lightfoot789

In your opinion what age is old to be making your MLB debut and still be viewed as a potential longterm star? The Buxton's and Sano's are the rarity by far for 1 single organization. ALL CONSIDERED FAN FAVORITES BY TWINS FAITHFUL Hunter was 23 in his first MLB full season (.309 OBP) Winfield was 22 in his first full season (took 5 years to hit .300 BA) Oliva was 25 in first full season (hit .323 BA) Pucket was 24 in his first full season ( 0 HRs and 31 RBI in 128 games) Dozier was 26 in his first full season (yet to hit .250 BA) Mauer was 20 in his first full season (avg. .400 OBP but never scored 100 -ever) Mientkiewicz was 25 in his first full season (hit .229 BA) Carew was 21 and hit the ground running (ROY) Most of these high level prospects took a few seasons at the Big Boy Level to find their groove. Most were not the Buxton's and Sano's and Polanco's of today. Maybe patience isn't that bad of a thing. We loved the guys above for all they did and how they played the game the right way. When they arrive at whatever age, I trust it will be the right age for everyone involved (Fans and Players alike).

SPEND BIG ON PITCHERS (free agents) NOW and bring in Scherzer on a front loaded contract. Trade him when the Youngins are ready and after a few World Series. With the Twins offense - Would the Twins become AL Central contenders and Playoff front runners? I would think our offense is set up to be better than everyone else in the central moving forward considering the prospects in the system. SAVING MONEY WITH THE YOUNG HITTERS UNDER CONTRACT CONTROL and SPEND BIG ON PITCHERS NOW. "CHANGING THE THEME IN 2015"

Why would we or anyone judge a man when it is said he has a mother and In law with health issues? Damn the job if i isn't the job of a lifetime. His hesitation is understandable from where I'm looking. Send Jake to Chattanooga Send Watkins to Cedar Rapids Send Smith to Rocheser (or he can quit) or bring Lucas back to actually manage Play ball

I think Sanatana is a perfect fit for the cost. He has averaged 6.4 innings per game over the last 4 seasons. He has been the model of consistency. That being said: His last 2 teams (KC & ATL) were terrible at run production and run support. The Twins seem to be an improving offense and were Top 7, I believe in Runs Per Game. If we continue to improve in that area (offense) and he stays consistent with his ERA, we are looking at one of the Top pitchers in the league in terms of "WINS". Thus making this a steal (ala Hughes last year). Our bullpen will have to hold up it's end thru the 7th - 8th & 9th. That seems to be the new make up of the MLB anyway. More and more teams are building with that formula in mind. The pitchers who will be most ready to do that will be the up and coming pitchers like Meyer and May and Berrios and Burdi, etc. etc.. David Price started out of the Pen before he became David Price (Meyer / Berrios). We can be the new KC in terms of pitching with a Baltimore type line up (explosive) moving forward. I like!

The Twins Hot Stove had Terry Ryan talk about the Winter Meetings last night. He always seems to know what he wants. http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/min/fan_forum/hotstove.jsp

Tomshaw will be the biggest loss from the 2 pitchers. Miami found a knuckle ball gem. Chattanooga Lookouts vs Jacksonville Suns (Miami) in early April. Look forwad to the match up. Underrated Prospect

He will be the most consistent pitcher on staff. I expect Hughes to have another great year, but he has not held the track record of Santana. He was arguably the best free agent pitcher signed last year not named Hughes. He becomes 1A immediately for the Twins with The Future Aces coming up in the next year or two. Great sign if possible. Find a way to part with Nolasco if needed but get Santana. Need inning eaters to preserve bullpen for duration of season.

There are so many variables with numbers to have a hard line approach to he sucks and he's useable. The opinion on Aaron Hicks is that he will never be an affective outfielder because he can't hit enough. What he did do well was get on base more than most of the Twins. His .341 OBP was outstanding. Do the numbers tell you that he is less affective than the guy with a .300 BA and a .310 OBP? Does his defensive numbers offset his flaws? I love the fact that Molitor plans on using the eye test along with the numbers. What is the flow of my team and who is helping us win?

