BoomBoom

http://www.whec.com/article/610/?vid=3544004&v=1 Great mixture of veterans and youth in Rochester I like Quade and how he thinks............ Good Luck Red Wings http://www.rochesterfirst.com/sports/local-sports/walker-ready-to-bring-mashing-back-to-wings

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/sports/baseball/2016/04/05/red-wings-ready-but-weather-cooperate/82667246/ Red Wings might open season in May Some good articles regarding Rochester potential (Rochester area newspaper)

Harrison has shown power this spring going yard in AAA game for 2nd time. Walker hits 4th HR in 10th AAA spring training game today. Gotta love Kepler not takng day off and getting right after it today on minor league side. AAA could start off strong.

I agree with the write up on Walker. Strengths and Flaws - especially the (tentative not arm strength part)

He will have to prove himself throughout his career, even as a 10 year MLB vet. His game will always call for doubt. As a prospect I say 'if your trying to make the MLB, refer to their {MLBPipeline) rankings" That's probably your sign for job security - http://m.mlb.com/video/topic/26271672/v545406983

I like the MLB.com Home Run projections for the Twins 2016 Rookies . Buxton; Kepler; Polanco; etc. http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20160125&content_id=162671830&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_milb I wonder if they could help with that 200 total as starters or bench players?

What are you talking about? I'm not arguing dominant or pretty damn good. Hell yeah Walker has stuff to work on. NO one argues that! I'm actually agreeing that he is Pretty Damn Good and not dominant. He has stuff to work on. As does Sano, Buxton, Kepler, every prospect. I'm saying he plays with some dominant teammates and his pretty damn good skill set is often negated by the strikeouts. My definition of success has more to do with the article and how it equates w/OBA and Walkers progression through the minors (not just AA). You brought up HRs. I'm bringing up the high amounts of doubles and league leading extra base hits (not just HRs) and league leading total bases (not just HRs). I'm bringing up the 50+ walks (BB) that would have been fourth on the Twins last year. I'm bringing up, that I like how the article equates his worth in regards to w/OBA. This has been my argument for Walker. You can disagree with me and the article. Why is that so hard to understand? I never said Dominant by the way. I said he was pretty damn good. And I drew my pretty damn good from something I thought substantial in thought. [w/OBA] - You obviously drew your conclusion from a different perspective. I'm sure Walker wants what all prospects want. To be the best that they can be. Never settle. A forever learning curve. Forever...............................

You saying Walker and "Pretty damn good" in same sentence - I'll take that. Why do all 9 players have to be dominant in order to play for the Twins? "Pretty damn good" should be able to get you to the playoffs and beyond IMO. Especially when you sprinkle in those other Dominant teammates. I love this other article and its alternate perception of Walkers worth (w/OBA): Great Read http://www.twinkietown.com/2016/2/15/10999444/adam-brett-walkers-unreal-power

Was it busy at the park today?

Can't wait to see the new faces in camp this week (today).

Let him work on it in AAA and repeat AAA next year if needed. Putting him in AA doesn't do anything but force him to repeat AAA next year anyway. Why not let him learn at the next highest level? If he does well at AA and fails upon promotion to AAA, the responses on here would not be kind. AA is a lose lose situation for him (with any failure).

Actually his number are very good. Just because other guys have Superior numbers don't make his number shabby. If someone sells 50 million records and you sell 5 million - You still have a Gold record. That's pretty damn good. Let's pay attention to who we compare people to all the time. Vargas and Sano had incredible Future Star Game seasons. What Walker does well is lead his leagues in Total Bases. That is not done by hitting home runs alone. 31 Doubles in AA is not shabby. You seem to be the one blinded by his home runs alone. 250 Total Bases is impressive for anyone in 131 games. That's his calling card. Every player has one.

MLB - AL Central Prospect Projections http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20160125&content_id=162671830&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_milb&sid=milb Would that be enough? or At least something to build on?

Anybody who hits .292 (BA) with a .503 (OBP) when they are ahead in the count (last year in AA) has a chance. Great kid and I'm praying for him to make those adjustments. Doubles excite me as much as the home runs. Good article.

Any new faces this week?

I believe Walker needs to fail outright in order to get better. They have left him at every level for a full year and allowed him to have incredible offensive seasons. That success to me causes young prospects to minimize their faults mentally. They work on those faults, but not at the expense of losing their strengths (even temporarily). Especially when the success is being the very best in all of AA (HRs & RBI). The Twins have used the same gameplan / approach for Walker every year. Don't promote. I think the Twins just like Walker, need a new approach if they want different results. Guarantee his power failures so he can see what really needs to be corrected. We are speaking as evaluator's and not athletes. Every young athlete we critique on this board is pressing to do what they do well. Arcia & Vargas expect to be power hitters and press to do so (causing failure). Buxton is trying to press to be the contact hitter he is suppose to be (causing failure). Kepler is not pressing to be the power hitter people want and is experiencing success. His failures came in the lower levels when he was pressing. They should have pushed Walker IMO and created the necessary failures that are predicted in his game (power shortage). It's not that he strikes out. It's that those strike outs will be magnified at the MLB level and his Power will be nullified. If he hit 40 HRs and 125 RBI with 225 SO, criticism would be limited. The definition of insanity............... Goes for player and club IMO

