lightfoot789

GREAT SIGN Tori will be worth his weight in gold come Spring Training alone, as the young'ins practice with him on a day to day basis. The little tid bits they receive will be unmeasureable. I disagree Seth. Leadership is important. As everyone complains about rhe Twins OF defense - Ask yourself who in the hell has been their OF defensive mentor. Anyone you marvel about? This church mouse team needs someone to light a fire under them from a player perspective and someone who does it the right way. The corner OF positioning depends on where the coaches want to shift anyway. They can take the burden off either guy with a shift during any AB. Great Sign. - Somebody ask Buxton and other young guys what they think.

The Harrisons; Walkers; Keplers; Goodrums; Etc.?

Do you guys ever ask FO personnel what they expect from prospects going into a season? What is their progression curve in terms of development? I'm not talking Buxton and Sano, but some of the next tier guys? Great Twinsfest question BTW

As you access the prospects - What is the best way to develop prospects? 1) Promoting Mid Season to allow player to test the waters of a level and prepare accordingly during the off season for a repeat of that level? 2) Stay at a level for an entire year and hope to master that such level? Despite the many new faces who enter the league at mid season (having to learn players all over again)? 3) Promote players toward the end of the season to allow them to learn a level going into the off season (at the expense of winning a possible championship by depleting the lower level team with promotions)? Paraphrase and share your thoughts.

If the two people that you compare him with are Buxton and Sano - I'm cool. In terms of being in High A and not flourishing - Vargas was ranked lower than Walker last year Pre Season with a .280 average in High A and finished his next season (2014) batting over .300 in AA and becoming a MLB regular thereafter. He is now looked at as the DH of the future with much fan fare. Sometimes players just need to be challenged. Walker had damn near a .500 OBP in college. His average was the highest in the country against Friday night Aces (Baseball America) during his last year in college. Let him play against the best and see what happens. Before you talk about the ASUN - this years NL Rookie of the Year and NL CY Young were from the ASUN. What have the Twins asked of him in terms of his progression thru the minors? Are they more concerned with winning at the minor league level (asking him to produce runs) or asking him to work on areas of need, everyone else deems important? Every interview he has - He mentions that they want him to produce runs. At what sacrifice to his overall development are they steering him? Since he has been responsible for most of his teams run production in a large way - I can see how he is the one not to get promoted and serving as the sacrificial lamb. I think the Twins somewhat used Walker in terms of why they held him back. Walker was the only college position player (2012 draft) still in A+ ball (entire MiLB) who didn't have injury issues. Every other organization felt enough of their draft choices to promote them to AA and see what happens. Not the Twins and Not Walker. Granted he was the youngest college player drafted in 2012, but still. So you are either correct and he is the most flawed college player in the entire 2012 draft or the "Twins Way" of thinking is somewhat flawed. Would you say that the other 29 teams have prospect management issues or the Twins got it right? Forget what you feel of me and my love for this prospect. Which way do we want the development path to go? Hold them back or challenge them? He deserves the challenge is all I'm saying (AA to AAA) during this 2015 season. You can always send him back down. It has to be nice to go into a new season having experrinced a level for part of a year and get to prepare accordingly. Instead of learning from scratch every year and having to disect new pitchers entering into a league mid season all over again while others get promoted to do the same thing. 2 ABs with the MLB team in spring training and (1 DBL & 1 HR). Not even close to a true sample size, but does tell you the kid competes and is a winner. Give him some Reps is all I'm saying and let his flaws at the next level get exposed along with his production. What's the loss? Reps from Rodriguez, Thomas, Krisknicka, etc., etc.? 23 years old all of next season!

I promise you that all of those minor league sluggers (you mentioned) who failed, never led their respective leagues in HRs, RBIs and (top 5) in Runs scored (consistently). Not to mention their teams in HITS.............. Show me that guy anywhere in the minors with those credentials and I will show you a guy who has been to the Show. Prove me wrong and then show me where those failed prospects ranked within their organizations. What Walker has done is not the norm in any respect. I agree with the odds being against him based on the "norm", but there is nothing normal about what he's done in his short MiLB career. Freaky lucky or Freaky special. What do the Twins feel about him - See article on MiLB website: Walker, Berrios excite Twins with bat, ball Outfielder, right-hander leading by example in Minnesota's system

