twinsfan34

As Sconnie said... Pinto's BA was .205 just a week ago, which is very low. But seeing his at-bats, you wouldn't think he is doing that poorly. He hits some rockets that are caught in the OF. Just the other day N. Morgan, the Indians CF, made a leaping off the wall catch on a rocket hit 385 ft...but it was an out. Next at bat, watching the broadcast from the Indians tv affiliate said the ball left his bat at 112 MPH and hit the wall in less than 3.8 seconds. Just smashed it. He's had a few other blasts for outs...where he'd easily add 60-70 pts to his BA and they'd be doubles too. So still very encouraged by Pinto, despite his low BA at the moment.

I've been watching those numbers too and occasionally seeing some At-Bats through the local news (Cedar Rapids) showing some of his at-bats/highlights. The thing with catchers is it's harder to pinpoint their 'development' on paper or through stats. They have the mental aspect of calling a game (not seen on paper) and then hitting. I hope he continues to rake and ends up at A+ by mid-season and then AA next year. As you guys eluded to, he's not that young for the league and a college guy. I equate a college player needing to have started or be in A+ in their first* full year to be 'even' in the development game vs a high school kid. So he's a little behind. A high schooler who's not a 'top prospect' would probably spend his first 2 years in extended ST. At age 20 hit A-ball, maybe stay there all year, and 21/22 he'd be at A+ and hope to be at AA year end. *2013 was only a half season btw. 2014 is his first full year.

I like this guy a lot in the sense I'm pulling for him. He's a bit old for the league(s) he's been in. I hope he rakes so he can end up at...at least AA this year. A 24 turning 25 year old at AA next year wouldn't be that good. Again, hoping he makes it - I think he could be a great utility player, 4th OF, backup corner IF guy who plays 2-4 games a week for a decent team.

Santana in the bigs... Polanco and Goodrum still raking at A+... Vielma...age 19 at Cedar rapids...coming around with a little bit of the stick perhaps. Maybe drafting Gordon at #5 in June? Why is it so hard to find a solid fielding SS (not even great, but solid) who also has the coordination to hit .280+ 15+ HR 15+ SB scenario?

I don't understand the logic of keeping Guerrier. He's been awful at Rochester, though it's been limited action. But I don't seem him as offering any sort of difference maker to the team. Jared Burton 2.0? I liked Darnell. He's a lefty and could offer something that could be better. Guerrier is 35/36 and getting older every minute. Maybe he's trade-able to a contender sooner than later? Even so, for what? I guess after he blows 3 games we can release him in a few weeks. Or best case scenario...(??)

Glad you posted this. Another good start by Kohl. Too bad the Kernels couldn't keep the 3 run lead to get him the W. 19 years old...could he be up in Ft. Myers by 2nd half of the minor league season?

Phone call wouldn't matter. Yankees would go 15 years $500M for Fernandez. Kershaw isn't leaving Los Angeles.

Has Bortles fallen that far? I haven't kept up for a few months...NFL combine is in Feb...this pushing the draft out so far isn't a good idea IMO...now the 3 days things, but I digress. Bortles isn't a top 5..6..7 pick?

I never liked Hoffman...but disappointed someone else wouldn't get a chance to "waste" a pick on him. He's a JR...I think...so he now ends up in the 2016 Draft? Yea, I was starting to get excited about Gordon when the Dodgers were in town and with the Royals (Y. Ventura) playing the week before...all I could think was. Those diminitive Gordon's sure play good baseball. I wouldn't be afraid of Freeland or Beede.

Seth, Glad to hear about Peterson moving up...he's been nothing short of dominant. I was thinking he and Gilbert could be fast movers up the system this year. Any official word on Aderlin Mejia on why he was moved down to A+? He wasn't hitting for much power at AA, but .275 doesn't sound too bad.

I'm with the camp that believers Vargas will be a MLB hitter. He's lost 50 games 3 times already. So he's lost 1.5 seasons and that's about how far he is behind Ortiz development wise. Vargas: http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=vargas001ken Ortiz: http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=ortiz-001dav Need to remember steroid free Ortiz was a 30-35 HR hitter, not the 40+ guy.

Two injuries and a suspension were factors.

I've had about all I can take from Pelfrey. Correia isn't quite that bad yet. But Deduno...Meyer...Johnson...all more worthy to start over big Pelf. How much we got sunk into him this year and the next?

Meyer...another 6 innings and 11 strikeouts with 2 hits and 3 walks tonight. In a word, dominant. http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?gid=2014_04_28_chraaa_rocaaa_1&t=g_box&sid=milb

Good post btw Willihammer.

Pinto needs to play as often as possible - was my stance before the year started. Now definitely so. That OBP would be better served higher in the lineup as well. Colabello is likely going to continue to fall. It may sound starnge, but I actually see Pinto hitting even better than he is now.

