In particular, help yourself to the statistics of last season's Arizona Fall League. Just be careful of one stat line near the top, and make sure you're sitting down when you read it. Of course, I'm talking about Nate Roberts, the mysterious and intriguing on-base machine from High Point.

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Mysterious, as in exactly when do the Twins trade Josh Willingham (a #4 hitter) for ______________ and start the 1-2 hitter-type (Roberts) in left-field? He is intriguing in his projection to re-produce his on-base numbers vs. better competition, like he did in the AFL. His gaudy numbers rely on getting beaned, a lot.

When the start of the 2014 season rolls around, Willingham will be in the final year of his Twins-friendly contract. This is a excellent chance for the organization to pull more pitching out of the sea of minor league talent, and give Willingham up to the wolves. Let us all hope for Josh to keep pinging balls off the upper-deck in Target Field throughout the course of 2013. That way our return in trade will be maximal, and the arrival of Oswaldo Arcia will make fans forget the powerful and undervalued Willingham.

Perhaps, Morneau will not be around in 2014 either. That would allow Chris Parmelee to play 1B and free up an outfield spot for Nate! Okay, now that I've predicted two enormous trades that will allow Roberts to start in Minnesota in 2014, let's look at Nate's numbers during full-season ball.

He couldn't stay healthy in Beloit in 2011 and 2012. So, he only totaled 144 games over the two-year span. However, he was absolutely frustrating for the opposition by posting a .437 on-base percentage when healthy enough to play. He also stole 27 bases during his fraction of 2012 (76 games). These numbers, coupled with the small sample of 2012's Arizona Fall League stats makes me think that Nate has exactly what it takes to put up similar numbers in Double-A this year.

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Can we expect to be handed novelty mustaches as we enter the gates of Target Field in 2014? A Nate Roberts promotional night could be in your future. Are you man-enough to put that fake mustache on your upper lip?

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Nate Roberts would make a great milk salesman, if he makes the majors.

What makes you think Roberts will be able to produce similiar numbers at AA? His limited time in low-A? A small sample in the AFL? I like Roberts, but until we see him put together a full season at a level where he is not considerably older than the average player projecting him to great success is a big stretch. I like Roberts, and I hope you're right, but I think "These numbers, coupled with the small sample of 2012's Arizona Fall League stats make me think that Nate has exactly what it takes to put up similar numbers in Double-A this year" is just going too far. I want you to be right, and my fingers are crossed that you will be.

I guess one could expect Roberts to do well because that is what he has done thusfar at every level. Is it better to doubt or to have a positive outlook?

What makes you think Roberts will be able to produce similiar numbers at AA? His limited time in low-A? A small sample in the AFL? I like Roberts, but until we see him put together a full season at a level where he is not considerably older than the average player projecting him to great success is a big stretch. I like Roberts, and I hope you're right, but I think "These numbers, coupled with the small sample of 2012's Arizona Fall League stats make me think that Nate has exactly what it takes to put up similar numbers in Double-A this year" is just going too far. I want you to be right, and my fingers are crossed that you will be.

Lol..I want to be right too! And I apologize if my prediction was "just going too far." HAHAH! Was fun reading your post.

I think Nate will continue to produce in AA and beyond because he turned a corner at the end of last year and hit the crap out of the AFL. I know, I know. It is a small sample, but it is also a sample of talent that is above the low-A level. And Nate gets an A+ on that test. Maybe that's why he will be skipping Ft. Myers (A+)? How can we predict he will NOT produce in AA?

He will be skipping a level, but I think his game relies on intelligence rather than tools. And that means he understands how to produce at any level. He doesn;t need elite speed to steal bases, or an outstanding physique to get on base. His game is all about doing little things right. We will see.....

I guess one could expect Roberts to do well because that is what he has done thusfar at every level. Is it better to doubt or to have a positive outlook?

Completely agree. He has reproduced his numbers from ELZ to Beloit, and showed serious promise in the AFL. We can count on Nate.

I like to be optimistic. Life is more fun that way. However, you need look no further than Steve Liddle to see that there are players who seem to be able to dominate low A ball who appear overmatched in A+ ball. Let's hope the best for Roberts. Still, he is not Arcia or Sano. Nor Kennys Vargas, for that matter. Beloit Snappers 2012 here.

Thank you Old Goat, I appreciate your optimism. Life is too short to interrupt every dream with practicality