Thread: Article: Twins Florida Instructional League Roster

Thanks for the roster Seth.

The two most interesting tid bits I get from the roster are, 1) German Minier being there as a 16+ year old who hasn't played in the D.R. Tells me they are very high on this young man and want to get started; and 2) Seeing Kennys Vargas will be there. After missing most of this year with his suspension and odd rules that turned 50 games into about 125, he needs all the work he can get. Secondly, being invited tells us the Twins remain high on him and aren't ticked off because of his mistake.

Seth, I had heard several times recently that Kyle Gibson would be working in Fall Instructs before going to Arizona in early October. Is he there and just not included on the roster?

Speaking about A. J. above, do you think he wasn't invited because of his wedding this fall?

Thanks Seth, have a wonderful weekend!

Originally Posted by thrylos98

Originally Posted by jokin

Regardless, wouldn't you agree that Dereck Rodriguez, with the plethora of young OF prospects, is heavily blocked at advancing quickly through the Twins system?

well... they are 4-5 OF and 2 Cs in most rosters, so I really see no issues. Also, at this point there are probably 8-10 OFs ahead of him in the minors (let's say the beginning of 2013 and I am not counting the MiLB FAs that Rantz will sign). There are probably 8-10 Cs ahead of him as well. So the numbers make me think that he has higher likelihood in advancing as an OF plus you have to add another year to learn another position as a C.

That is academic. Pettersen is 170 lbs with a diving weight belt on Dereck Rodriguez is also close to 150. Stick arms stick legs. Nothing like Pudge and Pudge was closer to 225 than 205...

Not to be too argumentative here. You are trying to compare Rodriguez at age 40 to Pettersen at age 24. I would wager that Pudge at 24 weighed closer to Pettersen at age 24 than to Pudge at age 40.

Derrick is currently listed at 160 and his genetic background suggests he'll likely end up with at least a somewhat similar profile to his father's. Furthermore, here is an article from the NY Times in 2005:

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/25/sp...l/25pudge.html

A pull quote from it:

"(Last night, he said he weighed 187 pounds, compared with 215 last season.)"

Besides the references and allegations to prior steroid use, Pudge did drop the weight starting in 2005, for his mid-to-late 30s to prolong his career, and returned to his more natural body-type.

I don't think it's a stretch to suggest that Derreck Rodriguez could get to the majors faster with the Twins by considering the catcher option (appears to be a winning strategy for Hermann). Passing the relatively non-descript list of 8-10 catchers in the Twins system is not much of a hurdle for a superior athlete, even one who is still super-skinny. And he does have a HOF catcher for a Dad with whom he can consult on his development. Time to hit the weights Derreck, to get on a faster track to the majors- or look to be traded to another team needing an OF sooner than the Twins will be doing so.

Originally Posted by jokin

Originally Posted by thrylos98

Originally Posted by jokin

Regardless, wouldn't you agree that Dereck Rodriguez, with the plethora of young OF prospects, is heavily blocked at advancing quickly through the Twins system?

well... they are 4-5 OF and 2 Cs in most rosters, so I really see no issues. Also, at this point there are probably 8-10 OFs ahead of him in the minors (let's say the beginning of 2013 and I am not counting the MiLB FAs that Rantz will sign). There are probably 8-10 Cs ahead of him as well. So the numbers make me think that he has higher likelihood in advancing as an OF plus you have to add another year to learn another position as a C.

That is academic. Pettersen is 170 lbs with a diving weight belt on Dereck Rodriguez is also close to 150. Stick arms stick legs. Nothing like Pudge and Pudge was closer to 225 than 205...

Not to be too argumentative here. You are trying to compare Rodriguez at age 40 to Pettersen at age 24. I would wager that Pudge at 24 weighed closer to Pettersen at age 24 than to Pudge at age 40.

Derrick is currently listed at 160 and his genetic background suggests he'll likely end up with at least a somewhat similar profile to his father's. Furthermore, here is an article from the NY Times in 2005:

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/25/sp...l/25pudge.html

A pull quote from it:

"(Last night, he said he weighed 187 pounds, compared with 215 last season.)"

Besides the references and allegations to prior steroid use, Pudge did drop the weight starting in 2005, for his mid-to-late 30s to prolong his career, and returned to his more natural body-type.

