Sano, Buxton and Zach Jones

[Hammond2ndHome]

Random thoughts:

 

Sano: Trade him. I have seen him plenty at GCL and EST, and then saw him play last week in Beloit. Quite simply, he is Hanley Ramirez....both physically and mentally. I would be surprised if he ever made it to the big leagues with the Twins. As my brother said after watching him at Beloit: "He looks unmotivated and entitled." He has had small issues with the Twins ever since he signed, and I have heard he will not work on improving his defense. If he is like this at his age now, imagine how he will be in the future.....or just look at Hanley, bc he is a clone of him!

 

Buxton: Why is he rated so high on everyone's prospect list? Yes, I get it - he was the #2 pick in the draft, but let's get him acclimated to pro ball before we rank him right behind Sano. The transition to pro ball (which is a business) is not easy for high school players, no matter how much they sign for. And yes, I know prospect's lists are based on potential, but let's give him some time. I would put Kepler ahead of Buxton right now for future outfield depth.

 

Zach Jones: Keep tabs on him....he throws real hard and looked pretty impressive last week. I know that Shooter Hunt also was great right out of the gate, but hopefully Jones doesn't have the psych issues Shooter has (or had). Chargois (sp?) seemed to get more press after the draft than Jones, so hopefully he is just as good!

 

All for now...looking forward to hearing how crazy you all think this is.

[Celebrity Weddings!]

I'd be very careful about judging the work ethic of a nineteen year old who's being asked to balance some huge expectations with learning a new language and being dropped in the middle of Wisconsin because you saw a bunch of games in the bleachers and your brother caught him taking it easy on a hot day. If these young men were finished products, we wouldn't need an "On the Farm" board; we could just set our watches and wait.

 

Additionally, for all the flaws, psychological and otherwise, that you've noted, he's having a pretty good season in a notoriously rough league for teenage hitters.

 

I'd also be through the moon with Hanley Ramirez as an outcome."ent

 

*edited for the source of his alleged entitledness

[Siehbiscuit]

Six years of Sano for super cheap is defintiely worth hanging on to him. Trading him is ridiculous.

[Jeremy Nygaard]

Buxton is Jimmy John's fast, has a cannon arm on plus defensive body and a ton of raw power. With that ceiling, it's no wonder he ranks so high on prospect lists.

[diehardtwinsfan]

I'd be really curious as to your source regarding Sano's work ethic. And if he is Hanley Ramirez, then the Twins would wise to trade him after his 2nd or 3rd seasons in the bigs where he'd fetch top value, not as a high ceiling guy in A ball.

 

I'm more with you on Buxton (to a point). I'd rank him below Arcia, Rosario, Sano, and Hicks at this stage as all of them have the tools but have more results to go with it. Kepler is a stretch, though I suspect he'll be shooting up on the lists given the season he's having.

[jtrinaldi]

Zack Jones has the potential to be a future closer. His fastball tops out at 99, and he has a slider that is decent,yet still a work in progress. He just needs to develop a change up or a curveball to keep them honest. He struck out the side in the the 8th inning on Monday, and only through 2 sliders, rest were fastballs that hit 95-99. Definitley worth keeping your eye on him. One of the Scouts there even said that he should be in High A, if he was in their organization......

[Hammond2ndHome]

I'd be really curious as to your source regarding Sano's work ethic. And if he is Hanley Ramirez, then the Twins would wise to trade him after his 2nd or 3rd seasons in the bigs where he'd fetch top value, not as a high ceiling guy in A ball.

 

I'm more with you on Buxton (to a point). I'd rank him below Arcia, Rosario, Sano, and Hicks at this stage as all of them have the tools but have more results to go with it. Kepler is a stretch, though I suspect he'll be shooting up on the lists given the season he's having.

 

After reading my original post, I should've been more clear on my thoughts concerning Sano. I still think the Twins will eventually trade him, not anytime soon though. I think the Twins are in a real tough situation trying to balance talent and "Twins guys". My source on all of this are people in and around the Miracle organization and a handful of conversations I've had with actual Twins people. Example is Valencia, who is mostly responsible for the clubhouse being torn apart last season. I don't think we will ever see him at the major league level again with the Twins. (Sidenote, check Plouffe's numbers after Valencia was sent away compared to when they were together). The word on Sano was that he would be in Ft. Myers for the 2nd half of the year, but his defense is holding him back....and that he could be a very good defensive player if he worked at it. My knowledge of him is more than just a handful of games watching him "from the bleachers". 3 years into his career (yes, I know he is young) he has shown he does not possess the work ethic that the Twins come to expect from their players. The Twins have a history of being patient with their players (Plouffe, for example), but Sano's value, combined with the Twins wanting "Twins guys" on their teams is the reason why I think he will eventually be traded.

