TRex

That sounds like a great analysis... I am really looking forward to your next (non-silly) blog!

What are the best and worst case scenarios for Mike Pelfrey this year, and what percentages would you put on each.

Isn't it great that Stewart's diabetes has become so much of an afterthought, that it isn't even mentioned in his Bio? I don't recall a single time this season that it became an issue.

Would you (the collective you, that is), have given Frankie 3/$42 million to sign him away from the Pirates? I would not have been in favor of that deal... Liriano just isn't reliable enough.

Perhaps this is not the correct place for this argument, because I do the correct discussion is just how bad Hunter's defense is. However, what I would like as a companion discussion to the metrics' description of Torii Hunter's 2014 defense as 'league worst' is why they have never recognized that Hunter is an elite defender. For example, shown below are the DWAR numbers for Hunter's career. While Gold Glove awards are subject to much more than defensive prowess (witness my all-time favorite Kirby Puckett's 6 awards), I think Torii passed our own eye-test as elite. In Hunter's 9 Gold Glove seasons his average DWAR was <1 (including marks of 0.2, 0 , -0.1 and -0.2). In contrast, Denard Span's last year year (post concussion) with the Twins earned a 2.4 DWAR, higher than any mark in Hunter's career. I would hope that a career of over 1500 games as a centerfielder would be sufficient to minimize SSS and adequately reflect a players true defensive potential. SEASON DWAR AWARDS 1998 -0.3 1999 0.4 2000 -0.1 2001 2.3 GG 2002 -0.2 GG 2003 1.9 GG 2004 2 GG 2005 1.1 GG 2006 0 GG 2007 0.2 GG 2008 -0.1 GG 2009 1.4 GG/SS 2010 -1.1 2011 0.2 2012 1 2013 -1.5 SS 2014 -2.4

Could you ask Alex whether he calls his nasty breaking ball a slider or knuckle curve?

My ADD must be different, because I liked the longer format... But any prospect talk is better than NO prospect talk.

In regards to Adrian Salcedo... I know we can play the 'selective analysis' game for everyone, but it is even more important for relievers. Salcedo had one terrible outing in April (6 ER, 1/3 inning) and another in May (5 ER, 1 1/3 innings). From May 29 through the end of the season, he only gave up 12 ER in 47 innings (2.30 ERA) with only 39 hits and a 14:41 W:SO ratio. During that stretch he was also splitting time between starter (6G) and reliever (15G). Oh, and by the way, his BABIP of .357 was second highest in the EL with pitchers over 60 innings (below fellow Twins farmhand Sean Gilmartin). I say make an honest man out of him and put him on the 40-man roster!

These two lines about Kohl Stewart have me confused ...but prefers to put hitters away with a mid-80s power slider that ranks among the best in the system... Perhaps because hitters could eliminate two pitches on many nights, Stewart’s strikeout rate was of 6.4 per nine innings was well off the pace for top Midwest League starters.This makes it sound like, on many nights, Kohl Stewart threw only (mainly) fastballs and sliders. I had the impression that he limited the use of his slider. Does this sound correct, SD Buhr?

First, Molitor is not just 'the freshman guy', he is the boss. His coaches are responsible for executing his message. This is a little different than just learning to co-exist. Second, are you really saying that Ryan and Molitor should hire the best baseball mind/body they can find irrespective of the personality behind it? So, if available, the Twins should hire TK for the bench coach and Ozzie Guillen for the rah-rah coach? Hey, maybe they could dig up Billy Martin while they are at it! I personally am a bit of a goofball, and have hired straight-laced go-getters to work for me before and it just doesn't seem to work as well as hiring similarly goofy people.

