Article: Twins Minor League Report (5/30): Power Surge

[Seth Stohs]

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php?r=1810-Twins-Minor-League-Report-(5-30)-Power-Surge

[RedBull34]

6 organizational wins outta 6 tries, a rather good day I say.

[Steven Buhr]

It was a LONG friggin day at the ballpark in Cedar Rapids. But at least I don't have to get on a bus for Kane County in the morning like the Kernels do.

 

After the game, Jake Mauer was quick to credit the grounds crew (which actually included almost every member of the Kernels front office staff) for being able to get the tarp on the infield as quick as they did. It was crazy how quickly the storm hit after the last out of the 4th inning. Sheets of rain and EXTREMELY high winds. It took most of that 3 hour delay to get the standing water off the warning tracks so it was safe for the players to play. If they hadn't gotten the tarp on the infield, there's no way the game resumes.

 

Since the two teams don't play again this half of the season, the four innings of work by Duffey would have been wasted and the games would not have been made up.

[Carneal&Gordon]

6-0 on the day, love it!

[bird]

These reports are just great, Seth, so thanks to all you guys. The combined records of our two A-ball teams is 71-33!! With Kepler, Bard, and Chargois out of action. And even though the top two clubs have only a half-dozen legitimate prospects between them, they're still only about a combined ten games under .500.

 

Perhaps the field staff at Rochester gave Ryan some sound advice when they recommended promoting Deduno and Walters and holding Gibson back.

[nicksaviking]

So Rosario was benched for a lack of hustle? I'm not saying that's wrong, I just thought those in the know were intimating it was due to off-field issues.

[Seth Stohs]

So Rosario was benched for a lack of hustle? I'm not saying that's wrong, I just thought those in the know were intimating it was due to off-field issues.

 

Yeah, he didn't run out a ground ball. Like I said, that's the kind of stuff they can't let those guys get away with. It also is good for mientkiewicz to make the point that the stars won't be treated any differently. That isn't always the case. It should be.

[Seth Stohs]

It was a LONG friggin day at the ballpark in Cedar Rapids. But at least I don't have to get on a bus for Kane County in the morning like the Kernels do.

 

After the game, Jake Mauer was quick to credit the grounds crew (which actually included almost every member of the Kernels front office staff) for being able to get the tarp on the infield as quick as they did. It was crazy how quickly the storm hit after the last out of the 4th inning. Sheets of rain and EXTREMELY high winds. It took most of that 3 hour delay to get the standing water off the warning tracks so it was safe for the players to play. If they hadn't gotten the tarp on the infield, there's no way the game resumes.

 

Since the two teams don't play again this half of the season, the four innings of work by Duffey would have been wasted and the games would not have been made up.

 

Buxton tweeted during the rain delay that he had never seen 80 mph winds. Sounds like it was just crazy, but good that they got both games in.

 

What were your thoughts, in person, of Hein Robb? He was so young and so raw when the Twins signed him as a 16-year-old from South Africa (yet he was a 16-year-old on their WBC team and pitching in games!). Left-handed and breathing?

[Seth Stohs]

Perhaps the field staff at Rochester gave Ryan some sound advice when they recommended promoting Deduno and Walters and holding Gibson back.

 

For all the overreaction by a lot of fans, the Twins were not wrong in saying that Gibson was being inconsistent. Walters and Deduno had been pitching well. Also, the Twins have to make decisions on Walters and Deduno for the short and longer term. They have earned another try, and both have responded well so far.

 

As Terry Ryan said yesterday with Judd and Dubay, there's no question that Gibson has the highest ceiling. There's no question that he's going to come up and contribute for a long time.

 

All I can say is, good for Deduno and Walters. I like when those types, guys who have put in their dues for a long time can come up and succeed. Walters is pitching as well as he was last year before his injury. Deduno is what he is and yet, he has that ability to get outs a lot. I also enjoy seeing his emotion, watching him wear his emotions on his sleeve.

[pioneers3]

I was at the Miracle game last night, and I am positive Sano got pulled because he didn't run out the drop 3rd strike. If he hustles at all he is on first base.

[Seth Stohs]

I was at the Miracle game last night, and I am positive Sano got pulled because he didn't run out the drop 3rd strike. If he hustles at all he is on first base.

 

Thanks for the verification.

[Steven Buhr]

Buxton tweeted during the rain delay that he had never seen 80 mph winds. Sounds like it was just crazy, but good that they got both games in.

 

What were your thoughts, in person, of Hein Robb? He was so young and so raw when the Twins signed him as a 16-year-old from South Africa (yet he was a 16-year-old on their WBC team and pitching in games!). Left-handed and breathing?

 

It would be unfair to judge Robb based on last night. He coasted through the first inning 1-2-3 with a routine fly ball to CF and a couple of ground outs. Then he got hit in the back of his left (pitching) shoulder with a rocket off the bat of the first guy he faced in the 2nd. He got the runner at first (not really, but the ump felt sorry for him or something and called the guy out) and got the next hitter to ground out, too. After that, he got lit up pretty good for the next 1.1 innings (4 hits, 3 for extra bases).

 

His fastball started the game in the high 80s and dropped a couple of ticks after he got hit in the shoulder. Seemed to throw a lot of change ups after that.

 

We're probably spoiled a bit by the other SPs the Twins have sent through CR this year already. Most of them pumping low to mid 90s. A year ago, compared to the guys the Angels sent to CR to fill out their rotation, Robb might have been a top of the rotation guy.

 

Let's see what he does after a couple more starts.