clutterheart

This maybe why Berardino had Gordon so low:

Gordon dropped 30 spots. 2016, #53 2017 #60 2018 #93.

Looks like Dozier's hair is in mid season form.

I just can't figure out how they get all of these guys AB's. Someone is going to have to be pushed up or get held back in EST.

That first half infield at Cedar Rapids next year is going to be interesting: Bechtold, Miranda, Lewis & Javier all need to be playing. I wonder if the Twins would consider pushing Bechtold straight to Fort Myers just to ensure at bats for the other guys.

Kirilloff looks to be a good bat, but I don't think I have seen the word's "immense offensive talent" linked to him before. I think a case can be made for him to slip out of the top 10 - especially a national list. He doesn't have a lot of positional value, and he didn't play at all last year. Lots of prospect lists will ding a guy for that - especially a guy who hasn't been above Rookie ball.

Darvish should solve that problem

Really? I am not sure how "advances he made" would put him ahead of Javier. From all reports, Javier looks to have a better bat and a better glove than Gordon. The only reason to have Gordon higher than Javier is due to MiLB level. AA vs Rookie level. Gordon's floor is much higher.

Berardino's comments on Gordon are pretty telling: Low ceiling but high floor.

When thought about dabbling into podcasts, I just followed every free step on this link: https://lifehacker.com/how-to-start-your-own-podcast-1709798447 (except I paid Libsyn a very nominal fee)

I believe Flavine can't be as lackadaisical as they appear to be, so they must be following some incomprehensible master-plan that ends in Darvish (or some other good pitcher) being a Twin. Right??? Please?

I think I like MLB pipeline mostly because formatting. Its the first place I go to compare prospects/teams/positions and get high level capsules of prospects. Some others add more depth like fangraphs, but overall MLB's Jim Callis & Jonathan Mayo do a great job: https://www.mlb.com/news/callis-mayo-on-ronald-acuna-vs-byron-buxton/c-263755102 (buxton isn't a prospect anymore but...)

If Blankenhorn continues to be mostly playing 2B, his value decreases in my mind. Twins have lots of guys who profile as MI types who will need at bats and being already removed from 3B should make him drop a bit. Also, I am not sure why it would be relevant to compare Blankenhorn’s age 20 year with Kepler's age 20 year? Kepler was coming off elbow surgery and played in less than half of the season getting his first taste above rookie leagues, while Blakenhorn was in his 2nd stint of low A ball and underperformed compared to when he was at CR in 2016. Nothing about their experience seems comparable at all.

Watch this space: http://www.mauerchev.com/MeetOurDepartments

Looking at his career at Columbia University, I see he coached 2 pitchers who were drafted. But looking at his years at Duke, he helped get 9 pitchers drafted. This was a big increase from past Duke years. But I am not sure if any of that is meaningful or not. I think whats more important is his philosophy and how gets through to the talent he has.

I remember looking at his stats after 2016 and he was listed 5'8" and then at the start of 2017 he was listed at 6'1" I have to wonder what that drastic of height change does to a player's development.

Interesting hire. The Twins didn't go after a former player, a current organization guy, or a known commodity at all. Instead they plucked someone from the college ranks. Is it common for college coaches from big time programs to transition to the MiLB coaching ranks? I don't recall seeing this happen to often.

I would be interested in reading a post that attempted this. But its ambitious because arguments ensue when "value" is defined.

I am slowly becoming less hopeful when it comes to Gordon. We still read concerns about his defense, and if he can't play average MLB SS, his bat is not strong enough to play other positions. He strikes out a lot and doesn't hit with a lot of power. To my eye, I think he is trade candidate this offseason.

Mitchell Kranson as a catcher sleeper is a head scratcher. He has played more games as DH and only 33% of games have been at catcher (even at FM) Also he has only hit .257/.316/.364 despite being old for his level. If he is the sleeper, why not simply say "there are no legitimate sleeper catcher candidate"

Thats valid. But Baddoo's has a lot of things in his favor. Very good peripheral numbers that indicate his numbers were not flukey, draft pedigree and glowing scouting reports. We will see and its very possible he falls off a cliff. But its Winter time and as of today he looks super.

Why would that matter? I wouldn't have Kiriloff above some of these guys, but....I am not sure why home schooling is a reason to downgrade a prospect.

Would be fun if he makes it but I don't even know if he makes it to AA next year. Even an MiLB team has limited roster space for guys who don't play the field well and he is behind better hittting guys like White & Rooker

I think if Zack Littell came up through the Twins system you would have him in the top 10. He seems like the type of prospect the more you see, the more you like. The Yankee fans I know were outraged he was traded.

Hope Thorpe can stay healthy and put in about 140 innings in AA next year. His pitches seem good enough to be effective he just needs to show he can be a durable starter.