Splitting this thread off from the Seth/Roger thread.
Minor League Discussion
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 jan |
Minor League Discussion |
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Hall of Famer
Posts: 21081 (04/21/07 11:36 AM) |
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jan |
Molitor Interview | ||
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Hall of Famer
Posts: 21081 (08/31/07 10:01 PM) |
Molly had an interesting conversation with Chad Hartman. He talked about some minor leaguers.
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jan |
Baseball-Reference | ||
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Hall of Famer
Posts: 21081 (09/07/07 7:52 AM) |
The best just got better. Baseball-Reference has added a Minor League Section
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jan |
Twins Reorganization | ||
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Hall of Famer
Posts: 21081 (09/13/07 5:03 PM) |
PRESS RELEASE
09/13/2007 5:14 PM ET Twins announce baseball operations reorganization Bill Smith named senior vice president, general manager; Terry Ryan assumes role as senior advisor to the general manager MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Twins announced today a reorganization of the club's baseball operations highlighted by the promotion of Bill Smith to Senior Vice President, General Manager. The reorganization was necessary as a result of longtime general manager Terry Ryan's decision to step down from his current leadership post to assume the role of Senior Advisor to the General Manager. In addition, the club promoted Mike Radcliff to Vice President, Player Personnel; Rob Antony to Assistant General Manager; Deron Johnson to Director of Scouting; and Brad Steil to Director of Baseball Operations. "I am stepping down as the General Manager of the Minnesota Twins knowing full well that we are in good hands for the immediate and long-term future of this organization," Terry Ryan said. "We have capable, talented people that will lead us into the new ballpark and give us a chance to return to postseason baseball next year and many years to follow. Thank you to everyone for a wonderful thirteen years as the General Manager of a very proud franchise. Through good times and bad, we never wavered on how we went about our business. We tried to do it the right way." "Over the years, the Minnesota Twins have a built a winning tradition while earning accolades across the game thanks largely to front office stability and an organization-wide commitment to player development," Twins owner Carl Pohlad said. "For the past thirteen years the Twins have been blessed to have Terry Ryan lead the club's baseball operations. Widely regarded as the game's best general manager, Terry deserves a tremendous amount of credit for his incredible loyalty to the Twins organization and support of the Upper Midwest baseball community, player evaluation skills, disciplined operating approach and non-wavering class in dealing with fellow general managers, agents, media and fans. All of us with the Twins family respect and understand Terry's decision to step down and are thrilled with his desire to remain a part of our organization. "The Twins have long been known as an organization that promotes from within, thus providing significant advancement opportunities for players, coaches and front office staff," Carl Pohlad continued. "That philosophy has served the organization well and has us excited about the reorganization of the club's baseball department and specifically the promotion of Bill Smith to general manager. Bill's diverse experience over the past two-plus decades, management skills and contacts across the game have him well prepared for this important role. We are equally excited about the reconstitution of the club's baseball department and promotion of so many talented individuals. There is no question the Twins are well-positioned for continued success on and off the field of play." Bill Smith, a member of the Twins organization since 1986, becomes the fifth general manager in club history (Calvin Griffith, Howard Fox, Andy MacPhail and Terry Ryan). As general manager, Smith is responsible for the team the Twins put on the field (40-man roster and 25-man major league roster), negotiating contracts and overseeing the coaching staff, and entire baseball department, including the minor leagues, scouting, team travel and baseball communications. Smith has served the past 13 seasons as Vice President, Assistant General Manager under Terry Ryan, sharing responsibilities for negotiating contracts, assisting the day-to-day operations of the Major League department and the Twins academies in Venezuela and the Dominican Republic. He has also been active in representing the baseball department in the planning and design of the new Twins ballpark, scheduled to open in 2010. Smith is a member of the Minor League Baseball Board of Trustees, and represents the Twins in scheduling and Winter League baseball issues. Smith, 49, was raised in North Hampton, NH and is a graduate of Hamilton College in Clinton, NY, where he majored in French. In 1980, he was one of the first participants in Major League Baseball's Executive Development Program. Following two seasons as the assistant director of minor leagues & scouting for the Chicago White Sox, and three seasons as the General Manager of the White Sox' Class A affiliate in ******on, WI, Smith joined the Twins organization in March, 1986 as Assistant Director of Minor Leagues and Scouting. Smith was named Director of Baseball Administration for the Twins in October, 1989, and was the Twins liaison during the construction of their spring training home in Fort Myers, FL, from 1989-1991. Bill, wife Becky, daughters Allison and Amy, who are twins, and Jennifer, make their home in Bloomington, MN. "I am deeply grateful for being entrusted by the Pohlad family with this special opportunity -- to lead an organization known and respected for its fundamental play on the field, and for a similar style off the field," Smith said. "There is a tremendous foundation in place here thanks to Tom Kelly and Ron Gardenhire, and to my mentors and immediate predecessors, Andy MacPhail and Terry Ryan. While the Twins Baseball department faces some significant challenges on the horizon, we're also ready to seize tremendous opportunities, the biggest of which is represented by the new ballpark. Backed by the tireless efforts of our entire baseball department, including the major league and minor league field staffs, our scouts and front office staff, the Twins will remain focused on winning baseball -- and the goal of making the playoffs and winning the third World Series in franchise history." Mike Radcliff, a member of the Twins organization since 1987, has been named Vice President, Player Personnel. In Radcliff's new role, he will lead the club's overall player evaluation process at both the major and minor league levels, assist Smith in negotiating player contracts and oversee the club's professional and amateur