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About this blog

I love baseball, beer, bacon, bs-ing, black labs, and brunch. MiLB Report contributor for @TwinsDaily and enjoy watching hanging sliders fly out of Target Field.

Entries in this blog

The Next Twins - 2017

Top prospects lists have always one of the most fun things to read in the baseball offseason for me. Whether that’s by checking out the 2017 Prospect Handbook by Twins Daily’s own Seth Stohs and company, the great prospect capsules that are written on this site, or checking out any of the litany of lists available elsewhere, I can’t ever get enough. But because there are so many resources for this type of information, I like to take a little bit of a different look at prospects coming into a new
Steve Lein

Steve Lein

8

Twins Minor League Report (AFL Week 1): Rosario Comes Out Hitting/Running

The Arizona Fall League season started last week on Tuesday, and Minnesota Twins Minor Leaguers Byron Buxton, Eddie Rosario, Max Kepler, Taylor Rogers, Jason Adam, Zack Jones, and Jake Reed all helped the Salt River Rafters compile a 4-1 record to open play.   So let’s check out what each of those players did in the season’s first week!     Byron Buxton – 4 games, 5-17, 4 R’s, 2 RBI, 2 BB’s, 4 K’s, 1 SB, 2 Errors.   Buxton batted leadoff and played centerfield in all four games on the week, gett
Steve Lein

Steve Lein

6

The Next Minnesota Twins - 2018

The first time I remember watching Minor League Baseball was when I was 11 years old on vacation to visit family living in Appleton, Wisconsin. At the time, the city was home to a Midwest League affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, the Appleton Foxes. That season, they had a player who went on to become one of the greatest and most hated baseball players the game has ever seen—a wiry shortstop by the name of Alex Rodriguez who would make his Major League debut at just 18 years old later that same
Steve Lein

Steve Lein

6

The Next Twins - 2015

Even though the Twins lost yesterday at the hands of David Price and the Detroit Tigers, it’s hard not to be excited for MLB Opening Day. The start of the baseball season means summer is just around the corner, and the prospect of spending afternoons and evenings at Target Field gets me all giddy, even if the opening day roster doesn’t.   You see, despite the fact this roster is currently loaded with veterans and retreads, both new (Tim Stauffer, Blaine Boyer, Ervin Santana, Shane Robinson) and
Steve Lein

Steve Lein

5

Twins Minor League Report (6/28): Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better...

There was plenty of action on Sunday, as both the Rochester Red Wings and Elizabethton Twins played double-headers. There was a walk-off blast in one game, a few stellar pitching performances, and an ongoing winning streak on the line.   There was also an incredible display of power from the middle of the lineup for one affiliate (I’ll let you guess which one…), as the players involved continue to one-up each other.   There was so much action I couldn't limit the players of the day to just one n
Steve Lein

Steve Lein

5

Twins Minor League Report (7/24): Kirilloff Keeps Hitting

The Minnesota Twins were unable to complete their comeback against the Boston Red Sox on Sunday afternoon, but there were still five other games to be played in the minor leagues for the organization.   Lefthander Stephen Gonsalves was on the mound for the Lookouts, and put zeroes on the board for the first five innings of a game that went into extras. How did he and Chattanooga finish? Rochester got little offense and Elizabethton traded blows with their Appalachian League rival, Johnson City.
Steve Lein

Steve Lein

4

Twins Minor League Report (8/11): Gonsalves Aces Barons

As you will find out reading the rest of this report, I don’t have to say much more in this opening other than pitching was fantastic on this night throughout the Twins’ affiliates after the clunkers the MLB team put on display in their double-header.   They were 6-0 on the day (7-0 if I include the DSL), and you can check out all the standout pitching performances, including Stephen Gonsalves achieving “Ace” status by taking down his fifth Southern League opponent in the Birmingham (Red) Barons
Steve Lein

Steve Lein

4

Color Me, and Joe Mauer, Impressed by Lewis Thorpe and Nick Burdi

I was able to be talked into taking a trip down to Cedar Rapids on Saturday to catch Joe Mauer playing with the Kernels. For this particular game they had a cool promotion, where it was “Jimmy Buffet Night,” complete with the Kernels wearing special jerseys, which were auctioned off after the game. Mauer’s took in $1,000.   After the game, when told that was probably a record for the Kernels jersey auctions, beating Byron Buxton by $250, Mauer remarked, “I’m glad to raise some money. If I was do
Steve Lein