My question was poorly stated and I apologize. Thank you for all your responses. My intent was to ask what are the Twins (baseball) doing to help their African Americans in the organization now. They brought a Tori Hunter in to mentor the likes of Hicks, Shafer, Buxton, and Arcia on how to play the game. Tori's presence will have an added affect for Hicks and Buxton undoubtedly. What are the Twins doing in the lower levels to lend a sound board to their other African American prospects (Gordon; Walker; Jones; Burris; Williams; etc.)? I hope to continue open dialect and get more thoughts on the subject. As Jackie Robinson felt lonely years ago, so do the players of today would be my guess. Just not on a grand stage or to the magnitude of a Robinson. Love your teammates and love your job. Lonely with the fear to speak openly as a player however, can be a hard work environment. Who are the sound boards within the Twins organizations?

Should that be a concern for baseball?

I think baseball as a whole is trying to bring more minorities into the game. This is seen in the academies built in inner cities and other countries. I think that less is being done to accommodate the African American who is actually a professional. Close your eyes and imagine you're Phil Hughes on a team in which you are the only white player on the team. Are you completely comfortable with your surroundings? Truly comfortable? Management and players are all different from you. Does being the "only one" ever enter your mind in a relevant way? Can you honestly say you could complete your 15 year career without ever giving it a thought? Friendships should be color blind, but ask yourself: When I see the general population, do they seem to gravitate to their own kind (race) and if so why? Not always a bad thing, and not always a freedom of choice thing either. When the freedom of choice is not always available (only one), who does that person turn to for that comfortable conversation?

As I've watch prospects rise throughout all of baseball - I see fewer and fewer African Americans on MLB teams. I have seen the increase in Latino players rise. And I have seen the majority of players still represented by the majority population. Most youth baseball programs in the USA are represented by the majority. Even the African Americans who played youth baseball, played on teams where they were the only minority or one of few. Latino players generally played on youth programs that were all Latino. In terms of race relations, I think the baseball world has come to grips with helping the Latino players feel more comfortable by hiring more Latino coaches and managers. MLB Baseball seems to understand that these players need someone within the organizations that understands their cultural needs and who they are as people away from baseball (when they leave the field). I commend baseball in its attempts to recognize cultural awareness with the Latino community. Money motivated or not? In terms of race relations within the African American community, I think baseball needs more work at the professional level. The MLB is doing an outstanding job of working with the "RBI Program" in the inner cities and trying to promote baseball. Where I think there is a disconnect is with the players actually in the systems. There are very few programs with African American players on their teams and there are very few programs with African American role models in management. I believe it is often assumed that African American players have played with the majority all their lives and they should be comfortable with what they know. There is no need for African American mentors, as they are in an environment that should be familiar to them (unlike the Latino players). The part that I think baseball forgets is that these players are in fact different when they leave the ball park. They often go home to their families and have completely different conversations than the ones they have at the park with teammates. Conversations that would be considered either inappropriate or not comfortable for most, so they don't exist at the baseball facilities (EVER!). These conversations don't have to be controversial in nature, but might just be a subject matter that borders on race relations. The "majority" could in fact go off with a teammate somewhere and have these conversations in private (shagging balls / batting cages / in some teams cases even in the open locker room / or over dinner with teammates). With the lack of numbers in professional baseball (African Americans), I think it is equally important to have a sound board for the African American players throughout the system. While Tommy Watkins was with the Kernels in 2013, he had at one time: Byron Buxton; Niko Goodrum; Adam Brett Walker; JD Williams; Tyler Jones; and Josh Burris. Those are the most African Americans (6) I have ever seen on one team in recent memory. I am sure that Watkins was a sound board for every member on the team, but I am doubly sure he was a God send to those 6 players on the Kernels that year. Most of them probably never played with 6 teammates that looked like them before. Crazy huh? It would be great to see baseball do a better job of just understanding that sound board need. Watkins is going to be a great manager someday because he understands PEOPLE better than most. He grew up throughout baseball knowing he had to understand various cultures and has made it work for himself. I hope he progresses throughout the system and isn't kept back to mentor minorities just because either. Diversity can be a double edge sword when misunderstood by the majority too. We need you here because..... I'm curious to know how many readers think I'm off base or right on point, in my theory on the need for change? Although slight - A useful change is needed in society and baseball. What do we really know about each other and do we even really care to know? great article by Mike Berardino on race relations in baseball: http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_23015323/blacks-minnesota-twins-42-opens-1-player-0

Let's hope so (promotions). Progression is a good thing.

