The Minnesota Twins drafted Ohio State pitcher Alex Wimmers with the 21st overall pick in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft.
This is the second-year in a row that the Twins have used their first-round selection on a highly-touted collegiate hurler.
A year ago the club took a gamble on injured Missouri starter Kyle Gibson with the 22nd pick. Gibson is now healthy and rapidly working his way through the minor leagues.
Keith Law of ESPN.com described Wimmers as “one of the most Major League-ready prospects in the draft.” This evaluation—from one of the top player evaluators in the business—indicates that Wimmers could be on a fast track similar to that of Gibson.
Wimmers was described by Baseball America as having “the best changeup in the 2010 draft crop” and that “few pitchers in this draft can match the depth of his repertoire.”
That repertoire includes the aforementioned changeup, a good curveball that he can throw for strikes, and a solid—if not unspectacular—low-to-mid ‘90s fastball.
His fastball currently sits right around 90-92 mph and touches 94 mph when he really dials it up. It is believed that he could add a little more velocity if he builds arm strength by using it more in pro ball.
He was described by John Manuel of Baseball America as “the closest thing to Brad Radke in this draft” and the Twins had some pretty good success with that Radke guy once upon a time. He is a reliable starter who throws strikes and likes to challenge hitters.
His three-pitch mix, solid command, and excellent presence on the mound should all help him move quickly through the system as he has been very successful throughout his collegiate career.
Wimmers won back-to-back Big Ten pitcher of the year awards after going 9-2 with a 3.27 ERA in 2009 and following it up this year by going 9-0 with a 1.60 ERA for the Buckeyes this season. He struck out 86 and walked 23 in 73 innings pitched this year.
The Twins have had a lot of success with players cut from the same cloth as Wimmers.
He is a strike-thrower who doesn’t have any overpowering raw stuff, but he possesses a very good total package that figures to project out well as a middle-of-the-rotation starter in the big leagues.
If his fastball can catch up to his other pitches in a hurry, it’s entirely possible that Wimmers could make his big league debut by late 2011.
The Minnesota Twins are often praised for doing things “the right way.”
This sentiment—although cliché and not entirely accurate—generally defines the organizational importance placed on pitching, defense, small ball tactics, and player development.
Although the Twins have seemingly eschewed the small ball tactics in recent seasons, the club still believes heavily in defense and pitching.
It would seem that the club has an abundance of outfielders already in the system with top prospects Aaron Hicks, Ben Revere, Max Kepler, and Angel Morales all seemingly within a few years of reaching the big leagues.
As such, the Twins could logically be expected to abandon the usual philosophy of drafting the best available player—no matter what position he plays—and instead opt to improve by adding a big-armed pitcher or another infielder to the farm system.
Minnesota possesses the twenty-first overall pick in tonight’s First-Year Player Draft and could use that pick on any of a number of players.
This year’s draft—after the projected top three picks of catcher Bryce Harper, shortstop Manny Machado, and right-hander Jameson Taillon—has been deemed “wide-open” by many experts.
In fact, in describing the quality of the draft pool after those three, one unidentified NL general manager said, “there’s virtually no difference between the fourth and 44th picks.”
With that thought in mind let’s take a look at fifteen players that could join the Minnesota Twins organization tonight during the opening-round of the First-Year Player Draft.
First of all, let me say that Gillette Stadium is quite an impressive structure. In fact, I was quite literally in awe of its immensity the first time saw it looming up out of the distance as I drove down Route 1. Loss of fan atmosphere and home-field advantage aside, I’m sure it’s a marvelous place in which to watch a New England Patriots game.
However, I have to say… it’s a terrible place to watch a New England Revolution game. Why, you might ask? Because it’s huge. Way too huge to play host to a Major League Soccer team.
