Jeremy Nygaard

Not exactly where I wanted to go with post 1K, but: I have never heard anything negative about his makeup. In fact, I've heard the opposite. I've heard Tarpley in the third round, but think the Twins view him higher (i.e. gone before they draft in the third).

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php?r=1725-Draft-Preview-Personal-Cheeseballs-(College-Pitchers)

Last week, I took a look at three prep hitters that I hope the Twins seriously consider drafting in next month’s draft. I decided to expand the series and today will take a look at three college arms. To be considered a “personal cheeseball”, I set out two rules: be a favorite of mine and don’t be too good. Without further adieu, here are my three college pitchers: Stephen Tarpley, LHP, Scottsdale CC [ATTACH=CONFIG]4088[/ATTACH] Coming into the 2011 draft, Tarpley was considered a “projectable lefty” and that prompted the Indians to take him in the 8th round. Instead of signing, Tarpley headed to the University of Southern California and had a very good freshman season. This year, Tarpley enrolled in Scottsdale Community College and is eligible for the draft. Since graduating high school, Tarpley has grown two inches and gained roughly 25 pounds, but he still is very projectable and is equipped with long levers. He’s also pitching very well for his new team and has helped them reach the NJCAA World Series. If you want to know more about his stats, go here. While Tarpley doesn’t show up in Kiley McDaniel’s Top 111, Baseball America’s Top 100 or Keith Law’s Top 100, it wouldn’t surprise me at all if the Twins strongly consider selecting Tarpley with their 3rd round pick (78th overall). Corey Littrell, LHP, Kentucky Another player who isn’t appearing on those lists is lefty Corey Littrell. Littrell makes the list not because he’s a favorite of mine as much as I truly believe he fits a mold that the Twins have drafted from more often than not. Bear in mind, the Twins took Taylor Rodgers last year, a southpaw from Kentucky and drafted, but didn’t sign Jared Grundy, another lefty from Kentucky. In 2010, the Twins took Logan Darnell, lefty, Kentucky. They also signed a free agent, Andrew Albers (you guessed it) around that same time. The craziest thing the Twins have done is trade for Alex Meyer, another Wildcat, who throws with his right hand. To be completely honest, there literally hasn't been a left-handed pitcher from the University of Kentucky drafted by a team other than the Twins since 2009. That little factoid is crazy. Littrell throws a low-90s fastball, but he also features a slider, change-up and curveball that all will be usable professional pitches. Littrell should go off the board sometime between rounds 4-7. Scott Firth, RHP, Clemson Firth is a name that you won’t see on many prospect lists and rightfully so. He was drafted last year by the Phillies in the 32nd round but elected not to sign. He returned to Clemson for his senior year. Firth likely showed up on the Twins radar in 2011 after dominating the Cape Cod League. He didn’t put up Manaean numbers, but he did lead the circuit with an ERA of 1.15. His K/BB ratio (30/23) wasn’t great, but his ability to keep runs off the board was enough for teams to take note. He likely hoped to build on his summer when he returned to Clemson, but didn't. Instead of starting, like he did in the Cape, he was shifted to closer where he struck out more than a batter per inning, but didn't see his draft stock improve. This year, Firth has pitched 55 innings in 17 games (six as a starter); he hasn't had great success. But, like the Twins have done before, could a permanent role as a starter – especially with a pretty fresh arm – rekindle some of the success he’s had? That’s a tough question to answer, but with senior-signs being relatively cheap and one that throws a mid-90s fastball with a plus slider (inconsistently), it might be one worth finding out. Do you have any college pitching “personal cheeseballs”?

According to Ben Badler, the Twins are showing strong interest in Lewin Diaz. Diaz is a big lefty who draws body comps to David Ortiz and is said to be getting seven figures. There's more behind BA's paywall.

A rumor or a lie.

