Thrylos

Actually these 2 might be more relevant than attendance : and http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/51d6d91aeab8ea944a000018-608-457/untitled-1-653.jpg So both teams and players have zero reason to complaint regarding the length of the games.

I don't think that it is up to 2017. Looks that it is a decimal point off. 800 should be 80...

I an not sure that I understand where the problem is. Data: Yes games have been a bit longer than before: On the other hand, there are more butts on the seats than before, even though the size of the venues decreased in the teens compared to the 90s: If that last graph looked the other way, then would be a problem with the time of games...

A contender cannot afford to waste PAs. So unless Kepler can prove that he can hit LHP, he should face it only in blowouts. Sure. Develop Kepler against LHP, but not in MLB games where he can cost the post-season. That's what cages and pitching machines are for. Winning games should be more important than developing players at the MLB level for a contender. This is not the Marlins.

Vargas.

Really? 2017 data: Mauer: vs RHP: .304/.386/.430 vs LHP: .308/.377/.377 Kepler: vs RHP: .272/.343/.484 vs LHP: .152/.213/.240 Whose PAs against LHPs should go? I don't get the Mauer hate sometimes...

Here is the story. The Indians started their lives as the Cleveland Spiders, then named the Cleveland Naps for Nap Lajoie. After Lajoie retired in 1914, the Cleveland squad asked the BBWAA to vote for a new nickname for them. They voted to name them the Indians, in honor of their early star Louis Sockalexis, a Native American. Here is the response of one of his ancestors on the recent news.

.304/.427/.557 in 2017 in AAA against LHP. Garver played a grand total of 18 games in the OF and his defense is worse than Grossman's. If you have one good thing going (OF Defense) why disrupt it. This team's Achilles is its pitching. Getting Garver's glove at OF will hurt it more, than getting his bat in the lineup. I still have PTSD from seeing Doumit "play" the OF.

Donuts to dollars that not 100% of their students are Quakers, and some of the non-Quakers may object.

Their 40 man roster is full and they need a spot for a starting pitcher. And unless they get a top of the rotation starter, the third catcher is totally unnecessary. Would I trade Slegers for Susac (which is what effectively would happen.) ? Sure. But whould I trade Granite, Curtiss, or Thorpe (one of whom should come off to accommodate a SP) for him? Likely not.

When a team competes, it is about the present not the future. If the kids are good enough to produce at the major league level then they are the present. If not, the Twins need someone who can.

On the other hand, he had a .763 OPS, .238 BA, and a real nasty concussion in the AFL. The last part worries me the most about Wade, and unless I see solid contact and equally good strike zone judgement in 2018, I will be concerned. Also, I would have a hard time ranking him ahead of Rooker, Kirilloff and Baddoo as far as OFs go. Add a few pitchers, infielders, and it is hard for him to be a top 10 guy... And that's before the concussion...

CarGo throws and hits lefty. I'd rather see the Twins add starting pitching. If they don't adding a RH bat, will be adding lipstick to a pig. That said, if they add starting pitching, getting a RH OF to spell Kepler against LHPs, with a good D also (sorry Grossman) will help them, if they get sign him to an 1 yr /$5-6M deal. Only FA that can do both is Carlos Gomez. Even though he lost a step as a centerfielder, the Twins don't need one and he would be a premier defensive corner OF. Vargas needs a full season chance at DH, so old faithfulls do not need apply...

Sad for whom?

I am pretty sure that there have been about 2-3 more posts/articles here this off-season regarding extending Dozier... The Twins are an organization rich in middle infilled depth, and they better spend the $ that would take to extend Dozier towards pitching or towards extending some of their younger players. They should trade him, or give him a qualifying offer.

Indians technically is not a race of people. It is the collective name given to the many Nations of pre-Columbian Americans. Also, I would suspect that some Catholics might object if their religion is used as a Mascot...

