Gordon, Gonsalves starting in AA. Romero to AAA

[Thrylos]

The level of competition in AAA and AA is pretty similar, with the difference that the AA has some younger organizational players who will never make it to the bigs because they have certain flaws, while the AAA has older players who were not good enough to stay in the bigs when they made it because they have certain flaws.  Both leagues have prospects also.

 

It really does not matter at that level and the Twins (and any other team) can promote someone from either AAA or AA the same...

 

The only difference is few extra $ in players pockets in AAA, which in the case of Gordon and Gonsalves who both received decent bonuses does not matter that much...

[gil4]

 

This is exactly why I am advocating the Twins move their AAA Affiliate to Nashville. Also, I am not biased...at all.

I wouldn't object - I can get there in a day and we have some friends we could stay with. Don't the A's already have their AAA team there?

[Squirrel]

They're final.

 

Cedar Rapids announced theirs yesterday. Ft. Myers announced theirs this morning. I know the Cedar Rapids guys flew there on Sunday. The Chattanooga guys left Ft. Myers on Sunday. I think Rochester players are leaving today. Obviously the Miracle players (and Extended Spring) stay there.

 

I keep checking each team’s rosters on their websites and hadn’t noticed changes yet. I did see the news segment on the CR team arriving ... it was pretty fun. I’m definitely getting older because those young men look too much like kids to me, even Toby Gardenhire.

[Seth Stohs]

 

I keep checking each team’s rosters on their websites and hadn’t noticed changes yet. I did see the news segment on the CR team arriving ... it was pretty fun. I’m definitely getting older because those young men look too much like kids to me, even Toby Gardenhire.

 

Rochester just announced their roster too now.

[TNTwinsFan]

I wouldn't object - I can get there in a day and we have some friends we could stay with. Don't the A's already have their AAA team there?

They sure do. But I think they're on a short leash. I would think from a marketing stand point the Twins might be able to build a fan base in Nashville due to proximity (I know it's not exactly close to the Twins Cities.) The only baseball teams close to Nashville are the Braves and Cincinnati (4.5 and 5 he's drive, respectively.) With the Twins having two other Affiliates in the state, Chattanooga and Elizabethton, why not make it a third?! Weather is also decent in Spring with only rain-outs to contend with. Plus, Nashville is a terrific and growing city! Twins fans would LOVE visiting Nashville to see some of their prospects play!

[108Stitches]

 

Cedar Rapids team has all arrived so I’m assuming they’re announced. A lot of people have said the team is stacked. I saw a roster but not sure if it was up to date. Noteworthy players I saw

SP Blayne Enlow
SP Tyler Watson
SP Tyler Wells
SP Bryan Sammons
RP Jovani Moran

c Banuelos
C rortvedt

2b Miranda
ss Lewis
3b Bechtold
Utility jordan gore

Of kiriloff
Of baddoo

Nope, Wells is in Fort Myers. 

[gunnarthor]

 

c Banuelos
C rortvedt

2b Miranda
ss Lewis
3b Bechtold
Utility jordan gore

Of kiriloff
Of baddoo

Jeepers, that's going to be a heck of a line-up to watch. 

[bean5302]

I don't think much of any of this other than the Twins are very bullish on Romero. AA sees a lot of talent. In fact, in general, there is probably superior, but less polished, talent in AA. Romero is in AAA to prove he's ready for MLB.

 

AAA is where players go to polish their approaches, and where a lot of players who simply aren't, and never will be, good enough to consistently play at the MLB level. That said, a lot of the players in AAA are the wily veteran types compared to lower MiLB standards. Experienced baseball players with advanced approaches at the plate or the ability to control their pitch placement.

 

Top prospects frequently don't spend full seasons in AAA. I think AAA is usually used as a litmus test for a few weeks to a couple months to verify a player can demonstrate their success isn't just the result of being able to sit back and wait for a pitcher to screw up and leave a fat meatball over the plate once an at bat, etc.

[Kelly Vance]

 

Very surprised about Gordon. With Polancos suspension, Twins are lacking depth at SS. Seems like they would put Gordon at AAA and hope he performs well there.

Just as easy to call him up from the Lookouts, if they need him. I think they want him to work on some things.  

[Mike Sixel]

 

Just as easy to call him up from the Lookouts, if they need him. I think they want him to work on some things.  

