Blog Comments

Benson skipped elizabethton. Morales had one of the best seasons at E-Town by a young player in the 8 or so years I've paid a ton of attention. He's the poster child for what we prospect hounds should be looking for in a top prospect, and he's a reminder that what we see in Elizabethton is not always what we get.

Definitely not a term of endearment!

Arcia looks to be struggling a bit in the Venezuelan league. But I still opine that he should start in AAA with a real shot at playing for Minnesota at some point in 2013. A trade of Span and/or Willingham would speed things up, but wouldn't guarantee Arcia getting a cup-o-coffee in 2013

Its a term of endearment for the home team. I admit it could get annoying, so I'll keep it to a minimum.

I agree with the hope for Kepler. I will be spending some time in Cedar Rapids next summer and hope to catch a bit of Max and Buxton.

Just one thing grates me on your post.

Minny? Really. Like finger nails on a chalk board to me. Like calling Wisconsin sconnie. But it is probably just me.

I also hope some of these guys mentioned become starting pitchers someday. Baxendale was terrific as a reliever last summer in his pro debut (0.96 ERA in 18.2 innings), and should be terrific as a starter as well.

I think the debate isn't "where" they start... but "whether" they start.

Re: Arcia - I can see both sides. I wonder what he's doing this winter, and if that will play into the decision. If you read the interview with Terry Ryan, he sure seemed to suggest that they feel like they've moved him up pretty fast recently and seemed to be wondering if starting him at AAA was moving him too fast.

One thing that might play into the decision is that there isn't necessarily a good reason to move him up there if he's going to need to sit there waiting all season. There is already a logjam, though I hope that will be cleared with a trade this offsesason. But I suspect they think Hicks is next in line, and then Arcia. That's not necessarily a reason to not promote him to AAA, but it does relax the urgency of moving him up the ladder.

Originally Posted by Physics Guy

Absolutely nothing more to prove in AA? 69 games in AA is a pretty small sample size and he was a 21 year old in a league whose players have a median age of 24. I'd say starting in AA is reasonable with a promotion in May or early June. In another thread I had him projected as a starting OF for the Twins in 2014. I think that may be a bit aggressive. I could see him following a path similar to Cuddyer who had just over 100 AB with the Twins in both his 23 and 24 year old season and a semi-regular at 25. Cuddyer may have accelerated that a bit had he been moved to OF earlier.

There is nothing wrong with being aggressive and moving young players up multiple levels in one year. Many of the best prospects in baseball are kept in the minors strictly for financial reasons (so the club can save money in the long run). This strategy works for some prospects and hurts the organization in some cases. The club needs to identify certain players that need to be pushed up to the top, and then have the cajones to actually "DO IT."

Thanks for the corrections! I agree Berrios needs the opportunity to move multiple levels next year, wherever he starts. Yes, the Twins will never bring up a Mike-Trout type of talent before they turn 20, or 23 for that matter. Arcia should start in AAA, or in MLB in my opinion. But a start in AA seems redundant here. Many mistakes this front office has made recently. And "not moving up impact MLB players" is probably a mistake that is easy to hide.

69 games is NOT a small sample size for the minor leagues.

personally, id love to see the reincarnation of rice and lynn in the twins outfield in 2014,
as for berrios, give him 5 starts look at his record his games his mistakes his confidence and if warrented move him up, remember if griffey jr. was a twin he probally wouldnt make the show till he was 24-25years old , time for new blood and new thinking

Absolutely nothing more to prove in AA? 69 games in AA is a pretty small sample size and he was a 21 year old in a league whose players have a median age of 24. I'd say starting in AA is reasonable with a promotion in May or early June. In another thread I had him projected as a starting OF for the Twins in 2014. I think that may be a bit aggressive. I could see him following a path similar to Cuddyer who had just over 100 AB with the Twins in both his 23 and 24 year old season and a semi-regular at 25. Cuddyer may have accelerated that a bit had he been moved to OF earlier.

It would be ridiculous for Arcia to start in AA. If that happens I will be more willing to submit to those who accuse the Twins of being far too conservative with prospects. Honestly, there is absolutely nothing for him to prove in AA.

Also, to the author of this blog, our midwest league affiliate is Cedar Rapids, not Quad Cities.

I don't have any inside information on this, but I wouldn't be shocked to see Arcia start the year in AA and I think Berrios will not be in a full season league next year - at least not to start the season.