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  • Twins Minor League Report (9/21): Chattanooga Champs!

    Cody Christie

    By Cody Christie

    One game to rule them all.

    The Lookouts have combined for quite a season leading into tonight's decisive Game 5. Stud prospects Miguel Sano and Byron Buxton started the season in Chattanooga before eventually making their big league debuts. Max Kepler and Jose Berrios both spent time with the Lookouts before being named the Twins Daily Minor League Hitter and Starting Pitcher of the Year.

    A handful of players on this squad are no strangers to the pressure of the postseason. Dalton Hicks, Niko Goodrum, Adam Brett Walker, Max Kepler, DJ Baxendale, and Brett Lee have all been part of two other championship teams, Elizabethton (2012) and Fort Myers (2014).

    Chattanooga won the first half title in the Southern League North Division and finished the season with an overall record of 76-61. The club was just one game over .500 at home but they were a stunning 42-28 away from AT&T Field.

    Tonight they played at home with a chance to be crowned kings of the Southern League.

    Image courtesy of Craig Gordon

    Twins Video

    CHATTANOOGA CHATTER

    Chattanooga 4, Biloxi 0

    Box Score

    The Lookouts had a chance to jump out to an early lead in the bottom of the first inning. With two outs in the frame, Southern League MVP Max Kepler walked. Travis Harrison followed with a single to give Chattanooga their first chance with runners in scoring position. Adam Brett Walker came up in a big spot but he grounded out to third to end the frame.

    DJ Baxendale started for the Lookouts and he ran into a little trouble in the top of the second. After a single and a double to start the frame, Baxendale gave up a free pass to load the bases without recording an out. He came up with two big swinging strikeouts and a ground out to get out of the jam.

    The bottom of the second saw the first runs of the game. Heiker Meneses stepped up to the plate and cracked a triple. Two batters later Stuart Turner drove in Meneses with a double to left field. Shannon Wilkerson followed Turner's double with a RBI-single to stretch the lead to 2-0 in favor of the Lookouts.

    Max Kepler has been carrying the Lookouts for large portions of the season so it seemed fitting that he would help add to the team's lead in their most important game of the year. He had gone 0-for-7 in the last two games but he led off the third with a solo-home run, his third of the series.

    Baxendale used 95 pitches to get through five shutout frames before turning the game over to the bullpen. He gave up four hits, three walks and struck out three. Jason Wheeler took over for Baxendale and was outstanding. In four shutout innings, he allowed two base runners and struck out three.

    The Lookouts picked up a big insurance run in the bottom of the seventh inning to push their lead to 4-0. Stuart Turner walked to start the inning and was thrown out at second on a bunt attempt from Shannon Wilkerson. Stephen Wickens stepped to the plate and cracked a double to left field that was deep enough to score Wilkerson from first to add to the lead.

    Wheeler stayed in for the top of the ninth inning. The first batter popped out to second base and the Lookouts were two outs away. The next batter walked to be only the second base runner against Wheeler. However the next batter hit into a 6-4-3 double play to end the game and the season.

    Your 2015 Southern League Champions, the Chattanooga Lookouts.

    Cody Christie is a Twins writer and content contributor. His writing can be found exclusively at Twins Daily and his voice can be heard on radio stations throughout the Upper Midwest. Outside of the Twins, he is a father, high school teacher, and avid runner.
    Follow Cody Christie on Twitter: nodaktwinsfan

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    Seth Stohs

    Seth Stohs 23,732

  • Owner

    • Posted

    Jason Wheeler was named the Southern League Championship Series MVP. He threw seven shutout innings in Game 2 and then four shutout innings tonight. 

     

    In an interview after the game, he talked about the talent and the organizational depth, especially considering Buxton, Sano and Duffey were Lookouts to start the season. Kind of a nice reminder. 

     

    This is a pretty special group. Those seven guys have won together, a lot. And, Cedar Rapids made the playoffs and had the best record in the Midwest League in 2013. 

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    twinssouth

    twinssouth 471

  • Provisional Member

    • Posted

    Congrats to the Lookouts, 1st Championship for the Franchise since 1988, that's a long time coming.