This is how I predict the season will start: Imagine this Lineup: 1) Buxton CF (Baseball's #1 Prospect) 2) Polanco SS (Twins #7 Prospect) 3) Rosario LF (Twins #10 Prospect) 4) Sano 3B (Twins #2 Prospect) 5) Walker RF (Twins #13 Prospect) 6) Hicks 1B (Twins #2 RBI Prospect last 2 Yrs.) 7) Kepler DH (Twins #19 Prospect) 8) Turner C (Twins #15 Prospect) 9) Michael 2B (Twins 2011 1st Rd. Pick) Bench: ***) Kepler DH / 1B / OF 10) Jairo Rodgriguez C 11) Tyler Grimes C / UT 12) Aderlin Mejia SS / UT 13) Mike Gonzalez 1B / DH (if 26 man roster) Look at how many guys could become breakout candidates with this lineup. Pitching Rotation: 1) Jose Berrios 2) Taylor Rogers 3) Alex Wimmers 4) Brett Lee 5) DJ Berrios 6) Matt Tomshaw Bullpen: 1) Corey Williams 2) Tim Shibuya 3) Steve Gruver 4) Tyler Jones 5) Madison Boer 6) Zach Jones 7) Nick Burdi Visualize these pitchers in Chattonooga - (WOW) Look at how many pitchers could become breakout candidates with this staff

Have the Twins ever had another minor league team in recent history that has had the talent that the Chattanooga Lookouts will have at the start of the season (Position Players)? Once those top prospects move on to AAA or the MLB - That is when your true Breakout Prospects will come to light for the "Lookouts". I agree with the Brett Lee pick and/or one of their other starting pitchers to be that Breakout Pitcher. How many runs per game will this Cahttonooga team average is a great new thread question? Also what will their starting line up be and why? Who will be the next Berrios (Top Pitchng Prospect) to move up 2 levels in 2015? (if any)

Agreed. I would love to know what Brad Steil wants from Walker moving forward. What does he consider good at bats? Not the general answer but more specific for Walker. The radio announcer for Fort Myers said Walker sees as many pitches per AB as anyone else. He said he constantly works back from 0-2 counts to run the counts full (3-2). He also said that Pitchers pitch Walker differently than everyone else on the team. When guys get pitched normal (per scouting report) - Walker gets pitched backwards. When pitchers are pitching backwards - Walker is getting pitched normal. He needs to know that and learn to adjust better if that is true. It would be nice however, to see Walker bat with a Rosario in front of him and / or a Sano behind him too. Why not have a base stealer on base in front of him so he can get more fastballs in his AB's too. I think Dalton Hicks is a fantastic player too, but with Dalton on base in front of Walker - I wouldn't throw any fastballs to Walker either. Junk Junk Junk.

Now that the winter meetings are starting and the MLB coaching staff is in place - What will the Twins do with the lower level teams? Do they move coaches like Doug M up to AA or AAA? or allow for those prospects to hear a new voice moving forward? Do they continue to look for some Hispanic and / or African American coaches coaches to fill coaching voids and integrate the system with a little more diversity? Tommy Watkins; Etc.? Do they look outside the system to fill the voids and bring an open mindset (from the reports management already has) on every prospect? Who is the new Roving Hitting Instructor? Who replaces Gary Lucas and what will they bring that Lucas didn't? Does anyone have a view point?

I picked Brett Lee and Matt Tomshaw last year and they were both double digit winners. I kind of like the fact that Tomshaw has a pitch no one else in the system really throws with consistent accuracy (knuckler). All these guys do - is win and post respectable ERAs but never get challenged to say they flat out can't pitch at the next level. I hope both get promoted pre season and mid season to test their true skill set. Breakout pitchers for 2015. Neither will get the love of a Berrios or Meyer, but people should take notice of what they do on a yearly basis.

