diehardtwinsfan

His bat could exceed Hardy's though. Hardy had a few good years and some pretty bad ones at the plate.

I could definitely go with Stewart. He's not one that would step in and help the next wave, but he could be up in 4-5 years if all goes well. The thing about Stewart is that it's probably going to take 2M or so to get him to sign (or so I've heard). They could definitely do that in the top half of the draft, but if he slips lower, he may not get drafted at all.

I don't know about the "clutch" factor, I really don't buy into it. That said, I agree he should be starting. He's young enough that he might actually amount to a building block, where Florimon does not.

Weren't a lot of these guys the college relievers we took last year? Perhaps there was something to that strategy, especially if the Twins can teach a 3rd pitch... That said, we will see what happens when they move up and get challenged. I fully expect guys like Baxendale to get promoted somewhat aggressively as long as they succeed. Once they make AA though, it will be time to see if the strategy paid off.

I remember another hot prospect a few years back named Francisco Liriano that was doing that. It's definitely exciting as Meyer really looks like he could be something special, but there is good reason to keep expectations a bit tempered just yet.

I think my plan in this case would be to take an underslot pitcher and then draft a tough sign highschooler later in the draft and throw the savings at him. If all 3 are gone, elite talent is essentially gone too and the difference between Meadows and say a Chris Anderson/Stanek is going to be pretty minimal. While Anderson/Stanek might have number 1 ceilings, they are likely more going to be a 2/3 pitcher, which the Twins desperately need and could start at Fort Meyers yet this year. Meadows might be slightly better, but given org needs, if that pitcher could sign for 2M and then the Twins went after a guy like Joe Martarano (3B) or Kohl Stewart (P) (football commits who could very well go undrafted), I think you do it. Both of those guys profile as first round talent, so you are essentially trading number 4 overall for say number 10 and number 15 (or something like that). The difference in talent is fairly miniscule, and both of those HS guys have pretty high ceilings (though there's risk there). To me, this is the BPA, as you get two very good prospects for the price of 1.

I should also note that Garrioch had a really good article over at minorleagueball regarding an international draft. I'm really curious how this will play out. I do think that they need to do something to ensure that the bad teams get the best players to improve competitive balance, but short of MLB taking over all the academies, I'm not sure how it will be done.

I'm not sure if they are in Metrodome mindset or not. What I do think is that given that the international free spending was ending and the fact that the Twins were awful, they should have spent as much money as possible there.

1) With this article, I think you need years worth of data to determine whether this is a catcher skill. 2) And like others, if the technology works, I have to say that I think it should be used. I for one am tired of watching my team's strike zone shrinking when they play the Yankees or Redsox.

I think you just won the thread with that comment.

Dankind?

Explain to me exactly who they could have gotten value for in 2011? They went from a 94 win team in 2010 to a 99 loss team that year. Their best chip would have been Baker, but its quite possible he wouldn't have passed his physical. I can understand the strategy given that it was quite possible that a lot of guys bounced back and looked more like their 2010 selves. The only real mistake they made that year from a rebuild standpoint was keeping Capps.

I think both of those guys are going to stick. They will have to be absolute butchers for that to not happen. I agree the defense wouldn't be pretty, but the OF defense should be good, and that team will have guys like Meyer, May, Gibson, and (hopefully someone like Manaea/Gray/Appel) along with whatever they might be able to flip Morneau and Willingham for. There's a lot more strike out potential/weak grounder in that group which should reduce the opportunity for mistakes quite a bit. Plouffe's range at short was always considered average, it was his arm that was suspect due to the need to put netting up on the first base side of the field. If his erratic throws are behind him, I'd put him back at short if that bat is legit... I think Trevor would welcome it too, the payday will be much better.

I'd be patient until that changeup improves. He's looking like he could be something special. This year is likely lost. Next year might be competitive, but even then I doubt they make it. I could see him getting his feet wet sometime next year, but not sooner unless that change suddenly becomes a + pitch too.

With no clear cut BPA, I'd question how the Twins could go BPA That right there is the problem with BPA. They need help on the mound and up the middle. It doesn't look like there's much of anything there up the middle, so my hope is they take a pitcher. An under slot pick would be nice, especially if they got that AND the guy they wanted, as they could go grab one of the prep tough signs. That makes sense when the draft really has 2 elite guys and everyone else.

