Article: Twins Minor League Report (5/16): Davis Powers Kernels

[Steve Lein]

All the affiliates took early leads on Tuesday night, but not all of them were able to hang onto them. One prospect had a massive power surge in the Midwest League that gave his team that early lead, and also brought his team back later. Another hitter extended an impressive streak and an early season standout pitcher at AA was back after a cameo in AAA, and struck out a bunch more hitters.To see who came up with the big blasts on Tuesday night, keep reading!

 

TRANSACTIONS

 

Adalberto Mejia was removed from the temporary inactive list for Rochester and made the start tonight. Alex Wimmers was “sent” to extended spring training to make room.

 

 

RED WINGS REPORT

Lehigh Valley 9, Rochester 5

Box Score

 

Rochester scored early and often in this one, but a Daniel Palka three-run home run in the bottom of the third spelled the end of their offense on the night. His sixth home run of the season made it 5-0 in the home team's favor; unfortunately the ban on bacon at Frontier Field didn’t keep the Iron Pigs from coming back.

 

 

Adalberto Mejia went the first three innings for the Red Wings, and allowed just one hit while striking out one. He had thrown only thirty-three pitches, so let the speculation about Saturday’s starter for the Twins commence.

 

Nick Tepesch came on for the fourth, and ended up with six runs allowed (just one earned) in 1.2 innings. An error from Engelb Vielma led to the five unearned runs in the fifth.

 

D.J. Baxendale struck out three in 2.1 innings, allowing one run on two hits. Trevor Hildenberger allowed two runs on two hits and a walk in the eighth to cap the game's scoring. Buddy Boshers struck out two in the ninth to finish the game for the Red Wings.

 

Zack Granite (2-4, 2 R’s, 2B) and Bengie Gonzalez (2-4, R, 2 RBI) each had multiple hits.

 

 

CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

Birmingham 1, Chattanooga 4

Box Score

 

The Lookouts jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first as Nick Gordon led off the game with his Southern League-leading fifth triple that was followed by an RBI double from Edgar Corcino. He scored on a single from LaMonte Wade that also had an error on the relay throw.

 

They extended the lead to 4-0 in the fourth, when a Dan Rohlfing double was followed by Gordon’s third home run of the season.

 

It was 4-0 at that point as starter Nik Turley, fresh off the plane back from a cameo in AAA, blanked the Barons for the first four innings. As he had only pitched six innings in three appearances with the Red Wings (one start), Turley was in the process of getting stretched back out so those four innings were all he went (64 pitches). In his last start for them on April 25^th, he struck out 14 in seven innings. He actually bested that K-rate in this one, with nine. He allowed only one hit and walked one, lowering his ERA in AA to 0.37. His 45 K’s on the year rank fifth in the Southern League despite eleven or more fewer innings than the four starters in front of him (including White Sox prospect Michael Kopech).

 

Matt Tracy came on for the fifth inning and went the next four innings. He scattered one run on four hits and a walk, while striking out four. The walk came in the sixth and put a runner on second, who scored on the single that followed. Tracy worked around a leadoff double in the eighth and finished his night by striking out the next three hitters.

 

Nick Burdi was brought on for his first save opportunity of the season in the ninth with the score 4-1, and he set the Barons down in order to pick up his first save. He extended the Lookouts home winning streak to nine games by striking out the final hitter.

 

Gordon and Corcino each had two-hit nights to lead the offense from the top two spots in the lineup. Wade’s single in the first made it a five-game hitting streak, and he has reached base safely in his last nineteen games. Over that time he is hitting .428/.556/.603 with five doubles, two home runs, 11 RBI, and 18 walks versus just 10 K’s.

 

Get the man a player of the week award, Southern League.

 

 

MIRACLE MATTERS

Clearwater 2, Fort Myers 5

Box score

 

Fort Myers took a 2-0 lead in the first inning as Max Murphy led off the game for the home team with a single and stole second base. He moved to third on a Chris Paul blooping double, and they scored on singles from Zander Wiel and Alex Perez.

 

Left-hander David Fischer made the start for the Miracle, and went the first 4.2 innings, enduring a rain delay in the bottom of the third. The Threshers got to him in the fifth, as a two-out single with the bases loaded tied the game at two and ended his night.

 

It would remain that way until the bottom of the ninth, as Alex Muren and Nick Anderson combined for 4.1 scoreless innings. Muren allowed one hit in 2.1 innings, and Anderson struck out two in his two innings to give the Miracle a chance in the ninth.