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php?r=1707-Twins-Minor-League-Report-(5-13)-The-Return-of-the-Stache

Every affiliate was involved in a transaction today. The Red Wings placed P Liam Hendriks on the DL with right elbow inflammation. OF Antoan Richardson will take his place. The RockCats, losing Richardson to Rochester, get Deibinson Romero, who finally arrived in the States and is ready to play baseball. The Miracle activated OF Nate “That Pitch Hit Me” Roberts and sent INF Joel Licon back across the street. The Kernels add C Michael Quesada, who had been serving a 50-game suspension. Oh, and hur-ray for Aaron Hicks. I think the monkey has come off of his back… finally. ROCHESTER RED WINGS 5, COLUMBUS CLIPPERS 7 Box Score The Red Wings comeback fell short and the club falls to 15-23. Chris Herrmann can hopefully use today’s game as a springboard to improve for the rest of the season. After a fairly disappointing start, Herrmann went 3-for-4 with a double. He also scored two runs. Jeff Clement hit his 3rd home run, his first at Frontier Field. Chris Colabello added a double. Brian Dinkelman had a pinch-hit two run single with two outs in the ninth. Virgil Vasquez, who will probably remain in the rotation while Hendriks is out, struck out a season-high seven batters. He allowed two runs on a walk and four hits in five innings. After coming out of the bullpen recently, Vasquez only threw 72 pitches. He will probably be allowed to throw closer to 90 in his next outing. Shairon Martis took the loss allowing four runs on four walks and hit. Michael O’Connor relieved him and allowed an inherited runner to score before allowing a run of his own on three hits and two walks. He struck out two in 2.1 innings of work. Kyle Gibson (2-4, 3.32), who would have started today’s game on normal rest, was pushed back a day after his complete game shutout and will make the start for the Red Wings tomorrow at 7:05 ET when Durham comes to town. Cole DeVries will be making a rehab start on Wednesday. NEW BRITAIN ROCK CATS – OFF DAY The Rock Cats open a series in Bowie on Tuesday at 7:05 ET with xxxxx making the start. FORT MYERS MIRACLE 6, DUNEDIN BLUE JAYS 2 Box Score The Miracle pushed six runs across the plate – all with two-outs – to improve to 28-8 on the season. Nate Robers, who missed the first part of the season with a knee injury, returned to the lineup to play his first baseball since destroying the Arizona Fall League. He batted leadoff, hit a double, drove in a run and, of course, was hit by a pitch. [ATTACH=CONFIG]4060[/ATTACH] (photo by Anelle) Miguel Sano was 1-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored. He stole his 4th base but also committed his 9th error. Angel Morales was 1-for-2 with a triple, but also reached on HBP twice. Matt Koch continues to rake, hitting his 5th double, and is now batting .337. Jason Wheeler improved to 4-0. He pitched five innings, striking out four. He walked three, scattered eight hits and allowed two runners to score. Nelvin Fuentes and Zach Jones combined to shut the Blue Jays down for the last four innings, both allowing only a single hit. Jones walked two. Fuentes struck out three while Jones struck out one. Matt Summers (1-2, 4.29) takes the hill tomorrow at 7:05 ET CEDAR RAPIDS KERNELS 2, BELOIT SNAPPERS 3 Box Score A day after playing a very atypical baseball game, the Kernels and Snappers got back to regular baseball. This time, the Kernels fell 3-2 to the Snappers and are now 24-11 on the year. Matt Tomshaw pitched a very solid seven innings. He struck out five and only allowed a walk and four hits. Unfortunately, one of those hits was a two-run homerun. Tim Atherton relieved Tomshaw and was a little out-of-control. He recorded five outs, all by strikeout. But also allowed four walks and a one hit. The lone hit drove in the game-winning walk-off run. The offense apparently used most of their hits and runs yesterday. Only Niko Goodrum had a multi-hit game. He had a double and triple and is now batting .289. Byron Buxton had a hit, two stolen bases (15 on the season) and two runs. Adam Walker, named MWL player of the week earlier in the day, struck out three times while going 0-for-4. The Kernels return home and welcome Burlington to Pefect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium tomorrow. Brett Lee (2-2, 2.92) makes the 6:35 CT start. If you have any questions, comments or sweet mustache pictures, please share!

I agree on the lack of high school arms, but I'm just getting the feeling Stewart's going to be the guy. And to put the cherry on top, Ryan Boldt drops to the Twins pick in the 2nd round. Ok... back to reality.