Spartans are actual people. Not that most modern Spartans know or care about the football team. So are: Scots (Alma College & Macalester College) and Fighting Scots (Edinboro University of PA, Gordon College, Ohio Valley U, Wooster), Swedes (Bethany College), Dutch (Central College) & Flying Dutchmen (Hope College & Lebanon Valley College), Chippewas (Central Michigan), Hustlin' Quakers (Earlham), Fighting Quakers (Wilmington College), and Quakers (U Penn), Tejanos (El Paso Community College), Seminoles (FL State), Fighting Illini (Illinois), Ragin' Cajuns (Louisiana Lafayette), Highlanders (MacMurray College, NJIT, Radford U), Choctaws (Miss. State), Pygmies (NM Minning & Tech), Fighting Irish (Notre Dame), Texans (Tarleton State U), Tribe (William & Mary) and I am not including names such as Mountaineeers, Pioneers, Cowboys, Majors, Senators, Colonels, Packers, Lumberjacks 49ers, Vikings, Trojans, Rebels etc that refer to specific groups of people albeit some historic and some occupations. To me "Indian" as a mascot or nickname is about as offensive as "Scot" or "Quaker". Same thing. Pygmies is probably more offensive than all three...

Originally published at The Tenth Inning Stretch ---- This is the second segment in the 2018 Twins top 60 prospect list. You can find the introductory segment that discusses qualifications to be on this list and presents the players who were on the 2017 list but are not in this list here. You can find all segments in this series here. Here are players 56-60 in reverse order with their 2017 ranking in parenthesis. Players no in the 2017 top 60 list are indicated by (--) 60 Jesus Toledo (--) DOB: 8/25/1999; Age: 18 Positions: LHP Bats: L, Throws: L Height: 5'11", Weight: 180 lbs Acquired: Signed on July 8, 2016 from Venezuela Professional Experience: 1; Highest level: DSL (2017) ETA: 2022 Jesus Toledo signed with the Twins as an International Amateur Free Agent on July 8th ot 2016 from San Juan de los Morros, Venezuela, but did not start his professional career until last season. But when he started, it was quite a start. He started the season without allowing a run in 20-2/3 IP (4 starts, 1 relief appearance) had 4 more decent starts in July (14 IP, 3.86 ERA) and ran out of steam in August (1 start, 4 relief appearances 10-2/3 IP). His numbers for last season were: 14 G, 9 GS, 45-1/3 IP, 30 K (15.9 K%, 6.0 K/9), 17 BB (3.4 BB/9, 6.9 K-BB%), 1.26 WHIP (.293 BABIP), 2.38 ERA, 3.88 FIP. The lefty Venezuelan, who is around 6 feet tall with a true sinker and above average change up, should not be overlooked, not only because you know who, but because his stuff is that good, even though his endurance may not be at this point, which is mainly a being in shape and consistent training issue. He pitches to contact at this point allowing twice as many ground balls than fly balls, and only 2.5% of the later resulting in a home rum. He is more evective against lefties, but not bad against righties. Developing a breaking ball, improving his sinker and change and commanding his sinker better, will allow him to miss bats in the future. Likely 2018 path: In the US for String Training, extended Spring Training and starting at the CGL 59 Carson Crites (--) DOB: 1/18/1995; Age: 23 Positions: 2B Bats: R, Throws: R Height: 6'0", Weight: 195 lbs Acquired: Drafted in the 25th round in 2017 Professional Experience: 1; Highest level: ELZ (2017) ETA: 2022 Crites who was born in Oklahoma City and went to High School in Amarillo, TX, was drafted as a senior in the 25th round of the 2017 draft from Southeastern Louisiana University. He established himself as power-speed threat his Senior year with 14 HR and 15 SB in 59 games (231 AB) while hitting .299/.386/.554. In his first season as a pro he hit .300/.349/.453 (.363 wOBA, 115 wRC+) in 38 games (166 PA). He just hit 4 HRs and stole 4 bases (in 7 attempts,) but he hit 11 doubles and overall had 50% extra base hit to hit ratio for a .153 isoP, while walking 10 (6% BB%) and striking out 28 (16.9% K%) times, which indicates that home run power will come upon further adjustment to the wood bat. Crites is a second baseman with a lot of grit. He is a bit older than the league average but he was drafted as a Senior. As a hitter, he utilizes the whole field and has about equal ground ball to fly ball ration. His .339 BABIP is similar to his .344 NCAA average (range .398-.304) so it seems sustainable. He is a similar type player to the current Twins' second baseman Brian Dozier, before the latter became a pure pull ball hitter as a major league player. At the same age and the same level, he is a bit more advanced than Dozier was as far as power (.153 vs .078 isoP) and speed (4.6 vs 4.0 fangraphs Speed) but not contact (.363 vs .392 wOBA). However players develop differently and it will be interesting to see how Crites will develop as he gets accustomed to the wooden bat. Likely 2018 path: Starting the season in Cedar Rapids (A) 58 Ben Rodriguez (--) C/1B DOB: 11/9/1994; Age: 23 Positions: C/1B Bats: R, Throws: R Height: 6'6", Weight: 235 lbs Acquired: Drafted in the 38th round in 2017 Professional Experience: 1; Highest level: GCL (2017) ETA: 2022 Ben Rodriguez was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 38th round of the 2017 draft from Pepperdine University. The Scottsdale, AZ native was named the number 1 catcher from AZ in his High School senior class and was in the top 100 catchers in the nation in that class; however he was not drafted and went to Pepperdine University. He had a break through junior season (.289/.401/.533, 9HR, 21 BB, 48 K, in 135 PA) but a rough landing in his senior season (.230/.311/.378, 19 BB, 62 K, in 196 PA). He did rebound considerable at the GCL later last season (.290/.395/.457, 22 BB, 43 K, .404 wOBA, 144 wRC+ in 162 PA). This 1.95 K/BB ratio was his career best so far. Rodriguez played 5 games (out of 50) at catcher, but at 6'6" and 235, he has already likely outgrown the position and he appears to be a first baseman in the future. Rodriguez has very intriguing power (easy 70 on the 80 grade scale) and mashes lefties (.431/.500/.707 in 58 AB in GCL), however his long swing is not effective against same size pitching (.212/.346/.317 in 104 AB in the GCL) and neutralized by breaking balls outside the zone. He is much older for his league (+2.6 years that the average player), however it was his first time as a pro and was drafted as a senior. The power intrigue is there, and overall his transition to wood has proven positive. Cutting down the strikeouts and finding a way to attack right hand pitching will go a long way towards his development. Likely 2018 path: Extended Spring Training and then Elizabethton (Rk) with potential trips to Cedar Rapids if the need appears. 57 Nelson Molina, (47) DOB: 4/30/1995; Age: 22 Positions: IF Bats: L, Throws: R Height: 6'3", Weight: 175 lbs Acquired: Drafted in the 11th round in 2013 Professional Experience: 5; Highest level: AA (2017) ETA: 2020 Nelson Molina was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 11th round of the 2013 MLB Draft from the Antonio Luchetti High School in Arecibo, PR. He has been developing slowly for the Twins, starting and repeating the GCL level his first two seasons, moving to Elizabethton in 2015 and to A level Cedar Rapids in 2016. He was drafted as a SS, but has played every infield and the corner outfield positions, concentrating at third base