d-mac

Hey if he can hit, draft him. if the Twins still don't like him at catcher, then trade him later. Not that difficult of a concept to grasp. Just requires an ounce of creative planning and forethought to pull off. But the Twins can't afford to just be business as usual if they want to turn things around.

Like I said: Convincing explanation.

If the Twins want to draft another college reliever, I'd take Burdi over Dunn any day. But I have yet to read a convincing explanation as to why people think he could be a starter if his stuff is identical to his brother's. So I hope they stay away.

I think it's time Jay gets promoted to AA, along with Gonsalves. A bit surprising that Stewart got the call first. His last handful of starts haven't been great and his K% has started to slide back to where he had been previously. Jay and Gonsalves just have better numbers. It's a bit of a bummer with what's happened to Berrios since he was sent down. He's really struggled throwing strikes- that's never been an issue in his career.

What about the pair of WI prep players? Twins in on those two?

TF is geared toward being an "entertainment venue," not a place to go see a baseball game. In other words, the stadium isn't geared toward us, the actual fans. Maybe I'm feeling a bit nostalgic for the Metrodone, but I can't say I've ever been to to game at TF where the folks sitting around me are actually interested in watching the game. It's starting to feel like a Minnesotan version of the Chicago Cubs' stereotype- the fans don't go to Wrigley to watch a baseball game.

Buxton has been really hitting the snot out of the baseballs down in AAA. Plus he's cutting down his K%, while increasing his BB% on a week-to-week basis. Looks from here like he is making the correct adjustments. The problem is that 137 PAs is an awfully short time in AAA- likely too short to become ingrained in his muscle memory. I just hope that bringing him up so quickly isn't going to undo all that he has learned.

The problem is not whether or not he hits. The problem is how they treat their prospects. The problem is the process, not the result. By rushing contact challenged hitters through the upper minors they are not putting them in a position to succeed.

He's numbers are far worse than Tyler Jay's numbers his junior year. And yeah, the B1G is a worse baseball conference than the ACC, but still. Jay had half as many walks and fewer hits allowed than Dunn in 13 fewer innings so far. Plus a higher strikeout rate.

Dunn has a only handful of starts in his college career. I'd hardly call that a starter. I hate, hate, hate drafting relievers in the early rounds. If they think he can be a starter, they are putting an awful lot of faith in a miniscule sample size.

Another college reliever? Gross. One with middling numbers? Double gross. I still like the idea of cutting an underslot deal with a Will Craig or Matt Thais and use the savings for some upside high schoolers later in the draft.

The Twins have no problem airing dirty laundry of a player outside "the circle of trust." You can include Perkins, Neshek, Danny Valencia, Kyle Lohse, etc.

I'd guess nobody wants to pay him $6 mil.

Except he's in AAA. And when did we have somebody on the team named Button? Benjamin Button?

More like Walker= Joey Gallo, if he's lucky. Since 1945 Gallo has the highest k% of any non pitcher with a minimum of 100 PA. Buxton is 15th on that list and Sano is 21st.

Over, way over. He has a 47.6% strike out rate in the month of May in AAA.

Sorry, don't mean to mock you, but you lost me at log jamming. https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/86/f9/59/86f959ffac58dc752f9359111dd1fb35.jpg

Gerrit Cole, Anthony Rendon, Francisco Lindor, George Springer, Jose Fernandez, Sonny Gray, Kolten Wong, Joe Panik, Jackie Bradley Jr, and Trevor Story all say hi.

It's not like the Twins were always bad in this area. The 2002-2010 teams were mostly based off success from the draft and player development in the mid 90s to about 2003,2004. The issue of not being able to develop players is one of the top three reasons for the Twin's struggles in this decade. Whether that's a failure of scouting, player development, or a combination of both, from an outside position it is impossible to separate one from the other.

Actually, they drafted quite poorly. Out of the 7 drafts 2005-2011, they had 3 regular starting players (Garza, Revere, Gibson), 4 role players (Duenseng, Slowey, Hicks, Rosario?), and few more "cups of coffee." On average a team will get at least one major league regular per draft, plus role players and various replacement level players.

God, that 2011 draft was awful.

And it's not like we're a small market team anymore, either. And when Mauer's contract comes off the books we'll have plenty of budget room to go after a top free-agent pitcher.

You can make the counter argument that we can't afford take a pitcher high in the draft and not have him work out vs taking a hitter. I'm all for BPA at the top of the draft, but lean toward hitting once the those "elite" amateur players are taken. High end pitching can be found all over the draft. It's more a matter of scouting and player development, IMO.

