2008 Postseason Top Twins Prospects List
by SethSpeaks on Oct 3, 2008 6:00 PM EDT
16 comments
Like we did last year, I thought it would be fun to start voting on the Twinkie Town Top 30 Twins Prospects list. I will use my personal Top 50 list (found at www.SethSpeaks.net... shameless self-promotion!) to come up with the list of players. Discussion is not only welcome, but hopefully expected. This should be a lot of fun. I will have between 5 and 10 players eligible to be voted for. We will determine how many votes determines the winner. Players with less than 5% of the vote will come off the list for at least one vote. Please tell me what other players should be on the list so I can add them as well.
With that as a brief intro, lets start the 2008 Twinkie Town Twins Top Prospect list by voting for your choice as the Twins #1 Prospects...
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Bios
Again, not to shamelessly self promote too much, but you can find the bios I have written for players at www.SethSpeaks.net… These were my Top 9 prospects, so they all would appear in the www.SethSpeaks.net/100208.htm file as well. I only mention this in case you want to do some research, but there are many sources as well, Roger’s reports, www.thebaseballcube.com, firstpitch.com, etc.
by SethSpeaks on Oct 3, 2008 6:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Aaron Hicks
Got to go with the Biggest Upside in the system here.
1941 .406
by FrozenTed9 on Oct 3, 2008 11:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Seth is well aware...
…that my pick for the #1 spot is Angel Morales. Played at a level higher than Hicks, is a couple months younger and put up incredible numbers in the Appy League. Really could have gone with any of four guys in my opinion, Morales, Hicks, Revere or Wilson Ramos…who put up a fantastic season in Hi-A at the age of 20!
by roger13 on Oct 4, 2008 8:23 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I go with Revere....
just based on ceiling relative to level.
I like both Hicks and Morales a whole lot, and their ceilings are maybe higher (though I REALLY like Revere as a Kirby Puckett type still longterm), but they have to go another year in the system to me before they can achieve #1 status. Ramos is my #2 or 3 with Swarzak.
by DJSkillz on Oct 4, 2008 11:02 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I went with Hughes
just because he is so close and I’m hoping he is the future power-hitting thirdbasemen that we need.
by Twins Territory on Oct 4, 2008 12:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Morales
First, I have to say that I think it is a big problem that all of our top prospects are low level (single A) players. That does not bode well, as it indicates there will be significant thinning. Because of that, I was really tempted to go with Swarzak. However, I decided to go with the most upside, which seems to be Morales.
Hicks has athleticism, but it still has to be shown whether he will hit for power, so the upside battle right now, is Morales.
Still, the point is that if you think your top 5 prospects are in A ball, then the question becomes, how many do you expect to still be top prospects in two years? I’d say that of Revere, Hicks, Morales and Ramos, it would surprise me if more than two become significantly above average MLB players.
by snolls on Oct 4, 2008 1:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
prospects in low levels...
“it is a big problem that all of our top prospects are low level (single A) players”
I don’t necessarily see it that way… The Twins are set for the next 3-6 years at 1B, C, 2B, LF, CF, RF, DH, SP and in the bullpen.
Where are there needs?
3B – Luke Hughes finished at AAA. Danny Valencia finished at AA. Either could be the Twins opening day starting 3B by 2010, if not sooner. (I personally think Valencia)
MI – I put Middle Infield because many can see Alexi Casilla move back to SS at some point (I don’t want that, but it could happen)… Trevor Plouffe ended the season at Rochester. Steve Tolleson probably could have. Matt Tolbert is around.
SP – can never have enough, and Brian Duensing, Kevin Mulvey and Anthony Swarzak are at Rochester, with Jeff Manship at AA.
RP – again, can never have enough… Bobby Korecky is around. Jose Mijares already made an impression. And Rob Delaney and Anthony Slama are both considered good relief pitching prospects.
