Article: TD Top Prospects: #8 Eddie Rosario

[DocBauer]

Confused.

 

I don't like pot. I don't advocate pot. But I don't hold it against those that do like it. And honestly, I don't care if Rosario tokes off the Diamond. But unless things like counting push-ups by 5's is just his sense of humor, I might just have a problem with Rosario's attitude.

 

I am a big believer in what Rosario offers. I have been since the beginning. I hope I'm right. But I'm really confused how he can miss 50 games last season, never really seem to hit a groove when he comes back and put up mediocre numbers, and yet have TR and Molly both speak in terms of him being a viable candidate for the CF job. Is this some sort of secret motivational coach/GM speak for all the guys involved? Or do the "slow to promote" Twins actually feel Rosario is that close?

[Dantes929]

Confused.

 

I don't like pot. I don't advocate pot. But I don't hold it against those that do like it. And honestly, I don't care if Rosario tokes off the Diamond. But unless things like counting push-ups by 5's is just his sense of humor, I might just have a problem with Rosario's attitude.

 

I am a big believer in what Rosario offers. I have been since the beginning. I hope I'm right. But I'm really confused how he can miss 50 games last season, never really seem to hit a groove when he comes back and put up mediocre numbers, and yet have TR and Molly both speak in terms of him being a viable candidate for the CF job. Is this some sort of secret motivational coach/GM speak for all the guys involved? Or do the "slow to promote" Twins actually feel Rosario is that close?

I don't think they are basing their comments on the minor league season.  You miss 50 games their and we are starting to talk small sample size.   Even smaller sample size in the AFL but if he didn't do well there I don't think they would have been talking him up.   His performance there simply put him back in the mix.    

[Dantes929]

Not a deal breaker, but when you move a player down the defensive spectrum, it means he's now competing for a job with players who are there more for their bat.  Guys who can track a ball in the outfield, say, but lack the elite speed/vision/arm to play CF.  Better defense in LF may play a small role in roster decisions, but not like it would have in CF. 

 

I don't think anyone is saying Rosario should change his batting approach if he's in LF; he should do whatever works best.  But his batting skills may not be elite enough, compared to other options of players for that same position.  And power will be one of the big difference makers.  That's the sense I take such statements as "That means he’ll have to show he can hit for power."  Not so much he should change, but can he do it?

 

As for table setters for the power hitters who follow, I'll be happy to see the team solve that problem once it proves to be one.

I like your last sentence and will apply it to your first sentence.  Since the Twins have struggled to find one, much less three, outfielders to hit or play defense I'll be happy to see the Twins   solve the problem of having a very productive power hitter versus having a good defensive guy that hits with just decent power once it proves to be one.     If Rosario plays good defense and hits .300 with gap power (I know its a big if but we are talking about him hitting well without power as the premise)  I want him to be centerfielder this year and move to a corner when Buxton comes up.   If we happen to have a guy in the future that he competes with that can be more productive with power, then great.   Right now we have Hunter, Hicks, Schaeffer and Arcia. 

[Brock Beauchamp]

I am a big believer in what Rosario offers. I have been since the beginning. I hope I'm right. But I'm really confused how he can miss 50 games last season, never really seem to hit a groove when he comes back and put up mediocre numbers, and yet have TR and Molly both speak in terms of him being a viable candidate for the CF job. Is this some sort of secret motivational coach/GM speak for all the guys involved? Or do the "slow to promote" Twins actually feel Rosario is that close?

We sometimes overlook the fact that we don't know these kids while Ryan & Co know them quite well (or at least their MiLB coaches know them and pass information to Ryan & Co).

 

Meyer didn't get promoted but Polanco and Santana did last season. Rosario has been mentioned as a possible CF candidate in 2015.

 

There's a lot more to these guys than a stat line and that factors into promotion schedules. That doesn't automatically mean Ryan & Co. are right - obviously, they were very wrong with Hicks - but it does mean they're privy to information we do not have.

 

To us, Rosario seems a bit aloof and out of touch. Not unlike Aaron Hicks, really... But maybe he's entirely different in person. The Twins get to see that difference while we may not.

[DocBauer]

I don't doubt Rosario long term. I am referring to being a CF candidate NOW. A disappointing year last season has been replaced by renewed optimism for this year based solely on his quality AFL? Really?

[Richie the Rally Goat]

I don't doubt Rosario long term. I am referring to being a CF candidate NOW. A disappointing year last season has been replaced by renewed optimism for this year based solely on his quality AFL? Really?

im optimistic about Rosario because his AFL showing in a very small sample size, a resiliency. He had a crap season in 2014 that appeared in large part due to rust. He looked more like his minor league track record in the AFL statistically which is really encouraging. Compared to the options available, Rosario might be the best major league CF the Twins have. This is as much an indictment of TR as it is a compliment to Rosario.

[jokin]

We sometimes overlook the fact that we don't know these kids while Ryan & Co know them quite well (or at least their MiLB coaches know them and pass information to Ryan & Co).

 

Meyer didn't get promoted but Polanco and Santana did last season.

 

There's a lot more to these guys than a stat line and that factors into promotion schedules. That doesn't automatically mean Ryan & Co. are right - obviously, they were very wrong with Hicks - but it does mean they're privy to information we do not have.

 

To us, Rosario seems a bit aloof and out of touch. Not unlike Aaron Hicks, really...

 

 

I'm not overanxious to give them too much credit on Santana.  They were actually as wrong on him as on Hicks, just in the opposite way.  Santana did have a terrific ST, it was obvious that Florimon could not play and that Santana should be brought north on a trial basis, if/until Florimon regained his health and/or semblance of playing ability.  But then, only when circumstances were forced on them by continuously disastrous moves concerning Bartlett and a parade of claimed/lost CFers, did Santana rather accidentally/inadvertently become the answer at that position.  (Admittedly, his MiLB track record wasn't much help in predicting outcomes, but Santana's sparkling rookie results should have been less of a surprise, and an "easy call" to the braintrust as compared to the average informed fan).

 

In this case, I hope their high opinion on Rosario is correct... the situation in the OF for 2015-  is still pretty thin and shaky, at best.  Sconnie said it correctly in the post above, the high opinion on Rosario could just as easily be due to the lack of solid readily available alternatives in CF.  I have a feeling the MLB opportunity will inevitably be his for the taking with even just a decent start in AA or AAA, but for him to come in and solidly steal the spotlight like Santana did in 2014, is much more of a wish than a forecast.  Down the road, presumably, LF opens up in either late 2015 or the start of 2016, with Hunter gone, and Rosario getting the first crack at the spot, with Buxton taking over in CF. 

Edited February 13, 2015 by jokin

[JB_Iowa]

Some pretty high praise for Rosario in this Reusse article:

http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/292542471.html?page=2&c=y

 

He'll be playing CF in ST, and Mientkiewicz calls him the best hitter in the Twins system.

[JB_Iowa]

–Outfielder Eddie Rosario has moved his offseason home to Miami, which made it easier for him to commute to the Twins’ complex in Fort Myers this winter.

 

http://blogs.twincities.com/twins/2015/02/20/twinsights-lhp-lewis-thorpe-progressing-well-elbow-scare/

[jokin]

Some pretty high praise for Rosario in this Reusse article:

http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/292542471.html?page=2&c=y

 

He'll be playing CF in ST, and Mientkiewicz calls him the best hitter in the Twins system.

 

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w94/PlatinumCT/SeizeTheOpportunity.jpg