lightfoot789

I do get it, but tend to look at game results. Despite his low OBP he scores more than anyone on his team not named Polanco. Last year he scored as much as anyone (2nd) in his league despite his low OBP. If he consistently scores more than most with the low OBP and drives in more runs than anyone else depite the low OBP - Why would you need more to be happy? The Twins and Baltimore have the same OBP and same WHIP. The Twins however have 43 less HRs than the Orioles. Baltimore also has a better record (1st) in a perceived better division. The key to the game is to outscore your opponent and Walker has helped his teams do that on a consistent basis. The problem with your thought process is that you better have 5 to 6 high OBP players in the line up if you want to score runs. That's why Mauer has routinely never had high RBI totals or Runs scored totals.

Many MLB players have paved their way to the MLB thru the Florida State League. Here are the stats of some star power hitters while in the FSL. Joey Votto (MLB All Star 1B - Reds) 124 Games / 64 Runs / 17 HR / 83 RBI / 52 BB / 122 K / .330 OBP / .256 BA Matt Kemp ($20+ milliion dollar man - Dodgers) 109 Games / 76 Runs / 27 HR / 90 RBI / 25 BB / 092 K / .349 OBP / .306 BA Allen Craig (top run producer for St. Louis - MLB) 112 Games / 77 Runs / 21 HR / 77 RBI / 35 BB / 079 K / .370 OBP / .312 BA Chris Parmelee (Twins AAA / MLB) 123 Games / 61 Runs / 16 HR / 73 RBI / 65 BB / 109 K / .359 OBP / .258 BA Marcell Ozuna (played in FSL in 2012 and now starting OF MLB Marlins) 129 Games / 89 Runs / 24 HR / 95 RBI / 44 BB / 116 K / .328 OBP / .266 BA Here are the stats of some recent 2013 FSL power hitters: Dustin Lawley (FSL 2013 MVP - St. Louis Cardinals - now in AA) 122 Games / 69 Runs / 25 HR / 92 RBI / 36 BB / 111 K / .313 OBP / .260 BA Kennys Vargas (Twins Futures Game participant - 40 man roster - in AA) 125 Games / 68 Runs / 19 HR / 93 RBI / 50 BB / 105 K / .344 OBP / .267 BA Javier Baez (#5 MiLB ranked prospects in Top 100 - Cubs - in AAA) 076 Games / 59 Runs / 17 HR / 57 RBI / 21 BB / 078 K / .338 OBP / .274 BA Adam Brett Walker II (2014 FSL Stats thus far - Twins prospect) 081 Games / 49 Runs / 18 HR / 64 RBI / 24 BB / 092 K / .295 OBP / .242 BA Miguel Sano (Top 10 MiLB Prospect - Twins - only half a season in 2013) 056 Games / 51 Runs / 16 HR / 48 RBI / 29 BB / 61 K / .424 OBP / .330 BA Sano shows to have had the most impressive season of all the prospects. The remaining players all showed great potential in one form or another. As a Twin fan - I'm truly excited as to what could be?????? What are your thoughts on potential and/or concerns as they pertain to the following comparisons amongst players.............

He just tweeted on Miracle website. "excited to be getting back on field today"

According to Brice Zimmerman (Miracle announcer), Buxton suited up and coached 1st base yesterday and should be with Miracle soon. He is NOT off the DL yet or assigned to any team, but this does bring a smile to your face. sorry about thread title misprint

Would you have been upset if Walker was 3rd pick (compensation pick) instead of Bard or should we have aimed in different direction? In hindsight. The Astros 3rd pick took less money so they could afford Ruiz with 5th pick. Not predicting injuries, I think Twins made great selections 1-10.

I just printed this page Seth. I can't believe you said the "Clutch" word - Lol. I will make sure Jeremy reads this in your next "Hang Out" broadcast.

Polanco has been on a roll since coming back. Dalton Hicks is also playing well and coming up with big hits lately. Walker is 6 for 15 (.400) with the bases loaded this year with 19 RBI. His 3 Grand Slams this season are a team career record and Miracle seasonal record. Walker hit 3 Grand Slams last year for the Kernels as well.

