This is just kind of a wrap-up post of various thoughts on the Twins minor league teams and players.  I claim no particular credentials as either an analyst or a scout, so feel free to disagree with anything that follows.

--You can understand why Rochester management is getting upset with the Twins.  I know the minors are about player development, but you'd still like to be able to field a competitive team.  Given how bad they've been the last two years, attendance hasn't suffered as much as you might think--the Red Wings were ninth out of fourteen teams, with an average of 6493 fans.  All the injuries to the major league club obviously played a part in how bad the team was, but a failure to develop players has also played a part.

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Note:  this is players of the year for each individual minor league team.  Thus, a player needs to have been with one team for a significant portion of the year to be that team's player of the year.  What consitutes a "significant portion of the year" is somewhat subjective.

ROCHESTER

Position Player:  Aaron Bates hit .316/.408/.439, leading the team in OPS among players with at least 200 at-bats.  Honorable mention:  Jeff Bailey hit .252/.357/.442 with 15 home runs.

Pitcher:  Chuck James was 3-2, 1 save, 2.30, 1.21 WHIP with 67 strikeouts in 62.2 innings (38 appearances).  Honorable mention:  Kyle Waldrop was 5-5, 3 saves, 3.87, 1.29 WHIP.

NEW BRITAIN

Position Player:  Brian Dozier hit .318/.384/.502.  He led the team in OPS and slugging and was second in batting average and OBP.  Honorable mention:  Joe Benson hit .285/.388/.495.  He led the team in OBP, was tied for the team lead in home runs (16) and was second in slugging.

Pitcher:  Liam Hendriks was 8-2, 2.70, 1.14 WHIP in 16 appearances (15 starts).  He struck out 81 in 90 innings.  Honorable mention:  Tyler Robertson was 10-3, 16 saves, 3.61, 1.29 WHIP in 55 appearances.  He struck out 88 in 89.2 innings.

FT. MYERS

Position Player:  No one did all that well after Brian Dozier was promoted to New Britain, but we'll give it to Oswaldo Arcia, who hit .263/.300/.460, leading the team in OPS and slugging among players with at least 200 at-bats.  Honorable mention:  Aaron Hicks hit .242/.354/.368, leading the team in OBP.

Pitcher:  Andrew Albers was 4-1, 4 saves, 1.55, 1.05 WHIP in 22 appearances (2 starts).  He struck out 46 in 52.1 innings.  Honorable mention:  Matt Schuld was 4-1, 3.99, 1.30 WHIP in 70 innings.  He appeared in 15 games, 11 of them starts.

BELOIT

Position Player:  Jairo Perez hit .337/.413/.580 with 20 doubles and 15 home runs in just 276 at-bats.  He also stole 11 bases.  Honorable mention:  Michael Gonzales hit .289/.371/.468 with 27 doubles and 15 home runs.

Pitcher:  Jose Gonzalez was 5-3, 13 saves, 2.47, 1.16 WHIP with 63 strikeouts in 62 innings (48 apperances).  Honorable mention:  Adrian Salcedo was 6-6, 2.93, 1.17 WHIP.  He struck out 92 in 135 innings (29 appearances, 20 starts).

ELIZABETHTON

Position Player:  Eddie Rosario hit .337/.397/.670.  He led the team in slugging, batting average, OPS, walks, home runs, runs, RBIs, and stolen bases (17 of 23).  Honorable mention:  Miguel Sano hit .292/.352/.637.  He led the team in doubles and was second in most of the categories Rosario led.

Pitcher:  Matthew Summers was 1-1, 6 saves, 0.87, 0.77 WHIP in 20 appearances.  He struck out 36 in 20.2 innings.  Honorable mention:  Tim Shibuya was 8-2, 3.30, 1.10 WHIP in 13 starts.  He struck out 70 in 73.2 innings.

GCL TWINS

Position Player:  Phillip Chapman hit .308/.392/.442, leading the team in all three of those categories for players with over 100 at-bats.  He also led the team in doubles and RBIs.  Honorable mention:  Stephen Wickens hit .245/.370/.340.

Pitcher:  Angel Mata was 0-1, 1.46, 1.14 WHIP in 12 appearances (11 starts).  He struck out 30 in 37 innings.  Honorable mention:  Luis Nunez was 5-0, 5 saves, 1.67, 0.90 in 16 appearances.  He struck out 37 in 32.1 innings.

DSL TWINS

Position Player:  Erick Gonzalez hit .286/.445/.392.  He led the team in all three of those categories, plus runs, hits, doubles, total bases, and walks.  Honorable mention:  Adonis Pacheco hit .285/.364/.398, leading the team in triples.