before last season and moved to 2B primarily this season, while still playing 1B, 3B, SS, LF and RF. Molina had good plate discipline, but had a hard time making contact. Something clicked for him in 2016 at Cedar Rapids, hitting .300/.374/.381 overall (with only a 13.9 K% and 9.9 BB%) and .321/.383/.419 against RHPs. However last season at Fort Myers (he also had 11 AB in 3 games at Chattanooga) he regressed to a .243/.285/.342 slash line overall and .249/.285/.358 against RHPs. He is tall and lanky with limited power, but the potential to establish it as he grows. He has some speed, stealing 12 bases in Elizabethton, but this season he only had 6 attempts (and 5 SB.) He has been improving with the glove, esp. after being moved away from third base that is his worse position. His bat used to be ahead of his glove, but caught up last season in the wrong direction. The Twins like his versatility but the key to making it to the majors will be his bat. There are early indications that his 2016 .755 OPS, .354 wOBA, 125 wRC+ season at Cedar Rapids might be the exception, since he could not repeat his BABIP (.349) which regressed last season to .275 that is a bit better than his .258 career average. At 22 he is still young but next season will be his 6th as a professional and likely a make or break season. Likely 2018 path: On the Chattanooga roster as a utility player 56 Sandy Lugo, (--) RHP DOB: 3/26/1995; Age: 22 Positions: IF Bats: R, Throws: R Height: 6'0", Weight: 170 lbs Acquired: Drafted in the minor league portion of the 2017 Rule 5 draft from Reds Professional Experience: 4; Highest level: A+ (2017) ETA: 2020 The Twins drafted Sandy Lugo in the minor league portion of the 2017 Rule 5 draft from the Cincinnati Reds. The Reds signed the Las Matas de Farfan, Dominican Republic native on May 14, 2014. Lugo moved fairly quickly in their system playing in the DSL that season: 19 G, 2 GS, 49-2/3 IP, 61 K (11.1 K/9, 28.9 K%) 16 BB (2.9 BB/9, 21.3 K-BB%) 2.90 ERA, 1.91 FIP, 1.19 WHIP and 13 wild pitches. The 2015 season Lugo came to the States cruising through their Arizona League Rookie squad in 4 games and moving up to high altitude Rookie Pioneer League Billings Mustangs where he appeared in 13 games with 17-2/3 IP, striking out 23 (11.7 K/9, 28.1 K%), walking 8 (4.1 BB/9, 18.3 K-BB%) with a 5.60 ERA, 4.54 FIP and 1.47 WHIP. In 2016 he moved to the Midwest League (A) Dayton Dragons where he appeared in 30 games for 55 innings, striking out 77 (12.6 K/9, 34.4 K%) walking 13 (2.1 BB/9, 28.6 K-BB%) and throwing 8 wild pitches with a 2.45 ERA, 2.91 FIP and 1.07 WHIP. Last season after 5 games in Dayton, he moved to High A Daytona (Florida State League) where he appeared in 42 games, pitched 64-1/3 innings, struck out 82 (11.5 K/9, 28.6 K%), walked 40 (5.6 BB/9, 14.6 K-BB%), threw 16 wild pitches hit 5 batters, and had a 5.32 ERA, 3.87 FIP, and 1.41 WHIP. The twenty-two year old has a 91-94 mph fastball that on occasion touches a couple ticks more, but his best pitch is a true plus upper 70s curveball. His problem has been command and control of his fastball, which has abandoned him at times. The Twins have probably seen enough of his the past 2 seasons in the Midwest and Florida State Leagues to think that they can help him command his fastball to go with his plus curveball. The key for Lugo is to do exactly that and get ahead in the count. Otherwise hitters who can recognize the spin of the ball will just ignore the curve and sit on his fastball. Definitely a work in process but the potential is there Likely 2018 path: Repeating the FSL with the Miracle to start the season with a possible promotion to Chattannooga depending on command of the fastball. Next: 55-51