He gets enough Ks that I'd think his ceiling might be a bit higher than that, but I'll say this, I'd be thrilled if the Twins got him at 2.

I'm sorry, but I'd rather have Manaea, Appel, or Gray. Hopefully one of these OFers go in the top 3 so we can get one.

Honestly given the Twins record, they should have been one of the top spenders in FA and landed whatever they liked. I'm a bit disappointed they did not. That said, I hope they either spend their allotment, or trade it for a decent prospect. I have no issue with tem adding part of their bonus pool to another team to get a higher ceiling prospect assuming of course they aren't terribly high on what they'd be signing.

Neither of those two highpriced MVPs would have fetched much this offseason. People were looking to get both for a song, and I doubt Mauer could have been had for anything... not to mention the fan revolt that would have happened had he been traded. That was the right move, period. As I said, I wasn't thrilled about the offseason, particularly with what they got, but like it or not, suffering through another year of bad play is probably best for the long term core. They will likely add a college pitcher this draft and have another very high pick available next year as well, and that draft is much stronger.

The Pirates haven't had much success in quite some time, but unless they are in the thick of it, I don't see them giving up much to get Willingham, but I think someone WILL. I'd agree that Cole or Tallison are likely not options, but that should be where Ryan starts, and he should hold to that until Pittsburg gives up something pretty decent. Morneau and Willingham should be flipped for pitching and middle infield help, or a very high ceiling catcher a few years out. I'd agree the Twins would likely need to add something to get one of those two, and I doubt it would be Wimmers or someone like that. I'd more suspect a guy like May or Gibson if the Pirates are desperate enough to ad a bat. That said, I'd think long and hard about something like that.

Are you sure about that? Also, separate note, but if Arcia never went back down, he'd be a super 2 as well.

Honestly, I don't think moving Sano up to the bigs this year (or next) makes a ton of sense. For one, being able to hold their own is a lot different than being able to excel. I'm not sure I want him up here if all he can do is hold his own. That isn't in the Twins best interest, and its only in his best interest in terms of reaching FA earlier, not development. I'd prefer he be able to step up and be average or better, and holding their own doesn't imply this. If he continues to hit the snot out of the ball in FTM, I do think he should moved up to NB as long as he can keep the strikeouts down. He's striking out in 28% of his at bats presently (SSS I know) and his walk rate is down a bit as well, though that could be due to the fact that he's hitting very well presently. I'd think major league pitchers would have a pretty easy time exposing a kid striking out that much in A+ ball. As for Plouffe, I think he will likely move back up the middle at one point. The middle infield is one area that of need even for the next wave. It's looking more like his bat is legit. He may end up being more of a Rob Deer type player, but if he can post an .800-.850 OPS, I'd be more than happy to send him back up the middle when Sano arrives. I'd think Trevor can play pretty passable defense at 2nd, and I could even see him getting another shot at SS if his throwing issues are gone. As mentioned by others, he's fielding bunts pretty well, so I think he's beyond the "nerves" problem. The next wave team might end up with some pretty solid hitters 1-9 with some weaker defense up the middle, but strong OF defense. I can handle that, as they should score plenty of runs. You might end up seeing infield defensive subs later in games instead of outfield subs, but I think that's well worth it with Sano, Parmalee, Rosario, and Plouffe occupying those spots, as those guys can hit. I'm also crossing my fingers that Ryan found something special in Escobar as well, as that would give us a really nice problem to have...

No offense, but I don't anyone could field a sharp ground ball if it hit them in the ear and dropped dead to the ground... Odds are good they'd be dead to the ground too

50 strikes in 86 pitches... really trying to figure out how 4 people got free passes in that situation.

Has anyone ever considered that fixing it the right way might mean another year or two of losing seasons while they stockpile talent to form the next core? Unless you're the Yankees, winning is going to require having a very nice core of players, and the using the cash to fill in the gaps. I like others wasn't thrilled about all the moves (more realistically, the KC move), but the reality is that the best way to build a good competitive team is to do it via draft and trades. The Twins have done mighty well in that regard. They should be able to add a very nice piece or two in June and then turn around and being doing the same thing next year in a much deeper draft.