mnfanforlife

yeah, those three are ready to get called up after May 7. We still have Morneau because he was about as valuable as Francisco Liriano at the trade-deadline and on the market last off-season. If he had been dealt, Arcia would have a legit shot in RF instead of the joke we are sending out there everyday this coming year. Nothing like having a big, slow guy covering a third of that spacious outfield in Minnesota. Oh wait...we have TWO big slow guys covering TWO-THIRDS of our outfield this year. But its ok, because we have a really good 4th outfielder that is ready to start for us. And if he doesn't work we have a rookie that has never hit .300 in a full season of minor league ball. Our pitching is going to suffer mightily as a result of this outfield defense.

Did anyone catch the D.Arias reference at all??

"Vargas missed time last year for both injury and PED use. (performance enhancing drug)" uhh, yeah...I think anyone that is reading this is well aware of what PED stands for. But are you certain he was using PED's or are you tarnishing his sweet name?? And you will see...Vargas is a legit top-20 and will have reason to move into the top-10 if he is healthy and hits up to his potential in 2013.

shs_59........ the relievers I listed here are better than anyone that is not listed here, in my humble opinion, of course. C.Williams is not an impressive "stuff" guy, but he's got guts. Roberts is going to be very popular in Minnesota, and won't spend much longer on ANY "prospect" list. Also, looks like James had some conflicting info about the positive drug test. What was Vargas' injury last year?

Thank you James, exactly what we needed here. Vargas is big enough to not need PED's, so I am thankful he was just trying to trim that beautiful physique of his....

The Giants were so entertaining with their pitching staff of interesting characters.

What is the meaning of life? Why are we all here? When looking for meaning in life, it is important to stay away from the “meaningless” list of Twins top prospects on MLB.com. [ATTACH=CONFIG]3099[/ATTACH] (Kennys Vargas) In my opinion, a top prospect list should be a “fluid” collection of players with the highest perceived upside. If a player is not producing up to moderate expectations, then he should be dropped from the list and a productive player with high upside should be added in his place. Because MLB.com had so many glaring issues, I boldly predicted what the top-10 should look like following the 2013 season. I will stick with this theme for my #11-20 Twins' prospects. 11. Nate Roberts – LF 12. Zachary Jones – RHP 13. Mason Melotakis – LHP 14. Josmil Pinto – C 15. Daniel Santana – SS 16. DJ Baxendale – RHP 17. A.J. Achter – RHP 18. Michael Tonkin - RHP 19. Kennys Vargas – 1B 20. Chris Colabello – 1B Okay, here goes… 11. Nate Roberts – This guy is easily a top-20 prospect after tearing the AFL a new “one” last fall. He is the guy with the dirtiest jersey after most games. He is not a “toolsy” prospect. He relies on intelligence and proper execution of offensive fundamentals. I recently posted a blog entry predicting trade winds that could land Roberts in Minnesota by 2014. He is going to be a Lenny Dykstra-type of player (tough as nails). 12. Zachary Jones – Watch your lips when you step into the box vs. this right-hander. He isn’t a big, intimidating figure on the mound at 6’1”, but take a look at what Willihammer posted here concerning a pitcher’s height and effectiveness. Jones averaged 15.3 K’s per nine innings during his professional debut. He is going to be reeeeally good…may pitch in the Eastern League at the end of 2013. 13. Mason Melotakis – Here is another arm that could move multiple levels next summer. He sat hitters down nicely with Beloit, and could prove to be Minnesota-worthy quickly since our closer is a lefty and Duensing appears to be crappin’ out. He might cruise right up to Double-A this summer with the kind of stuff he possesses. 14. Josmil Pinto – We are starving for a catcher that can hit. We are starving for a catcher that can catch! Heck, we are just plain starving in Minnesota. Hopefully Pinto is the answer to this problem by 2014-15. He was impressive at A+ and AA, and should be making Hermann and Butera sweat following the 2013 season. 15. Daniel Santana – We are starving for a shortstop too! This kid is still a few years away, but he showed great speed the last two years in low-A and Ft. Myers. He hit .286 last summer with a little pop, and I really like his fielding percentage at SS (.950). This could be the guy that puts a stop in that revolving door we got in Minnesota. 16. DJ Baxendale – This ranking is based solely on what DJ did last summer during his rookie minor league season. The kid allowed hardly anyone to get on base, let alone score a run. He is said to be starting next year, and I cannot wait to find out what he can do in that role. He’s another college hurler with a chance to move up fast. 17. A.J. Achter – This dude was the minor league “Pitcher of the Year” for our favorite organization. Yet, he was absent from MLB’s list (as are a huge chunk of my top-20). Go figure, and then take a look at Achter’s stats. He belongs on this list, and he might even make it to Triple-A this next summer. He certainly dominated the FSL hitters last year. 18. Micahel Tonkin – Stud. Big, tall stud. How in the heck does he not make the top-20 after his stingy numbers on the mound in 2012. He struck out 12.6 per nine last year between low-A and Ft. Myers. He wasn’t giving up many hits or walks either. His appearance in the Arizona Fall League wasn’t bad. Tonkin can handle AA hitters, and should be within reach of Minnesota by the end of 2014. 19. Kennys Vargas – Whoa! Where did this guy come from? The island of Puerto Rico! I am not really sure what is going on with Vargas’ “games played” totals during his pro career. Maybe one of my readers can fill me in on that? But, I am scared when I watch him swing. And that is a great feeling! He hit 11 homers and walked 28 times in 41 games with Beloit in 2012. He bettered his numbers from Rookie ball to low-A. I see Big Papi when he swings. His short year in Beloit was so good he may need to be ranked much higher on this list. This 22-yr-old may be top-10 material right now. You can brush up on your Español while Kennys scares you here: 20. Chris Colabello – If you are not rooting for this guy, shame on you! He is an un-drafted, NCAA Division-II corner infielder that can really hit. He plays for peanuts during a seven-year Independent League career, and finally gets a shot by being placed directly in AA with the Twins organization in 2012. He snaps off an eye-popping stat line during his first year with an MLB affiliate, then goes to the Mexican League and devours fastballs like fajitas. He earns a spot on my top-20. He and Vargas are reasons why a trade of Morneau and/or Parmelee wouldn’t be so bad. Colabello could be the bridge to 2015-’16 for the Twins at first-base starting in 2014. [ATTACH=CONFIG]3100[/ATTACH] (Vargas & Sano: they are big) If your favorite prospect is not on this list, perhaps he will be losing his prospect status in 2013. Or...he may not be producing up to normal expectations, and does not belong in the top-20. As you can see, I dropped anyone that has been under-performing in the minor leagues. I also dropped players that I feel do not have a high enough ceiling to be a considered a top-20 prospect.