TINSTAAPP

Thanks for posting this Seth! This will be a fun exercise. Background: Don't care so much as long as they embrace equally both sabermetrics and traditional scouting. Also they must come from an organization with highly regarded front office: Cardinals, Cubs, Red Sox, TB, Pittsburgh, Houston, Oakland. Scouting: -Draft- If picking high in the draft, go BPA. If picking behind top group of players, lean college hitters from top conferences with strong contact and plate discipline skills. In the supp-rounds to 3-4 load up on high upside high schoolers especially pitchers. Int'l- Every avenue of amateur player acquisition should be explored. Caribbean, Cuba, Central America, Australia, Asia, etc. Leave no stone unturned. Advanced Scouting- Why not use use all available options? Advanced Stats: I want a large and robust stats department! I want my scouts to be knowledgeable in at least basic sabermetric ideas. The statisticians and the scouts should be given equal weighting- they are there to "check" one another. Baseball decisions do not need a consensus, but should not be made without the input of both groups. I think breaking scouts and statisticians into "teams" would be a good idea. Have a team solely for internal stuff (minor league player development, big league club) and external stuff (opponents/matchups, external player evaluation and acquisition). Then have each group cross check each other. Player Development: Those of you that have been following my posts over the past week will know I've done some basic research in this area. As far as a basic plan- get the players up to A+ and AA as quickly as possible- particularly for college players. If a player dominates an early level, plus shows control of the strike zone (both for pitchers/hitters) they don't need to spend more than a month and a half- two months at that level. However, if they can't prove that they have mastered a level, then there is no reason to promote a player. Then I want players to prove that they can control the strike zone and put up productive numbers at AA and AAA before they move up. A full season at AA is required for all hitters and starting pitchers (relievers are exempt). I want all hitters to master AAA for a minimum of 200 PA (and 3-5 starts for pitchers) with control of the strike zone before promoting them. In essence the sole role of the minor leagues is for producing major league players. The record of the minor league team, minor-league all-star appearances are not important. I think having former players as minor league managers are important for the young players adjusting to professional baseball life. Discipline should happen with the minor league staff. I think having players meet with coaches individually and have a "performance review" of their season is good. Then come up with a plan for things to work on in the following season. As far as philosophies: For hitters I want a strong focus on contact and plate discipline- on base skills are preferred over power. Pitchers, I want strikeouts, lots and lots of strikeouts of the swinging variety. I don't care if it's fastball velocity, breaking balls, or changeups that does it. I want pitchers to develop at least one out pitch that gets swinging strikes, then learn how to set up hitters to put them away with it. MEDIA: We're building a winning baseball team, not running a political campaign. I wouldn't tightly control information, but I also will not go out of my way to provide access for the media. We'll let the product on the field speak for itself. Front Office: I would give the GM full reign to gire who he wants. But I think the Twins' current front office is so infected with bad baseball, that I want a clean house. As far as "historical royalty" I want them there mostly for the fans' enjoyment. I don't want them around the players if they are giving advice that is counter to our organizational philosophies. On Field Staff: The manager should be knowledgeable in modern statistics. They should be able to utilize the roster in the way it was designed by the front office team. The manager should understand how platoons and defensive replacements work, when to pinch hit at the proper times, and have an allergy to sacrifice bunting and stealing 3rd. The line-up construction should be set by statistical analysis and opponent matchup. The pitching and hitting coaches should have a philosophy that is in unison with the organizational philosophy. Furthermore, the staff should create a relaxed, loose, and fun atmosphere in the clubhouse where players are allowed to be themselves. Current Situation: The ulitmate goal should be a sustained winning team- winning 90+ games every year. I want the GM to make decisions that will get us from here to there. Many of the young prospects are not ready and should be in the minors for a while longer. The ones that are should be up and playing everyday: Polanco at 2nd, Sano at 3rd, May in the rotation, Chargois in the pen. Anybody that doesn't fit in the plans 2-4 years down the road when the team is contending should be traded (tactfully of course don't move them if they have no value and no replacement ready). I would work on trading Plouffe and Dozier, put Suzuki on the bench and start Centeno. I would clear spots in the rotation for May, Berrios and Meyer. if we have to eat some of those bad contracts to do so then so be it. Justifying it is an easy explanation: "My predecessor was incompetent, they are a sunk cost now but having them on the roster is hurting your team." Trades: Each trade should be done with the goal of getting to that window of success, then once there, maintaining it as long as possible. We have the player acquisition statisticians and scouts identify targets from potential trading partners. Don't stop until you get what you want in return. As far as trading for elite players: Does said player provide a clear and significant upgrade at the position? Does his age fit the window of contention? Does he or any potential extension fit in the budget? Are the returns the other team asking reasonable? If yes to all of these questions, then go for it. If no, for even just one, then don't make the trade. Free Agency: Type of players signed depend on where the team is. If we are not yet in contention and there are questions as to whether or not the young player at that position is ready, then there is no reason not to look for a stopgap veteran on a 1-2 year deal with an eye for trading him at the deadline if he produces. But avoid long term deals. Once the young core is established, Free Agency should be used to fill gaps in the roster, then it is ok to sign longer term deals and ones that cost draft picks. Misc: Since the playoffs are such a crapshoot, success should be measured by regular season wins, division titles, run differential, and having the best record in the league. The front office atmosphere should be open and candid; people should be encouraged to voice their suggestions and think outside the box. People should be rewarded for their hard work and success, but I don't want to create an environment that those in the front office are in constant fear of losing their job or have no fear of losing their job.