jimv2

This is a spectacular article. I wish there were a way to pin it to the front page of TD because it is the answer to people who keep asking why so and so hasn't been promoted given that his ERA/OPS/whatever stat you pick is so good. The answer is that's not what the Twins are measuring. They're measuring (for starting pitchers anyway) all the things Kohl is talking about, things that don't really show up in the box score and really don't show up in season-long stats. It seems clear from this that Kohl understands what it will take to succeed and where he needs to grow--at least for the first year or two. He'll be given more things to learn as he progresses up the ladder. And I really liked the emphasis on the challenges inherent in going from a high school season to a pro season, you sort of have to train your arm to deal with the far more frequent use. I imagine that not everybody's arm can make that adjustment--another risk factor in evaluating players.

I agree--very good stuff. The thought occurs to me that high opposing BABIPs can be caused by poor fielding--poor range especially. When you have two pitchers with extraordinarily high opposing BABIPs on the same team, that may be a bit of indictment of the NB defense. OTOH, I'm not convinced that any of the non-pitchers on that team are in the Twins' long-term plans.

I'm with you on almost eveerything. I only disagree with #9--I don't think we'll see Buxton and only see Meyer if we have a lot of injuries--and I'd pick a nit with #5. I think you are underrating Hicks' speed. And not sure I agree that the glove at right will be below average--I'm not even sure who will be playing there. But I agree that unless we trade for someone, it won't be better than average. And I most want to second your opinion re #1. Based on my limited time at ST, if I retire rich, I'm spending a ton of time there! I couldn't care less about autographs. But hearing what people like TK and Carew and Ryan etc etc. have to say so enhances my enjoyment of the game.

Really excellent blog post. W/r/t Eades: I think he gets less attention because he probably doesn't have the same ceiling guys like Kohl and Gonsalves have. But as you noted, he's already proven that he has a decently high floor. The problem is that we already have a bunch of 3-5 starter prospects which I suspect is his ceiling. We all know you can never have too much pitching, so it's great having him, but the same level of intrigue isn't there for some us. And w/r/t Turner: Gardy and Ryan have made it abundantly clear over the years that the attributes they want most in a catcher are the abilities to call a good game, to keep a pitcher on an even keel, and to control the other team's running game. Quoting one of them--I can't remember which--"any hitting you get [from your catcher] is a bonus." I take that with a grain of salt but if Turner really is a Johnny Bench level catcher defensively, I don't think he'll have to hit all that much to be the starter.

Leaving aside the question of fairness of NCAA rules--as you said, that's a rant for another day--I don't think you are fairly comparing NCAA and minor league comp. NCAA scholarship athletes get room and board. The room's not fancy, the board is. They typically don't NEED to pay for transportation, while minor league players need a car--or at least access to one-- and often have to pay their own room and board. (At least they did back in the old days. I haven't heard about teams providing full board for minor leaguers, but am not that close to it any more.) College campuses often provide virtually free entertainment of sorts to students, minor leaguers don't get that. ANd of course there's the value of the education. Lastly, scholarship athletes are allowed to work certain other jobs to make ends meet, but it's almost as hard to find time for that during the school year as it is for minor leaguers to find time to work another job during the season. I think the minor leaguers, especially the low level ones, have it financially tougher than the scholarship athletes. Your union comments are interesting. Eventually the power of the union is based on the ability to strike (or in the public sector, to get out the vote.) I just can't imagine minor league ball players getting together and refusing to play.