Good article Seth. As I drove into work this morning, hearing about another Twins loss, I was thinking "where are all the hot-shot prospects"?  I guess patience is in order. It will be an interesting summer. 

 

I've said it before and I'll say it again, wins = more fans at Target Field = more $8 beers and $10 brats sold.  The reason the Twins don't go all in and play all the prospects is that they would win 60 games for a year or three, and fan attendance would plummet. By keeping a few of the vets around, they can hope for a few more wins, .500 ball, and fans don't totally stay away from Target Field.

 

I thought the slider was supposed to be his dominant pitch that was raved about before the draft and early on? Did the Twins screw him up somehow?

 

He threw all of 40 innings and faced all of 153 batters his senior year of HS. If we assume he averaged about four pitches per batter faced, and if we assume he threw his slider 25% of the time, which he probably didn't because 95% of HS kids will get themselves out on a simple 94 MPH heater, that would mean he threw only about 150 sliders.

 

Sure, the Twins could have messed something up, but I'd say it's much more likely that the scouting reports didn't have enough to make a solid assessment.

 

He threw all of 40 innings and faced all of 153 batters his senior year of HS. If we assume he averaged about four pitches per batter faced, and if we assume he threw his slider 25% of the time, which he probably didn't because 95% of HS kids will get themselves out on a simple 94 MPH heater, that would mean he threw only about 150 sliders.

 

Sure, the Twins could have messed something up, but I'd say it's much more likely that the scouting reports didn't have enough to make a solid assessment.

Stewart participated in 8 "Perfect Game" events too, which are basically elite national amateur baseball scouting combines.  The Twins weren't limited to seeing him pitch in high school game action.

 

He threw all of 40 innings and faced all of 153 batters his senior year of HS. If we assume he averaged about four pitches per batter faced, and if we assume he threw his slider 25% of the time, which he probably didn't because 95% of HS kids will get themselves out on a simple 94 MPH heater, that would mean he threw only about 150 sliders.

 

Sure, the Twins could have messed something up, but I'd say it's much more likely that the scouting reports didn't have enough to make a solid assessment.

 

Keith Law called his slider "Plus" in his February prospect article.  I'm not sure where that poster got that information, but maybe he just had a bad night with the slider or its an innacurate report... little more likely than all these scouting reports saying his slider was his best pitch were wrong?

I though from hearing some of the reports over the past year or so, his slider was suspect.

 

But again, that just means someone reporting this intel is wrong. I hope it's a good pitch, he's not going anywhere without it.

 

Most of this (maybe all of this) is on Meyer.  He has two great pitches, if he could consistently throw strikes with both pitches he would be a starter.  If he can only throw his fastball for a strike, he might not even make it as a reliever.  Compare Meyer to Berrios.  Meyer, when he is on, has better stuff than Berrios.  What Berrios has though is the ability to consistently throw 3 pitches for strike.  Because of his control, Berrios will be a much better pitcher.  (A comparison between Duffy and Meyer might be better because both essentially have only 2 pitches)

Its not on Meyer. If we take what you said as truth (I am willing to) then he's a reliever and should have been strictly a reliever for some time. Success with only 2 pitches as a starter is difficult. When he only has control of one then that idea is out the door. Move him to the bullpen and see if he can figure it out. Just have a plan and stick to it.

 

Its the organization's job to develop players. Part of that is putting people in a position to succeed. The Twins can't even figure out what positions their top prospects play and their field staff doesn't seem to be on the same page either. Its a complete mess.  

 

 

 

Its the organization's job to develop players. Part of that is putting people in a position to succeed. The Twins can't even figure out what positions their top prospects play and their field staff doesn't seem to be on the same page either. Its a complete mess.  

 

Amen. Seems we see a lot of, okay, let's try this guy out here. Is there no long range planning? If Plouffe is your once and future third baseman, then start playing Sano elsewhere earlier. Is Kepler an outfielder for the corners. Is he heir to Joe Mauer at first base? Minors is where you sort this out. Move Danny Santana back to infield reserve, then better get him time playing there -- in the minors. Yes, it is nice if ALL players can play ANYWHERE. Dream on. If you got a dynamite prospect, then you move aside the aging vet who is playing predictable ball for that prospect, or you flip that prospect for somtehing you really need. Period.

 

I think Berrios will pan out just fine for the Twins. He has done well in spots, but has yet to get it all together. Berrios is only 21, and only has 3 starts in the bigs. He doesn't seem to have the timidness of other past prospects (Kyle Gibson, Liam Hendricks, ect), and has the pitch selection of a high end prospect.

 

Next in line after Berrios it will be interesting to see how Kohl Stewart, Stephen Gonsalves, Tyler Jay, and Lewis Thorpe fare as they get closer to their MLB call-up.

 

I think Berrios will pan out just fine for the Twins. He has done well in spots, but has yet to get it all together. Berrios is only 21, and only has 3 starts in the bigs. He doesn't seem to have the timidness of other past prospects (Kyle Gibson, Liam Hendricks, ect), and has the pitch selection of a high end prospect.

Next in line after Berrios it will be interesting to see how Kohl Stewart, Stephen Gonsalves, Tyler Jay, and Lewis Thorpe fare as they get closer to their MLB call-up.

I agree - he seems to be trusting his stuff and going after hitters. That's the way to start your career. He can make adjustemnts as he learns, but I like his mound presence. Umps haven't been really helping him out much yet either.

I agree - he seems to be trusting his stuff and going after hitters. That's the way to start your career. He can make adjustemnts as he learns, but I like his mound presence. Umps haven't been really helping him out much yet either.

Plus for a 21 year old in his 1st time in the bigs he doesn't have the "deer in the headlights" look either in post game interviews or during the game. Once he adjusts better to MLB hitters he will be good. Plus it is well documented since his earliest days in the minors that he is a workaholic and works so hard to perfect his craft, even his big league teammates see that work ethic. Talent gets you so far, hard work seals the deal.

 

No, a thousand times no. This is how management escapes accountability. A guy has a drug problem or a bad attitude about teamwork or practice? That's on him. A talented player can't harness his skills or develop a needed skill? That's coaching. Further, look at write-ups on Meyer for the 2011 draft. It talks about his lack of control. Therefore, the person trading a MLB centerfielder for him shares fault for not knowing how to make him succeed. And that's more than "We thought we could." Some teams have demonstrated the ability to fix flaws and develop pitchers, which means they are likely better at figuring out and implementing plans to address weaknesses.

 

I think you need to rethink your expectations.  If this was true, every coaching staff in the league would be unemployed.  Talented prospects fail on every team.

I think you need to rethink your expectations. If this was true, every coaching staff in the league would be unemployed. Talented prospects fail on every team.

It's not all or nothing. Seattle - most top prospects have failed. St. Louis - most top prospects and many lower prospects succeed. Twins results are closer to Seattle's.

 

Further, the issue isn't whether prospects fail; the issue is what is th consistent theme and explanation for why they fail. Good organizations learn from why new talent fails and adjusts its development program to lessen the chances of future failures. Bad organizations blame the young talent and take no responsibility. There's a long history with the Twins of publicly knocking their young players, which some fans have learned to imitate, which I believe has a direct relationship with (A) losing and ( failing to develop a good number of what we are constantly told is one of the best minor league talent pools.

Edited May 12, 201610 yr by Deduno Abides