lightfoot789

88 Ribbies with 19 games to go. Can't wait to see how Walker does at Jet Blue this week.

Clear your mind and forget about Adam Brett Walker for a second. Would you ever considered a player, a disappointment if you heard he obtained 28 HRs and 100 RBI? Even in the minor leagues? If so, What would be your acceptable trade off?

Do the Miracle have enough fire power to win the FSL championship without Byron Buxton, Levi Michael, and Jorge Polanco? Even the departure of Mike Gonzales has weakend their line up. He was argueably their best hitter in the second half of season.

What are the chances Buxton and Sano and Rosario start in AA next year?

Congrats to Buxton. It will be a great lead into the Fall League and next year. With Haar (3B) supposedly coming to Ft. Myers wth Burdi - Where does the other spot come from? I would imagine an infielder with Haar coming. Although with back to back doubleheaders coming up tomorrow and Wednesday - they could use some more pitching in this short span of time. 28 innings in 2 days uses up alot of arms.

Walker finished his FSL week (8/4 thru 8/10) with the following: .320 BA .370 OBP .960 SLG% 1.330 OPS 4 Runs 1 2B 3 HRs 9 RBI 2 BB 1 SB 8 K Thru six games

When do you truly know if someone has figured "it" out? My theory is: Buxton actually played better in the Appy league than he did in the GCL when he first arrived after the draft. Sometimes you just have to take a chance and let them figure "it" out at the next level. Still he got the promotion. Walker - I hope he figures "it" out too (truly). Couldn't hurt [better zone discipline] His team has a losing record during this personal hot stretch BTW. I think it was the 3 HRs and 10 RBI this week, that actually helped in those wins more so than his OBP. His gift will always be in his Run production - not his OBP (IMO). If we can get both -awesome. Let him figure it out at the higher MiLB levels though - not A Ball.

Adam Brett Walker in the month of August: BA (.393) HRs (3) RBI (10) OBP (.452) SLG. (.750) OPS (1.202) Ks (5) BB (3) With the FSL being listed as the hardest league in baseball (minors & MLB) to produce runs and HRs - Walker is having argueably a better year in those categories than last year's MVP season: 2013 .278 BA .319 OBP 27 HRs 109 RBI 83 Runs 2014 ,244 BA .301 OBP 24 HRs 85 RBI 65 Runs There are still 23 games left in this season X-Factors: Breaking Down Various Ball Park Effectshttp://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140205&content_id=66911570&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_milb&sid=milb

24 HRs and 85 RBI with 23 games left. Adam Brett Walker is having an amazing month of August thus far: .393 BA / .452 OBP / .750 SLG% / 1.202 OPS / 5 Ks / 3 BB

I'm not sure what you call a few home runs. His 23 HRs are 9 more HRs than anyone in his league and 13 more than anyone on his team. Oh yeah 83 RBI are 22 more than his closest teammate as well. All those numbers lead every prospect in the Twins organzation as well as the MLB level. To your point - he's not having a great year, but I would not frown on those accomplishments either. That's why people are clamoring to promote him - PRODUCTION!!! I agree that he will stay in Ft. Myers this year and be forced to learn a new level from stratch again next year. I would think that seeing a level for even a short portion of the season would better prepare you for the start of that level again the next season. Sano should have been better prepared for New Brittian this year because of his promotion last year IMO. That's what I think a promotion does for a prospect. Gives them direction for the next season. "He won't be able to hit those HRs and RBIs at the next level" - This will be the 4th level in a row that people are saying the same thing. Why he dropped in the draft - What they said after rookie ball - What they said after A ball and What they are saying after High A ball. They may eventually be right?