Pitcher:  Junior Subero was 3-4, 0.77, 0.96 WHIP in 12 appearances (10 starts).  He struck out 49 in 46.2 innings.  Honorable mention:  Francisco Nunez was 9-1, 5 saves, 1.47, 0.76 WHIP in 20 appearances (1 start).  He struck out 61 in 49 innings.

ROCHESTER

Position Player:  Aaron Bates hit .295/.398/.438 in 107 at-bats.  For the season, he was .316/.408/.439.  Honorable mention:  Dustin Martin hit .266/.319/.469 in 128 at-bats.  For the season, he was .265/.341/.431.

Pitcher:  Cole DeVries was 1-0, 2.25, 1.08 WHIP in 24 innings.  For the season, he was 4-2, 3.90, 1.48 in 62.1 innings.  Honorable mention:  Chuck James was 2-1, 2.57, 1.29 WHIP with 18 strikeouts in 21 innings.  For the season, he was 3-2, 2.30, 1.21 with 67 strikeouts in 62.2 innings.

NEW BRITAIN

Position Player:  Brian Dozier hit .341/.393/.565 in 138 at-bats.  For the season, he was .318/.384/.502.  Honorable mention:  Yangervis Solarte  hit .340/.371/.510 in 100 at-bats.  For the season, he was .329/.367/.466.

Pitcher:  Deolis Guerra was 2-0, 1.28, 0.62 WHIP in 21 innings.  For the season, he was 8-7, 5.59, 1.37 WHIP in 95 innings.  Honorable mention:  Tyler Robertson was 3-0, 5 saves, 1.54, 0.99 WHIP in 23.1 innings.  For the season, he was 10-3, 16 saves, 3.16, 1.29 in 89.2 innings.

FT. MYERS

Position Player:  Oswaldo Arcia hit .260/.293/.500 in 104 at-bats.  For the season, he was .263/.300/.460.  Honorable mention:  Angel Morales hit .274/.355/.389 in 95 at-bats.  For the season, he was .264./.326/.388.

Pitcher:  Matthew Tomshaw was 0-0, 0.86, 0.86 WHIP in 21 innings.  For the season, he was 0-0, 2.13, 1.11 in 25.1 innings.  Honorable mention:  Edgar Ibarra was 3-3, 1.86, 1.34 WHIP in 29 innings.  For the season, he was 5-10, 5.16, 1.71 WHIP in 106.1 innings

BELOIT

Position player:  Jairo Perez hit .315/.388/.528 in 108 at-bats.  For the season, he was .337/.413/.580.  Honorable mention:  Michael Gonzales hit .265/.315/.441 in 68 at-bats.  For the season, he was .289/.371/.468.

Pitcher:  Adrian Salcedo was 0-0, 0.66, 1.10 WHIP in 13.2 innings.  For the season, he was 6-6, 2.93, 1.17 in 135 innings.  Honorable mention:  Jose Gonzalez was 1-0, 3 saves, 1.17, 1.17 WHIP in 15.1 innings.  For the season, he was 5-3, 13 saves, 2.47, 1.16 in 62 innings.

ELIZABETHTON

Position player:  Miguel Sano hit .378/.446/.944 in 90 at-bats.  For the season, he was .292/.352/.637.  Honorable mention:  Eddie Rosario hit .368/.433/.728 in 114 at-bats.  For the season, he was .337/.397/.670.

Pitcher:  Tim Atherton was 3-0, 1.50, 0.79 WHIP with 29 strikeouts in 24 innings.  Those are also his season numbers.  Honorable mention:  Matthew Summers was 0-0, 3 saves, 0.00, 0.58 WHIP with 15 strikeouts in 8.2 innings.  For the season, he was 1-1, 6 saves, 0.87, 0.77 WHIP in 20.2 innings.

GCL TWINS

Position player:  Phillip Chapman hit ,327/.389/.429 in 49 at-bats.  For the season, he was .308/.392/.442.  Honorable mention:  Joshua Hendricks hit .315/.351/.407 in 54 at-bats.  For the season, he was .275/.316/.350.

Pitcher:  Kyle Wahl was 3-0, 0.95, 0.95 WHIP with 19 strikeouts in 19 innings.  For the season, he was 5-1, 2.23, 1.05 with 35 strikeouts in 32.1 innings.  Honorable mention:  Nick Cicio was 2-0, 0.00, 0.25 WHIP with 7 strikeouts in 8 innings.  For the season, he was 2-0, 2 saves, 1.74, 0.87 WHIP with 20 strikeouts in 20.2 innings.

