SB Nation User Blog: SteveHoffmanSlowey

SHS 'spect list continued....101-201

SteveHoffmanSlowey — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 18:38:23 -0000

-Top 100 (Part #1) can be found here

-Allow the skepticism to keep coming guys .... obviously, 100-200 is a lot more difficult that the top 100.

101. Aroldis Chapman SP , (FA)

102. Erik Hosmer 1B , Kansas City Royals

103. Michael Pineda SP , Seattle Mariners

104. Jarrod Parker SP , Arizona D' Backs

105. Tony Sanchez C , Pittsburgh Pirates

106. Alex White SP , Cleveland Indians

107. Mike Minor SP , Atlanta Braves

108. Brandon Allen 1B , Arizona D' Backs

109. Hak-ju Lee SS , Chicago Cubs

110. Tanner Scheppers SP , Texas Rangers

111. Tim Melville SP , Kansas City Royals

112. Carlos Carrasco SP , Cleveland Indians

113. Jared Mitchell OF , Chicago White Sox

114. Eric Young JR. 2B , Colorado Rockies

115. Arnold Leon SP , Oakland Athletics

116. Nick Barnese SP , Tampa Bay Rays

117. Grant Green SS , Oakland Athletics

118. Phillip Aumont SP/RP , Seattle Mariners

119. Daniel Duffy SP , Kansas City Royals

120. Will Myers C , Kansas City Royals

121. Kirk Nieuwenhuis OF , New York Mets

122. Alex Avila C , Detroit Tigers

123. Drew Storen SP , Washington Nationals

124. Tyson Gillies OF , Seattle Mariners

125. Kyle Gibson SP , Minnesota Twins

126. Michael Brantley OF , Cleveland Indians

127. Ethan Martin SP/RP , LA Dodgers

128. Jiovanni Mier SS , Houston Astros

129. Cody Scarpetta SP , Milwaukee Brewers

130. JeanMar Gomez SP , Cleveland Indians

131. Chad James SP , Florida Marlins

132. Roger Kieschnick OF , San Francisco Giants

133. Logan Forsythe 3B , San Diego Padres

134. Kyle Lobstein SP , Tampa Bay Rays

135. Mike Trout OF , LA Angles

136. Alex Liddi 3B , Seattle Mariners

137. Arodys Vizcaino SP , New York Yankees

138. Henry Sosa SP , San Francisco Giants

139. Jairo Heredia SP , New York Yankees

140. Brandon Erbe SP , Baltimore Orioles

141. David Bromberg SP , Minnesota Twins

142. Bobby Borchering 3B , Arizona D' Backs

143. Travis Wood SP , Cincinnati Reds

144. Dexter Carter SP , San Diego Padres

145. Craig Kimbrel RP , Atlanta Braves

146. A.J. Pollack OF , Notre Dame D' Backs

147. Tim Wheeler OF , Colorado Rockies

148. William Smith SP , LA Angels

149. Danny Valencia 3B , Minnesota Twins

150. Michael Main SP , Texas Rangers

151. Brett Morel 3B , Chicago White Sox

152. David Lough OF , Kansas City Royals

153. Adrian Cardenas 3B , Oakland Athletics

154. Zach Stewart SP , Toronto Blue Jays

155. Willin Rosario C , Colorado Rockies

156. Robbie Ross SP , Texas Rangers

157. Anthony Capra SP , Oakland Athletics

158. Ian Desmond SS , Washington Nationals

159. Rex Brothers SP , Colorado Rockies

160. Yorman Rodriguez OF , Cincinnati Reds

161. Travis D' Arnaud C , Philadelphia Phillies

162. Hank Conger C , LA Angels

163. Brett Jackson OF , Chicago Cubs

164. Ryan Wheeler 1B , Arizona D' Backs

165. T.J. House SP , Cleveland Indians

166. Bradley Meyers SP , Washington Nationals

167. Casey Kiker SP , Texas Rangers

168. Angel Morales OF , Minnesota Twins (seth stoh's #2 Twins prospect)

169. Christian Bethancourt C , Atlanta Braves

170. (.170-.190 , any order)

J.J. Hoover, Zeke Spruill, Christopher Parmelee, Chase D' Arnaud, Tim Alderson, Kellen Kulbackii, Jacob Odorizzi, Stolmy Pimental, Alexander Perez, Lorenzo Cain, Jordan Walden, Josh Lindblom, Dillon Betances, Everett Williams, Aaron Poreda(RP), Scott Elbert(RP), Adam Moore, Daryl Jones, Jaime Garcia , Michael Ynoa, Luis Exposito, Anthony Rizzo, Manny Banuelos

