lightfoot789

Kepler is a very solid outfielder and can be a better than average 1st baseman with his athleticism and size. That being said: What do the Twins do as a system with Vargas; Hicks; M. Gonzalez; & Kepler; as potential 1st basemen this year? Who starts in Cedar Rapids (if anyone)? Who starts in Ft. Myer? Who starts in New Britian? Does Harrison end up at 1st base long term? Whoever is penciled in at 1st Base will have another 4-5+ years to unseat Mauer anyway. Will that be considered a wasted prospect (letting them age and mis-used to their fullest)?

What would we have to give up to receive Castro from the Cubs? Young gifted SS who could pair with any of our 2B options for years to come. What would it take???????????? They still have Baez for SS and Ott for 3B moving forward. Arcia? & Diamond and / or Gibson Rosario? & Pitchers Ideas???? Dozier?

He's a richer version of Matt Thomshaw. Great location with low 90s fastball. Thomshaw has several pitches and knows how to locate. Although we may be getting away from the "Pitch to contact" philosophy - It aint all bad. Some of those guys in your bullpen make for a nice change of pace in situational cases. Thomshaw is my sleeper in the Twins system this year. Nothing fancy - just results.

There are roughly 145 minor league players in the Twins organization. As I look at the Twins current players - I found these approximate numbers: 96 Players - White 66% 40 Players - Hispanic / Latino 28% 06 Players - African American 4% 03 Players - Asian 2% Does anyone know how these numbers correlate with the rest of the (MLB) league? This has the Twins with at least 34% of their MiLB players being minorities. What happened to all the African American baseball players in America? It was fun watching the Cedar Rapids players getting along so well and playing as a team. Coach Mauer did an excellent job of bringing his diverse ball club together and playing as professionals. They seem to have genuine love for each other. I'm excited to see these players grow into future Twins at the MLB level.

No steriod jokes please - I would truly like opinions based on the above facts as they are presented. Which way are you more inclined to go - Excited by prospect "A" or skeptical based on his OBP? What history makes you sway one way or the other?

What Do Braun's Early Numbers Indicate? Rookie Year (Rookie of the Year) BB% - 5.9 K% - 22.8 BABIP - .361 OBP% - .370 2nd Year (All Star) BB% - 6.3 k% - 19.5 BABIP - .305 OBP% - .335 His above statistical numbers improved greatly in the next 5 years of his MLB career. Braun's Minor League Numbers (A - AA - AAA) 151 Games 31 HRs 102 Runs 97 RBI .297 BA 111 K's 57 BB's His minor league OBP% was outstanding however (.346 / .367 / .403) Prospect "A" Indicators (Minors -A ball) BB% - 5.6 k% - 20.8 BABIP - .304 OBP% - .319 129 Games 27 HRs 83 Runs 109 RBI .278 BA 115 K's 31 BB's *Prospect "A's" low OBP could lead us to believe he is unlikely to mirror Brauns abilitiy to achieve stardom. *Prospect "A's" power numbers and similar BB Rate and K Rate could lead us to believe we have a probable star in our organization. *Braun's ability to improve his BB Rate and K Rate at the MLB level - years 3 thru 8 show that adjustments can be made at all levels. How many of us would welcome Braun's Sophomore season despite the similar BB% & OBP% as prospect "A". Or would we sell high because the numbers show otherwise longterm?