The Revolution consider a sellout crowd to be about 22,006. The seating capacity of Gillette is 68,756. Even if I’m in attendance at a sellout Revs match (which is highly unlikely, considering the overall average attendance at Revs matches is 15,844), it still feels like I’m only one of a handful that’s shoved into a corner of a vast behemoth of a stadium. Observe the seating chart for Revs games below (gray areas are closed-off during soccer games):
And that’s only the bottom bowl (and a tiny section of the second). Imagine, if you will, being a player on the Revolution. Perhaps you watched World Cup matches as a kid and dreamed of one day playing before a huge crowd of singing fans who wave their scarves and banners in support and chant your name. With that dream firmly planted in your mind, imagine stepping onto the pitch at Gillette for your first match. Not even half of the lower bowl of the stadium is full. The fans in the Fort (the 3 orange sections) are singing and screaming throughout the game, but the rest of the crowd could be watching golf for all the noise they’re making. Bit of a disappointment, huh?
Now, compare Gillette’s seating chart to that of Toyota Park, home of the Chicago Fire:
Isn’t that much more reasonable? Doesn’t that make so much more sense? That seating chart is the whole stadium. There aren’t two more bowls looming empty over the fans on game-day. The fans are all right there, as close to the action as FIFA regulations will allow.
In fact, 14 of the 16 current MLS teams have stadiums similar to Toyota Park (or will within a year or two). 11 teams have soccer-specific stadiums that seat 27,000 or less. Two teams (DC United and KC Wizards) are in the process of building soccer-specific stadiums, and one (Houston Dynamo) plays at a university’s football stadium that is at least of manageable size (32,000 seats).
The only other MLS team to play in an NFL stadium is Seattle. The Sounders play at Qwest Field (also home to the Seahawks), which has a similar seating capacity to that of Gillette. However (and that’s a big however, Mr. Kraft), Qwest was designed to be BOTH an NFL stadium and an MLS stadium. For Sounders matches, the people at Qwest adjust things (I’m not entirely sure how, though I’m guessing they close off the upper bowls) to bring the size down to a manageable 27,700 seats that (here’s the kicker) SURROUND the pitch. They don’t shove all their fans into one corner of the lower bowl.
Now, just amuse me for a few seconds and watch this video of Liverpool fans before a Champions League match against Barcelona:
How awesome would it be if Revolution matches were like that? I know, I know… soccer isn’t nearly as big in the States as it is in Europe, or, you know, the rest of the world. But the MLS is expanding pretty rapidly (two more teams will be added in 2011), and some MLS teams (I’m looking at you, Seattle and Philadelphia) have fans that are pretty freaking hardcore and dedicated. The Revolution even has two factions of fans – the Midnight Riders and the Rebellion - that are working hard to expand and strengthen fan support for their beloved Revs.
Wouldn’t it be nice to make the stadium more fan-friendly for them, and more conducive to the sort of electric soccer atmosphere that you witnessed in that Liverpool video? Right now, any noise that those in the Fort make just disappears straight up. Having the fans all the way around the pitch, nice and close to the action, not only makes it easier for those fans to see the game, but it also provides a tighter environment, brings fans together, and brings that Revolution player I mentioned earlier so much closer to living his dream of playing in front of a packed house.
A few years ago, Mr. Kraft, you and the city of Somerville, Massachusetts sat down and talked about possibly building the Revs their very own stadium. You made a good number of fans (myself included) very excited at the prospect of hopping on public transportation and making the short journey to our very own soccer-specific stadium close to the city. No offense to Foxboro, but it’s quite a haul and Route 1 is no fun before or after games. The proposed site in Somerville would be close to the T, right off a bus line, and within walking distance of many in New England’s most densely populated city:
In fact, I know of several Revs fans who say they would gladly purchase season tickets if it didn’t require regular trips down to Foxboro. If you don’t do it for the fans, Mr. Kraft, think of the revenues. Even the two 2011 MLS expansion teams have (or are planning to have) their own soccer-specific stadiums. This is a good bandwagon for New England to hop. You’ve got the location, you’ve got a good amount of support, God knows you’ve got the money. Now can you please get this going?
There is no rivalry in sports more storied than the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox—or so ESPN tells me, constantly—and with that type of long-term, history-laden rivalry comes some serious battle lines, right?
More ink (or is it pixels) have been spilled over this rivalry in newspapers and online than any other in all of sports. In fact, it’s pretty safe to say that this rivalry alone has kept some sportswriters employed.
