Thrylos

Fort Myers Miracle released 3B Jairo Perez today and the New Britain Rock Cats release 1B Matt Rizzotti earlier this week

Beloit Snappers placed RHP Tim Shibuya on the 7-Day disabled list. Rochester Red Wings placed RHP Deolis Guerra on the 7-Day disabled list.

Well... AAA is the repository of never have beens for the Twins No surprise there... I am not even surprised that the former manager's son (27 year old Shawn Roof) is still with the team at AA instead of getting a kid from Fort Myers there or that 24 year old Liddle's nephew is in Beloit instead of some kids who are currently in E-town (like DJ Hicks for example...) But that's the Twins' way.

Arcia's biggest issue has been hitting the breaking ball. This year, he got better at Fort Myers (2:1 K:BB from 5:1 in 2011.) Somewhat regressed in New Britain (3:1) but let's see how he adjusts the rest of the season. Still he is 21 years old (and Hicks 22, so don't write him off too soon also.) Another issue with Arcia is that he is not the smoothest defender out there. Not Parmelee-like at RF, but not that much better.

Saw him pitch a couple months ago with Rochester against the IronPigs and at last Spring Training. Once a highly rated prospect of the Rockies, he was DFA'd before the 2011 season and then I think was picked up by the Padres where he pitched a tad out of the pen. 93-95 but fairly flat and wild 4-seamer, 91-92 2-seamer with decent movement, average change and a plus plus hammer curve. That last pitch is his out pitch. Once it on, and when he controls his fastball, he is practically uninhabitable. Given the Twins' tendencies, I was thinking that they will make him abandon his 4-seamer, but he was throwing it earlier this season in Rochester. Control is his big thing, but he is getting better after he came back from the DL for Rochester.

Unassigned.

For the sake of completeness, because it is always the forgotten Twins' team for some reason, but it does exist (roster here, btw) : DSL Twins: Restricted list: Pedro Estaba, Alexandre De Oliveira Also, Yeison Florentino (DSL), Kennys Vargas (GCL) and Ezequiel Zarzuela (DSL) are on the suspended list, as well

sixteen year old ball in Australia... I still need to figure out what it means, but I suspect the level of competition is less that than of an urban US high school area. Maybe like rural US high school competition. At that level, a kid with a decent curve ball (I mean average curveball) which can be thrown for strikes, will strike out every other batter. So 37K in 30 IP is not that out of the question... Just need to understand the level of competition better. He has not played in the pro circuit in Australia and is relatively unknown there (I asked an Aussie pitcher who played pro ball in the US what he thought of him and he said that he has never heard of him before the Twins signed him.) He has been flying under the radar.

Totally agree. He just turned 27 and he is entering his prime. And this season has turned the corner with the glove. And he has been hitting but needs more consistent time to him with more consistency. If there is one who should not be in the Twins' future is Carroll. He is old. Casilla is not and the Twins do not have a pipeline of middle infielders in the minors. For some reason Casilla has been in the doghouse. Might be that he is Latin and there is not good communication with him and the manager and the coaches (and he would not be the first Latin player who has communication isssues in minny.) Who knows, but he deserves more playing time.

Oops... he is 28. Fixed. Thanks!

True, if you define "few pretty solid years" as "a single just below average season"

Yep. And the are drafting kids who were born in '94. And that hit me, because that is when my oldest kid was born... we all are getting old...

A few things in play here: a. I think that based on observations from returns from a TJ surgery for SPs, really we are looking at 2014 for Baker to be effective, so if the Twins are going to do anything for 2013 it better include a team-friendly 2014 option. b. Darn... some of the numbers that are thrown out there like 800K and 1.5M... Remember, this team signed a borderline MLB starter (Marquis) to a $3.5 M contract and gave a number 4 starter (Pavano) $8.5 M to sit most of this year. And I am not even going to mention the Blackburn or the Capps contracts. So I think that fair be fair, we are looking at at $3-4 M base if the Twins (or anyone else) are going to go the Baker way. c. Baker will be 31 in 2013 and 32 in 2014. I still think that the Twins need to fix their infrastructure, both medical and coaching, before they start investing on older hurt players like that...