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That makes sense. I was just wondering how much wiggle room scouts give prospects in terms of defining their tendencies and / or statistics (Ex: BB / K's / OBP). Sano improved from .373 to .424 in OBP from A to High A. That is a huge increase (.051). Reports say he just learned to stay off the down and away breaking balls. He struck out the same rate but improved his walk ratio. It is a game of adjustments. If I see guys make certain adjustments (Ex: improved K rate) - why is it so far fetched that one could and probably would, improve in other areas like BB rates? Scouts constantly assume that one will become a power hitter despite the fact that an individual has never hit for power before. His swing plain dictates that? or His future size dictates that? I would love to hear from Minor League coaches as to what the organizational approaches are for various prospects throughout thier development. In more detail. How do you expect an individual to achieve this task. Other sports are more revealing as to how they expect their young players to improve. QB's must work on this part of their game because they have a tendency lock on to WR's - etc. or a Point Guard needs to know when to force a ball inside and when to take an open shot when - etc............. Baseball always seems to state that the player needs to make adjustments. It is rarely discussed, the day to day interactions with coaches that help a player get to that improvement level. Prospect "A" needs to take more pitches in his at bats or Prospect "B" needs to be more aggressive in his at bats or Prospect "C" needs to improve his bat speed because doesn't connect on pitches away enough. ETC. ETC. - I want to hear about prospect approaches moving through the organization - and how they are implemented mentally.

BTW - Different list than most I've seen but still interesting.

If Walker had 12 more hits (153 instead of 141) and 12 more walks (43 instead of 31) last season - he would have garnished a stat line that read [.308 BA & .354 OBP]. Considering that is 12 lucky bounces and 12 off the plate Balls instead of called Strike 3's - Where would that have placed him on the various Prospect list out there? Assume no extra base hits to that total and Assume that this is an arguable yet realistic hyperthetical - How much range is given for variables in anaylzing prospects across the board? Would these numbers be considered a true plate discipline adjustment over the course of a season or merely luck? Thoughts...................

We can wait dude - As much as we like your articles - a few weeks won't end us. Get better.

I agree with you twinsajsf. Let our prospects get their trial by fire in 2014 and go from there. I actually think the Hicks/Arcia/Parmelee / Buxton / Presley / Mastro combination will work for us this year. Why so much talk about the need for a vet in other posting then?

Davis is said to be ready to sign with Detroit - What could or should the Twins do in their attempt to find OF veteran leadership?

I think the Cards are the Top Example in maintaining a strong farm system too. That said however: I love what we have in our system and like Seth said - I believe we can create our own path. We have enough potential table setters to start a line up (Buxton; Mauer; Polanco; Pinto; Rosario; Dozier; and believe it or not A. Hicks) and Power potential in (Arcia; Sano; Vargas; Walker; D. Hicks; Kepler; Parmelee; Colabello; & Ploufe) to make it work. Whatever combination of players from this list who happen to fill their potential - will make for a dangerous offense. All have been proven run producers in the minors and if they reach their potential, means they have carried that ability over to the MLB level. The pitching will take care of its self by 2016 - Young budding stars on the mound.

Walker or Kepler - Always curious? Defensively: Who is better outfeilder and/or athlete defensively? Both are solid in my opinion, but I wondered what others thought? Kepler is learning 1B as secondary position / Walker was an All American at 1B? Kepler played CF as well as RF, where Walker has played RF exclusively? Who appears faster? Who has the better vertical? Who has better upside defensively? Both have the ability to swipe their share of bases and seem like heady runners? Offensively: Kepler has shorter swing, but Walker has better power. Kepler is better vs Righties than Lefties where Walker is more consisitent vs Both Both have potential to be solid offensive power threats IMO There is definitely a place in the system for both down the road if they reach potential.

"I think Kepler is going to see a lot of time at 1B in Ft. Myers, splitting time there with DJ HIcks." What are your thoughts in Michael Gonzalez at 1B then if Ft. Myers has HIcks - Kepler & Gonzalez? Is he let go or skips back up to join Vargas in AA? Murphy made a great case for becoming a legitimate defensive OF prospect too. He was arguebaly the best defensive guy next to Buxton in the organization (excluding A. Hicks). Thoughts.............

Not to mention his brother (Jonathan/CF) is in the Twins minor league system.

