Seth Stohs

A nice Perfect Game article on Sano, the movie and how much he's grown over the year. I like the part when Nelson Prada mentions that Sano had 30 errors in the first half and just 11 in the second half. They had him start taking ground balls at SS during batting practice which really helped his range at 3B as well. http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=7615

Yeah, he was supposed to go to Elizabethton that first year, but there was a need in Beloit so he was pushed a little too quickly.

The batting average went down, but the Isolated discipline and Isolated power went up... Agree with DPJ on the athletes in the low levels. I would say that next year will be a big year for him!

I don't... I'm 'checked in' all year round.

You can view the page at http://www.twinsdaily.com/content.php?1013-Snappers-Stop-Clinton-in-Game-1

On Wednesday night, the Beloit Snappers traveled to Clinton to play Game 1 of their Best of Three Midwest League Quarterfinal. The LumberJacks are one of the hottest teams in all of baseball. They won the final ten games of the regular season and won 17 of their last 18 games. They won the division’s second half title by 10 games. However, on this night, the two teams went back and forth for nine innings, and in the end, the Snappers won Game 1 by a score of 8-6 in a game where literally every player contributed to the win. As hitting coach and former Twins infielder Tommy Watkins stated after the game, “It was exciting. It definitely had a playoff feel!” [ATTACH=CONFIG]2273[/ATTACH] Beloit started lefty Jason Wheeler. During the regular season, he was 14-6 with a 3.45 ERA. After the Snappers went scoreless in the top of the first, Clinton scored two runs in the bottom of the inning on a Ramon Morla two-run double. (Some Twins fans may remember that he and Oswaldo Arcia battled at the top of most offensive categories in the Appalachian League two years ago.) The Snappers clawed back. In the top of the second, after singles by Kennys Vargas and Drew Leachman, Stephen Wickens bunted them to 2nd and 3rd. Matt Koch flew out but it was deep enough to score Vargas on a very close play at the plate to cut the deficit to 2-1. In the top of the third, Wang-Wei Lin doubled off the wall. He advanced to third on a ground out. With two outs, Miguel Sano grounded up the middle. The shortstop made the play, but Sano beat the throw to first and tied the game at 2-2. Unfortunately, the LumberJacks reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the 4th inning with two runs. The Snappers answered back quick with a run in the top of the 5th inning to cut the lead to 4-3, but it could have been more. Eddie Rosario doubled in Nate Roberts. Miguel Sano came up and hit a fly ball to deep centerfield. Rosario tagged up and slid safely into third base. However, Clinton appealed at second base, saying Rosario left too early. The umpire agreed and called Rosario out to end the inning. In the bottom of the 5th, Ramon Morla hit a long home run to again increase the lead to two at 5-3. Wheeler’s night ended. He gave up five runs (4 earned) on ten hits. He walked two and struck out four. DJ Baxendale came in and got the final out of the inning on a strikeouts. He would work two innings and gave up one hit and one walk but no runs. He struckout four. In the top of the 7th, the Snappers were still down 5-3. AJ Pettersen walked to lead off the inning, and Nate Roberts followed with another base on balls. Wang-Wei Lin bunted the runners to second and third with just one out. Eddie Rosario came up again, and he came through again! He hit a line drive to left field. Pettersen scored, and when the left fielder bobbled the ball, Roberts scored as well. Rosario was out trying to advance to second base, but he had tied the game 5-5. With two outs in the bottom of the 7th, Tyler Duffey replaced DJ Baxendale. Duffey was making his Snappers debut lets than 48 hours after he helped the Elizabethton Twins to an Appy League championship. Now he was pitching in a tied, Game 1 of the Midwest League playoffs. Since August 1st, Duffey had pitched 18 shutout innings in ten games. He had given up just seven hits, walked none and struckout 31. He got the final out of the 7th inning. The top of the 8th inning started with a double by Kennys Vargas. Speedy JD Williams replaced him at second base. Drew Leachman, who was already 3-3 in the game laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt that sat right on the foul line to advance Williams to third. Although Leachman was already 3-3 in the game, he had no concerns about being asked to bunt. “(Throughout the season), I usually just do it on my own. I think I have five bunts on the year and four have been hits. It’s kind of my secret tool.” (So, Snappers fans, don’t tell anyone from the Midwest League.) Stephen WIckens came up and with the infield playing in he hit a single through the middle to give the Snappers their first lead of the game at 6-5. Duffey came out for the 8th inning. He struckout the first batter of the inning. However, Dillon Hazlett came up and hit his second home run of the game to tie the score again, this time at six. AJ Pettersen led off the top of the 9th inning with a single to left. Nate Roberts bunted him to second base. Wang-Wei Lin grounded to shortstop, but the ball was booted. With runners now on 2nd and 3rd, a wild pitch scored Pettersen to give the Snappers a 7-6 lead and move Wang-Wei Lin to second base. One pitch later, Lin advanced to third on another wild pitch. Eddie Rosario grounded to second, and even with the infield in, he had no play at the plate so he got the out at first. The Snappers now had an 8-6 lead. For the bottom of the 9th, the Snappers went with lefty Mason Melotakis. He gave up a run to lead off the inning, but it was followed by a ground ball to shortstop and a grounder back to the mound for two outs. The final batter gave a scare, hitting a fly ball that Nate Roberts caught on the warning track, but the Snappers held on to that 8-6 win. Drew Leachman, who was 3-3 with the sacrifice bunt in the game, said, “What a game!! Unbelievable! It just feels good to be able to put the team in a position to win!” [ATTACH=CONFIG]2276[/ATTACH] In his last two at bats, AJ Pettersen walked and singled. Each time he scored an important run. What were his thoughts going into those plate appearances? “I was trying to make their bullpen guys work for it. I always know that if I can get on, the guys behind me will move me around and it worked out late tonight!” [ATTACH=CONFIG]2275[/ATTACH] Pettersen continued, “That was quite the game! It was definitely intense!” Eddie Rosario led the offense. He went 3-5 with a double and three RBI. Kennys Vargas was 2-4 with a double. [ATTACH=CONFIG]2274[/ATTACH] Tyler Duffey gave up a run for the first time in six weeks, but he was credited with the Win in this game. What was it like pitching in Game 1 two days after helping Elizabethton to their championship? “(It was) a little nerve-wracking at first, but more exciting than anything, just to be out there. I’m excited to be here and to have the opportunity to play for another championship.” Game 1 was full of ups and downs, and it was very intense. Between the Elizabethton Twins’ run to an Appy League Championship (Which was won with three extra innings games) and now the Beloit Snappers playoff run, I may end up with an ulcer. The Snappers boarded their bus after Game 1 in Clinton and will make the 100 mile trip back to Beloit where Game 2 will be played at 6:30 tonight. Right-hander Cole Johnson will take the mound for the Snappers against right-hander Jordan Pries. Johnson was the Twins 44th round pick just a year ago out of Notre Dame. After starting this season at Extended Spring Training, he has gone 3-1 with a 1.71 ERA in 16 games. In 42 innings, he has walked just 11 and struck out 48. Pries was the Mariners’ 30th round pick in 2011 out of Stanford. In seven starts for the LumberJacks, he is 4-0 with a 3.49 ERA. In 38.2 innings, he has walked seven and struck out 33. Should there need to be a Game 3, it will be at 6:30 on Friday night in Beloit. The Snappers would send lefty David Hurlbut to the mound. If you’re in or near Beloit and have a chance, I definitely recommend trying to get to Game 2 and to follow the Snappers playoff run. Be sure to check out the Snappers website or call their box office at (608) 362-2272.