In the Twins system Walker is not elite. In another system he might very well be. Poor contact yes, but Walker either led his team in Hits or was 2nd on team in Hits through 3 seasons. Led his team in Runs or was 2nd in Runs Scored through 3 seasons. His Walk / BB totals for this year would have placed him 2nd on the AAA squad and would have placed him 1st on the AA squad. His stolen base rate is much higher than Rosario at each of the same levels. Have the Twins ever had a prospect like Walker who led each of his levels in HRs and RBIs and failed? NO Maybe guys who had something close, but never anyone like him who failed. Start researching.......... That's why I say everyone's assumptions of failure are without substance. All he does is win and has never shown the ability for failure when it comes to winning and leading his team with production numbers. What would you expect from him with improved contact numbers? With his contact talent, all one could expect is MVP numbers (35 HRs / 125 RBI / and a .350 OBP)? What would you have expected from him with a .350 OBP this year in terms of numbers? Does he become a Top 5 talent with those projected numbers? That would be MVP scary. That's not to say he can't get better. He's scary already to opposing coaches and any improvement would be that much scarier. All Star Scarier. And that's having been an All Star this Year (Mid Season and Post Season) as well as an MVP. Seriously Flawed based on what you've heard to expect, not based on production for his teams. Tomas Who? $68 Million Why?

With a healthy Prince Fielder - They become contenders rght away. We don't have one of those guys quite yet. And their pitchng will surely improve via FA and healthy returners.

I agree with the Walker comment and your team make up comment. I truly wanted to know what others thought of the team make up and if they could win at the MLB level this way. Although second in your above examples (OBP; SLG; OPS; stats), they were also first in Runs, RBI, and BB's. I think that the Matt Tomshaw's (11 wins); Lee's (10 wins); Tyler Jones (13 saves); Dalton Hicks (run producer); Niko Goodrums (BB's / SB's) bring intangibles that consistently lead to wins. Fans and bloggers tend to look at what they lack when critiquing "make up" moving forward. Thinking like this prevents you from truly enjoying the ride. I tend to believe in winners until they don't win, before I believe in make up. I'm a Russell Wilson (Seahawks QB / 5'11 & 210 lbs) believer. "Why Not Us / Why Not Me". Royals shouldn't have been in the World Series either based on make up. Tory Hunter would have been 2nd on the Royals in OPS (.765) and 3rd on the Twins. The Twins were terrible offensively in 2013 and everybody was calling for heads and upgrades. What did the Twins do? Upgrade their pitching staff and brought in a back up catcher (all star) and some not ready for prime time prospects. The results were: They were incredible offensively and continued failures with pitching. Sometimes make up doesn't explain it all. Sometimes chemistry tells it all. If minor league results (OBP) are the tell all, then Colabello should have been the second coming. OBP worked for Vargas and Santana but not Colabello? Hicks had the 5th best OBP (.341) on the Twins with anyone with at least 150 AB's. He was "on base" more than most, but was crucified because he had a very poor BA. HE GOT ON BASE!!! Intangibles do matter and we have to figure out which ones matter with which prospects.

Consider a minor league teams top prospect (not a top 10 prospect) leads his team in hits, home runs, rbi's, and total bases. Also consider that that same prospect leads his team in having the lowest OBP, and most strike outs. His walk rate ranks in the middle of the team rankings, despite the low OBP. One might draw the conclusion that this team was not very good if he in fact led the team in those particular categories. This team however wins the league championship without a front line (prospect) pitcher in thier starting rotation heading into the playoffs. Why would a team like this win in your opinion? Consider that this team has posted a .608 winning percentage (208 - 134) over the last 3 seasons and has won in the same manner during that time. What would the Team "make up" have to be (of the remaining players on the team) for this team to continue to win in this manner? Would your description of the team "make up" be able to win at the MLB level based on your theroy?

And Walker just turned 23 last month. He will be every bit as good as Tomas by the time he is 24 and a lot less costly. He's a better athlete too - than Tomas. Not many 6'5 230 lb athletes out there with an 80+% stolen base rate as a professional either. Not a great OBP guy but he still seems to score more than everyone else he plays with. And the Run production is second to none in the Twins minor league system including the big dogs. In short - Walker is worth the wait and gamble. Don't get stuck with a contract you can't trade or move when needed. Walker averages 33 home runs a season (162 games) over his minor league career and 110 RBIs. September Call Up and 2016 regular IMO

Agreed

What are your thoughts on this years All Stars?