DSL TWINS

Position player:  Adonis Pacheco hit .365/.450/.462 in 52 at-bats.  For the season, he was .285/.364/.398.  Honorable mention:  Ronald Jimenez hit .405/.468/.405 in 42 at-bats.  For the season, he was .266/.332/.305.

Pitcher:  Junior Subero was 2-0, 0.00, 0.95 WHIP with 13 strikeouts in 10.1 innings.  For the season, he was 3-4, 0.77, 0.96 with 49 strikeouts in 46.2 innings.  Honorable mention:  Francisco Nunez was 2-0, 1 save, 0.66, 0.73 WHIP with 15 strikeouts in 13.2 innings.  For the season, he was 9-1, 5 saves, 1.47, o.76 with 61 strikeouts in 49 innings.

Pawtucket 7, Rochester 3 in Pawtucket.  The Red Sox scored four in the second and three in the fifth to take the victory.  Aaron Bates and Toby Gardenhire each hit a home run.  Eric Hacker surrendered all seven runs on seven hits and three walks in five innings.

Trenton 5, New Britain 3 in New Britain (11 innings).  The Rock Cats scored two in the eighth to tie the score, but the Thunder scored two in the eleventh to win.  Brian Dozier doubled and tripled to close out the season at .318.  Chris Herrmann singled and tripled.  Mike Hollimon had two hits.  Spencer Steedley allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits and three walks in 5.1 innings.  Blake Martin took the loss, giving up the eleventh-inning runs in his second inning of work.  The loss knocked the Rock Cats out of the playoffs, but Reading won, so the Rock Cats would not have made the playoffs anyway.

Wisconsin 11, Beloit 0 in Beloit.  It was 1-0 after six, but the Timber Rattlers scored eight runs in the seventh.  The Snappers had only two hits.  A. J. Achter struck out five in five innings, giving up a run on three hits and a walk.

Pawtucket 4, Rochester 3 in Pawtucket.  The Red Wings scored three in the fourth to take a 3-2 lead, but the Red Sox scored one in the fifth to tie and one in the eighth to win.  Dustin Martin had two hits.  Aaron Bates hit a home run.  Deinys Suarez surrendered three runs on three hits and five walks while striking out five in 4.1 innings.  Cole DeVries worked 2.2 shutout innings, giving up two hits.  Chuck James took the loss, allowing the winning run on two hits and a walk in his only inning.

New Britain 12, Trenton 9 in New Britain.  The Rock Cats broke a 5-5 tie with six in the sixth to stay alive in the playoffs.  Yangervis Solarte had two singles and two doubles, raising his average to .330.  Deibinson Romero had three singles and a double.  Chris Herrmann had four hits and drove in three.  Joe Benson singled and doubled.  Brian Dozier had two hits to raise his average to .315.  Bobby Lanigan struck out six in 5.1 innings but allowed five runs on nine hits.  Matt Schuld got the win despite allowing three runs on three hits and two walks in 2.2 innings.  Reading defeated Binghamton 5-4, so the Rock Cats remain a game out of the playoffs with one game remaining.  Reading's game today starts at 12:05 Central, while the Rock Cats play at 12:35 Central.  If the two teams tie for the last playoff spot, there will be a one-game playoff tomorrow.

Jupiter 7, Ft. Myers 4 in Jupiter.  The Hammerheads scored two in each of the second, third, and fourth innings.  Danny Rams and Oswaldo Arcia each singled and homered.  Aaron Hicks singled and doubled.  Steven Liddle had two hits.  B. J. Hermsen surrendered six runs on eight hits and two walks in just four innings.  Shooter Hunt struck out four in four innings, giving up a run on two hits and a walk.

Beloit 5, Wisconsin 1 in Beloit.  The Snappers scored three in the second and never trailed again.  Wang-wei Lin had four hits.  Michael Gonzales and Tyler Grimes each had two doubles and a single, with Grimes scoring three times.  Michael Tonkin gave up only an unearned run on just two hits and a walk in five innings.  Manuel Soliman worked two shutout innings, giving up three hits.  Madison Boer struck out three in a scoreless inning.

Rochester 6, Pawtucket 3 in Rochester.  The Red Wings closed out their home season with a win.  They trailed 3-0 after six, but scored three in the seventh and three in the eighth.  Chase Lambin and Aaron Bates each singled and doubled, with Bates raising his average to .316.  Brandon Roberts had two hits.  Jeff Bailey hit a home run, his fifteenth.  Andrew Baldwin got the win, giving up three runs on nine hits and three walks in eight innings.  Kyle Waldrop struck out two in a perfect ninth for the save.