So, in my mind, it isn’t a big concern that the high end, high-ceiling prospects are 3-5 years out.
by SethSpeaks on Oct 4, 2008 9:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
prospects
I’ll give you that we are set for 3 years at 1B, C, LF and 3-4 of our SP spots. After that, we have to consider that any player we have right now, may need to be replaced based on age, injury or salary. I’m happy with Casilla, but .281/.333/.374 over 100 games to be “set for the next 3-6 years”. In the outfield, I’m confident that Span will be above average for a few years, and that we can be content with our options to fill the other two spots, but I wouldn’t say we have an all-star outfield or anything. We need to be looking for big upgrades.
Separately, I think you misunderstood my point about having players at a low level. I just think that having a wave of prospects a few years away is bad, but that I’m worried that what we consider a bumper crop, is really one or two survivors surrounded by a few weeds. I’m just saying that we only have 4-5 position players that project to all-star type of potential. When none of them are even out of A ball, you have to worry that only one or two will pan out. I would feel a lot better if we had one or two high ceiling guys at every level, because I would be more confident that, in addition to the ones we project, a couple of surprises would appear at every level.
by snolls on Oct 5, 2008 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't disagree at all with Hicks as your pick Seth
In my mind there were several guys who could easily be justified as number 1. However I’ll go with Morales because of the age and the performance this year.
Gardenhire's major league career: Banjo hitting, futility infielder who couldn't lick it.
Rick Anderson's major league career: Strikethrower who never made it happen with his sub 90's fastball.
Really gives a new definition to living vicariously through other people, don't it?
by caseintheface on Oct 5, 2008 10:44 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Revere
I went with Revere. While I find Hick’s upside and performance this year in a pitcher friendly league exciting, I just can’t vote for first place for a guy who doesn’t even have a full year in professional baseball. Revere is a bit young for the top spot too, but I just couldn’t place anyone above him. Robertson would get consideration, but the big injury and needed mechanics change makes me wait a bit on him. Valencia deserves to be near the top as a college guy who has done what good college players do: moved up the system quickly and produced very well at every level. I’ll probably choose between him and Hicks for the number 2 spot, then move on from there.
It seems these days that on the position side of the ball, there is more promise in our lower level than the upper ones. I’d still support signing a couple free agents to expensive, but short contracts this offseason, going for a win for the next year or two, then using Valencia, etc to fill the holes.
"You can't sit on a lead and run a few plays into the line and just kill the clock. You've got to throw the ball over the damn plate and give the other man his chance. That's why baseball is the greatest game of them all."
~ Earl Weaver
"In God we trust. All others must provide evidence."
~ Billy Beane
by AdamOnFirst on Oct 5, 2008 11:02 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Ben Revere
I went with Revere as well. I agree with AdamOnFirst because it’s too hard to give that top spot to a player that hasn’t played a full year of professional baseball. So far Revere is in his second year and has done extremely well. Now if Hicks does this next year as well, then I might have to change my opinion.
by hitormiss1414 on Oct 5, 2008 1:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I went with Revere as well.
It’s always difficult to project guys when they’re that young and that low in the system, but I can’t rate Hicks or Morales above him quite yet. I like their tools, but Revere just hit too well this season…he was incredible. Even with an unimpressive arm, for now I have to take him over the other two.
by Jesse on Oct 5, 2008 2:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Vote for #2
Approximately noon central time, I will end this vote for #1 and will start with #2. Please remember to think about names you would add to this list for players not receiving much for votes.
by SethSpeaks on Oct 6, 2008 9:56 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
How about some pitchers who will be at AA next season?
Rainville, Delaney, Gambino and add to that list a good SS in Plouffe. It is possible we could see some of these in the new stadium in 2010.
by Beerbear on Oct 6, 2008 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hicks has the pedigree
As the #14 overall pick, it wasn’t just Twins scouts who thought this kid was good. If he was some 39th round pick who lit it up for a few weeks, I’d be more skeptical, but he was a highly regarded talent who delivered right out of the gate.
Remember how much salivation was directed at Fernando Martinez, barely older than Hicks (albeit playing at a higher level)? He was the one untouchable Met prospect, and I expect Hicks and Morales to be untouchable until proven otherwise.
With Revere, I just get too much Juan Pierre. Injuries (which he’s already had) will quickly kill his potential.
by Han Joelo on Oct 6, 2008 11:48 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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