2019 Twins 5th in Minor League Win Percentage

[Seth Stohs]

https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2019-mlb-organization-standings-and-league-champions/

 

While we all know that the most important purpose of the minor leagues is Player Development, there's nothing wrong with winning at the same time. With a record of 361-309, the Twins were fifth in baseball in minor league winning percentage in 2019. 

 

They were behind the Rays, Dodgers, Rangers and Diamondbacks. 

 

 

I do believe that 'learning to win' can and should be part of the development process. 

[operation mindcrime]

Awesome! It was a fantastic year for the entire organization! I liked our draft picks and international signings as well! Go Twins!!!!! \m/

[goulik]

If our minor leagues are full of prospects and we have one of the deepest systems, I would expect a high winning percentage. Guess we’re as deep as we thought they were!

;D

[ashbury]

If our minor leagues are full of prospects and we have one of the deepest systems, I would expect a high winning percentage. Guess we’re as deep as we thought they were!

;D

You could have the best prospects and still have a mediocre winning pct if you had them consistently a level or two too high for their state of development. Conversely you could "win" a lot with the right 24-year olds at single-A and rookie leagues. I'm happy with a good W-L record (echoing Seth's thread-starter) but it validates only a little.

[bird]

There appears to be a convincingly strong correlation, as one might surmise, between the perceived quality of a farm system and the W-L record.

 

All but 1 of the top 6 systems in W-L record are among FanGraph's top 7 in farm rankings. Texas is the exception.

 

However, Texas had the 4th most prospects graded by FG at 35+ or better (56). The average system had 33 such prospects, whereas TBR had 59, MN had 50, SD had 61, AZ had 48, LAD had 40. This equates to having 2-3 more "true prospects" on each team compared to your average roster. Maybe most critically, the average system only has 11 pitchers worthy of a 40FV grade or better, whereas the top 6 in W-L have an average of 17 such pitchers, so those teams are throwing one more stud pitchers at you every 4th or 5th game.

[DocBauer]

Big believer in teams, any sport and any level, learning how to win. Of course, as stated, that is not the primary function of the minors.

 

Related, one thing that really pleased me this season was how many guys stepped forward as prospects, and to help those teams achieve winning numbers, even after so many top 20 guys missed significant time or battled nagging injuries.