A good swing is basically all that matters.  You can have all the athleticism in the world and if you can't hit the ball you are a black hole on offense.  You don't need a ton of athleticism to play 1st, 3rd, Left field, DH and maybe even 2nd Base.  You can hide that if you find guys that hit.  Arraez is a good example.  He has no above average tools except his bat and yet he is more valuable than say a Pedro Floriman type player who has good speed, good arm, good defense but a horrible bat.  Arraez can still play decent defense and can help the offense.

 

While I agree you can't teach speed and arm strength teaching someone how to hit is no easy task either. Ask Bechtold, Pearson and Celestino.  Lot's of players never learn to do it well enough to make it.  Even guys with excellent approaches have trouble I'm thinking Lamonte Wade.  I just think that guys with better hit tools have a greater chance to make it because offense is so important.  Defense can only take you so far.  If you can't hit you can't move up.  If you can't move up you can't make it.  Hit tool is the most important thing then defense\athleticism.

But wouldn't having a great hit tool qualify as athleticism?  It might not be the traditional "measurables" gospel, but as I posted above I'm very happy with the new direction of the Twins org.  To get to my point; it seems analytics have started to redefine the definition of athleticism.

I'm willing to trust the plan. We are playing well and have depth in most places on the farm. I'm willing to have faith.

Do not know how our draft will turn out.  some make it most don't.  Expect some of our middle infield depth will soon be waring different uniforms in exchange for pitching help.

Draft bats, draft bats, and then draft more bats. Trade your excess bats for proven pitching. I love this strategy 

 

I like that in theory, and at a broad view I'm sure it works out sometimes. But don't trades for impact MLB-level pitching very often include at least one significant pitching prospect in return?

I like that in theory, and at a broad view I'm sure it works out sometimes. But don't trades for impact MLB-level pitching very often include at least one significant pitching prospect in return?

Not always. Power is a pretty sought after commodity

I like that in theory, and at a broad view I'm sure it works out sometimes. But don't trades for impact MLB-level pitching very often include at least one significant pitching prospect in return?

Plus you have to be willing to part with Great prospects under this plan. We'll see if that is the plan soon.

If you have ever wanted to review the entire Twins draft from a given year, you can find the information at Baseball Reference.  The link below is an example and shows a stunningly weak 2011 draft for the Twins:

 

https://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/?team_ID=MIN&year_ID=2011&draft_type=junreg&query_type=franch_year&from_type_jc=0&from_type_hs=0&from_type_4y=0&from_type_unk=0

 

I seem to recall a site that gave similar information but stated whether or not each player signed during that particular year.  Anyone else remember seeing anything like that?

 

 

If you have ever wanted to review the entire Twins draft from a given year, you can find the information at Baseball Reference.  The link below is an example and shows a stunningly weak 2011 draft for the Twins:

 

https://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/?team_ID=MIN&year_ID=2011&draft_type=junreg&query_type=franch_year&from_type_jc=0&from_type_hs=0&from_type_4y=0&from_type_unk=0

 

I seem to recall a site that gave similar information but stated whether or not each player signed during that particular year.  Anyone else remember seeing anything like that?

 

cool, but cruel to put the link on that draft....

Huh. I didn’t realize the twins had drafted George springer in 2008. Bummer.

 

But wouldn't having a great hit tool qualify as athleticism?  It might not be the traditional "measurables" gospel, but as I posted above I'm very happy with the new direction of the Twins org.  To get to my point; it seems analytics have started to redefine the definition of athleticism.

 

Sure it can if you want to view it that way.  I was simply responding to the poster who said who cares if a player has a good swing? It can simply be taught.  Yet it is not that simple.  Having that skill going in typically translates well to MLB success that is why those players are chosen first in the draft.  it doesn't mean they will be successful just that they have a better chance.  To the posters point some players do learn and develop that skill but I feel the odds are much steeper for that happening than he does.

 

For the most part I am very happy with what the FO has done.  I have been wrong about several picks they have made and I am pleased with the quality of hitters they found deep in the draft.  Now if they could do the same with pitchers I will be even more happy.

 

Don't get me wrong as I believe in development but you take on risk when you pick players that can just run fast or throw hard or have good power.  They can have those abilities but if they can't hit they are a wasted pick because they will never make it.  The upside is huge though because if you can develop their hit tool then you might have an All Star caliber player.  IMO you need to balance yourself between the two.  At least at the beginning of this draft I felt they were ignoring hit tools which is something they hadn't done in previous drafts.

 

Granted it is hard for me to know much as I am not a scout and only have second hand information to guide me.  MLB.com had Jeffers with 40 or 45 hit tool and they are way off.  He easily has a 50 hit tool and with development could maybe even get to a 55.  I think the FO has I plan I just don't always get it.

