Article: Twins Minor League Report (6/20): Darnell Delivers

[Mike Sixel]

mattkummer, great post. thanks,

[Tibs]

So is this the new game? The write ups don't include the only people that we really care about because why? Byron Buxton wasn't mentioned. Even if he didn't start and his only highlight was that he picked his nose that should still be the headline. Miguel Sano, Eddie Rosario I didn't see mentioned. If Trevor May and Alex Meyer didn't start it should say - Trevor May starts tomorrow or Alex Meyer starts tomorrow with the added piece: Because they are the only pitchers that could be front end guys the Twins have in their system (minus Kyle Gibson who was mentioned).

 

Slow your roll there.

[60ft6in]

I attended the Cedar Rapids game in Appleton last night. It was fun to see these guys up close (and I was close-- front row behind the on-deck circle). When you see them-- you realize these are young kids. They are still learning to play the game. Niko Goodrum is a good example of that-- he made a base-running blunder on a short fly ball that led to him getting doubled off. You could tell he had a mental lapse. But my takeaway, that he was eager to learn from it. I saw him talking with Jake Mauer immediately after, and it seemed like a productive, positive conversation.

Travis Harrison had a great night-- blasted a homer, hit a double off the wall in center in his next AB. He also made a nice play, bare-handing a bunt to throw a runner out on a close play at first. (Although, I'm told replays showed the ump blew the call).

Buxton and Kepler had unremarkable nights. Buxton was 0-4, but he hit the ball hard in his first AB. Kepler, 0-3 with a walk. (For the record, I saw Miguel Sano here last year when he was with Beloit, and he also went 0-4. Maybe it's me). All in all, it was a solid win for the Kernels.

 

I believe Terry Ryan was also in Appleton last night watching the CR game. He is supposed to remain for most/all of the series.

[Seth Stohs]

So is this the new game? The write ups don't include the only people that we really care about because why? Byron Buxton wasn't mentioned. Even if he didn't start and his only highlight was that he picked his nose that should still be the headline. Miguel Sano, Eddie Rosario I didn't see mentioned. If Trevor May and Alex Meyer didn't start it should say - Trevor May starts tomorrow or Alex Meyer starts tomorrow with the added piece: Because they are the only pitchers that could be front end guys the Twins have in their system (minus Kyle Gibson who was mentioned).

 

These daily reports are not at all designed to only highlight the top prospects. 25-35 players from each affiliate is working hard. They're putting in time, and they absolutely deserve to be noticed. This site is not just for the top prospects. Those guys get stories written about them frequently. There are forums dedicated to them. This daily report will highlight all minor leaguers. And, I'm proud of that. They deserve it!

[Seth Stohs]

Seth,

 

Has Gibson confirmed to you that he's on an innings limit? Somewhere I heard that he was asked about it and said the Twins haven't said anything to him about one.

 

Kyle has never told me that. He was on with Reusse and Mackey 3-4 weeks ago and indicated to them that when he was optioned during spring training, TR and Gardy told him to just go out and pitch. They said nothing of an innings limit other than to say that would be evaluated as the season goes along. 130-140 is the number that's out there, but I sense it'll be higher than that, assuming he feels good.

[jokin]

I was with the Twins on the "inconsistent" comment six weeks ago. But when TR repeated it to Lavelle late last week, I no longer agreed. Of course, "consistent" is so vague as to be almost meaningless, or it can mean whatever the Twins want it to over whatever period they want it to. It could, for example, mean he needs to pitch a shutout in every start. It could also mean that one bad start among 10 is enough to make him inconsistent. That's what's so insidious about their position. Six weeks ago it made sense. Now it certainly does not.

 

You have confidence he will be up soon. I think he'll run out of innings in AAA and they'll say he just wasn't consistent this year. In sooth, he's been more consistent than anybody in the Twins rotation not names Correia.

 

And of course, besides his insipid repeated pablum on consistency, don't forget that Ryan insidiously undercut Gibson yet again with his Albers-maybe-first comment.

[jokin]

I can't say I understand the Buxton one... My only guess is that it must be something other than the numbers. Obviously at those lower levels, the stats are just a part of the story. I only could wish I understood the whole story. But, they certainly have their reasons.

 

Like I've said, I could justify the Gibson thing six weeks ago and even 2-3 weeks ago, but he should be up as well.

 

All some of us can say at this point, without any glee or enjoyment of that fact is: "See....Told you so." Sano having to spend an entire season in Siberia....oops, I mean Beloit, should have been the proof. Very familiar and disappointing developments, yet again.

[nicksaviking]

I believe Terry Ryan was also in Appleton last night watching the CR game. He is supposed to remain for most/all of the series.

 

So are none of the Kernals getting promoted because Ryan wants to see them all in person first? So he didn't go to CR before the All-Star break beause he was busy with the draft but made a road trip to Eastern WI instead? If that's the case I think the timing is poor especially considering he states he relies on his scouts and he does very little of that any longer.

[PseudoSABR]

So are none of the Kernals getting promoted because Ryan wants to see them all in person first? So he didn't go to CR before the All-Star break beause he was busy with the draft but made a road trip to Eastern WI instead? If that's the case I think the timing is poor especially considering he states he relies on his scouts and he does very little of that any longer.

How horrible it is for a GM to take personal stake in prospects. Oh boy.

 

Honestly, I doubt most GMs make such trips, and the fact that such endeavors are used against the front office seems petty.

 

I doubt TR's evaluation is simply about promotion but probably has as much to do wit long term plans. Yes, perhaps the club held players back for a week so they could be seen by the actual GM--maybe Buxton (or Harrison or Walker, or whomever) misses an oh-so meaningful week of Ft. Myers ball (at most).