scouting staff. Radcliff, who was named Director of Scouting in 1993, was the longest tenured scouting director in Major League Baseball. As scouting director, Radcliff managed 27 full-time and 34 part-time scouts and coordinated the annual amateur draft as well as the international scouting world. His scouting staff was responsible for drafting current Twins Jason Kubel (2000), Joe Mauer (2001) and Justin Morneau (1999) as well as former Twins Corey Koskie (1994), Jacque Jones (1996) and Doug Mientkiewicz (1995). Under the direction of Radcliff, the Twins have landed pitching prospects Scott Baker (2nd round, 2003), Glen Perkins (1st, 2004), and Matt Garza (1st, 2005), and outfielder Denard Span (1st, 2002). Radcliff, 50, was raised in Raytown, MO. He attended Arizona State University and is a 1979 graduate of the University of Missouri. He began his scouting career as an area scout with the Major League Scouting Bureau in 1982. He was hired as an area scout by the Twins in 1987 and promoted to Midwest Supervisor in 1988. Mike and his wife, Sherry, have two children, Erin and Brett, and reside in Overland Park, KS. Rob Antony, a member of the Twins organization since 1988, has been named Assistant General Manager. In Antony's new role he will focus on MLB rules, waivers and the negotiation of player contracts. He will continue to assist longtime Twins Director of Minor Leagues Jim Rantz in providing player evaluation throughout the minor league system. Antony, who was named Director of Baseball Operations in 1995, added major league contracts to his responsibilities in 2006 in addition to his various duties in the minor league and scouting departments including the spring training operation and free agent draft preparations. He is responsible for establishing and overseeing the budget for the minor league, major league and scouting departments as well as acting as the liaison between the technology and baseball departments in regards to the computer and scouting program. He travels to all the affiliates to evaluate players in the Twins' system and monitors the working relationship between the club and its affiliates. He also works closely with team's scouting department and scouts players eligible for the free agent draft as well as amateurs in Australia and Latin America. Antony, 42, started with the Twins as an intern in 1987 and was hired as Assistant Director of Media Relations in 1988 after graduating from the University of Minnesota with a B.A. in Speech Communications and a minor in English. He served as assistant until June of 1991 when he was promoted to Director of Media Relations. Rob and his wife, Lynn, have two children, Tyler and Emily, and reside in Rogers, MN. Deron Johnson has been promoted to Director of Scouting. In this position, he will lead the Twins 27-man scouting staff in organization and preparation for the annual June Draft of high school and college players. Johnson will also work closely with Pro Scouting Coordinator Vern Followell to insure coverage of all 30 Major League teams and their minor league affiliates. Johnson joined the Twins organization as the Northern California Area scout in January, 1994, and was promoted to West Coast Supervisor in October, 1998. He has been responsible for managing the Twins western scouting staff, evaluating high school and college players in advance of the draft, hiring and training new scouts in the west and cross-checking top prospects across North America in advance of the annual draft. He has helped the Twins draft and sign prospects Chris Parmelee and Tyler Robertson (2006), Matt Garza and Alex Burnett (2005), Trevor Plouffe (2004), and Jason Kubel (2000). In addition, Johnson has provided coverage of minor league and major league teams and has been part of the Twins Advance Scouting team for the post-season over the past five years. Prior to joining the Twins, Johnson played in three minor league seasons as an outfielder in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization from 1988 - 1990. He served as the Assistant Baseball Coach & Recruiting Coordinator for the University of San Francisco from 1992-1993. Johnson, 40, was born and raised in Vallejo, CA, and was graduated from St. Mary's College in Moraga, CA with a BA in Liberal Arts/Business Administration in 1991. He and his wife, Alicia, have four children, Ashley, Alexis, Deron, Jr. and Dominique, and reside in Sacramento, CA. Brad Steil assumes the position of Director of Baseball Operations, succeeding Rob Antony. In this role Steil will manage the day-to-day business operations of the Minor League and Scouting Departments, overseeing all Baseball department budgets and purchasing. He will help coordinate the amateur draft, work closely with the Twins technology department, coordinate minor league Spring Training and travel through the minor league system during the season. Steil joined the Twins organization as an intern in the Baseball department in January, 2000, and was hired full-time the following January as Scouting Administrative Assistant. He was promoted to Assistant Director of Baseball Operations in January, 2006. Steil, 31, was graduated from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN in 1999 with a B.A. in Business and a minor in Classical Studies. He received his Masters degree from the St. Thomas Graduate School of Business in 2000. Brad is a native of Litchfield, MN, and now resides in Burnsville, MN. Terry Ryan, who has spent more than 24 years in the Twins organization as a minor league player or executive, has been named Senior Advisor to the General Manager. In Ryan's new role, he will assist the General Manager on all player evaluation matters including the major leagues, minor leagues and international operations. Ryan was named the fourth General Manager in Minnesota Twins history on September 13, 1994. Through the efforts of Ryan and his staff, the Twins organization won four American League Central Division titles (2002, 2003, 2004 and 2006). He was twice named Sporting News Executive of the Year (2002 and 2006) and twice the recipient of the Andrew "Rube" Foster Legacy Award as the American League Executive of the Year by the Negro League Museum (2004 and 2006). Under Ryan's leadership, the Twins were twice named Baseball America's Organization of the Year (2002 and 2004). Ryan, 52, began his professional baseball career with the Twins in 1972 after being drafted in the 35th round out of Parker High School in Janesville, WI. He pitched in the Twins' minor league system for four seasons, posting a 14-3 record, including 10-0 in 1973, before an arm injury cut his career short. In 1975, he enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and graduated with a degree in physical education in 1979. The 1998 Topps' Advancement Through The Game Award winner returned to baseball in 1980 as Midwest Scouting Supervisor for the New York Mets, a position which he held for six years before being named the Twins' Scouting Director in January, 1986. Prior to becoming General Manager, he was Vice President of Player Personnel, a position he assumed on September 23, 1991. Terry and his wife Karilyn, have two children, Tim and Kathleen, and live in Eagan, MN. |
