Minor League Report...November 14, 2009

by roger13 on Nov 14, 2009 9:34 AM EST Comment 21 comments

There were several player moves this week including Seth Stohs reporting from Arizona yesterday that Michael McCardell has left the Mesa Solar Sox to have some bone chips removed from his pitching elbow. The Twins removed Justin Huber and Armando Gabino from their 40-man roster. Huber was outrighted to Rochester and will remain with the organization next year. Gabino was claimed by Baltimore. The Twins then added hard throwing righthander Jose Morillo to their 40-man roster. The Twins have also released catcher Jeff Christy and outfielder Ozzie Lewis. The Twins have signed three of their minor league free agents, Rochester pitcher Jose Lugo, New Britain shortstop Yancarlos Ortiz and Ft. Myers pitcher Henry Santos. Former Minor League Player of the Year David Winfree is a minor league free agent and word is that the Twins are very interested in re-signing him.

The Puerto Rico winter league got started on Thursday. The team to watch is Mayaguez who has four Twins on their roster, Nelvin Fuentes, Ryan Mullins, Kennys Vargas and Jose Morales. Joe Christensen is reporting that Danny Valencia will be playing winter ball somewhere for a month or so. Christensen is also reporting that Pat Neshek's rehab is going very well.

Seth published an excellent report of last night's Mesa Solar Sox game including personal observations of three of the Twins top prospects, Rene Tosoni, Chris Parmalee and Steve Singleton. The Solar Sox saw their six game winning streak come to an end on Thursday and now have a 12-14 record, 3.5 games out of first place with less than two weeks remaining in their short fall season.

Spencer Steedley had a nice game last night to lower his ERA to 3.75 in 10 games (12.0 innings). Steedley's problem this fall has been his control as he has walked 12 batters with 7 strikeouts. Alex Burnett continues to be a rising star for the Twins. He has appeared in 8 games (8.2 innings) with a 3.12ERA and 9K/9BB. Starter Steven Hirschfield has had a couple rough outings but has been better of late as he has gotten his ERA down to 9.95. In 8 games (3 starts) with 12.2 innings, Hirschfield has 14K/6BB. Tosoni is hitting .240/.318/.373 with one home run in 75 at bats. All indications from Seth's report is that Tosoni is an excellent defensive outfielder who has to work on hitting left handed pitchers. Chris Parmalee has 3 home runs in 69 at bats while hitting .217/.296/.478. Steve Singleton has been the best Twins hitter for the Sox, hitting .281/.284/.484 with 3 home runs in 64 at bats.

The lone Twin to appear for Mayaguez in Puerto Rico has been Nelvin Fuentes who pitched 1.1 inning of shutout ball yesterday with a hit and 1K/1BB. Fuentes is a young man who the Twins picked in the 16th round of the 2007 draft. After missing all of 2008, he had a wonderful season this past summer for the GCL Twins where he appeared in 12 games (21.0 innings) with a 1.29ERA and 24K/4BB. He is another young left handed reliever who may have bright future in the Twins organization.

Alexi Casilla is now playing regularly for Gigantes del Cibao in the DWL. Casilla, who has appeared in 5 games with 21 at bats, is hitting .190/.190/.333. Since Casilla's arrival, Estarlin De Los Santos has played sparingly yet is hitting very well at .277/.320/.319 in 47 at bats.

Aragua has been playing better of late and the Tigres are now 9.5 games out of first place with a 12-17 record. The scare a week ago was reports that Wilson Ramos had injured his knee. It does not appear to be serious as Ramos returned to pinch hit on Saturday with several appearances as DH before catching on Thursday. Ramos continues to be this winter's hitting star in the VWL at .382/.451/.697 with 6 home runs and 26 RBI although he was only 3-12 this week as he deals with his injury. Dustin Martin was 3-14 this week with a home run and 2 RBI. Martin is hitting .281/.398/.461 in 89 at bats with 4 home runs and 18 RBI. Justin Huber is hitting .282/.385/.474 in 78 at bats with 3 home runs and 19 RBI. Edgar Ibarra made two appearances this week, pitching 0.1 inning with 0 hits, 1 run and 1K/1BB.

Armando Gabino, who is now an ex-Twin, has appeared in 3 games for Aguilas in the DWL with a 1-1 record and 3.00ERA and 2K/1BB.

Next week should be an exciting week for many top prospects as the Twins will have to finalize their 40-man roster by Friday. With the five free agents (Crede, Pavano, Redmond, Cabrera and Mahay) departing the roster and the three players added who were on the 60-day disabled list (Slowey, Bonser and Neshek), the roster stands at 36. The Twins normally like to have a roster spot available so they can make a Rule V pick, yet, they have 6-8 players who may be at risk of being drafted if exposed to the Rule V draft. Will they make additional moves this week to clear more openings on the roster? It seems a given that Deolis Guerra, Alex Burnett and Danny Valencia will be added. But what about Santos Arias, Rob Delaney, Steve Singleton, Brian Dinkelman, Loek VanMil or Winston Marquez?

There will not be a report next week as I will be out of town at a seminar.

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Comments

Delaney would be gone

For good, don’t you think? I can see someone taking a flyer on Arias as well, and maybe Marquez. Seth’s and your reports on Singleton make me think he’d be taken as well. Its probably just me, but shouldn’t Singleton be considered as strong a candidate to take over 2B next year as Valencia is at 3B?

by Han Joelo on Nov 14, 2009 10:08 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I don't think

Singleton would stick an entire year on the 25 man roster.

by clutterheart on Nov 15, 2009 10:47 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Wow.....

