tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post8567609804682999104..comments2023-12-19T20:25:36.069-06:00Comments on Nick's Twins Blog: Friday NotesNick N.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00848574337121154690noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-78872310691310372692008-06-02T13:12:00.000-05:002008-06-02T13:12:00.000-05:00I think one of the reasons the Twins generally mov...I think one of the reasons the Twins generally move player right around the FSL/MWL All-star game is not because they want them to have fun, but because those games also coincide closely to the draft. And the draft, to a large extent, it used to replace those players at the lower levels that are promoted up. Take outfield for example - this is the stock of outfielders in extended:<BR/><BR/>Atherton, Tim<BR/>Choi, Hyun-Wook<BR/>Goncalves, Jonathan<BR/>Lara, Herbert<BR/>Morales, Angel<BR/>Schmiesing, Andrew<BR/><BR/>Of those, the first 4 are first year players, none are domestic, and all are exhibiting levels of play with will put them in the GCL. They'll have to find someone in the draft that they can move into the outfield to fill out the E-Town roster because you've only got two going there. And that makes it hard to move Revere, because who do you replace him with? <BR/><BR/>I'm not worried about losing Valencia or Slama. If Leger is ready to play he come and either take over 3rd or Robbins or Portes can shift over. Robbins is kind of tied to first tho with Woody and Berg out. <BR/><BR/>But unless they have a strong draft I think the overall moves are going to minimul because they can't replace the players with what they've got stockpiled at the lower levels.Diannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17102093471979033560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-941061654091273012008-05-30T13:47:00.000-05:002008-05-30T13:47:00.000-05:00Hughes spent all of last season at AA. In the mino...Hughes spent all of last season at AA. In the minor leagues, repeating a level makes you a veteran. At least in my book.<BR/><BR/>Hughes hit 8 home runs in April (in 99 AB) and 3 in May (in 76 AB). He has hit .243 over the last ten games with one home run in 37 AB. I think it is safe to say he had a hot start. That doesn't mean he shouldn't move up, but any optimism from his numbers ought to be tempered by the realization that he has not really sustained those kind of results over any length of time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-30141103011884724012008-05-30T11:47:00.000-05:002008-05-30T11:47:00.000-05:00I don't know if the Twins were really seeking outs...I don't know if the Twins were really seeking outside help for another lefty in the bullpen. It sounds to me more like an unexpected opportunity fell from the sky, and they took it. <BR/><BR/>I'm really intrigued with what's going to happen with the return of Baker. This team has surprised me so often in the past that I have no idea what to expect.thisisbethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08764018111806835434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-3303450991185444392008-05-30T10:59:00.000-05:002008-05-30T10:59:00.000-05:00What they will do when Baker arrives, now, that is...<I>What they will do when Baker arrives, now, that is the question. Either the new guy goes down to AAA, or a roster move happens with Bass, Rincon, or Bonser. Gulp.</I><BR/><BR/>My guess is that they will part with Bass and put Bonser in that long relief role.<BR/><BR/><I>Players often start out ahead of the league in early spring and then the rest of the league catches up to them. Hughes, for instance, is a AA veteran who started out hot. </I><BR/><BR/>I have two quibbles with that. One: does 92 games really make you a "veteran" of a particular level? That's how many Hughes had played at Double-A prior to this year. Two: saying Hughes "started out hot" is awfully misleading, because his start was more than simply "hot" (he matched his career high for homers in one month!), and he hasn't exactly cooled off with a .329/.393/.539 hitting line in the month of May. He went 1-for-3 with a homer, three RBI and two walks last night. <BR/><BR/><I>I wonder whether there's a chance the Twins go after a guy like Laroche with the Dodgers having a surplus at 3B.</I><BR/><BR/>People have been talking about the Twins bringing in LaRoche for some time. He's the classic blocked prospect, and his patience and power potential make him very intriguing for an organization like the Twins. Unfortunately, I don't know that the Twins have the trading pieces available to pull off such a deal. I'm on record as saying this organization really can't afford to part with any of its top pitching talent, despite this perceived overload of arms which -- in my mind -- isn't really there anymore.Nick N.https://www.blogger.com/profile/00848574337121154690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-37176886339060181812008-05-30T08:58:00.000-05:002008-05-30T08:58:00.000-05:00I was at the Mets-Dodgers game last night and noti...I was at the Mets-Dodgers game last night and noticed that Blake DeWitt seems to have worked his way into the Dodgers' rotation pretty regularly now with Andy Laroche rehabbing his thumb. I wonder whether there's a chance the Twins go after a guy like Laroche with the Dodgers having a surplus at 3B.ABPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05276017290790604638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-3406353806935542352008-05-30T08:00:00.000-05:002008-05-30T08:00:00.000-05:00One thing to remember is that how well a prospect ...One thing to remember is that how well a prospect is doing depends on how much they are improving. Players often start out ahead of the league in early spring and then the rest of the league catches up to them. Hughes, for instance, is a AA veteran who started out hot. <BR/><BR/>The quality of the competition in a league will get better as the year goes along. So unless players improve their results are going to start to decline.<BR/><BR/>The other thing is that the Twins usually make a series of moves to provide spots for players signed from the June draft. So who moves up sometimes depends on who gets drafted. If they take a lot of college players high in the draft who they want to start in A ball they will need to make room for them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-44350654516066435832008-05-30T04:20:00.000-05:002008-05-30T04:20:00.000-05:00Having seen Slama's delivery, I wouldn't exactly s...<I>Having seen Slama's delivery, I wouldn't exactly say that its funky. If anything, it appears to be rather normal.</I><BR/><BR/>He's got a short-armed delivery with an unorthodox follow-through.Nick N.https://www.blogger.com/profile/00848574337121154690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-83982151989832379162008-05-30T02:05:00.000-05:002008-05-30T02:05:00.000-05:00Having seen Slama's delivery, I wouldn't exactly s...Having seen Slama's delivery, I wouldn't exactly say that its funky. If anything, it appears to be rather normal.Corey Ettingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04781991198791295874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-59996687775539311152008-05-30T01:20:00.000-05:002008-05-30T01:20:00.000-05:00I would say that Rob Delaney should move up to New...I would say that Rob Delaney should move up to New Britain first, before Slama, with Slama following soon after. <BR/><BR/>Valencia is a definite, but I think that Brian Dinkelman is also an easy choice as ready to move up. He's everything they could ask from a leadoff hitter, and his defense is fine too...<BR/><BR/>I think Manship is ready too now that he's confident in his changeup.<BR/><BR/>In each of these cases, I believe that they will move up soon after the All-Star break since all five of them were named to that team (along with the injured Rene Tosoni). They'll move up.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-3808683049096749312008-05-30T01:19:00.000-05:002008-05-30T01:19:00.000-05:00Looks like they sent down Korecky. Predictable mov...Looks like they sent down Korecky. Predictable move, but still sad. What they will do when Baker arrives, now, that is the question. Either the new guy goes down to AAA, or a roster move happens with Bass, Rincon, or Bonser. Gulp.Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03853435444140875156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11215059.post-21191922628667968652008-05-30T00:37:00.000-05:002008-05-30T00:37:00.000-05:00Valencia has been solid lately with six multihit g...Valencia has been solid lately with six multihit games in his last 10. With both he and Hughes playing well, I wonder if the organization will push both up a level to see if they can cut it at the next level.<BR/><BR/>I agree with you that Hughes' lack of a track record makes it a bit premature to be calling for his call-up, but if he can continue playing well in AAA, it has to make his improvements seem a little more realistic and not a fluke.Dwadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09332379680898869144noreply@blogger.com