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Minor League Comments on Terry Ryan | ||
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Hall of Famer
Posts: 21081 (09/14/07 6:07 PM) |
Extra Bases
Thursday, September 13, 2007 Terry Ryan I was stunned to hear of Terry Ryan's resignation as Twins GM on Thursday. Stunned. And then I started to think of what his life must be like. And then I was stunned he had done it for 13 years. As a baseball GM, a hard-working one like Ryan, you are under constant pressure to produce a winning team. Never mind that your owner is a gazzillionaire but won't shell out the big bucks on star players. You work within the farm system, and you visit the farm system. You visit Rochester twice a year. New Britain twice a year. Fort Myers, Beloit, Elizabethon. And, of course, you travel with your big-league club to the East Coast, the West Coast and all parts in between. And there are 81 home games. And the June draft. The December Rule V draft. Free agency in the offseason. Arbitration. Spring training. There are 12 months in a year, and you have enough work for 20. You build a consistent winner in an organization once on Bud Selig's chopping list, but you are competing with the Yankees and Red Sox of the world. You try to hang onto star players, but often they leave in search of further riches. You watch a raw center fielder and an even rawer pitcher turn into megastars in your system. You offer the center fielder half of Minnesota to keep playing for the team he says he loves, and he turns it down. The pitcher, perhaps the best in the game, starts criticizing his team in the press and wonders if he'll be back when his contract expires in a year. You have a wife and grown children. You are in your early 50s, and physically you're in fine shape. But mentally, you are drained. Thirteen years of being "The Man" have taken their toll. And so you resign. You stay in the organization as a senior adviser to your replacement, and you plan to focus on scouting and minor-leaguers. Because, in the end, you love these fields and you came up through the system in these fields. Given that, how could anyone be surprised that Terry Ryan stepped down on Thursday? Given that, how did he not step down years ago? I like Terry. He always treated me fair, and with respect. Each time he came to town, we would sit down and make a little small talk, then he'd answer any question I threw at him. He didn't tell me not to ask dumb questions, as Twins reject Kyle Lohse once did. Ryan was big on media cooperation with his players, and for the most part, they got the message. He commanded respect, even though he didn't demand it. One time a few years ago, I drove to Buffalo with Wings PR man Chuck Hinkel for a Wings game. Chuck asked if I would mind driving Terry back to Rochester with us. I was both excited/nervous about the prospect of driving one of baseball's top GMs back home. But Terry was fine. He sat in the back seat and chatted about different things in between his many cell phone calls. I remember hearing him give his cell number to someone, and I kept repeating the number in my head ("612-xxx-xxxx) so I could input it into my cell phone the first chance I got. As we drove down 490 and passed Gates Chili High School, we noticed a varsity baseball game going on. Terry was always looking to find a diamond in the rough, be it college, high school or amateur ball. As the car passed the field, he asked if Gates had a good team. "I don't know," I said, looking to my right at the game in progress. "But this batter will never know how important this at-bat is." I'll always respect "TR" for going to the decisive Game 5 of the 2006 Governors' Cup finals in Toledo. The Twins were in Detroit that day, and he made the trip to see his Triple-A team. The players were excited he was there - and maybe a little nervous. They lost 10-1. Terry looked as glum as if the Twins had dropped Game 7 of the World Series. I thought it was great that, on one of the biggest days of his life, Terry called Wings GM Dan Mason on Thursday morning. He told Mase he was quitting and thanked Mase for a great five-year relationship. Fortunately, TR will be around Frontier Field next year in his new scouting role. The Twins lost a good man today, and so in part did the Red Wings. When Terry told me that the Wings winning were high on his list of goals, I believed him. I didn't agree with every move he made, but who is perfect? The bottom line is, more often than not, he made lemonade out of lemons. Now, he can drink the lemonade and take a breather. Good luck, Terry, and thanks for everything. posted by Jim Mandelaro at 11:06 PM 7 comments Friday, September 14, 2007 RYAN'S LEGACY ENRICHED NEW BRITAIN Terry Ryan's resignation as general manager of the Minnesota Twins came as shock to the people closest to him in New Britain. Ryan, 52, perhaps the epitome of hands-on general managers, has visited New Britain at least twice a year in the 12 years the Twins have been locally affiliated. He has always been readily accessible to media and fans alike whenever he's been in town. Thankfully, Ryan's visits will continue. He will serve as a senior adviser to new GM Bill Smith, whose parents live in Ledyard, with an emphasis on player evaluation. As a former scout, evaluation is what Ryan has always done best and enjoys. The parts of the job he didn't enjoy -- dealing with agents and putting out, as he calls it, administrative brush fires -- he will leave behind. Ryan's tenure as general manager featured the revitalization of a franchise that became moribund in the mid-1990s. In the face of large-market domination and the specter of losing players to free agency, Ryan and his loyal staff restocked the Twins the old-fashioned way -- through scouting, development and some productive trades. We in New Britain enjoyed the fruits of his labor -- Doug Mientkiewicz, David Ortiz, Michael Cuddyer, Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, Jason Kubel, Francisco Liriano and Jason Bartlett to name a few. There were also many who weren't fortunate enough to bask in the limelight of the major leagues but contributed so much to the city's sports culture, like Jeff Smith, Brent Stentz and Steve Hacker. We should all be very thankful that Terry Ryan has passed this way so often, and we're very fortunate that he'll be passing this way again. posted by Ken Lipshez at 12:41 AM Ryan helped keep Appy League from disbanding By Wes Holtsclaw, SPORTS EDITOR Elizabethton Star wholtsclaw@starhq.com One of professional baseball's top executives announced his resignation Thursday, affecting everyone from Minneapolis, Minnesota to Elizabethton. After 13 years as Minnesota Twins General Manager, Terry Ryan announced that he will step down from his position effective at the end of the month. The 53-year-old Ryan saw Minnesota win the American League Central division four times in five years with one of the lowest payrolls in the Major