Paul Pleiss

Bad teams often have a lot of room for talented prospects to move quickly through the farm system and get a chance to play with the big league club. After losing 99 games in 2011 the Twins stunk it up again in 2012 and lost 96 games. Half-way through the off-season the Twins have traded away their two best center fielders and while they have gotten back three quality arms in return, two of those arms still have a ways to go before they make it up to the big league club. The Twins also added a veteran arm to the starting rotation, but by all accounts it looks like the Twins are building for the future at the expense of the 2013 season. Who are the young guns in the system to be on the lookout for? Follow me Down on the Pond and together we'll take a look at some of the top prospects in the Twins minor league system. This week we take a look at the prospects I have ranked 16th-20th. http://puckettspond.com/files/2012/05/down-on-the-pond.1.jpg 20. Adrian Salcedo. Salcedo was limited to just 9 games this past season after he suffered a broken nose when a line-drive came back and caught him in the face. In 2011 Salcedo posted a nice 2.93 ERA in low-A Beloit but only struck out 92 batters in 135 innings after having struck out 81 in 93 innings the year before. I look for Salcedo to return to the Miracle in 2013 where his K rate will hopefully return and his ability to keep the ball in the park will remain. 19. Daniel Santana. Santana is switch hitting short-stop who spent 2012 with the Miracle. After hitting .247/.298/.373 (AVG/OBP/SLG) in Beloit in 2011 he made the jump up to high-A and improved his slash line to .286/.329/.410 in 2012. Santana was the Miracle's primary SS, but also spent some time at second base. Santana committed 27 errors at SS in 2011 but reduced that to 16 in as many chances in 2012, unfortunately he committed another in limited duty at second base. Has Santana done enough to start the season in AA? _________________________ To read the rest of the article, please visit Puckett's Pond Follow me, @BaseballPirate, on Twitter Check out the Talk to Contact Podcast (@TalkToContact)

I think it's unlikely anyone changes leagues unless there is expansion, and even then I envision one team each added to AL and NL. More likely that the DH goes to both leagues than Twins go to the NL. But I like the idea. I'd like to see more geographicly shaped divisons/leagues.

Episode 17 of the Twins baseball podcast, Talk To Contact (@TalkToContact), is now available for download via iTunes or by clicking here. http://cdn.fansided.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/2/files/2012/12/edgar_martinez_autograph.jpg?4c1d59 Once again the Twins’ twins get together to talk Twins baseball. This week Eric and Paul discuss the Kevin Correia signing (yuck), a look at the 2013 starting pitching rotation and the outfield and the quick escalation of MLB player salaries. Later in the podcast they take a look atRick Aguilera‘s career in Minnesota, what the offseason moves so far mean to the balance of power in the AL Central and they go Down on the Pond to take a closer look at Niko Goodrum before finishing off with a debate about the places each of us would like to be season ticket holders. Arguably the best 90 minutes ever recorded. If you enjoy our podcast, please take a couple extra minutes and rate and review us on iTunes (ratings and reviews have magical iTunes powers, which help us become warlocks.) You can follow Eric on Twitter (@ERolfPleiss) or read his writing at the Knuckleballs Blog.Once again thank you to Egon’s Unicat for letting us use their music on the podcast. __________________ Follow me, @BaseballPirate, on Twitter Check out the Talk to Contact Podcast (@TalkToContact) or email the show: talktocontact@gmail.com

Episode 17 of the Twins baseball podcast, Talk To Contact (@TalkToContact), is now available for download via iTunes or by clicking here. http://cdn.fansided.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/2/files/2012/12/edgar_martinez_autograph.jpg?4c1d59 Once again the Twins’ twins get together to talk Twins baseball. This week Eric and Paul discuss the Kevin Correia signing (yuck), a look at the 2013 starting pitching rotation and the outfield and the quick escalation of MLB player salaries. Later in the podcast they take a look atRick Aguilera‘s career in Minnesota, what the offseason moves so far mean to the balance of power in the AL Central and they go Down on the Pond to take a closer look at Niko Goodrum before finishing off with a debate about the places each of us would like to be season ticket holders. Arguably the best 90 minutes ever recorded. If you enjoy our podcast, please take a couple extra minutes and rate and review us on iTunes (ratings and reviews have magical iTunes powers, which help us become warlocks.) You can follow Eric on Twitter (@ERolfPleiss) or read his writing at the Knuckleballs Blog.Once again thank you to Egon’s Unicat for letting us use their music on the podcast. __________________ Follow me, @BaseballPirate, on Twitter Check out the Talk to Contact Podcast (@TalkToContact) or email the show: talktocontact@gmail.com