 

Brian Navarreto reached based on an error to start a rally, and Paul ended it with a three-run home run to walk his team off. He finished 2-4 with two runs scored, a walk, and three RBI in leading his team to victory. It was his second home run of the season. Murphy added two hits and scored two runs. Bradley Strong stole his first two bases of the year.

 

 

KERNELS NUGGETS

Peoria 6, Cedar Rapids 7

Box Score

 

Like everyone else in the system Tuesday night, Cedar Rapids also took an early lead in this one. After four innings it was 3-0 for the home team as Jaylin Davis slugged a solo home run in the second, and a two-run shot in the fourth.

 

Starter Tyler Beardsley retired the first ten Chiefs, but ran into more trouble than he could navigate in the top of the fifth. After a double he recorded the inning's second out, but a walk, RBI single, and two-run triple tied the game at three. Catcher Mitchell Kranson helped him finish the sixth by nabbing two runners on the bases. Beardsley got the quality start by allowing the three runs on seven hits and a walk. He struck out one.

 

Andrew Vasquez got wild in the seventh, walking three along with an RBI single, but managed to limit the damage to just the one run as Peoria took the lead 4-3.

 

The Kernels got that run right back as Davis led off the bottom of the inning with his third home run of the game to tie it back up. They went back out front in the eighth after an RBI triple from Christian Caveness, and two-run double from Lewin Diaz to make it 7-4.

 

Hector Lujan pitched a scoreless top-half of the eighth before it got interesting in the top of the ninth. Three singles and a walk to the first four hitters of the inning put the winning run on the bases before an out was recorded. Lujan got the first out on an RBI groundout that closed it to 7-6, but he then buckled down. He got the next two hitters on strikeouts to pick up his second win of the season.

 

 

TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY

 

Pitcher of the Day – Nik Turley, Chattanooga Lookouts (4.0 IP, H, BB, 9 K’s)

Hitter of the Day – Jaylin Davis, Cedar Rapids Kernels (3-4, 3 HR, 4 RBI)

 

 

WEDNESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS

 

Lehigh Valley @ Rochester (6:05PM CST) – LHP David Hurlbut (2-2, 1.59 ERA)

Birmingham @ Chattanooga (10:15AM CST) – RHP Felix Jorge (3-1, 3.45 ERA)

Clearwater @ Fort Myers (5:35PM CST) – LHP Lachlan Wells

Peoria @ Cedar Rapids (12:05PM CST) – RHP Sean Poppen (1-1, 2.29 ERA)

 

 

Please feel free to ask questions and discuss Tuesday’s games!

 

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[yarnivek1972]

IMO it was a mistake to put Turley back down in AA. He's way too old for AA and is clearly dominating AA hitters. Will it play in AAA and beyond? Don't know. But I do know we won't find out with him continuing to strikeout 2 AA hitters every inning.

[yarnivek1972]

One could argue that Nik Turley has been more dominant in AA than Nick Burdi.  Think about that for a minute.

[clutterheart]

 

Get the man a player of the week award, Southern League.

 

Player of the Week?  How about the Month?   Wade would have to take a nose dive to not win it

[Han Joelo]

Not to restate the obvious.

 

O.K.  I'll do it anyway.  Three homeruns for Davis, two of the go ahead variety.

 

What exactly do they have in Turley?  A rare find, or just an old guy dominating the kids?

 

I saw the box scores last night, and was worried Meija got hurt.  Didn't think about keeping him fresh for Saturday.

[yarnivek1972]

Not to restate the obvious.

 

O.K. I'll do it anyway. Three homeruns for Davis, two of the go ahead variety.

 

What exactly do they have in Turley? A rare find, or just an old guy dominating the kids?

 

I saw the box scores last night, and was worried Meija got hurt. Didn't think about keeping him fresh for Saturday.

Too early to say. That's why he needs to be at AAA. At almost 28, he does not belong in AA for basically two full months.

[diehardtwinsfan]

yeah, I've got to think that Mejia is getting the call Saturday and probably being sent right back down.  Makes sense, and I'm fine with it... Truthfully, I'd be fine giving Gibson a spot start too...  There really aren't a lot of good options for a spot start, but Mejia is probably the best option.

[gunnarthor]

Have any of the baseball gurus - Klaw, Sickels, Callis, etc - made recent mention of Wade? 

[Mike Sixel]

 

Have any of the baseball gurus - Klaw, Sickels, Callis, etc - made recent mention of Wade? 

 

Longenhorn (sp?) did on Fangraphs, I think I put it in the FG thread, let me check...

