Adam Brett Walker Waived, Claimed By Milwaukee

[Blake]

I don't remember who put up the article, but mismanagement of the 40 man has been a huge problem for the Twins. To the point it has affected player development, if I remember correctly.

 

It's sad to see someone go that has that kind of power, but, things have to change if the Twins are going to be contenders.

[GMinTraining]

 

  On 11/18/2016 at 11:47 PM, Monkeypaws said:

Really hate to give him up for nothing. 

 

I've been a big fan, but 25 at AAA and 202 Ks make me think that the Brew Crew got Rob Deer 2.0. 

 

Like the guy though. I hope the new admin will be more proactive in cutting the losses on prospects by trading at peak value.

 

Have to say, they are off to a good start with reducing redundancies in th organization, even if there is nothing coming back at this point.

 

One thing that gives me pause is that Walker has never repeated a level, yet mashed at league leading levels - would the Ks have dropped as he became more attuned to the pitching? Well, Milwaukee will find out....

AMEN - Thought he was worth the wait, to find these things out in a repeated level effort?

[GMinTraining]

Crazy how a college All American 1st baseman has to go to another team before somebody tries him out at 1B again.  All in all - Best move for both parties.  Best of luck to him - obviously hate to see him go.

[Eephus]

I sort of like that Miller in Strib dropped the middle name.

 

"And Adam Walker, a corner outfielder who has hit at least 25 home runs in each of the past four minor league seasons, has been claimed off waivers by the Milwaukee Brewers."

[The Wise One]

 

  On 11/18/2016 at 11:47 PM, Monkeypaws said:

Really hate to give him up for nothing. 

 

I've been a big fan, but 25 at AAA and 202 Ks make me think that the Brew Crew got Rob Deer 2.0. 

 

Like the guy though. I hope the new admin will be more proactive in cutting the losses on prospects by trading at peak value.

 

Have to say, they are off to a good start with reducing redundancies in th organization, even if there is nothing coming back at this point.

 

One thing that gives me pause is that Walker has never repeated a level, yet mashed at league leading levels - would the Ks have dropped as he became more attuned to the pitching? Well, Milwaukee will find out....

500 or more AB  at every level. for quite a few levels. 500 AB really ought to be enough to get attuned to the pitching. Likely he will get to see a lot of AAA pitching

[GMinTraining]

 

  On 11/19/2016 at 8:45 AM, The Wise One said:

500 or more AB  at every level. for quite a few levels. 500 AB really ought to be enough to get attuned to the pitching. Likely he will get to see a lot of AAA pitching

 

I do believe a player is responsible for their own career, but I also think there is some responsibility of the organization to help in this matter.  Before you blow me up, hear me out - Walker has been under the instruction of the same hitting coach (Chad Allen) for AA - AFL - AAA (His 3 worst strikeout years).  Not saying Chad is a bad instructor, but that maybe there is a disconnect between the two, having been together for so long.  Imagine having the same teacher for 3 grade levels - You might stop truly hearing the message.  Just saying it would have been nice to have Walker under another hitting coach for a month or two to see if that helped.  [He did strike out at a 20% clip in 2013 and finished 25th in the league  (SO)  that year with similar numbers (27 HRs and 109 RBI).] - That was with another hitting coach (Tommy Watkins) and with 500+ ABs as well (to your point).

[Craig Arko]

  On 11/19/2016 at 11:16 AM, GMinTraining said:

I do believe a player is responsible for their own career, but I also think there is some responsibility of the organization to help in this matter.  Before you blow me up, hear me out - Walker has been under the instruction of the same hitting coach (Chad Allen) for AA - AFL - AAA (His 3 worst strikeout years).  Not saying Chad is a bad instructor, but that maybe there is a disconnect between the two, having been together for so long.  Imagine having the same teacher for 3 grade levels - You might stop truly hearing the message.  Just saying it would have been nice to have Walker under another hitting coach for a month or two to see if that helped.  [He did strike out at a 20% clip in 2013 and finished 25th in the league  (SO)  that year with similar numbers (27 HRs and 109 RBI).] - That was with another hitting coach (Tommy Watkins) and with 500+ ABs as well (to your point).

Maybe, maybe not. I guess we'll find out now. I hope he makes it. I hope Palka makes it too.