Yes and now I have to post this video of Walker in E town.

Completely agree. He has reproduced his numbers from ELZ to Beloit, and showed serious promise in the AFL. We can count on Nate.

Lol..I want to be right too! And I apologize if my prediction was "just going too far." HAHAH! Was fun reading your post. I think Nate will continue to produce in AA and beyond because he turned a corner at the end of last year and hit the crap out of the AFL. I know, I know. It is a small sample, but it is also a sample of talent that is above the low-A level. And Nate gets an A+ on that test. Maybe that's why he will be skipping Ft. Myers (A+)? How can we predict he will NOT produce in AA? He will be skipping a level, but I think his game relies on intelligence rather than tools. And that means he understands how to produce at any level. He doesn;t need elite speed to steal bases, or an outstanding physique to get on base. His game is all about doing little things right. We will see.....

In particular, help yourself to the statistics of last season's Arizona Fall League. Just be careful of one stat line near the top, and make sure you're sitting down when you read it. Of course, I'm talking about Nate Roberts, the mysterious and intriguing on-base machine from High Point. [ATTACH=CONFIG]3093[/ATTACH] Mysterious, as in exactly when do the Twins trade Josh Willingham (a #4 hitter) for ______________ and start the 1-2 hitter-type (Roberts) in left-field? He is intriguing in his projection to re-produce his on-base numbers vs. better competition, like he did in the AFL. His gaudy numbers rely on getting beaned, a lot. When the start of the 2014 season rolls around, Willingham will be in the final year of his Twins-friendly contract. This is a excellent chance for the organization to pull more pitching out of the sea of minor league talent, and give Willingham up to the wolves. Let us all hope for Josh to keep pinging balls off the upper-deck in Target Field throughout the course of 2013. That way our return in trade will be maximal, and the arrival of Oswaldo Arcia will make fans forget the powerful and undervalued Willingham. Perhaps, Morneau will not be around in 2014 either. That would allow Chris Parmelee to play 1B and free up an outfield spot for Nate! Okay, now that I've predicted two enormous trades that will allow Roberts to start in Minnesota in 2014, let's look at Nate's numbers during full-season ball. He couldn't stay healthy in Beloit in 2011 and 2012. So, he only totaled 144 games over the two-year span. However, he was absolutely frustrating for the opposition by posting a .437 on-base percentage when healthy enough to play. He also stole 27 bases during his fraction of 2012 (76 games). These numbers, coupled with the small sample of 2012's Arizona Fall League stats makes me think that Nate has exactly what it takes to put up similar numbers in Double-A this year. [ATTACH=CONFIG]3094[/ATTACH] Can we expect to be handed novelty mustaches as we enter the gates of Target Field in 2014? A Nate Roberts promotional night could be in your future. Are you man-enough to put that fake mustache on your upper lip? [ATTACH=CONFIG]3096[/ATTACH] Nate Roberts would make a great milk salesman, if he makes the majors.

Yes, we should be very deep by 2015. I see Niko Goodrum and Candido Pimentel being added to your list. Maybe the Twins draft O. Mercado or JP Crawford with the #4 pick? Our current struggles with MLB depth at SS/2B will soon be over!

Are you able to watch most of the E-town games?

Thank you lightfoot!! I share your optimism about Walker. The ELZ team last year was absolutely loaded. Cedar Rapids should be equally powerful this summer. You got Walker bringing home another trophy after 2013??