That being said and I understand your rationale - Who are your outfielders moving forward in A+? and Who is at 3B in A+? JD WILLIAMS (possible start in high A) MAX KEPLER ADAM WALKER JONATHAN MURPHY TRAVIS HARRISON JEREMIAS PINEDA OTHER POSSIBLE A+ HOLDOVERS

ok ok ok my final choice - Tim Shibuya was lights out for CR and will progres fast through the next stop (A+). Fast Riser and my surprise pick for end of the year Twins All Star 2014. Remember I called it

The fact that Hughes pitched for so many years in NYC under the greatest media pressure alive and did not suck or thrive is enough for me. He will probably feel like a new man and serve as an excellent leader for up and coming prospects. "Been There - Done That" type leader. Great Sign if possible. That would also allow the Twins to trade Worley, Diamond and Deduno for prospects or needed Vet. On a side note: I would look into Furcal for 1 year deal if healthy. Another veteran leader who is a defensive upgrade and championship (been there) bat.

Polanco will take advantage of Rosario suspension and surprise faster than expected.

I think Brett Lee will establish himself as a strong pitching prospect in the system with his consistency and ability to get outs (AA by seasons end); Matt Thomshaw knows how to pitch and will surprise in his AA debut; Although a breakout prospect in 2013 - Adam Brett Walker will improve his BB rate and put up solid production numbers as he advances through AA by years end. Possible September Call Up

Getting on base is one of the biggest keys to the game - so I agree. The biggest key, however, is to outscore your opponent. Can someone explain to me why this is not important? "I lead the league in scoring but I still don't get on base enough" - That means that all the people with higher OBP don't score more why? Thats my sabermetric question........... If the point is that this will not last due to law of averages (ok). We will agree to disagree. I tend to believe in history and results over that history. Winners win or find a way to win. I want the dude who knows how to score and drive in runs with consistency. I'll take a poor mans version of Sano any day. Sano walks more (65 to 31) and K's more (27% to 20%) than Walker, but scored 3 more runs than Walker and drove in less. He's the number #3 player in all of baseball (with good reason / Awesome player). Sano in MLB at 21 - Walker at 24 - I'll take their adjusted learning curves and relish for years to come. I see the major improvements in both.

It was 1 person that I originally was speaking to. Walker's walks are an issue as I stated. He could do better and should. That being said - I can't remember where I read it, but I saw that he was 9 for 12 with bases load with 3 grand slams last year. He also played with 2 strikes more than anyone on the Cedar Rapids team (while limiting his K rate).

You obviously have never seen this kid play (just kidding). His power was listed as possibly the best in his draft class. From everything I've seen and read - There aren't many in baseball with more power. You be the judge: AdamBrettWalkerKernelHighlightsVideo I could live with Jacque Jones at his best. That said: Walker seems to be hitting everything from off speed to fastballs in these videos. Worth the viewing if you have not seen the kid and judging merely on select articles. Many of his HRs also came off Pitchers who are Top prospects in their respective organizations. Another intangible often over looked (who are you hitting & who is getting you out?). I agree with alot of what Diehardtwinsfan says - My only beef is when posters state he strikes out way too much and is not showing any signs of improving? That's not factual. We dismiss Stats now that sabermetrics are the new grading scale - But the game still comes down to scoring runs and driving in runs from an offensive perspective. If I have a prospect who has shown an ability to do both throughout his life span (HS / College / Pros) and make minor adjustments along the way. Why doubt so heavily? (1) Low BB rate (true), but scores more than everyone else in league (2) Average K rate (20%) and drives in more runs than everyone else (3) Just Wins at every level: *Great Lakes Summer League - Best Record in League (HR leader & 2nd in RBI) *Jacksonville University - Beat #1 UF (2011) & made NCAA regionals (All Tourney Team) *Hyannis (Cape Cod) - 1st Regular Season Championship in 23 years (led team in HRs & RBI) *Elizabethton Twins - League Champions (Top 5 - HRs - RBI - Runs - Slg% - OPS) *Cedar Raids Kernels - Best Record in all of Minor Leagues Just wins and brings those intangibles to the Twins too. That's why he is so high on my list.