[clutterheart]

I heard the Redwings are going to pull their affiliation with the Twins over this. They planned for Goodrum Palka Park and Walker to break every single strikeout record before the all star break. Now thier plans are ruined

[Lefty74]

I think this move was due to Levine's comment about too many corner position players. Lots of guys with power potential who strike out a bunch. There is room for only so many of those players on an MLB roster and we have plenty.

[Shane Wahl]

 

  On 11/18/2016 at 9:06 PM, Minniman said:

Walker had options, but the Twins just let him go?

 

Is that right? They just let an asset go for nothing?

 

Was this to clear a roster spot? For who?

 

The greats like Robbie Grossman, Danny Santana, and Buddy Boshers.

[Shane Wahl]

 

  On 11/18/2016 at 11:47 PM, Monkeypaws said:

Really hate to give him up for nothing. 

 

I've been a big fan, but 25 at AAA and 202 Ks make me think that the Brew Crew got Rob Deer 2.0. 

 

Like the guy though. I hope the new admin will be more proactive in cutting the losses on prospects by trading at peak value.

 

Have to say, they are off to a good start with reducing redundancies in th organization, even if there is nothing coming back at this point.

 

One thing that gives me pause is that Walker has never repeated a level, yet mashed at league leading levels - would the Ks have dropped as he became more attuned to the pitching? Well, Milwaukee will find out....

 

Rob Deer had a career .766 OPS and has a few excellent seasons. I don't like just losing top prospects.

[GMinTraining]

 

  On 11/19/2016 at 12:33 PM, Craig Arko said:

Maybe, maybe not. I guess we'll find out now. I hope he makes it. I hope Palka makes it too.

Palka will make it because he is a baseball player that just gets results.  Sometimes you just need those types on your team.  No secret formula - just result driven!

[drivlikejehu]

Falvey and Levine are still working with the same evaluators that were in place before. So this tells us that the Twins organization did not see an MLB future for Walker, even before the management shuffle. 

 

A change in scenery is good for Walker . . . his current approach made it impossible to contribute in the Majors. Maybe another org can get him to make some adjustments. His upside is still limited to RH bat off the bench and backup LF/1B, but that's better than being a career AAA guy.

[GMinTraining]

 

  On 11/19/2016 at 1:11 PM, clutterheart said:

I heard the Redwings are going to pull their affiliation with the Twins over this. They planned for Goodrum Palka Park and Walker to break every single strikeout record before the all star break. Now thier plans are ruined

At least they would be winning - Lol

 

The Twins had 28 teams strikeout more than they did in 2012 and they still had a 66 - 96 record.   Keep building your way and maybe, just maybe that formula will work.  I'll build with winners and production.

 

Goodrum 3 championships

Walker 4 championships

 

I know Goody and ABW didn't win those championships by themselves, but they sure didn't win them with the guys most people imagine they won them with either.  Every team needs those intangible players.  

MINOR LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Sano - 0

Vargas - 0

Santana - 0

Polanco - 1

Berrios - 1

Buxton - 1

Rosario - 1

Kepler - 4 

[Mr. Brooks]

  On 11/19/2016 at 3:39 PM, GMinTraining said:

Palka will make it because he is a baseball player that just gets results. Sometimes you just need those types on your team. No secret formula - just result driven!

If you believe Palka is going to make it then Walker was never an option.

This team, with so many options at 1B and corner OF and DH was never going to roster both players.

[GMinTraining]

Most have never seen Walker and base their assessments on what they read.  Fair enough, but does he look like the type of hitter or poor defender that has no upside?  Maybe new voices (coaches) can correct his flaws, but his skill / tool set is real and too often ignored.  

