Shane Wahl

Quite funny about impressions and "seeing eye" evaluations not matching reality as the statistics show. Once again.

Seconded. Instant gratification culture. The season is a letter or a phone conversation, not a flurry of text messages sent every 15 seconds . . .

Four games. You will undoubtedly find some 4-game stretch in the majority of baseball players' seasons where even the best hitters don't "hit it past an outfielder."

Is it too much to ask for him be great/dominant for 40 games in AAA instead of 4?

I am probably about a 7 or so, though with Gardenhire specifically it is more of a 5. I am hoping that TD doesn't turn into the mess of comments that was the Star Tribune Twins section (I never go there anymore). Four games into the season . . . there are 158 more games . . .

I wouldn't be totally surprised if he spent 4/5 of the year this year and next (Beloit and Fort Myers) and then the last 1/5 of the year after a promotion (Fort Myers and New Britain).

The players are performing terribly so far. End of story.

Including Nebraska, 22 Big 10 players were chosen in the 2011 MLB draft.

Each week leading up to the MLB draft, I will be providing a roundup of how Big 10 teams fared and how notable players are doing. This player list is by no means exhaustive of all the potential draft candidates and there are likely some listed who will fizzle out, but this is a start. Purdue (4-0 week, 24-5 overall, 7-2 Big Ten, first place) Updated players-to-watch season stats: Kevin Plawecki, R, © Jr. : 29 games, .373/.470/.618, EBH: 14/2/3, BB/K: 15/5, SB/SBA: 2/3 Eric Charles, R, (2B) Sr.: 28 games, .381/.455/.460, EBH: 7/1/0, BB/K: 14/10, SB/SBA: 12/13 Cameron Perkins, R, (3B) Jr.: 28 games, .388/.429/.545, EBH: 7/0/4, BB/K: 4/10, SB/SBA: 8/9 Stephen Talbott, R, (LF) Jr.: 28 games, .352/.364/.505, EBH: 3/5/1, BB/K: 2/18, SB/SBA: 10/12 Nick Wittgren, RHP, Jr.: 17 IP, 1.59 ERA, K/BB: 22/7 Blake Mascarello, LHP, Sr.: 35.2 IP, 2.52 ERA, K/BB: 30/6 Lance Breedlove, RHP, Sr.: 53 IP, 2.55 ERA, K/BB: 46/6 Nebraska (3-1, 22-12, 5-4, tied for 2nd place): Michael Pritchard, L (OF) So.: 33 games, .405/.469/.474, EBH: 8/0/0, BB/K: 13/7, SB/SBA: 4/7 Chad Christensen, R (OF) Jr.: 34 games, .353/.427/.568, EBH: 8/2/6, BB/K: 16/22, SB/SBA: 6/7 Ohio State (4-1, 18-12, 5-4, tied for 2nd place): Josh Desze, R, (1B and RHP) So.: 30 games, .315/.443/.468, EBH: 2/0/5, BB/K: 18/30, SB/SBA: ½ 13 IP, 3.46 ERA, K/BB: 8/10 Jaron Long, RHP, So.: 53.1 IP, 2.36 ERA, K/BB: 38/6 Indiana (2-2, 14-18, 5-4, tied for 2nd place): Sam Travis, R, (1B) Fr.: 32 games, .378/.476/.571, EBH: 11/0/4, BB/K: 21/16, SB/SBA: 2/3 Kyle Schwarber, L, (C/OF) Fr.: 32 games, .295/.389/.566, EBH: 10/4/5, BB/K: 18/14, SB/SBA: 7/9 Matt Dearden, RHP, So.: 26.2 IP, 2.36 ERA, K/BB: 20/6 Minnesota (1-3, 17-16, 3-3, tied for 5th place): Dan Olinger, L (1B) So.: 33 games, .358/.419/.433, EBH: 9/0/0, BB/K: 6/10, SB/SBA: 4/6 Troy Larson, R, (IF/OF) Jr.: 31 games, .327/.414/.376, EBH: 3/1/0, BB/K: 12/15, SB/SBA: 6/8 TJ Oakes, RHP, Jr.: 55.1 IP, 1.46 ERA, K/BB: 45/9 DJ Snelten, LHP, So.: 45.2 IP, 2.36 ERA, K/BB: 31/20 Michigan State (3-2, 19-10, 3-3, tied for 5th place): Jordan Keur, R (OF) Jr.: 29 games, .375/.469/.442, EBH: 8/0/0, BB/K: 15/17, SB/SBA: 6/11 Ryan Jones, R, (2B) Jr.: 29 games, .364/.414/.488, EBH: 6/2/2, BB/K: 12/9, SB/SBA: 5/6 Torsten Boss, L (3B/RF) Jr.: 29 games, .327/.440/.513, EBH: 7/1/4, BB/K: 21/19, SB/SBA: 8/8 Tony Bucciferro, RHP, Sr. 54.1 IP, 3.15 ERA, K/BB: 48/8 Illinois (2-2, 17-12, 3-3, tied for 5th place): Jordan Parr, R (IF/OF), So.: 29 games, .358/.410/.528, EBH: 5/2/3, BB/K: 8/14, SB/SBA 5/9 Willie Argo, R (OF) Sr.: 29 games, .356/.469/.413, EBH: 2/2/0, BB/K: 19/22, SB/SBA: 12/14 Iowa (3-2, 13-16, 4-5, 8th place): Mike McQuillan L (2B) Sr.: 29 games, .356/.489/.413, EBH: 4/1/0, BB/K: 23/18, SB/SBA: 8/10 Michigan (3-1, 15-17, 2-4, tied 9th place): Patrick Biondi, L (OF) Jr.: 32 games, .322/.457/.455, EBH: 9/2/1, BB/K: 21/20, SB/SBA: 19/25 Michael O’Neill, R (OF), So.: 29 games, .322/.362/.574, EBH: 9/1/6, BB/K: 3/14, SB/SBA: 15/18 Penn State (5-0, 13-18, 2-4, tied 9th place): Jordan Steranka, L (1B) Sr.: 31 games, .351/.380/.527, EBH: 11/0/4, BB/K: 6/27, SB/SBA: 0/1 Northwestern (0-3, 10-18, 3-6, tied 9th place): Brandon Magallones, RHP, Fr.: 42 IP, 3.86 ERA, K/BB: 44/16

