Adam Brett Walker Waived, Claimed By Milwaukee

[GMinTraining]

 

not at the rate he likely would, especially since it would come with an OBP in like the 260s :-)

 

Your theory is possible, but you know what they say when you ass u me - He's never had an OBP below .300 despite assumptions he would at every level.

 

It's also crazy that ABW II may someday go into the:

Cedar Rapid Kernels HOF for his 2013 season accomplishments (League MVP w/27 HR & 109 RBI & best overall record in minor league baseball that season)

 

Chattanooga Lookout HOF for his 2015 season accomplishments (breaking HR & RBI franchise records [1930 - pressent] while winning league AA championship in Twins 1st full year affiliation with Chattanooga)

 

Waived without a sniff/cup of coffee - The Twins ASSUMED wrong IMO

[big dog]

 

Your theory is possible, but you know what they say when you ass u me - He's never had an OBP below .300 despite assumptions he would at every level.

 

It's also crazy that ABW II may someday go into the:

Cedar Rapid Kernels HOF for his 2013 season accomplishments (League MVP w/27 HR & 109 RBI & best overall record in minor league baseball that season)

 

Chattanooga Lookout HOF for his 2015 season accomplishments (breaking HR & RBI franchise records [1930 - pressent] while winning league AA championship in Twins 1st full year affiliation with Chattanooga)

 

Waived without a sniff/cup of coffee - The Twins ASSUMED wrong IMO

Just a question- the Brewers apparently made the same assumption.  We'll see what the Orioles do.  How many teams would need to waive him without calling him up to the majors before you changed your mind?  Is that a possibility?

 

We all agree he hit a ton of home runs and had a lot of RBIs in the minor leagues.  You seem willing to concede that he struck out at a somewhat high rate.  Quite a few people have said that it would have been more useful to see him in September rather than see even more of Logan Schaefer (I forget which Shafer is spelled which way, but it's Logan anyway).  Enough already.

[Oldgoat_MN]

The real problems with the Twins NOT calling ABW up in September were that

1. he was a good trooper (not to the Beresford extent, necessarily) and deserved some recognition, and

2. had he raked in MLB before pitchers figured him out he may have had value in a trade.

 

In a short period of time, like September, we have seen players come up, do well, and never reach that level of performance again (see Arcia, Oswaldo). Had he been awesome there may have been GMs that thought this was sustainable.

 

Those are the reasons I feel he should have been called up in September.

 

 

[DJSim22]

The Walker angst is starting to get close to the Arcia angst, and I frankly don't understand either of them. 

[King]

 

The Walker angst is starting to get close to the Arcia angst, and I frankly don't understand either of them. 

I have no problem with letting either of them go.

[ashbury]

The Walker angst is starting to get close to the Arcia angst, and I frankly don't understand either of them. 

And also too Joe Benson.

 

For another fun parallel: Free Anthony Slama! Though, Slama did actually get his cuppa.

[nicksaviking]

 

The Walker angst is starting to get close to the Arcia angst, and I frankly don't understand either of them. 

 

Arcia produced at the MLB level and was a top 100 prospect prior to his one injury filled season.

 

But Arcia and the even more contentious Joe Benson move have thus far proven the (former) Twins front office right.

 

Also, I'd have to disagree that the Walker angst is anywhere near the Arcia and Benson angst. Both of those moves had considerably less support. Seems to me the posts in this thread might even be over 50% in support of the DFA of Walker. Probably well over.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

 

The Walker angst is starting to get close to the Arcia angst, and I frankly don't understand either of them. 

You have to understand, when reading comments here, that the quantity of angst isn't necessarily correlated with player quality.  These comments are solicited when a player is in a transaction, or likely to be in a transaction.

 

Hence why Plouffe generated more press than Dozier last July, even though Dozier is the better player.  For that matter, Nunez, Abad, and Suzuki probably generated more press than Plouffe in July too.

 

That's why guys on the 25-man and 40-man bubble will always generate more comments, and it will seem like stronger opinions.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Interesting to remember that Arcia wasn't lost (by us) on waivers, but was actually traded to the Rays for a nominal amount of cash.

 

I suspect if you added restrictions to waiver claims (like they have to spend X days on the roster or be offered back to their original team), more teams would simply manufacture trades like this or a similar variety to skirt the restriction.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Also, I'd have to disagree that the Walker angst is anywhere near the Arcia and Benson angst. Both of those moves had considerably less support. Seems to me the posts in this thread might even be over 50% in support of the DFA of Walker. Probably well over.

Worth noting is that the poster who made that observation had not previously participated in this thread.  They were probably looking at the page/comment count and assumed it was all angst, when actually it was mostly a discussion about waiver rules, with a bit of "Where in the World is Adam Brett Walker?" mixed in.

[DJSim22]

 

Worth noting is that the poster who made that observation had not previously participated in this thread.  They were probably looking at the page/comment count and assumed it was all angst, when actually it was mostly a discussion about waiver rules, with a bit of "Where in the World is Adam Brett Walker?" mixed in.