191. Aaron Miller SP , LA Dodgers

192. Chris Johnson 3B , Houston Astros

193. Clayton Mortenson SP , Oakland Athletics

194. Josh Thole C , New York Mets

195. Sean Doolittle 1B , Oakland Athletics

196. Beau Mills 1B, Cleveland Indians

197. Tyler Robertson SP , Minnesota Twins

198. Brandon Crawford SS , San Francisco Giants

199. Rudy Owens SP , Pittsburgh Pirates

200. Ross Seaton SP , Houston Astros

201. Max Stassi C , Oakland Athletics

H.M.: Zachary Collier OF , Philadelphia Phillies - Joe Savery SP , Philadelphia Phillies - J.P. Arencibia C , Blue Jays - Billy Bullock RP , Minnesota Twins - Dennis Raben OF , Seattle Mariners - Hector Gomez SS , Colorado Rockies - Nick Noonan 2B , San Fran Giants - Casey Weathers RP , Colorado Rockeis - Angel Salome C , Milwaukee Brewers - Ryan Chaffee SP , LA Angels - John Raynor OF , Florida Marlins - Kyle Skipworth C , Florida Marlins - Neftali Soto 3B , Cincinatti Reds - Drew Naylor SP , Philadelphia Phillies - The Gillispie brothers - Chris Carpenter SP , Chicago Cubs - Brand Hand SP , Florida Marlins - Lars Anderson 1B, Boston Red Sox

Any more obvious Honorable Mentions I'm forgetting ? -Matt Hobgood ? -the other Delgado on the Braves? Dayan Viciedo ? Yaimico Navvaro ?

Players by team in second group of 100

^49 in NL

Atlanta Braves (5 ) -- New York Mets (2 ) -- Florida Marlins (1 ) -- Washington Natinals (3 ) -- Philadelphia Phillies (1)

St. Louis Cards. (2) -- Chicago Cubs (2) -- Pittsburgh Pirates (4) -- Cincinnati Reds (2)-- Milwaukee Brewers (3) -- Houston Astros (3 )

LA Dodgers (4 ) -- Colorado Rockies (4 ) -- San Diego Padres (5 ) -- San Francisco Giants (3 ) -- Arizona D'Backs (5)

^52 in AL

New York Yankees (4) -- Boston Red Sox (3) -- Tampa Bay Rays (2) -- Baltimore Orioles (1) -- Toronto Blue Jays (1)

Minnesota Twins (6) - Detroit Tigers (1) -- Chicago White Sox (2) -- Kansas City Royals (5) -- Cleveland Indians (7)

L.A. Angels (4) -- Texas Rangers (4) -- Seattle Mariners (5) -- Oakland Athletics(8)

*Removed from Original (Pre-Edit Post) = Adrian Salcedo (Min.), Daniel Cortes (Sea.)

*JUST ADDED = T.J. House (Cle.), Aaron Miller (LAD.)

*for me Jon Niese, Michael Bowden, Mark Rzyepsenski don't qualify due to innings pitched in the majors....(Bowden only pitching 17 innings , but made like 9 appearances, also otherwise all 3 of these guys would be in top 100)

SHS' 2010 top 100 prospects in MiLB

SteveHoffmanSlowey — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 01:02:10 -0000

My queston to you is who would you slot into the top 5 with that 5th spot? Jennings, Brown? Feliz, Montero? hmmm...
so who would you slide up? - I DECIDED to go with Buster Posey....