Indeed... The "hot" is kind of a mis-nomer. I have been doing these for a few years now, started calling them the wrong thing, so they got stuck. It is a cumulative performance list. Kinda handy to see overall performance during a particular season so the players who are steadily good (or better than good) are recognized... Conversly, with the not-so hot list, I am looking at season-long laggers, not folks who had a bad week or 2 or 3.

A few more positives (agree with the ones mentioned here) , but are hidden... - Span is not bothered by concussions - Ditto for Morneau - Casilla finally got it together with the glove (but unfortunately he does not get the playing time he deserves to get consistency with the stick) - Cole De Vries (who actually has the second highest K/9 for starters after FranKKKKKKKKKKKKie) is actually silencing the experts who thought that he was organizational filler - this front office did a couple things that has not done before during the season: a. cut their second highest paid free agent acquisition, b. extended a player during the season and c. kept another high paid player (Nishioka) where he belongs (AAA) - Gardenhire and his buddies did not get extended yet. Still a long season left and I am sure that there will be many more positives.

If he comes back after the AS break, he probably has 2-3 starts in July and 4-5 in August to generate value. At this point anyone with a pulse has more future with the Twins than Pavano does, so if they get anything in return, the better it is. If they don't, they can just sit him and play the kids, esp. if he is not eager to come back. That would do wonders to his free agent value.

Here is why this is fair and makes sense: - each of these guys make 4 times as much when they are in the bigs vs when they are in AAA - Cole De Vries has been pitching better than Liam Hendriks with the Twins he deserves to make more money than Liam Hendriks Glad that the Twins are doing the right thing here...

Not sure that you can get his June splits easily, because he was in 2 leagues, but Luis Perdomo had a monster month in AA and AAA and deserves to be in the list. And he faced better competition than the others. (On the other hand he is 28)

