Article: Twins Minor League Report (7/2): Kernels Kan't Win 'Em All

[Seth Stohs]

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php?r=2009-Twins-Minor-League-Report-(7-2)-Kernels-Kan-t-Win-Em-All

[mini_tb]

Josmil Pinto keeps doing his thing while flying mostly under the radar. He is hitting .317/.420/.505 (.925 OPS) in 80 AA games. The .103 ISO discipline with a 61:48 strikeout:walk rate and solid power are very promising. I find him very intriguing if he can stay behind the plate.

 

What's the latest on Pinto's defense?

 

I'll admit I was never that high on Wilson Ramos in the first place, but what is it that made him such a highly regarded prospect compared to Josmil Pinto? Ramos was pretty young when moving up through the minors, so there is that. Pinto looks to be about 1 1/2-2 years older than Ramos on the development curve. Was Ramos supposed to be really good defensively?

[Steve Lein]

Ramos was named Defensive Catcher of the Year in both the Florida State and Eastern Leagues (might have been others), and I know at least his arm was highly regarded, so I think he was much better in a defensive sense than Pinto. But the ages probably have a lot to do with it as well.

[Lonestar]

It depends on how you view catchers -- as a key up-the-middle defensive position or as a backstop. The Twins used to see catcher as a key up-the-middle defensive position. Witness Drew Butera, Henry Blanco, and Tom Prince. Now they trot out Ryan Doumit -- the ultimate backstop.

 

What makes Ramos so dear was the much weaker cohort he was in, the comparison with Butera, and the fact that the Twins gave him up for Crapps (who they then resigned).

 

Pinto is doing just fine on the player development curve for a catcher, especially since he has demonstrated signs of becoming an average defensive catcher and has a much better hit tool and plate discipline.

 

My two cents worth.

[Seth Stohs]

Pinto garnered a lot of attention when he put up really strong numbers at Elizabethton. But then he fought injuries and struggled in Beloit. Also, reports of his defense were pretty poor in his younger years, despite very good throw-out rates. He's not great at blocking and framing and game calling and such. But, I did finally move him up into my Top 15. His offense at this point is quite impressive, even if you don't add the "for a catcher" part.

 

Ramos was "younger." He had good defense reports. his problem was health because when he played, he was a good batting average/power guy. I think that three years worth of age may have created that difference.