Leagues. He was involved in all aspects of the Minnesota organization, including the Minor League clubs. Ryan made regular visits to Elizabethton each summer to observe the organization's rookies at Joe O'Brien Field. He was a big fan of the community and the product the local staff presented to the local fans. In 2005, his fondness for Elizabethton and the Appalachian League became vocal in front of Major League owners and fellow General Managers. "Some clubs wanted to fold the league and he was very instrumental in keeping it," said Elizabethton Twins President Rev. Harold Mains. Several Major League clubs, including organizations that fielded teams in the Appy League, were looking at cutting costs and elected to look into disbanding the league. Ryan, who is well respected among his peers, stood up for the team and the league in a time of peril. "He was the guy that stood up in owners' meetings with general managers and said this is the way baseball is meant to be played and it can succeed in a small town," said Elizabethton Parks & Recreation Director and Elizabethton Twins General Manager Mike Mains. "(Twins Minor League Director) Jim Rantz called me one time and really said some great things about the city of Elizabethton and what we do here. He said, 'We know when we send boys there, we don't have to worry about anything.' "Terry agreed with that, and he was that voice, with a couple of other guys, that said 'We can't lose the Appy League.'" Under Ryan's guidance, with a great farm club director in Jim Rantz, Minnesota's scouting has been consistently solid. Since Ryan took over, Elizabethton, for instance, has won four Appy League titles and fielded talent such as Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, A.J. Pierzynski, J.C. Romero and Michael Restovich, along with stars of the future including Kevin Slowey, Matt Garza, Glen Perkins and Denard Span. "There's going to be more guys up there within the next couple of years that played here and will continue to build that tradition," Mike Mains added. Elizabethton baseball fans need not worry about Ryan's replacement. Someone very familiar with Elizabethton, Minnesota Assistant General Manager Bill Smith, will take the reins. Smith was often Minnesota's representative on the Appalachian League's Advisory Board, which assists with the direction and promotion of the league. "Billy Smith's a great guy and he loves Elizabethton. He knows a lot about the Appy League," Mike Mains said. "He hasn't been around as much in recent years. But it's par for the course with Minnesota, sticking with guys that's been brought up through the system -- a guy that knows how to get it done. He'll do a good job. "With him taking over, they'll keep on with the way they've been doing things." |
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Minor League Discussion | ||
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Hall of Famer
Posts: 21081 (10/01/07 6:57 PM) |
Minors offer little hope for help with position players
Center fielder Denard Span and third baseman Matt Moses, who were expected to be ready next season, both struggled this year. And the other top hitting prospects won't be ready for several years. By La Velle E. Neal III, Star Tribune Last update: September 29, 2007 3:42 PM The Twins have quality prospects to fill holes in their pitching staff, but the farm system appears to offer no immediate help among position players. Third base and designated hitter are the top areas of concern heading into the offseason The possible departure of two-time All-Star center fielder Torii Hunter through free agency would open another huge hole in the lineup. And the midseason trade of Luis Castillo to the Mets leaves the Twins without an accomplished leadoff hitter -- although shortstop Jason Bartlett is expected to fill the role next season. "Our pitching is very strong in the minors," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "Some of the players we thought might be ready right now just aren't ready. That's basically where it's at." Former first-round draft picks Matt Moses and Denard Span once figured to be cornerstones of the team's future. Both took steps back in 2006. The Twins have looked for an everyday third baseman since Corey Koskie left after 2004 but have gone through Michael Cuddyer, Tony Batista and Nick Punto since. Things were so dire that, during spring training of 2006, Gardenhire called Moses over to the bench to watch the rangeless Batista take infield. "You need to get up here," he told Moses, the Twins' first-round pick in 2003. Moses reported to camp 31 pounds lighter in 2007 but played so badly at Class AAA Rochester that he finished the season at Class AA New Britain with David Winfree, another third base prospect who struggled and was in the Twin Cities last week to have a sore shoulder examined. Perhaps the best third base prospect in the system is Danny Valencia, who hit a combined .297 with 17 homers and 66 RBI at Class A stops Beloit and Fort Myers. But he was benched for the final week of the season because of attitude problems. Brian Buscher, a Rule 5 pick last year who debuted in July and needs to improve his defense, appears to be the leading in-house candidate to be the Twins' fourth Opening Day third baseman in four seasons. Span, a first-round pick in 2002, has long been touted as Hunter's heir apparent in center field. But he batted .267 with three homers and 55 RBI and only 30 extra-base hits in 487 at-bats at Class AAA Rochester this season. The Twins don't believe he's ready for the majors, and some in the organization say they believe Ben Revere, this year's first-round pick, is a better prospect. Revere is the fastest player in the organization and might be a better hitter and slicker outfielder than Span. But Revere is years away from the majors. The same goes for the best power-hitting prospects in the system. Rantz named outfielder Christopher Parmelee and first baseman Henry Sanchez as the top power prospects -- but both are in A ball. Parmelee, a 2006 first-round pick, hit .239 with 15 homers and 70 RBI for Class A Beloit. Sanchez, a sandwich pick in 2005, has battled wrist and knee problems. He played only 60 games in 2005 and just 10 this year. The Twins have tried to address the shortage of position prospects in the past two drafts. Four of their first five picks this year and six of their first seven last year were spent on position players. But they will stick to their longtime philosophy of seeking pitching first, because teams can win with pitching and a little offense but it rarely works the other way. "We all know we have to find some offense," Rantz said. "I'll be doing what I can to add through six-year free agents and so forth. Our strength in the minor leagues is in the pitching department, and we haven't wavered from that at all." That means the Twins will have to look to free agency and trades to fill lineup holes in the short term. By their accounts, they have an abundance of solid-to-top-line pitching prospects. Righthanders Scott Baker, Kevin Slowey, Matt Garza, Nick Blackburn, Boof Bonser, Anthony Swarzak and Jeff Manship, and lefthanders Glen Perkins, Brian Duensing, Ryan Mullins and Tyler Robertson are all highly regarded. Perhaps the Twins will consider packaging a few of them to fill holes elsewhere. "Because of the player movement over the last three to four years you get thinned out," Gardenhire said. "It happens in all organizations. When a couple things don't work out -- Moses, we thought he would be ready by now, things like that -- that sets you up where you have to try to find other avenues. "We're looking at a lot of people. A whole lot of people inside the organization -- and we're going to be looking outside." La Velle E. Neal III lneal@startribune.com TOP 10 TWINS PROSPECTS The Twins' top 10 minor league prospects, based on the seasons they had and their projected ability. Conversations with several club officials contributed to these rankings. 