 

I'm glad to see that the guy in charge of making a winning ball club wants to personally see the minor league prospects at such a low level--there must be potential meaningful parts of future major league club there for TR to go to such trouble. For my part, TR as a roving scout demonstrates investment in minor league system as whole, if not individual players--more, I hope it indicates a keen anticipation of future needs. Get out there, TR, and assess what you need to add to the system or how much you should rally over what we already have.

 

If the dude is going to Cedar Rapids, he's digging in. I'm not sure how many GMs actually visit their low-A affiliate, but it's super cool the Twins GM is one of them.

[kab21]

If anyone had any doubt that Gibson should be called up it should be gone by now.

 

I think for Gibson's development this last month in AAA has been beneficial long term even if he would have been a better MLB option than Pelfrey. He has had fairly long sustained run of great starts and I would be very surprised if he isn't a very different pitcher than he was in April. Perhaps he could have worked through this at the MLB level or perhaps he could be a complete mess if hitters were treating him like Liam Hendriks.

[diehardtwinsfan]

1) Ryan visits the minor league affiliates every year. I don't see how it's a bad thing. If I remember right, this isn't even his first trip to CR.

 

2) Gibson gets called up when one of the rotation gets hurt, traded, or utterly implodes. The deadline is not far away, and I full expect someone to give a C+ prospect for one of our starters.

[diehardtwinsfan]

Seth- if you have touched on this an I missed then please forgive me. What is news on Darnell's improvement this year? Whip, BB, Hits and HR #s are down while SO and innings are up. Last year he started 28 games and pitched 156 innings. At his current pace, 28 starts will produce 179 innings. That is serious improvement. Are there specific things to attribute this to?

 

I'm actually very curious about this too. He wasn't this good in college, though he did have a higher K/9 one year. Has he picked up a tick or two in velocity? Are his pitches just better? Did he develop a 3rd or 4th pitch that complement what he already has?

[Seth Stohs]

I'm actually very curious about this too. He wasn't this good in college, though he did have a higher K/9 one year. Has he picked up a tick or two in velocity? Are his pitches just better? Did he develop a 3rd or 4th pitch that complement what he already has?

 

Working on a story on this topic...

[60ft6in]

Each year from TR down to cross checkers watch each team play a series or more. I was in e-town last season and saw the asst GM attending games. It's part of their job! As much as some of you question every move or non move their decision shouldn't be from lack of information or personal observations. And yes I can't believe Buxton is still in CR post All Star break...!

[nicksaviking]

How horrible it is for a GM to take personal stake in prospects. Oh boy.

 

Honestly, I doubt most GMs make such trips, and the fact that such endeavors are used against the front office seems petty.

 

I doubt TR's evaluation is simply about promotion but probably has as much to do wit long term plans. Yes, perhaps the club held players back for a week so they could be seen by the actual GM--maybe Buxton (or Harrison or Walker, or whomever) misses an oh-so meaningful week of Ft. Myers ball (at most).

 

I'm glad to see that the guy in charge of making a winning ball club wants to personally see the minor league prospects at such a low level--there must be potential meaningful parts of future major league club there for TR to go to such trouble. For my part, TR as a roving scout demonstrates investment in minor league system as whole, if not individual players--more, I hope it indicates a keen anticipation of future needs. Get out there, TR, and assess what you need to add to the system or how much you should rally over what we already have.

 

If the dude is going to Cedar Rapids, he's digging in. I'm not sure how many GMs actually visit their low-A affiliate, but it's super cool the Twins GM is one of them.

 

Oh I think you missunderstand me. The timing is poor because Ryan has had three months to take a road trip to CR to see the team's 1st round pick last year and top prospect and he has failed to do so. Perhaps I'm wrong and these guys won't get bumped up after their "interview", but it now seems that these young men have not gotten a promotion simply because Ryan decided he wanted to see them for himself but failed to do so in a timely manner.

[kab21]

I think the MAJOR Buxton issue is nothing more than a temporary numbers game in the minors. Perhaps they want to see that Kepler can actually play the field before the promote him. Or perhaps they need to make a corresponding move in Ft Myers since they have 6 OF'ers on their roster including Wilkin Ramirez on a rehab assignment. I'm pretty sure the additional week or two that he spends in CR will not be detrimental to his development.

[diehardtwinsfan]

Oh I think you missunderstand me. The timing is poor because Ryan has had three months to take a road trip to CR to see the team's 1st round pick last year and top prospect and he has failed to do so. Perhaps I'm wrong and these guys won't get bumped up after their "interview", but it now seems that these young men have not gotten a promotion simply because Ryan decided he wanted to see them for himself but failed to do so in a timely manner.

 

Yes, I'm sure that's it. Ryan is sitting up in his office eating bon bons and generally doing nothing while those rookies toil away down in the low minors waiting to impress him. Are we really arguing this?

 

I said it recently and Kab just did as well. It isn't as simple as buying him a plane ticket. Other moves have to be made, because for every move up, someone else either goes up or goes out.

[Seth Stohs]

The Buxton one is a situation that I personally don't understand, but it doesn't bother or annoy me terribly much because Joe Mauer spent his whole first full season in the Midwest League, and he turned out alright.

 

That said, there's really only one thing I can think of. Yes, he's hitting around .340. How many of those hits have been fairly routine ground balls that he simply beat out with his speed? It's an elite tool, but as he moves up, how many of those will be outs? Take out the 3-4 infield hits he legs out each week, and what is he hitting?

 

Since I only saw him play 3 games (and the TV game), I truly don't know. We all are smart enough to know that it has to be about more than just he numbers. I don't know why he hasn't been promoted. THere's likely a good reason. I'm just not going to pretend I'm smarter than the people who make these decisions.