TNLooky2015

ABW II homers off Phil Hughes yesterday on backfields https://twitter.com/KNUJ/media

Kepler has a .280 lifetime minor league average and hasn't even hit AAA yet. He has 41 stolen bases in 6 seasons with 13 sac flies. Santana has a lifetime .276 minor league average and has played in AAA already. He has 124 stolen bases and 23 sac flies. Hell his MLB average after two seasons is still .278 even after last season. What about Kepler's one AA season where he virtually had the same average (.322 vs .319) as Santana did in his MLB season prove your "better stick" theory? I think Santana offers more to start the season and runs faster. He also has proven he is capable of providing sac flies when needed. Things may change as May and June roll around. Are these valid points?

I wonder if Molitor will let these sluggers have a HR derby in BP one of these ST practices. It would probably draw a capacity crowd if advertised early enough. Simply put - "I was going to let them get after it with a HR derby on (_____ day)" How exciting would that be: Plouffe Sano Arcia Park Walker Vargas Dozier That would be worth the price of admission. Oh yeah - it's free

I wonder if Molitor will let these sluggers have a HR derby in BP one of these ST practices. It would probably draw a capacity crowd if advertised early enough. Simply put - "I was going to let them get after it with a HR derby on (_____ day)" How exciting would that be: Plouffe Sano Arcia Park Walker Vargas Dozier That would be worth the price of admission. Oh yeah - it's free

Love to see how everybody loads differently. Hands go back, hands drop, etc.. I also like that they work on the basics in defensive video. Footwork is so important.

Good stuff

What do prospects learn in AA that they don't learn in AAA? Is there a particular pitching style to learn from in AA and AAA? Is that why players need to repeat a level in AA or AAA? So many pitchers shuffle through a minor league season, that I remain troubled of the thought of learning "something" special at a particular level. The Lookouts kept 4 of their opening day 13 pitchers. I'm not here to disagree. I just don't know what Walker is expected to learn back at AA that he can't learn from AAA? Are Fastballs different? Are Change Ups different? Is command that much different? Etc. etc.. My only thought for keeping him in AA was to reconnect and work with coach Watkins.

BP this past week. Outfield Drills this past week

Walker had 27 HRs and 109 RBI under Tommy Watkins guidance as the hitting coach (2013) and had a 20% K rate. Best of his career. Maybe Mr. Watkins knows something the other coaches didn't when it came to Walker's everyday approach. Maybe it's not such a bad thing. Travis Harrison also had 15 HRs under Watkins as well. Hasn't been close since. DJ Hicks led the minors in RBI (110) under Watkins. Hasn't been close since. Oh yeah - That was Buxtons best year as well (haha).

I agree 100%. This guy can throw and is underrated when it comes to comparing him with Burdi and many other relievers. My spring surprise pitcher as well. MLB reday!

http://www.startribune.com/as-always-twins-prospect-walker-looking-to-connect/368566581/ Article from Reusse after interview from Ft. Myer

I like to think there isn't much of a blueprint for guys like him not making it. Mainly because no one can think of a guy like him in history. 3 consecutive years of leading your league in HRs and RBI and TB and XBH and ISO and not making it. Cecil Fielder is the last MLB player to win a HR and RBI title (2/3 of the triple crown) in consecutive seasons (1990 & 1991). Ralph Kiner led the league in HRs for 7 straight years (1946 to 1952) and only led the league in RBI once in that span. His teams were terrible by the way, even with his lifetime .398 OBP. Ryan Howard did it in 2006 and 2008 on his way to 1 world title and several close calls in his hay day. Production never lies. It is what it is! Chances are speculators sometimes fall victim to the truth, because they don't believe what they see in front of them. They see the K's and become blinded by the production because of the "Chances are" potential. That's the beauty of prospect dreaming though. We all see potential through different color lenses.

I acknowledged that teammates have much to do with the entire winning concept. Magic Johnson had great scorers on his team, which made his assist skill set valuable. Terry Bradshaw had great receivers on his way to 4 super bowls. Walker was fortunate enough to have great teammates and was able to use his skill set to help in those championships. I'm just saying that his skill set is a valuable component to those championships and the Twins future championships. IMO - Do you put merit into what Sano said about it being easier to hit at the MLB level, than it was at the AA level because pitchers were around the plate more? And like it was said earlier - Walker did walk 51 times last year. That would be good for 61st place in the entire MLB last year. That's out of 663 players who hit last season in the league. I would also bet from watching the games last year in Chattanooga that Walker worked more full counts than anyone on the team too. He just struck out on many of those counts despite working them to 3-2. That is a more fixable problem than being a free swinger like so many claim him to still be.

I just imagine that leading a league every year in HRs, RBI. ISO, TB, XBH has to trump the K total, especially win your team is winning the championship every year. Much of that does have to do with the combination of teammate skill sets. However, 100 runs a year scored is pretty significant for a guy with his K rate too. He has been consistently good / bad every year, with the good outweighing the bad. Sometimes I feel like being a winner is only used when talking about quarterbacks. This young nucleus of players are just that - Winners. Loved these below projections when I think of his former teammates (Buxton; Kepler; Sano; Rosario; Polanco) who would have been on base for Walker. Game Changer Prospect Projections: AL Central rookies 2016 http://www.milb.com/...s_milb&sid=milb

Lol - True