I would bet that his average home run over the course of his professional career are at least .400 feet. This kid can mash. The announcer said he hit the ball over the left center field grand stands and into the parking lot on Wednesday - Over the Tiki Bar in right center field on Thursday night and - Yesterdays grand slam was off the batters eye in dead center field. 3 Nights in a row and all over .400 feet. You should ask Miracle announcer Brice Zimmerman what he thinks of Walker's power and how it compares to Sano and Vargas from last year. I have no idea, but would probably be a good question. bzimmerman@miraclebaseball.com or Tweet him at Brice Zimmerman[h=2]@ZimMiracle[/h]

Adam Brett Walker II hit his league leading 18th home run yesterday (July 4th). The home run was his 3rd Grand Slam of this short season. Walker is 6 for 15 (.400)with the bases loaded this season with 19 RBI. That is some awesome production!! This is the second consecutive fourth of July that Walker has hit a home run. Despite his .235 BA and lowly .288 OBP - he is on pace to have similar production numbers than his MVP season in the Midwest League last year [runs scored (46); home runs (18); and RBI (62) thus far]. The FSL league is "the" hardest league in minor league baseball and even the MLB to hit HRs and produce runs. It is a pitchers league and players are expected to struggle. In many areas - Walker is seriously struggling. His doubters stated that he would not be able to do what he's doing because of his poor walk rate and plate discipline. Nothings has changed however - Not even his production or the fact that his team still won the first half championship (pitchers league) and made the playoffs (with several sub .250 hitters in lineup). Just Win

Adam Brett Walker II hit his league leading 18th home run today (July 4th). The home run was his 3rd Grand Slam of this short season. Walker is 6 for 15 (.400)with the bases loaded this season with 19 RBI. That is some awesome production!! This is the second consecutive fourth of July that Walker has hit a home run. Despite his .235 BA and lowly .288 OBP - he is on pace to have similar production numbers than his MVP season in the Midwest League last year [runs scored (46); home runs (18); and RBI (62)]. The FSL league is "the" hardest league in minor league baseball and even the MLB to hit HRs and produce runs. It is a pitchers league and players are expected to struggle. In many areas - Walker is seriously struggling. His doubters stated that he would not be able to do what he's doing because of his poor walk rate and plate discipline. Nothings has changed however - Not even his production or the fact that his team still won the first half championship (pitchers league) and made the playoffs. Just Win

Walker hits a homer at Bradenton

Walker hits a homer at Dunedin

Adam Brett Walker II hit his league leading 18th home run today (July 4th). The home run was his 3rd Grand Slam of this short season. Walker is 6 for 15 (.400)with the bases loaded this season with 19 RBI. That is some awesome production!! This is the second consecutive fourth of July that Walker has hit a home run. His 18 home runs are just 3 off (21) the Fort Myer Miracle season record. His 62 RBI are a league best as well. Walker needs to do much better with his BA. But despite his .235 BA and lowly .288 OBP - he has more runs scored (46); home runs (18); and RBI (62) than FSL MVP front runner Josh Bell (Bradenton) - .333 BA and .379 OBP; runs scored (39); home runs (9); and RBI (50). That's not to say Walker is MVP worthy, but to say that his production is still incredibly game ready. Bell earned $5 million as a signing bonus and seems to be well worth it this year with his incredible season numbers. I'm excited to see him play in the Futures game. That being said - I still say Adam Brett Walker II is a steal for the Twins based on what the critics said and continue to say. A true winner!!

Walker hits 17th Home Run of season. Back to back games with HRs and 4 shy of Miracle season record (21) according to Bryce Zimmerman on radio. http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140703&content_id=82974356&fext=.jsp&vkey=recap&sid=t509

Despite rough 6th inning - Tomshaw emerges victorious and moves to 7-1. Coach left him in for 1 too many hitters. http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140703&content_id=82974356&fext=.jsp&vkey=recap&sid=t509