1. Jason Heyward OF, Atlanta Braves

2. Michael Stanton OF, Florida Marlins

3. Stephen Strasburg SP, Washington Nationals

4. Pedro Alvarez 3B, Pittsburgh Pirates

5. Buster Posey C , San Francisco Giants

6. Jesus Montero C/DH, New York Yankees

7. Neftali Feliz SP, Texas Rangers

8. Brian Matusz SP, Baltimore Orioles

9. Desmond Jennings OF, Tampa Bay Rays

10. Justin Smoak 1B , Texas Rangers

11. Dominic Brown OF, Philadelphia Phillies

12. Carlos Santana C , Cleveland Indians

13. Madison Bumgarner SP, San Francisco Giants

14. Freddy Freeman 1B , Atlanta Braves

15. Jeremy Hellickson SP, Tampa Bay Rays

16. Martin Perez SP, Texas Rangers

17. Dustin Ackley OF , Seattle Mariners

18. Chris Carter DH, Oakland Athletics

19. Matthew Moore SP , Tampa Bay Rays

20. Tim Beckham SS, Tampa Bay Rays

21. Michael Taylor OF, Philadelphia Phillies

22. Kyle Drabek SP, Philadelphia Phillies

23. Jenrry Mejia SP , New York Mets

24. Alcides Escobar SS , Milwaukee Brewers

25. Yonder Alonso 1B , Cincinnati Reds

26. Chris Withrow SP , LA Dodgers

27. Julio Teheran SP , Atlanta Braves

28. Ryan Westmoreland OF , Boston Red Sox

29. Logan Morrison 1B , Florida Marlins

30. Jhoulys Chacin SP , Colorado Rockies

31. Christian Frederich SP , Colorado Rockies

32. Hector Rondon SP , Cleveland Indians

33. Wade Davis SP, Tampa Bay Rays

34. Fernando Martinez OF , New York Mets

35. Jaff Decker OF , San Diego Padres

36. Casey Kelly SP, Boston Red Sox

37. Aaron Hicks OF, Minnesota Twins

38. Jordan Lyles SP , Houston Astros

39. Lonnie Chisenhall 3B , Cleveland Indians

40. Ike Davis 1B , New York Mets

41. Daniel Hudson SP, Chicago White Sox

42. Reid Brignac SS , Tampa Bay Rays

43. Michael Saunders OF , Seattle Mariners

44. Josh Vitters 3B , Chicago Cubs

45. Michael Montgomery SP, Kansas City Royals

46. James Darnell 3B , San Diego Padres

47. Tyler Flowers 1B/C , Chicago White Sox

48. Grant Desme OF , Oakland Athletics

49. Casey Crosby SP , Detroit Tigers

50. Jake Arrieta SP , Baltimore Orioles

51. Austin Jackson OF , New York Yankees

52. Jose Iglesias SS , Boston Red Sox

53. Carlos Trunifel SS , Seattle Mariners

54. Matt Dominguez 3B , Florida Marlins

55. Zach Britton SP, Baltimore Orioles

56. Josh Bell 3B , Baltimore Orioles

57. Aaron Crow SP , Kansas City Royals

58. Derek Norris C , Washington Nationals

59. Brett Wallace 1B , Oakland Athletics

60. Starlin Castro SS , Chicago Cubs

61. Jacob Turner SP , Detroit Tigers

62. Mike Moustakas 3B , Kansas City Royals

63. Bradley Holt SP , New York Mets

64. Ben Revere OF , Minnesota Twins

65. Devaris-strange Gordon SS , LA Dodgers

66. Trevor Reckling SP , LA Angels

67. Donavan Tate OF , San Diego Padres

68. Brett Lawrie OF/2B , Milwaukee Brewers

69. Jason Castro C , Houston Astros

70. Wilmer Flores SS , New York Mets

71. J.J. Reddick OF , Bo Red Sox

72. Zach McCalister SP , New York Yankees

73. Tyler Matzek SP , Colorado Rockies

74. Jonathan Lucroy C , Milwaukee Brewers

75. Thomas Neal OF , San Francisco Giants

76. Andrew Cashner SP , Chicago Cubs

77. Jose Tabata OF , Pittsburgh Pirates

78. Ryan Kalish OF , Bo Red Sox

79. Brad Lincoln SP, Pittsburgh Pirates

80. Shelby Miller SP , St Louis Cardinals

81. Andrew Lambo OF , LA Dodgers

82. Simon Castro SP , San Diego Padres

83. Wilson Ramos C , Minnesota Twins

84. Wilmer Font SP , Texas Rangers

85. Todd Frazier Utl. , Cincinnati Reds

86. Jemile Weeks 2B , Oakland Athletics

87. Jay Jackson SP , Chicago Cubs

88. Nick Weglarz OF , Cleveland Indians

89. Austin Romine C , New York Yankees

90. Jason Knapp SP , Cleveland Indians

91. Peter Bourjos OF , LA Angels

92. Danny Espinosa SS , Washington Nationals

93. Mike Leake SP , Cincinnati Reds

94. Scott Sizemore 2B, Detroit Tigers

95. Wynn Pelzer SP , San Diego Padres

96. Brandon Snyder 1B , Baltimore Orioles

97. Zachary Wheeler SP , San Francisco Giants

98. Randall Delgado SP , Atlanta Braves

99. Lance Lynn SP , St Louis Cards

100. Miguel Angel Sano SS , Minnesota Twins

LINK to 101-201

H.M.