 

http://twinsdaily.com/topic/22213-fangraphs-and-other-national-publications-on-the-twins/page-84

 

Edited May 17, 2017 by Mike Sixel

[Seth Stohs]

 

One could argue that Nik Turley has been more dominant in AA than Nick Burdi.  Think about that for a minute.

 

I don't think there's any question about that... Not sure that means a lot, but it is a fact. 

[Seth Stohs]

 

Not to restate the obvious.

 

O.K.  I'll do it anyway.  Three homeruns for Davis, two of the go ahead variety.

 

What exactly do they have in Turley?  A rare find, or just an old guy dominating the kids?

 

I saw the box scores last night, and was worried Meija got hurt.  Didn't think about keeping him fresh for Saturday.

 

Two homers to dead center and one to the right of center a bit... Impressive!

 

http://www.milb.com/multimedia/vpp.jsp?sid=milb&content_id=1397259783

 

Turley might have made some changes since the Yankees released him a few years ago. Maybe a new pitch or better control or stuff from working in the indy leagues. 

 

Mejia... I mean, I know he wasn't hurt... As I said on Twitter last night, let the speculation. Because of that, I'll be very surprised if he doesn't start for the Twins on Saturday. 

 

[Twinsoholic]

What did Wimmers do to get sent to Extended Spring Training?

 

[gunnarthor]

 

Longenhorn (sp?) did on Fangraphs, I think I put it in the FG thread, let me check...

 

http://twinsdaily.com/topic/22213-fangraphs-and-other-national-publications-on-the-twins/page-84

Thanks Mike, I'm just reposting it here.

 

Colin
1:50 LaMonte Wade is slashing an impressive .330/.465/.486 in AA with even more impressive plate discipline. Is it still assumed he'll never have the power to be a MLB regular and more of a 4th OF?

Eric A Longenhagen
1:51 I wouldn't say "assumed" but that remains the general opinion. You can find scouts who just think he'll hit enough to play a bigger role than that, though. Just not for power.

 

So if Wade can be a solid avg/on-base guy, even with no power, he could be a nice Span-like guy in a corner? Too bad he's a lefty, we could use another RH OF bat.

[yarnivek1972]

 

What did Wimmers do to get sent to Extended Spring Training?

 

 

Other than being the 9th best reliever for the Red Wings, nothing.  Falvey and Levine need to start making decisions with regards to these arms in AAA.  They aren't helping anyone's development by shuttling people back and forth to extended spring.  There are only so many innings for these guys to pitch.  The FO needs to figure out which ones should be there and let them pitch.

Edited May 17, 2017 by yarnivek1972

[drivlikejehu]

For patient hitters, you can't totally separate on-base from power. If pitchers aren't worried about the hitter punishing them, they will just throw the ball over and take their chances. Wade has enough raw power that I think he has a decent shot at something like .270/.350/.420 - which begs the question of how good of a defensive corner outfielder he is/will be.

Edited May 17, 2017 by drivlikejehu

[Seth Stohs]

 

What did Wimmers do to get sent to Extended Spring Training?

 

Struggled with control and keeping the ball in the ballpark. By the way, today he was assigned to Chattanooga. 

[Seth Stohs]

 

Thanks Mike, I'm just reposting it here.

 

Colin
1:50 LaMonte Wade is slashing an impressive .330/.465/.486 in AA with even more impressive plate discipline. Is it still assumed he'll never have the power to be a MLB regular and more of a 4th OF?

Eric A Longenhagen
1:51 I wouldn't say "assumed" but that remains the general opinion. You can find scouts who just think he'll hit enough to play a bigger role than that, though. Just not for power.

 

So if Wade can be a solid avg/on-base guy, even with no power, he could be a nice Span-like guy in a corner? Too bad he's a lefty, we could use another RH OF bat.

 

I'd also add that we shouldn't give up on the power potential either. I'm not saying a 20+ HR guy, but he is strong and can turn on a ball sometime. 

[yarnivek1972]

Struggled with control and keeping the ball in the ballpark. By the way, today he was assigned to Chattanooga.

Even more non-sensical than Turley. Wimmers is ALREADY 28. If Falvey doesn't think he belongs, RELEASE HIM. Keeping 28 year olds in AA makes zero sense.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

Even more non-sensical than Turley. Wimmers is ALREADY 28. If Falvey doesn't think he belongs, RELEASE HIM. Keeping 28 year olds in AA makes zero sense.

 

It makes zero sense if they are blocking someone.  Not sure anyone in Fort Meyer is ready for the bump up... 