1. Tyler Robertson, LHP, Beloit (A) Has a 93-mph fastball and excellent curve. 2. Trevor Plouffe, SS, New Britain (AA) Led Twins prospects with 37 doubles. 3. Joe Benson, OF, Beloit (A) Five-tool prospect still raw. 4. Jeff Manship, RHP, Fort Myers (A) Dominated at Beloit before promotion. 5. Brian Duensing, LHP, Rochester (AAA) Good changeup. Adapts to every level. 6. Anthony Swarzak, RHP, New Britain (AA) Bouncing back after drug suspension. 7. Christopher Parmelee, OF, Beloit (A) Top power prospect will need time. 8. Wilson Ramos, C, Beloit (A) Arm will shut down running game. Expected to hit. 9. Ben Revere, OF, GCL Twins (rookie) Fastest runner in system, with a good bat. 10. Danny Valencia, 3B, Fort Myers (A) Decent power and glove. |
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Twins Minor League Player and Pitcher of the Year | ||
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Hall of Famer
Posts: 21081 (11/01/07 12:32 PM) |
PRESS RELEASE
11/01/2007 12:27 PM ET Brian Buscher and Kevin Slowey named 2007 Twins' Minor League Player and Pitcher of the Year Minneapolis/St. Paul -- The Minnesota Twins announced today that third baseman Brian Buscher has been named the 2007 Sherry Robertson Award winner as the Twins' Minor League Player of the Year and righthanded pitcher Kevin Slowey has been named the 2007 Jim Rantz Award winner as the Twins' Minor League Pitcher of the Year. Buscher, 26, batted .309 (117-for-379) with 58 runs, 28 doubles, 14 home runs and 59 rbi in 103 games (63 with New Britain in the Eastern League and 40 with Rochester of the International League). He was named the Twins Minor League Player of the Month for June after batting a combined .342 (38-for-111) with 22 runs, four doubles, seven home runs and 20 rbi in 32 games split between New Britain and Rochester. Buscher had his contract selected from Rochester on July 27 and appeared in 33 games for the Twins , going 20-for-82 (.244) with two home runs and 10 rbi. The 6-foot, 200-pounder was selected by the Twins from the Giants in the Rule-V Minor League Draft on December 15, 2006 and made his Major League debut July 27 at Cleveland, going 2-for-4. The third baseman was originally drafted by San Francisco in the third round of the 2003 First-Year Player draft out of the University of South Carolina. Slowey, 23, was 10-5, 1.89 (133.2 ip, 28 er) allowing 110 hits with just 18 walks and 107 strikeouts in 20 starts for Triple-A Rochester. The righthander tossed five complete games, including a 9.0 inning, three-hit complete game shutout on July 17 at Syracuse. He was named the Twins Minor League Pitcher of the Week for the week ending May 25, after going 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA (15.0 ip, 3 er) with 13 strikeouts and two walks. Slowey was named to the International League Postseason All-Star team as the starting pitcher. The 6-foot-3, 197-pounder was named the International League Pitcher of the Year after posting a league-low 1.89 ERA. He became the first Twins pitcher since Brad Havens (Toledo) in 1984 to earn the honor. Slowey had his contract selected from Rochester on June 1 and made his Major League debut that night in Oakland, allowing one run in 6.0 innings. He finished the season 4-1, 4.73 (66.2 ip, 35 er) in 13 games (11 starts) with the Twins. The Sherry Robertson Award, named in honor of the Twins' first farm director, was established in 1970 to recognize the Twins' top minor league performer each season. Beginning in 2002, the award began recognizing the Twins' Minor League Player of the Year while an additional award was created to recognize the Twins' Minor League Pitcher of the Year. This award was named in honor of current Twins' Minor League Director Jim Rantz. Past winners of the Sherry Robertson Award include Butch Wynegar (1974), Kent Hrbek (1981), Gene Larkin (1986), Paul Sorrento (1989), Denny Neagle (1990), Marty Cordova (1992), LaTroy Hawkins (1993 and 1994), Todd Walker (1996), David Ortiz (1997), Doug Mientkiewicz (1998), Michael Restovich (1999), Michael Cuddyer (2001), Lew Ford (2002), Joe Mauer (2003), Jason Kubel (2004), David Winfree (2005) and Alexi Casilla (2006), while J.D. Durbin (2002), Jesse Crain (2003), Scott Baker (2004), Francisco Liriano (2005) and Matt Garza (2006) have won the Jim Rantz Award. |
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AFL Twins video | ||
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Hall of Famer
Posts: 21081 (11/07/07 1:38 PM) |
Jonathan Mayo talks with/about Twins in the AFL on mlbtv. He needs to learn how to pronounce Macri though. (click on Twins logo)
Edit: If anyone can make a direct link, please do. |
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John Sickels Top 20 Twins Prospects | ||
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Hall of Famer
Posts: 21081 (11/14/07 8:02 AM) |
John Sickels names his Top 20 Twins Prospects for 2008.
All grades are EXTREMELY PRELIMINARY and subject to change. 1. Tyler Robertson, LHP, Grade B+ 2. Anthony Swarzak, RHP, Grade B 3. Ben Revere, OF, Grade B 4. Eduardo Morlan, RHP, Grade B 5. Jeff Manship, RHP, Grade B 6. Trevor Plouffe, SS, Grade B- 7. Brian Duensing, LHP, Grade B- 8. Oswaldo Sosa, RHP, Grade B- 9. Jose Mijares, LHP, Grade C+ 10. Mike McCardell, RHP, Grade C+ 11. Chris Parmelee, OF, Grade C+ (disappointing in '07 but young) 12. Danny Valencia, 3B, Grade C+ 13. Ryan Mullins, LHP, Grade C+ 14. Jay Rainville, RHP, Grade C+ 15. Deibinson Romero, 3B, Grade C+ 16. Alex Burnett, RHP, Grade C+ 17. David Bromberg, RHP, Grade C+ 18. Nick Blackburn, RHP, Grade C+ 19. Erik Lis, OF-1B, Grade C+ 20. Zach Ward, RHP, Grade C There are 19 more players in the book. Note that the Grade C+ guys are all interchangeable depending on what you want to emphasize, so don't get bent out of shape about their exact position on the list. I could make a case to dump Mijares out of the Top Ten, for example, and replace him with almost any of the other C+ guys. Order John's book here. |
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Josh's AFL Review | ||
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Hall of Famer
Posts: 21081 (11/19/07 8:00 AM) |
Josh reviews Twins in the AFL.