I don't think it's a stretch to suggest that Derreck Rodriguez could get to the majors faster with the Twins by considering the catcher option (appears to be a winning strategy for Hermann). Passing the relatively non-descript list of 8-10 catchers in the Twins system is not much of a hurdle for a superior athlete, even one who is still super-skinny. And he does have a HOF catcher for a Dad with whom he can consult on his development. Time to hit the weights Derreck, to get on a faster track to the majors- or look to be traded to another team needing an OF sooner than the Twins will be doing so.

He has a better chance of pitching then catching....

Originally Posted by 60ft6in

Originally Posted by jokin

Originally Posted by thrylos98

Originally Posted by jokin

Regardless, wouldn't you agree that Dereck Rodriguez, with the plethora of young OF prospects, is heavily blocked at advancing quickly through the Twins system?

well... they are 4-5 OF and 2 Cs in most rosters, so I really see no issues. Also, at this point there are probably 8-10 OFs ahead of him in the minors (let's say the beginning of 2013 and I am not counting the MiLB FAs that Rantz will sign). There are probably 8-10 Cs ahead of him as well. So the numbers make me think that he has higher likelihood in advancing as an OF plus you have to add another year to learn another position as a C.

That is academic. Pettersen is 170 lbs with a diving weight belt on Dereck Rodriguez is also close to 150. Stick arms stick legs. Nothing like Pudge and Pudge was closer to 225 than 205...

Not to be too argumentative here. You are trying to compare Rodriguez at age 40 to Pettersen at age 24. I would wager that Pudge at 24 weighed closer to Pettersen at age 24 than to Pudge at age 40.

Derrick is currently listed at 160 and his genetic background suggests he'll likely end up with at least a somewhat similar profile to his father's. Furthermore, here is an article from the NY Times in 2005:

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/25/sp...l/25pudge.html

A pull quote from it:

"(Last night, he said he weighed 187 pounds, compared with 215 last season.)"

Besides the references and allegations to prior steroid use, Pudge did drop the weight starting in 2005, for his mid-to-late 30s to prolong his career, and returned to his more natural body-type.

I don't think it's a stretch to suggest that Derreck Rodriguez could get to the majors faster with the Twins by considering the catcher option (appears to be a winning strategy for Hermann). Passing the relatively non-descript list of 8-10 catchers in the Twins system is not much of a hurdle for a superior athlete, even one who is still super-skinny. And he does have a HOF catcher for a Dad with whom he can consult on his development. Time to hit the weights Derreck, to get on a faster track to the majors- or look to be traded to another team needing an OF sooner than the Twins will be doing so.

He has a better chance of pitching then catching....

Given who will likely begin to be manning the Twins OF starting around 2014-5, he has a better chance of pitching than playing OF (at least for the Twins).

I see we played the Rays and Orioles at Instructs thus far. Any word on how our young Twinkies are doing down there? Is Molitor giving our boys some useful pointers? I know it is a very informal format, but is there any word on positives or negatives thus far?

Originally Posted by lightfoot789

I see we played the Rays and Orioles at Instructs thus far. Any word on how our young Twinkies are doing down there? Is Molitor giving our boys some useful pointers? I know it is a very informal format, but is there any word on positives or negatives thus far?

Where did you see this?

there is a schedule, but stats and box scores are not public information.

I just saw the schedule for the other teams and dates with opponents. I have not seen the Twins Instructional schedule yet. That's why I'm asking if anyone heard any buzz from Ft. Myers?

Koch is a good baseball player. Stick with Koch. I think he needs to learn HoW to play the game a little better. The problem I have with the minor leaguers is that they don't know the game. That tells you the Twins have a weak coaching staff at the lower levels. Imagine that. Don't you think if you were to invest you money into your future profits, you would have the very best building your foundation? These guys just don't get it. It is because there are too many baseball players in the baseball business that won't listen to guys that know how to run a business.

You are right. Derrick will not progress in the twins system. Rance is an idiot and too damn old to manage
Progression and talent. One example is that he left Cole Johnson in Ft Myers after spring training. Replace Old Man Rance!

Anyone found a schedule yet for the Twins' Fall Instructional League? I live in Fort Myers and haven't found one yet, just piecemealing together a road schedule from the BoSox and Orioles.

By the way, Derrick Rodriguez's girlfriend is smoking hot.

