lightfoot789

How long do these winter league seasons last? November / December? How many games do they actually get in a season?

I thought the Twins had an excellent draft and went away from their usual philosophy in 2012. Who are the players other than Buxton and Berrios in this years draft that you are excited about and which have a chance to become special players down the line (someday)? Patience is a virtue and this 2012 draft class seems to have produced well at thier respective MILB levels. Who surprisingly stood out at instructionals as well?

Production is production - But you also need to drive in 100+ if you are going to be considered a top run producer in the MLB. Every team needs that guy. Most of the time it comes from a guy who can change the outcome of a game with 1 swing. It's awesome if you can do both, but hitting for average doesn't do anything for your team if you're only one of a few guys getting on base (as it pertains to production). Mauer basically does what Jeter does. Hit for average and be that team leader. Mauer needs some Cano's - Grandison's - Tex - Swisher's - etc. to help with the run production. Or get a ton of players who hit for average and can steal some bases (get in scoring position). Willingham was an awesome pick up and the Twins will benefit more when their young farmhands make it to the show. They have that nice combination of hitters (Arcia / Rosario / etc.) and power Sano / etc.). Twins fans need to just be a little more patient and Joe needs to be just a little more productive. Hit .290 with 20 homers and 100 rbi. - That works

http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120918&content_id=38611162&vkey=news_l120&fext=.jsp&sid=l120 MILB Top Offensive Player in the Post Season for Appalachian League Seemed to figure it out at the right time. Appalachian League Adam Walker, Elizabethton (.375/.483/.792, 6 G, 9-for-24, 1 2B, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 5 R, 3 SB) After a slow start, Walker finished the regular season tied for the league lead with 14 home runs. He didn't let up in the playoffs, going deep three more times (and swiping three bases, one shy of his regular-season total) and driving in seven runs in the E-Twins' run to the title. A third-round pick in the 2012 Draft, Walker had hits in each of Elizabethton's six games and fell a triple shy of the cycle in its playoff opener, a 4-0 win at Danville.

Hi Bob Is there any more news or updates from the Twins Instructional League? Which players are looking the part and seem to be standing out? Pitchers and Hitters? What do they exactly do day in and day out?

You could make an arguement for Romy Jimenez, as he had an outstanding season and improved his power numbers considerably as well (Best Lower Level Hitter). He was having a triple crown season before injury. I'm going on record and saying my Breakout Hitter for 2013 (Lower Levels) is Adam Brett Walker (Cedar Rapids). Kepler will contiue to do Kepler and is a star in the making, but I have my eye on the young slugger (Walker) who is still only 20 years old. Goodrum will make eyes turn this 2013 season as well.

How about a couple of Twins Farm Hands- DJ Hicks for hitting a Grand Slam to win the Appy Championship on 3-2 count in bottom of 12th inning or Adam Walker for tying the game on a 3 run HR with 2 outs in bottom of 9th inning of the Final game of championship series. Win or Go Home!!! That's CLUTCH How Bout them Elizabethton Twins

Other candidates: Josh Burris - 7-0 this season with a sub 2.00 ERA (Elizabethton) - Most wins in Appy League. Killer curve and mid 90+FB -- Solid as a middle reliever. Matt Tomshaw - (Beloit) - Lefty who knows how to pitch and can eat up innings. Pitch to contact guy. Candido Pimentel - Appy League MVP (small stature, but just gets on base) - small ball guy