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2007 Minor League Flashbacks | ||
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Hall of Famer
Posts: 21081 (11/28/07 12:56 PM) |
Flashback: Minnesota Twins
A look back at highlights from the Twins 2007 minor league season including some audio and lots of links. Neat stuff. |
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Re: 2007 Minor League Flashbacks | ||
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Hall of Famer
Posts: 21081 (11/28/07 9:43 PM) |
Linda Winston looks at the Twins minor league system, from top prospects to the latest draft.
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Red Wings Appreciate Aggressive Approach | ||
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Hall of Famer
Posts: 21081 (12/01/07 9:05 AM) |
The Minnesota Twins aren't settling for the leftovers on the minor-league six-year free-agent market this season, and Rochester Community Baseball officials appreciate the aggressive new approach.
"It's encouraging to see the Twins signing players so early in the process," Red Wings general Dan Mason said Friday. The list of prospective new Red Wings includes veteran knuckleball pitcher R.A. Dickey, established Triple-A slugger Jon Knott, popular and versatile veteran Howie Clark, potential designated hitter Randy Ruiz and left-handed relief pitcher Marciano Gomez. "And don't forget re-signing (infielder) Tommy Watkins and Brian Bass," said Mason. "Brian was a tremendous starter for us the final month-and-a-half last season." Dickey, 33, was the 2007 PCL Pitcher of the Year for his hometown Nashville Sounds. He had a 13-6 record with a 3.72 ERA. Knott, 29, led Triple-A baseball with a total of 83 home runs from 2004 through 2006 with the Portland Beavers. He led the PCL with 32 HRs and 113 RBI in 2006. Ruiz could fill the void at designated hitter. The Red Wings got scant production from that spot in the lineup in 2007 as veteran Matthew LeCroy was a bust. Ruiz hit .308 with 25 doubles, 18 HRs and 69 RBI in 108 games in Double-A last season. Dickey is a particularly interesting fellow. He was born Robert Allen Dickey but changed his name to R.A. Dickey. He had an outstanding college career for the University of Tennessee, with a 38-10 record, including 15 wins in a row. He was the No. 18 overall pick in the 1996 June entry draft by Texas. He had a verbal deal to sign for $875,000, but a routine MRI revealed he had no normal collateral ligament in his right elbow. That scared the Rangers and Dickey had to settle for a signing bonus of $75,000. Dickey pitched portions of five seasons with Texas, with a 16-19 record and 5.72 ERA. He was 9-8 with a 5.09 ERA in 38 games in 2003. He became a knuckleball pitcher during the 2005 season. He struggled at times, including allowing six HRs in a game in April 2006. He signed with the Milwaukee Brewers prior to the 2007 season and had a terrific season after a slow start for Nashville (1-4 with a 6.17 ERA when he was demoted to the bullpen in mid-May). In eight relief appearances, he was 3-0 with a 4.95 ERA to earn back a spot in the starting rotation. He went 9-2 thereafter. Dickey signed with Minnesota this week as a six-year free agent. He was invited to the Twins' major-league training camp but figures to be the first knuckleball pitcher for the Red Wings since Daniel Boone had a big year in 1990 (11-5 record, 2.60 ERA and a 7-inning no-hitter). Knott has exceptional right-handed power and is particularly effective against left-handed pitching. He hit .250 with 13 HRs and 34 RBI in 87 games for the International League Norfolk Tides in 2007 but his production was compromised by several recalls to the Baltimore Orioles, where he mostly sat and rarely played (.214, 1 HR, 4 RBI in 7 games and 14 official at-bats). Matthews |
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Howie Clark | ||
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Hall of Famer
Posts: 21081 (12/14/07 8:48 AM) |
Howie Clark, who the Twins recently signed to a minor league contract to play for the Red Wings, turned up in the Mitchell Report.