 

My comments were not from just this thread or forum, but the minor league forum comments as well.  There are a group of posters here who believe that Walker is going to be a very good major league player and have voiced angst over the last year or two.  I don't get it.  To each their own. 

[GMinTraining]

I have no problem disagreeing with an organization that just EARNED the first pick in the draft.  Justification on Walker being placed on waivers would hold more water if this were an organization that made better decisions overall.  New management = New Decisions - Time will tell I guess?

 

At least Walker was claimed by a playoff team this time.  The Orioles can afford to take more chances with players, than a team with 100 loses.  The Twins have less room for error in their decision making and need to go with the more sure thing IMO (if there is such a thing).  Change of scenery is good for both parties.  Here's to the Twins pulling a Colorado University (Worst to First).  And here's to Walker learning how to do his Chris Davis impersonation at the MLB level.

 

Maybe he'll be on a team that actually believes in situational hitting and forces him to act accordingly.  That just doesn't happen in the Twins minor league system. 

 

I agree that Walker has never changed his approach while with the Twins, but I also agree that he was never asked to do so.  Never benched for poor approach, Never chastised for poor approach, His reward was playing in more games than any player in the Twins system over the last 4 years.  When and how does an organization get changed results if they continue to reward a poor approach?  Please help me understand how the player is the only one with flaws in this equation? 

[Taildragger8791]

 

I have no problem disagreeing with an organization that just EARNED the first pick in the draft.  Justification on Walker being placed on waivers would hold more water if this were an organization that made better decisions overall.  New management = New Decisions - Time will tell I guess?

 

At least Walker was claimed by a playoff team this time.  The Orioles can afford to take more chances with players, than a team with 100 loses.  The Twins have less room for error in their decision making and need to go with the more sure thing IMO (if there is such a thing).  Change of scenery is good for both parties.  Here's to the Twins pulling a Colorado University (Worst to First).  And here's to Walker learning how to do his Chris Davis impersonation at the MLB level.

 

Maybe he'll be on a team that actually believes in situational hitting and forces him to act accordingly.  That just doesn't happen in the Twins minor league system. 

 

I agree that Walker has never changed his approach while with the Twins, but I also agree that he was never asked to do so.  Never benched for poor approach, Never chastised for poor approach, His reward was playing in more games than any player in the Twins system over the last 4 years.  When and how does an organization get changed results if they continue to reward a poor approach?  Please help me understand how the player is the only one with flaws in this equation? 

 

Well this is a bit of hyperbole. There have been articles talking about the work they were doing to improve his plate appearances. But ABW's issue isn't simply his approach, it's that he has poor pitch recognition and he can't hit a breaking ball to save his life. Both of those issue require reps in order to improve. A lot of reps.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

My comments were not from just this thread or forum, but the minor league forum comments as well.  There are a group of posters here who believe that Walker is going to be a very good major league player and have voiced angst over the last year or two.  I don't get it.  To each their own. 

To be fair, I think there are only 2-3 such Walker boosters.  What they lack in numbers, though, they make up in passion.

[GMinTraining]

As bad as he is professed to be - He never played on a team with a winning percentage below .550.  I would have kept him as a good luck charm if nothing else.  Might not be all approach, but intent often controls approach and helps with recognition.  Not doing too much helps with contact.  "Approach"

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

I have no problem disagreeing with an organization that just EARNED the first pick in the draft.  Justification on Walker being placed on waivers would hold more water if this were an organization that made better decisions overall.  New management = New Decisions - Time will tell I guess?

 

At least Walker was claimed by a playoff team this time.  The Orioles can afford to take more chances with players, than a team with 100 loses.  The Twins have less room for error in their decision making and need to go with the more sure thing IMO (if there is such a thing).  Change of scenery is good for both parties.  Here's to the Twins pulling a Colorado University (Worst to First).  And here's to Walker learning how to do his Chris Davis impersonation at the MLB level.

 

Maybe he'll be on a team that actually believes in situational hitting and forces him to act accordingly.  That just doesn't happen in the Twins minor league system. 

 

I agree that Walker has never changed his approach while with the Twins, but I also agree that he was never asked to do so.  Never benched for poor approach, Never chastised for poor approach, His reward was playing in more games than any player in the Twins system over the last 4 years.  When and how does an organization get changed results if they continue to reward a poor approach?  Please help me understand how the player is the only one with flaws in this equation? 

 

If anything, the opposite of this is true. Walker will need to produce in Baltimore. Failure to do so will quickly find him the minors. Said playoff team may be weak in the high minors and could use the spot for a potential fill in, but if Walker is striking out in 40+ percent of his at bats, he won't be in Baltimore for anything more than a cup of coffee.

[Monkeypaws]

What's missng from this convo is context: ABW was a member of 3 Champion teams coming through the system. Maybe he was a passenger on all 3, but when you are leading said leagues in HRs, I think he might have come up with some big hits over the years. 

[DJSim22]

 

To be fair, I think there are only 2-3 such Walker boosters.  What they lack in numbers, though, they make up in passion.

This is possible.  If there really are only 2-3, they are vocal enough to be 10. 

[TheLeviathan]

 

What's missng from this convo is context: ABW was a member of 3 Champion teams coming through the system. Maybe he was a passenger on all 3, but when you are leading said leagues in HRs, I think he might have come up with some big hits over the years. 