Aroldis Chapman (FA)

Alex White

Mike Minor

Jarrod Parker

Roger Kieschnick

Kirk Nieuwenhuis

Kellen Kulbackii

Ethan Martin

Manny Banuelos

Arnold Leon

Michael Ynoa

Luis Exposito

Phillip Aumont

Kyle Gibson

Erik Hosmer

Adrian Cardenas

Hank Conger

Tony Sanchez

Willin Rosario

Hak-ju Lee

Brandon Allen

Alexander Soto

William Smith

Eric Young JR.

Robbie Ross

Alex Liddi

Logan Forsythe

Tyson Gillies

Daniel Duffy / Travis D' Arnaud

Chad James / Drew Storen

Tim Melville or Bradley Meyers? Tim Alderson? -30 man cutoff......

Players in top 100 by team...

TOTAL N.L. =50

Atlanta Braves (4) - New York Mets (5) - Florida Marlins (3) - Philadelphia Phillies (3){all top 25) - Washington Nats (3)

St Louis. Cards (2) - Chicago Cubs (4) - Pittsburgh Pirates (3) - Cincinatti Reds (3) - Houston Astros (2) - Milwaukee Brewers (3)

LA Dodgers (3) - Colorado Rockies (3) - San Francisco Giants (4) - San Diego Padres (5) - Arizona D'Backs (0)

TOTAL A.L. =50

New York Yankees (4) - Boston Red Sox (5) - Tampa Bay Rays (6){all top 50} - Baltimore Orioles (5) - Toronto Jays (0)

Minnesota Twins (4) - Detroit Tigers (3) - Chicago White Sox (2) - Kansas City Royals (3) - Cleveland Indians (5)

LA Angels (2) - Texas Rangers (4) - Oakland Athletics (4) - Seattle Mariners (3)

*** Alcides Escobar and Fernando Martinez qualify for my list .......but no Matt Gamel, Matt Latos or Maybin

John Sickles' Top 2010 Twins prospects

SteveHoffmanSlowey — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 22:17:10 -0000

From MINOR LEAGUE BALL

For Me Personally there were about 3-5 guys with a 1/3 letter grade too low.... but there were guys in Bullock and probably Salcedo that I expected to be C+ Guys.... so.....

Overall tough grades, too many relievers mentioned, and No Rene Tosoni or Deolis Guerra in top 20...!!!!

wow, but interesting and good ( I like Stuiffbergen over Hendricks and Slama over Delaney for example)

sister site link

1) Aaron Hicks, OF, Grade B+: Excellent tools, numbers are better than they look on the surface. I think he'll break out in 2010.
2) Ben Revere, OF, Grade B: Kenny Lofton ceiling, Juan Pierre midpoint, Joey Gathright basement.
3) Kyle Gibson, RHP, Grade B-: Would be a Grade B+ at least if not for the injury concern.
4) Wilson Ramos, C, Grade B-: Power and defense are positives, main question is weak walk rate.
5) Adrian Salcedo, RHP, Grade B-: Best of the pitchability right-handers in a system full of them.
6) Billy Bullock, RHP, Grade B-: Borderline C+; great stuff but will he throw strikes?
7) Angel Morales, OF, Grade C+: Could make a case for B-. Very good tools, numbers are better than they look on the surface, needs to improve discipline.
8) Danny Valencia, 3B, Grade C+: Needs to improve strike zone judgment and glovework to get a job in 2010.
9) Chris Parmalee, OF-1B, Grade C+: Lotsa power, draws walks, other skills are unimpressive.
10) Miguel Sano, SS, Grade C+: I really have no idea how to rank him at this point. Might turn into Miguel Cabrera, could fizzle in A-ball, no way to know yet.
11) Carlos Gutierrez, RHP, Grade C+: Ground ball machine. Could rank as high as seventh.
12) Joe Benson, OF, Grade C+: Excellent tools and is showing signs of skill development. Could also rank as high as seventh.
13) David Bromberg, RHP, Grade C+: Classic Twins pitching prospect, relies on pitchability rather than pure stuff.
14) B.J. Hermsen, RHP, Grade C+: Great rookie ball performance, projectable, need data from higher levels.
15) Ben Tootle, RHP, Grade C+: High-ceiling arm, needs to improve command.
16) Anthony Slama, RHP, Grade C+: Deceptive delivery with high strikeout rates, tough on right-handed hitters, could slot into middle relief role in 2010.
17) Matt Bashore, LHP, Grade C+: Could rank higher if he stays healthy.
18) Tom Stuifbergen, RHP, Grade C+: Could be a Grade C. Another pitchability guy. Gets lots of grounders.
19) Jeff Manship, RHP, Grade C: Possible fifth starter or long relief type.
20) Tyler Robertson, LHP, Grade C: Stock has dropped a lot, but looks like a potential LOOGY to me.