Originally published at The Tenth Inning Stretch --- This is the third version of the 'who is hot in the Twins' minors' series for 2012. The Rookie leagues are in full swing, promotions and cuts have happened and a lot of things have changed from the last "who is hot" list. Lots of new blood, and I have been intentionally delaying this to include the Rookie league players. I am using 25 PA and 9 IP as a cut-off. Again, this is not a particular "fragment in time", but year-to-date cumulative performance. Injured players (like Eddie Rosario) are included. Players currently on the 25 man roster (like Liam Hendriks) or the MLB-DL (like PJ Walters) are not included. The "who is not" list will come later this week after the Holiday. Here is the list, going from AAA to Rookie. The clubs represented are AAA Rochester Red Wings, International League, AA New Britain Rock Cats, Eastern League, A+ Fort Myers Miracle, Florida State League, A Beloit Snappers, Midwest League, Advanced Rookie, Elizabethton Twins, Appalachian League, Rookie, Gulf Coast League Twins, and Foreign Rookie Dominican Summer League Twins. (does include yesterday's games) : http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5152/7098789651_02fb66b359_z.jpg Catchers: Kyle Knudson (RHB, 24, A/A+) .308/.379/.404 1 HR, 17 RBI, 118 PA Matthew Koch (RHB, 23, A) .278/.399/.477, 6 HR, 26 RBI, 185 PA Jairo Rodriguez (RHB, 23, A) .287/.355/.398, 2 HR, 12 RBI, 124 PA Michael Quesada (RHB, 22, Rk+) .375/.464/.542, 6 RBI, 28 PA Infielders: Miguel Sano (RHB, 19, A) .244/.361/.509 18 HR, 57 RBI, 388 PA Eddie Rosario (LHB, 20, A) .293/.362/.473 7 HR, 40 RBI, 9 SB, 271 PA Niko Goodrum (SHB, 20, Rk+) .306/.443/.735 2 HR, 14 RBI, 61 PA Travis Harrison (RHB, 19, Rk+) .354/.436/.479 1 HR, 4 RBI, 55 PA Stephen Wickens (RHB, 23, Rk+) .483/.543/.690 4 RBI, 35 PA Aderlin Mejia (SHB, 20, Rk) .353/.378/.500 6 RBI, 38 PA Outfielders: Matt Carson (RHB, 30, AAA) .278/.351/.429, 6 HR, 28 RBI, 299 PA Wilkin Ramirez (RHB, 26, A+/AA/AAA) .268/.290/.468, 10 HR, 26 RBI, 238 PA Aaron Hicks (SHB, 22, AA) .257/.348/.408 7 HR, 36 RBI, 18 SB, 288 PA Oswaldo Arcia (LHB, 21, A+/AA) .304/.371/.500 8 HR, 43 RBI 295 PA Nate Roberts (LHB, 23, A) .295/.431/.466 3 HR, 14 RBI, 110 PA Romy Jimenez (RHB, 21, Rk+) .439/.467/.976 5 HR, 16 RBI, 45 PA Candido Pimentel (SHB, 21, Rk+) .326/.367/.413 5 RBI, 50 PA Derek Rodriguez (RHB, 20, Rk) .429/.556/.643 1 HR, 4 RBI, 36 PA Adonis Pachero (LHB, 20, Rk-DSL) .313/.374/.518 8 RBI, 92 PA 1st basemen/DH: Chris Colabello (RHB, 28, AA) .251/.319/.476 13 HR, 57 RBI, 299 PA Steven Liddle (LHB, 24, A) .294/.419/.490 1 HR, 5 RBI, 62 PA Rory Rhodes (LHB, 20, A/Rk+) .278/.345/.444 