Edited June 5, 20197 yr by Dman

 

Ugh. I happened to be looking at BPA on mlb's draft tracker. And I saw the DOBs.

 

Ouch.

(Edit because FML that was too tall)

 

Gen Z'ers.

 

Prato has some swagger:

 

 

https://www.theuconnblog.com/2019/5/31/18648021/watch-uconn-huskies-baseball-shortstop-anthony-prato-makes-incredible-diving-catch-ncaa-tournament

That catch has been on TV a lot - it was pretty impressive.

 

Ugh. I happened to be looking at BPA on mlb's draft tracker. And I saw the DOBs.

 

Ouch.

(Edit because FML that was too tall)

 

USAFChief takes one look at these dates and says, "1900, 1901? They might be experienced enough to make a contribution."

If you have ever wanted to review the entire Twins draft from a given year, you can find the information at Baseball Reference.  The link below is an example and shows a stunningly weak 2011 draft for the Twins:

 

https://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/?team_ID=MIN&year_ID=2011&draft_type=junreg&query_type=franch_year&from_type_jc=0&from_type_hs=0&from_type_4y=0&from_type_unk=0

 

I seem to recall a site that gave similar information but stated whether or not each player signed during that particular year.  Anyone else remember seeing anything like that?

 

I remember being fairly positive about that draft too, I thought Michael was for sure a solid pick and Boyd and Harrison looked like they could develop into top of the line starters. Who knew we wouldn't get anything out of that draft at all

Dang, Gross has a degree from Princeton (in 3 years!!!!) And presumably some masters work at Duke. Are we sure we can really get him to sign for a normal senior price? Seems like he would have a lot of opportunities ahead of him

 

The White Sox just drafted culinary artist James Beard.

For the sake of their locker room dining table, I hope they didn't grab Paul Prudhomme too!

 

If you have ever wanted to review the entire Twins draft from a given year, you can find the information at Baseball Reference.  The link below is an example and shows a stunningly weak 2011 draft for the Twins:

 

https://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/?team_ID=MIN&year_ID=2011&draft_type=junreg&query_type=franch_year&from_type_jc=0&from_type_hs=0&from_type_4y=0&from_type_unk=0

 

I seem to recall a site that gave similar information but stated whether or not each player signed during that particular year.  Anyone else remember seeing anything like that?

You think that was bad, check out 2007! https://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/?team_ID=MIN&year_ID=2007&draft_type=junreg&query_type=franch_year

 

You think that was bad, check out 2007! https://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/?team_ID=MIN&year_ID=2007&draft_type=junreg&query_type=franch_year

I was on-board the Angel Morales hype train after he hit .301 and had 15 homers as an 18 year old in E'town, and followed it up with a respectable showing as a 19 year old in the Midwest League. 

I looked through a couple other years. Yikes... No wonder we were terrible for a bit

So, based on their Day 2 draft, it sees like Elizabethton will field an opening day defense of a pitcher, a catcher and seven middle infielders.

I like the strategy of going after high-upside hitters and then then going after pitching later (and in international/free agent situations).

 

Hitting is a little more projectable, and there are fewer players out there with real high-end hit tools and command of the strike zone. There dare usually indications that a hitter is going to beak out. Things are more readily measured and applied.

 

Pitching is harder to project. Guys add/subtract velocity for various reasons. Catastrophic injury is more likely (blown elbows are common these days). Development of pitches is unknowable (how do you know if a guy has a feel for throwing a change-up if he’s never thrown one before? Guys have developed knuckleballs and won the Cy Young, Martin Perez’s cutter out of nowhere, Johan Santana’s change, etc.).

 

Bottom line, I think you can grab guys that throw hard outside of the early rounds and develop them (we’re seeing it in the Twins system with Balazovic). I think you’re much more likely to find a guy like that these days (technology, advanced stats, etc) than finding an elite hitter in some obscure place.

 

Could be way off, just a feeling.

 

If you have ever wanted to review the entire Twins draft from a given year, you can find the information at Baseball Reference.  The link below is an example and shows a stunningly weak 2011 draft for the Twins:

 

https://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/?team_ID=MIN&year_ID=2011&draft_type=junreg&query_type=franch_year&from_type_jc=0&from_type_hs=0&from_type_4y=0&from_type_unk=0

 

I seem to recall a site that gave similar information but stated whether or not each player signed during that particular year.  Anyone else remember seeing anything like that?

 

Ummm, there's a column to the left of the draftees name with a Y/N for whether they signed with the drafting team.

Baseball America used to have a tracker like this that listed how much they signed for.