ExpectMorePayLess

The fact is that Ft. Myers won the Florida State League title in their franchise history last year without the lies of a Buxton or Sano or Polanco or Berrios. Doug found a way to win despite the line up because he did have some quality talent overall. 3 years ago Cedar Rapids had the best record in the minor leagues while Ft. Myers was sporting a lineup with Sano, Rosario and Buxton. Last year Cedar Rapids was one of the better teams in the Midwest League. The talent in the minor leagues is still valid, it just has to possibly be placed in better pools of team talent to maximize everyone's hopes and dreams.

Someone recently posted that they wanted to know how Walker performed against the better minor league pitchers. I was willing to research that request. Based on the MLBFarm statistical information I found the following: The below statistics include all of the minor league pitchers, Walker has faced, who fall within the: Baseball America Top 100 - Keith Law Top 100 - and the Top 10 prospects list from every MLB franchise. 97 Plate Appearances 88 ABs 25 Hits .284 Batting Average .357 OBP 4 Doubles 3 Triples 8 HRs 10% K Rate 28% SO Rate 25 / 9 SO / BB 15 XBH 59 Total Bases (in less than 100 plate appearances) Small sample size, but ................

To your point regarding runs scored (total / not per game ) He was second to Pimentel (League MVP) in rookie ball. He was second in the league in Low A He was fifth in the league in High A behind 2nd place teammate Harrison. He is second in the league in AA behind teammate Sano. The above works for me. If being durable and doing your job - to the point of being among the best in the league every year, despite injuries and promotions to others, I'm OK with that. We know you hate Walker topics taking up space on TD. I get it. So many Trollers as you say. The Southern League player of the month. somebody voted

I was reading an old article from Baseball Prospectus and.................. WHAT SAY YOU?

That is a surprising characteristic of Walker's game. I agree. Most home run hitters walk a lot. That is why I can not figure out how Walker damn near leads the league in runs scored every year? How does he get on base so fewer times yet scores at a superior rate every year? It's not like he only hits home runs?

Most of Walkers swings don't even look that hard. His swing is just so easy, but the ball flies. Just like the video in above post.

One article link and one quote from another article that have Walker talking about his approach for this season and his focus as it pertains to him and his coaches. http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20150630&content_id=133624574&vkey=news_milb&fext=.jsp&sid=milb "Things have definitely been going well," Walker said. "I think all the hard work I put in during the offseason is paying off." Mientkiewicz, who also managed Walker in the FSL a year ago, agrees. "The improvement he's made is very noticeable," the manager said. "You pull for kids like him. He does it right." Walker hits Minor League best 23rd home run Twins' No. 12 prospect homers in third consecutive game for Double-A Chattanooga "I think the main thing is I've been a little better with my approach, making sure I'm getting good pitches to hit," Walker told MiLB.com recently. "I'm trying to be a little more patient and making sure when I get those pitches that I'm not missing them. I think that's been a big key for me so far this year, just making sure I'm getting the barrel on the ball up in the zone. So far, I've been able to get to them." ---------------------------- I personally think his patience is the reason for his higher SO totals this year. He takes more pitches per AB than everyone on the team other than Harrison. He is learning to recognize more pitches as a hitter, but putting himself in lots of pitcher counts instead of hitter counts. Hopefully this philosophy helps on the back end when his recognition improves and he becomes more aggressive early in counts.

As we assess Walker's path of year to year promotions - How has that worked in his path of development? For many - It hasn't shown any rewards. (Still Poor approach / No adjustments / High SO numbers). Maybe a mid season promotion would allow for a prospect to prepare for a return to that level the following year. Similar to what we expect from a September Call Up. Learned experience to carry over into the off season for young players. How does that year to year promotion help you to experience new levels of pitching (Low A to High A) (High A to AA) and (AA to AAA)? What you learned all year at one level does not prepare you for success at the next level. The next level prepares you for success at the next level. That is why prospects receive September call ups and mid season minor league promotions. Walker deserves that promotion! Don't make him learn from scratch all over again next spring. Provide him some recall for the off season preparation.

Well stated. But why do we assume about things? "Seems like a person who shrugs off advice"? I'm pretty sure Walker is not reading Twins Daily and his coach already stated Walker was his most improved player to date. What is his current approach as you see it? Is he swinging at balls and not enough strikes? Is he missing strikes while laying off balls, but just missing? Is he seeing too many pitches (2nd most on team by the way)? Is he being too patient and forcing bad hitter counts? Other than laying off pitches at the knees (as requested by coach), what about his approach needs work? What have you noticed? Truly? I do like your approach as to promote and let fail. Everyone learns from their failures. And if he mashes for a stint, (as you said) then yes Great.

From listening to the Lookout games (radio) over the last month - most of Walkers home runs seem to have been on Off Speed pitches. That's an improvement in the right direction. http://www.milb.com/multimedia/vpp.jsp?content_id=205006983&sid=t498 Off Speed Pitch

MiLB must be thinking like you. http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20150629&content_id=133536112&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_l111&sid=l111

Walker, Sano, Kepler lead Lookouts charge Twins trio combines for eight hits, all nine RBIs in Chattanooga's win Great article and video of our future http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20150629&content_id=133536112&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_l111&sid=l111

Minnesota Twins: Under the Radar Prospect Part Two BY JAMIE CAMERON 14H AGO - PUCKETS POND A 45 double and 241 SO pace too. Ground out or SO I don't care. 44 and 142 are magical numbers. I read these are his highest OBP (.320) and OPS (.902) of career too. ALL IN

Most XBH in System 2B - 3B - HR 15 - 02 - 16 Walker (33) 18 - 03 - 11 Dozier (32) 07 - 12 - 06 Buxton (25) 16 - 02 - 07 Ortiz (25) 17 - 04 - 02 Kepler (23) 10 - 02 - 09 Plouffe (21) 15 - 02 - 03 Harrison (20) Just shows he does more than just hit HRs. It is often said that a guy with 2B power can or will turn into HR power as they get older and stronger. What does that mean for a guy who shows 2B and HR power?