Who to choose between Harris, Hughes, Tolleson, Tolbert, Singleton, Dinkelman…especially when you need to add Valencia and, I guess, keep Punto. Plus, what to do about Casilla. And Debinson Romero taking a 40-man spot? Is his potential still that strong?

Visit www.TwinsCards.com and check out "rosters" to see my collection!

by rosterman on Nov 14, 2009 12:03 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Guerra, Valencia and Burnett

are obvious choices, although I didn’t know Guerra needed to be added to the 40-man this year. Thought he had one more year.

Of the others, Delaney would be my first addition, followed by Dinkelman. Otherwise I’d see how trades work out between now and Friday. Is it possible we may trade 2-3 rostered players for one? Of course, this would cause the same problem for the other team, so it would have to be a team with little depth.

by Adam Peterson on Nov 14, 2009 1:03 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

adam, you may be right...

…Guerra signed in July, 2005. Depending on how the CBA is interpreting players from the past will determine whether or not he is eligible. He has played four years, but the current language I understand is based on time since signing. May be grandfathered in which wouldn’t make him eligible.

by roger13 on Nov 15, 2009 12:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I know nothing more that you on Guerra

just struck me as very early. Also, does he have to be protected for the major league portion of the Rule 5 draft, i.e., placed on the 40-man roster? Would any major league teams carry Guerra on their active roster all year? Seems to me like he would be a candidate to be protected in the minor league rounds, when additional players beyond the 40-man can be protected. At least that’s the way I remember it working…

by Adam Peterson on Nov 15, 2009 12:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Guerra

is eligible.

by SethSpeaks on Nov 16, 2009 1:24 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

How about Burnett?

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Nov 16, 2009 10:36 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Burnett

is eligible

by SethSpeaks on Nov 19, 2009 11:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Too much wasted space

The 40-man roster carries far too many players that are replaceable, if not disposable. I have opined that Harris should go, I still think so. Butera, Robinson, and Pridie also.

by Alexi Casilla All-Star on Nov 14, 2009 1:16 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

The problem with Pridie

is that we only have five outfielders total on the 40 man roster (Young, Span, Cuddyer, Kubel, Pridie). Very little depth at the top of the organization.

Where we have the huge surplus is mediocre infielders. Casilla, Harris, Hughes, Plouffe, Punto, Romero, Tolbert, Tolleson. I would look to trade Harris to someone like the Cubs who could use another RH bat and flexibility. I’d take a couple A-AA prospects in return.

by Adam Peterson on Nov 14, 2009 1:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Replacing Pridie

First of all, who really would want him. I think he could be outrighted to Rochester, just like Huber was. Secondly, aren’t there literally scores of AAAA outfielders out there who could replace him? I think I could name 20 and that doesn’t even count those who have only gotten as far as AAA.

by Alexi Casilla All-Star on Nov 14, 2009 1:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

AAAAA........

Martin, Roberts, Winfree, Portes could all fill the bill. Look for the Twins to sign someone who could, at least, play as a replacement if something happened.

They do need a true centerfield backup.

For Cuddyer or Young, you can always move Kubel to the outfield and install, say, a Morales or Huber (or Brock Peterson) as the DH. Right now the bench looks to be an outfielder (Pridie…ugh), catcher (Morales), and two backups (Casilla, Punto, Valencia, Tolbert…whoever is not starting or whoever disappears because of a trade…no Harris in sight…yet).

Visit www.TwinsCards.com and check out "rosters" to see my collection!

by rosterman on Nov 14, 2009 1:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Many replacements

but replacing Pridie with another AAAA or backup OF (Endy Chavez, for example), wouldn’t do much about the “too many players who are replaceable” observation. Yes, Pridie is replaceable, but not at a position where we have a surplus of players we should add to the 40-man.

by Adam Peterson on Nov 14, 2009 1:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Saturday Games Update!

…The Twins were a huge help to Mesa’s 4-2 win Saturday. Rene Tosoni was the leadoff hitter, going 1-5. But Chris Parmalee had a huge game. He was 3-5 with 2 doubles and his fourth home run. Had 2 runs scored and 2 RBI. Alex Burnett came on to pitch a 1-2-3 ninth inning with 1 strikeout for his 3rd save.

We also need to start watching Leones de Ponce in the Puerto Rican League that started play last Thursday. Angel Morales played his first game in right field yesterday. He went 0-3, but all three at bats were against veteran pitchers with major league experience. He had two at bats (grounded out to third and struck out) against starter Kyle Snyder who had a 4.23ERA at AAA Buffalo last year and pitched some with the Red Sox in 2008. His last at bat was a ground out to second base off LeVale Speigner, the former Twin who was with the Nationals in 2008. This should be invaluable experience this winter for one of the top prospects in the organization.

Aragua played a double header yesterday. Wilson Ramos caught the second game, going 2-4 with a double and run scored.

by roger13 on Nov 15, 2009 8:14 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Great update

Do you just glean all this from the box scores? Anyway, thanks, I enjoy it.

by Han Joelo on Nov 15, 2009 9:16 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

During the winter...

…it is mostly from boxscores, go to each league every morning and review each games boxscore. During the regular minor league seasons, review each games boxscores but also read the beat writers reports filed in the local newspapers…writers like Jim Mandelaro, Ken Lipshiz, etc.

by roger13 on Nov 15, 2009 9:53 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs