GMinTraining

MLB Pitchers throw strikes and wouldn't shy away from their fastballs for a No Name Prospect. They might try to adjust when he starts mashing, but not out the gate. He just can't afford to miss his pitch (fastball) when he gets it. Look at the success Vargas had his 1st year. Teams/Pitchers started adjusting the following year. 59% of Walkers hits are of the XBH variety. Mauer and Hunter together have 3 more XBH than Walker this season. He runs well and crosses the plate A LOT!

I didn't write the article

Agreed. However some guys do it every year and from any spot in the order. While other guys don't or at least don't do it as well. I think Vargas deserves another shot, but wouldn't be disappointed to see if Walker could provide some power for this offense. Walker sports a .311 ISO and has hit into only 1 DP thanks to those K's - Lol

I agree that OBP is important for the sake of scoring runs. That is the purpose of the game. To out score your opponent. If that is the case - Wouldn't and shouldn't run production be the more important stat line. I only ask that because there are several players who sport a high OBP, but never find a way to score runs (RBI or Runs Scored). Therefore what is the true importance for OBP becoming the determining factor for a prospect making it to the Show.

Why is OBP important? Is it important for scoring runs? Is it important for driving in runs? Does the BB portion of OBP become important for the sake of scoring runs? Does the BB portion of OBP become important for the sake of driving in runs? Does the hit portion of OBP become important for the sake of scoring runs? Does the hit portion of OBP become important for the sake of driving in runs? What result from having a high OBP becomes the most important factor for you? Should the result of having a high OBP in the minors serve in the same respect in the majors? & If so, does it generally work that way in your experiences with most prospects?

That being said: We all know that Walker sports a .251 BA; .310 OBP and leads the league in SO with 73. He does however, still rank second in the entire Southern League in RUNS SCORED! So despite not getting on base (enough), he still scores more than everyone in the league not named Buxton. The same flaws everyone pointed out in 2012; 2013; 2014; & 2015; have not affected his consistency with run production. Can anyone explain how he does it every year in the runs scored department? Amongst the best in the league every year. His 35 runs scored are 9 more than the second best player on the MLB Twins. If you take away Walker's runs scored due to home runs, and all the Twins players home runs from their runs scored total - Walker would be second on the Twins "STILL" in runs scored. Strike outs do matter and Walker needs to fix his greatest flaw. That being said again - Walker is a very solid player without the correction of his problem. If he ever fixes his problem, he becomes one of the best players in Baseball. IMO

I agree with this article in Puckets Pond yesterday http://puckettspond.com/2015/06/02/minnesota-twins-dont-forget-about-adam-brett-walker/

No Doubt - but like Seth said, there were some solid numbers throughout the system in May. System looking brighter each day. Adam Brett Walker (27-107) .252/.304/.533 (.837) with seven doubles, one triple, seven home runs and 28 RBI. His slash line is right around his career averages too

Brunansky and Molitor can fix him There are a lot of average pitchers in the MLB too. Mistake pitchers as they say. He can feast on those type of pitchers like he has for the last 3 years until he figures it out. Gotta give players a chance to correct mistakes at the big league level at some point and not assume AAA is a substitute classroom. Get Arcia back up there along with Vargas. Just look at Colabello (.374 BA w/Toronto). He was the minor league AAA player of the year and we gave up on him after a bad month. Players learn to get back to what they do best when they are given a chance to adjust and learn. The key is that whatever you do best -Better be worth keeping you around for.

What do you make of Walker and Sano battling for AA home run and RBI lead. Walker currently leads all of AA in both categories and Sano is starting to make his move. Both are showing better plate discipline according to their manager. Do these accomplishments serve well for either of their 2015 aspirations? AAA or September Call Ups.

The manager for the Lookout just stated that Duffy was his best picture to date. You must have never seen Duffy pitch. He is strong with great pitch ability. He averages 9+Ks per/9 as well. What in his history tells you otherwise? His draft round? The Twins just shelled a Boston pitcher who has the second highest velocity in MLB. You have to know how to pitch too and Duffy as does Berrios can pitch. Duffy has earned every promotion he's earned and like Berrios was misdiagnosed by LAW, you have definitely misdiagnosed Duffy. IMO

Gordon could turn out to be like his brother. Out of curiosity, who are some of the picks you've made over the years (1st round) that turned out well for the Twins or whoever else they were drafted for? I think we all suffer from the "No - draft that guy" disease . Our Gut feelings are usually somewhere in the middle of the success graph.

Not that bad of a trade. Howard has the second most home runs in month of May next to Bryce Harper. He also produces that irrelevant stat (RBIs / 95 last year). This is Ryan's second full season since his injury shortened seasons (2012 & 2013). He is a career .881 OPS guy and seems to be back on pace with those numbers again. He could be the perfect DH for this year. Plus he is a veteran who has won a championship and understands the path to the playoffs (ala Hunter). The Twins could be a Wild Card contender if the stars continue to sit themselves right. A veteran bat can not hurt. Just don't give up too much and limit the salary you are willing to pay. Arcia Hunter Hicks Rosario Robinson Shafer Hermann Nunez Escobar Kepler Harrison Walker Buxton (just because he's better than everyone else and will probably be added) All 13 guys won't make the 40 Man next year. Why not start getting something for something if you can. A few years back the Nationals shut down Stephen Straugsburg because they were more concerned about the future and his health. Probably the right move, however, they have yet to make the World Series and possibly missed that window of opportunity. Our future looks bright with young talent in the system, but I wouldn't quite give up on this years possibilities. Especially since health has yet to be an issue for our team (knocking on wood).

The minor league outfield situation is really looking up. Something will have to give. Look at how many outfielders will have to go on the 40 man roster this year? Arcia Hunter Hicks Rosario Robinson Shafer Hermann Nunez Escobar Kepler Harrison Walker Buxton (just because he's better than everyone else) All these guys (13) have or will be expected to play OF at some point in the MLB.

I was nice listening to the Lookouts manager speak about his players and especially Adam Brett Walker being the most improved player in his clubhouse this year. He had a lot of points as to what several of the players are working on, as prospects in AA. Great Listen http://www.1500espn.com/shows/reusse May 22nd Show (Hour 2) - Doug Mientkiewicz comes on about mid way through the hour Walker is among the league leaders in several categories: 1st HRs 1st RBI 1st SO 2nd TB 2nd SLG 4th Runs 9th OPS Mientkiewicz stated that Walker hasn't even clicked yet. Interesting

I am really liking the run production the Lookouts are putting up lately. When they are on they are truly on. Kepler & Buxton have been on fire. Walker and Sano have provided excellent power numbers. The most underrated player has been Harrison who leads his league in 2B. The most consistent player is the same guy who always has remained consistent (Polanco). Turner has actually squared up a lot of pitches lately and could be on the upswing. Does anyone know when Levi Michael is coming back and Dalton Hicks? Two important pieces to maintaining first place.

I was down on Peavy as well and he seems to have improved his all around game. I still want Lee over Peavy, but can not down Peavy because of my wants. Doesn't seem to be a strikeout pitcher like the Berrios and Duffy's on the staff, but does well at getting out of jams (lately).

When managers ask hitters to work pitch counts, do they also take the bats out of those same players hands? Players are asked to take pitches for several reasons. Sometimes it is to work a high pitch count on the starter and get to the bullpen. Sometimes their own pitcher may have had a rough inning and they want for that same pitcher to have a chance to relax between innings (taking some pitches can lengthen those such innings). 1) Should and can this philosophy be used with all teams? 2) If you have a team with a high strikeout rate, do you want them working with 2 strikes too often? 3) If you have a team with a mediocre OBP and/or BB rate do you want them working with 2 strikes as often? 4) Do you utilize this philosophy with those players who can maximize those situations best and not others? I look at a player like Polanco who rarely takes a BB, but can hit with his eyes closed (great contact hitter). I then look at a player like Walker who does take several pitches per AB, but also strikes out so often (not a great contact hitter). Finally I look at a player like Sano who does take his share of BB, but also strikes out too often as well (not considered a contact hitter). Should there be an organizational / managerial philosophy in terms of players taking pitches in various situations? or Should there be an allowance for those such players (non contact guys) to maximize their potential per AB? For me the game has changed. Players don't get asked to hit and run anymore because they lack those skill sets. Players are defended differently (Shifts) because they lack particular skill sets. Asking these same players to take pitches and work pitch counts falls into the same category. They lack the skill set do do so. Thus the high strike out rate in professional baseball. I say, if we are going to accept the changes in the game, in so many other areas, why not let your players play? Maximize each AB for the skill set in which they bring to the table. I'm not talking about swinging out of the zone. I'm talking about swinging at strikes, and swinging early in counts. Maximizing particular skill sets or lack there of! Thoughts..................

Walkers bat is becoming more and more noticeable to me with the addition of his latest triple. He has 18 XBH in 32 games. Not bad for the start of a season considering he has so much work to do with improving his strike zone recognition. .311 ISO & a .384 w/OBA - Between Walker, Kepler, Buxton, and Harrison, the Twins have an XBH factory brewing in their lower level outfield. http://www.fangraphs.com/library/offense/ This Fangraph glossary does a great job of qualifying what each of these saber metric statistics represents in the grand scheme of things. The above two say a lot to me.

The Walk / BB rate is overrated to me. Many feel Polanco is the most MLB ready player on the Lookout team. He has the same number of Walks as Walker. What Polanco does better, is make contact. If Walker can clean up those contact issues just a tad - he will be MLB ready too. Will be only 23 all season in AA. This is impressive for a guy with his lack of contact issues. Leads Southern League: HRs; RBI; TB; XBH; SLG; & SO and 4th in Runs Scored. All done Batting 7th in Lookout lineup. As you projected [ amjgt ]

Buxton is Promising But Don't Forget About ................... http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/video/8904436-byron-buxtons-promising-but-dont-forget-adam-brett-walker/ Just watched replay of yesterdays Lookouts game on MiLBTV. Did anybody see Walker beat out a 2 hopper to the 3rd baseman yesterday or score from first base on a double down the line? He is much faster than I ever thought. That might be the answer to your question for 2016.

The nice part is that many of those arms would be great out of the bullpen too.

He believes in himself and has the will to win every battle (AB). Won't be long (2016).

When has a player in the Twins system truly benefited from staying in the minor leagues for extended time? Who in recent memory has come to the bigs and played up to expectations? Both Santana and Vargas played above expectations last year and neither was expected to do what they did at the MLB level their Rookie seasons. Now they are center pieces. Arcia had a great minor league record and is showing that reps at the MLB level is his only need. Many players just need MLB failure to figure things out. REPS REPS REPS Minor league pitching (at any level) can not simulate the David Prices of the world. When the time calls for it - IT REQUIRES TRIAL BY ERROR

Underrated Prospect