Credit: Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE

Last week I reported on the origins of the Pleiss brothers’ Twins prospect challenge. A year into the process, a year that saw eight Twins make their MLB debuts, Eric and I decided to make a change to the prospect challenge.  A quick review of the rules for the prospect challenge, in case any of you here on the Pond want to join: Each person gets to select a position player for each position, three RHP and three LHP. Any player chosen who debuts in MLB within three years of selection will earn one point.  The person with the most points each year is declared the winner.  Last year I picked Scott Diamond as one of my selections, and as a Rule-5 draft pick, he was virtually guaranteed to get called up to the Twins for his MLB debut when theyheaded north out of Ft Myers. To prevent easy pickings like this, and to put more emphasis on projections and predictions we made a very simple, and yet very challenging rule change. Going forward, no prospect who has played above AA is elligible for selection in the prospect challenge.  In addition to the rule change, a year of following prospects and REALLY following the Twins from the top of the organization on down, I learned a lot that I’ll be putting to use for this year’s prospect challenge.   (more…)

Rochester Red Wings (AAA):

Split their doubleheader with the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs. In game 1 the Red Wings won 3-1 in 7 innings (Box Score) and in game 2 they lost 5-3 in 8 innings (Box Score).

Game 1: The two teams combined for 7 hits and no player on either side managed a multi-hit game. Of the Red Wings 4 hits, however, 3 of them went for extra bases. DH Dustin Martin hit a solo HR (1) in the 4th inning while RF Rene Tosoni hit a 2-run walk-off HR (2) in the 7th. LF Ben Revere chipped in with a 2B (2) and 1B Jeff Bailey had the team’s lone single. Eric Hacker was the game’s star on the mound pitching 6.0 innings of 2-hit, shutout baseball. He struck out 5 and didn’t issue a walk. Phil Dumatrait recorded just one out in the 7th, walked 2 and gave up a single to load the bases. Jim Hoey came in to put out the fire and whiffed the 1st batter he faced before plunking Iron Pigs C Erik Kratz to tie the game. Despite blowing the save, Hoey struck out the next hitter which set the stage for Tosoni’s walk-off in the bottom of the 7th.

Game 2: If you’re keeping tabs on the Twins pitching prospects who might help the major league team this year, then this was the game for you. (more…)