10 Days of Walker

[mnfanforlife]

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[TR=class: headerRow]

[TD=bgcolor: #666666, align: center]AVG[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: #666666, align: center]AB[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: #666666, align: center]R[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: #666666, align: center]H[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: #666666, align: center]2B[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: #666666, align: center]3B[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: #666666, align: center]HR[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: #666666, align: center]RBI[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: #666666, align: center]BB[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: #666666, align: center]SO[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: #666666, align: center]SB[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: #666666, align: center]CS[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: #666666, align: center]OBP[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: #666666, align: center]SLG[/TD]

[TD=bgcolor: #666666, align: center]OPS[/TD]

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[TD=class: dataCell, bgcolor: #EEEEEE, align: center]1.332[/TD]

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This is Adam Walker's last 10 games. Crazy impressive.

[2wins87]

Seems to be a bit of a streaky player. Crazy good when he's on though.

[Monkeypaws]

One of those prospects that really rounds out the system. Elite tools are worth drafting with the hope the rest of their game can follow suit.

[Major League Ready]

Seems to be a bit of a streaky player. Crazy good when he's on though.

 

Just a guess because I have never seen him play but you have to suspect the inconsistency is a product of poor plate discipline. He has a very low walk rate and a guy with that kind of power is going to be pitched carefully. How good might he be with an improved approach. (see Carlos Gomez)

[tcarlic]

There seems to be a good amount of potential 25+ MLB HR threats in the organization. Sano, Arcia, Walker, Harrison, and Pinto. Hopefully at least two or three of them make it.

[diehardtwinsfan]

most hitters can put up gaudy numbers in a small sample. Walker has been pretty decent this year as it is, and based on the numbers, I'd say he's learned about all he can. Probably ready to get promoted.

[Willihammer]

The only thing Walker didn't do is draw a walk.

[Smcginnity]

There seems to be a good amount of potential 25+ MLB HR threats in the organization. Sano, Arcia, Walker, Harrison, and Pinto. Hopefully at least two or three of them make it.

 

There are others I would put into this power category too. Such as Buxton and Kepler.

[tcarlic]

There are others I would put into this power category too. Such as Buxton and Kepler.

 

 

The more the merrier right?

[Monkeypaws]

It beats putting all your hopes on Bob Gorinski.

[Steve Lein]

From chat with Keith Law today:

 

[h=6]Jesse (Minny)[/h]

 

Any opions on Adam Bret Walker in Cedar Rapids? He's over 20 HRs with a good AVG. Solid regular 1st baseman?

[h=6]Klaw (1:59 PM)

[/h]

 

He's also 21 and a college product in low-A, with a poor walk rate and a K rate too high for a player of his age/experience. He's not a zero, but again, the stat line here is pretty misleading - and he should be in high-A.

 

 

[h=6]Klaw (1:59 PM)

[/h]

 

Seriously, don't draft a good college player in the first few rounds and send him to low-A in his first full year. You're wasting everyone's time.

 

 

 

So, there's that... I tend to agree that the Twins waste time with a lot of the college position player's they draft. Nate Roberts is another one, though his inability to stay healthy hasn't helped him either.

[Willihammer]

He's not a zero? Geez, easy on the superlatives, KLaw.

[Badsmerf]

I feel the same way as KLaw. He needs to be challenged and right now he is feasting. Let him see some real pitchers.

[lightfoot789]

Although I believe that there are times, players should be moved quickly as college draftees - Walker was one of the youngest college players in last years draft. If you are at age average for a league - there is no way you can be too old or experienced for that league (by definition of "average"). He will make it to the MLB at 24 if he progresses as is (A / A+ / AA / MLB): Does KLaw consider that damaged goods or too old to make your debut. KLaw is stuck in his categorical mind set of judging generalities. "This is how things should be done". GM's judge based on what they see from each player and how that particular player fits into thier long term goals. Although I want Walker to move up as well - I respect their plan. He's dominating and obviously learning at a productive pace. His K Rate is 22%. How is that too high at any level for a HR hitter?

[Monkeypaws]

I think the Twins brass put him there for a reason - the old chestnut of Twins moving players too slowly has been burst by our top guys moving up regularly.

[diehardtwinsfan]

He's not a zero? Geez, easy on the superlatives, KLaw.

 

I don't think that Law meant that the kid is a zero as much as he meant that his season really is not telling us anything.

[drjim]

He's not a zero? Geez, easy on the superlatives, KLaw.

 

Probably good to temper the enthusiasm a little. He is a C+ guy and I want him to do something in AA before I get excited. His bb and k rates are not especially inspiring.

[lightfoot789]

Probably good to temper the enthusiasm a little. He is a C+ guy and I want him to do something in AA before I get excited. His bb and k rates are not especially inspiring.

 

He definitely has things to work on. I am, however, impressed by his improved K rate (30% to 22%). That's what the minors is all about. Improving at each level and making adjustments. He has shown that he can make some adjustments and only needs to continue improving as he moves up the system. If he can lead the league in HRs at each level like he's shown and improve his K rate along the way like he's shown - Why not get Enthusiastic?

[lightfoot789]

If we have to wait until the MLB team gets on the winning track, to be enthusiastic - It might be 2015? I'd rather get excited about the up and coming. Not like I can't handle disappointment if the prospects don't meet expectations. Been there Done that

[Willihammer]

Probably good to temper the enthusiasm a little. He is a C+ guy and I want him to do something in AA before I get excited. His bb and k rates are not especially inspiring.

I agree. They're also about identical to Sano's but that didn't stop him getting promoted.

 

He's done more than enough to warrant a promotion I think. Let's get going here, he's 21 already.

[TRex]

I agree. They're also about identical to Sano's but that didn't stop him getting promoted.