Polanco is a young prospect (18) who has comparable stats to Max Kepler who has risen on everyones charts as a Top Prospect. Deservingly so too. He is an excellent defender at 2B and is a left handed hitter. See comparisons and you tell me if potential is there: PLAYER G - AB - R - H - 2B - 3B - HR - RBI - TB - BB - SO - SB - CS - OBP - SLG - AVG - OPS - E POLANCO 2B - 51 173 35 55 15 2 5 27 89 20 26 6 3 .388 .514 .318 .903 8 KEPLER OF - 59 232 40 69 16 5 10 49 125 27 33 7 0 .387 .539 .297 .925 1 http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=cano--001rob In Response to my Robinson Cano theory - See comparisons to Cano @ 18 (not now). Minor League stats [TABLE=class: dataTableClass] [TR=class: dataRow odd] [TD=class: dataCell, align: left] [/TD] [TD=class: dataCell, align: center][/TD] [TD=class: dataCell, align: center][/TD] [TD=class: dataCell, align: center][/TD] [TD=class: dataCell, align: center][/TD] [TD=class: dataCell, align: center][/TD] [TD=class: dataCell, align: center][/TD] [TD=class: dataCell, align: center][/TD] [TD=class: dataCell, align: center][/TD] [TD=class: dataCell, align: center][/TD] [TD=class: dataCell, align: center][/TD] [TD=class: dataCell, align: center][/TD] [TD=class: dataCell, align: center] [/TD] [TD=class: dataCell, align: center][/TD] [TD=class: dataCell, align: center][/TD] [TD=class: dataCell, align: center][/TD] [TD=class: dataCell, align: center][/TD] [TD=class: currSortDataCell, align: center][/TD] [TD=class: dataCell, align: center] [/TD] [TD=class: dataCell, align: center][/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [TABLE=class: dataTableClass] [TR=class: headerRow] [TD=align: center][/TD] [TD=align: center][/TD] [TD=align: center][/TD] [TD=align: center][/TD] [TD=align: center][/TD] [TD=align: center][TABLE=class: dataTableClass] [TR=class: dataRow even] [TD=class: dataCell, align: left][/TD] [TD=class: dataCell, align: center][/TD] [TD=class: dataCell, align: center][/TD] [TD=class: dataCell, align: center] [/TD] [TD=class: dataCell, align: center] [/TD] [TD=class: dataCell, align: center] [/TD] [TD=class: dataCell, align: center] [/TD] [TD=class: dataCell, align: center] [/TD] [TD=class: dataCell, align: center] [/TD] [TD=class: dataCell, align: center] [/TD] [TD=class: dataCell, align: center] [/TD] [TD=class: dataCell, align: center] [/TD] [TD=class: dataCell, align: center][/TD] [TD=class: dataCell, align: center][/TD] [TD=class: dataCell, align: center][/TD] [TD=class: dataCell, align: center][/TD] [TD=class: dataCell, align: center] [/TD] [TD=class: currSortDataCell, align: center] [/TD] [TD=class: dataCell, align: center] [/TD] [TD=class: dataCell, align: center][/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [/TD] [TD=align: center][/TD] [TD=align: center][/TD] [TD=align: center][/TD] [TD=align: center][/TD] [TD=align: center][/TD] [TD=align: center][/TD] [TD=align: center][/TD] [TD=align: center][/TD] [TD=align: center][/TD] [TD=align: center][/TD] [TD=align: center][/TD] [TD=align: center][/TD] [TD=align: center][/TD] [TD=align: center][/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE]