Each week leading up to the MLB draft, I will be providing a roundup of how Big 10 teams fared and how notable players are doing. This player list is by no means exhaustive of all the potential draft candidates and there are likely some listed who will fizzle out, but this is a start. Purdue (4-0 week, 24-5 overall, 7-2 Big Ten, first place) Updated players-to-watch season stats: Kevin Plawecki, R, © Jr. : 29 games, .373/.470/.618, EBH: 14/2/3, BB/K: 15/5, SB/SBA: 2/3 Eric Charles, R, (2B) Sr.: 28 games, .381/.455/.460, EBH: 7/1/0, BB/K: 14/10, SB/SBA: 12/13 Cameron Perkins, R, (3B) Jr.: 28 games, .388/.429/.545, EBH: 7/0/4, BB/K: 4/10, SB/SBA: 8/9 Stephen Talbott, R, (LF) Jr.: 28 games, .352/.364/.505, EBH: 3/5/1, BB/K: 2/18, SB/SBA: 10/12 Nick Wittgren, RHP, Jr.: 17 IP, 1.59 ERA, K/BB: 22/7 Blake Mascarello, LHP, Sr.: 35.2 IP, 2.52 ERA, K/BB: 30/6 Lance Breedlove, RHP, Sr.: 53 IP, 2.55 ERA, K/BB: 46/6 Nebraska (3-1, 22-12, 5-4, tied for 2nd place): Michael Pritchard, L (OF) So.: 33 games, .405/.469/.474, EBH: 8/0/0, BB/K: 13/7, SB/SBA: 4/7 Chad Christensen, R (OF) Jr.: 34 games, .353/.427/.568, EBH: 8/2/6, BB/K: 16/22, SB/SBA: 6/7 Ohio State (4-1, 18-12, 5-4, tied for 2nd place): Josh Desze, R, (1B and RHP) So.: 30 games, .315/.443/.468, EBH: 2/0/5, BB/K: 18/30, SB/SBA: ½ 13 IP, 3.46 ERA, K/BB: 8/10 Jaron Long, RHP, So.: 53.1 IP, 2.36 ERA, K/BB: 38/6 Indiana (2-2, 14-18, 5-4, tied for 2nd place): Sam Travis, R, (1B) Fr.: 32 games, .378/.476/.571, EBH: 11/0/4, BB/K: 21/16, SB/SBA: 2/3 Kyle Schwarber, L, (C/OF) Fr.: 32 games, .295/.389/.566, EBH: 10/4/5, BB/K: 18/14, SB/SBA: 7/9 Matt Dearden, RHP, So.: 26.2 IP, 2.36 ERA, K/BB: 20/6 Minnesota (1-3, 17-16, 3-3, tied for 5th place): Dan Olinger, L (1B) So.: 33 games, .358/.419/.433, EBH: 9/0/0, BB/K: 6/10, SB/SBA: 4/6 Troy Larson, R, (IF/OF) Jr.: 31 games, .327/.414/.376, EBH: 3/1/0, BB/K: 12/15, SB/SBA: 6/8 TJ Oakes, RHP, Jr.: 55.1 IP, 1.46 ERA, K/BB: 45/9 DJ Snelten, LHP, So.: 45.2 IP, 2.36 ERA, K/BB: 31/20 Michigan State (3-2, 19-10, 3-3, tied for 5th place): Jordan Keur, R (OF) Jr.: 29 games, .375/.469/.442, EBH: 8/0/0, BB/K: 15/17, SB/SBA: 6/11 Ryan Jones, R, (2B) Jr.: 29 games, .364/.414/.488, EBH: 6/2/2, BB/K: 12/9, SB/SBA: 5/6 Torsten Boss, L (3B/RF) Jr.: 29 games, .327/.440/.513, EBH: 7/1/4, BB/K: 21/19, SB/SBA: 8/8 Tony Bucciferro, RHP, Sr. 54.1 IP, 3.15 ERA, K/BB: 48/8 Illinois (2-2, 17-12, 3-3, tied for 5th place): Jordan Parr, R (IF/OF), So.: 29 games, .358/.410/.528, EBH: 5/2/3, BB/K: 8/14, SB/SBA 5/9 Willie Argo, R (OF) Sr.: 29 games, .356/.469/.413, EBH: 2/2/0, BB/K: 19/22, SB/SBA: 12/14 Iowa (3-2, 13-16, 4-5, 8th place): Mike McQuillan L (2B) Sr.: 29 games, .356/.489/.413, EBH: 4/1/0, BB/K: 23/18, SB/SBA: 8/10 Michigan (3-1, 15-17, 2-4, tied 9th place): Patrick Biondi, L (OF) Jr.: 32 games, .322/.457/.455, EBH: 9/2/1, BB/K: 21/20, SB/SBA: 19/25 Michael O’Neill, R (OF), So.: 29 games, .322/.362/.574, EBH: 9/1/6, BB/K: 3/14, SB/SBA: 15/18 Penn State (5-0, 13-18, 2-4, tied 9th place): Jordan Steranka, L (1B) Sr.: 31 games, .351/.380/.527, EBH: 11/0/4, BB/K: 6/27, SB/SBA: 0/1 Northwestern (0-3, 10-18, 3-6, tied 9th place): Brandon Magallones, RHP, Fr.: 42 IP, 3.86 ERA, K/BB: 44/16