OTHERS (all Grade C right now): Oswaldo Arcia, OF; Alex Burnett, RHP; Rob Delaney, RHP; Brian Dozier, SS; Deolis Guerra, RHP; Chris Herrmann, OF; Steve Hirschfeld, RHP; Luke Hughes, INF; Max Kepler-Rozycki, OF; Bobby Lanigan, RHP; Andrei Lobanov, LHP; Jose Lugo, LHP; Derek McCallum, 2B: Mike McCardell, RHP; Josmil Pinto, C-DH; Trevor Plouffe, SS; Tobias Streich, C; Brad Tippett, RHP; Mike Tonkin, RHP; Rene Tosoni, OF; Loek Van Mil, RHP, Blayne Weller, RHP.

I think Guerra and Tosoni should be C+s also Ramos a B and Valencia a B-, also probably Angel Morales as well...

Wish Granted - Twins sign super prospect Sano

SteveHoffmanSlowey — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 23:48:11 -0000

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/09/sano-signs-with-twins.html

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4517993

Wow, I didn't think the timing of this was possible....

But the 16 year old Dominican, is a big, young man for his age, or his supposed age...

He will probably move to 3rd or even 1st base, if not Left-Field but the Twins farm system just got a whole lot stronger and I am very pleased. Despite the issues involving his true age and even talent, I think this was a great move by GM Bill Smith and the Twins organization.

Miguel Angel Sano

Hear me out Mr. Joe Mauer, Please Don't hit .400

SteveHoffmanSlowey — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 00:59:00 -0000

Also if you can add to that, please, come in 2nd in the AL MVP race.

You know, because you can like accomplish in-humane kind of tasks...so why not routinely finish the year batting only .330 and knowing you're 2nd in MVP vote tally while making it look easy and effortless.... IS that too much to ask? - LoL

This is no joke, I am by all means completely serious.

If Joe Mauer hits .400 and won the AL MVP this year in 2009 for a LOSING ball-club

then what in the ~~world~~ Universe would it take to pay him?

seriously?

I fear if he accomplished these feats this year right now..... We'd be watching him play for the Boston Red-Sox from about 2011 to 2019.....

UGH!

(I know this is not at all what Joe will try or want to do, but I wish he would)

thoughts???

How good would the Twins' farm system be if they added Sano?

SteveHoffmanSlowey — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 01:19:36 -0000

To word it another way, where would the Twins' system stack up with the rest of the league?
I have to say other than the clear-cut #1 going into 2010 Cleveland Indians farm system

there isn't exactly anybody else out there who would be far and away better than our system.

Oakland, Florida, Tampa Bay are all pretty good systems, I like what Pittsburgh and San Diego have done to re-up their respective systems they are both much stronger than they were this time a year ago.

this year's Easy #1 Texas Rangers have Andrus and Holland in the major leagues along with a cup of coffee with OF Julio Borbon and nasty P Neftali Feliz. So they won't be quite as strong going into this off-season....

Possible would be top-prospects include:

1. Aaron Hicks

2. Kyle Gibson

3. Miguel Angel Sano

4. Ben Revere

5. Danny Valencia

6. Chris Parmelee (best hitter -IMO- in FSL this year)

7. Wilson Ramos ( I question the bat, but defense is un-real)

8. David Bromberg

9. Joe Benson

10. Rene Tosoni

11. Deolis Guerra

12. Carlos Gutierrez

13. Tyler Robertson

14. B.J. Hermson

15. Matt Bashore

16. Anthony Slama

17. Angel Morales (wow - what a second half he is having so far :) )

18. Daniel Rams

19. Steven Tolleson (a good- great future #5,6 infielder, something we don't have right now)

20. Jeff Manship / Plouffe/ Salcedo/ Bullock/ Burnett/ McCardell/ Delaney/ Lobanov/ Weller/ Mulvey

Maybe this is just in my opinion, but, that would have to be (I would think) a top 10 or so system in all of the game today. The thing is we'd probably be paying Sano at least 3 times as much as Gibson (bonus), 4 times as much as Hicks, and 5 times as much as Revere...... or so it would seem - and that wouldn't sit particularly well with me.