Steve Lein

4

Twins Minor League Report (5/3): Fireworks In Chattanooga

A former first round pick delivered a walk-off victory in Chattanooga on Sunday afternoon, in a game where both teams combined for thirty-hits and twenty-seven runs to provide the most entertaining game of the year. Elsewhere, there were three quality starts from starting pitchers, and standout games from several hitters.   Read on to hear all about the slugfest in Chattanooga, and everything else that happened in Sunday’s action!   RED WINGS REPORT Norfolk 3, Rochester 7 Box Score   Rochester
Steve Lein

Steve Lein

3

Twins Minor League Report (5/10): Lookouts Mash With GM In Attendance

Only two of the Minnesota Twins four full-season affiliates were in action on Sunday afternoon, but there was enough offense provided for all of them by the lineup in Chattanooga lineup as they won their fourth straight game with General Manager Terry Ryan in attendance.   There was also a League ERA leader on the mound looking for his third win of the season.   Read on to find out how it all happened!     RED WINGS REPORT Rochester 1, Louisville 3 Box Score   A Rochester lineup without outfiel
Steve Lein

Steve Lein

3

Arizona Fall League Preview: Gonsalves and Gordon Highlight Twins Contingent

While the Minnesota Twins aren’t playing any October baseball for the sixth consecutive season, that doesn’t mean there isn’t baseball to pay attention to when it comes to your favorite team. The fall and winter seasons are full of other leagues both well-known and obscure where many of your favorite Major League players or prospects might be playing. You just have to know where to look for them.   The most well-known of these leagues, is played during the months of October and November in the d
Steve Lein

Steve Lein

3

The Next Twins - 2016

The 2015 season was deemed “the year of the prospect” across all of the Major Leagues, as young prospects made their presence felt throughout year. The Chicago Cubs made the early waves, keeping stud power hitter Kris Bryant down for two weeks to avoid Super 2 conditions, and also saw Top 100 players Addison Russell, Jorge Soler, and Kyle Schwarber make their MLB debuts en-route to a Wild Card finish. Shortstop Carlos Correa exploded onto the scene in Houston and helped propel the Astros to thei
Steve Lein

Steve Lein

2

Twins Minor League Report (5/17): Close Battles

In the minors on Sunday every game was a close and hard fought battle, unlike the Minnesota Twins against Chris Archer. There was a dynamic pitching duel in one, and another that went back and forth seemingly every inning. When the dust settled, the Twins affiliates went 2-2 on the day.   There was also some action on the roster front, as one (surprise?) major league was sent to AAA, and a few pitching spots were shuffled.   Read on to find out what happened across all four affiliates!   TRANSAC
Steve Lein

Steve Lein

2

Twins Minor League Report (8/8): #MayDay Is Here, Poulson Debuts

The big news in Twins Territory on Friday was the promotion of Trevor May, who will make his MLB debut against the Oakland Athletics on Saturday, opposing recent A’s acquisition Jeff Samardzija. The Twins options Chris Colabello after Friday's game to the necessary room for May.   Kyle Gibson took the mound for the Twins on Friday in Oakland, and until the fifth inning was continuing to resemble a revelation for their rotation. That’s when Oakland struck for four runs and a nearly insurmountab
Steve Lein

Steve Lein

2

AFL Recap - Week 3: Garver Powers Saguaros

Twins prospects playing with the Surprise Saguaros helped them to a 4-2 record on the week, and they currently sit in second place in the West Division with a 9-7-1 overall record, one-and-a-half games behind the Peoria Javelinas.   Stephen Gonsalves remained sidelined this week, but it was one for the hitters anyway. One prospect collected at least one hit in all four games he played while another continued to show an all-around game, but the biggest week came from a player at a position the pa
Steve Lein

Steve Lein

2

Booing Mauer? There Are Reasons Why So Far In 2012, But They're Asinine...

Much has been made recently about the boo birds in Target Field singling out Joe Mauer while he’s up to bat. It is somewhat hard to understand this early in the season while he’s actually performing pretty well from a grand scheme perspective, batting .319 with a .410 On-Base Percentage.   He’s played in every game, has knocked in some runners, and has even hit a HR over the limestone wall in right field.   But people’s eyes (including mine) are seeing something different, and that’s a lack
Steve Lein

Steve Lein

2

Twins Minor League Report (6/27): Walk-off's and Bid For Perfection...