     

    Doug M has something special going with this group.  After all the promotions (Berrios, Duffey, Sano, Buxton) what was left was a core of 7 guys led by Kepler and Walker that resulted in another Championship.  To me, that's a testament on how good Doug is as a Manager and how the guys have that drive to win, no matter what.  This is a pretty special group, led by Kepler and Walker who both were voted to the Playoff All Star Team.  Combined, they led the league in 8 Categories.  That is IMPRESSIVE.

     

    And who said Kepler doesn't have power.  I read that his homer last night cleared the right field bleachers and landed on the street.  Being at the games, it's tough enough to clear the Right Field Wall, yowsers, he took it out of the Park.

     

    Also, Jason Wheeler pitched 11 innings in the Championship series and only allowed 1 run and was voted the MVP of the series.  This guy must have a rubber arm.  After a long season and play off baseball, he still pitched 11 innings, that's pretty remarkable.

     

    Next year should be really interesting for these guys, as they all have that winning "it factor" which you can't teach.

     

    Great job Doug and all the players.

     

     

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    Halsey Hall

    Halsey Hall 1,964

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    I listened to the game and it was a bit hairy there in the 2nd but DJ got out of it scoreless.  A fun game, a loud crowd and a great way to end the season.  Kepler's blast landed in the parking lot. 

     

    Probably the last of Dougie M in the Twins organization. 

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    Dman

    Dman 7,149

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    With the promotions of Sano, Buxton, Berrios and Duffey and the demotions of Burdi and Reed I didn't give Chatty much of a chance in the post season.  Baxendale looked broken in August and Wheeler looked like a lost pitcher in AAA.  I would not have guessed that those two would pitch so well in the post season.  

     

    I know there was a lot of talent left with Kepler, Polanco, Walker, and Michael among others but I didn't think they had enough pitching to get it done.  Boy was I wrong.  Congrats to those guys on an good season and great post Season.

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    clutterheart

    clutterheart 1,050

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

     

     

     

    Probably the last of Dougie M in the Twins organization. 

     

    I keep seeing this but I don't see a lot of basis.  Its not often a MLB club takes minor league coaches and moves them to the MLB club unless there is a strong connection to the city.

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    jokin

    jokin 4,237

  • Old-Timey Member

    • Posted

     

     

     

    Probably the last of Dougie M in the Twins organization. 

     

    Why? Unless he's offered the Marlins/Rays managerial job, isn't it just as likely that he gets another promotion to coach at the major league level with the Twins (for say Vavra as the bench coach, or say, becoming 3rd base/infield coach)?

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    jokin

    jokin 4,237

  • Old-Timey Member

    • Posted

     

    Congrats to the Lookouts, 1st Championship for the Franchise since 1988, that's a long time coming.

     

     

     

    And who said Kepler doesn't have power.  I read that his homer last night cleared the right field bleachers and landed on the street.  Being at the games, it's tough enough to clear the Right Field Wall, yowsers, he took it out of the Park.

     

     

     

      Kepler's blast landed in the parking lot. 

     

     

     

    A blast out in RF at AT&T is impressive with that high wall, and he had no help from the slight breeze blowing in.  But, having walked around back there myself- there is no street or parking lot directly beyond the RF bleachers, just a walkway and service lane to the Lookout locker room and then a steep hill heading straight down to the parking lot along the Tennessee River- if Kepler reached that parking lot, that was quite a jolt!

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    Halsey Hall

    Halsey Hall 1,964

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

     

    A blast out in RF at AT&T is impressive with that high wall, and he had no help from the slight breeze blowing in.  But, having walked around back there myself- there is no street or parking lot directly beyond the RF bleachers, just a walkway and service lane to the Lookout locker room and then a steep hill heading straight down to the parking lot along the Tennessee River- if Kepler reached that parking lot, that was quite a jolt!

    That was just what the announcers said as they were going nuts.  They've probably never walked back there themselves.  It was a blast though, wherever it landed.