O yeah and he hits lefty

My point is that he has Cano potential. Cano wasn't always Cano as we see him now. Polanco is a very very good defender and has very smooth actions that will translate to MLB ready some day. He has a nice short swing and even showed some pop this year. Not amazing, but some pop. Here are Cano's numbers as a 18 year old in Rookie League vs Polanco's and Max Keplers. I Love Kepler, but want you to see how Polanco translates into future Top Prosect based on accomplishments and potential. (18 years old) And he batted 9th in lineup this year - which is no reflection on his potential, because Harrison batted 7th for that matter and he was a 1st rounder. Just saying.................[TABLE=class: dataTableClass] [TR=class: titleRow] [TD=colspan: 20][/TD] [/TR] [TR=class: headerRow] [TD=align: center].displaySortedOn('NAME_DISPLAY_FIRST_LAST','table1',false)"]Player [/TD] [TD=align: center] .displaySortedOn('POS','table1',false)"]POS [/TD] [TD=align: center] .displaySortedOn('G','table1',false)"]G [/TD] [TD=align: center] .displaySortedOn('AB','table1',false)"]AB [/TD] [TD=align: center] .displaySortedOn('R','table1',false)"]R [/TD] [TD=align: center] .displaySortedOn('H','table1',false)"]H [/TD] [TD=align: center] .displaySortedOn('H2B','table1',false)"]2B [/TD] [TD=align: center] .displaySortedOn('H3B','table1',false)"]3B [/TD] [TD=align: center] .displaySortedOn('HR','table1',false)"]HR [/TD] [TD=align: center] .displaySortedOn('RBI','table1',false)"]RBI [/TD] [TD=align: center] .displaySortedOn('TB','table1',false)"]TB [/TD] [TD=align: center] .displaySortedOn('BB','table1',false)"]BB [/TD] [TD=align: center] .displaySortedOn('SO','table1',false)"]SO [/TD] [TD=align: center] .displaySortedOn('SB','table1',false)"]SB [/TD] [TD=align: center] .displaySortedOn('CS','table1',false)"]CS [/TD] [TD=align: center] .displaySortedOn('OBP','table1',false)"]OBP [/TD] [TD=align: center] .displaySortedOn('SLG','table1',false)"]SLG [/TD] [TD=align: center] .displaySortedOn('AVG','table1',true)"]AVG [/TD] [TD=align: center] .displaySortedOn('OPS','table1',false)"]OPS [/TD] [TD=align: center] .displaySortedOn('E','table1',false)"]E [/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] M. Kepler OF 59 232 40 69 16 5 10 49 125 27 33 7 0 .387 .539 .297 .925 1 Polanco 2B 51 173 35 55 15 2 5 27 89 20 26 6 3 .388 .514 .318 .903 8 CANO as an 18 year old[TABLE=class: sortable stats_table] [TH=class: tooltip sort_default_asc show_partial_when_sorting, align: left]Year[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip sort_default_asc show_partial_when_sorting, align: center]Age[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip sort_default_asc show_partial_when_sorting, align: center]Tm[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip sort_default_asc, align: center]Lg[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip sort_default_asc, align: center]Lev[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip sort_default_asc, align: center]Aff[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]G[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]PA[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]AB[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]R[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]H[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]2B[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]3B[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]HR[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]RBI[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]SB[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]CS[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]BB[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]SO[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip hide_non_quals, align: center]BA[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip hide_non_quals, align: center]OBP[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip hide_non_quals, align: center]SLG[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip hide_non_quals, align: center]OPS[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]TB[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]GDP[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]HBP[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]SH[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]SF[/TH] [TH=class: tooltip, align: center]IBB[/TH] [TR=class: hl] [TD=align: left]2001[/TD] [TD=align: right]18[/TD] [TD=align: left]2 Teams[/TD] [TD=align: left]2 Lgs[/TD] [TD=align: left]Rk-A-[/TD] [TD=align: left]NYY[/TD] [TD=align: right]59[/TD] [TD=align: right]241[/TD] [TD=align: right]208[/TD] [TD=align: right]37[/TD] [TD=align: right]48[/TD] [TD=align: right]14[/TD] [TD=align: right]2[/TD] [TD=align: right]3[/TD] [TD=align: right]36[/TD] [TD=align: right]11[/TD] [TD=align: right]2[/TD] [TD=align: right]28[/TD] [TD=align: right]29[/TD] [TD=align: right].231[/TD] [TD=align: right].328[/TD] [TD=align: right].361[/TD] [TD=align: right].688[/TD] [TD=align: right]75[/TD] [TD=align: right]4[/TD] [TD=align: right]3[/TD] [TD=align: right]0[/TD] [TD=align: right]2[/TD] [TD=align: right]0[/TD] [/TR] [TR=class: partial_table] [TD=align: left]2001[/TD] [TD=align: right]18[/TD] [TD=align: left]Yankees[/TD] [TD=align: left]GULF[/TD] [TD=align: left]Rk[/TD] [TD=align: left]NYY[/TD] [TD=align: right]57[/TD] [TD=align: right]233[/TD] [TD=align: right]200[/TD] [TD=align: right]37[/TD] [TD=align: right]46[/TD] [TD=align: right]14[/TD] [TD=align: right]2[/TD] [TD=align: right]3[/TD] [TD=align: right]34[/TD] [TD=align: right]11[/TD] [TD=align: right]2[/TD] [TD=align: right]28[/TD] [TD=align: right]27[/TD] [TD=align: right].230[/TD] [TD=align: right].330[/TD] [TD=align: right].365[/TD] [TD=align: right].695[/TD] [TD=align: right]73[/TD] [TD=align: right]4[/TD] [TD=align: right]3[/TD] [TD=align: right]0[/TD] [TD=align: right]2[/TD] [TD=align: right]0[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE]

Polanco is a very smooth defender at 2B (very smooth) and showed some potential pop for an 18 year old. Kid is young and was a double machine (15 in 51 games). I just think he has major upside. Twins must think so too, they paid him as a top prospect at a young age.

That is true. That is more than two if players would have qualified. I'm excited about the 2015 product that the Twins will offer . Hope people can stay patient. We could be the next Rays system if we stock up on Pitchers in th Next 2 Drafts.

