Article: Walker, Hicks Power E-Twins to Unlikely Appy League Title

[Seth Stohs]

You can view the page at http://www.twinsdaily.com/content.php?1006-Walker-Hicks-Power-E-Twins-to-Unlikely-Appy-League-Title

[clutterheart]

Great write up Seth

I noted this at Twinkietown but thought I would post here as well:

The average age of the Royals was 20.5 while the Twins are Twins 20.3

This is not the typical case of Twins sending a bunch of polished College players out and beating up kids. This is a young team beating the Royals who have had top draft choices for the last decade. The Royals feature one of the games top prospects in Bubba Starling and some good pitchers as well.

 

Two 2 out HRs, one to tie the game and 1 to win it. What a fun game to follow.

[JP3700]

What a game! To be honest I had given up when I saw it was 6-1 going into the 9th but when I went back to check it was 6-6 in the bottom of the 12th. Then Niko walked, they intentionally walked Maximillion and D.J. came through!

 

What a clutch home run by Adam Walker. To hit a home run, when you know you have to have it, for a league championship, WOW! On top of that he's still 20 years old. I was excited when the twins stole him in the 3rd round. I had read he was raw with 80 power and had Giancarlo Stanton comparisons on MLB.com. They seem to have nailed it on the head with the rookie season he had.

 

With the major league team in the state they're in, it's nice see our youngsters getting it done. Good job E-Twins! Next up.. Beloit!!!

[Shane Wahl]

Great way to end a great season. That team was loaded. Beloit is going to dominate next year.

[clutterheart]

Beloit is going to dominate next year.

 

We will see. The offense should be good but the pitching staff will have a lot of 2012 draft picks being starters for their first full seasons and that could be a dicey affair.

The organization is looking strong when it comes to hitters but its pitching still looks very weak. Hopefully Berrios will be the star at Beliot next year with someone like Mark Appel as his wing man after the 2013 draft.

[Shane Wahl]

Beloit is going to dominate next year.

 

We will see. The offense should be good but the pitching staff will have a lot of 2012 draft picks being starters for their first full seasons and that could be a dicey affair.

The organization is looking strong when it comes to hitters but its pitching still looks very weak. Hopefully Berrios will be the star at Beliot next year with someone like Mark Appel as his wing man after the 2013 draft.

 

I don't even know if Berrios will start out at Beloit (innings). Anyway, Tim Shibuya will be back. I don't know how many innings some of those guys threw in HS or college, so I am not totally worried about some of them and their innings. Boyd and Mata should be pretty good for 80-90 innings at least. The relief pitching is going to be pretty stellar at least until some of those guys hopefully get promoted to Fort Myers (after the draft).

[Seth Stohs]

Typically, what happens in E-Town has pretty much no reflection on what will happen the following year in Beloit. It's always interesting to see that transition.

 

I still have to look back to see if what I heard on the radio last night was real. What an incredible ninth inning, and extra innings were so tense and fun to listen to.

[Mr. Ed]

Walker has power. Patience will be needed w/Swings and misses. DJ Hicks has size, power,too.

 

Rory Rhodes is entering a make/break year. Too much time missed again after sent back to Eliz

[J-Dog Dungan]

Holy crud, I was so not expecting that. After the 4th, I was like, yeah no way are they pulling this game out. Geeez, what a way to end the year! That has to be so depressing for the Royals and I would imagine that the Twins' are still partying.

[Seth Stohs]

Holy crud, I was so not expecting that. After the 4th, I was like, yeah no way are they pulling this game out. Geeez, what a way to end the year! That has to be so depressing for the Royals and I would imagine that the Twins' are still partying.

 

I'm sure they're not. Many of them had to be at the field this morning by 4 a.m. to get to the airport and fly home.

[RinaldiPhotos]

It will be interesting to see how Harrison, Walker and Kepler do in A ball next year (most likely in CR).

IF the Twins do draft Appel I'm pretty sure he would start in high A but that's dependent on Iinnings Pitched and his Pitch Count from Stanford. It will be interesting to see how Manea does with ISU this year and if he can work himself into a top 3 pick. I also wouldn't be suprised if they take a long look at Stanek if Appel is gone. Other than the top 3 pitchers there isn't much in the class P wise.

[hitbypitch]

Walker has power. Patience will be needed w/Swings and misses. DJ Hicks has size, power,too.

 

Rory Rhodes is entering a make/break year. Too much time missed again after sent back to Eliz

 

Rory Rhodes hadn't been playing much these last couple weeks and has mostly been coaching first base.

[Seth Stohs]

The other side of the story, from the Royals' perspective: http://www.thetimesnews.com/sports/playoff-58743-reaction-burlington.html

 

“It’s the worst defeat I’ve ever experienced in professional baseball,” Royals manager Tommy Shields said. “This will take awhile (to get over).”

 

“That’s baseball,” first baseman Mark Threlkeld said. “It will rip your heart out. It will have you floating on clouds one minute and the next minute it’s bringing you back to reality.”

[glunn]

This was very well written and brightened my day. What an inspiring win.

[kab21]

Great write up Seth

I noted this at Twinkietown but thought I would post here as well:

The average age of the Royals was 20.5 while the Twins are Twins 20.3

This is not the typical case of Twins sending a bunch of polished College players out and beating up kids. This is a young team beating the Royals who have had top draft choices for the last decade. The Royals feature one of the games top prospects in Bubba Starling and some good pitchers as well.

 

The big advantage that E-Town has is that the Twins aren't splitting up their short season prospects between 3 leagues like several teams do. Guys like Kepler and Goodrum probably wouldn't have repeated at ETown if the Twins had a more advanced team below beloit.

[shs_59]

WOW.....i remember looking at the boxscore 3-4 times in a couple of hours....

 

and in the 9th exited and went to bed thinking it was OVER.... congrats to Burlington!

 

WHAT I CAN"T BELIEVE THIS HAPPENED ! wow

 

thats baseball for you.....No way.....I was reading this article/ post thinking it was a prank the WHOLE WAY.

 

what?!?!

 

seriously this happended?

[Seth Stohs]

 

Video proof of DJ Hicks home run and the E-Twins celebration!