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    Halsey Hall

    Halsey Hall 1,964

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

     

     

    Why? Unless he's offered the Marlins/Rays managerial job, isn't it just as likely that he gets another promotion to coach at the major league level with the Twins (for say Vavra as the bench coach, or say, becoming 3rd base/infield coach)?

    He wants to be in the majors and his ship sailed when they hired Molitor.  It'll be interesting to see what happens. 

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    Loosey

    Loosey 1,788

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

     

    Jason Wheeler was named the Southern League Championship Series MVP. He threw seven shutout innings in Game 2 and then four shutout innings tonight. 

     

    In an interview after the game, he talked about the talent and the organizational depth, especially considering Buxton, Sano and Duffey were Lookouts to start the season. Kind of a nice reminder. 

     

    This is a pretty special group. Those seven guys have won together, a lot. And, Cedar Rapids made the playoffs and had the best record in the Midwest League in 2013. 

    The depth this team organization has is really pretty amazing considering where they were in 2011.  They went from completely bare cupboards to being fully stocked in a very short period of time.  And it is not just a handful of studs at the top of prospect lists, it is very good players at many positions spread throughout that will hopefully be contributors at the big league level someday.  Much different from the past when they had very few top prospects and then no depth built up throughout.  Great work Twins Organization.

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    jokin

    jokin 4,237

  • Old-Timey Member

    • Posted

     

    He wants to be in the majors and his ship sailed when they hired Molitor.  It'll be interesting to see what happens. 

     

    It seems like the next ship for him to sail on with the Twins would be as a coach at the major league level- perhaps putting in a multi-year apprenticeship under Molitor with an implied promise that the job is his when Molitor moves up to an executive position (Molitor turns 60 next year).  

     

    Due to his personal situation and the fluid circumstances in Miami, the Marlins job seems like the most logical managerial offer he might receive and accept- but it looks like the Marlins are gong hard after Manny Acta.

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    TRex

    TRex 264

  • Provisional Member

    • Posted

     

    It seems like the next ship for him to sail on with the Twins would be as a coach at the major league level- perhaps putting in a multi-year apprenticeship under Molitor with an implied promise that the job is his when Molitor moves up to an executive position (Molitor turns 60 next year).  

     

    Due to his personal situation and the fluid circumstances in Miami, the Marlins job seems like the most logical managerial offer he might receive and accept- but it looks like the Marlins are gong hard after Manny Acta.

    I am sure Dougie M. wants to be a manager rather than a coach, and although we have seen plenty of 'apprenticeships', I don't think Molly and Doug have that kind of special relationship (Paul is a thinker and tactician, Meintkiewitz the gut instinct shouter). I think they would be much more like Gardy/Molly rather than  Kelly/Gardy. It might work for a year, maybe two (which, I guess, is 'multi-year'), but I don't think it is a long term possibility.

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    jokin

    jokin 4,237

  • Old-Timey Member

    • Posted

     

    I am sure Dougie M. wants to be a manager rather than a coach, and although we have seen plenty of 'apprenticeships', I don't think Molly and Doug have that kind of special relationship (Paul is a thinker and tactician, Meintkiewitz the gut instinct shouter). I think they would be much more like Gardy/Molly rather than  Kelly/Gardy. It might work for a year, maybe two (which, I guess, is 'multi-year'), but I don't think it is a long term possibility.

     

    You're likely correct and I'm in agreement- the whole Gardy-Molly situation was odd, very transparent at the intentions, at times painful when the veil was briefly lifted.  

     

    But if the Twins do want to retain Dougie, they're likely gong to have to come up with something creative. In this instance, Mollie's job won't be under imminent threat. Perhaps it might involve a grander succession plan which would include Terry Ryan- who might like to move up from the GM position in a couple years, with Molitor moving out of the dugout- right after a Twins WS win.

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    diehardtwinsfan

    diehardtwinsfan 14,830

  • Community Moderator

    • Posted

    I think they find a way to get him up with the big club.  He's managed most of these kids coming up right now and has that relationship... not to mention having the 'fire' so to speak and mananging two championship minor league teams.  He's earned it.  Even if his managerial future isn't with the Twins, I think they owe it to him to get him up there.  I think it's good for the kids too.

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