Minor League Report...July 10, 2010

In the closest race of the season, Ryan Mullins was voted the Twinkie Town Player of the Week with 20% of the 81 votes cast.

The organization had another losing week on the field as they compiled an overall record of 15 wins and 31 losses with only Beloit and Elizabethton having winning weeks at 4-3.  It appears that losing two-thirds of their games has become the norm this season.  Today I will take a look at some of the reasons for this disappointing summer.

The Twins activated J. J. Hardy with Matt Tolbert moving to the disabled list.  Alexi Casilla reported to the GCL Twins on a rehab assignment.  Clay Condrey, who has yet to throw his first pitch for the Twins, moved up to Rochester on a rehab assignment.  New Britain's Spencer Steedley made one appearance, however, now appears back on the DL.  Catchers Jair Fernandez and Danny Lehmann were both placed on New Britain's disabled list with Alexander Soto coming off.  Catcher Alan de San Miguel, who moved from Rochester to Ft. Myers earlier in the week, was promoted to New Britain as their second active catcher.  de San Miguel again leads the organization in frequent flyer miles as he has made multiple stops in Rochester, New Britain and Ft. Myers.  Beloit placed their top starter, Brad Stillings, on the disabled list with reliever Dakota Watts moving up to Ft. Myers. 

Liam Hendriks will miss the futures game after undergoing an emergency appendectomy last weekend.  Hendriks is expected to miss most of the remaining Florida State League season.  The Twins promoted highly touted infielders Miguel Sano and Jorge Polanco from the DSL to the GCL Twins.  Nick Lockwood moved up to Elizabethton with Alexander Lobanov moving from ETon to Beloit.  Infielder Yorby Martinez moved up to Beloit from the GCL Twins with shortstop Daniel Santana being returned to Elizabethton from Beloit.  Recent draft picks Lance Ray and Clint Dempster were promoted to Beloit. 

The Twins signed their fifth round pick, outfielder Nate Roberts who was assigned to Elizabethton.  They also signed their twenty-first round pick, Nathan Fawbush, a right handed pitcher who will pitch for the GCL Twins.  Several sources reported that the Twins signed a lefty from the Dominican Republic, Reyson Zuquier.  GCL Twins manager, Chris Heinz, left the organization with Ramon Borrego taking over as manager.  The Twins announced that former Twin, Tom Brunansky, will begin working with the GCL Twins coaching staff.  With Hendriks out, Anthony Slama has been added to the futures game where he will pitch for the US Team. 

Rochester Red Wings (AAA) (2-5, 32-58, last place, -21.0 games behind Scranton/WB)

The Red Wings season is over as far as having any hopes of making the playoffs.  Although the Red Wings organization has decided to extend their working relationshp with the Twins, they must be asking what went wrong and will the Twins take steps to give them winning baseball in the future?

Looking back over several years, most successful Twins minor league teams have been built around a strong starting staff.  Coming into the season, Rochester appeared to have a strong starting five with their top three (Glen Perkins, Anthony Swarzak and Jeff Manship) all having experienced some major league success.  In addition they signed former Tiger Mike Maroth with the final spot in the rotation going to either veteran Yoslan Herrera, Matt Fox or Ryan Mullins.  Herrera was a failure, leaving the team after six starts with a 0-3 record and 6.08 ERA.  Maroth pitched well in three starts before going on the disabled list.  Fox and Mullins moved into the rotation and have been their best starters with identical records of 4-7 and 4.44 and 4.70 ERAs, respectively. 

The problem, however, has been the performance of the three prospects who were expected to be the staff and team's anchor.  Those of us not in the locker room will never know whether he was battling injuries or in a funk, but Perkins has been terrible.  After his last two starts, which were his best outings of the season, Perkins has a 3-8 record with a 6.98 ERA in 86.1 innings.  Jeff Manship has been the best of the three (3-5), yet his 4.97 ERA in 76.0 innings doesn't compare with the 2.84 ERA he has in 12.2 innings with the Twins this year.  Does he pitch better on the big stage of the American League?  If so, why?  Anthony Swarzak had a couple solid starts before moving onto the disabled list with a foot injury during the second week of the season.  Since returning, Swarzak hasn't pitched like the staff leader he should be as his ERA has soared to 6.84 with a 1-6 record.  

