Shane Wahl

Yes. And I held out on him until this season. Watching video of this guy tells you all you need to know. But he is also putting up amazing stats. He just went off again tonight. This guy needs to be starting 2014 in New Britain.

Look, if Appel or Gray fall in their laps, the Twins would be VERY mistaken not to select either one of them. I cannot believe there is any doubt about this.

B Richard, I am probably just going to do an overall blog post about the rest of the positions, and then one on pitching. I appreciate your interest, but no one else gives a rat's ass. It takes a lot of time to do this and there is just one other person interested. Thank you, though.

I find it just terrible to sell this draft as a three-player draft. It's ridiculous to make the claim, especially with high school players involved. There are so many legit talented players found in later rounds (Rosario, Walker, etc.) that it makes this weird and bizarre meme (and I will call it that) utterly dumb. Kohl Stewart is very good. Sean Manaea is very good. Braden Shipley is very good. There are several hundred players who are very good right now. Some dozens will end up being MLB Great-to-below average. That's the story. By the way, McGuire would be a mistake and a half. It would be better to take Meadows than him. There's no bat. This could be Danny Lehmann+.

I don't acknowledge a hockey team in Dallas.

As usual, I have the best idea so far

I would vote for Gleeman and the Geek with a full TwinsCentric crew on hand for various analyses and interviews. And I am not kidding or blowing smoke at all.

Clete will be 0-8 with 6 strikeouts in a week. Waived when Ramirez comes back. The Twins should try to trade Swarzak for anything because he will be arb eligible next year and there are plenty of people who could fill in for that role next year. Pressly seems legit. I keep saying that Chris Herrmann is essentially the same as Wilkin in CF so there would be no need for Thomas. But alas.

are there far fewer minor league day games this year, at least for Twins affiliates? It just seems like the Midwest League, at least, played more day games in previous years. Maybe I am just thinking of the last few years with the GCL which hasn't started, but I thought I remember being able to see more boxscores in the afternoon last year.

As a player, one has to wonder if he would rather be promoted earlier or wait to play in a low-A (or any minor league) All-Star game.

Hicks certainly should be promoted to Fort Myers. I am not sure if the All-Star break is just a good spot for promotion because there are a few off days or if they like to get guys into the actual all-star game for the player to enjoy it. I kinda don't like waiting that much, but it makes sense, especially if it is the former case.

Yes, yes there are.

"singular mission"?--Do you see how many posts on various topics that some of us have made . . . daily? What I am mainly tired of with the Twins and some of the reactions to minor mistakes (like this one) is that these minor mistakes add up to a problem.

Thanks! You are an encyclopedia. It's uncanny. Now I wish the Twins would have worked out a trade to bring Solarte back. Even going back to an old team has to be better than being an infielder in THAT system.

In judging my ability to note appropriate "minor" minor leaguers to watch, the first update must address the fundamental question: are these guys still worthy of keeping an eye on. I think the answer for each is yes, though I am starting to be concerned about a couple of these guys. With that, here is the update: Dereck Rodriguez (EST, E-Town or CR): Dereck is likely going to be in E-Town as soon as that season starts. J.D. Williams (CR): J.D. is in a slump at the moment but he has had a strong season and given his attitude and charisma is likely to be given every opportunity in the Twins system. Expect that to mean Fort Myers pretty soon. Dalton Hicks (CR): Hicks is really impressive. He is posting an OPS of .861 and will be deserving of a promotion to Fort Myers as well. Michael Gonzales (FM): An injury has halted a good start to the 2013 season for Gonzales. He turns 25 in 11 days and is on the A+ DL. Not sure what else to say. Would be just off my top-60 prospects list. Tom Stuifbergen (FM): Promoted to New Britain! The walks are incredibly low, but so are the strikeouts. If he can start getting more swings and misses, it would really help him. There is still a ways to go, but he's healthy. Think injury history similar to poor Nate Roberts, and you get the idea. Daniel Ortiz (NB): Ortiz is hitting better than he ever has and it is after a promotion to New Britain this year. He will be on the 40-man roster after this season. Could also be worthy of a September call-up to help the Twins decide on some matters in the offseason (Parmelee and Willingham, if they are still around). .792 OPS. A.J. Achter (NB): Achter has seen his walk rate balloon into the problematic realm, but the rest of his performance has been very good. He probably needs full seasoning at New Britain this year, for a chance to make the Twins next season. Dakota Watts (NB): An injury has limited his time to just 10 innings. And it hasn't been good. It really is just up and down with Watts from year to year. He seems to be only strong in even numbered years, so we'll go with that for next season. Bruce Pugh (NB): Totally ditto for Pugh. 17 innings, 12 walks and 12 strikeouts in AA after being demoted when he was terrible for Rochester. Hopefully he gets it worked out . . . for next year. Andrew Albers ®: Albers is pitching his way towards a look with the Twins this year. His strikeout rate has actually improved in AAA this season and he has still kept the walks down fairly low. He gives up hits and can get smacked once in awhile, but he may be the best AAA option for promotion to the Twins not named Kyle Gibson.