 

He can work on those same things in Rochester, I'd think.

[Kelly Vance]

Twins don't think so, or he'd be there.  I think there will be less pressure on him in AA. Remember, he is still pretty young. Anyway, I can't get too excited about where Gordon plays. He is still a year away. 

[jkcarew]

Gordon to Chattanooga might not have anything to say unfavorable regarding how the FO is viewing him.  It could be that they want to mitigate the current infield depth risk as much as possible by having both Gregorio Petit (or whoever they view as the top veteran minor-league SS) and Gordon playing every day, and playing SS every day.  Also, serves the purpose of giving Gordon more opportunity to continue to develop at short?

 

If Gordon starts out playing 2B at Chattanooga...never mind.

[twinssouth]

Rooker going to Chattanooga, man is that aggressive and great news

[John Kelsey]

 

Rooker going to Chattanooga, man is that aggressive and great news

 

What position is Rooker expected to play this year? 1B?

[nicksaviking]

 

What position is Rooker expected to play this year? 1B?

 

All of them, and at the same time surely.

 

Gordon at AA makes sense with Polanco out and Aybar in the wind. There's very little depth at SS and Gordon isn't next in line to get the job. The more veteran Petit is almost certainly the next call up so he's the guy that makes sense for Rochester.

 

From a roster perspective anyway. 

[Seth Stohs]

 

What position is Rooker expected to play this year? 1B?

 

He'll play a lot of 1B, but he'll also play left field. Zander Wiel played a lot of left field this spring, very little at 1B. 

[gunnarthor]

 

Rooker going to Chattanooga, man is that aggressive and great news

Wow. They must really believe in his bat. That's great.

[FormerMinnasotan]

If milb.com is right it looks like not only is Stephen Gonsalves and Nick Gordon starting in AA but so if Felix Jorge. I would have thought Jorge was almost a lock for AAA considering his success in AA last year. Also where is Lachlan Wells? His name isn’t on Ft Myers’ roster and I haven’t seen his name on Chattanooga’s roster as well.

[h2oface]

The Rochester roster looks forgettable, except for a few of the pitchers, and Vargas and Granite. Strange.

 

And I still have a hard time swallowing that Toby Gardenhire is managing in the system instead of Doug Mientkiewicz. He will be managing a lot of the most important prospects in the system! Looks like Gardenhire helped get Mientkiewicz an AAA job in Toledo. Still weird, that the younger, had nothing, inexperienced  Gardenhire is not in the Detroit system now, but in the system that fired his daddy, and Mientkiewicz, a proven winner, is in Detroit.

 

http://www.startribune.com/with-the-detroit-tigers-ron-gardenhire-went-to-bat-for-former-twin-doug-mientkiewicz/474395273/

 

Mientkiewicz was dropped as an always-winning manager in the minor leagues by the Twins’ new regime last fall.

“I know that Doug is a really good hitting teacher,’’ Gardenhire said Friday. “And the players love playing for this guy, even if he brings some tough love to the clubhouse.

“I’m not sure what happened between him and the people there in Minnesota.’’

Then, Gardy smiled and said, “I do know he’s not afraid of voicing an opinion.’’

[Squirrel]

If milb.com is right it looks like not only is Stephen Gonsalves and Nick Gordon starting in AA but so if Felix Jorge. I would have thought Jorge was almost a lock for AAA considering his success in AA last year. Also where is Lachlan Wells? His name isn’t on Ft Myers’ roster and I haven’t seen his name on Chattanooga’s roster as well.

Jorge will be in Rochester. Not sure where Lachlan Wells will be.

[gunnarthor]

 

The Rochester roster looks forgettable, except for a few of the pitchers, and Vargas and Granite. Strange.

 

And I still have a hard time swallowing that Toby Gardenhire is managing in the system instead of Doug Mientkiewicz. He will be managing a lot of the most important prospects in the system! Looks like Gardenhire helped get Mientkiewicz an AAA job in Toledo. Still weird, that the younger, had nothing, inexperienced  Gardenhire is not in the Detroit system now, but in the system that fired his daddy, and Mientkiewicz, a proven winner, is in Detroit.

 

In fairness, I believe Toby has managed in college before.