Several relievers also haven't pitched as expected.  When the Twins placed Rob Delaney on their forty man roster last fall, many thought he would battle for a spot in their bullpen this spring.  Whether it is the environment surrounding the team or hitters have figured him out, his ERA has gone from 3.95 in April to 4.80 in May, 6.88 in June and 8.10 in July.  Jose Lugo did a fine job as a lefty specialist in winter ball.  He isn't getting it done for the Red Wings as he has a 5.91 ERA and .308 average against lefties.  Since joining the Wings following his injury, former Twin and Twin Cities resident Pat Neshek has a 5.60 ERA with 15K/4BB in 11 games (17.2 innings).   

Slama and Waldrop watch.....Two pitchers who have been shining stars for the Wings have been Anthony Slama and Kyle Waldrop.  The question the Twins must deal with is finding two spots on their forty man roster so both can be called up in September at the latest.  Slama made three appearances this week, pitching 4.0 shutout innings with three hits, three walks and nine strikeouts.  Yes, three walks in four innings is to many...but getting 75% of his outs by strikeouts has to get opposing scouts attention if not Twins management.  Slama now has a 0-1 record, 16 saves, 1.28 ERA and 60K/24BB in 49.1 innings.  Waldrop made four appearances this week, pitching 3.2 innings with five hits, three strikeouts, one walk and a very unusual earned run.  Waldrop has a 3-1 record, 1.11 ERA and 39K/12BB in 56.2 innings. 

Jacque Jones doesn't have enough at bats to qualify for the league lead, however, his .308 Average is fourth best in the International League.  The only rap on Jones would be that he hasn't delivered the power (only 3 home runs) that the Red Wings expected.  Wilson Ramos is a huge prospect who showed us while with the Twins what happens when you throw him fastballs.  But he is very young and hasn't delivered when the Wings needed him to as he struggles with at .212/.249/.315 in 222 at bats.  Luke Hughes also showed us the prospect he can be, however, he again is spending much of his season on the disabled list.  

In a season that has to be trying for him, Glen Perkins made his best two starts of the year.  He was the winner, 1-0, last Saturday when he pitched 6.2 shutout innings with 3 hits.  Perkins picked up his second win when Brendan Harris drove in the winning run when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.  Perkins returned Thursday to pitch 6.0 innings with 9 hits and only 1 run with 6K/0BB to pick up his third win.

New Britain Rock Cats (AA) (0-7, 24-64, Last place, -29.0 games behind New Hampshire)

The Rock Cats, who were winless this week and have had the worst record in all of the minor leagues much of this season, must find something to play for.  Ken Lipshez had an excellent interview earlier this week when he spoke about the season to Twins roving instructor Paul Moliter.  Moliter was quoted as saying, "That when they're not winning games, it's difficult but it doesn't mean you can't find ways to improve individually and collectively." 

When the season began and players like Rene Tosoni and Juan Portes where sent back to New Britain following excellent springs, I thought this was the year for the Cats to contend.  Wow, was that wrong!  Tosoni battled injuries the entire spring before going on the disabled list with shoulder surgery when he was hitting .270/.369/.422.  Portes has been a huge disappointment, hitting .182/.271/.283 in 269 at bats.  Brandon Roberts has again been on the disabled list more than in the lineup.  He is hitting .306/.420/.367, however, has only been healthy to play in 29 games.  Ben Revere is the leading hitter at .300/.371/.356, however, Ben seems to battle some minor injury and  miss a few games seemingly every week.  Joe Benson and Chris Parmelee weren't ready for AA ball at the start of the season.  After a short return to Ft. Myers both have come back as better players, especially Benson who leads the Rock Cats with 13 home runs, which are ninth best in the league, even though he has nearly a hundred at bats less than most of the leaders.  Benson's 5 triples are tied for fourth best in the league and his seventeen home runs (he had four at Ft. Myers) leads the entire organization and is on track to be the most of any Twin minor leaguer in several years.