Twins are well represented. Polanco has gotten better, but I never knew how much in the eyes of the experts. Goodrum can throw it from anywhere. It's nice to see the Manager getting his respect too. Way to go Doug. FLORIDA STATE LEAGUE Best Batting Prospect Josh Bell, Bradenton (Pirates) Best Power Prospect Adam Brett Walker, Fort Myers (Twins) Best Strike-Zone Judgment Brandon Nimmo, St. Lucie (Mets) Best Baserunner Dalton Pompey, Dunedin (Blue Jays) Fastest Baserunner Dalton Pompey, Dunedin (Blue Jays) Best Pitching Prospect Jose Berrios, Fort Myers (Twins) Best Fastball Sam Tuivailala, Palm Beach (Cardinals) Best Breaking Pitch Jose Berrios, Fort Myers (Twins) Best Changeup Jose Berrios, Fort Myers (Twins) Best Control Tim Shibuya, Fort Myers (Twins) Best Reliever Arik Sikula, Dunedin (Blue Jays) Best Defensive Catcher Justin O’Conner, Charlotte (Rays) Best Defensive First Baseman Patrick Leonard, Charlotte (Rays) Best Defensive Second Baseman Breyvic Valera, Palm Beach (Cardinals) Best Defensive Third Baseman Gustavo Pierre, Dunedin (Blue Jays) Best Defensive Shortstop Jorge Polanco, Fort Myers (Twins) Best Infield Arm Niko Goodrum, Fort Myers (Twins) Best Defensive Outfielder Albert Almora, Daytona (Cubs) Best Outfield Arm Aaron Judge, Tampa (Yankees) Most Exciting Player Dalton Pompey, Dunedin (Blue Jays) Best Manager Prospect Doug Mietnkiewicz, Fort Myers (Twins) http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/2014-high-class-best-tools/

Can't believe Lee didn't make so many of your Top Prospect List. All he does is win, but I forgot "He doesn't project to win at the higher level". In some cses it's the Pitchers who get smarter / better as they move up and in other cases it's the Hitters who get better as you move up. Not a better pitcher in the system statistically, but not even a sniff?

I stand corrected then.

I understand that hitting coaches are supposed to teach you how to hit, However - A power hitters swing will probably look slightly different than the contact hitters swing (maybe longer). That being said - How many hitting coaches in the Twins organization have ever been power hitters or can talk to the art of power hitting from experience? I don't know the answer. I was wondering if that has anything to do with the lack of progress so many of our power hitters have at the MLB level. I'm not saying all must know, but is there anyone along the way who speaks to the prospects about it from experience. Carew is a special instructor in regards to hitting for contact. So many of the managers and hitting instructors throughout the system seem to have been great AB guys but not necessarily power guys. Who is our Power Guru? Do we need one? Might that be a missing element in terms of development for the following: Colabello; Arcia; Parmelee; Plouffe; Vargas; all seem to have similar flaws in terms of swing and miss at the highest level. Is there some misconnect along the way up? Food for thought!

You know things are going well in Fort Myers when the Miracle strike out 12 times as a team and Adam Brett Walker (2-4 w/HR & RBI) is the only player not to strike out in the game. Great win Miracle and solid pitching by Mildren. Levi is having a very nice season BTW.

Agreed

Like the list, but have to debate the absence of Brett Lee. Intangibles have to be important. All he does is WIN and always with a low era. Most underrated prospect in Twins system. I also like the knuckler man Tomshaw, but his pressence in FT Myers tells the story as to what the Twins must think. Another excellent pitch to contact guy. That's not always a bad thing.

Aaron Hicks had a High OBP and low Average. Harrison has a decent BA and high OBP. Neither produces runs in the manner that people had hoped. Hicks doesn't score enough even with high OBP. Harrison doesn't hit for power despite being a corner OF/IF player. Last year Walker hit 30+ doubles and 27 HRs and 6 Triples. All with a low OBP. Are we making these list based on potential solely, or more on results currently? When do results actually matter. Getting on base is the first part to winning games. Scoring and driving in runs is the ultimate part to winning games. I suspect that Walker will make adjustments like he did in low A last year and flourish in AA next year. A lowered 20% K rate again with lead leading power on display. The funny part is Rob Antony stated that Walker probably would have been thier organizational minor league player of the year- last year if not for Buxton (#1 in baseball) and Sano (#3 in baseball). Low BA and OBP included. I Grade Results and Production. This will be my last comment on Walker on this post. Promise! - Wow (almost out of the Top 20)