[Mike Sixel]

 

It makes zero sense if they are blocking someone.  Not sure anyone in Fort Meyer is ready for the bump up... 

 

Not if he takes innings from Burdi or Bard or Melo or anyone else in AA that is a prospect at this point. 

 

Again, whether 1 decision makes sense, imo, isn't really the issue. It's all the decisions in context to each other that don't appear to make sense.

[FlauerPauer]

Man, I know it's AAA video, but don't you think Rochester feels embarrassed to have video in 2017 that is 480p quality?! If it is that?  Wow, just terrible.

[gunnarthor]

 

Not if he takes innings from Burdi or Bard or Melo or anyone else in AA that is a prospect at this point. 

 

Again, whether 1 decision makes sense, imo, isn't really the issue. It's all the decisions in context to each other that don't appear to make sense.

Looks like Burdi is getting his one inning at a time thing. I don't think Wimmers would take innings from him or Melo. I think Wimmers and Bard are about the same place as 'prospects' go so I don't really care if one or the other goes.

[yarnivek1972]

 

Not if he takes innings from Burdi or Bard or Melo or anyone else in AA that is a prospect at this point. 

 

Again, whether 1 decision makes sense, imo, isn't really the issue. It's all the decisions in context to each other that don't appear to make sense.

Exactly.  It's not just the roster spot.  It's the lost opportunity to pitch.  It's the same reasoning that was given to not start Engelb Vielma at AAA to start the season - there's no room.  Really?  Then MAKE room.  It's pro baseball.  Guys get released everyday.  It isn't pleasant to do and it isn't an easy decision, but sometimes it has to be done.

 

As for this case specifically, Randy LeBlanc could have stayed in AA and worked on his control problems there, not?  In as much as it is nonsensical to have 28 year olds at AA, it is just as curious to have a 25 year old in A ball, unless he's on a rehab assignment of course.  Nick Anderson is 26.  He probably doesn't belong in A ball either.  David Fischer is 27.  Really??  Frickin A ball?  Edit: OK, just noticed Fischer missed the last two years.  So that isn't SO bad, but still.

 

 

Wow, I guess I never realized how bad this situation was.  I get that on a typical minor league team there are probably 3-4-5 legitimate MLB prospects and the other 20 or so guys are simply there to essentially play around them.  I even get that the prospects will be a couple years younger than these "org filler" types.  But 25, 26 and 27 year olds shouldn't be in A ball.  Org filler or not.  If that is what they are, they can fill it at AA.  If there is no room there, move some org filler to AAA.  If no room there, that's when you send guys into the manager's office and have them shut the door.

 

This would be a good post for the "About that Farm System" Thread.  The Twins minor league garden needs to be cultivated, BADLY.  RAPIDLY.

Edited May 17, 2017 by yarnivek1972

[mikelink45]

I was struck by the fact that Tepesch gave up a number of unearned runs in this outing and did the same in the MLB outing.  The difficulty in ERA is that it misses many aspects of measurements for quality pitching.  Pitchers who consistently give up lots of unearned runs are poor pitchers in my mind.  Perhaps they create hard hit balls that lead to errors and even if not, they do not have the stamina to get that extra out.  I find it even more frustrating for evaluating relief pitchers who can give up runs to the players on base when they come in and get no impact on their era.  A relief pitcher should always have an ERA a run below starters.  

 

I know that Baseball reference has tried to assess pitchers differently, but they still fall short - http://www.baseball-reference.com/about/war_explained_pitch.shtml

 

Another look at unearned runs and pitcher performance is found at http://baseballanalysts.com/archives/2006/02/a_look_at_unear.php  The author says = "If my longheld belief is correct, groundball pitchers should give up more unearned runs than flyball pitchers."  and "I would agree with David [Gassko} and recommend that we pay more attention to total runs than earned runs. Oh, you'll still find me giving an ERA here and there, but recognize that run average (RA) is an even better gauge of a pitcher's performance than earned run average.

Secondly, as it relates to ERA, be aware that a pitcher with a high percentage of unearned runs is more likely to regress than a pitcher with a low percentage of unearned runs. Not surprisingly, pitchers in the top 20 table above have a higher DIPS ERA relative to actual ERA than those in the bottom 20."

 

I have not heard stats quoted about fielding independent pitching, but found this article quite interesting - http://www.hardballtimes.com/batted-balls-and-dips/

 

And finally I like this blog and the idea of Runs Allowed more than ERA - http://danagonistes.blogspot.com/2004/08/unearned-runs-whose-fault.html

[nater79a]

Any other day and Chris Paul is probably your hitter of the day going 2-4. a walk, 2 runs, 3 RBI and walkoff HR.  Tough to surpass a 3 dinger night from Davis though.

