Kwak

Top 5, Top 10 SS--splitting hairs! The premise was Most Overrated. It seems virtually all posters disagree. Only obliquely mentioned--playing in NY. Yes, the games biggest stage. Make it [t]here--make it anywhere goes the song lyric--and as far as baseball it's true! Failures get magnified also--ask David Winfield. Even worse was what happened to Bobby Murcer. Though probably the very worst was what was done to Maris--but that's NY!

Buxton has worked-out great, but so have the others. I am curious if the Twins' confidence in Hicks had diminished in '12 and influenced the selection of Buxton? The reluctance around Appel was understandable, but there had to be other factors involved. Example: 1) a belief that pitching wasn't the #1 problem; 2) more risk selecting a pitcher than an OF; 3) a belief that Mauer would always be the starting catcher; 4) or was it the stated reason of not wanting to miss out on a long-term all-star? After perusing the Houston site, I now understand why they selected Correa rather than any of the others mentioned--but that is a thread for a Houston blog.

Since the Twins are still complaining about the lack of LHP (see thread on Brooks Raley), this guy sounds "just right". Considering he is LH, I would not be surprised to learn if he was already selected by the Twins 2nd Round pick.

Most overrated in the last 30 years? Sammy Sosa, not Jeter.

I wouldn't be concerned--by then Mauer's contract will have expired. Add all of the difference between the pledged 50-52% of revenue and the present % budgeted today, and you will find plenty of available budget for both Buxton and Sano. They found the money for Mauer, Morneau, Nathan and the whole rest of the team, I have confidence that they will find it for these guys when the time comes.

More garbage. Always scraping the dumpster to try to find something useful--the need is quality, not utility.

Hicks's experience should serve to sober the enthusiasts of Twins' prospect's MiL statistics--"it's a whole new game" as they say.

No, Ryan wasn't too aggressive. Acting early to "lock-in" the price prevents a situation where price "runs-away" when the supply dries-up. In this manner, it is more likely that he pitchers waited too long hoping for a higher price--and the demand slacked instead!

With the advent of cell phones I wondered what will they do with all of those telephone poles? Apparently they use them for selling ASG tickets.

I sort of agree with you. The thread is premised around Berrios being the #6 prospect, but there was considerable concern about whether he would succeed as a starter. Yet coming in at #7 is Pinto, where in his thread it is implied that he will be the regular catcher for years. Pinto has played for the Twins (and has displayed considerable success) while Berrios "slowed-down" at Cedar Rapids--in the old days Class "B" ball. Something is fishy.

Thank you for responding. The referenced formula seems simplistic and has no qualifiers--I'll use it for discussion purposes. The expected 1.8 additional wins generated by this incremental OPS would be well within the error margin of the original estimate of wins postulated in the thread and likely within the error limit of the cited formula itself! Ergo, noise.

Discussing the White Sox is pathetic--unless you go to a CWS site. They are not the quality standard of MLB that the Twins should use to self-evaluate.

What's the difference between 29th and 23rd?--six places in the draft. Realistically, both teams are losers, but one will be better positioned to help themself in the draft the next year.

If Polanco is functional defensively at SS I believe he will stay there given the dearth of "hitting" SSs in the organization.

The twins aren't in need of bench plaers--they need regular starters! Acquire players who are starters now or use your prospects and develop them to be your team of the future.

Here here! There is a difference between steak and sizzle. We need to temper enthusiasm until a player has progressed to a meaningful level. We can all be hopeful for somebody but when we can't even agree on the definition of "dominant" a step-back is in order.

$3MM for a utility player? Whew! I don't see it. Plus, if he is as good as advertised, the Twins would have competition to sign him--an even higher price. It would make more sense to either buy a proven starter at market price or promote from within and hope for the best--stop compromising! Get a quality player or gamble that a rookie can grow into one.

I am curious about how much torque is on the front knee--or does the foot "slip" in the dirt on the follow-through?

I think they would be willing to trade some prospects that are likely blocked (1B, CF, and hopefully, also 3B and catcher). I would not expect such a trade until the next wave establishes themselves and the Twins have become a winning (82+) team.

Mauer over prior wasn't a no-brainer? Hmm, Prior--demanding $20MM to sign vs Mauer--local kid in a town that worships everything "hometown", who definately will sign for much less. No-brainer. Hunter and Cuddyer can fairly be called "successes", but the rest on your list are indicative of the talent available in the first round. It is expected that executives are held to the high standard of "what have you done for me lately?" Quite frankly it is surprising that he stayed-on after the debacles of the Garbe and Johnson selections.

This has been a spirited discussion about Twins players and OPS. I am curious to learn what is the impact on the team won/lost record given the various conclusions of OPS? Is it like 1 or maybe two wins?--or a substantial number?

Exactly! I think that Hicks should be extended the opportunity to prove himself as a good, everyday MLB CF, so he can be traded for some real value. The Revere trade was based on a huge need to immediately address the weakness in the rotation. Given the FA pitchers signed, and the other pitching "prospects" gleaned the past two years, the Twins can focus on needs elsewhere. Or, a trade of Hicks (assuming he succeeds as a CF) and other Twins prospect(s) for a high-quality veteran at a position (even SP!) of need.

"No downside?" Everybody needs innings to be evaluated and to be prepared for the ensuing season. Innings used on "filler" are not available for those who will be: 1) on the active roster and 2) those who project to be on the active roster in the near future. A concern is when the final cut is made and the decision is between "the old shoe" and promising younger guy--who is selected? I forgot to say: "Is Guerrier the guy that Gardenhire was referring to with 'Wow'?"

Disagreeing with the group-think syndrome--Hicks wasn't rushed! He spent nearly 5 full years in the Twins system before April 2013. This is like any college athlete including a red-shirt season. Rookies in any sport typically struggle--and we should expect it--irrespective of how many years are spent in "developmental leagues". There is something of a "Rookie hazing" in MLB (other sports too)--many a "close" pitch was a called strike for Hicks. Hicks' difficulties were magnified by batting him leadoff and being "encouraged" to take pitches, to work the count (and the pitcher). I am convinced Hicks would have performed much better if slotted 8th or 9th in the lineup rather than 1st. Other indications about Hicks and his "struggles". Hicks was assigned to extended Spring training (in his first full-season) to convert him to a switch-hitter. This should have been noticed as a huge red flag, that hicks really wasn't an heir apparent to Hunter. Hicks was a 1st round choice. If there was (is!) a problem with breaking balls from RHPs, it should have been noticed before he was drafted--and be fully incorporated in his pre-draft evaluation. Ergo, Hicks was over evaluated and likely shouldn't have been a first round selection. To me, there were plenty of indicators that Hicks would struggle at first, especially when tasked as a leadoff hitter, and Hicks knowing full well that Buxton was deemed "the future". There is also way too much faith in experience at Rochester as a precursor to success at Minnesota especially in light of the numerous examples of "struggling players" to outright flops that have come through the Twins system. Finally, (signals end of my rant!) Hunter wasn't an example of an "overwhelmed player" examined the stated statistics of the article. Hunter was "disciplined"--and he responded with the hoped-for ferocity in his performance when he wasted restored to the active roster. Hicks would be an example of "overwhelmed", but not Hunter.

Just don't go to the owner and say "we need to spend $30mm on players."