Han Joelo

from that article: “He’s got plus stuff,” Gardenhire said of Colina. “He’s got a really good fastball, obviously, he runs it up there 95, 96 (miles per hour) a lot of times. He’s got a really good slider and a good change-up that he’s been working on. And the ball moves, that’s the biggest thing. He’s 95, 96 and it doesn’t go straight. He’s got a lot of sink. “So his biggest thing is, can he control it? Because he has a tendency to kind of dabble around the plate a little bit. When he’s good, he throws a lot of strikes. He’s done that the last couple of times, so hopefully he just keeps getting better with that, too.”

Another great start from Colina. I just did some brief researching on him, and the best article that came up was this one, from some site called "Twins Daily"--http://twinsdaily.com/articles.html/_/minnesota-twins-news/minnesota-twins-minor-leagues/edwar-colina-from-chilly-home-opener-to-no-hitter-r6722 I do remember reading this article., but it was worth a reread. Colina definitely has me intrigued.

I'm intrigued, but your server is down at the moment.

I thought Alcala had been scheduled tonight, so I was worried when I didn't see him in the box score. Glad to see him on the docket. Nice to see Duran pitch well.

Any analysis of the BP usage tonight? I.e was Magill getting a special look see? Rogers was brought in facing a switch hitter, correct? Looking at Tom's excellent spreadsheet, it seems that Hildenberger was just as rested on this night. I guess developmentally, I'm impressed with the last two days of managing the BP. I was one that lamented letting Erv comeback out and get into trouble, but I think that situation is exactly what we want to see May master--so why not now when it doesn't matter. Same with last night--get a really good look at Magill, and if that doesn't work, see what Rogers can do in a tight situation. I like it.

On the topic of Lewis and Kirilloff--it is pretty easy to cherry pick 20 year-olds in the majors, because there are so few. In this post, Seth compared the two #1 picks, Lewis and Montiak. Lewis, a year behind, is clearly the better player right now. Kirilloff, drafted in the same year--but also a year behind, developmentally, due to the injury--is also clearly much better. Count your blessings. Both these guys will be at AA next year and on standby for a call-up.

I've been following Balazovic carefully for some reason, at least, as close as you can by reading through his game logs. I don't feel like he's been struggling much at all lately; seems like when he's given up runs it has been at the end of his outings, when he gets pulled, or like tonight--An occasional "small ball" run aided by an untimely walk or HBP. Put another way, I'd call his struggles "productive." Seems like textbook development with him--learning how to pitch while building strength and stamina.

I continue to be wearing my rosey sunglasses with this group of minor leaguers. Kirilloff is just killing it. Thorpe and Graterol fulfilling their potential. Most excellent.

This is swell! Just swell! These young not old fellas in the bullpen are stepping up to the plate toeing the rubber and getting her done. That is, if the game of baseball has a gender. If not, then they are getting it done. Either way, I think this is just tops. The cat's meow. Pittsburgh's FO zigged where the Twins' zagged, and look who came out on top in this scrum! Memo to Molly--and this is coming from a live-by-the-seat-of-your-pants type of guy--Look out a couple of days ahead and try and give a guy like Mauer a day off from the field on days when...blah blah...so you don't end up with Ehire...nevermind. Keep zagging.

Gotta love the seven pitch Save. A total non-Experience. Just nice in general to have a game where pretty much everybody steps up and does their job. Surreal, almost. But nice.

Thanks Seth and Deron. I love reading this stuff. Lets bookmark this page and hope we're looking back at it in 25 years or something, saying "remember when..."

If he gets rolling--and it is because of an improved approach, not an abnormal BABIP or something--you have got to get the gang together. Build some good feelings towards next year. Maybe even play spoiler against someone, preferable the Yankees. Somehow knocking them out of the playoffs would be almost as good in September as it would be in October.

Maciel and Celestino didn't miss a beat. Severino and Pearson haven't been as good lately as I thought. Great stuff. Thanks.

That's why Cleveland does too!

Considering the generally upbeat sound of the accordion, the lyrics to this song are a bit on the dark side. I wouldn't be surprised if the dude who stole that plane had this song playing. [media][/media]

Balazovic threw four perfect innings, then gave up a single, walk, and double. Then he retired the next three batters, ending his night after 66 pitches. I'm pretty sure.

The THE. Was that an 80's band? Was Not Was was a band. Maybe it was an album title. Fuzzy Wuzzy wasn't a band, but maybe it should have been; after all, Pearl Jam used to be known as Mookie Blaylock. Watch the Reyes video again, and tell me that Detroit fan wearing a blue derby isn't stoned. At any rate, Reyes didn't get much of an assist from any of the fans over there. Lo Mo A No Go, No Woe Fo' Status Quo