From an article in Star Tribune “He’s striking out the same as he did last year but they look so much better, if that’s possible,” Mientkiewicz said. “He’s my most improved hitter in the lineup.” Mientkiewicz admits he was “worried” about Walker facing Class AA pitching initially because of the way he looked striking out last season. “The strikeouts alarmed you,” he said. “They were so non-competitive at times.” Walker is batting .261 this season. He leads the league in RBI (46) and is second in slugging percentage (.573). He’s also showing better discipline at the plate. Mientkiewicz credits hitting coach Chad Allen for that, and a running bet Allen made with Walker. Walker struggles with pitches at his knees, so either he or Allen buys a steak dinner every few weeks depending on Walker’s ability to avoid swinging at low pitches. Coaches don’t even mind if Walker takes a third strike slightly below his knees. “The more he makes the guy elevate the ball,” Mientkiewicz said, “the more balls fly over the fence.” Walker lost the most recent bet. “If I get a pitch up in the zone and I get the barrel to it, good stuff usually happens,” he said.

AA Southern League 15 Home Runs (1st in league) 13 Doubles 02 Triples 30 XBH (1st in league) 46 RBI (1st in league) 39 Runs Scored (2nd in league) 114 TB (1st in league) 77 SO (1st in league) - seems to be the main stat that matters .573 SLG% (2nd in league) .891 OPS% (4th in league) This kid should be in the conversation as a major part of the future. Each year people say he won't be able to do "it" against better pitching. Until he proves me wrong, I have to be on his band wagon. Get better yes, but no way is he not in my conversation about the future.

I say bat Walker 2nd in line up. He's bound to not get as many off speed pitches with Buxton on base in front of him. Just trying to help the man out. Lol

AA Southern League 15 Home Runs (1st in league) 6 were to RF 13 Doubles 02 Triples 30 XBH (1st in league) 46 RBI (1st in league) 39 Runs Scored (2nd in league) 114 TB (1st in league) 77 SO (1st in league) .573 SLG% (2nd in league) .891 OPS% (4th in league) .318 OBP% (2nd highest of career) Grounded into only 2 double plays in 53 games played (if there is a plus side to striking out - haha). 13 games left in the 1st half of season. Any guess on what his first half numbers might look like come June 23rd? How will they have compared to Vargas numbers last year in AA? His HR totals lead all of minor league baseball I believe? These stats have been accomplished batting in the back part of the line up (7th) for most of the season (although he batted 4th today).

Walker has 6 HRs to RF this season. Lol

Walkers Isolated Power is rediculus .304

I heard Buck Showalter say that righthanded power hitting is the most difficult thing to find as a manager. It is a rare comodity. We seem to have 3 young prolific power hitters in the system. Sano, Vargas, and Walker. I might trade a quality infielder, another OF prospect, young pitcher, but I'm not giving up what Bucks considers the hardest thing to find. Sano is our power phenom of the future and is getting his groove back lately. Walker has led every league he has played in (RBI & HR). Vargas has the ability to hit for power from both sides. All three might strikeout alot but the first two also score alot of runs (ala Dozier). Keep our young power hitters because all of our current power hitters are starting to have the same offensive credentials [.275 BA / .340 OBP / 18-23 HRs / 70-80 RBI]. Quality statline, but not superstar potential there to lift you when pitching is down. Although the team is on a HR tear, none of the current Twins is expected to keep this pace for the remainder of the season. Just look how Dozier cooled off last year. Just like pitching, you can never have too much power.

What's your difference between back up and bench?

I agree. That is a good point. My argument was more about Tulow and Howard. The point on Mauer is that he has been our star player for over a decade and only averages 125 games a year. If you can average 125 and be the face of a franchise, Howards 136 average should be a welcome addition. It was not to shoot down Joe. Howard's 95 RBI in his first full season back from injury wasn't a terrible stat line. If he plays in only 150 games this year he is on pace for 36 HRs and 85 RBI. Both would probably lead the Twins in those categories. And consider that we would probably have more men on base than Philly as a whole. Ryan currently has the same amount of HRs as Hunter, Mauer, and Arcia combined. A power bat would not be that damning for this season, especially if his contract is lightened as posted.

Since 2006 (2015 not included) Howard has averaged 136 games per year (with injuries) Tulow has averaged 106 games per year (with injuries) Mauer has averaged 125 games peryear (with injuries) So yes. Minus a major injury. Not saying Howard is better than either, but he ain't bad and he does generally stay on the field. Prince Fielder missed a whole season. Back better than ever. People do work back from injuries and especially when they don't have a history of injury. 136 is more reliable than 106. Just saying

Everyone was down on an old Torii Hunter as well and he has repeated his performance of recent years. 95 RBI from Ryan Howard on a terrible Phillies team is impressive to me. As has been stated all the time - RBI depend on teammates and his teammates in Philly sucked last year. I would rather imagine what he can do with the high OBP players the Twins have, because we need power at some point. Maybe Arcia can duplicate what Ryan brings as a DH. Maybe Ryan is a late July move if not. As for Tulow - I would love to have him too, but his health would be a stronger worry to me. I can't give away high prospects for a guy who has not shown a tendency to stay on the field. Why would that change for us? Tulow would definitely cost us more than a two year Howard deal.