the_youngster

I appreciate that you took the time to look into Cleveland during this same time. I wanted to do this as well. However, as I started off saying in my post "out of curiosity, I looked into" it without having much time really to do so. It wasn't meant to be an analysis or even that much of a lament really. Off the couch "looking into" style research cannot reveal that much practical information. The part that really struck me as interesting was the amount of pitchers who never even managed to get the major leagues (or, like BJ Hermsen, never even managed to get to AAA). Finding valuable pitchers who can contribute at the major league level is one thing, but to have so few pitchers manage to rise through the system is what I find peculiar. Again, I would be "curious" to see how that compares to other teams like Cleveland.

Out of curiosity, I looked into the long term inability of the team to develop pitching (which coincided with the franchise's 2011 crash that has lingered for over half a decade now). Just looking at prospects who went through Fort Myers between 2007 and 2011 (of course excluding anyone from the MLB team making rehab starts) is pretty revealing: Kyle Waldrop Jeff Manship Yohan Pino Rob Delaney Armando Gabino Anthony Swarzak Alex Burnett Cole DeVries Deolis Guerra Matt Fox Tyler Robertson Anthony Slama Jose Mijares Liam Hendriks Kyle Gibson Alex Wimmers Logan Darnell Pat Dean Andrew Albers Caleb Thielbar AJ Achter Michael Tonkin Ryan O’Rourke Edgar Ibarra 5 Years of prospects and only 24 pitchers made it to the major leagues. A few of those guys lasted a season or two of average production out of the bullpen. Several pitched less than 10 innings in the major leagues. Only a couple are still in the majors, let alone with the Twins. Half a decade of pitching development and Gibson is the only potential success there (for the Twins at least. Hendriks has found some decent success the last couple of years, but with other teams of course). 2012 marked a shift in the team's pitching development philosophy, and the jury is still out on a lot of those guys. But fingers crossed for the 2012-2017 batch.

It was Harris and Hardy for Hoey and Jacobson. I know this well because I had to inform my mother that her two favorite players were gone in one trade...

What to do with him? Simple, keep playing him. I like to look at it this way: look at Mauer's stats and Dozier's stats; Mauer's production has been roughly been equal to Kolton Wong and Dozier's has been roughly equal to Edwin Encarnacion. Thus we have a 1B performing like an above average 2B, and a 2B performing like a solid 1B. I don't think there would be much discussion here of "what to do" with Kolton Wong or Edwin Encarnacion. The team as a whole is strong offensively (at least when they are confident, usually at home), and has even more potential in the very near future. We don't need Joe to be a slugging 1B, or even his old batting champion self. As long as he doesn't crash and burn to Dan Uggla levels, he is just fine, as well as the rest of the team.

Hometown guy, and current Cedar Rapids DL member, Blake Schmit, who my sister had a crush on in elementary school.

During the roster reveals on Monday, Yost discussed how he wanted to ensure the final vote would give him a useful backup no matter what, thus 3 infielders and 2 outfielders. So from what both he and Bochy said on air, made it seem that they chose the final vote players.

While I wholeheartedly believe that Dozier should be in Cincinnati next week, I can sort of understand why Gardner was chosen over Dozier. By choosing Dozier, that would have virtually guaranteed Moustakas' win in the final vote and give the Royals 7 all stars. Perhaps the best way for Yost to avoid accusations of team favoritism.

I do really like Plouffe. He has demonstrated his ability to grow as a player all around. I would like to see a analysis like this but in regards to his defense at third. He was absolutely brutal to watch in the beginning, but I no longer hold my breath when he is making a throw over to first. I would much rather have him manning third than Sano. In my opinion, Sano's future is at first base. It's a good problem to have, but where do you put Plouffe, Sano, Mauer, Vargas, or even Arcia? One option would be to move Plouffe to the outfield like Cuddyer, and he would probably do a good job as a corner outfielder. But then how do you manage Buxton, Arcia, Rosario, Hicks, and Hunter (at least for this year)? Part of me hopes that the Twins move Mauer back to catcher. His bat profiles better there; and that would allow them to have Plouffe and Sano at the infield corners, Vargas/Pinto/Arcia at DH, and the outfield however it plays out.

Just to clarify, I wasn't trying to insinuate that there is an issue with Allard's elbow. The surgery is just so common now, and it is of my personal opinion that a lot of it is related to young players throwing way too many curveballs at such a young age. Allard is young, has a really good curveball, so it seems inevitable in my opinion. Saying that, however, I still fully believe in his potential and advocate for his selection at #6.

Since Allard has been my preference from the start, I am entirely ok with KLaw'a report. Really young, hits 95, killer breaking ball, and an impeccably smooth delivery. At this point in baseball, its almost a guarantee that he will eventually have TJ surgery, so might as well get someone who has his potential and is one of the youngest guys in the draft. As far as other possibilities, Nikorak is likely a solid choice, as is Tucker. Ideally I would like the Twins to get a high schooler who has immense potential, which all three do. Aim for a star four to six years down the road; the farm system is finally starting to churn out quality talent, might as well keep the line moving.

The tone can definitely change the meaning. There are four different tones, and then the absence of any tone. So the same word could have numerous meanings. My teacher once told our class that you could be trying to call a woman beautiful, but end up calling her a goose (it might have been horse, i don't remember the exact details). But I don't think he necessarily expects people here in the US to use the right tone.

As I studied Chinese for several years, his name would be pronounced like "che(w)" but without the w sound at the end, as if you were only saying the "ch" but with a vowel sound coming from the throat. And then Wei is simply "Way".

Hopefully one day Hu can get to the major leagues, take an at-bat and get to first base. Thus one could say in all seriousness "Hu's on first."

Thus far this draft class has been disappointing, there's no way to really deny that. That said, however, there are guys that I could definitely see being quality big leaguers some day. Allard has some very valuable assets at this stage in his career: command, movement, and an extremely smooth delivery. He is very young, still growing, and could have a very bright future. Bregman has long been touted as a true leader for LSU. If he can catch, that mentality could work well with pitching staffs. Then there are also guys like Fulmer, who will likely be a reliever, but just has good stuff, and Happ who honestly reminds me a bit of Chase Utley.

Oh there can be many many more, but I tried to avoid listing established major leaguers, top prospects, or guys who spent a good length of time as starters. Otherwise, yes, add in Marquis, Correia, De Vries, Deduno, Diamond, Hendriks, Benson, Valencia, Capps, Fuentes, Rauch, Bartlett, Kubel (the second time), and so many other guys who either were briefly good and slowly fizzled out, or guys who never put anything together and yet still occupied roster spots.