Friday, May 12, 2006

Q&A with Paul Kelly

Beloit Snappers Infielder

2005 Twins 2nd Round Draft Pick

Good morning to everyone! If you are interested, I will be on the Bloggers Moment on the Twins Magazine Show on Saturday. I believe that the show starts at 4:30. So, check it out on WCCO, either on the radio, or online.

We are going to start out today with another Q&A with a Twins minor league player. If you would like to see what other Twins prospects and more I have had Q&As with, please be sure to look at the end of this Q&A. Today, I need to thank Paul Kelly for taking the time to answer some questions for us!

Paul Kelly was drafted by the Twins in the 2nd round (54th overall) of the 2005 draft out of high school in Flower Mound, Texas. He signed quickly and played in 40 games and got 137 at bats for the GCL Twins. He struggled at the outset, but came on late and hit .277/.358/.365. He had six doubles, two homers and 20 RBI. He did well enough to move up to Beloit for the last five games of their season and was their 2B in their playoff series against Wisconsin. In 16 Beloit at bats, he hit .312 with three doubles, a homer and four RBI. 

This year, the Twins started the 19 year old Kelly at Beloit. He has played SS, 3B and DH so far.  Going into last night's game, Kelly led the team with 30 games played and 128 at bats. He is hitting .258/.326/.352 with seven doubles, a triple, a homer and 12 RBI. Paul Molitor mentioned Kelly as a guy that impressed him, so that had to be a nice compliment.

I'm sure you don't want to read any more background. Check out his minor league numbers and other information here. Let's just get to the Q&A! Thank you to Paul Kelly for taking the time to answer these questions. I hope that you will enjoy it too. 

If you have any comments for me or Mr. Kelly, please e-mail me, and I will try to answer your questions or forward them on to him and see if we can get you an answer.

Let the Questions Begin!

SethSpeaks: Growing up in Texas, who was your favorite team, and who were some of your favorite players growing up?

Paul Kelly: Atlanta Braves, Chipper Jones

SethSpeaks: Tell us a little about your high school career.

Paul Kelly: Played varsity for three years, made playoffs all 3 years, never won state.

SethSpeaks: The Twins took you in the 2nd round last summer. Had you talked to the Twins' scouts much, and where were you expecting to be drafted? Did you expect to be drafted as a hitter, or as a pitcher?

Paul Kelly: I talked to the Twins a little bit. I didn't know some teams wanted me as a pitcher.

SethSpeaks: Had you not signed with the Twins, where would you be today? How difficult was your decision to sign rather than go to college?

Paul Kelly: I would be at TCU. The decision was easy.

SethSpeaks: Who were some of the coaches or people that have helped you get to this point in your career?

Paul Kelly: Coach Matlock, Coach McCurley, Coach Stinson, Coach Tompkins, my parents and family.

SethSpeaks: How would you describe yourself as a player. What are your strengths, and what areas would you say you most have to improve upon?

Paul Kelly: I need to improve all aspects of my game.

SethSpeaks: What was the adjustment to pro baseball like for you? I would think that adjustment to wood bats would be a big thing?

Paul Kelly: The wood bat was the biggest thing, the game is a lot quicker.

SethSpeaks: Coming from Texas, how is the weather in Beloit in April?

Paul Kelly: Not too bad, I prefer hot weather but it alright.

SethSpeaks: What is the best part, so far, about a career in baseball?

Paul Kelly: Playing baseball everyday.

SethSpeaks: What is the most difficult part of life in baseball?

Paul Kelly: Trying to eat healthy.

SethSpeaks: Favorite baseball movie?

Paul Kelly: The Natural

SethSpeaks: Finally, what are your goals heading into the 2006 season?

Paul Kelly: Play hard everyday, try to improve, learn from mistakes.

SethSpeaks: What do you think it will be like to put on a big league uniform in a regular season game for the first time?

Paul Kelly: Amazing, I can't describe with words.

Paul, thank you very much for taking the time to answer these questions so well. During the season, I would imagine free time is at a premium! So thank you! 

Do you have any thoughts or questions for Paul Kelly or me? If so, please feel free to e-mail me.

If you would like to read any previous Q&A's, here is a checklist:

5/9/06 - Q&A with Brian Duensing (Twins minor league pitcher at Beloit)

5/5/06 - Q&A with Matt Garza (Twins minor league pitcher at Ft. Myers)

5/2/06 - Q&A with Kyle Waldrop (Twins minor league pitcher at Beloit)

4/28/06 - Q&A with David Winfree (Twins minor league infielder at Ft. Myers)

4/25/06 - Q&A with Josh Rabe (Twins minor league outfielder at Rochester)

2/24/06 - Q&A with Tommy Watkins (Twins minor league infielder at New Britain)

2/20/06 - Spring Training Q&A (Part 2) (Several Twins and former Twins answer questions about spring)