 

I hear Tommy Milone's T-ball teams kicked some serious butt too.

 

Make that man a DH!

[DaveW]

I love me a good ABW thread!

Just imagine how insane this place will be if he actually manages to hit his ceiling (1 WAR player)!

[GMinTraining]

 

I love me a good ABW thread!

Just imagine how insane this place will be if he actually manages to hit his ceiling (1 WAR player)!

 

You're talking WAR and we have the 1st pick in the draft - LOL - Oh that's right ABW didn't play on that team, so we can't drag his bad play into those results.  

 

We love our OBP statistic as that go to predictor for success, but Joe Mauer fails to score every year because those other guys behind him DO NOT DRIVE IN RUNS.  We suck because we don't have a guy on the team who can drive in 100 runs EVERY year.  The good teams have that or at least several people who are close (80+).  The second best RBI player on the Twins had 66 - LOL.  We'll see if RBI's matter moving forward with new management.

 

NOTE - We talk about strikeouts - But the Twins sucked this year because they were the ONLY team in the AL who DID NOT have at least 2 players with 70 RBI on their team.  The team with the most Runs wins every time!

 

But let's talk about WAR - LOL or let's blame the pitching.  A team with no role players and no production fixtures will lose most nights.

 

Joe Mauer is one of the greatest hitters of his generation and averages 68 runs a year and 61 RBI a year over 13 seasons.   Must be all those high OBP guys hitting behind him and in front of him.  3 playoff appearances in 13 years because he never had enough help (Producers).  Team with the most runs wins every time.

 

[shs_59]

Adam Brett Walker's problem is he can't make consistent enough contact.

 

#2 he is on the same team with Kennys Vargas and Miguel Sano making him all but irrelevant on this team. 31~33% K rate in the minors probably =  35% +  K rate in the majors which is absolutely un-fathomable 

 

#3 if he was at least an above average defender He'd absolutely be given a 40 man roster spot, thing is he's NOT that either.

 

SO all in all, i have no problems losing him to Milwaukee now Baltimore.... The thing is if we would of traded Trevor Plouffe a year ago and packaged Walker in the same deal IMAGINE the return we would of got for that?!?

 

Probably could of had Tanner Roark back then.  Damn shame really.

[GMinTraining]

 

Adam Brett Walker's problem is he can't make consistent enough contact.

 

#2 he is on the same team with Kennys Vargas and Miguel Sano making him all but irrelevant on this team. 31~33% K rate in the minors probably =  35% +  K rate in the majors which is absolutely un-fathomable 

 

#3 if he was at least an above average defender He'd absolutely be given a 40 man roster spot, thing is he's NOT that either.

 

SO all in all, i have no problems losing him to Milwaukee now Baltimore.... The thing is if we would of traded Trevor Plouffe a year ago and packaged Walker in the same deal IMAGINE the return we would of got for that?!?

 

Probably could of had Tanner Roark back then.  Damn shame really.

 

But a 32% K rate and a .221 BA by Chris Davis can earn you a $161 million dollar contract.  Sometimes it just takes the right team to want to take that chance with you.  

 

I also wonder why everyone takes an All American collegiate 1st baseman and crucifies him for being an average to below average outfielder.  Walker was an exceptional 1st baseman in college, but considered too athletic to be stuck at the position.  Hopefully he's with an organization that thinks outside the box and can utilize his multiple skill set.  I would bet that you have never seen Walker play defense either while drawing your above conclusion.

[big dog]

What was Davis' OPS+ in the four years preceding his big contract?  What about his BA/OBP?  You reference .221, but of course that was his BA in the year after he got the contract.

 

Hint: they were a lot better than last year's numbers, in the 3 out of 4 years when he wasn't hurt.

 

Look, we get it.  We just don't agree with you.  You are one step away from typing in all caps.

[Twins33]

But a 32% K rate and a .221 BA by Chris Davis can earn you a $161 million dollar contract. Sometimes it just takes the right team to want to take that chance with you.

 

I also wonder why everyone takes an All American collegiate 1st baseman and crucifies him for being an average to below average outfielder. Walker was an exceptional 1st baseman in college, but considered too athletic to be stuck at the position. Hopefully he's with an organization that thinks outside the box and can utilize his multiple skill set. I would bet that you have never seen Walker play defense either while drawing your above conclusion.

You also have to take in the fact that Chris Davis didn't strike out as much in the minors. Most players increase their strikeout rate when coming up, not maintain it or lower it. People are thinking if he K's that much in the minors, he's going to be at 40 something percent in MLB.

 

Davis was K'ing about 23% in AA and 25% in AAA. Now he K's in the low 30s in MLB. Walker takes that same bump and he's definitely in the 40% area. Adam Dunn never struck out that much in his career. And only two qualified guys had upper 30s in the last 10 years: Mark Reynolds and Chris Carter (both once).

 

I agree with him playing first base though and I would have preferred to keep him over others.

[snepp]

Walker strikes out considerably more in the minors than even Davis does in the majors.

 

They have nothing in common.