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_Major_League_Baseball_draft https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Major_League_Baseball_draft https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_Major_League_Baseball_draft You inspired me to take a look back at what could have been. I think it is fair to say the Twins blew it big time with Jay. And yet Nola was a college pitcher, and he looks like the best pick from the year before. And 2013...the Mark Appel draft. just take a look. Yuckos. First, how the teams that "scored" instead of the Twins fared in those three drafts. Boston: Trey Ball/Michael Chavis/Benintendi Phillies: Crawford/Nola/Cornelius Randolph Kansas City: Hunter Dozier (Manaea-Supp.)/Finnegan/Ashe Russell 2013 Picking shortly after the Twins in 2013 at #7, the Red Sox passed on a variety of useful players to pick Trey Ball. Like the Twins--and EVERY other team in MLB--they also passed on Manaea and Judge, who were taken in the comp round. Even the Yankees passed on Judge, to take Eric Jagielo, a shortstop out of Notre Dame. With their pick directly after Judge, they passed on Manaea to take Ian Clarkin. The Phillies took J.P. Crawford at #16--pretty good pick, I guess, although at this point if he has Trevor Plouffe's career he'd probably be happy. Dozier, at #8, signed for well under slot, and to date is at -1.3 WAR as an MLBer. Overall, the 2013 draft looks awful for everybody except the Cubs with Bryant. I'm not giving the Yankees too much credit for their 1 out of 3 find in Judge. Click on the link and see for yourself what that draft looks like. 2014 The Phillies got Nola at #7, right after the Twins took Gordon and the Mariners took Alex Jackson. Aiken and Kolek were taken before him as well. Man, just think how good the Astros would be if they hadn't botched the Appel and Aiken picks--Bryant and...well, maybe they got lucky after all on the Aiken botch, turning around and landing Bregman and Kyle Tucker. The Royals got Finnegan at #17. The only other notable players in the next 20 picks are Justus Sheffield, Kopech, and Derek Fisher at 31,33, and 37. Boston took Chavis at 26, passing on Sheffield, and of course, Kopech the first time. Oops-Just noticed Matt Chapman went 25th, three picks after the vaunted Dodgers player development team passed on him for pitcher Grant Holmes. Maybe the Red Sox were sitting on him and just missed. I'm sure they were. 2015 This draft looks pretty good, and to add insult to injury--picks 5-10: Kyle Tucker-Jay-Benintendi-Carson Fulmer--Ian Happ--(and I'll just throw in Cornelius Randolph.). At the top was Swanson, Bregman, and Brendan Rogers, with Dillon Tate, who has been traded for Carlos Beltran and Zach Britton so far. Boston got Beni. The Phillies took the aforementioned Randolph at #10, passing on later 1st rounders Kolby Allard and Walker Buehler. The Royals took Ashe Russell at 21, also passing on Buehler by two picks. Mike Soroka was taken at #28. Summary: The draft is such a crapshoot. Just take some time scrolling through those lists of players. When you look at that Kohl Stewart draft, I think we should be happy to have a guy make the big leagues at all, even if it is brief. Benintendi I'll concede, but it is pretty revisionist to suggest the Twins should have passed on Stewart to take Judge or Manaea. 25+ slots before they went. I got a bit off topic here I think. This post should probably go in the Stewart thread, but maybe it is a useful reminder here as well. Here is a list where you can check out the 15 players that went ahead of Kirilloff: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_Major_League_Baseball_draft

Would Molitor ever get thrown out? Has he ever as a player or manager? Did Rowson break ranks? I'm bummed with losing, but nice to see the rally. Once again for the 12th time, the right puzzle pieces aren't present...or they aren't being put in the right places. Ultimately, though, come on Jose. This is just one game that doesn't matter anymore this season. We need Berrios to be an Ace, among a few other things, of course. Otherwise, we can expect mediocrity to continue.

We have some interesting debates about semantics on this site, "Ace" being one of the biggies. For what it's worth, "knucklehead" is a term of endearment where I come from. So is "Dern Fool."

Great article. Should be required reading for any young wannabe. Not sure about Pressly, but Esco and Dozier both have "it"--something about them that makes others stick with them just a little longer. All three of these guys could've seen their careers snuffed out a long time ago, but a combination of tenacity and timing worked in their favor.

Han Joelo, on 07 Aug 2018 - 09:00 AM, said: Lewis--and Kiriloff--feel different than the last two highly rated prospects the Twins had. Less hope and squinting is needed to picture these guys in the majors as young--performing--players. You can interpret how much hoping and squinting is involved when I say "less" is needed with Lewis and Kiriloff than was needed with Sano and Buxton. Actually, I'll just tell you. Squinting: we're talking microns here, maybe 50-60 or thereabouts. Hope: measured in "pangs," I'd say the difference is only a pang or two. The point being both sets of players engender hope, which is a good thing, maybe the best thing; and if you squint to some degree, you can actually, possible make out the silhouette of a unicorn. Anyway, just remember Admiral Poopooer Tapthebrakes from the Empire Strikes Back: https://youtu.be/TvcYjQCJ8_o

Nice breakdown. Convenient that there are two highly comparable comps from recent history, both of whom come from progressive(?) organizations, one of which Falvey was a part of. Lewis--and Kiriloff--feel different than the last two highly rated prospects the Twins had. Less hope and squinting is needed to picture these guys in the majors as young--performing--players.