lightfoot789

Putting talent together doesn't always create a winning atmosphere. Putting winners together creates winning. Chemistry is everything. We assume that being professional and doing your job will cure things in the end. Professionalism is extremely important, however, Trust is equally important. I question who these guys truly trust. Who is their go to guy in various situations. Has that been identified among themselves, or through the media. Media forced Dozier into being the leader in Hunter's absence, and I'm not sure the young guys look at him the same way. They recognize the talent, but I'm not sure they recognize the leadership in the same way. Media tried to force leadership on Mauer and see how that worked for team and Mauer (criticized). The Twins need to find their NEW identity and let it develop on it's own. Youth is my opinion.

Just saying............... 35 - HRs 31 - 2B's 5 - 3B's 71 - XBH's 127 - RBI 101 - RUNS 195 - SO's PER 162 GAME AVERAGE (MiLB #'s) I know I know - He would "probably" strike out even more than Sano, Buxton, and Park? He "probably" wouldn't come close to touching MLB pitching if these guys are struggling? I know one thing - When ABW II was on those stacked minor league teams with Sano and Buxton, his numbers were crazy good. And I said CRAZY GOOD. Do RBI's matter now folks? I'm thinking DH opportunity couldn't provide any worse production! Do you know of anybody in minor league baseball who shares those above number comparisons? Risk - Reward! Time to take a Risk

Just saying............... 35 - HRs 31 - 2B's 5 - 3B's 71 - XBH's 127 - RBI 101 - RUNS 195 - SO's PER 162 GAME AVERAGE (MiLB #'s) How much worse could your top system RBI guy be (ABW II)? Critics may say "Walker would have struck out at a 75% rate" "DH - DH - DH - DH - DH" Nobody saw a 0 - 7 record with a 5 for 55 RISP. RBI's are not a real stat that matters. Or so I keep reading. If we had more guys taking BB instead of taking K's everything would be so much better is the mindset that leaves guys on 1st and 2nd to end innings. The Twins need "GAME CHANGERS". I hope they at least give Kepler a chance to DH and do his thing. He is a game changer and is at least in their dugout.

Note: I only bring up Walker because he was the worst in baseball last year (strikeouts). Despite his .940 OPS and other first half numbers last year, his K rate was ridiculous. The K rate continued and the other stats dropped as Sano and Buxton moved on. Are stats a result of the people around you and your tools? How will this affect Sano this season (better or worse)? I believe K's are a reflection of lots more than just bad pitch recognition. How and Why do they pitch to you a certain way?

Never said that. Never suggested that. My point was that Sano has had the luxuary of having the Polanco's; Rosario's; Kepler's; Vargas's batting in front and behind him for years and has flourished in that role. Those guys protecting each other. He is a great player. Walker is a strikeout prone hitter who benefitted his only solid year (20% K rate) when he hit 4th in the lineup. Does batting order have a significant role in why hitters strikeout more or less? Protection? Will it help Sano? Should you see more fastballs with great contact hitters in front and behind you? Are the Twins built that way?

At the time Sano left Chattanooga for the Twins - Walker had a .940 OPS to Sano's .918. Walker 23 HRs / 67 RBI / 18 2B / 50 runs scored [batting 7th] at the time of Sano's promotion. .272 BA Sano 15 HRs / 52 RBI / 18 2B / 52 runs scored [batting 3rd] with Polanco in front of him and Kepler (MVP) behind him. .274 BA But Sano did walk more - Chances are that Sano was already driven home by the time Walker came to the plate or the inning was aready over. Just saying Sano's BB did not help Walker drive in 106 RBI. The only time Walker hit 4th was the year he had a 20% K rate. More to K's than just K's. Protection is a real thing.

Walker has averaged 131 games per year (tops in the Twins minor league system over last 3 seasons) and played the outfield in at least 85% of those games. His teams have won 3 championships in those 4 years and held the best record in the minor leagues in the 1 season they didn't win the championship. He definitely needs to get better throwing, but it's not as though he has prevented his previous teams from winning. He can field his position. He just needs to play with an edge (like Rosario) instead of making the safe throw ALL the time. Major league players will start challenging him more for sure. He had 6 outfield assist his 1st year in rookie ball in 53 games and averaged 6 every season thereafter in 131 games. What happened?

275/.305/.475 (.780), 35 doubles, 7 triples, 20 home runs. Impact bat that will get better as year progresses

Watch the first baseman from :34 seconds to 2:34 seconds. - Value (2010 2nd team all american at 1st base, but stole 40 of 41 bases in college / waste of athleticism is probably the thought)

The easiest way to find out if he has a strong enough arm and athleticism to play the outfield is to ask Jake Mauer; Tommy Watkins; Chad Allen; or Doug Mientkiewicz. His former coaches know whether he has the tools to play the position. He was an all state catcher in high school BTW. Never saw a lot of problems with him tracking down balls. Throwing issues can be cured if he has an arm. Curious what former coaches say to that issue as well?

http://www.faketeams.com/2016/3/21/11272042/five-unheralded-prospects-who-could-contribute-in-2016-al-central-matt-davidson-mike-clevinger#comments The beauty of being in AAA. Not likely to happen, but you never know when runs and rbi become important to a line up. Unheralded like Vargas and Santana were 2 years ago (2014). Just saying............. Again not likely, but it's fun to dream when reading about your favorite prospect. 36 for 45 in stolen bases (80%) as a professional and 76 for 86 since college (88%). Here is to hoping the start of AAA improves his flaws, because I like what the article says about his strengths.

The Twins are right in the way they are handling Polanco. It just sucks for him, because he could be playing second base for a few teams in the league right now. Every player is not an all star and I'm not saying Polanco is. I'm just saying he could play now and probably ends up a Nunez career wise because of who is in front of him. I would love to see him mature as a young player in the league as opposed to becoming a lifetime backup because we should hold on to him. Twins are right - Just sucks for him. Things really aren't going to change for him if Dozier and Escobar play really well over the next 3 - 6 years. That's the business side of baseball

GREAT defensive second baseman with a MLB bat. Wasted talent. Needs to be playing for someone.

That would be 11 to 12 relievers, not counting 5 to 6 starters. Decisions decisions

I think they hold up pretty well other than a few changes. Can you really see many of those AAA pitchers from last year getting demoted to AA? Several of those pitchers listed were in AAA or MLB for most of last year. List has to mean something.