In judging my ability to note appropriate "minor" minor leaguers to watch, the first update must address the fundamental question: are these guys still worthy of keeping an eye on. I think the answer for each is yes, though I am starting to be concerned about a couple of these guys. With that, here is the update: Dereck Rodriguez (EST, E-Town or CR): Dereck is likely going to be in E-Town as soon as that season starts. J.D. Williams (CR): J.D. is in a slump at the moment but he has had a strong season and given his attitude and charisma is likely to be given every opportunity in the Twins system. Expect that to mean Fort Myers pretty soon. Dalton Hicks (CR): Hicks is really impressive. He is posting an OPS of .861 and will be deserving of a promotion to Fort Myers as well. Michael Gonzales (FM): An injury has halted a good start to the 2013 season for Gonzales. He turns 25 in 11 days and is on the A+ DL. Not sure what else to say. Would be just off my top-60 prospects list. Tom Stuifbergen (FM): Promoted to New Britain! The walks are incredibly low, but so are the strikeouts. If he can start getting more swings and misses, it would really help him. There is still a ways to go, but he's healthy. Think injury history similar to poor Nate Roberts, and you get the idea. Daniel Ortiz (NB): Ortiz is hitting better than he ever has and it is after a promotion to New Britain this year. He will be on the 40-man roster after this season. Could also be worthy of a September call-up to help the Twins decide on some matters in the offseason (Parmelee and Willingham, if they are still around). .792 OPS. A.J. Achter (NB): Achter has seen his walk rate balloon into the problematic realm, but the rest of his performance has been very good. He probably needs full seasoning at New Britain this year, for a chance to make the Twins next season. Dakota Watts (NB): An injury has limited his time to just 10 innings. And it hasn't been good. It really is just up and down with Watts from year to year. He seems to be only strong in even numbered years, so we'll go with that for next season. Bruce Pugh (NB): Totally ditto for Pugh. 17 innings, 12 walks and 12 strikeouts in AA after being demoted when he was terrible for Rochester. Hopefully he gets it worked out . . . for next year. Andrew Albers ®: Albers is pitching his way towards a look with the Twins this year. His strikeout rate has actually improved in AAA this season and he has still kept the walks down fairly low. He gives up hits and can get smacked once in awhile, but he may be the best AAA option for promotion to the Twins not named Kyle Gibson.

While trying to find stuff, however, I saw that poor Yangervis Solarte is posting a .789 OPS in AAA for the Rangers affiliate as a utility guy (mainly infield). TALK ABOUT BLOCKED.

I am not going to dig around the minor league news for the Rangers to see why he is injured. It would be easy if there were a "Rangers Daily" but I am not so sure any other team has a site like this one. I will keep checking to see if he is the lineup.

It's pretty bad. There is not much more that needs to be said. He is just not being remotely thorough at all with this.

Well it isn't clear that Chris Herrmann already fills that role as a spot starter in center field. But what is going to happen is that Thomas will not be good and they will waive him. This clears up room for promotions of actual real prospects in the system, so that is good.

Clete Thomas is not an alternative as a CF. Not even close. Filler favored over prospect is not a good idea. Through and through.

Stuifbergen could be a sleeper to make the Twins rotation at the beginning of 2014. I am not kidding. There are plenty of pitchers who will not be on the 40-man by then (Walter, DeVries, Hernandez).

Haha, all three points here are quite good. I really like it when people use September callups as a measuring stick. Good grief.

Let's just hope that these Royals aren't the Twins of the next five years. Emerging talent. Falling on face.

It literally could have been used once to go out and party (which is dangerous because one doesn't feel getting drunker and drunker). Now the big a-word is being bandied about?