The biggest problem for the Cats however, is their pitching staff.  Several starters who have experienced nothing but success in the past have struggled.  Michael McCardell has a 0-10 record with a 5.79 ERA in 91.2 innings with 51K/28BB after combined records of 9-4 and 14-8 the past two seasons with 2.86 and 3.98 ERAs.  Tyler Robertson has a 1-9 record with a 5.73 ERA following seasons in which he was often ranked amongst the Twins Top 10 prospects.  Former first round pick Carlos Gutierrez has a 3-6 record with a 4.94 ERA.  It is often said that the biggest jump in development is the move to AA.  These three young men have nearly two months left to take a step forward and prove that they remain prospects as future Twins.  

The real problem for the Rock Cats however, has been their bullpen.  Chris Province, who was obtained from the Red Sox for Boof Bonser, leads the staff with only 5 saves.  Province has a 2-1 record with a 4.99 ERA in 32 games (48.2 innings) 35K/22BB.  Matt Williams has a 1-3 record and 6.53 ERA, Joe Testa a 1-4 record and 8.25 ERA, Loek Van Mil a 1-1 record and 6.75 ERA and Cole DeVries a 1-4 record and 5.91 ERA.  Only Spencer Steedley, who has been on the disabled list much of the season, has a 3.00 ERA.      

Joe Benson had a huge game last night, going 2-4 with two home runs.  Benson was 7-28 this week with three home runs, a double, triple and five runs batted in. 

Ft. Myers Miracle (2-4, 5-9, 5th place, -4.0 games behind Palm Beach)

The Miracle aren't off to a great start, however, still are within reach of Palm Beach so they could play meaningful baseball the last month and a half of the season.  When the season began, the Miracle appeared to have a solid pitching staff with a starting nine lacking better known prospects.  Kyle Gibson was excellent, 4-1 record with a 1.87 ERA, before moving up to New Britain.  Bobby Lanigan (2-1, 2.42 ERA) and Bruce Pugh (3-6, 3.63 ERA) got off to excellent starts before stints on the disabled list.  Both recently returned and should they perform like earlier this year, they could be the arms to build a second half run on.  Liam Hendriks was so good following his promotion that he earned a spot in the future's game, however, he is now lost for much of the year.

Jonathan Goncalves began his season in EST with the Twins likely planning on him playing at Elizabethton.  When Ft. Myers had a few injuries, Goncalves got his chance and has proven to be one of the Miracle's best hitters at .284/.379/.340.  But when two players who were in the Appalachian League last year (Goncalves and Brian Dozier) are the team's top hitters, it becomes clear why the Miracle have struggled this year as they have the second worst batting average in the league, .245. 

Last night Daniel Osterbrock again proved why he is the team's top starter.  Osterbrock pitched 6.0 shutout innings with only two hits, seven strikeouts and one walk as he won his fourth game in ten decisions.  Osterbrock has a 2.44 ERA in 66.1 innings with 50K/16BB.

Beloit Snappers (4-3, 7-8, 6th place, -2.5 games behind Quad Cities)

The Snappers also have something to play for in their second half of the season.  Teams in the lower levels of the minor leagues expect their top players to get promotions.  However, when you combine promotions with the loss of Tom Stuifbergen for much of the season and Brad Stillings this week, it may be more than they can overcome.  B.J. Hermsen and Michael Tonkin have had very good games as they helped the staff to its current ranking as eighth best in a sixteen team league with 4.54 runs/game. 

When the season began with Danny Rams, Aaron Hicks, James Beresford and Angel Morales all returning, everyone thought the Snappers were loaded.  Beresford and Morales both started slowly, however, improved to earn promotions to Ft. Myers.  Hicks has had several hot streaks, however, is hitting only .264/.375/.408 which isn't what the organizaiton expected from a prospect termed "untouchable" in a repeat year in A ball.  Rams got everyone excited last year at Elizabethton.  He again is playing like the player who disappointed the organization his first two years following being drafted in the second round in 2007, hitting only .215/.271/.409 with eight home runs. 