If we get excited over players like Cespedes who wins HR Derbys but doesn't drive in runs or possess a super high OBP, or players like Tomas who has yet to prove himself against MLB caliber pitching (long term) and plays poor defense: Why don't we get excited over players in our own system who possibly hit further and have the same make up? Adam Brett Walker is arguably a better defender than Tomas and will be able to do what he does within a year. Why would you have spent 60+ million dollars on a player you could spend $500,000 on with team control? Neither player is proven (fact)! Is he being Cuban some type of positive omen that is worth that kind of money? Glad we didn't get him. Would rather get Kemp. BTW - Congrats to Walker on being named Organizational All Star for 2nd year in a row. Best power in the minors not named Sano - Gallo or Bryant.

Twins 2014 Minor League Organizational All Stars You have to be happy with the All Stars they have listed. It shows that we have some interesting second tier players who are bonus babies if they continue on this path. A few of these guys have been on this all star team multiple years. milb.com Go to the above MiLB website for complete Twins All Star listing

wouldn't it be nice if someone asked Molitor who he deems as promising in our minor league system? He has worked with most of them and could give us a better indication as to how deep our system really is? If they don't as k Molitor it would be nice to know what Glynn and Hernandez think. Both work and see these kids every spring training. I think it would be a great question for Seth or whomever to ask one of these guys. And I'm talking about the non obvious guys (Not Top 10.

1) What do the Twins do if they have Tomas / Rosario / Buxton / Hicks / Arcia / Schafer / & Walker all materialize as true MLB caliber talents? Who goes (traded) and whose skill set would you want playing in your outfield (offensively or defensively or both)? Does salary come into play at all at that point? 2) Does Tomas have as much power as Walker and do we pay him based on various experts assessments? or Do you pay him based on Cespedas and Abreu's production as rookies? Having not seen him against MLB pitching?

Everyone knows about Molitors relationship with Buxton and Sano, but what does he know about non top 10 prospects in the system? How many of them does he see as promising with true MLB talent?

No one else is coming to this Cold / frozen city. Willingham was your highest paid position player Ever. I want free agents as well, but sometimes money is not the End All for those guys. We have to sell their families too. iMO

Great Point The draft is the only way to secure long term success in a small market. We do well with young great foreign players that have more team control in regards to International signings.

I know AB Walker has OBP flaws, but when is the last time the Twins had a Prospect (ever) to lead his respective leagues in HRs for each of his professional seasons: 2012 (14) Appalachain League 2013 (27) Midwest League 2014. (25) Florida State League He has played in the highest percentage of games per season as any player in the system. He also has the highest winning percentage of any player in the minors over the last 3 seasons (along with (Hicks /Kepler /Harrison / & a few others). Our ability to wait for his failure as a potential (believable) prospect has definitely outweighed his accomplishments over the last 3 seasons. No other prospect in the system has been more productive in terms of helping his team win than Walker either. I say all that to say I think his future is as bright as any prospect in the system. IMO

I sure hope the Twins give JD Williams a chance to move up or release him. He brings a special intangible to his teams and deserves better than he got last season (injuries and all). IMO

Buxton lasted an entire season in Elizabethton and 1/2 a season in Cedar Rapids before getting promoted to High A. The common denominator was - Who he played next to in the outfield (Adam Brett Walker - RF) when playing healthy. Better take him with you to each level as your good luck charm Byron. JUST KIDDING - Trying to get my guy a promotion one way or another (ha ha). Chattanooga is going to be special next year. It will be a split of the great team in Ft. Myers of 2013 and the great team in Cedar Rapids in 2013. I hope they stay together for at least 2 months. Byron will be fine in terms of injuries. All great players who play at his speed and intensity are prone to injuries. Let Byron be Byron and the Future will remain bright.

When does organizational all star team get listed?

With Talk of Manager Doug Mientkiewicz going to AA Chattanooga - Do you think that the same hitting / pitching coaches should follow prospects throughout the minor leagues or is it better for young prospects to get new perspectives at each level? As a whole which is better for a group of prospects? - New teaching styles and perspectives at each level or Hearing the same voice throughout their growth within the system? Do minor league coaches truly have an impact on development? & If so how in your opinion?