a key. Jay could be the best lefty out of the Twins' pen now and Chargois the best righty. That should matter.
I personally had Jay and Burdi, besides Berrios. BA had Stewart as well. It is all about ceiling and likelihood to achieve this ceiling. I think that Hu topped up in the high teens for me. Milone should be the Twins' best prospect based on AAA performance
Depends how one is counting, Gonsalves is from 3rd to 5th Twins' best pitching prospect. Not the best by any means. Plus I'd rather have Gonsalves than Hu every day, unless Hu learned to pitch with the other arm. The problem I had with that trade is that Ryan did his spendthrift thing, instead of going after a couple of arms that were better than Perkins who was faltering (apparently from shoulder issues) while the Twins were competing, he went for Jepsen and Cotts. This season is a great example on why Ryan should had been all in during the deadline as some of us were suggesting...
There still is room at CF. I do not see Santana as an answer to anyone. Mauer's deal will be done before Buxton and Kepler are close to their primes. Still, I'd rather see Vargas (and Arcia) than Kepler next season, unless he develops some power. RH power is sadly missing in this team and that is a gap that Vargas (with Arcia) can help close. Also on the fence on whether Kepler will be a regular in a competing team or a fourth OF. Got to see more. I'd add Dozier to sweeten any deal and #FreeJorgePolanco, but that is another story. I think that the Twins should hold onto Vargas (and Arcia) until they have some other serious LH power options
What is the best thing to do with Mr Vargas? Play the best first baseman at first (Park)Move Mauer to a position of need that he can learn this season (LF)Trade Plouffe and move Sano to 3BVargas at DH, spelling Park at 1B on occasion.Would Ryan or whoever might be ru(i)nning the Twins do it? Nope. He had a chance.
Park is the best fielding first baseman this team has in any level in the organization from A up (pretty sad situation, but it is what it is.) He should be starting there. The guy who should change position (LF is screaming) is Mauer. Trade Plouffe allowing Sano to play where he belongs, slot Vargas to DH and you are set. However, we all know that the people who are ru(i)nning the Twins, will not do it.
Why not? Walker is a DH. Arcia and even Sano are better outfielders than he is; Sano, Park (and Vargas, check what he is doing compared to Walker lately) are better DHs than he is at this point. Great trade bait. Milone is Milone. Been there, done that. And Milone is part of the problem. Better get someone to start with might be part of the future (Like Andrew Albers)