Got to add another name to the list and makes absolutely no sense: Matt Capps. Yes, the Twins sent him there to take valuable time from the young players (like he would throw another pitch in a Twins' uniform....) Total nonsense.

I'm still waiting on the news that Matt Capps will have shoulder surgery and miss the 2013 season. I just get a suspicion that it will happen only after the Twins have signed him

I was at Instructs practice today. (Landa, Montanez, Chargois, Mazza, and Merck all traveled to Port Charlotte) Starts bright and early at 740am-8am for Balametrics for Boyd, Baxendale, Robb and Lee then onto film with Eric Rasmussen from 8 to 820 ( Malinowski and Nunez). At 820-845 there was a conference room with Henry Bonilla (pitching coach) over past game review. From 9 to 915 was Pickoff and Pitch field drills and 915 to 930 was stretching on field 1. From 930 to 945 was short sprints, elastic cord stretches and throwing changeups. 945 to 1000 was pre pitch selection, stretch work and pick offs with 1000 afterwards set for side work for Berrios and Zach Jones. The time schedule didn't follow anything close to what was set out. It was nice to watch infielders and outfielders (DJ Hicks couldn't bunt to save his life) bunched together taking bunting practice with Ramon Borrego and hitting in the cage working on hitting against a lefty coach despite him being severely rotund.

The best part of the afternoon was watching pitcher drills at the end of the day with a game that Kyle Gibson brought from his days at U of Missouri. Instead of just running 100 yards and back multiple times, they threw a frisbee a 100 yards and ran after it and had to come back and make a good toss, they did this for about 20 rounds. Surprise was that between the four teams, that Boyd, Duffey, Gibson, "meathead" Tyler Jones (who is in camp as a coach from what the player's say), and another they didn't finish last. Boyd is looking fit, nowhere near the 263lbs he's listed as of course he don't look 6'2 either plus he's a great guy.

The biggest note that Twins should like to hear is the HUGE raves that Tyler Grimes is getting for his work behind the plate. I talked to Tyler for probable about a half hour today after practice and he told me how much more respect he has for the catchers now that the club is converting him to one. Not only did he frame nicely and dig like a true catcher but he drew great reviews from all the coaches all around and most believe he can be a MiLB catcher if not a big league catcher.

By the way, Sano and Rosario are attached at the hip. Their english is very limited and they treat you that way, if you speak spanish they will talk to you all day. By the way, Dereck Rodriguez has the nicest car in the lot with a brand new BMW; Buxton and Sano don't drive....

I have pics and video to back it all up, I just don't know if anyone cares that much to see it. I also got the Twins FIL roster if anyone is interested. Wed is a Camp day, Thurs is Twins at O's, Friday is O's at Twins, Sat is Twins at Red Sox, Monday is O's at Twins. Games go till Friday Oct 12th which is a Camp day

Thanks for the report, Bob. It's not like anyone is interested in the big league club, so any minuscule hope we can find in videos or pics would probably save us from our self-formed nooses. BTW, reports like this are blog worthy.

Quite simply, this has been my favorite post in ~2 weeks!

Thanks, and I look forward to more posts if you have time.

Yes, this was terrific. It's difficult to get any updates from Instructs, except from people who are there. Thank you very much!! Any video or pictures you want to attach would be welcomed!

I agree this post was the best thing on here in a while.

OOF, just Googled Bob Sacamento... maybe this isn't my favorite post after all.

Bob Sacamano is a character on the television sitcom Seinfeld. He is never seen in any of the episodes, but through Cosmo Kramer's accounts, he is the source of bizarre anecdotes, and is known to frequently give esoteric information and harebrained ideas.

and

Bob Sacamano, one of Kramer's best friends, who is often referred to as the source of nutty ideas or inaccurate information.

Originally Posted by TRex

OOF, just Googled Bob Sacamento... maybe this isn't my favorite post after all.

Bob Sacamano is a character on the television sitcom Seinfeld. He is never seen in any of the episodes, but through Cosmo Kramer's accounts, he is the source of bizarre anecdotes, and is known to frequently give esoteric information and harebrained ideas.

and

Bob Sacamano, one of Kramer's best friends, who is often referred to as the source of nutty ideas or inaccurate information.

LoL, it's been my baseball handle since 1998. If you googled it, you probably saw that I'm a Cubs fan, so I understand your pain. Here is Coach Ramon Borrego working with some of the infielders on bunting