diehardtwinsfan

struck out 10 and walked 1 (note it was a 7 inning game due to a DH)... very nice game.

At the very least change your avatar to one of the better ones for us.

If he has a reasonable ETA of 2015, he just became my top choice (sans an Appel/Gray drop), as he could help out the next wave. 2017 is more reasonable though.

I tend to be with you here. I'd be fine with either one. If the Twins aren't as high on them though, then I could see the trade down.

I don't see Gray going cheaper. He's going to want slot and should get it. I see no scenario where he falls past number 4. If Houston wants cheap, they may cut a deal with Stewart or one of the HS catchers. Given their circumstances, Stewart makes a lot more sense for them as their core of players is farther away.... Now if Bryant can cast a spell on Colorado....

It all depends on the scenario. If you could trade the 4 overall pick for say a guy who would likely go 8-10 (and given the drop off from the top 3, it sounds like there's little distingusing number 4 from number 10) and then pick up a highschool tough sign that would likely be a 10-20 type guy, I'd say it's worth it. That said, these are going to be high schoolers, which means they will not help in 2015. With the Twins next wave, their biggest need is on the mound or SS. There is no college SS that will compliment that wave, so getting a college pitcher to me seems like a higher priority. Definitely praying that Appel or Gray manages to fall as Houston cuts a deal with a guy like Stewart and Colorado falls in love with Bryant, but I really think Minnesota is going to end up with Manaea. Given that his drop off is likely related to a hip injury, I wouldn't be disappointed.

I'm shocked there's actually a debate on this matter. The Twins should have built around them. Both had superstar potential coming into their prime, with a nice cast of above average guys to go with them. If you don't build around guys like that, you won't be building around anyone. Period. Looking back at it in hindsight and saying you shouldn't is kind of silly if you ask me.

I doubt Jon Gray falls to the Twins at 4... I'll be ecstatic if he does, as will pretty much everyone on this board. He won't be the 5th starter either, as I suspect he would be in the big leagues by 2015 at the latest (baring injury). This too me highlights the Twins need for additional pitching. While I'd be quite happy if all of these guys make it to MN, the reality with pitching prospects is that some of them will fail or get hurt, and there's not a ton of other guys in the high minors who inspire confidence.

I'm not sure what the hate is on Manaea... Yeah, he's not going to be in the big leagues next year, but hard throwing lefties like him don't exactly grow on trees. If the big 3 are gone, there really is nothing that distinguishes a guy like Manaea from a guy like Frazier... and given the need and the fact that he would fit nicely in to the 2015 timeframe, I'd take Manaea... Actually, I think personally I'd lean towards Stewart, but Manaea is a much safer bet at 4 and wouldn't fault the Twins for taking him instead.

I'm perfectly fine letting them shine in the minors before giving them a job in the majors. Stadium or not, it is generally good business sense to make sure your guys are going to be good contributors before you call them up. No reason to waste years that could have been spent in development.

I have to disagree here. A guy that will stick at SS and hit .300 with 25 HRs is far more valuable than a guy who's a DH/1B and hit .310 with 35 HRs. Position matters, especially with positions like C, SS, 2B, and CF.

For all the back slapping on this farm system, let's remember that it still isn't considered the best in MLB... This is a good system that should produce some stars and some above average starters, but it's still weak up the middle and on the mound...

No one knew the Astro's were taking Correa until they took him, everyone thought Appel was going to Houston. Now that said, I think Houston would be pretty silly to pass up on Appel and Gray, but there's something to be said for the fact that neither of these guys need much seasoning so drafting them means that their core won't be up until the arb years of Appel/Gray. This isn't a bad idea given that there are a few intriguing HS options that may not get drafted due to a strong college commit (Stewart being one of them). It allows them to get 2 first rounders for the price of 1 and add a couple more first rounder talents to a fairly impressive core of players.

I think I'd rather go pitching in round 2. Probably something like Manaea/Stewart in round 1 and then an HS arm if they took Manaea or a college arm if they took Stewart.

He may only be a future utility guy, but as far as I'm concerned, he's earned the starting job. For the time being, he should start until he fails.

Pretty classy of him. That got posted over on HBT too. Gotta say that I like the guy.

Sounds like you might have a better chance at getting it than the people in TF...

Up until today, his average had dropped down to a more respectable measure... I probably shouldn't have used the word significantly.

Grabbing a few power relievers in the mid rounds isn't a bad strategy... At worst none pan out as starts, but from a floor standpoint, most of these kids can be average to well above average bull pen guys. Those can bring back something nice in a trade, or you just end up with a pen much like the mid-2000's Twins team... Either one is very nice.

Personally, I don't get the smokescreen thing. I don't get it in the NFL either other than to mask your intention of who you actually want so no one trades up to get him. But dissing a guy with hopes that others sour on him is just silly. It isn't as though NFL evaluators all don't have access to the same film... The same is true in baseball.

Everyone thought Johnson was the real deal. It's sad that it didn't work out. Personally, I'd want either Stewart or Manaea at this pick (assuming of course Appel or Gray are gone). I'm not going to complain much about either one of these guys. The question with Stewart is what it will take to sign him. At 4 overall, I think he signs. Once you get into the middle of the first round though, I'm not so certain.

Naturally, he starts cooling off and I post something in another thread mentioning it... then he does this. I think I need talk down on him more. Buxton sucks. Take that.

You can normalize that stat using the team's average K rate pretty easily...

Before stepping down the last time, Ryan had quite the reputation for being a shrewed trader. Brian Sabean certainly won't be calling him again. I'm glad this was my only interaction in this thread. Truth be told, it's safe to say that the Twins won if for no other reason than that they have gotten some value out of the guys they acquired, who might I add will remain on the team for many more years. That said, I am not yet ready to call it lopsided, though if Escobar continues to do what he's doing, it likely will be at one point. I'm a bit surprised he has not gotten the every day chance just yet.

I have little doubt that the Twins are going to be a good hitting team throughout the remainder of the decade. I'd say at this point, only injuries and some surprise ineffectiveness would do it. They have good prospects dominating in leagues where hitters typically struggle. I could see some rationale in being aggressive with some of these guys, but I don't think you do it if their development is going to stall. Buxton, for instance, has cooled off significantly, but he would the 3rd OF in this mix unless Benson suddenly finds it again. Rosario and Sano both look more legit as well. Personally, I am not as certain they should be rushing out to find a SS. I'd be giving Escobar a chance at being an every day guy right now to see if he's a long term option. Otherwise, you may see Plouffe headed back there if his bat holds up. That said, as other posters have pointed out, the pitching margins are razor thin. Gibson and Meyer both look like top of the rotation guys. May could be, or he could be Ricky Nolasco too. Who knows. Then of course there's injury concerns, which can take a decent pitcher down for the better part of 2 years... just ask Gibson about that. While I'd like Appel or Gray to fall to us at 4, I highly doubt either one will be there. Manaea isn't a guy you can stuff in AA this year and see how he does, which means you are one injury away from a pretty weak staff. If you want to move the goal posts forward, then signing a big name pitcher is a must... the problem, as I see it, is the guy they should have targeted (Sanchez) was not targeted. Next year's FA crop is hardly inspiring. I haven't seen the 2015 season list yet, but that's probably the soonest they can add an FA pitcher.