[DaveW]

I would be thrilled if Sano turned out to be Hanley Ramirez.

[Highabove]

After reading my original post, I should've been more clear on my thoughts concerning Sano. I still think the Twins will eventually trade him, not anytime soon though. I think the Twins are in a real tough situation trying to balance talent and "Twins guys". My source on all of this are people in and around the Miracle organization and a handful of conversations I've had with actual Twins people. Example is Valencia, who is mostly responsible for the clubhouse being torn apart last season. I don't think we will ever see him at the major league level again with the Twins. (Sidenote, check Plouffe's numbers after Valencia was sent away compared to when they were together). The word on Sano was that he would be in Ft. Myers for the 2nd half of the year, but his defense is holding him back....and that he could be a very good defensive player if he worked at it. My knowledge of him is more than just a handful of games watching him "from the bleachers". 3 years into his career (yes, I know he is young) he has shown he does not possess the work ethic that the Twins come to expect from their players. The Twins have a history of being patient with their players (Plouffe, for example), but Sano's value, combined with the Twins wanting "Twins guys" on their teams is the reason why I think he will eventually be traded.

We have been hearing for sometime about Valencia being a bad Boy. How about some details?

[minn55441]

Hammond2ndhome, you are certainly entitled to your opinion. Thanks for sharing your opinion as it does contribute to the discussion on this board. I think you have more first hand experiences than the rest of us, with your location. I know that I am in no position to disagree with you. Hopefully he will mature as he gains experience.

[RinaldiPhotos]

I love Jones. I can see him right now as the equivalent to Bruce Rondon of the Tigers in the MWL. He throws low 90s but if they dont over use him he can develop into a very nice closer. I really hope he doesnt get the Mad Boer treatment of being a reliever in Beloit, throwin decent and then being moved to SP the next year.

[nicksaviking]

Sano is playing games in Beloit not Ft. Myers. To me it seems unlikely rumors in Wisconsin make it all the way to Florida but don't cross the border to Minnesota. If true, it seems like something Jim Souhan would have complained about by now. Not to be critical but even if he is a poorly behaved teenager (which I guess I'd feel more comfortable with that label if there were examples) doesn't mean he will be a poorly behaved adult. I've rarely met a 19-year-old male that didn't drive me crazy by acting like he knew everything, experienced everything and acted like he was invincible. Most kids grow out of that.

[Highabove]

Sano is way ahead of where a 19yo should be. How many players under 20 are in A Ball, also add his postion on top of the leader board for HR and RBI'S.

He must be doing something right. If he doesn't learn how to field, he will be a career DH. I doubt that he would want that.

This (Twins Way, Twins Guy's) Crap is one reason the Twins find them self's at the bottom of the league.

 

 

The Twins also concluded that Wilson Romos was no longer a (Twins Way) player.

 

We can start a list! Garza, Lohse, Bartlett etc.

[diehardtwinsfan]

yeah, color me skeptical on most of these. Certainly Sano's defense may need to improve, but despite the power, the he's striking out way to much in low A anyways.. finishing out the year in Beloit makes sense.

[twinswon1991]

Buxton is a complete tool shed. He is deserving of his high rankings.

 

I am much more concerned about Sano's age than anything else. Like I have stated before some scouts heard that their teams had his real age pegged at 18 when he signed which is why they didnt bid higher. If he is a 22 year old at Beloit with no D and terrible K rate he is a very mediocre prospect

[Shores, Esq]

I would be thrilled if Sano turned out to be Hanley Ramirez.

Hispanic = entitled.

 

White = confident.

 

I think that's about what the first comment boils down to.

[Badsmerf]

Buxton is a complete tool shed. He is deserving of his high rankings.

 

I am much more concerned about Sano's age than anything else. Like I have stated before some scouts heard that their teams had his real age pegged at 18 when he signed which is why they didnt bid higher. If he is a 22 year old at Beloit with no D and terrible K rate he is a very mediocre prospect

The Twins had an age test performed on him to verify his age. I've never read or heard anything negative about him yet. He is a teenager with a spotlight. I doubt he is perfect. By the time Valencia was in Fort Myers I had already heard he was an asshat, so I'd think we would have heard about Sano long ago since he is a much more high profile prospect.

[Turd Furgeson]

Buxton is a complete tool shed. He is deserving of his high rankings.

 

I am much more concerned about Sano's age than anything else. Like I have stated before some scouts heard that their teams had his real age pegged at 18 when he signed which is why they didnt bid higher. If he is a 22 year old at Beloit with no D and terrible K rate he is a very mediocre prospect

I don't think there is any legitimate basis for this. Bone graft tests, which aren't perfect but are telling indicated he had to be 16-17 when he signed. At least, there's no legitimate basis for it outside of the typical concern that you'd have for player's signed out of the Dominican Republic.