The brightest spot for the Snappers all year has been Anderson Hidalgo.  Hidalgo is a 21 year old third baseman from Venezuela who hit .291/.379/.469 last season at Elizabethton.  This week Hidalgo was 10-21 (.476 Average) with four doubles and a triple.  Hidalgo is hitting .331/.375/.466 in 236 at bats which is fourth best in the Midwest League.  His team best 24 doubles is tied for sixth best in the league even though his 236 at bats are 80-100 at bats less than the leaders.

Elizabethton Twins (Appalachian Rookie League) (4-3, 11-7, 2nd place, -1.0 game behind Johnson City)

The Twins are the only franchise in the organization with a legitimate chance for the playoffs, although unlike past years they aren't running away with their division.  Their best start this week was from Blayne Weller, who pitched 6.0 innings with 5 hits and 1 run in a 4-2 win last Saturday over Johnson City.  Recent thirteenth round pick, Ryan O'Rourke allowed only one run in 7.0 innings in a 2-1 loss last Sunday. 

Oswaldo Arcia continues to lead the team, hitting .392/.444/.743.  Arcia leads the Appalachian league in hitting with 6 home runs (third best in the league) and 18 RBI (second best in the league).  Recent twenty-fifth round pick out of North Dakota's small University of Mary, Andy Leer is hitting .306/.338/.484 with 2 home runs and 13 RBI. 

This year's eighth round pick was Lance Ray out of the University of Kentucky.  Ray was 9-26 this week (.346 Average), earning a promotion to Beloit.

Gulf Coast League Twins (Rookie) (2-4, 6-11, 4th place, -6.5 games behing the Red Sox)

The hurdle the Twins will have to overcome to repeat as division champs is their youth and inexperience.  With the recent promotion of Miguel Sano and Jorge Polanco, the Twins will have four seventeen year olds playing regularly.  These young men are very talented and excellent prospects, however, the GCL Twins have the youngest lineup in the league.  

Cesar Cirucina pitched a great game last night, pitching 5.0 shutout innings with three hits and 4K/1BB in a game the Twins lost to the Red Sox, 3-2.  Alexi Casilla was 2-11 in his first four games on a rehab assignment.  A pleasant surprise for the Twins has been the play of Candido Pimentel (.365/.411/.462) and Kennys Vargas (.341/.383/.463).  Eddie Rosario continues to impress at .333/.400/.556 with a team best two home runs.  Nick Lockwood was hitting .323/.364/.387 before his promotion to Elizabethton.

We all have been waiting for Miguel Sano to get to Florida so we could see how he would do in real games, here in the good ole U.S. of A.  Ok, four games doesn't make a career, however, 6-14 (.429 Average) with two doubles, a home run and 4 RBI...................WOW!

DSL Twins (Dominican Summer League) (1-4, 17-14, 4th place, -6.5 games behind the Cubs1)

The DSL Twins are also very young but they were playing good baseball.  Taking away two of their top players is the right thing for player development, but certainly won't help the Twins win games.

The Twins didn't get their usual excellent start from Ezequiel Zarzuela on Tuesday when he pitched only 2.2 innings with 5 hits and 4 runs (3 earned) as he picked up his first loss in six decisions as the Twins lost, 8-1.  Jose Jimenez was good in Monday's 3-1 loss, pitching 5.0 innings with 2 hits, 1 run and 3K/1BB.  Angel Mata was very good last night, as the Twins were shut out by the White Sox.  Mata pitched 6.0 innings with 4 hits, 1 run and 8K/0BB. 

The best performance this week was by 18 year old starter Sterling Bonilla.  The Twins won 3-2 behind Bonilla's excellent  5.0 shutout innings with only 2 hits.  Bonilla has a 2-0 record with a 0.75 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 13K/5BB in 24.0 innings.