5 HR, 28 RBI, 165 PA DJ Hicks (LHB, 22, Rk+) .281/.410/.469 1 HR, 8 RBI, 39 PA RH Starters: Sam Deduno (28, AAA) 2.14 ERA, 1.167 WHIP, 9.86 K/9, 2.09 K/BB (42 IP) Cole DeVries (27, AAA) 4.37 ERA, 1.214 WHIP, 6.4 K/9, 5 K/BB (70 IP) BJ Hermsen (22, A+/AA) 2.90 ERA, 1.108 WHIP, 4.45 K/9, 3.39 K/BB (93 IP) Tyler Jones (22, A) 2.63 ERA, 1.061 WHIP, 11.85 K/9, 4.50 K/BB (27.1 IP) Matthew Summers (22, A) 3.75 ERA, 1.219 WHIP, 6 K/9, 2.06 K/BB (96 IP) Kuo Hua Lo (19, Rk) 0.75 ERA, 0.417 WHIP, 8.2 K/9, INF K/BB (12 IP) Angel Mata (19, Rk) 2.03 ERA, 1.200 WHIP, 6.75 K/9, 1.11 K/BB (13.1 IP) Junior Subero (20, Rk-DSL) 0.56 ERA, 0.563 WHIP, 6.75 K/9, 12 K/BB (16 IP) Damian Defrank (19, Rk-DSL) 2.33 ERA, 0.931 WHIP, 6.52 K/9, 2.33 K/BB (19.1 IP) LH Starters: Andrew Albers (26, AA) 3.77 ERA. 1.270 WHIP, 6.78 K/0, 6 K/BB (71.2 IP) Corey Kimes (22, Rk+) 3.86 ERA, 1.286 WHIP, 4.5 K/9, 2.33K/BB (14 IP) RH Relievers: Carlos Gutierrez (25, AAA) 5.06 ERA, 1.000 WHIP, 11.25 K/9, 6.67 K/BB (16 IP) Anthony Slama (28, AAA) 0.40 ERA, 1.132 WHIP, 14.69 K/9, 3.08 K/BB (22.2 IP) Casey Fien (28, AAA) 4.50 ERA, 1.205 WHIP, 7.77 K/9, 2.71 K/BB (44 IP) Luis Perdomo (28,AA/AAA) 2.56 ERA, 1.007 WHIP, 9.85 K/9, 3.13 K/BB (45.2 IP) Deolis Guerra (23,AA/AAA) 3.83 ERA, 1.095 WHIP, 8.94 K/9, 2.88 K/BB (49.1 IP) Lester Oliveros (24, AA/AAA) 2.63 ERA, 1.062 WHIP, 9.6 K/9, 3.33 K/BB (37.2 IP) Dakota Watts (24, A+/AA) 1.13 ERA, 0.938 WHIP, 7.88 K/9, 2.8 K/BB (16 IP) Bruce Pugh (22, A+/AA) 1.71 ERA, 1.214 WHIP, 9.21` K/9, 2.69 K/BB (42 IP) Matthew Houser (24, A+) 2.30 ERA, 1.021 WHIP, 8.04 K/9, 2.63 K/BB (47 IP) AJ Achter (23, A/A+) 2.30 ERA, 1.021 WHIP, 10.72 K/9, 4.67 K/BB (47 IP) Michael Tonkin (22, A/A+) 1.35 ERA, 0.971 WHIP, 12.51 K/9, 5.25 K/BB (45.1 IP) Tim Atherton (22, A) 0.44 ERA, 0.823 WHIP, 13.94 K/9, 3.20 K/BB (20.2 IP) Josh Burris (20, Rk+) 0.82 ERA, 0.727 WHIP, 9.82 K/9, 4 K/BB (11 IP) Javier Vargas (19, Rk-DSL) 1.33 ERA, 0.836 WHIP, 5.31 K/9, 6 K/BB (20.1 IP) LH Relievers: Caleb Thielbar (25, A+/AA/AAA) 1.34 ERA, 0.851 WHIP, 12.27 K/9, 2.5 K/BB (47 IP) .ose Gonzalez (22, A+) 5.31 ERA, 1.230 WHIP, 8.63 K/9, 3.25 K/BB (40.2 IP) Nelvin Fuentes (23 A/A+) 2.74 ERA, 1.289 WHIP, 8.44 K/9, 2.86 K/BB (42.2 IP) Clint Dempster (22, A) 2.56 ERA, 1.263 WHIP, 7.11 K/9, 1.8 K/BB (31.2 IP) Matthew Tomshaw (23, A) 2.91 ERA, 1.147 WHIP, 6.62 K/9, 3.57 K/BB (34 IP, 5 GS) David Hurlbut (22, A) 1.53 ERA, 1.213 WHIP, 8.04 K/9, 3 K/BB (47 IP, 5 GS) Corey Williams (21, A) 3.13 ERA, 1.313 WHIP, 9.64 K/9, 2.22 K/BB (37.1 IP) Brett Lee (21, Rk+) 1.00 ERA, 1.000 WHIP, 6 K/9, 6 K/BB (9 IP) Jadison Jimenez19, Rk-DSL) 1.93 ERA, 1.143 WHIP, 5.14 K/9, 1.33 K/BB (14 IP)