The rivalry has its own freakin’ Wikipedia entry and a YouTube search for “Yankees vs Red Sox” yields nearly 10,000 results.
Heck, there’s an entire television network dedicated to preaching the prominence of this rivalry.
We’re talking about the type of rivalry that divides families and tears friendships apart.
People have legitimately been beaten and killed as a result of their respective allegiances in this century-old rivalry.
With that in mind you’ve got to think that there is absolutely no reason for something like this to happen:
As much as I hate to give either the Yankees or Red Sox any more press, I can’t help but ask myself, what the heck is going on here??
Like seriously, how is something like this allowed to happen?
I’ve been in those bleachers at Fenway, I’ve been booed unmercifully by an entire section on more than one occasion for wearing Minnesota Twins gear and—on one fateful day—a vintage Tampa Bay Devil Rays t-shirt.
I’ve been to a Sox/Yankees game and seen fight after fight breakout over nothing more than someone doffing the cap of the visiting team.
So explain to me, how is it that this gal’s transgressions are allowed to pass unscathed, by either party.
I would be content if a band of rogue New York fans rose up in arms to slay her with weapons they’d fashioned from those miniature souvenir baseball bats.
I’d be equally approving if the usual Fenway bleacher creatures were to use her as a ritual sacrifice to Jon Papelbon before the ninth (they do that you know).
What I can’t stand is for this to pass, seemingly without any sort of repercussion. She’s just enjoying a beer and watching the game. What the heck is that?
I had a beer vendor refuse to serve me the day I wore the Devil Rays shirt and this is all peachy?
Let’s hear it folks, what’s your take on the situation?
Is she part of some sort of government test study to determine how long a cute gal can survive in hostile conditions?
Has she had too many of those $8 Budweisers and accidentally grabbed the wrong hat (or shirt) on her way out of the powder room?
The injuries just keep on coming for the Minnesota Twins.
In March, the club lost All-Star closer Joe Nathan for the year after he underwent Tommy John surgery.
Last week, reigning American League MVP Joe Mauer sat out with a heel injury that threatened to land him on the disabled list.
And just today, the Twins placed shortstop J.J. Hardy on the 15-day disabled list with a left wrist contusion. Hardy initially sustained the injury sliding into third base on a triple a week ago.
The move is retroactive to May 4, meaning that Hardy can be rejoin the big league club next Thursday in Boston for the finale of a two-game set against the Red Sox.
Hardy was acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers last fall for outfielder Carlos Gomez who—ironically enough—also landed on the disabled list today with a with a left rotator cuff strain.
Prior to the injury Hardy—a notoriously streaky hitter—was off to a less than impressive start at the plate. Through the season’s first 25 games Hardy posted an uninspiring .250/.299/.400 batting line to go with three home runs, eleven RBI, and four doubles.
In essence, the time off could do Hardy some good as it largely believed he’s been pressing at the plate in an effort to prove that his dreadful 2009 was an aberration.
To fill in for the injured Hardy, the club recalled infielder Matt Tolbert from Triple-A Rochester.
“…the Twins have added to their amazing collection of banjo-hitting utility infielders by calling up Matt Tolbert from Triple-A. Tolbert is anything but deserving after hitting .232 with a .632 OPS and six errors in 27 games at Triple-A, but he’s a poor man’s Nick Punto and so naturally Ron Gardenhire loves him.”
The move is nothing if not disconcerting.
As Gleeman mentions, the club is already stock-piled with prototypical “small ball” style players in Nick Punto, Brendan Harris, and Alexi Casilla.
The club could have used this opportunity to call up the supposed third baseman of the future, Danny Valencia or bring Luke Hughes back for a second go-around with the big club, but neither is doing anything overly inspiring at Rochester.
Additionally, Valencia and Hughes are both third basemen by trade, although Hughes has spent plenty of time at second base as of late, but neither of those positions appear to be open with the big club.
The Twins appear content to leave Nick Punto at third base—his best defensive position, according to UZR—and Orlando Hudson isn’t going to suit up anywhere but second base.
That leaves current Rochester shortstop Trevor Plouffe as the most logical player to call up in this situation.