Thus in 2011 or surely 2012 we could compete with Cleveland for the AL central Title.

(assuming we somehow re-sign Mr. Joe Mauer)

Twins Re-Call SP Jeff Manship

SteveHoffmanSlowey — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 21:42:02 -0000

After an embarrassing defeat at the hands of the K.C. Royals on Tuesday, the Minnesota Twins have called up SP Jeff Manship from AAA Rochester of the IL and place oft injured lefty Glen Perkins back on the 15D-DL.

I can tell you that Jeff Manship is from Notre Dame and that when he was younger was viewed as having a PLUS curveball. ( I don't know exactly how that pitch as come along to date) I can also tell you that Manship started the year off in AA New Britian and didn't do too particulary well, but since he's been in AAA (short time period) hes done marginally better.... his stats still don't impress me very much..........

Going into the 2009 season the Minnesota Twins were widely regarded as having one of the best pure YOUNG rotations in the game of Baseball today...(And Bill James said the Twins have the most Quality Young players already at the major league level in all of Baseball today.)

Rotation featuring the likes of:

Scott Baker, Francisco Liriano, and Kevin Slowey at the top

and with Nick Blackburn, Glen Perkins going in the back end.

With prospect(s) Kevin Mulvey, Phillip Humber, Anthony Swarzak, Brian Duesning, and maaaybe Jeff Manship in the Ready for Major-Leagues Minor Leaguers portion all of whom are/were on 40 man roster at one point in time this year...

Well, certainly it Was the Twins plan to feature one or maybe two of that large group of minor leaguers this year on the pitching staff at the MLB level, BUT WHO could have ever imaged that ALL of those names have been called up at some point in the '09 season.

Ridiculous..... ? UnLucky ?

Well, the Twins have had a bit of the injury bug this year with Baker missing most of the first month a la Joe Mauer and Glen Perkins being on and off the DL all year..... and Kevin Slowey being shut down for the year in early July...

also RP's Boof Bonser and Pat Neshek have been out all year and are excpected to help out next season.....

But there are no excuses, the staff (both starting-ptiching and Relief Pitching) have been downright awful ....

With the recent teams of the Twins in the early 2000s and even as late as well Last year the Pitching has carried the Twins to A.L. Central titles and into or close to post-season all of the time with the Offense traditionally doing 'just enough' to get by despite having sensational offensive players in Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer for a while now. The Twins offense has always been near or at the bottom in Home-Runs and only middle of the pack in runs scored...in the American League.

Well, this year sure has been a different story hasn't it?

The offense this year doesn't use 'small ball' to score runs, in fac,t it is a very slow team this year, but the Home-Runs are a MUCH bigger part of the Twins offense this year, and FOR ONCE the Offense is a top notch threat. Right now the top 3 teams in the AL -Team batting average are as follows:

1.LAA Angels .288 Ave. (3rd in slg%)

2.NYY Yankees .278 (1st in slg%)

3.MIN Twins .270 (8th in slugging%)

Mauer, Morneau, Kubel, Cuddyer, Span are all very quality major league hitters with decent contributions from Joe Crede, Orlando Cabrera, Brendon Harris, Carlos Gomez.....

The Teams problem from my view, is that they are a team filled with really good to great/ exceptional hitters and at the same time a team that fills out the rest of the lineup card with horrible, barley managing to stay in the Big Leagues type of hitters (Alexi Casilla, Nick Punto, Delmon Young, at times Carlos Gomez, Redmond and Buscher/ Tolbert too)

But even a bigger issue than that is their pitching.

Sure Nick Blackburn has been great all year long in the rotation and in the 'pen Nathan and Guerrier are as good as it gets but everyone else has struggled at least at some point this season mightily .When RP Bobby Keppell is the 4th to strongest option out of the bullpen for you during any given game - you know you're in big trouble.