SPEED - 43 for 56 in stolen bases = not slow / 130 doubles & triples in 5 seasons

POWER - Enough said @ every level

ARM - Much better in 2016 and was never weak (just tentative)

---90 MPH off mound in H.S.---

DEFENSE - Never a poor defender in terms of tracking balls 

---arm issues got tied in to total defensive ability---

BAT - Until he improves contact rate - it will be his biggest flaw

BASEBALL IQ - Excellent base runner / Pressure Hitter

 

ABW II 2016 Highlights

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_hYvi0BJQrQ-q4QaR4s9ZKe06cXLhuyw

 

[The Wise One]

 

  On 11/19/2016 at 11:16 AM, GMinTraining said:

I do believe a player is responsible for their own career, but I also think there is some responsibility of the organization to help in this matter.  Before you blow me up, hear me out - Walker has been under the instruction of the same hitting coach (Chad Allen) for AA - AFL - AAA (His 3 worst strikeout years).  Not saying Chad is a bad instructor, but that maybe there is a disconnect between the two, having been together for so long.  Imagine having the same teacher for 3 grade levels - You might stop truly hearing the message.  Just saying it would have been nice to have Walker under another hitting coach for a month or two to see if that helped.  [He did strike out at a 20% clip in 2013 and finished 25th in the league  (SO)  that year with similar numbers (27 HRs and 109 RBI).] - That was with another hitting coach (Tommy Watkins) and with 500+ ABs as well (to your point).

If he is not listening to coaching and having a spectacular failure rate striking out so much the better for moving on from him.

[TheLeviathan]

 

  On 11/19/2016 at 3:07 PM, Shane Wahl said:

Rob Deer had a career .766 OPS and has a few excellent seasons. I don't like just losing top prospects.

 

Let's put ABW in perspective - again - for those of you that dismiss the strikeouts.

 

Chris Carter, currently of the Brewers, is a career 770 OPS player who averages 200 strikeouts (About a 33% K rate per PA) in the big leagues.  In the minors he K'd at a rate of about 23% with an OPS of about .913.

 

Walker?  His K-rate is 30% in the minors and his OPS is only .796.  So if Chris Carter, a markedly superior player with a less significant K-rate in the minors, is struggling like he is......just how awful would Walker be?

 

You're talking about a sub .600 OPS player who, if given 600 ABs, would probably strikeout close to 300 times. 

 

He's not a top prospect.  He's probably not even a prospect at all.  That K-rate makes him a non-factor. 

[Mr. Brooks]

  On 11/20/2016 at 3:55 AM, TheLeviathan said:

Let's put ABW in perspective - again - for those of you that dismiss the strikeouts.

 

Chris Carter, currently of the Brewers, is a career 770 OPS player who averages 200 strikeouts (About a 33% K rate per PA) in the big leagues. In the minors he K'd at a rate of about 23% with an OPS of about .913.

 

Walker? His K-rate is 30% in the minors and his OPS is only .796. So if Chris Carter, a markedly superior player with a less significant K-rate in the minors, is struggling like he is......just how awful would Walker be?

 

You're talking about a sub .600 OPS player who, if given 600 ABs, would probably strikeout close to 300 times.

 

He's not a top prospect. He's probably not even a prospect at all. That K-rate makes him a non-factor.

And it's not just the strikeouts. Carter put up a .364 OBP in the high minors.

Walker is a touch over .300.

 

His K rate and on base skills were simply not improving.

 

A lot of guys around his ranking are lotto tickets, but Walker is an even bigger longshot than most.

[The Wise One]

 

  On 11/20/2016 at 4:06 AM, Mr. Brooks said:

And it's not just the strikeouts. Carter put up a .364 OBP in the high minors.
Walker is a touch over .300.

His K rate and on base skills were simply not improving.

A lot of guys around his ranking are lotto tickets, but Walker is an even bigger longshot than most.

No scouting site has put him in the top 100 ranking.  Sickels did not have him in his 2017 top 20.  Longshot is most any minor league player

 Any prospect outside of a top 20 as their highest ranking is a longshot to be a significant player.  The odds look better because you remember the successes, not the failures. For every Dozier  who became good as a never top 100 player there are thousands of cup of coffee or less players.  Walker  needs to have some good luck as the Brewers have added a lot of potential with their trades.

[ashbury]

The only positive "scouting" datum I can think of is that the Pawtucket Red Sox manager mentioned Walker and his power first, when asked to describe his team's upcoming opponent one day last season. But, in all likelihood, he just started in the outfield and went "around the horn" naming players. He next mentioned Buxton, who by that time was already up with the big team.

[ThejacKmp]

  On 11/19/2016 at 4:00 PM, GMinTraining said:

At least they would be winning - Lol

 

The Twins had 28 teams strikeout more than they did in 2012 and they still had a 66 - 96 record.   Keep building your way and maybe, just maybe that formula will work.  I'll build with winners and production.