Originally published at The Tenth Inning Stretch --- This is the third version of the 'who is hot in the Twins' minors' series for 2012. The Rookie leagues are in full swing, promotions and cuts have happened and a lot of things have changed from the last "who is hot" list. Lots of new blood, and I have been intentionally delaying this to include the Rookie league players. I am using 25 PA and 9 IP as a cut-off. Again, this is not a particular "fragment in time", but year-to-date cumulative performance. Injured players (like Eddie Rosario) are included. Players currently on the 25 man roster (like Liam Hendriks) or the MLB-DL (like PJ Walters) are not included. The "who is not" list will come later this week after the Holiday. Here is the list, going from AAA to Rookie. The clubs represented are AAA Rochester Red Wings, International League, AA New Britain Rock Cats, Eastern League, A+ Fort Myers Miracle, Florida State League, A Beloit Snappers, Midwest League, Advanced Rookie, Elizabethton Twins, Appalachian League, Rookie, Gulf Coast League Twins, and Foreign Rookie Dominican Summer League Twins. (does include yesterday's games) : http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5152/7098789651_02fb66b359_z.jpg Catchers: Kyle Knudson (RHB, 24, A/A+) .308/.379/.404 1 HR, 17 RBI, 118 PA Matthew Koch (RHB, 23, A) .278/.399/.477, 6 HR, 26 RBI, 185 PA Jairo Rodriguez (RHB, 23, A) .287/.355/.398, 2 HR, 12 RBI, 124 PA Michael Quesada (RHB, 22, Rk+) .375/.464/.542, 6 RBI, 28 PA Infielders: Miguel Sano (RHB, 19, A) .244/.361/.509 18 HR, 57 RBI, 388 PA Eddie Rosario (LHB, 20, A) .293/.362/.473 7 HR, 40 RBI, 9 SB, 271 PA Niko Goodrum (SHB, 20, Rk+) .306/.443/.735 2 HR, 14 RBI, 61 PA Travis Harrison (RHB, 19, Rk+) .354/.436/.479 1 HR, 4 RBI, 55 PA Stephen Wickens (RHB, 23, Rk+) .483/.543/.690 4 RBI, 35 PA Aderlin Mejia (SHB, 20, Rk) .353/.378/.500 6 RBI, 38 PA Outfielders: Matt Carson (RHB, 30, AAA) .278/.351/.429, 6 HR, 28 RBI, 299 PA Wilkin Ramirez (RHB, 26, A+/AA/AAA) .268/.290/.468, 10 HR, 26 RBI, 238 PA Aaron Hicks (SHB, 22, AA) .257/.348/.408 7 HR, 36 RBI, 18 SB, 288 PA Oswaldo Arcia (LHB, 21, A+/AA) .304/.371/.500 8 HR, 43 RBI 295 PA Nate Roberts (LHB, 23, A) .295/.431/.466 3 HR, 14 RBI, 110 PA Romy Jimenez (RHB, 21, Rk+) .439/.467/.976 5 HR, 16 RBI, 45 PA Candido Pimentel (SHB, 21, Rk+) .326/.367/.413 5 RBI, 50 PA Derek Rodriguez (RHB, 20, Rk) .429/.556/.643 1 HR, 4 RBI, 36 PA Adonis Pachero (LHB, 20, Rk-DSL) .313/.374/.518 8 RBI, 92 PA 1st basemen/DH: Chris Colabello (RHB, 28, AA) .251/.319/.476 13 HR, 57 RBI, 299 PA Steven Liddle (LHB, 24, A) .294/.419/.490 1 HR, 5 RBI, 62 PA Rory Rhodes (LHB, 20, A/Rk+) .278/.345/.444 