Remember there were a lot of changes in the Minors last off-season. There is a brand new Minor League director as well as Pitching coordinator. So maybe they did not give them thorough instructions... Good to hear from Ober. If he gets his mechanics down and gets a couple more ticks in his fastball, he could be a force.

"Bleacher report" has ranked Gordon as the Twins' number 2 prospect and Kirilloff as their number 6. Methinks they have bigger fish to fry than Littel And thus the question: Have they seen Littel pitch?

Yes, esp. in lower levels when teams have 3-4 catchers. They like to rotate them to 1B and DH and have each catch 25-40% of the time, depending on the level.

Originally posted at The Tenth Inning Stretch --- I usually start and post my top 60 Twins' prospect list a bit earlier that this (last year the first post was January 10th) because I want to pay full attention to Spring Training when that starts, and it starts soon. However, I waited longer this season because I expected the Twins to make moves that may affect this list. They really did not. If such a move occurs, and a newcomer is ranked 35th, I will keep the original list intact, rank the newcomer 35a and the previous number 35 prospect 35b. It will be interesting to see what the future brings as far as this aspect is concerned. I will be posting in reverse rankings starting next week, from number 60 to number 1, in chunks of 5, and a final summary post, total 13 posts. I am hoping to be posting up to 3 a week to finish by the end of February. The inclusion criteria from my list is different than those for most prospect lists that include everyone with rookie eligibility as a prospect. As far as this list is concerned, anyone who has made it to the majors has "graduated" from prospect status, so is ineligible. I am including an additional criterion this year: everyone for whom 2018 will be his age 26 or older season, will be excluded because he "came of age" to be regarded as a prospect. As a baseline here is the Twins 2017 off-season top 60 prospect list, and here is that summary with links to individual profiles and scouting reports. There is a lot of churn in the Twins top 60 from 2017 to 2018. Only 27 players are returning from the 2017 list and there are 33 new comers, and some highly ranked. Here are the players who were in the 2017 list, but dropped for reasons other than performance, with their 2017 ranking in parenthesis, and the reason they were dropped: Daniel Palka (7) OF, - claimed on waivers Adalbelto Mejia (9) LHP, - graduated Mitch Garver (10) C, - graduated Nick Burdi (12) RHRP, - selected on Rule 5 draft Engelb Vielma SS (14), - claimed on waivers Mason Melotakis (18), LHRP, - came of age Amaurys Minier (19) OF/1B, - released Huascar Ynoa (20), RHSP, - traded Justin Haley (21) RHP, - returned from Rule 5 pick Felix Jorge (23), RHSP, - graduated Niko Goodrum (26), CF/IF, - graduated, left as a MiLB FA Trevor Hildenberger (27) RHP - graduated D.J. Baxendale, (28) RHP; - came of age Dereck Rodriguez, (34) RHP – - came of age, left as a MiLB FA John Curtiss, (35) RHP; - graduated Travis Harrison (37), OF/1B, - released Aaron Slegers (38), RHP - graduated Levi Michael (40), 2B, - came of age Brandon Peterson (42), RHRP, - came of age, left as a MiLB FA Zach Granite, (43) OF, - graduated Jason Wheeler (51) LHP, - graduated, traded Michael Cederoth (60) RHP - Released The following 4 players came to the organization too late to be included in the 2017 list, or were not there for other reasons, but they are excluded from the 2018 list: (--) LHP Gabriel Moya - graduated (--) LHP Dietriech Enns - graduated, came of age (--) RHP Nick Anderson - came of age (--) C Wynston Sawyer - came of age As last season, unless he becomes a full-time professional baseball player, Griffin Jax will not be included because of high risk The following 10 players were included in the 2017 list (ranking in parenthesis) but dropped from the 2018 list, due to performance, progression, and/or better newcomers: Michael Theophanopoulos (33), LHP Brandon Lopez (41) SS Humberto Maldonado (44) OF Tyler Benninghoff, (46) RHP Taylor Clemensia (48) LHP Eduardo Del Rosario (49) RHP Jordan Balazovic, (50) RHP Zander Wiel, (53) 1B Colton Davis (56) RHP Williams Ramirez (57) RHP Next: Twins prospects 56-60

Interesting to see what the Cubs and Cardinals will do

Is it confirmed that Navaretto will not catch any more? Because the only thing he has going for him is his glove at catcher. He cannot hit his way out of a paper bag...

Allegedly he already has a 5 year offer on the table, which I suspect guarantees at least double of that $56 million...