Last year, the Twins took Slama off the 40 man roster. No one claimed him. he was also eligible for the Rule 5 draft. he went undrafted. He tops out at 88 mph. Those aren't the types that get taken. He'll come to spring training with the Twins next year and we'll see what happens.

The other side of the story, from the Royals' perspective: http://www.thetimesnews.com/sports/playoff-58743-reaction-burlington.html

shocking, isn't it?! I understand all of what he said, for sure. However, if the Twins are going with 6 starters most of the rest of the way, may be good to have another arm. Perdomo definitely deserves the promotion. He was very good in AA and AAA this year. I understand all given reasons. I do. I just think that Slama should be with the Twins.

http://www.twincities.com/twins/ci_21467559/minnesota-twins-recall-eduardo-escobar-luis-perdomo Pioneer Press's John Shipley asked GM Terry Ryan about why Anthony Slama was not promoted. There is some more, but I don't want to copy the whole article. Go read it. It only takes a minute... Here is one more quote from the article:

BA's Top 100 prospect history: http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/rankings/top-100-prospects/all-time.html 2002 - Mauer (7), Morneau (21), Cuddyer (27), Restovich (63), Johnson (85) 2003 - Mauer (4), Morneau (14), Cuddyer (17), Restovich (37), 2004 - Mauer (1), Morneau (16), Durbin (66), Moses (81), Crain (89) 2005 - Mauer (1), Kubel (17), Crain (63), Durbin (70), 2006 - Liriano (6), Kubel (58), Moses (75), Perkins (91), Swarzak (100) 2007 - Garza (21), Perkins (66), Slowey (71), Parmelee (94) 2008 - Guerra (35), Gomez (52), Blackburn (56) 2009 - Revere (59), Ramos (71) 2010 - Hicks (19), Ramos (58), Gibson (61), Sano (94) 2011 - Gibson (34), Hicks (45), Sano (60), Benson (100)

In about 2002 or so, the Twins had Mauer and Morneau in the top 10 of BA and I think Cuddyer was around 25. Restovich may have been Top 100 that year.

what happens at the deadline?

He went over the "prospect/rookie" plate appearances early this year, so he wouldn't be included any more in prospect lists. When I do mine, I go by the MLB Rookie criteria. If they can still win the rookie of the year award, they're a 'prospect.'