Interesting read, lots of names I wasn't previously familiar with. In my head I suspected Harper to be the #1 but was surprised to see Tovar with that designation; a quick look at WAR and it's clear I need to become more familiar with Twins from before my time.

Hard to argue against Chris Colabello for player of the week, so I won't. He's doing work down in Mexico.

Nate easily has the best mustache in the Twins franchise, I was hoping for a question about it's origin. It seemed to fuel his play down in the AFL. I wonder if it will still be around when he shows up for spring training. I surely hope so.

Terrible one-liner to follow: MAY the odds be ever in his favor. BOOM!

Loved this article, great way to spin the signing. Really liked the way you came at the Correia signing. GOODNESS! (your article, not the signing)

I agree completely, if Hicks is up, he's going to be the everyday CF, no chance he splits time with Parm in RF. It becomes even more interesting if the Twins move Morneau before Spring training. I also think there's a good probability, 60%, that Benson goes north with the team out of ST, and he may split time with Mastro and Parm as guys get their days off, etc. -P

The Manship has sailed, fair winds and following seas.

Great comment from Wookiee of the year. I guess that unless these suspected steroid users are convicted, unless there is PROFF, then I say vote them in. What to do about A-Rod when he comes up. He tested positive, served his suspension (which is all MLB requires), and now continues his career. Is he a Hall of Famer? Thought prevoking. It will be interesting to see how the writers handle this one and how that vote changes over the next 15 years.

Episode 16 of the Twins baseball podcast, Talk To Contact (@TalkToContact), is now available for download via iTunes or by clicking here. http://cdn.fansided.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/2/files/2012/12/6a0120a6dde087970b017c3457cc88970b.png This week the Pleiss Twins discuss happenings from the winter meetings and are joined by Alex Kienholz of http://www.BeyondTheBoxscore.com to discuss the Twins/Phillies trade that sent Ben Revere to Philly in exchange for Vance Worely and prospect Trevor May, the Rule 5 draft and about his interested in sabermetrics. After Alex departs Eric and Paul get into the Jared Burton extension, Tom Kelly’s Twins career, beer, prospects and a whole bunch of questions from the interwebs. If you enjoy our podcast, please take a couple extra minutes and rate and review us on iTunes (ratings and reviews have magical iTunes powers, which help us become warlocks.) You can follow Eric on Twitter (@ERolfPleiss) or read his writing at the Knuckleballs Blog. Once again thank you to Egon’s Unicat for letting us use their music on the podcast. __________________ Follow me, @BaseballPirate, on Twitter

Episode 16 of the Twins baseball podcast, Talk To Contact (@TalkToContact), is now available for download via iTunes or by clicking here. http://cdn.fansided.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/2/files/2012/12/6a0120a6dde087970b017c3457cc88970b.png This week the Pleiss Twins discuss happenings from the winter meetings and are joined by Alex Kienholz of http://www.BeyondTheBoxscore.com to discuss the Twins/Phillies trade that sent Ben Revere to Philly in exchange for Vance Worely and prospect Trevor May, the Rule 5 draft and about his interested in sabermetrics. After Alex departs Eric and Paul get into the Jared Burton extension, Tom Kelly’s Twins career, beer, prospects and a whole bunch of questions from the interwebs. If you enjoy our podcast, please take a couple extra minutes and rate and review us on iTunes (ratings and reviews have magical iTunes powers, which help us become warlocks.) You can follow Eric on Twitter (@ERolfPleiss) or read his writing at the Knuckleballs Blog. Once again thank you to Egon’s Unicat for letting us use their music on the podcast. __________________ Follow me, @BaseballPirate, on Twitter

I like Revere, but I don't know that he should be the lead off man in the lineup, but looking at the roster it's hard to find anyone else that fits the description either. I look forward to seeing BR roving CF in 2013, as he's my favorite player on the team (Glen Perkins a close 2nd). I'm not sure how much it matters, I expect 2013 to be a rebuilding year as the front office continues to build for 2014 and beyond.