 

Goodrum 3 championships

Walker 4 championships

 

I know Goody and ABW didn't win those championships by themselves, but they sure didn't win them with the guys most people imagine they won them with either.  Every team needs those intangible players.  

MINOR LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Sano - 0

Vargas - 0

Santana - 0

Polanco - 1

Berrios - 1

Buxton - 1

Rosario - 1

Kepler - 4

 

This is a thoroughly worthless stat. Kepler is not going to become Mickey Mantle just because he happened to be on four teams that won titles. As Buxton struggles last year, the solution wasn't for him to think, "hey, I'm a winner! I won a minor league championship! I should just hit like that!"

 

ABW strikes out too much. As he is now, he would be murdered in the pros. I hope he finds a way to adjust and strike out less but the odds are against that.

[GMinTraining]

 

  On 11/20/2016 at 2:41 PM, ThejacKmp said:

This is a thoroughly worthless stat. Kepler is not going to become Mickey Mantle just because he happened to be on four teams that won titles. As Buxton struggles last year, the solution wasn't for him to think, "hey, I'm a winner! I won a minor league championship! I should just hit like that!"

ABW strikes out too much. As he is now, he would be murdered in the pros. I hope he finds a way to adjust and strike out less but the odds are against that.

I agree based on the norm that he should get distroyed in the pros.  However - there has been nothing normal about his outputs (strikeouts included).  Let's put everything in perspective -

(1) OBP is important for the purpose of scoring runs and driving in runs - Walker has led team in RBI every season and finished 1st or 2nd in runs scored every season (Despite low OBP).  Probably shouldn't happen, but it has.  But it won't happen in the MLB because again it probably shouldn't happen with a low OBP like his?  His OBP has been consistent every year despite probable next level pit falls.

(2)  All or nothing is what he is labeled despite leading the league in Extra Base Hits every year but 2016.  Doubles and triples never get mentioned despite him finishing 1st or 2nd on his team in doubles every year.  And usually among the top in the league in doubles.  Same amount of doubles as home runs virtually.  

 

Strikeouts do matter and he will have to correct that flaw if he is to have an All Star career, but production has yet to be a concern for all that think he won't be able to produce at the next level - Again?  Maybe this time you will be finally right?  Not many guys put themselves in scoring position more than Walker does in a season either.  And for those who doubt his speed - Walker was 84 for 98 in stolen bases (college thru MiLB) - Not bad for a 1 tool player -  Lol

 

NOTE:

Again - The Twins had 28 teams strikeout more than them in 2013 and still finished 66-96.  Go figure.  You need playmaker's! Strikeouts be damned!

[GMinTraining]

I'll stop venting - Happy for him - Sad that the Twins never gave him that September call up though.

[ThejacKmp]

 

  On 11/20/2016 at 8:05 PM, GMinTraining said:

I agree based on the norm that he should get distroyed in the pros.  However - there has been nothing normal about his outputs (strikeouts included).  Let's put everything in perspective -

(1) OBP is important for the purpose of scoring runs and driving in runs - Walker has led team in RBI every season and finished 1st or 2nd in runs scored every season (Despite low OBP).  Probably shouldn't happen, but it has.  But it won't happen in the MLB because again it probably shouldn't happen with a low OBP like his?  His OBP has been consistent every year despite probable next level pit falls.

(2)  All or nothing is what he is labeled despite leading the league in Extra Base Hits every year but 2016.  Doubles and triples never get mentioned despite him finishing 1st or 2nd on his team in doubles every year.  And usually among the top in the league in doubles.  Same amount of doubles as home runs virtually.  

 

Strikeouts do matter and he will have to correct that flaw if he is to have an All Star career, but production has yet to be a concern for all that think he won't be able to produce at the next level - Again?  Maybe this time you will be finally right?  Not many guys put themselves in scoring position more than Walker does in a season either.  And for those who doubt his speed - Walker was 84 for 98 in stolen bases (college thru MiLB) - Not bad for a 1 tool player -  Lol

 

NOTE:

Again - The Twins had 28 teams strikeout more than them in 2013 and still finished 66-96.  Go figure.  You need playmaker's! Strikeouts be damned!