New Britain 10, Trenton 9 in New Britain (Game 1--Scheduled 7 innings).  The Rock Cats had leads of 7-2, 9-5, and 10-8 before holding on to win.  Yangervis Solarte singled, doubled, and homered, driving in three and making his average .323.  Brian Dozier and Joe Benson each singled and doubled, with Dozier's average going to .314.  Chris Herrmann drove in three.  Logan Darnell lasted just 4.2 innings, surrendering eight runs (five earned) on nine hits and two walks.  Tyler Robertson got the win in relief, giving up a run on three hits while striking out three in 2.1 innings to raise his record to 10-3.

Trenton 6, New Britain 5 in New Britain (Game 2--Scheduled 7 innings).  The Rock Cats led 5-4 after four, but the Thunder scored in the fifth to tie and in the seventh to win.  Mike Hollimon doubled and homered, driving in three.  The home run was his sixteenth.  Chris Herrmann singled and doubled.  Yangervis Solarte and Nate Hanson each had two hits, with Solarte's average going to .324.  Starter Steve Hirschfeld pitched just two innings, allowing two runs on three hits and three walks.  Dakota Watts took the loss, giving up one run on two hits and two walks in 2.2 innings.  Reading defeated Binghamton 6-5, so the Rock Cats are a game out of the wild card race with two days left in the season.

Ft. Myers 7, Jupiter 0 in Ft. Myers (Game 1--Scheduled 7 innings).  The Miracle jumped to a 2-0 lead after one, made it 3-o after five, and put it away with four in the sixth.  Danny Rams singled and homered, driving in four.  James Beresford had two hits.  Angel Morales hit a home run.  Edgar Ibarra pitched a complete game, giving up five hits and a walk while striking out six.

Ft. Myers 1, Jupiter 0 in Ft. Myers (Game 2--Scheduled 7 innings).  Alex Wimmers threw a no-hitter, walking two and striking out five.  He faced the minimum twenty-one batters thanks to a caught stealing and a double play.  The lone run of the game came in the fifth.  Aaron Hicks singled and tripled, driving in the run.

Wisconsin at Beloit.  Cancelled.

Syracuse 10, Rochester 9 in Rochester.  The Red Wings scored seven in the seventh to take an 8-5 lead, but the Chiefs scored three in the seventh to tie and won with two in the ninth.  Brandon Roberts and Dustin Martin each had two singles and a triple, with Martin driving in three.  Aaron Bates singled and doubled, making his average .314.  Starter Dusty Hughes allowed four runs on six hits and three walks while striking out five in four innings.  Jake Stevens pitched the ninth and took the loss.

Trenton 4, New Britain 1 in New Britain.  The Thunder scored three in the first.  The Rock Cats had only one hit, a home run by Evan Bigley.  Pat Dean pitched well other than in the first, giving up three runs on nine hits and a walk in six innings.  Reading defeated Binghamton 4-2 to move a half game ahead of the Rock Cats in the race for the last playoff spot.  The Rock Cats play a doubleheader with Trenton today beginning at 4:05 Central.

Ft. Myers 10, Jupiter 4 (Game 1--Scheduled 7 innings).  The Miracle scored seven in the third to take an 8-3 lead.  James Beresford had three hits and drove in three.  Reggie Williams and Danny Rams each singled and doubled.  Steve Liddle had two hits.  Starter Matthew Tone allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits in three innings.  Cole Nelson got the win in relief, giving up a run on six hits and a walk in four innings.

Jupiter at Ft. Myers (Game 2).  Postponed.

Peoria 4, Beloit 2 in Beloit.  The Snappers scored in each of the first two innings, but that was it.  The Chiefs scored three in the fifth to take the lead.  The Snappers had only four hits and made three errrors.  Ryan O'Rourke struck out eight in seven innings, giving up all four runs (two earned) on seven hits and no walks.

Bluefield 11, Elizabethton 7 in Bluefield.  The Twins led 3-2 after one, but the Blue Jays scored three in the third and three in the fifth to take an 8-3 lead.  The Twins came back with four in the sixth to make it 8-7, but that was as close as they would come.  A three run eighth put it away for Bluefield.  Eddie Rosario singled and tripled.  Miguel Sano and Matthew Koch each singled and doubled, with Koch driving in four.  Matt Parker hit a home run.  Derek Christensen surrendered five runs on eight hits in 2.1 innings.  Steven Gruver worked two shutout innings of relief, giving up one hit.  The loss ends the season for Elizabethton.  Bluefield will go on to play Johnson City in a best-of-three series for the league championship.