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Southwest Florida Winter Caravan | ||
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Hall of Famer
Posts: 21081 (01/08/08 1:23 PM) |
PRESS RELEASE
01/07/2008 4:00 PM ET Twins Southwest Florida Winter Caravan kicks off 2008 community campaign MINNEAPOLIS - ST. PAUL -- The Minnesota Twins today announced the team's annual Winter Caravan will include several community appearances in Southwest Florida this week. Twins pitchers Jesse Crain and Carmen Cali, Twins infielder Tommy Watkins, along with Twins Radio Network play-by-play announcer John Gordon are scheduled to appear Wednesday, January 9 through Friday, January 11 throughout the Fort Myers area. A brief description of this week's events is listed below. Wed., Jan. 9 12:30 - 2:30 p.m. Caloosa Harbour Seniors Residence 2525 1st Street, Fort Myers Thurs. Jan. 10 10 a.m. Lee Cancer Care, Lee Memorial Health System 2776 Cleveland Avenue, Fort Myers 1:30 p.m. Health Park Medical Center 9981 Health Park Drive, Fort Myers Fri. Jan. 11 10 a.m. Royal Palm Exceptional Center 3050 Indian Street, Fort Myers The Southwest Florida Youth Clinics schedule begins Saturday, January 12 at Lee County Sports Complex. Please visit www.twinsbaseball.com/community for details and locations. In addition, tickets for the 2008 Spring Training campaign go on sale at 9 a.m. Saturday, January 12. Tickets may be purchased online at www.twinsbaseball.com, by calling 1-800-33-TWINS or by visiting the Hammond Stadium box office in Fort Myers. Box office hours at Hammond Stadium are from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. (EST) Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. (EST) on Saturday and Sunday. The Hammond Stadium box office will have extended hours on Saturday, January 12, 2008, as tickets can be purchased from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. (EST) on that day. The Twins' 2008 Spring Training home opener will take place at Hammond Stadium on Friday, February 29 (7:05 p.m. EST) against the 2007 World Series Champion Boston Red Sox. Please visit www.twinsbaseball.com/community for complete information about the Minnesota Twins in the Southwest Florida and Upper Midwest communities. |
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Patches Mahomes | ||
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Hall of Famer
Posts: 21081 (01/10/08 4:40 PM) |
Minor league leaders in unusual categories at MiLB
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fmmiraclegal |
Re: Minor League Discussion | ||
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Hall of Famer
Posts: 4247 (01/11/08 7:58 AM) Moderator |
Twins mix with fans during caravan
Locals Cali, Watkins among those on hand By David Dorsey Fort Myers News Press Carmen Cali admitted that he has done little in his life compared to the man sitting next to him at the lunch table. Cali, a Naples High School graduate and a left-handed relief pitcher for the Minnesota Twins, dined and met with residents Wednesday afternoon at Calusa Harbour, a senior citizens' community in Fort Myers. Also on hand were Twins infielder Tommy Watkins, a Riverdale High School graduate, and Jesse Crain, a native Canadian and right-handed relief pitcher. Minnesota mascot "T.C.'' and radio broadcaster John Gordon also met with the residents. "He's done a lot more than I have," Cali said, motioning to Anthony Haufe, 79, who sat beside him. A gathering of about 30 seniors ate steak and lobster. Lunch was followed by a presentation by the Twins. "I went from 104 degrees in the shade to negative 40 in three days," said Haufe, who served in the U.S. Navy for 28 years, including being transferred from Vietnam to Antarctica in 1966. Haufe visited 57 countries during his naval service. Haufe, who retired from the Navy and moved to Cape Coral in 1971, opening a hobby shop there, said he hasn't been to a professional baseball game since seeing the Brooklyn Dodgers play the New York Giants in 1936. Cali, 29, hopes his new friend can see him this season with the Twins. Cali posted an 0-1 record, with a 4.71 ERA and 14 strikeouts, in 24 appearances last season a career best since breaking into the big leagues in 2004 with the St. Louis Cardinals. "I feel good," Cali said. "I'm hoping to start where I left off." Watkins, 27, broke into the major leagues last year for the first time since signing with the Twins as an undrafted free agent out of Riverdale in 1998. Watkins played nine games at the end of the season, posting a .357 batting average (10-for-28), with one stolen base, four walks and four strikeouts. He then went on the disabled list with a strained lower abdominal muscle, which remains "a little sore," but shouldn't prevent him from starting spring training. Pitchers and catchers will report to the Lee County Sports Complex on Sunday, Feb. 17, although many are already working out on their own in the mornings. "I'm trying not to put too much pressure on myself," Watkins said. Likewise, Crain said he hasn't put any pressure on himself following rotator cuff surgery on his right shoulder over the summer. "It's coming along pretty well," Crain said. "I came down early to make the final push to be ready for spring training. The bullpen is going to be strong." The Twins' Southwest Florida Winter Caravan will continue at 10 a.m. today at Lee Cancer Care in Fort Myers and then at 1:30 p.m. today at HealthPark Medical Center. It will conclude at 10 a.m. Friday at the Royal Palm Exceptional Center in Fort Myers. Cali said he has enjoyed meeting members of the community and said today's session with cancer patients will be emotional. "You feel bad for them," Cali said. "You just hope to put a smile on their face." Video: Twins visit Calusa Harbour Minnesota Twins players and the team's mascot, TC the Bear, visited residents at Calusa Harbour. www.news-press.com/apps/p...010/SPORTS SPRING TRAINING TICKETS Spring training tickets go on sale at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Hammond Stadium box office or online at twinsbaseball.com or by calling 1-800-33-TWINS. Tickets range from $12 to $22. The Twins also announced their promotional schedule for this spring training. It will include bobblehead drawings for 500 fans on March 6 and March 26, and post-game fireworks March 20, among other events. For more information, log on to twinsbaseball.com. Dianna
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Bill Smith at New Britain | ||
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Hall of Famer
Posts: 21081 (01/19/08 1:34 PM) |
Twins' Smith Adjusting