 

(1) RBIs and runs scored are two additional mostly worthless stats that have significantly more to do with who hits around you than how good you actually are. Since ABW3's OBP is very low, this almost certainly has to do with where he hits in the lineup and that he's played on good teams. If you did an efficiency stat where you took RBI opportunities or took into account the number of at bats he has, you'd likely get a far different story. His OBP has been consistent - consistently low.

(2) Listen, slugging is great. There's a reason the Brewers took a flier on ABW3 - if he can ever figure out how to tamp down strikeouts or take walks at an elite rate, he'd be a very useful player. But that’s the point – he hasn’t. His OBP last year was .784 in spite of the huge power numbers because he doesn’t put the ball in play and he doesn’t take many walks. That OBP is not exciting for a corner outfield prospect who struck out over 38% of the time at age 24 - a rate that figures to increase dramatically when taking the biggest jump of all to the MLB level. His ceiling right now is 4th OF and that’s something you can find anywhere.

(3) We should throw out college steals because who cares about that – we might as well include high school and Little League if we’re going back that far. He has 43 steals through five minor league seasons. That’s less than nine per season, a number that figures to go down further as he reaches the majors where catchers and pitchers are significantly better at controlling the run game. I hardly think 7 steals per season qualifies as a great tool. Joe Mauer has stolen more than 7 bases four times in his career including a season at age 29. ABW’s speed tool is vastly overrated and deserves to be doubted.

 

He is a one tool player. His arm/defense and speed are at best average for a corner OF and the hit tool is a dismal failure. I hope nothing but the best for the guy but there’s no reason anyone should be upset at the Twins moving on. Some draft picks don’t put it together and ABW has shown no sign of being capable of it. I would not have been upset if the Twins had given him one more year at AAA but if they want to see some other guys get a shot there, this is an easy call.

NOTE:

Look at 2015 for the flip side - the Twins struck out more than every other team except for the Astros in both totals and percents. Adding ABW would make that much worse. If you wanted to make a causal relationship, the Twins last year proved striking out a lot is a bad thing. But I wouldn't go that far. There is no magical elixir for making a good team - look at the differences between the Royals, the Cubs, the Indians, the Orioles. A good team can be built all kinds of ways (the Cubs won the world series while finishing in the 19th in K rate while the Indians were 22nd).

 

However, I think we can say things like "Striking out over 40% of the time makes it close to impossible to have value" and "teams should avoid players who strike out excessively as it hurts their value." ABW does not appear to be part of the Twins solution because of his K rate.

[alarp33]

 

  On 11/20/2016 at 8:05 PM, GMinTraining said:

I agree based on the norm that he should get distroyed in the pros.  However - there has been nothing normal about his outputs (strikeouts included).  Let's put everything in perspective -

(1) OBP is important for the purpose of scoring runs and driving in runs - Walker has led team in RBI every season and finished 1st or 2nd in runs scored every season (Despite low OBP).  Probably shouldn't happen, but it has.  But it won't happen in the MLB because again it probably shouldn't happen with a low OBP like his?  His OBP has been consistent every year despite probable next level pit falls.

 

 

Fine, I'll take the bait.  

 

You realize in 2015 he let his team in at bats by 100.  

 

In 2016 he led the player with the 4th most at bats by almost 150.  

 

RBI and Runs scored are counting stats.  

[Darius]

Disappointed by this move. I know he Ks too much, and I'm fairly confident that this won't be another epic personnel fail like David Ortiz, etc. But, there is still something intruiging about the kid that makes me wish he would've gotten a shot here.

 

His teams have been very successful everywhere he's played, and he's usually a significant driver. Seems to have a knack for rising to the occasion in the "high leverage" ABs, if you will, in big games. Something intangible there that can't be quantified in a ratio. Also, elite power, which is entertaining.

[David HK]

Oh, fer.... New regime, typical Twins FO behavior. Letting potentially quality guys go for nothing. Well, at least we got a good look at him in September when... Oh, wait. We decided to ride GMan and Schafer instead of seeing what a young power bat that we had under team control could do. *sigh* Stuff like this, and keeping Molly around for another year of head-scratching decisions make me wonder why I even follow this team any more.

[TheLeviathan]

I didn't see any potentially quality guys let go for nothing recently.  To whom do you refer?

 

*cough* K rate *cough*

[Brock Beauchamp]

I'm still torn up about the release of Joe Benson.