I think he's greatly exceeded expectations (mine included). Amazing how drastic the changeup to his fastball success is. Based on that...and his aforementioned struggles against inside heat (anything about 92-93 mph according to those scouts Crasnick mentioned) would wager he's probably guessing...to get around on those inside fastballs. At least that seems to be what I see from someone doing SO WELL against fastballs and equally worse against changeups.

Glad to see Mad Max get off the schnide with a little grand salami time. Polanco continues to amaze with his stick. He's only 5 months older than Buxton and he's hitting .354 at Ft Myers...pretty impressive, early, but still pretty impressive for 1 month of ball. Slegers is impressive as well...he's only 21 despite coming from the college ranks. 47.2 IP 6 BB 1 HR 45 SO...it's "rookie" rookie ball and A ball, but those are some pretty solid numbers. It's seemingly been a down beginning due to nothing coming from our top 3 offensive prospects (Buxton, Sano, and Rosario), but still some signs of hope and surprises from other sources. Garver could continue to rake. We still have a ton of solid prospects in extended spring training - wish we could find out more on how they're doing.

Man alive...that's a LOT of arms and legs. And despite being a college pitcher, he's only 21 years old too, 22 in September. He's a guy who could end up in AA by year end. I know it's only rookie ball and A but ya gotta love these lines 47.2 IP 6 BB 45 SO and only 1 HR allowed. Today...11 groundballs, 8 strikeouts, and 1 flyball. That's some serious downward angle on the ball. http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?gid=2014_04_27_cedafx_cliafx_1&t=g_box&sid=milb

Agree... And just some food for thought, for those jumping on Mauer...Miguel Cabrera is almost identical to Mauer. Cabrera is #21, Mauer is #22. http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=1b&stats=bat&lg=all&qual=y&type=c,4,6,11,12,13,21,-1,34,35,40,41,-1,23,37,38,50,61,-1,111,-1,203,199,58,39&season=2014&month=0&season1=2014&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&sort=22,d

If anyone ever needed a reason to attend Miracles games other than the prospects... https://twitter.com/MiracleBaseball/status/460015686287253504/photo/1 #Beer

Joe...I'm sorry I questioned you...it seems we offered him $15/yr for 5 years they offered him $18M/yr for 5 years. Man a poor investment for Torii there!! California taxes and cost of living. I guess maybe as a player it's to 'save face' as the gross number gets tossed around, not the net number.

Loved the article. And to Joe's point on Torii. Yes, though I thought it was 3 years for $15M and he got 5 for $75M? I could be totally mistaken...

Out of all these guys, I've only seen Nola and Rodon pitch a full game. I've seen a few innings of Koleck and Beede. I don't like Hoffman. I just don't like someone that eratic control wise who hasn't 'put it together' with the velocity and the hook he supposedly has. If either one were close to plus or better and the other average, he'd easily have 9+ K/9 at the collegiate level of competition he's facing. He's just now creeping over that number and his BB/IP is getting better 20/67, but still not enough for me to take a chance on him near the top end of a seemingly talented pitching heavy draft. I know Rodon is falling...but I'd take him over Hoffman easily at #5. I like Koleck. Can't teach velocity and size. If he has no seemingly apparent injuries he could be good. Not worried about not having much of a curve/slider. He's just turning 18. And the cutter, according to many MLB pitching coaches I've inquired of or heard speak on it, the cutter is easily teachable. And we've seen guys like Mariano Rivera to Jensen (Dodgers) to Eck etc do pretty good with that pitch, then to add it to his 4-seamer. He has the downhill angle that Michael Wacha and others have while throwing 80%+ fastballs with success. If he learns a changeup he'll be dangerous...curve, slider all the more. I'd be fine with Aiken. Dont know much. I've seen Nola pitch...he knows what he's doing, but definitely don't see him being anything more than a #3/#4 guy in MLB - granted, I think there's a 90% chance that's his floor and his ceiling. I could see a team in the middle to late 1st RD grabbing him and he's in their rotation by end of 2015/spring 2016. Haven't seen Freeland pitch, but you can't ignore those Lewis Thorpe-like numbers. Ironically, Thorpe wouldn't even be a freshman in college, but could probably post those numbers his freshman year at college. Brings up a quick question - would anyone trade Thorpe for any of these pitching prospects? Which one(s)? I'm intrigued with Jackson. If he's got a solid head on his shoulders and a chance to show some glove somewhere...it's not like he's not facing solid high school competition. I'd have no qualms about taking him #5. Guys I'm curious about Luke Weaver (FSU), Sean Newcomb (Hartford), A.J. Reed (Kentucky)... We may draft a guy who isn't on TD's radar though...

Also...this GREAT quote from Red Sox's 3B Will Middlebrooks, who was making a rehab start against Rochester tonight... "I asked a coach, 'Who'd he make mad? Why is he here? Are there five guys better than him in Minnesota," Middlebrooks told Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal. http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140423&content_id=73159192&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_milb&sid=milb