[yarnivek1972]

 

I was struck by the fact that Tepesch gave up a number of unearned runs in this outing and did the same in the MLB outing.  The difficulty in ERA is that it misses many aspects of measurements for quality pitching.  Pitchers who consistently give up lots of unearned runs are poor pitchers in my mind.  Perhaps they create hard hit balls that lead to errors and even if not, they do not have the stamina to get that extra out.  I find it even more frustrating for evaluating relief pitchers who can give up runs to the players on base when they come in and get no impact on their era.  A relief pitcher should always have an ERA a run below starters.  

 

I know that Baseball reference has tried to assess pitchers differently, but they still fall short - http://www.baseball-reference.com/about/war_explained_pitch.shtml

 

Another look at unearned runs and pitcher performance is found at http://baseballanalysts.com/archives/2006/02/a_look_at_unear.php  The author says = "If my longheld belief is correct, groundball pitchers should give up more unearned runs than flyball pitchers."  and "I would agree with David [Gassko} and recommend that we pay more attention to total runs than earned runs. Oh, you'll still find me giving an ERA here and there, but recognize that run average (RA) is an even better gauge of a pitcher's performance than earned run average.

Secondly, as it relates to ERA, be aware that a pitcher with a high percentage of unearned runs is more likely to regress than a pitcher with a low percentage of unearned runs. Not surprisingly, pitchers in the top 20 table above have a higher DIPS ERA relative to actual ERA than those in the bottom 20."

 

I have not heard stats quoted about fielding independent pitching, but found this article quite interesting - http://www.hardballtimes.com/batted-balls-and-dips/

 

And finally I like this blog and the idea of Runs Allowed more than ERA - http://danagonistes.blogspot.com/2004/08/unearned-runs-whose-fault.html

 

 

I'm kinda on the fence on that.  It almost has to be taken case by case.  I guess a pitcher giving up a lot of unearned runs relative to his teammates would be a red flag.  Is something about the way he pitches causing fielders to be on their heels?  Control? Time between pitches?

 

On the other hand, if you have a minor league pitcher out there battling and he gets a guy to hit into what should be a routine end of the inning grounder, should he be faulted if a guy who will probably never reach the majors kicks it and a run scores?  If I'm that pitcher, I'm thinking to myself, "They make that play Up There".  If that happens just once every third start, that could be 8-10 unearned runs in a season.

[Gagne Fan]

Baxendale's earned run last night should have been unearned

 

The fly ball to right that turned into a Triple was a routine fly ball that was misplayed badly by Goodrum. Even the game story said so.

 

 

The runner scored on a wild pitch, breaking ball, that Murphy did not try to block

[caninatl04]

 

Man, I know it's AAA video, but don't you think Rochester feels embarrassed to have video in 2017 that is 480p quality?! If it is that?  Wow, just terrible.

I spent the 80's in Rochester studying for my MS and PhD-- great city to do so as there are no distractions.  I'm surprised they have color TV.

 

And yes, I am being hyperbolic.

[mikelink45]

 

I'm kinda on the fence on that.  It almost has to be taken case by case.  I guess a pitcher giving up a lot of unearned runs relative to his teammates would be a red flag.  Is something about the way he pitches causing fielders to be on their heels?  Control? Time between pitches?

 

On the other hand, if you have a minor league pitcher out there battling and he gets a guy to hit into what should be a routine end of the inning grounder, should he be faulted if a guy who will probably never reach the majors kicks it and a run scores?  If I'm that pitcher, I'm thinking to myself, "They make that play Up There".  If that happens just once every third start, that could be 8-10 unearned runs in a season.

I know that the articles tried to get in to this, but it is a tough one to analyze.  Tepesch jumped out at me because of this minor league report and his start for the Twins.  The three leading Runs vs Er pitchers this year are Tepesch, Tonkin and Hughes in that order. And last year it was Gibson, Duffey and Tonkin.  

[yarnivek1972]

I know that the articles tried to get in to this, but it is a tough one to analyze. Tepesch jumped out at me because of this minor league report and his start for the Twins. The three leading Runs vs Er pitchers this year are Tepesch, Tonkin and Hughes in that order. And last year it was Gibson, Duffey and Tonkin.

Well, now you're talking about MLB pitchers. That's different. Of course, for much of last year the Twins didn't have competent MLB defenders at a lot of spots.

 

Tonkin making that list surprises me because he has high K rate - relative to the staff anyway.