Plouffe, 24, is off to a solid start with the Red Wings hitting .278/.344/.452 with two home runs, thirteen RBI, and eight doubles through 29 games.
The Twins, however, appear to be playing favorites and going with one of manager Ron Gardenhire’s favorites, the “scrappy” Matt Tolbert.
Tolbert will likely split time with Alexi Casilla who isn’t exactly lighting the world on fire with his paltry .261/.292/.304 batting line.
To their credit, UZR rates both Casilla and Tolbert are above average defenders at shortstop, albeit in very small sample sizes.
The Casilla/Tolbert combo isn’t an ideal solution for the Twins, especially with the division rival Chicago White Sox in town and a weekend series with the world champion New York Yankees looming on the horizon, but the duo should serve as an adequate defensive stopgap until Hardy returns next week.
When the action on the field grows tiresome too many fans decide to create their own entertainment.
That was the case last night in Philadelphia where a 17-year-old Phillies fan hopped the fence and ran onto the field during the eighth inning.
At the time the Phillies were down 6-2 after giving up a five-run inning to the St. Louis Cardinals. This apparently was enough to encourage the young fan—whose name has yet to be released because he is a minor—to make his own entertainment.
The fan jumped the fence and led two officers on a chase around the outfield at Citizens Bank Park in front of a reported 44,817 screaming fans.
The security officers eventually ended the chase when one of the men pulled out a Taser and “subdued” the 17-year-old.
According to both teams, this is the first time a Taser has ever been used to apprehend a trespasser during a game.
Phillies spokeswomen Bonnie Clark said the police department is investigating the matter and discussing with the team whether using the stun gun was appropriate.
Police spokesman Lt. Frank Vanore told The Philadelphia Inquirer police internal affairs will open an investigation to determine if the firing “was proper use of the equipment.”
The 17-year-old will be charged with trespassing and likely suffering years of public humiliation amongst his friends.
After an incident like this, one can’t help but wonder if this is taking things too far.
In the past, officers would make a half-hearted attempt to catch the trespasser and more or less wait until they would run themselves out of energy.
At which point they’d simply escort them off the field and off to spend the evening in jail. Who knew that those were simpler times?
I’m all about keeping people off the field, but the Taser seems just a bit extreme given that this guy was clearly not a threat to anyone on the field.
Let’s hear it in the comments folks, what do you think?
Was the use of a Taser too much or is it a sufficient means of crowd control in this type of situation?
The club left behind the antiquatedMetrodome and moved into their brand-new, state of the art ballpark, Target Field.
The club has an increased payroll and is coming off one of themostproductiveoffseasons in franchise history.
The club is 13-6—second-best in all of Major League Baseball—despite the fact that much of the lineup sits mired in early season slumps.
The Twins have won six straight series to start the season for the first-time in franchise history. All the while outscoring opponents 101-70 and looking far more polished than their counterparts.
Three weeks into the season, there is very little to worry about in Minnesota, or is there?
The club has dropped the last game of a three-game series four times, seemingly phoning it in after winning the series.
This is one thing that should have the club worried.
The Twins cannot afford to let off the gas early in the season, especially against weaker competition like Kansas City and Cleveland.
If we’ve learned anything about the American League Central in recent years, it’s that every single game matters.
Two years in a row the Twins have been forced to play a 163rd game with the division pennant on the line.
A few extra wins over lesser opponents in April are just as important as dramatic September wins over Detroit or Chicago.
All 162 games count exactly the same and the Twins appear to be treating every third game as a throw-away and not a must-win situation.
Anything can happen in baseball. Much of the offense could stay locked in neutral and not overcome their early struggles. The pitching rotation could struggle as the season stretches on. The currently untouchable bullpen could breakdown at any point.
Every game is important because of those unknown factors that creep up every season.
Right now the Twins are riding high, but so were the Indians in 2002 and the Royals were looking like world beaters a year later. Neither of those teams took home the pennant.
The Twins need to establish a killer instinct and finish out some of these early season series if they want to avoid another late season pennant push that leaves the roster exhausted for the playoffs.
It may be early, but the games are important. It’s time for the Twins to start acting like it.
Jeremiah Graves
dgobs
ryangehrke