1) After draft (2012) the question was about usable power. Power worked in rookie ball! 2) After Rookie ball the question was about usable power in the Midwest League. Power worked (MVP)! 3) After MWL (A ball) the question was about usable power in pitcher friendly Florida State League. Power worked (All Star MVP)! 4) After FSL (high A) the question was about usable power against advanced pitching in upper minors (AA). Power worked (more than double the next teammate)! 5) After AA the question was about usable power against advanced Arizona Fall League pitching. Power worked (5 HRs in 20 games)! 6) Spring Training is about pitchers and hitting results are understandably minimized. Now Walker's usable power is ignored ironically. But Walker is 6 for 15 (nonetheless) in Spring Training games (against MLB pitching) with 2 doubles and 4 HRs. Power worked! I don't think TN is questioning the Twins handling of Walker, just hoping they don't overlook his upside in the near future. Neither Vargas or Arcia has shown the power potential of Walker. Both of those guys had great minor league peripheral data and struggled. Don't let that be your deciding factor because the "Topic title" peripherals tell you that Walker will fail. He has been beating those odds at every level (see above). Just like they shouldn't treat Buxton's upcoming promotion based on Hicks history. [2 different players]

Walkers 51 BB last year would have been 4th on the Twins and that was in 20 less games. It's not that he doesn't walk, it's that he doesn't walk enough compared to his K's. If half his K's were fly outs instead, he would be seen in an entirely different light. The guys on the MLB Network joked about how "at least K guys aren't hitting into double plays". ALSO: I tend to think think the disadvantage goes to the hitter in the minor leagues. Pitchers have a much better scouting report on hitters who stay in a league year round as do hitters who see new pitchers running through the league year round due to promotions. 4 of the Lookouts opening day roster pitchers were on the roster when they actually won the championship last year. 2 of those 4 were even demoted for 2 months during that season. That is what happens to pitchers throughout the minors every year. Why and how should a hitter have an advantage over the pitcher? That's why I believe that hitters who stay a level, year round, are at a disadvantage due to pitcher merry-go-rounds during the season. What and who are they adjusting to? Where is their consistency in terms of growth?

Prospect Projections: AL Central rookies 2016 http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20160125&content_id=162671830&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_milb&sid=milb I know this - ABW II is the only prospect in the AL Central / East / & West predictions to hit 20+ HRs (27) and 10+ stolen bases. Not a bad honor. Interesting what they thought of some of our hitters and pitching prospects.

Besides speed, is Buxton the only one with a vertical, who anyone can envision climbing the wall and robbing HRs (ala spiderman). It's a shame they we equate quality outfields by who can make the basic plays. Sound is good, but athletic is better.

YEP - I see it the same way

Santana provides various options (infield; outfield; running;). He stays for me. My 4th outfielder however, would be more of a hitting threat. Whichever guy proves to be the best game changer out of camp. The problem is limited reps in camp to prove worth. I personally think a prospect can gain just as much by hanging around a MLB dugout / lockerroom and studying daily practices as he can by getting AAA hitting reps. They could stand in the batters box during numerous bullpen sessions to develop their eye. They could work on defensive drills daily with the best coaches in the business. Buxton (CF) Rosario (LF) Sano (RF) Santana (UTL) _______ (4th) - Let the games begin.................. My gut tells me Sweeny or Mastroianni first to be cut. Walker and Benson (minor league deal) first to be optioned. Kepler last to be optioned. Oswaldo traded late in camp. Quentin becomes 4th outfielder. Plays OF every 10 days and hits every 4 to 5 days.

http://www.tubbes.net/watch_x0vLodtvgpg_Adam-Brett-Walker-II-Prospect-Video,-OF,-Minnesota-Twins.html Not all bad. IMO Definitely room for growth

Has led the MWL & FSL & Southern League in Extra Base Hits and Total Bases. That's not all home runs. Why are all the other extra base hits ignored? Is that what you mean by has to hit for more than just power? Is he still considered All or Nothing despite those other XBH's? Why don't they ever get talked about (the other XBH's)? Not comparing Walker to the complete Mike Trout package, but Trout did win the 2014 MLB MVP after leading the league in STRIKEOUTS. Because he was a productive hitter [HRs - RBI - Runs Scored] and played great defense. I'm not greedy. Don't need an MVP, but I will take the production.

Me too Everyone assumes that hitters can't make adjustments in the off season and that pitchers are the only ones with scouting reports. Rosario is a hitter and will be better than last year in many categories and the same in some others.