Although mentioned in the above article as having FSL power, it is often thought that Adam Brett Walker II is a likely miss. He is looked upon as a guy who can be a real gem if he figures "IT" out, but not a guy who is lkely to do so. That being said I ok for Adam Brett Walker II to be this years Vargas. Productive AA stats with a much improved OBP. I think this is the year he changes many minds. I'm sure he'll be asked repeat performance in AAA to prove it wasn't a fluke and that is consistently fair. I'm hoping a pace of 30 HRs and 100+ RBI with a slightly better OBP gets him noticed by mid season. It will possibly be the first time Walker has someone on the team who is as big of a power threat then he is (Sano). He can possibly have 4 top 10 prospects batting ahead of him (Polanco; Buxton; Rosario; Sano). Who knows - he had Dalton Hicks; Kepler; Harrison; and Stuart batting ahead of him last year (in playoffs). He hit 7th in the playoffs. He might hit 9th with this line up. Either way - I see him as my breakout player of the 2015 season. Wherever he bats in these line ups - he has produced and been recognized by the coaches of the other teams in his leagues. BOP (Break Out Player) descibes him well

This incident is why certain high profile athletes only give exclusives to certain reporters. Torii let it be known that Berardino doesn't even know him. He understood that he had the right to ask that question, but relayed the thought that Berardino should have taken the time to get to know him first. Point being: BAD start to a long season if you want to be the guy to get any quality information from me(Torii)!

I could care less if Hunter was a Republican or a Democrat or for abortion or against abortion or for gay marriages or against gay marriages. A players personal views have nothing to do with his ability to play baseball. If he wants to share his personal views - that's on him. It doesn't make it news however, unless he is causing change in society. Hunters views on life shouldn't matter to anyone. It's his right to feel anyway he wants as long as he doesn't cause harm to others. The reporter had the right to ask that question and should have had a million more opportunities to ask that question. He choose that forum for a reason. *Did it have to be asked then and there? (Considering it was somewhat of a welcome home venue) *Was it the type of question he feared someone else would beat him to the punch about? (probably not) *Did the reporter do himself a favor by alienating Hunter on his first day back? How many hard questions will he get answered during the year now? Possibly a good question but bad timing from my angle. He would be the last person to get an interview from me if I was Hunter this season. Not for the question he asked, but for the timing - PERIOD!! Hunter acknowledged he understood the reporter had a job to do - but also indicated that "this press conference" was not the setting for that question. I thought prick was a mild word actually. I could have thought of a lot of worse words to call someone (not that he needed to call anyone names). You would have thought he talked about his mother Glad he's back (Hunter) - At least you know how he feels about some things (baseball related). He's lasted over 20+ years being Torii. Mauer will last just as long and no one will really know what he thinks about teammates and their ability to play the game right. He's not the type of guy to call someone out and thus (status quo). Being Jeter and Mauer gets you beloved by all and keeps you safe from any harmful opinions. Who would have thought that getting in Hot Water doesn't always keep you clean. Welcome Home Torii - Keep being you and don't be afraid to share the game of baseball with those younger guys. You have a lot they can learn from in the course of a season.

Walker gets from 1st to 3rd as fast as most of the guys on that list. He can get from 1st to home quickly as well. That entire list above, is filled with guys with high baseball IQ's. "I like how you think"

I like how you think. Walker wil be this years version of Vargas. Major jump in terms of useable numbers at the AA level and a late season call up. You heard it here first. If Vargas wasn't on the 40 man roster, there isn't a soul out there who thought he would be up with the Big Boys this past season. He was challenged and produced. I like the move to LF with Arcia, because I think Kepler or Walker will be there in RF soon anyways. Hope they both get to learn on the job during spring training (w/ Hunter and new staff).

Having a defensive CF helps any team with their overall defense in the OF. Hicks / Santana / or Schafer will cover up for more than you think with the correct shifts by management. I love the post that stated Hunter had a better rating than Stanton in 2013. We jump on these saber metrics too quickly as if they are the end all. 9 LETTERS - CHEMISTRY

I hope he gets to mentor Rosario; Buxton; Kepler; and of course Walker on the ins and outs of RF / CF at the major league level (during Spring Training). Hicks needs help but at least he had a .341 OBP as a Twin last year (5th best on the Twins). Yet we say he sucks. His upside will never be clearly defined on this team. If Hicks hit .300 (all singles) and had the same .341 OBP we would be loving him as the next coming of Tori Hunter. Not sure the real Hunter can help fans change their perception of Hicks. He will be damned due to perception and expectations for the rest of his career. We as Fans are way too judge mental on what to expect from kids before they get to define who they are themselves. IMO