5 HR, 28 RBI, 165 PA DJ Hicks (LHB, 22, Rk+) .281/.410/.469 1 HR, 8 RBI, 39 PA RH Starters: Sam Deduno (28, AAA) 2.14 ERA, 1.167 WHIP, 9.86 K/9, 2.09 K/BB (42 IP) Cole DeVries (27, AAA) 4.37 ERA, 1.214 WHIP, 6.4 K/9, 5 K/BB (70 IP) BJ Hermsen (22, A+/AA) 2.90 ERA, 1.108 WHIP, 4.45 K/9, 3.39 K/BB (93 IP) Tyler Jones (22, A) 2.63 ERA, 1.061 WHIP, 11.85 K/9, 4.50 K/BB (27.1 IP) Matthew Summers (22, A) 3.75 ERA, 1.219 WHIP, 6 K/9, 2.06 K/BB (96 IP) Kuo Hua Lo (19, Rk) 0.75 ERA, 0.417 WHIP, 8.2 K/9, INF K/BB (12 IP) Angel Mata (19, Rk) 2.03 ERA, 1.200 WHIP, 6.75 K/9, 1.11 K/BB (13.1 IP) Junior Subero (20, Rk-DSL) 0.56 ERA, 0.563 WHIP, 6.75 K/9, 12 K/BB (16 IP) Damian Defrank (19, Rk-DSL) 2.33 ERA, 0.931 WHIP, 6.52 K/9, 2.33 K/BB (19.1 IP) LH Starters: Andrew Albers (26, AA) 3.77 ERA. 1.270 WHIP, 6.78 K/0, 6 K/BB (71.2 IP) Corey Kimes (22, Rk+) 3.86 ERA, 1.286 WHIP, 4.5 K/9, 2.33K/BB (14 IP) RH Relievers: Carlos Gutierrez (25, AAA) 5.06 ERA, 1.000 WHIP, 11.25 K/9, 6.67 K/BB (16 IP) Anthony Slama (28, AAA) 0.40 ERA, 1.132 WHIP, 14.69 K/9, 3.08 K/BB (22.2 IP) Casey Fien (28, AAA) 4.50 ERA, 1.205 WHIP, 7.77 K/9, 2.71 K/BB (44 IP) Luis Perdomo (28,AA/AAA) 2.56 ERA, 1.007 WHIP, 9.85 K/9, 3.13 K/BB (45.2 IP) Deolis Guerra (23,AA/AAA) 3.83 ERA, 1.095 WHIP, 8.94 K/9, 2.88 K/BB (49.1 IP) Lester Oliveros (24, AA/AAA) 2.63 ERA, 1.062 WHIP, 9.6 K/9, 3.33 K/BB (37.2 IP) Dakota Watts (24, A+/AA) 1.13 ERA, 0.938 WHIP, 7.88 K/9, 2.8 K/BB (16 IP) Bruce Pugh (22, A+/AA) 1.71 ERA, 1.214 WHIP, 9.21` K/9, 2.69 K/BB (42 IP) Matthew Houser (24, A+) 2.30 ERA, 1.021 WHIP, 8.04 K/9, 2.63 K/BB (47 IP) AJ Achter (23, A/A+) 2.30 ERA, 1.021 WHIP, 10.72 K/9, 4.67 K/BB (47 IP) Michael Tonkin (22, A/A+) 1.35 ERA, 0.971 WHIP, 12.51 K/9, 5.25 K/BB (45.1 IP) Tim Atherton (22, A) 0.44 ERA, 0.823 WHIP, 13.94 K/9, 3.20 K/BB (20.2 IP) Josh Burris (20, Rk+) 0.82 ERA, 0.727 WHIP, 9.82 K/9, 4 K/BB (11 IP) Javier Vargas (19, Rk-DSL) 1.33 ERA, 0.836 WHIP, 5.31 K/9, 6 K/BB (20.1 IP) LH Relievers: Caleb Thielbar (25, A+/AA/AAA) 1.34 ERA, 0.851 WHIP, 12.27 K/9, 2.5 K/BB (47 IP) .ose Gonzalez (22, A+) 5.31 ERA, 1.230 WHIP, 8.63 K/9, 3.25 K/BB (40.2 IP) Nelvin Fuentes (23 A/A+) 2.74 ERA, 1.289 WHIP, 8.44 K/9, 2.86 K/BB (42.2 IP) Clint Dempster (22, A) 2.56 ERA, 1.263 WHIP, 7.11 K/9, 1.8 K/BB (31.2 IP) Matthew Tomshaw (23, A) 2.91 ERA, 1.147 WHIP, 6.62 K/9, 3.57 K/BB (34 IP, 5 GS) David Hurlbut (22, A) 1.53 ERA, 1.213 WHIP, 8.04 K/9, 3 K/BB (47 IP, 5 GS) Corey Williams (21, A) 3.13 ERA, 1.313 WHIP, 9.64 K/9, 2.22 K/BB (37.1 IP) Brett Lee (21, Rk+) 1.00 ERA, 1.000 WHIP, 6 K/9, 6 K/BB (9 IP) Jadison Jimenez19, Rk-DSL) 1.93 ERA, 1.143 WHIP, 5.14 K/9, 1.33 K/BB (14 IP)