Seth - I'm not saying that promoting Walker is a rush, I'm saying it's the right thing to do in his situation. He is a college kid who has experienced failure before and knows how to handle it. Why not test him at the AA level and let him see what adjustments he needs to make in the off season - so he can come back ready to master the AA level next year. Why does he have to start each year out blind to the competition? I would think that HIcks and Arcia should be aware of some of the pitfalls of MLB pitching a little better next year as opposed to this year. Throw the kid (Walker) a bone and let him find out what AA is like, so he can spend the off season working on those adjustments. He will probably head to AA after spring training next March? Would you agree? He had a low average and OBP last year and was promoted for his production. He has a low BA and OBP this year and will be probably promoted due to his production again. If you don't have plans on repeating a guy because of his production - Why keep him at a particular level all year? We all want to assume that playing at a lower level again or longer helps you get back in the groove. Not always the case. Sometimes it just throws off your game (Buxton / JD Williams / Etc.). Sometmes players should be treated like their special (Soriano / Abreu / Etc.) or as the "exception to the rule" at an early age so you can send them back if need be. Cookie cutter format is not the right move in this case IMO. A side note: Walker is the only college position player from the 3rd round / 2012 draft to still be in the FSL. If someone else is still in FSL - they missed a season or most of a season due to injury. Walker is the only 3rd rounder (position player / 2012) to still be in High A for that matter, in all of minor league baseball. He leads all of those players in HRs and RBI over that span of time as well. Throw the kid a bone Seth. What harm could it do? He's 22 like you said with a good head on his shoulder. He understands failure - Let him fail completely if need be - so he can learn and adjust. Not have half and half success (production = low BA/OBP).

"He will struggle at the next level" in terms of contact rate. That was the consensus after his rookie level when he led the league in K's (28%) and held a .310 OBP. He followed that season up with a K rate 10% lower @ (20%) and a .319 OBP. And again it was said "He will struggle at the next level" in terms of contact rate. And he has! Although he holds a consistent OBP of .300 again and his K rate has risen to 28% (again). Consider this: If Walker were able to hold on to his consistency (Like he has accomplished for 3 straight years) and lead the American League in HRs and RBI and possibly K rate with a .310 OBP (3 years from now) - WOULD YOU WANT HIM & HIS CONSISTENT TOP LEVEL PRODUCTION (with flaws) ON THE TWINS? Why or Why Not? If Yes - When would you give a player like Walker his chance for promotion? He may never be an OBP guy. He may just be a guy, who leads the league in HRs and RBI every year. I'm sure he wants more too, but I'll take what he's offering now. Consistent production.

Who are your AFL picks (7) and why? Consider Puerto Rico releases Vargas and Rosario to play. Does this change your picks?

1) With the highest BA in the FSL last year being .289 (with anyone above 125 games) - How does that reflect on the difficuties hitters have in the FSL and how some numbers may be skued? Does leading your team in HRs by 12 and RBI by 23 deserve a promotion? ABW *Have you ever heard of a player accomplishing that type of lead over teammates and not recieving a promotion? In the history of the Twins minor leagues? In the history of baseball? When does a dog get a bone?

His strikeout rates over 3 seasons have been - 30.2% (rookie) - 20.8% (A ball) - 28.5% (high A). Last year he improved greatly in terms of K%. This year he traveled upward again with K rate. That being said: He has shown the ability to lower it within a season. He may never walk alot. Neither does Polanco. The down side this year is, he has such a low BA & OBP. Again - That being said: He gets on base less than everyone on his team but scores more runs than everyone on his team. He is either the luckiest player in baseball or somehow has an intangible that makes for winning baseball. Walker is 6th in the league in scored runs / 1st in HRs by 8 / and 1st in RBI. Maybe, that is just who he is (in addition to the low BA & OBP). An offensive force!! He should have been afforded the chance to go to AA and do the same thing. If he failed - He could have repeated AA next year and had a jump on the league. 81 RBI and 22 HR in the pitching league FSL (not bad with 25 games left). Name a player in any league who can lead his team in HRs by 12 more than the next closest teammate and not earn a promotion. Name a player in any league who can lead his team in RBI by 23 more than the next closest teammate and not earn a promotion. With all his risky swing and miss and high K rate - He has only stayed consisitent in his league production (1st). He is having a bad year for ABW but a productive year for the FSL. Put it in perspective. The highest BA last year for anyone with 125 games in was .289 in the FSL. Not a very hitter friendly league..

Actually Walker had 2 hits, 1 run scored, and 4 RBI, but I can't complain about Harrison because he had a big game as well. Like how you think Highlander. Ha

Congrats to Adam Brett Walker on obtaining the Miracle franchise single season HR record..Does anyone know the RBI record for the Miracle? Walker has 81 RBI with about 25 games left. Great overall game for the Miracle last night.