Interesting article about Lefties and the knuckleball. There is also video of Matt Tomshaw and his Knuckleball "Thing" that has emerged as a winning formula for the MIracle. Still waiting for him to make that next step to New Britian: Lefty knuckleballers in the big leagues By SCOTT BUTHERUS[h=1]The lefties and the knuckleball Since 1970, only three left-handed pitchers in the Major Leagues have used a knuckleball as a primary pitch — Wilbur Wood, Rich Sauveur and Kirt Ojala. Wood had the best success, going 164-156 during his 17-year career, spent mainly with the Chicago White Sox. A three-time All-Star, Wood won 20 games or more in four consecutive years, including a league-leading 24 wins in the 1972 and 73 seasons. He finished second in the Cy Young voting in 1972 when he also led the league with 376.2 innings pitched. Sauveur, who now serves as the pitching coach for the Pawtucket Red Sox, Boston’s Triple-A affiliate, appeared in 34 games during a sporadic big league career that spanned 14 years and six different organizations. Ojala, who pitched for the Florida Marlins from 1997-98, was the last left-handed pitcher to use the knuckleball. During his brief career, Ojala went 3-10 with a 4.71 ERA. He is best known as the pitcher who surrendered Barry Bonds’ 400th career home run. © 2014 Naples Daily News. All rights reserved. This material may not be published VIDEO of the "THING" / kNUCKLEBALL and MATT TOMSHAW http://www.naplesnews.com/videos/detail/matt-tomshaw-and-the-thing/ http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2014/jul/02/minor-league-baseball-unorthodox-pitch-helps/ [/h] Naples Daily News

Anybody who has an inside the park home run has to be hustling out of the box. Congrats to Adam Brett Walker on a unconventional HR. @ 6'4 & 230 lbs it must have looked like a locamotive coming around those bases. Great pitching again from Matt Tomshaw. That "Knuckler" must be a "Thing" of beauty. Do I hear AA? Congrats on the 1st Walk Off of the year for the Miracle. They are starting to play better in the second half despite winning the 1st half just like Cedar Rapids did last year.

Anybody who has an inside the park home run has to be hustling out of the box. Congrats to Adam Brett Walker on a unconventional HR. @ 6'4 & 230 lbs it must have looked like a locamotive coming around those bases. Great pitching again from Matt Tomshaw. That "Knuckler" must be a "Thing" of beauty. Do I hear AA?

I agree that he is ready to move up as was Baxendale last year. Just know that it does not mean greatness at the next level. Every level is an adjustment and a different one for each player. Some play OK at high "A" and soar at "AA" (Vargas) and some excel at high "A" (Baxendale / Sano) and flutter (or at least without same dominance) at "AA". Each guy has their own adjustment monitor. Buxton was not good in GCL and OK in Appalachain League - The next year he was National Player of the Year. I beleive that some things can be worked on at any level and does not require being held back. Sometimes weaker competition can ony make you worse (JD Williams in Cedar Rapids - 2014). Promotions are needed but not to be over judged by new results (good or bad).

Love this one. How many bloggers would want him in the Twins line-up if his OBP was actually .433 with the MLB Twins? Would you be satisfied with the fact that he got on base more than any other Twin or would the .163 BA just kill you mentally? Since he was released - It tells me what the Twins are more concerned with.................................. Ask Hicks what he thinks the Twins care about most?

Being that the Twins are the host team - they should be able to have a guaranteed spot in the derby. Then they could call up AB Walker (Miracles & FSL Derby Champ - haha). At least it wouldn't be embarassing and wouldn't ruin anybody of values swing for the 2nd half. FSL HR DERBY VIDEO

Matt Tonshaw brings first half division championship to MIracle with key save in deciding game. Although I thought Tomshaw should have recieved the ball as the starter in the championship / division clinching game - He did his part in grand fashion. Like always - he got the job done!! Hope he follows Wheeler soon to AA. Disrespected by not getting selected to all star game and now having to make another start at A+? MIRACLE CLINCH DIVISION http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140618&content_id=80492606&fext=.jsp&vkey=recap&sid=t509 TOMSHAW STATISTICAL HISTORY http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=tomsha000mat

Video from the FSL HR Derby found on youtube:

Seems so disrespectful to have JD playing in CR again. I know he's hurt, but that's where he was sent period.

I couldn't find game highlights. He has a quiet swing but ball seems to jump off the bat IMO