jorgenswest

On the topic of trade chips and considering players in the decline phase... Perkins is probably the only good trade chip. He has a reasonable contract and is pitching well. He will fit a team in need of a closer or left handed late inning reliever. I do think there are some teams that will not trade a good prospect for a reliever reducing the demand a little. The Twins need to move Willingham or Doumit for whatever they can get. They can keep one in a Jim Thome role, but neither should bring a glove to the field. A good deal of their value as a hitter comes from walks, but not all walks are the same. Giving up a walk to a slow base runner is not as damaging as giving up a walk to a good base runner. The OBP/OPS looks the same regardless of speed and base running skill. It would not hurt to trade both guys. Not sure they are worth much more than a Liriano type return. The only way to keep Morneau is to feel confident that he is worth a qualifying offer next winter. They certainly have the room to risk a one year contract should he accept it. His ground ball/fly ball rate is at his career rate. His line drive rate is up. The number that is dramatically different is his 1.9% hr/fb rate compared to 10.5% on his career. He doesn't need to change anything for that to approach the league average nearly 4 times greater than his current. I think he will hit double digit home runs in the second half and be worthy of a qualifying offer. I don't think he will get much back in a trade unless the power shows up soon. The Twins decided to extend Jared Burton through next year even though he was under control for this year. I think it was a mistake and he is a huge injury risk given his age and previous injury history. He has some trade value. The Twins need to move him before the injury hits. It would be great to get an A-Ball prospect for Correia or Pelfrey. They can find similar guys any offseason. Correia's best skill is his health. He could be a reliable 5th starter on a contending team. Mauer is a chip that would require a new thread.

His contract and performance make him valuable. Some teams won't trade top prospects for closers, but we need to find just one team willing. It would definitely be a sell high (as were Span and Revere). Burton is also a sell high candidate. His age and injury history give him a greater chance for decline in the near future. It is hard to envision a replacement for Perkins. However, no one would have projected Perkins excelling in this role watching him pitch at 26 or 27.

How is Santana's defense at SS?

I still think they can find plenty of at bats for Arcia. In a six game week, Doumit, Willingham and Morneau can each get a day and Parmelee two (with an occasional Mauer day off). That's 5 starts for Arcia. There is no reason the bench bat needs to be the same guy.

He should move to AA when he is ready. That doesn't mean he has to be ready to dominate. Learning how to deal with struggle is an important part of development. There really should be no other factor. Is he ready? Meanwhile looking at offense and defense, he is probably the best option to throw out in CF on the big league club tonight.

I can only read the mixed reports on Gonsalves listed above where some see a steal and others a reach. That is not unusual for high school guys. He certainly is a risk. An older college guy in that round might be projected as a middle reliever. So few guys make it after the first few rounds. They balanced the early picks.

It really has been an encouraging year for prospects. Nearly all of the better prospects entering this year have performed well. That never happens. Hopefully the Meyer injury is a minor one. I don't have season tickets or live locally so I don't share he frustration of the major league failures. Investing in MLB at bat is a minimal cost compare to going to several games. So for me, the progress of the young players and looking forward to their arrival is critical to my view of a successful season for the organization. Based on that measure, the season is very encouraging. Two years ago at this time, the Twins only prospects were a long way from the majors and they had a system ranked in the bottom 10. Today they have several prospects getting close and a top five system. Ryan deserves some credit for the turn around.

I am on the side of another 4 weeks in AAA. If he continues to do well in AAA, give him a half season in the majors.

Selecting on both extremes of high school power and more polished strike throwing college player seems like sensible balance in the draft.

I think Parmelee is a better option than Arcia or Herrmann.

According to baseball reference... Offense Runs scored 248 (11th) OPS+ 93 Pitching/Defense Runs allowed 266 (8th) ERA+ 96 Target Field trends a little bit towards a hitters park (like last year) at 1.096 (9th) 2013 MLB Park Factors - Runs - Major League Baseball - ESPN

Mike Berardino reports that Alex Meyer is on the shelf with a sore shoulder. http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_23423147/minnesota-twins-meyer-shelf

Good news about Butera... The next time the Twins move someone off the 40 (Mastroianni return?), Butera will be a candidate. Ryan implied that he was not eligible when they made decision about Benson due to his injury.

good point I think all of those fall in the large enough sample umbrella. Could this be a change in approach with the goal of increasing power? The side effect being increased strike outs.

Time to pitch and defend.

Yes!!! Time for the statue in the other corner to pay off.

This is why Doumit is on the team and in RF. do it Doumit.

It is so hard to watch this defense.

There exist right fielders that don't need to do a 360 on the path to the ball and will actually go get the ball in the air. That was not a line drive. This is not on Doumit. He didn't put RF next to his name on the line up card.

No. Gardenhire. That is the best Doumit can offer in RF.

Our pitchers deserve outfield play that is at least mediocre. No reason Werth should have been up.

support for my assertion Sample Size | FanGraphs Sabermetrics Library support for yours?

The Twins should be concerned. The sample is large enough when looking at strikeout rate. Hopefully somebody is studying the tapes and pitch sequencing. Something has changed on Joe's part or the pitcher's part.

The Twins need catchers with good receiving skills at all levels. It helps the pitchers and their development. Turner wasn't going to last until their next pick. The catching pool is very small as is the middle infield pool. Hopefully they will use their international budget to sign some middle infielders.

I hope the Twins are willing to use the 5%. The overage of $420,000 will be taxed at 75%.