Article: Twins Minor League Report (5/23): Baxendale, Darnell Shine

[Seth Stohs]

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php?r=1767-Twins-Minor-League-Report-(5-23)-Baxendale-Darnell-Shine

[clutterheart]

Great game by Darnell. He looks like he is trying out for the Role held by Duensing. he has a .47 ERA vs lefties - But I still can't figure out how they determine ERA by the handedness of the batter.

 

Seth

Any updates on Kepler & Bard? Two months in and nothing from those guys.

[Shane Wahl]

Baxendale needs to be promoted to New Britain. Morales too. And the rest should follow. There is no need to wait anymore for those two. And J.D. Williams.

 

Anyway, I am glad to see Darnell bust a game like that out. I had almost given up on those guys (Darnell, Dean, etc.) as a whole.

[rickyhawaii]

Gotta be happy for Angel Morales. he's been pretty much written off, but still has some potential. he's really good at hitting lefties. his defense and arm are still strong. Could be a possible four OFer or good bench guy..i hope they keep him around for a couple more years.

[Richard Campbell]

What has happened to Rosario? He has not had a hit in a week or two and has not played that much.

[Jeff A]

It's definitely time to move Baxendale up. I know he doesn't strike a lot of guys out, but he's completely dominating the FSL. It accomplishes nothing to keep him in a league that he's obviously too good to be in.

[Seth Stohs]

Let me try to answer a few questions in one spot here. Might lump some things here.

 

With the Twins taking Walters and Deduno, and likely eventually Gibson, from Rochester, they're going to need someone in the rotation. Have to think that Darnell has earned a shot in Rochester. That opens up a spot in New Britain for Baxendale, etc. yes, Worley went down, but someone is going to have to get DFAd and we'll see how it all plays out.

 

I'm really happy for Morales. he's a terrific guy. He was drafted very young out of Puerto Rico. Contact is his issue, but I think he' the type that could move up to New Britain and do a little bit better.

 

Regarding Rosario... there are reasons. he was hit by the pitch several days ago, but he has returned from that. I'll just say that he is healthy.

 

Regarding Kepler and Bard. I posted a minor league injury report in the Minor League forum last week that has about 30 updates. But to these two specifically. Kepler has an elbow issue, but he started DHing in EST late last week. Could see him in Beloit soon. I hope. Bard has a shoulder impingement so they figured it would be another month.

[shanemcdowell]

Doesn't Levi Michael have something like a 10+ game hitting streak? Is he starting to "figure it out?"

[Otto von Ballpark]

Great game by Darnell. He looks like he is trying out for the Role held by Duensing. he has a .47 ERA vs lefties - But I still can't figure out how they determine ERA by the handedness of the batter

I don't know how they do that either (at the milb.com site). The better measure will be opponent's OPS, which is part of the awesome new B-Ref minor league splits:

 

Logan Darnell 2013 Minor League Gamelogs & Splits - Baseball-Reference.com

 

Darnell's at .545 vs LHB, and .735 vs RHB. His league's total OPS is .723.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Doesn't Levi Michael have something like a 10+ game hitting streak? Is he starting to "figure it out?"

 

12 games. He's got 6 doubles in that span, but otherwise it's pretty empty as far as hitting streaks go (.775 OPS):

 

Levi Michael Minor League Gamelogs & Splits - Baseball-Reference.com

 

He's got a .691 OPS on the season, in a league he's repeating after posting a .649 last year.

[jsimssd72]

.Regarding Kepler and Bard. I posted a minor league injury report in the Minor League forum last week that has about 30 updates. But to these two specifically. Kepler has an elbow issue, but he started DHing in EST late last week. Could see him in Beloit soon. I hope. Bard has a shoulder impingement so they figured it would be another month.

 

I sure hope they don't send Kepler to Beloit. Unless the Twins get something good in the trade. (Old habits are hard to break I guess.)

[Mike Sixel]

It's too bad Bard, Melotakis, and Chargois aren't doing much (or anything) this year. That was a lot of high draft picks, with nothing to show for them.

[roger]

Someone who needs to be considered for a promotion is Beresford. I know his slugging percentage is less than his on base percentage, but the kid continues to hit for a great average, while striking out at only a 17% rate. And with only two errors in 31 games, he is getting it done defensively.

 

Beresford's promotion would open a spot for Rosario, when he is back. That would enable the Miracle to keep Mejia who has struck out (4) less than he has walked (6) in 50 at bats. Having more stolen bases (7) than K's is sick! Defensively, he hasn't made an error. I know the Twins philosophy on young player development. But do you think he will stay at Fort Myers or will he automatically go to ETon a month from now?

 

Mejia along with Polanco and Rosario, you can no longer say that the organization is week at second base.

[Han Joelo]

Cryptic comment about Rosario, Seth. I hope he's not in too much trouble.

Bad timing with Michael and Meija doing well. Is Meija an under the radar breakout guy? At any rate, the Twins now have several intriguing MI prospects in the low minors.

[jimbo92107]

DJ Baxendale could be as much a key to the team's success in coming years as Alex Meyer or Trevor May. The Twins need to get lucky with a later round draft pick, hopefully a couple of them. Somebody has to emerge out of nowhere, maybe by learning a new pitch that's surprisingly hard to hit, whatever.

[Seth Stohs]

I sure hope they don't send Kepler to Beloit. Unless the Twins get something good in the trade. (Old habits are hard to break I guess.)

 

I would have thought I'd have had that habit broken long ago.

[Seth Stohs]

Cryptic comment about Rosario, Seth. I hope he's not in too much trouble.

Bad timing with Michael and Meija doing well. Is Meija an under the radar breakout guy? At any rate, the Twins now have several intriguing MI prospects in the low minors.

 

Some things need to stay within a clubhouse and that's fine with me. I'll respect that. It isn't anything legal or off field though. Not a huge deal. And, Rosario has nothing to worry about with Michaels or Mejia, I'm sure.

 

Mejia spent two years in the GCL. he's an athlete. Good speed, very talented, but it's just 13 games. But his name is on the radar, for sure. He actually got off to an amazing start tow years ago in the GCL and then ended up posting a very low OPS there. Last year, he was good. He should be a top player at elizabethton too.

[cmb0252]

DJ Baxendale could be as much a key to the team's success in coming years as Alex Meyer or Trevor May. The Twins need to get lucky with a later round draft pick, hopefully a couple of them. Somebody has to emerge out of nowhere, maybe by learning a new pitch that's surprisingly hard to hit, whatever.

 

Baxendale could be a steal as a 10th rounder last year but let's not get ahead of ourselves. With his college experience he is just doing what he is supposed to be doing. His AA numbers will tell the real story. As I say this if he turns out to be a back of the rotation guy that's a HUGE win for the Twins.