About this: Not a joke, just a play in words... I was referring to a militant (guerrilla) and not to an ape (gorilla)

Not quite there, but close enough. I'd be curious in everyone's answers to these: 1. The _Cleveland Indians _will win the AL Central with a record of _80-82__. 2. The Minnesota Twins will finish in last place in the division with a record of 61-101. * 3. Current Twins who will be wearing new uniforms after the trade deadline include: Liriano, Span, Capps, Pavano, Morneau, Blackburn (the last one will be wearing a Rochester Uniform) 4. The Pittsburgh Pirates will defeat the Baltimore Orioles to win the 2012 World Series.

Even the 500 pound guerrilla of minor leagues and prospect scouting says that "Goodrum has the system's best throwing arm, he runs well and his hands are soft enough to stay on the infield". The fact that he is a tall kid scare some and might think that the OF is his future. Michael hasn't played enough pro ball yet. Half a season. Grimes is not a SS on the other hand

Originally Published at The Tenth Inning Stretch --- Here is this week's installment: Here is an interesting article about the Twins getting stuck in the nineteenth century. This suggest to me that wholesale philosophy (and personnel) changes might be necessary to make them competitive in this century. The Twins have signed Ryan Doumit to a 2 year $7 million extension late last week. I think that it is a great deal esp. for that kind of money. Also, as I suggested last week when it was pretty much a done deal, the Twins have announced yesterday that they have signed 6'2" 190 lbs, 16 year old Dominican switch hitting SS Amaurys Minier to a $1.4 Million bonus, their second highest bonus to an international player after Miguel Sano. He is expected to develop power as well. After last season ended I gave evidence that Nick Blackburn does not belong to a major league rotation (and that Carl Pavano is a 4th or 5th starter at best), but maybe I misjudged (I hope so) Scott Diamond, because of the small sample size. But I have been showing that Blackburn (and Glen Perkins then) did not belong to a major league rotation since 2009, well before that ill-advised extension. Former Twins' pitcher Tony Davis signed a contract with the independent league Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks of the American Association. Former Twins' CF Rich Becker also played for a bit with the RedHawks. Congratulations to New Britain Rock Cats LHP Andrew Albers, RHP B.J Hermsen and C Chris Herrmann who were selected to the Class AA Eastern League All-Star team Good news about Kyle Gibson: He is on schedule to pitch in games in August and possibly in the Arizona Fall League, after the season is over. I have intentionally been delaying the next versions of who is hot and who is not in the Twins' minors lists in order to get players from the rookie leagues. Expect them any time now. Nice article on Beloit's Drew Leachman by the Beloit Daily News. There we learn that his favorite baseball player is not a Minnesota Twins' player but a current Atlanta Braves' player. That's like drinking Pepsi Seven Up, while working for Coke. The Twins' product of the week is the 2012 Minnesota Twins Stars And Stripes caphttp://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=biowriters&l=as2&o=1&a=B0075CVJ1A. Much better than what they wore last season, this one is a keeper Happy and Safe 4th of July to all! The parting shot today is of the Twins' sole representative in the 2012 All Star game. Go get them Joe. http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7067/6873269016_4f1ef33069_z.jpg

Originally Published at The Tenth Inning Stretch --- Here is this week's installment: Here is an interesting article about the Twins getting stuck in the nineteenth century. This suggest to me that wholesale philosophy (and personnel) changes might be necessary to make them competitive in this century. The Twins have signed Ryan Doumit to a 2 year $7 million extension late last week. I think that it is a great deal esp. for that kind of money. Also, as I suggested last week when it was pretty much a done deal, the Twins have announced yesterday that they have signed 6'2" 190 lbs, 16 year old Dominican switch hitting SS Amaurys Minier to a $1.4 Million bonus, their second highest bonus to an international player after Miguel Sano. He is expected to develop power as well. After last season ended I gave evidence that Nick Blackburn does not belong to a major league rotation (and that Carl Pavano is a 4th or 5th starter at best), but maybe I misjudged (I hope so) Scott Diamond, because of the small sample size. But I have been showing that Blackburn (and Glen Perkins then) did not belong to a major league rotation since 2009, well before that ill-advised extension. Former Twins' pitcher Tony Davis signed a contract with the independent league Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks of the American Association. Former Twins' CF Rich Becker also played for a bit with the RedHawks. Congratulations to New Britain Rock Cats LHP Andrew Albers, RHP B.J Hermsen and C Chris Herrmann who were selected to the Class AA Eastern League All-Star team Good news about Kyle Gibson: He is on schedule to pitch in games in August and possibly in the Arizona Fall League, after the season is over. I have intentionally been delaying the next versions of who is hot and who is not in the Twins' minors lists in order to get players from the rookie leagues. Expect them any time now. Nice article on Beloit's Drew Leachman by the Beloit Daily News. There we learn that his favorite baseball player is not a Minnesota Twins' player but a current Atlanta Braves' player. That's like drinking Pepsi Seven Up, while working for Coke. The Twins' product of the week is the 2012 Minnesota Twins Stars And Stripes caphttp://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=biowriters&l=as2&o=1&a=B0075CVJ1A. Much better than what they wore last season, this one is a keeper Happy and Safe 4th of July to all! The parting shot today is of the Twins' sole representative in the 2012 All Star game. Go get them Joe. http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7067/6873269016_4f1ef33069_z.jpg