Awesome information. Please keep us updated Thank You

What will be the concerns when (Top Prospects) Sano and / or Rosario have to move to OF or when Kepler proves he is MLB ready? What about an improved Nate Roberts? What about Adam Walker if he learns to hit to contact better (Major HR Power)? What kind of OF would most of you want then - *Power 35+ HRs / *.300+ Hitters for Average/ *Pure Speed - 30+ SBs and .275 averages) What combination makes us contenders and who will have to be traded down the road? TOP 5 Keepers?

Its amazing that the league MVP doesn't make Top 20 List (Pimentel). Elizabethton wins championship and doesn't have more than 2 players on list. Since many on this list aren't on there for stats in Appy, but rather upside and athleticism - I like: *Nico Goodrum (one of best athletes in Appy) *Adam Walker (2nd most HRs of any MLB 2012 draftee - 17 HRs w/playoffs + athletic) *Romy Jiminez (Led Appy in almost every offensive major category before injury) *Jorge Palanco (one of Top hitters in Appy and only 18 - Next Robinson Cano) *Not to mention Josh Burris RHP (Dominated League in wins and ERA) *Tyler Duffy RHP - DOMINATED (enough said!!) My Etown Misses from Appy Prospect List When do stats start out weighing projections or at least open minds to potential new projections

I saw an article in MILB where Adam Walker was the 2012 OffensivePlayer of the Post Season for the Appalachian League. Too bad the Wisconsin product won't get to play a full season in Beloit next year. He was fun to watch in ETown. Will Beloit still have a team in MWL? http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120918&content_id=38611162&vkey=news_l120&fext=.jsp&sid=l120

Walker had 17 HRs in 64 games. If he can improve along with the upgrade in competition - you might be right? I'm anxious to see what DJ Hicks can do with a full healthy season as well. And Romy Jimenez was off to a tremendous HR / Doubles - season (led league in every category) before he got hurt. With the pitching Low A should have through the first half of season - Things could be exciting in CR

Will the Kernels likely have the same coaching staff as Beloit did this past year or do teams generally find a local area coach to take over thier lower minor league affiliates? Also you mentioned some teams in MWL have cable coverage. Which teams?

I just saw the schedule for the other teams and dates with opponents. I have not seen the Twins Instructional schedule yet. That's why I'm asking if anyone heard any buzz from Ft. Myers?

I'm impressed with the youth and talent potential from the Elizabethton Twins squad. The Twins should keep these core kids together through 2015 - like the Brewers did with Fielder - Hart and Weeks in their system. They would be joining a young and up and coming young group with Sano - Rosario & Hicks. Then bring in the next Ryan Braun (Buxton) type a year later at 22. The Twins could be very special from 2015 - until. Very Special. By that time, the rotation of Berrios - Ty Jones - Baxendale - Zach Jones - Appel - and slew of high velocity relievers will hold the pitching part down. We will become what the Rays are now, but with better ofensive players.

I see we played the Rays and Orioles at Instructs thus far. Any word on how our young Twinkies are doing down there? Is Molitor giving our boys some useful pointers? I know it is a very informal format, but is there any word on positives or negatives thus far?

If he can play - let him play. Coach knows how to use a young player like that and won't put him in anything he cant handle. Great way to let your younger players feel that playoff intensity as well. Great for the future and possibly the present if he handles the pressure. Win Win

The Friday Night stat was a statistic given by Baseball America on the guys who had the best batting averages against Friday night starters (the #1 starter for most college teams in weekend series). Walker hit over .400 against those Friday starters last season. He seems like he has that clutch gene. That was my only point..

Although Adam Walker didn't hit for average in regular season. He did have highest average in Appy League during playoffs (6 games) on way to Appy Championship. He also led everyone in playoffs in SLG%; OPS; SB's ; HRs; Hits; and second in RBI's and OB%. He was also 2ndamongst 2012 Draftees in HRs (17 total) this short season / All levels (Rookie thru AA). My question is not - Does he belong in this category now? but, Do you see him as a potential candidate for this category in the near future? Was the top Friday night hitter in entire country when in college and he seems to thrive in big moments. http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/draft/2012/05/stats-for-top-200-college-hitters-on-friday-nights/ Your thoughts on prospect potential.................. Loved watching him in ETown this season. Will he move up to (Low A) being on 20 yrs old? There are alot of top prospects with swing and miss make-up, but seem to be productive in other ways. He seems like that kind of kid.