GMinTraining

He was doomed as soon as they drafted Buxton and Buxton had his explosive start. Any flaw Hicks had was magnified in discussion. Now he has a better average than last year and his OBP is much worse. I thopught his .347 OBP last year was outstanding (4th best on Twins team) despite his average and showed promise had he stayed at the MLB level. Instead he was sent down to learn how to hit. This year he started in AAA where he improved his BA to .336. He did exactly what everyone wanted and did it very well. Now he is called up again and because he hasn't shown his AAA improvements "YET" - people are starting to loose faith. Brian Dozier had a: .234 BA and .271 OBP his rookie year - 2012 .244 BA and .312 OBP his second year - 2013 .242 BA and .345 OBP his third year - 2014 .262 BA and .344 OBP this year - 2015 Sometimes you have to let them (youngins) find themselves at the MLB level before you define their worth. How we all decide who is worthy of time and who isn't is disturbing. Management yes - Fans generally assume based on bias. Give the man a season to define his worth IMO

Can't wait for Dalton Hicks to get back with the Lookout. He will be a key component when the second half starts. He was off to an amazing start before his injury.

Mesmerizing Guy - Baseball America Hot Prospect Sheet High Risk/High Reward http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/prospect-hot-sheet-june-12-stryker-finds-success-2015/

Articulated very well

How about Hu (World) or Gonsalves (USA)? Are they deserving over Berrios based on 2015 body of work?

I am still waiting for someone to comment on Walker's below listed saber metrics. Does his wRC+ or w/OBA excite you in any way? Do those amazingly high numbers mean anything in terms of prospect promise? These numbers are listed as "EXCELLENT" on the Fangraph scale for each category. Higher than Above Average & Great on the scale. Thoughts.......... *.322 ISO *.902 OPS *.152 wRC+ *.405 w/OBA

Just a note: that quote came from the writer of the article - not Mientkiewicz

A truly potent lineup: The Southern League ‏@SLeagueBaseball North Division starting lineup; South Division starters TBA tomorrow! https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CHPrDlAUIAAGX5h.jpg

I know why people think he is not special - But this is why I think he is Special. 2015 Minor League Stats in AA *#1 HR hitter in minor league baseball *#3 RBI hitter in minor league baseball *#3 Runs Scored in AA baseball *.322 ISO *.902 OPS *.152 wRC+ *.405 w/OBA *.309 BA away games *.344 BA in June *.545 BA with runner on 2nd base & 1.747 OPS *.429 BA with runner on 3rd base & 1.357 OPS *.339 BA with runners in scoring position & 1.122 OPS Championships in 2 of 3 years completed in minors. Best record in baseball the other year. First place team this year. Just one of his many intangibles.

Each team as in Team USA and Team World? or the Twins get 2? World - Berrios; Sano; Kepler; (if more than 2) USA - Buxton - Walker (deserving but longshot)

Walker hit HR #16 last night and his #14 Double. Plus he has reached RBI #51 tonight with 10 more 1st half games left. http://www.milb.com/...352283&sid=t498 HR off of clubhouse http://www.milb.com/...714183&sid=t498 Another HR over clubhouse Impressive Saber stats listed above despite 83 Ks. Especially in his first taste of AA. Who he is and what he does.

Walker hit HR #16 last night and had his #14 Double. Plus he has reached RBI #51 tonight with 10 more 1st half games left. http://www.milb.com/...352283&sid=t498 http://www.milb.com/...714183&sid=t498 Why we keep ignoring the player in our own system who has more power than anyone in the entire minor leagues. 83 K's are crazy, but so are the Saber stats listed in above post.

With so many international prospects on the Twins and your probable USA candidate (Buxton), who else do you see making the Futures Game for the Twins this year? Rosters probably come out this week.

I like that Comp for ABWII down the line. I also see Sano as a better hitter than Gallo down the line too with equal power.

Walker's last 2 HRs against Jackson Generals http://www.milb.com/...352283&sid=t498 http://www.milb.com/...714183&sid=t498

Walker hit HR #16 tonight and Double #14. Plus he has reached RBI #50 with 12 more 1st half games left. http://www.milb.com/multimedia/vpp.jsp?content_id=150352283&sid=t498 http://www.milb.com/multimedia/vpp.jsp?content_id=153714183&sid=t498

I thought Harrison carried this team for most of the first 2 months. He has since slipped in BA only. I feel slighted for him more so than Kepler although Kepler had a crazy May. Both could have made it in my opinion. Jabari Blash from Jackson was hitting over .300 with 9 HRs but only played 30+ games. I think both our guys have had a greater impact than Blash has on the season thus far, but that's All Star voting. And I guess there is arguments both ways.

What will be the move in Chattanooga with the Polanco move? Do they finally promote a Niko Goodrum to the Lookouts? Then again "Where is Waldo"? I mean Levi Michael? That is the longest sprained ankle injury in history. He was just beginning to play well too. What are your thoughts Seth?

Depends on what tools are important to your team "make up" like you you said. I prefer Power tool and defense or hit tool and defense, but defense alone does not get me excited.

All this said and it is Sano's teammate who leads all the minor leagues (A; AA; AAA) in HRs [Adam Brett Walker]. Both will be great Power bats for the Twins in the next 2 years. Is there ever a time when you go with the hot bat? Congrats to the 7 Chattanooga Lookouts who made the Southern League All Star Game.

http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20150609&content_id=129540280&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_t498&sid=t498 Impressive

Doug mentioned in the Scoggins article (Star Tribune) that Walker and hitting coach Chad Allen had a bet to lay off the low pitches. Doug said Walker's K's are more competitive and I'll take him for his word. I agree he needs to stop that trend and I want to believe that he is that type of kid who works hard and has a plan. He is only 23 years old this year. Every player should get better when they repeat a level. From A Ball to the MLB. The only time Walker repeated a level, he has shown great improvements (College). I believe he has the learning capacity to soar when his time comes to repeat a level. Whether that level is AA or the MLB. I'm not saying a 16% K Rate, but a much more manageable K rate that works with his skill set.

agreed

The funny thing about strikeouts is that whenever I talk to former / current MLB players; coaches; about the rise in strikeouts, they all say the same thing: "Who Cares" They are more concerned with contact rate and putting the ball in play with purpose. They all agree that strikeouts are a part of the game and probably won't hold many prospects back anymore. Look at Joey Gallo and the Rangers: 2013 - 37% K Rate - A Ball 2014 - 39% K Rate - AA Ball 2015 - 34% K Rate - AA Ball 2015 - 42% K Rate - MLB (.417 BA - 3 Games w/ 2 HRs) What separates Gallo from a Walker is his BB Rate 14.3% (Career) Walker needs to put more balls in play and he has a chance to be a MLB regular. Walker may never be a Gallo, because he doesn't walk as much, but his run production offensively can be quite similar in the hitting category. His "Particular Set of Skills" are not easily found in most systems.

It's a great thing to have options if your the Twins management