By TOM PULEO | Courant Staff Writer January 19, 2008 NEW BRITAIN - The Minnesota Twins are expected to trade All-Star lefthander Johan Santana before spring training, but new general manager Bill Smith would not tip his hand Friday. "The worst-case scenario is he's our Opening Day starter and I like our chances," Smith said at the Rock Cats' Hot Stove Luncheon at Famous Dave's Bar-B-Q Restaurant. "Our first choice has always been to sign him and keep him. We haven't been able to do that. The last thing he told me in December when we spoke on the phone was, 'If you make a trade, make a good one.'" Smith, a North Hampton, N.H., native, was named GM Oct. 1, succeeding his friend and mentor Terry Ryan. The Twins have discussed a Santana trade with the Mets, Yankees and Red Sox, trying to agree on various combinations of prospects. Smith said he's still adjusting to his new role. "I've spent two decades mastering the art of the unquoted and the behind-the-scenes," he said. "Now we've got a little challenge with a guy named Johan Santana. That has brought me out of my shell." Smith said he will continue Ryan's tradition of visiting New Britain Stadium at least once every season. Ryan remains with the Twins as a special assistant to the owner. "Terry and I are very different," Smith said. "He's an evaluator at heart and that's why he made the decision [to resign]. I'm an administrator. But I'll be in once or twice every year to try and stay on top of this minor league development." McAdam Honored The Rock Cats Foundation, the franchise's charitable arm, presented its Triple Play Award to Gloria McAdam, president and CEO of Foodshare, the Bloomfield-based food bank, during the luncheon. ... The Rock Cats and the city have installed a new field and drainage system that will be ready for the team's home opener April 3 against Portland. "We think it's going to be terrific," team president and CEO Bill Dowling said. "It's going to take care of some of the issues we had with bad hops and things of that nature." Contact Tom Puleo at tpuleo@courant.com. |
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Twins Top Ten - BBA | ||
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Hall of Famer
Posts: 21081 (01/24/08 9:24 AM) |
NICK'S NUMBER 1; WELCOME BACK STAN Red Wings pitcher Nick Blackburn (left) has been ranked as the Twins' Top Prospect, according to Baseball America's Top 10 List posting at BaseballAmerica.com on Jan. 24. Blackburn is followed by OF Joe Benson at number two, with C Wilson Ramos, LHP Tyler Robertson, RHP Anthony Swarzak, OF Ben Revere and Jason Pridie, LHP Brian Duensing, RHP Jeff Manship and SS Trevor Plouffe completing the BA Twins Top 10 list...Wings manager Stan Cliburn will be in town this weekend; catch Stan on these radio shows: WHAM with Bob Matthews Thurs. at 6:30 pm...WCMF Friday at 8 am...WBEE Fri. at 9 am....and Hot Talk 1280 WHTK Fri at 11:30 am. - Red Wings
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Santana Trade | ||
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Hall of Famer
Posts: 21081 (01/29/08 8:09 PM) |
01/29/2008 5:45 PM ET
Minnesota can reap quick benefits from deal Trading four prospects empties already dwindled New York coffers By Lisa Winston / MLB.com he New York Mets effectively stripped their already spartan farm system bare with Tuesday's deal for perennial Cy Young candidate Johan Santana, while the Minnesota Twins could start reaping the benefits as early as Opening Day and for years to come. While a talent like Santana is pretty much irreplaceable, the Twins received good return in an inevitable deal. Carlos Gomez, OF: The most Major League-ready of the quartet of players landed by the Twins, Gomez only retained rookie status in 2007 because he broke a hamate bone in his left hand in July, which sidelined him for two months after he made his Major League debut in May. At 21, he was the youngest player in the National League at the time. Before his callup, Gomez had been somewhat overlooked when discussing Mets outfield prospects because of all the talk surrounding teenage sensation Fernando Martinez. But Gomez had cruised through the organization, skipping from Class A Hagerstown in 2005 to Double-A Binghamton in 2006, showing no apparent need for some time at Advanced A. He hit .281 with 41 steals in the Eastern League at age 20. He has all the tools you look for in a premier outfielder, with the speed for center and the arm for right. He was hitting .286 at Triple-A New Orleans with 17 steals before his spring promotion, and then batted .232 with 12 more swipes in 125 at-bats with the Mets before his injury. The Twins' current outfield mix features Michael Cuddyer, newly acquired Delmon Young, Jason Kubel and veteran Craig Monroe. Look for Gomez to charge right into that pack to make a claim for one of the spots. Deolis Guerra, RHP: The 6-foot-5 Venezuelan prospect, who won't turn 19 until April, ranked just behind the apparently untouchable outfielder Fernando Martinez when it comes to Mets prospects, but he is likely to be the last to arrive in Minnesota. When he gets there, however, it should be for a nice long time. Guerra made his pro debut in stellar style in 2006 when, at age 17, he posted a 2.20 ERA at Class A Hagerstown, limiting South Atlantic League hitters to a .208 average. In '07, still at 17, he was the Opening Day starter for Class A Advanced St. Lucie and pitched in the Futures Game as well. He battled some shoulder tendinitis, which limited his innings, but posted a 4.01 ERA in 90 innings in the Florida State League with a fastball in the low-to-mid 90s and a plus changeup, which ranked as the best in the Mets' system. He continues to work on improving his curveball and refining his overall game. While he could start the season at Double-A New Britain, it is more likely that the Twins will opt to keep him back in warmer climate of Fort Myers, Fla., before sending him to the Eastern League later in the summer. Philip Humber, RHP: With a strong spring, Humber could factor into the wide-open, but still competitive, battle for a Twins rotation spot. Drafted out of Rice University with the third-overall pick in 2004 and signed for a $3 million bonus, his pro career got off to a sluggish start as he posted a 4.99 ERA at Class A Advanced St. Lucie in 2005 before undergoing Tommy John surgery in July. He's yet to really come back in pre-surgery form, but his trademark curveball is still a plus pitch. He spent most of '07 in New Orleans, where he was 11-9 with a 4.27 ERA in 25 starts, striking out 120 batters in 139 innings. He finished the summer with three games in New York, posting a 7.71 ERA in seven innings. He is no longer the untouchable can't-miss prospect he was when he signed in '04, but at 25 years old and now two years removed from his surgery, 2008 could be a big one for him. Kevin Mulvey, RHP: Though his name is not generally mentioned in the same breath as the elite pitching prospects in the Mets system (Guerra, Humber and Mike Pelfrey), Mulvey is no slouch either. Drafted out of Villanova in the second round with the Mets' first pick in 2006, he appeared in just a handful of games that summer before earning the organization's Minor League Pitcher of the Year honors in 2007. A Futures Game selection and Eastern League All-Star, the 22-year-old went 11-10 with a 3.32 ERA at Double-A Binghamton before finishing his season with one scoreless start at Triple-A New Orleans. Without one dominating pitch, he mixes four solid offerings highlighted by his slider with good control. He is likely to begin 2008 at Triple-A Rochester and a strong first half could keep his name on people's lips should the need for a starter arise. Lisa Winston is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs. |
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melshmeister |
Re: Santana Trade | ||
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Power Hitter
Posts: 240 (02/17/08 3:19 PM) Contact Hitter |
Does anyone know if the general public has access to the Twins' Minor League Reserve lists each year?
Its the list of players that the Twins reserve rights to before the Minor League phase of the Rule V draft. Thanks. |
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