 

He's done more than enough to warrant a promotion I think. Let's get going here, he's 21 already.

 

Sano's BB and SO rates were 15% and 27%, respectively. How is that 'about identical' to Walker's rates of 6% and 23%? Plate discipline is the only thing lacking on Walker's resume, and Sano literally walked 2.5 times as often and still spent the whole year in low-A.

 

I also think KLaw's comment about Walker 'not being a zero' comes through the prism of an overall top-100 list. I am sure that he would (will) put Walker in the Twins top-15.

[Willihammer]

Sano's BB and SO rates were 15% and 27%, respectively. How is that 'about identical' to Walker's rates of 6% and 23%? Plate discipline is the only thing lacking on Walker's resume, and Sano literally walked 2.5 times as often and still spent the whole year in low-A.

 

In A ball? Sano's rates were 14.5 and 26.0

 

edit: nevermind we must be looking at the same thing. I guess I wouldn't be as hung up about the lack of walks given the production with the bat.

[Steven Buhr]

I like Walker a lot and I think he has a chance to be a very good Major League ballplayer, but I am not ready to put him in the elite prospect category yet, either. I think he has a very high ceiling, but it may be harder and take longer to reach that ceiling than a lot of people seem to think it will.

 

At this point in his career (note the emphasis), he's mostly a very good "mistake hitter." He will absolutely punish anything you foolishly throw on the inside part of the plate. That's not a career-killer. A lot of MLB players have made very good livings as "mistake hitters." (Michael Cuddyer, for one.)

 

But for Walker to become elite, he's going to have to improve his plate discipline and get better at handling pitches on the outer half of the plate.

 

As I pointed out over in his "adopt a prospect" thread, 14 of his 22 home runs this year have come off MWL Eastern Division pitchers. Teams only play one 3-game series a year against each of the 8 teams in the opposite division, so Walker has 14 home runs in 24 cross-division games and 8 in the 76 games vs Western Division teams... teams and pitchers likely to see Walker several times, as opposed to one 3-game series.

 

If you want to say Walker's numbers are comparable to Sano, fine. But they are even closer to Mike Gonzales' numbers (BA, OPS, K-rate, BB-rate) from his 2011 season in Beloit, except Gonzales walked about twice as frequently as Walker does.

 

I'm not down on Walker. In fact, I think his defense in the OF has improved. Early on, I almost cringed when a ball went in his directlion. His routes are better now.

 

He's a fun player to watch, but I simply don't think elevating him to elite prospect status at this point is very realistic.

[drjim]

I agree. They're also about identical to Sano's but that didn't stop him getting promoted.

 

He's done more than enough to warrant a promotion I think. Let's get going here, he's 21 already.

 

I would have no problem with a promotion. KLaw made the point that college guys are pretty wasted in Low A in general. But as stated by others he still can develop plenty and is youngish for a college guy.

[mnfanforlife]

If Walker continues to produce his SLG% and other numbers at every level, then I don't care about the K's

[lightfoot789]

At this point in his career (note the emphasis), he's mostly a very good "mistake hitter." He will absolutely punish anything you foolishly throw on the inside part of the plate.

 

I agree he pulls too much and is something he will have to work on. That being said: If anyone followed his college career - Half of his HRs were to the opposite field. (That is when he was considered one of the top power hitters in college baseball)

 

But for Walker to become elite, he's going to have to improve his plate discipline and get better at handling pitches on the outer half of the plate.

 

AGREED - although his K Rate has improved drastically.

 

Note however - Walker hits the elite pitching prospects in the league probably better than he does the marginal pitcher. Elite players produce.

[lightfoot789]

Based on his dropping out of the New Twins Prospect Pipeline Rankings - The Twins think like you do too. (SD Buhr)

 

This years 3rd round pick (Turner) has bypassed last years 3rd round pick (Walker). How does a guy who leads or ranks Top 3 in the league in HRs / RBIs / TBs / Runs / Slug% / & OPS% get jumped over by a guy who is only 2 months younger and still in rookie ball. Help me understand?????????????????????????

 

Teammates & Position Players Ranked ahead of Walker:

Harrison 22.7% (K Rate) / .210 ISO

Goodrum 22.4% (K Rate) / .097 ISO

Kepler 19.7% (K Rate) / .184 ISO

Polanco 11% (K Rate) / .143 ISO

Walker 22.3% (K Rate) / .267 ISO

 

Not only did he not get promoted this season, Walker got demoted on his Teams Prospect List for his exceptional season. Am I the only one who finds this hard to understand?

MLBPipeline.com | MLB Prospect Central | twinsbaseball.com: News

[raindog]

You realize that the prospect list at twinsbaseball.com is not run by Terry Ryan, or anyone of importance, right?

[lightfoot789]

You realize that the prospect list at twinsbaseball.com is not run by Terry Ryan, or anyone of importance, right?

 

This is Jonathon Mayo's updated list from MLB.com

 

Most people on this site respect Mayo's views and use his opinions as (somewhat) law. (Not that I agree with his opinons and/or list). He is a MLB insider who gets first hand info from GMs and other front office people. All I'm saying is it makes you wonder what he really knows?

[raindog]

This is Jonathon Mayo's updated list from MLB.com

 

Most people on this site respect Mayo's views and use his opinions as (somewhat) law. (Not that I agree with his opinons and/or list). He is a MLB insider who gets first hand info from GMs and other front office people. All I'm saying is it makes you wonder what he really knows?

He's an insider, but I don't think he bases his prospect rankings on the views of the front office. I assume they are based on his opinion.

 

That's why this had me confused:

"Based on his dropping out of the New Twins Prospect Pipeline Rankings - The Twins think like you do too."

 

I don't think that's true.