Duffey will be pitching for the Beloit Snappers in the playoffs. In addition to the above regular season August stats, Duffey was tremendous in the playoffs. In 6 innings (over 3 games), he gave up no runs on 3 hits. He walked none and struckout 13! so, combined, I believe his numbers since August 1st are: 10 G, 0.00 ERA, 0.39 WHIP, 18 IP, 7 H, 0 BB, 31 strikeouts. Not bad!

it's always fun to watch the development, the ups and the downs from month to month and even year to year. It's exciting to see the top guys showing up on these reports consistently.

I'm sure they're not. Many of them had to be at the field this morning by 4 a.m. to get to the airport and fly home.

Typically, what happens in E-Town has pretty much no reflection on what will happen the following year in Beloit. It's always interesting to see that transition. I still have to look back to see if what I heard on the radio last night was real. What an incredible ninth inning, and extra innings were so tense and fun to listen to.

I think you just did. Welcome!

You can view the page at http://www.twinsdaily.com/content.php?1006-Walker-Hicks-Power-E-Twins-to-Unlikely-Appy-League-Title

[ATTACH=CONFIG]2250[/ATTACH] It was another very successful season for the Elizabethton Twins. In the regular season, they had a league-best 43-22 record. The second best record came from the East Division and was the 41-25 record of the Burlington Royals. The two teams rightfully met in the Appalachian League championship series. Burlington won a one-run, extra-inning Game 1. Elizabethton won Game 2 in one-run, extra inning style as well. So, it all came down to Game 3 in Elizabethton. To find out who won this a remarkable game, a thriller … you’ll have to keep reading… Seriously, you will want to. What a dramatic game!! These two teams were clearly the top two teams in the league all year. Elizabethton led the league with 6.17 runs per game. Third on that list was Burlington at 5.1 runs per game. The E-Twins gave up a league-fewest 3.75 runs per game. Burlington was second in that category at 4.14 runs allowed per game. The E-Twins made things interesting in the bottom of the 9th inning, but they could not come up with the big hit. Wait!! Yes, they did!! Down 6-1 heading into the bottom of the 9th, Royals close John Walter came in. He walked Jhonatan Arias and Romy Jimenez to start the inning, but he got the next two batters out. On a full count, he walked Max Kepler to load the bases. He hit DJ Hicks with the first pitch he threw to him to cut the lead to 6-2. Appy League Home Run Champ Adam Walker came to the plate as the potential tying run. A wild pitch cut the lead to 6-3 and moved the other runners to second and third. On the very next pitch, Walker connected on a long home run to tie the game at six. Walter’s night was over and Freddy Rodriguez came in to get the final out of the inning. The damage had been done. [ATTACH=CONFIG]2249[/ATTACH] However, the score was now tied at 6-6 and for the third time in this three game series, extra innings were necessary. Max Kepler started the scoring in the first inning. Following a Niko Goodrum double, Kepler singled him in to give the E-Twins a 1-0 lead. However, the Royals would score the next four runs. Jose (JO) Berrios started for the E-Twins. He started with three scoreless innings. Unfortunately in the fourth frame, he gave up four unearned runs on a hit and three walks. He also threw two wild pitches. Josh Burris came in and threw two scoreless innings. Chris Mazza pitched a quick 7th inning. However, he gave up two solo home runs in the 8th inning. Travis Huber pitched a scoreless ninth inning which set up the unlikely E-Twins comeback in the bottom of the 9th. That brings us to extra innings for the third straight game in this three-game series. Ricardo Arevalo came on for the top of the 10th inning. He gave up a single to lead off the inning. A sacrifice bunt advanced the runner to second. The next batter was intentionally walked for one purpose. And thankfully, the next batter obliged, grounding back to Arevalo who started a 1-6-3, inning-ending double play. In the bottom of the 11th, the E-Twins had a chance. With one out, catcher Jhonathan Arias, who had been 0-21 in the playoffs, singled. Romy Jimenez singled over the second baseman’s head to advance Arias to second base with one out. Jorge Polanco came in to pinch run for Arias, but Candido Pimentel struckout and Niko Goodrum flew out to deep center field to end the threat. Arevalo started the 12th, but he got just one out and had runners on 1st and 2nd. Lefty Brett Lee came on and got a ground out and a strikeout to end the inning. In the bottom of the 12th, Bo Altobelli grounded out. Romy Jimenez walked. Candido Pimentel struckout for the fourth time in the game. Niko Goodrum worked a walk. Then after a wild pitch, Max Kepler was walked to load the bases. That brought up DJ Hicks. With two outs and a full count, Hicks drilled an opposite field home run, a walk-off grand slam to win the game, to win the Appalachian League Championship. [ATTACH=CONFIG]2248[/ATTACH] It was the E-Twins 10th title since the Twins moved to Elizabethton in 1974. It is their fifth title in the last ten years, but it is their first since 2009. Congratulations to long-time E-Town manager and former Twins catcher Ray Smith and his coaching staff on the title and another tremendous season. Congratulations to the whole roster for the E-Twins. What a game!! E-Twins 7, Burlington 6. (Note - since Hicks never got to round the bases, the final score is officially 7-6, not 10-6, not sure anyone really cares.)