Article: Prospectus: Early Dividends

[Seth Stohs]

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php?r=1610-Prospectus-Early-Dividends

[righty8383]

Seth, do we know anything more on Kepler? I saw the Jeffrey Johnson tweet that you retweeted saying Kepler and Chargois are not close. Perhaps Kepler's elbow is worse than we thought?

[Don't Feed the Greed Guy]

Great update, Seth! These are the sort of articles that make me a fan of Twins Daily. I'm stoked for the Twins' future. TWO questions, however:

 

1. You rate Sano slightly higher than Buxton, and use only offensive numbers to qualify your ranking--two tools are hitting for average and hitting for power. Do you project Sano's arm, speed, and glove at the same level, or better than Buxton's ceiling? If all we are looking at is offense, then I'd give Sano the nod too, but are you missing something here? (Sano is sneaky fast, btw... I saw him steal 3rd last summer in a game at Beloit. For a big man, he's got wheels!)

 

2. I appreciate what AJ Petterson is doing at the dish. His .360 batting average at Ft. Myers is fantasic, although he hit .248 last year at Beloit. He's a fan favorite with his posts to Twins Daily. He's not in your top 30, though. Does he have a chance, in your opinion?

 

Cheering from the nosebleeds,

Don't Feed the Greed.

[Pitz]

Thanks Seth.

Any thoughts or info on how the Miracle will handle Levi Michael's return? I can't see Double Doug taking playing time away from Pettersen after what he has done to start the season. Will they move AJ around throughout a given week (2B and Rosario to OF, 3B and Sano DH, while also getting a couple games at SS)?

 

Also, I was wondering about DJ Baxendale. It seems to me that he would probably be moving onto this list somewhere if you were to redo it today. But I'm basically just scouting box scores and haven't read any reports on him. I believe that I've seen a couple times in different posts that thrylos is pretty high on him.

[DAM DC Twins Fans]

Good article Seth

 

You included 3 Kernals pitchers (I count Berrios--admittedly only one start)--just curious as to why my prospect (Brett Lee) wasnt one of them (I know you have good reasons)--Lee's numbers are arguably better than the other two (cant count Berrios) especially his low BB rate (0 this year in only 3 appearances due to weather)....

[Seth Stohs]

Seth, do we know anything more on Kepler? I saw the Jeffrey Johnson tweet that you retweeted saying Kepler and Chargois are not close. Perhaps Kepler's elbow is worse than we thought?

 

He's had a couple of separate set backs.

[Seth Stohs]

Great update' date=' Seth! These are the sort of articles that make me a fan of Twins Daily. I'm stoked for the Twins' future. TWO questions, however:

 

1. You rate Sano slightly higher than Buxton, and use only offensive numbers to qualify your ranking--two tools are hitting for average and hitting for power. Do you project Sano's arm, speed, and glove at the same level, or better than Buxton's ceiling? If all we are looking at is offense, then I'd give Sano the nod too, but are you missing something here? (Sano is sneaky fast, btw... I saw him steal 3rd last summer in a game at Beloit. For a big man, he's got wheels!)

 

2. I appreciate what AJ Petterson is doing at the dish. His .360 batting average at Ft. Myers is fantasic, although he hit .248 last year at Beloit. He's a fan favorite with his posts to Twins Daily. He's not in your top 30, though. Does he have a chance, in your opinion?

 

Cheering from the nosebleeds,

Don't Feed the Greed.[/quote']

 

Regarding Sano/Buxton - First, this was my rankings in my Twins Prospect Handbook, considered my preseason ranking. After seeing Buxton play 3 games and four practices, I'm ready to move Buxton into a 1a/1b scenario with Sano. As you mentioned, if you're solely looking at offense, Sano is teh clear #1. In fact, I'd probably have Arcia and possibly even Sano ahead of Buxton (though I might not). Sano's arm is as strong as Buxton's. Buxton's defense is very good. And speed, Buxton may be the fastest player in the minor leagues. So yes, Overall prospect, it's a toss-up with Sano and Buxton.

 

As for AJ, that's a good question. He's done a nice job with the Miracle this year. He's gone from utility type to every day shortstop in just a matter of 2 weeks. A year ago on a podcast, AJ acknowledged that he's probably not a prospect. That said, there isn't an organization in baseball that values with Pettersen is and can be as a ball player more than the Twins. He can play any position and is willing to do anything. He pitched once last year. He caught bullpens. He can start and hold his own. He's got enough bat. He takes quality plate appearances. He does a lot of things right, but he'll likely never fit into the Prospect category. But do I think he can get to the big leagues? I do. That's not to say he will, and he's still 3 promotions from the big leagues, but he can keep working and eventually be a utility type.

[Seth Stohs]

Thanks Seth.

Any thoughts or info on how the Miracle will handle Levi Michael's return? I can't see Double Doug taking playing time away from Pettersen after what he has done to start the season. Will they move AJ around throughout a given week (2B and Rosario to OF, 3B and Sano DH, while also getting a couple games at SS)?

 

Also, I was wondering about DJ Baxendale. It seems to me that he would probably be moving onto this list somewhere if you were to redo it today. But I'm basically just scouting box scores and haven't read any reports on him. I believe that I've seen a couple times in different posts that thrylos is pretty high on him.

 

Well, sadly, in minor league baseball, money often talks. Meaning... Michael got a million dollar bonus. Pettersen signed for peanuts. Who do you think it going to be the primary SS when Michael returns. I hope you are right though, that AJ gets to play quite a bit. He can play 3 IF spots and played a lot of left field too.

 

Baxendale would likely be in the 20s somewhere. He put up some solid numbers in 2012 after signing. He pitched out of the bullpen in E-Town and Beloit and dominated. Now he's been moved to starter, which is what he did in college and made him the Twins 10th round pick a year ago. There's statistical reason to like him, but I'm going to see how he progresses in Ft. Myers for a couple of months before moving him up too far.

[Seth Stohs]

Good article Seth

 

You included 3 Kernals pitchers (I count Berrios--admittedly only one start)--just curious as to why my prospect (Brett Lee) wasnt one of them (I know you have good reasons)--Lee's numbers are arguably better than the other two (cant count Berrios) especially his low BB rate (0 this year in only 3 appearances due to weather)....

 

He's a mid-round pick from last year's draft who pitched out of the ET bullpen last year. That isn't someone who profiles as a Top 30 guy. That isn't a knock. The question isn't his stuff, but I don't know what his role will be. Like others, if he keeps putting up numbers, he'll get into a top 30 in time.