P Liam Hendriks to DL (elbow inflammation). OF Antoan Richardson to Rochester. 3B Deibinson Romero activated for RockCats. C Michael Quesada will be joining the Kernels either today or tomorrow.

I think the Salvador Perez might be a better comp for Arcia, though I would tack on a couple more options.

The Twins consider McGuire to be the top prep catcher on the board for the reasons you'd expect: smart and really good defensively. He has a nice swing, but there are questions about his hit tool I don't make much of the BA-started-MLBTR-reported-Law-confirmed-rumors. The Twins are doing their homework. McGuire isn't a Top 4 talent. He knows that and the Twins know that. I posted this in another thread, but I asked someone with the Twins about this rumor and was told that "cutting a deal" isn't even something they'll begin to approach until the week of the draft. The Twins are in a position where they draw the line for what they're going to spend, and if no one bites, they can sign McGuire for considerably cheaper. Regardless of what happens in round 1, I'd anticipate a lot of pitchers drafted in rounds 2-10. I also believe that the addition of May and Meyer, plus the early success of Berrios, Baxendale, Rogers and Melotakis really have the Twins thinking their pitching stable isn't as bare as it was last year when they took Buxton. As far as Okey and Collins being the top two catchers I listed... I'm not sure what that list is, currently, I consider McGuire and Denney to be the top two, though I really like a couple other guys that could go later (including one in the above article).

My feeling is that when Radcliff told Doogie there were seven guys, he was referring to Appel, Gray, Bryant, Stewart, Manaea, Frazier and Meadows. From what I've heard recently, they'll have Frazier on the board higher than Meadows. That leaves Stewart, Manaea, and Frazier, most likely, and it would be hard to say any one of them is more or less risky than the others.

Manaea might not either.

Stewart's also a Type 1 diabetic, so there is that to consider as well. Personally, if he's offered $3.2, $3.3m, I'd be surprised if he said no. Here's a thought: 4. Twins slot $4.5m 5. Indians slot $3.8m 6. Marlins slot $3.5m 7. Red Sox slow $3.246m If the Twins call the reps for Frazier, Stewart and Manaea the day before the draft and say, "We'll take the guy that agrees to sign for $3.3, or we'll take somebody else..." (Maybe McGuire...?) Who says no? I'd bet Manaea says no first. The likelihood is that the Marlins won't pay full slot. The Indians have been linked to college pitching.

I've enjoyed this discussion. This is from an interview I did with Twins West Coast Scouting Supervisor Sean Johnson a few months ago in regards to cutting deals with guys to save money:

Been a bit since I've updated, but that's due to their not being a lot of action. Lehmann (from AA-AAA) and some guys getting moved across the street in FM is all of the action.

I chatted last night with someone who is directly involved and asked him specifically about this rumor. Paraphrased, he said that cutting a deal with a player wouldn't be something they approach until the days leading up to the draft. Part of that, I would surmise, has to do with there being a month of information still to gather. The other part has to do with player leverage. This much I know, McGuire is the top catcher on the Twins board, so seeing his name tied to the rumor isn't a surprise, especially if they want to consider cutting a deal later.

BAs initial mock will come out later today. Curious to see how they have the top 4 playing out. All indications - including McDaniel's recent mock - are that the Twins have Frazier in their 2nd tier, now ahead of Meadows.

Its been nearly a month since the Twins last made a transaction. Given their (in)ability to keep people healthy lately, that's an encouraging sign for both the Twins and Wings.

Here's my question and I've addressed it with two people who umpire baseball: If Dozier drops the ball after the flip, is the batter out or safe? One said since there was no transfer from ball to hand that Dozier should be created with the putout and if the ball drops the runner is safe. One said that he's not sure how he would call it. So I've heard both ways on it. If it's definitely a catch, Gardy should cool his jets. I'm not sure it is and, because of that, I can see why he was irritated. I do agree, though, it was overblown by the FSN crew.

After noticing that I only included prep hitters, I'm going to do three more lists. So hopefully you all enjoy. Not sure what group is next. On another note, Torii Hunter Jr is draft-eligible this year. I don't think the Twins will.