I think many people are overlooking (or underestimating) the complexities of these hires. These are coaches, not managers! They might not actually be that highly of a sought out position for the kind of candidate we would like! First, I think what we inherently expect is that they will hire another coach from one of the other 29 major league teams. However, while a few staffs have been let go this off-season, most are still under contract and there is no requirement for their employer to grant permission for them to interview for a lateral move. So what the 'outside perspective' group really wants is for the Twins to properly identify other teams' Gene Glynn or Dougie Baseball, and assumes the equivalent of Mientkiewitz becoming a coach for Tim Bogar in Texas rather than waiting for something to open with the Twins. Second, despite recent Twins history, these coaching positions may not be very stable. Another couple of years of 90+ losses, and the whole group will get swept out whether they are doing a good job or not (starting with the GM)! If you are a highly sought after minor league or ML position coach with another team, are you going to make a lateral move that might leave you unemployed in two years? Finally, Molitor does not have a Gene Glynn-type history of managing/coaching baseball, and has a very limited sphere of people he has worked with. The reason baseball tends to be an 'old boys' network is that these people pretty much live together for 9 months a year. I wouldn't hold it against him if he wanted to avoid a freshman dorm-room scenario by finding a worthy in house candidate he is comfortable with.

Thanks, SD... that mis-information has been thrown out a few times lately. I know Souhan had a similar story stating Buxton slid feet-first, but I couldn't find it (quickly) when I checked.

While Sickels doesn't share the aversion of many towards giving high grades to low-A players, I think he makes his point pretty clear that his grades do not reflect concerns with on-field performance, but rather he does not give potentially injured low-A prospects the benefit of the doubt. The money quote (IMHO) for Stewart's grade was: "His grade is a half-step lower than last year but this is more a reflection of health uncertainty than any loss of ability." ... and about Thorpe, he says "Like teammate Stewart, there were some late-season arm worries with a sore elbow."

For me, the money quote is: 5-10 minutes a game over a 162-game schedule (i.e. ~27 hours total) seems like it could make a huge difference in an attentive students game.

Sorry... my tongue was firmly in my cheek when I typed that!

I'm crushed! I have listened to every episode you guys have put out. It is my favorite show, and I really love listening and think your show has very unique content. I was really hoping to get to dissect Seth's initial position depth charts in the coming weeks. I can't believe that I am the first to beg you to change your minds. Although I have usually just been a lurker, I would be happy to try to come up with discussion topics and participate more actively. If you guys do decide to take a break, can I come over for a beer and we can just Skype? Perhaps another option is to 'take a page' from BA and the old Baseball Weekly (sic) and go every other week for the off-season. Thanks again for all your hard work... Keli

Is that the dreaded 'inverted W' I see in Jake Reed's delivery?

Sorry, I don't understand what you are getting at. I thought you were expressing displeasure with the quality of our minor league coaches because Molly could pick up a 'tell' much faster than they could. I certainly think this is a valid opinion. However, I was just trying to make the point that I, personally, am not surprised Molly is better... he could probably coach circles around each and every one of them!

You are right, of course. But to me it is not surprising that one of the best base-stealers (and hitters) in the history of baseball is able to detect subtle flaws quicker than other coaches.

Not sure whether you are speaking 'tongue in cheek' (or whether you can be placated at all), but you do realize that this would have been a game-winning catch, right? There were two out in the top of the ninth, with a runner on third. Buxton got his glove on the ball, so it was definitely 'catchable'. How in the world are you going to train a professional athlete to think a game-winning catch is stupid? OBTW, did you watch the video... the way he looks at his left hand after he starts to get up suggests his finger was pointing in the wrong direction!

How did Trevor Plouffe break his arm? I would suggest that this type of tag at third could be really bad news for a recovering ligament!

I like the comparison of Mientkewicz and Kelly, but to me it is a little like comparing a pre-surgery Jose Fernandez with Mark Appel... TK was a managerial protege, having already coached in the minor leagues and being an MLB 3rd base coach (which was viewed as asst. coach much like bench coach is now) by age 36. OBTW, you are old enough, but I haven't run across many people who are big post-Gabriel Genesis fans... or is the title based upon something else?

Special note to the 'Rays can do no wrong' crowd... Even they are subject to an 'F' every now and then!

Why do you refuse to let other people express their opinions? They are not out of line, as several national writers point out the exact same thing. I get that you are in Walker's corner, and I am as well. Some prospects are just going to have to prove the 'experts' wrong at every level. You do not have to like it, but trying to over-shout your friends at TD is not going to change anyone's opinion... I think you have proved that beyond a doubt.

I would be thrilled with Aiken too! Plus, considering he may very likely NOT allow Houston to negotiate with him (and even if he does, will they be willing to pony up the $'s he would ask?) it is like we are drafting #4!