How do you fix the Twins going into a brand new stadium in 2010 this offseason ?

sit tight, let everybody re-group, refresh and get healthy...

or do you make a few moves and bring in a veteran guy or two ? Even if this includes cutting loose a Delmon Young or an Alexi Casilla .....

Alright Thats it, Its obvious

SteveHoffmanSlowey — Sat, 16 May 2009 04:25:50 -0000

Ok, I know some of us have pondered this before.

But Come on, no I mean seriously Come on.....

Beloit ~~Starting~~ turned Relief Pitching pitcher Shooter Hunt

is Hurt physically, unless he's got severe mental issues. -I pray not- I mean he can't be that good at Tulane University just a year ago to this...his line tonight May 15 2009: 2 IP, 3 H, 3 BB, 3 SO, 3 ER .....his season ERA shoots up to 10.70

Ready for Bad?

Hunt has given up 23 runs in 17.2 IP (21 Earned)

Ready for Staggaring?

Hunt yes my Shooter my favorite gun, all shiny and neat, never fired has allowed

33 Walks throughout those same 17.2 Innings pitched!

~~Yikes~~

He's hurt ....gotta be right? Its gone undetected and He's not telling anybody anything

In my Eyes, two apparent major depressing flaws in our Beloit brick

1. Hunt not being honest or not knowing what being hurt is...(how many other players are like this in our Org. ???)

2. Our Medical staff, trainer, team doctor, physician whatever can not detect an arm problem .

UGH

Shooter and Hunt it and Lock and Load and Shoot and wala a succesful hunt

is not to be this year

Is Jason Bartlett MLB's 3rd Best SS?

SteveHoffmanSlowey — Tue, 12 May 2009 23:10:21 -0000

Only Christian Guzman in 90 ABs and Omar Vizquel with 35 ABs possess a higher batting average at the position than Jason Bartlett.

and that average is: .351

Ok sooo so what?

well, its not just the Batting Average, in 114 ABs totaling 40 hits Bartlett has hit 4 homers and 6 doubles swiping 7 bags and playing average to above average defense for the Tampa Bay Rays

He is exceptionally quick and an underrated baserunner who should steal 30-40 bases.

to me, by the end of the season Jason Bartlett can only say Hanley Ramirez and Jose Reyes are all-around better Short-stops in the game today than he is.

Ryan Theriot - may be right there with Bartlett and is a Great Player. he too could say he is one of the games great Short-Stops by seasons end.

Jimmy Rollins fresh off a World Series Title may be in a little bit of a funk and should come out of it. But, he is on the wrong side of 30.

Derek Jeter is still Derek Jeter but he is 35 years old.

JJ. Hardy seems to always be a slow starter but doesn't have the raw speed.

Rafael Furcal is great and will come through for the Dodgers, but is currently batting in the .240s and he too is on the wrong side of 30....

Stephen Drew (DL) hasn't really impressed me to date, although he was hot an the end of last season. Mike Aviles, Jhonny Perlata and Alexi Ramirez of the Royals, Indians and White Sox have been awfuly poor over the first month plus....I think I am underestimating some guys out there maybe Yunel Escobar of the Braves, maybe Scutaro of the Blue Jays, or Tulo with the Rox.

But to me Jason Bartlett is a top 5 SS in all of the game today.

Who is most likely to exceed the skill set and value of Jason Bartlett by the end of their career?

Elvis Andrus (Rangers), Alcides Escobar (Brewers) or Eric Aybar (Angels)

I'd like to see a Jason Bartlett Prospect Retro in the future.....

SP - Carlos Gutierrez' hot start

SteveHoffmanSlowey — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 02:23:52 -0000

The much controversal Twins 1st round pick last year (Via Tori Hunter) 2008 Draft

A converted Closer from Miami to a Starting pitcher for Ft. Myers (in A+).

Gutierrez in a small sample size has been very good (to say the least) through 3 games slated here are Carlos' numbers:

W L ERA G GS CG IP H R ER HR HBBB SO WHIP HLD GF

0 0 0.50 4 3 0 0 18.0 8 2 1 0 1 2 9 0.56 0 1

LHP Tyler Robertson, RHP Michael McCardell (just threw a 1 hitter) , RHP David Bromberg, and RHP Deolis Guerra (part of Johan Santana trade)

are also in that Rotation for Ft. Myers is this one of the best rotations in High A Ball out there anywhere today?