[Oxtung]

 

The level of competition in AAA and AA is pretty similar, with the difference that the AA has some younger organizational players who will never make it to the bigs because they have certain flaws, while the AAA has older players who were not good enough to stay in the bigs when they made it because they have certain flaws.  Both leagues have prospects also.

 

It really does not matter at that level and the Twins (and any other team) can promote someone from either AAA or AA the same...

 

The only difference is few extra $ in players pockets in AAA, which in the case of Gordon and Gonsalves who both received decent bonuses does not matter that much...

You're right about a player like Gordon. If the Twins feel he is ready Petit or Featherston won't block Gordon from getting the call whether he's in Chattanooga or Rochester.

 

On the other hand, Gonsalves beginning the season in AA almost guarantees he isn't going to be called up any time soon. If the Twins need a pitcher for more than a spot start they aren't going to dip into AA when there are legitimate prospects available in Romero and Mejia available at AAA.

[Guest]

 

You're right about a player like Gordon. If the Twins feel he is ready Petit or Featherston won't block Gordon from getting the call whether he's in Chattanooga or Rochester.

 

On the other hand, Gonsalves beginning the season in AA almost guarantees he isn't going to be called up any time soon. If the Twins need a pitcher for more than a spot start they aren't going to dip into AA when there are legitimate prospects available in Romero and Mejia available at AAA.

 

You may be right about the pecking order if the Twins need a guy for an extended period of time, but with Santana coming back in a month, it seems less likely that's going to be a need real soon. 

 

On the other hand, for a spot start, it seems like the deciding factor is as much about which guy would be pitching with the appropriate number of days of rest as it would be about who is considered the most ready. 

 

With Santana and eventually May coming back over the next couple of months, I'd expect (maybe "hope" is a better word) that we see fewer emergency starts from SP prospects who aren't really quite ready for the big leagues yet. 

[Vanimal46]

You're right about a player like Gordon. If the Twins feel he is ready Petit or Featherston won't block Gordon from getting the call whether he's in Chattanooga or Rochester.

 

On the other hand, Gonsalves beginning the season in AA almost guarantees he isn't going to be called up any time soon. If the Twins need a pitcher for more than a spot start they aren't going to dip into AA when there are legitimate prospects available in Romero and Mejia available at AAA.

Concur about the pitching order you discussed. Romero moved ahead of Gonsalves after his impressive spring.

 

I do hope Gonsalves makes his way to AAA in a reasonable time. He has 28 AA starts under his belt already.

[ashbury]

I think the message to Gonsalves might be simple: do well against the top of the batting order at AA and then utterly blow away the bottom half. Then you'll get your AAA promotion.

[Oxtung]

 

I think the message to Gonsalves might be simple: do well against the top of the batting order at AA and then utterly blow away the bottom half. Then you'll get your AAA promotion.

Isn't that what happened in 2017? 2.68 ERA and 10 K/9, 2.4 BB/9, 1.031 WHIP.

[ashbury]

Isn't that what happened in 2017? 2.68 ERA and 10 K/9, 2.4 BB/9, 1.031 WHIP.

I don't know for sure. The number of competing arms is greater, so his best course of action is to improve further.

[amjgt]

They sure do. But I think they're on a short leash. I would think from a marketing stand point the Twins might be able to build a fan base in Nashville due to proximity (I know it's not exactly close to the Twins Cities.) The only baseball teams close to Nashville are the Braves and Cincinnati (4.5 and 5 he's drive, respectively.) With the Twins having two other Affiliates in the state, Chattanooga and Elizabethton, why not make it a third?! Weather is also decent in Spring with only rain-outs to contend with. Plus, Nashville is a terrific and growing city! Twins fans would LOVE visiting Nashville to see some of their prospects play!

I assume if the Twins FO could snap their fingers and move their AAA club to Nashville, they absolutely would.

[Vanimal46]

 

I assume if the Twins FO could snap their fingers and move their AAA club to Nashville, they absolutely would.

 

There's gold in them thar hills of Nashville! Who wouldn't want their minor league team in one of the best cities to live in the US? 

[FormerMinnasotan]

I am perplexed that Gonsalves was sent to AA. I believe both Gonsalves and Romero belong in AAA. Moreover it looks like Gonsalves is falling further behind in the pecking order to get called up as Zack Littell, not Gonsalves is the opening day starter.