Yes Seth, I must agree. His batting average isn't going to go up from the Appy to Midwest League.

I couldn't agree more Paul. Our farm system is loaded with 18-22-yr-olds that hold mountains of promise. Looks like 2015 will be the first year we have all the pieces we need in Minnesota.

Is it really 2013 already? Yes. And don't try to change the subject. We are talking baseball here, and no one cares that you've squandered all of 2012 worrying about doomsday prophecies. All we have is "right now." So lets live in the present for a moment, and assess the future of the Twins utility infielder role. [ATTACH=CONFIG]3084[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]3085[/ATTACH] Every team's gotta have one. A guy that can play anywhere on the infield, and be placed in the outfield if need be. This is the guy you put behind the plate in a catcher emergency (like if Mauer, Doumit, and Butera all have to use the restroom, together). He is a bench guy, but would be a terrific regular if he is needed. This club has had some dandy utility guys in years past. The first one that comes to mind is Denny Hocking. There have been many more, but none may have defined the job better than the recent Twin named Nick Punto. "Nicky" could play outstanding defense anywhere, and come up with a big single late in the game. Then he'd steal second and later score. He was scrappy, and I really miss him. He could play 3B too: http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=3361101&c_id=mlb Most people I talk about baseball with hated Punto. Even my buddy who is a Giants fan bashed him constantly. In general, they hated his inability to hit. I tried to explain that his defensive ability is a highly valuable trait for a major league team to have. Evermore, they spewed hatred for his name (Punto is a nice name in my opinion). But let's get back to "right now." Jamey Carroll is the guy most likely to fill the utility role this coming season. After 2013, its anybody's guess. So, the search for a new solution should begin now. Let me introduce my first choice to be a long-term solution for the club's utility role...my #9 prospect, Jorge Polanco. [ATTACH=CONFIG]3087[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]3088[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]3086[/ATTACH] Check out Jorge in the Appy League: I know. He is still at least three years away. But he played every position save for pitcher, catcher and first-base in 2011, including 10 error-free games in the outfield. His infield defense in 2012 was outstanding at 2B, and adequate at SS. Unlike Punto, Polanco can hit! The Domincan switch-hitter out-slugged fellow Twins prospects Adam Walker and Travis Harrison (and most of the Appy League) in 2012. Not bad at all for a guy listed at 5'11 165 lbs. If he reproduces numbers like 2012 at the higher minor league levels, then we could be talking about an everyday guy in Minnesota. In order to pertain to my title, I am going to predict that Polanco breaks in with the big-league club as a utility infielder in 2016. He will be playing behind Eddie Rosario at 2B and Daniel Santana at SS, but will find plenty of AB's by spelling any infielder that needs a breather. Imagine that Twins fans...a utility guy with a mind to do damage offensively!

Haha! Thank you Darin. Walker will only be 26-27 around that time.

Is anyone else as excited as I am about the Twins 3rd-round-pick last June? I am talking about the 97th overall selection named Adam Walker. This guy barely made the top 100 players drafted in 2012, but his initial return showed immense power promise. So much so, that I wanted to upset some people (and bring joy to others) by comparing him favorably to Giancarlo Stanton. Dang right people. [ATTACH=CONFIG]3081[/ATTACH] Even for a casual baseball fan, Stanton is a recognizable figure. He stands 6'5 at a healthy weight and hits baseballs several city blocks at a time. Walker has him matched in height and could someday match Giancarlo in hitting power as well. Adam did not waste his time at Jacksonville in the weight room. But he is two years younger than Stanton at 21, and can be projected to get even stronger. He signed quickly with the Twins and flexed his muscle with 14 HR's in 58 games of Rookie ball. Yes, as a 21-yr-old, Stanton hit 34 bombs for the Marlins. So we cannot expect Walker to be the type of special talent that Stanton was and is. But we do have a special rightfielder in Walker. This is a player that will combine elite power with great speed at his spot in the lineup. He merely stole four bases last summer, but he also hit four triples. So, one can see how his speed will show up in his stat line. Adam may never match the production of the superstar that is Giancarlo Stanton. But, if Walker progresses from his pro-debut season by getting his strikeouts under control....he could be a 30 HR guy in a full season. That would get him moving towards Minnesota in a hurry! However, his strikeouts at the plate were definitely out-of-control last summer. So there is the chance that Walker will not make the necessary adjustments to keep hitting for power at the low-A level. But I want to believe in this guy! It sounds like he will get a fair shot alongside Max Kepler in Cedar Rapids next spring. Can Walker hit enough bombs to cover up his unsightly strikeout totals and meager batting average? Hope and projections are what we have. Check out Adam's long levers at work here: [ATTACH=CONFIG]3082[/ATTACH]

I vote let anyone play in the WBC that would like to. Most "star" players will count themselves out of things like this if there is any conceivable reason to do so. So I am not worried anyone will risk injury beyond the normal risks associated with playing the sport.

Zero...and I know. Are you Hitler? Or is that just an innocent profile picture? As for McCarty...He may not be one of the "worst" Twins ever., but he surely was one of the most disappointing.