Let Plouffe play and see if his hot streak was a fluke. It doesn't look like the Twins will be competetive in 2013 so there's no harm in letting TP get his AB's. A low dollar 3B could be a wise pick-up, but I'm for sticking with Babe Plouffe.

buy the guys at the bottom of the barrel, prepare the club for a rebuilding year and start making moves from 2014 and beyond. There are a lot of holes in this team, and the frong office has not shown itself willing to spend the money needed to make a run in 2013 (nor woud I want them to do so). To future hope...

I'm beginning to think that signing Marcum, or any other pseudo-big name this off-season is a bad move. I prefer the idea of moving Revere, staying away from big money guys and building for 2014+ -P

I like the trade, absolutely love it. I think it will be difficult for the Twins to compete in the AL central or the playoffs in 2013 and probably in 2014, but this moves helps the Twins in 2015 and beyond and I for one am optomisitc that there will be a lot of victres for the Twins in the last half of this decade. -P

I would also like to see Koskie enshried in the twins HOF, and not just because I have a Koskie jesey that I enjoy wearing on occasion. I agree that Knoblauch deserves to be in the Twins HOF, but definitely has a long road ahead of him before the fans would vote him in. Knoblauch is an interesting story, I think I'm going to do some digging into that myself.

I've listened to everyone o the T2C podcasts, seems to be a quality product, although I may be slightly (read as: highly) biased.

You can view the page at http://www.twinsdaily.com/content.php?1213-Talk-to-Contact-Ep-15-Getting-Denarded-with-Seth-Stohs

Episode 15 of the Twins baseball podcast, Talk To Contact (@TalkToContact), is now available for download via iTunes or by clicking here. http://puckettspond.com/files/2012/12/285_7527020.jpg This week Eric and Paul are joined by Twins prospect guru, Seth Stohs (@SethTweets), of TwinsDaily.com to discuss the Twins trade with the Nationals, his blogging career and Travis Harrison. After Seth departs we take a quick look at the Rule 5 draft, Twins HOFer Brad Radke and a lengthy discussion on the 2013 Baseball Hall of Fame ballot, specifically Barry Bonds and the steroids era. We also talk about beer, of which it becomes evident that Eric has had several, along with a few other Twins news items and notes. If you enjoy our podcast, please take a couple extra minutes and rate and review us on iTunes (ratings and reviews have magical iTunes powers, which help us become warlocks.) You can follow Eric on Twitter (@ERolfPleiss) or read his writing at the Knuckleballs Blog.Once again thank you to Egon's Unicat for letting us use their music on the podcast. __________________ Follow me, @BaseballPirate, on Twitter

Episode 15 of the Twins baseball podcast, Talk To Contact (@TalkToContact), is now available for download via iTunes or by clicking here. http://puckettspond.com/files/2012/12/285_7527020.jpg This week Eric and Paul are joined by Twins prospect guru, Seth Stohs (@SethTweets), of TwinsDaily.com to discuss the Twins trade with the Nationals, his blogging career and Travis Harrison. After Seth departs we take a quick look at the Rule 5 draft, Twins HOFer Brad Radke and a lengthy discussion on the 2013 Baseball Hall of Fame ballot, specifically Barry Bonds and the steroids era. We also talk about beer, of which it becomes evident that Eric has had several, along with a few other Twins news items and notes. If you enjoy our podcast, please take a couple extra minutes and rate and review us on iTunes (ratings and reviews have magical iTunes powers, which help us become warlocks.) You can follow Eric on Twitter (@ERolfPleiss) or read his writing at the Knuckleballs Blog.Once again thank you to Egon's Unicat for letting us use their music on the podcast. __________________ Follow me, @BaseballPirate, on Twitter