The Twins were lifeless for the entire game against Rangers starter Nick Tepesch, before Twins Daily’s #8 prospect Jorge Polanco made a big splash in the ninth inning with a two-RBI triple off closer Joakim Soria to make the score 5-4. Unfortunately, a Brian Dozier strikeout and Kurt Suzuki groundout would prevent him from becoming the Miracle ninth-inning hero.   In the minors it was a very eventful night, including two walk-off games and near history among the affiliates. I apologize in ad
Steve Lein

Steve Lein

1

Twins Minor League Report (6/26): Early Leads Evaporate

Brian Dozier put the Minnesota Twins out front 1-0 immediately in the series opener with their cross-state rival Milwaukee Brewers, leading off the game with his fifteenth home run of the season. It was the eleventh time in his career he has led off a game in such fashion.   Four of their six minor league teams also jumped out to leads after the first inning, but what happened next for the parent club after Dozier’s home run was telling throughout the MiLB action on the night.   To find out how
Steve Lein

Steve Lein

1

Twins Minor League Report (7/10): Tyler Jay Makes AA Debut

In the Minor Leagues on Sunday afternoon for the Twins, one affiliate pounded out fourteen hits and scored nine runs, but ended up losing in a slugfest. Another got all the runs they would need in a victory in one inning. In Chattanooga, a top prospect and 2016 performer was on the mound for his AA debut. How would it go?   To find out how it all went down in the minors on Sunday, keep reading!   RED WINGS REPORT Rochester 3, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 2 Box Score   Rochester got all the offense they
Steve Lein

Steve Lein

1

2012 Twins Top 10 Prospects

It’s that time of the year again when Top Prospect Lists come out for teams all across Major League Baseball. Baseball America gives Top 10’s for each team leading up to their Top 100 Prospects, blogs everywhere chime in on their favorite teams, and universally fans complain that their favorite guys aren’t rated higher.   A lot of fans seem down on the farm system of the Twins after watching prospect after prospect come up and flounder last year while they tried to fill the gaping holes i
Steve Lein

Steve Lein

1

AFL Recap Week 2: Bullpen Promise

The Minnesota Twins club in the Arizona Fall League, the Scottsdale Scorpions, went 2-4 on the week to put their overall record at 4-5.   Bullpen arms from the organization had a stellar week, one catcher continued to hit and another continued to showcase his defense, and all of Adam Brett Walker’s skills were displayed.   Read on to check out how each prospect did in week two of the 2015 Arizona Fall League season!   (links provided to each player’s overall stats by clicking their name)   Adam
Steve Lein

Steve Lein

1

Twins Minor League Report (7/12): Harrison and Rodriguez Have Big Days

Kyle Gibson continued his breakout campaign against the Detroit Tigers on Sunday afternoon, helping the Twins complete a series win against their division rival heading into the All Star Break. Miguel Sano also delivered his second career home run, avoiding the silent treatment in the dugout for the first of many more times.   Oh, and news flash: The Twins Have the Second Best Record in the American League!   In the minors on Sunday, there was one game that had a ton of offense, and a bunch more
Steve Lein

Steve Lein

1

AFL Recap Week 5: Bullpen Dominates

Twins prospects in the Arizona Fall League are playing for the Scottsdale Scorpions this season, and they started off the week with three consecutive wins, scoring twenty-two runs in the process. They hit a wall on Thursday however, and lost the last three games of the week, scoring only once in each game. At this point of the season Scottsdale leads the East division with a 16-10 record.   Twins hitting prospects didn’t have much success on the week, but the bullpen again displayed some dominan
Steve Lein

Steve Lein

1

"Unrealistic Optimism"

The title of this blog entry was a phrase expressed in talking with a coworker this morning about his recent knee surgery, and what his doctor had told him in regards to the expectations for recovery that he had expressed. The timetable just wasn't nearly as fast as he had thought it would be.   He went on to explain that he probably applies this "unrealistic optimism" to several other elements or moments in his life.   For whatever reason, I immediately correlated this thought/phrase to the Mi
Steve Lein

Steve Lein

1

Twins Minor League Report (7/20): Quality Starting

The Tampa Bay Rays finished off a three game sweep of the Minnesota Twins on Sunday afternoon with a 5-3 victory in the heat at Target Field. Kevin Correia wasn’t able to continue his recent run of solid pitching, as he lasted just four innings and gave up runs in each of the first three.   In the minors, the starting pitching was the story of the day, but in a good way as all four full-season affiliate starters pitched into the sixth inning. Read on to find out what happened in the minor le
Steve Lein

Steve Lein

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