Did Nick Gordon’s Second Half Turn Him From Prospect to Suspect?

Glass is half full and half empty.  Its up to Gordon to move the needle.    If he ends up being league average that is ok with me.   League average is underrated.  For example if we had  league average at 7 spots in the lineup but Buxton and Dozier were exceptional we would have well above average lineup.    I am still not sure what Gordon offers that Polanco does not.

People do it all the time. A new boss comes in and clears out the old team, especially people that were particularly identified with the old boss. It’s not personal, it’s often not fully logical, but it’s just human nature, i.e., the new boss doesn’t even know why he rates the old team so low.

This is completely different - your analogy works with the front office, but not with the players, especially not minor leaguers. What you're saying is more akin to a new plant manager throwing out his production equipment because it was already there when he arrived. Zero chance this is a thing for the Twins.

People do it all the time. A new boss comes in and clears out the old team, especially people that were particularly identified with the old boss. It’s not personal, it’s often not fully logical, but it’s just human nature, i.e., the new boss doesn’t even know why he rates the old team so low.

Name 1 baseball team that turned over most of their organization in 2-3 years with a change of leadership

Regardless, we’re getting a little off topic. I propose that new management sometimes subconsciously rates some of its players ahead of some of the players it inherited, and that such a psychology may affect internal ratings of Gordon. If other TD participants think that never happens in any organization and didn’t happen here, OK.

 

You seem to think that the front office views prospects as their subordinates, which simply isn't the case. There is no connection at all to a typical office environment (except of course within the front office itself). Though there is a human element involved at some level, to Falvey and Levine prospects are basically just assets. They couldn't care less about who brought them into the org. Whether you believe it or not, that's unquestionably the way it is.

The question I posed during the season when he was HOT (and he was really hot) and basically an untouchable prospect was if he was actually that good (SSS). Weren't his K rates, BAPIP and L/R splits warning signs in the 1st half? I don't have his full 1st/2nd half splits but I remember there being warning signs.

I think the question should be 'Did Gordon's 1st half lead many to overrate him?'

No doubt he is a good prospect and a better one than a year ago. I would also probably bump him up a few places on a Twins prospect list but I think he became very overrated at midseason. Many considered him untouchable for Sonny Gray for example. That (say Gordon and Gonsalves) would be considered a great trade now.

I get this from a team perspective, and it's fair. 

 

In the league sense though I don't buy it, and is why I included those rankings. He was a leadoff man so of course he's getting more plate appearances than most.

 

I'll single out the Total Bases. Of the top 40 in the southern league last year, only 4 players played fewer than 100 games. In the top 16 nobody had fewer than 119. 

 

Of the guys that "played [the] full season at one level" he is a standout in a lot of categories. It doesn't matter that they are the "counting stats" in this view (at least to me )

I think this works for the majors, but you also have to look at which players moved on and which players moved into the league.

I was completely for drafting Gordon and have been on his bandwagon the last few years, but some of his shine has went away for me. He is 22 and looking at repeating AA (it seems to me most super studs have seen the majors by 22, I could be wrong on that)  and we still are not sure of his position. So I have no issue with him falling a bit in the Twins prospect list, but that is also why I am fine with trading him for pitching.

i like Rooker a lot, but he’s 23 with one professional season under his belt. Let’s see if he slows down when/if he gets to Nooga.

I agree, but I think his age and experience have him ready for a fast rise.  I would love it.  But all of minor league experience is filled with pitfalls and obstacles.  Good luck Rooker!

Well, now we know why Gordon had a rough 2nd half, obviously he was working on his new rap album!  http://m.mlb.com/cutfour/2018/01/12/264649332/nick-gordon-dees-brother-and-top-prospect-in-the-twins-organization-launched-a-rap-album      Maybe he can record new walk-up music for Mauer in spring training.  

I'm surprised to see Tyler Jay at #10.   I'd probably have him fringe 20 at this point.  The kid's stock has just plummet the last two seasons.  I'd put Lewis Thorpe in at #10 or Zach Littell.