3 out of the top 4 hitters lefties against a very good left-handed pitcher. Morneau should be batting 6th (and generally not playing at all against lefties).

Hughes is significantly better defensively at 2B than Plouffe and while that is not saying much, the offensive prowess is not much different at this point. Both should get their time as both should start against lefties.

Still . . . who cares about Doumit's non-defense? This is only an issue because Josh Willingham cannot make a simple move from LF to RF. It's astounding that a manager and general manager would allow that.

I will have a blog post every Monday with a Big 10 roundup focusing on the Gophers, the 2012 Big 10 champion Boilermakers, and discussion, most importantly, of potential draft possibilities for the Twins. I currently see around 20 guys that might be worthy of taking a look at for professional baseball.

Santana could really blossom this year and if he does, the Twins suddenly have middle infield depth in the organization.

Quickly ruined prediction.

Twins 9, Orioles 1

Two words: Vin Scully.

Yeah, I think I might turn to doing some Big 10 baseball blog entries on a weekly basis. I have split loyalties with the Gophers (true home state) and Purdue (graduate school alma mater), but that is probably a good thing. The eye would be towards Twins draft prospects, mostly. I generally access game stats for Big 10 baseball most night of the week for one of my jobs, so I can be a part of the vigil . . .

Haha. Yes, Gibson will be fine. I expect him to actually be where Hendriks is now in 2013.

Have any of you pitched, even in high school? I ask because I am wondering about your experience if you have not been able to get loose. For me, it was not about my arm. It was about my legs being tired which resulted in changing how I threw. I have no idea about Baker's conditioning, but I would say that it might not be a problem with his elbow. Hopefully. Also, there is going to be no reason whatsoever to pick up his option. Spend the money on Liriano (assuming he has a very good year--if not spend it on Dempster or somebody).

I like Vargas and Polanco (by the way, Vargas is on the RL because of the drug issue). It's too bad because I was really excited about him last year.

Breakout, upper levels: Logan Darnell Best, upper levels: Alex Wimmers Breakout lower levels: Corey Williams Best lower levels: Adrian Salcedo Breakout, EST: Hudson Boyd Best, EST: Angel Mata

I learned at a very young age to get in front the ball. He did not and his body was at a weird angle for him to react properly. If he doesn't try to side-grab that ball he might have been able to react faster and have that ball hit him in the chest. It is laughable that they think he can play third base.

Matt Carson was the guy I wanted the Twins to keep around as a power guy (unlike Burroughs). I like his first day a lot.