Article: COMING SOON: Adopt-a-Prospect

[Seth Stohs]

You can view the page at http://www.twinsdaily.com/content.php?458-COMING-SOON-Adopt-a-Prospect

[Thrylos]

Sounds like fun! only one caveat: There might be 200+ prospects (and non-prospect minor leaguers) in the Twins' organization, but only about 100 or so are active now and not in EST/rehab. From those, truly about 70-80 are "prospects". The others are older minor leaguers or the likes of Butera and Nishioka.

 

So the field of play is a bit limited, esp. if someone adopts a prospect in EST. It would be hard to update once in a week if there are no games

 

I love the idea, but it might make sense to allow for less frequent updates for players not actively playing, up to when they are in games. Makes sense?

[John Bonnes]

I'm obviously not a minors guy, but I like the idea of checking in on one guy occasionally, seeing how he's doing and giving an update. It give me someone to root for, especially if he's an underdog. I gotta think a little about who I want to it to be.

[John Bonnes]

I'll throw out one concern - once per week seems a little aggressive. Once every other week seems more reasonable and once per month probably passable. The only caveat would be #3 - if there is a major event, jump on it as soon as you can.

[Teflon]

I'm in! Now I wish this was a coed sport...

[Seth Stohs]

I love the idea, but it might make sense to allow for less frequent updates for players not actively playing, up to when they are in games. Makes sense?

Makes complete sense... if a player is in EST, may not have more than an occasional update until their games start in late June.

[John Bonnes]

If you're looking for a sample of what this might end up looking like, check out the Sons of Sam Horn Adopt a Prospect Forum (for the Red Sox):

 

http://sonsofsamhorn.net/forum/10-the-adopt-a-prospect-forum/

[Jeremy Nygaard]

I'm in... although I'm not sure who the "perfect prospect" is...

[Twins Fan From Afar]

Great idea. Perhaps we can send care packages, too. Seriously, though, this will be a good way to keep track of the minor leaguers.

[Seth Stohs]

I'll throw out one concern - once per week seems a little aggressive. Once every other week seems more reasonable and once per month probably passable. The only caveat would be #3 - if there is a major event, jump on it as soon as you can.

Fair enough, although it is baseball and there are games 6+ days a week. Lots happens. Lots of games... It just seems to be that a weekly stats update could tell information.

[Rosterman]

I'm in.......I want to adopt Drew Butera!

[Shane Wahl]

I rarely would ever say this, but . . . OMG.

[Shane Wahl]

How about every 10 team games/2 starts for SPs? seems like a compromise . . . every 10-11 days.

[twinsfanstreif]

Can we adopt 2?

[Seth Stohs]

Can we adopt 2?

I think we'll keep it at one for right now and see what the interest is... maybe after a week or a couple of weeks, we could adopt a second.

[Shane Wahl]

Maybe keep it to the four teams playing now and then in June add the other 2 (or 3) for those want another? I guess I am not sure if there are 25 people, 50 people, 100 people, 200 people, etc. interested in doing this. I am guessing that those who are interested won't mind something like a week to ten or so days for posting windows.

 

This is a very cool idea in a lot of ways. Maybe it even generates revenue for teams down the road because of interest in players one would not have had otherwise.

[Shane Wahl]

In thinking of who I want to adopt, I got to thinking that just like top prospects have more pressure to perform, so will those who adopt them. Ha.

 

I almost wish Shooter Hunt was still around for this.

[John Bonnes]

Seth, could you post a link to your top 50 prospects, so relative newcomers can get some names, positions, levels, etc?

[Jim Crikket]

I like it. The decision making process is stressful though! Do I adopt a Snapper I'll get a chance to see play a few times in Cedar Rapids this summer? Or one of my "favorites" who have already passed through the MWL and have moved up the ladder a bit closer to reaching his "dream"? So much to consider.

[ashbury]

I like it. The decision making process is stressful though! Do I adopt a Snapper I'll get a chance to see play a few times in Cedar Rapids this summer? Or one of my "favorites" who have already passed through the MWL and have moved up the ladder a bit closer to reaching his "dream"? So much to consider.

This brings up a good point, that anyone with (even relatively) local access to one of the teams should get dibs on a player on that team, in preference to someone like me who isn't within a thousand miles of any of these players.

[twinsfanstreif]

I'm trying to decide between BJ Hermsen and Micheal Tonkin. I liked them both a lot in 2008 and was very happy when we signed them both. Hermsen might be the most under rated prospect we have but I also called Tonkin the sleeper of the draft in 08' so I'm kind of proud that he's been good. Any help or thoughts?

[Jeremy Nygaard]

This brings up a good point, that anyone with (even relatively) local access to one of the teams should get dibs on a player on that team, in preference to someone like me who isn't within a thousand miles of any of these players.

That's tough, though, when players are changing teams. I'll make it to Beloit a couple of times this year, but once a player leaves Beloit there is no chance I see them until they make it to Minneapolis. Maybe we give Seth five names we're interested in and he randomly selects our names and assigns us the top guy left on our list...?

[Dougmancaveitch]

And....everyone will try to get Sano right away.

[shs_59]

Awesome I'm in..... I think its a pretty neat idea.

[Seth Stohs]

Maybe I should just take Sano and use him as an example of what the introductory post should be and what types of things could be put into updates!

 

(Or, maybe we should charge... ha! How much would bidding be on Sano?)

[DJSim22]

Cool idea, I'm afriad I'll forget at some point or in June when I'm away for a week, but I'll give it a shot....

[YourHouseIsMyHouse]

One question Seth. Are players drafted in this year's rule 4 draft eligible for adoption? The available news on them may be more limited as they aren't in the Twins organization until next year, but updates on their performance in college/high school could still be interesting and meaningful. And I'm just speculating, but rookie ballers are probably not included? Oh and that being said I'm interested in Eddie Rosario. Everyone will try and take Sano and I will discretely take the second best option.

[Seth Stohs]

Cool idea, I'm afriad I'll forget at some point or in June when I'm away for a week, but I'll give it a shot....

Don't be scared off by the Weekly requirement. We'll likely change that to every two weeks. But, there are games every day. Always something.

[Seth Stohs]

One question Seth. Are players drafted in this year's rule 4 draft eligible for adoption? The available news on them may be more limited as they aren't in the Twins organization until next year, but updates on their performance in college/high school could still be interesting and meaningful. And I'm just speculating, but rookie ballers are probably not included?

People not currently in the Twins organization would not be eligible for adoption... but I am liking the idea of having a second adoption in mid-June, after the draft and just before the short seasons begin.

[YourHouseIsMyHouse]

People not currently in the Twins organization would not be eligible for adoption... but I am liking the idea of having a second adoption in mid-June, after the draft and just before the short seasons begin.

That's exactly what I meant. Players that are drafted by the Twins.