1/3/06 - Q&A with Chris Coste (Phillies AAA player and my former college teammate)

11/29/05 - Q&A with Chris Brown (former Twins 1B prospect, spent 2005 in Beloit)

11/25/05 - Q&A with Seth (your questions for me)

11/23/05 - Q&A with Pat Neshek (Twins Relief Pitching Prospect, added to 40 man roster, 2006 in Rochester)

11/15/05 - Q&A with Jeff Dooley (the voice of the New Britain Rock Cats)

11/8/05 - Q&A with David Dorsey (local writer for The News-Press in Ft. Myers, FL)

10/25/05 - Q&A with Mark Sheldon (former Twins Beat Reporter for MLB.com)

10/18/05 - Q&A with Kevin Slowey (another top pitching prospect, Twins 2nd round pick in 2005, 2006 in Ft. Myers)

10/11/05 - Q&A with Wes Holtsclaw (local writer for the Elizabethton Twins)

10/5/05 - Q&A with Eli Tintor (Minnesota-native, catching prospect who played 2005 in E-Town, 2006 in Beloit)

7/28/05 - Q&A with Jim Mandelaro (local writer for the Rochester Red Wings)

2/28/05 - Q&A with Pat Neshek (Minnesota-native, reliever prospect who played 2005 at New Britain)

12/17/04 - Q&A with Alexander Smit (Holland-native, pitching prospect spent 2005 between Beloit and E-Town)

5/28/04 - Q&A with CJ Nitkowski (big league pitcher, spent Spring Training 2005 with the Twins)

Twins Thoughts

During the offseason, I would frequently scour the internet for articles on Twins players. I was looking for rumors or gossip or some human interest stories. Anything of note. Since the Twins had an off day yesterday, I figured it would be a good time to do that again. So, here are several articles on Twins players, coaches or minor leaguers.

• John Sickels 'penned' an article called Is there any Hope for Justin Morneau? Like Sickels, I believe that there certainly is. The big reason for me is because he has already shown such power potential, but also that he won't turn 24 until next week. I hope that he is wrong in saying that the full measure of his power won't blossom until he is with another organization.

• I'm tired of the WBC being used as an excuse for poor pitching. However, Jeff Mason at covers.com wrote an article that shows how poorly the pitchers of the WBC are doing. He talks about Carlos Silva and Johan Santana, but several others who are doing really bad too.

• Ryan Boyer of the Roto Times says that Santana and Jake Peavy will be just fine.

• In three of my fantasy baseball leagues, I have picked up LHP Cole Hamels of the Philadelphia Phillies. In two of them, I picked him up two weeks ago. In an article in the Philadelphia Daily News about Hamels arrival, they also wonder what the Phillies would be like if they still had Carlos Silva.

• Ed Thoma of the Mankato Free Press has declared a personal boycott of Kyle Lohse.

• Scott Baker was listed as a Solid Buy by Sports Memo.

• MLB.com listed Francisco Liriano as a Must See Youngster.

• I love talking about the AJ Pierzynski for Joe Nathan, Francisco Liriano and Boof Bonser trade. It ranks up there with the best of all time! Anyway, it is even more fun when people from the Bay Area talk about it. Here is a quick note from the San Jose Mercury News.

• In case you missed it, Juan Rincon's appeal of his 2005 ten-game suspension was rejected recently.

• Apparently Hibbing High School has its own version of Joe Nathan!

• Jon Laging of the Albert Lea Tribune wrote an article called The Last Stand of the Minnesota Twins. He compares the 2006 Twins to the Fall of Troy, Custer's Last Stand and The Alamo.

• David Montgomery wrote an article on the Twins called Boys of Summer for the Scarlett & Black, the newspaper of Grinnell College. I do have to argue a couple of his points on the Twins though:
  1.) All the Twins players, the veterans that made up the dynasty, got too expensive for the Twins to hold on to. Too expensive? Who were the guys that were part of The Dynasty? Let's see, Corey Koskie, Cristian Guzman, Luis Rivas, Doug Mientkeiwicz, AJ Pierzynski, Jacque Jones, Torii Hunter, Shannon Stewart, Eric Milton, LaTroy Hawkins, Eddie Guardado. They kept two of those players. Two who are making a lot of money to be doing very little. Are there any other names on that list that would help the Twins, or be better than what they have? You could make an argument for Koskie over Batista, but even that is a stretch do to his injuries.
  2.) The worst off-season move was not making a move for a better offensive designated hitter. Like Who? Mike Piazza? He's hitting .220 with three homers and a sub-.700 OPS. He is losing playing time with the Padres to Josh Bard and, ahem... Rob Bowen. Frank Thomas? He is hitting .187 for the A's and just got hurt, again. Despite seven home runs, his OPS is just .692. Anyone else?

• Speaking of former Twin Rob Bowen, here is an article on him in the North County Times.

• With Hideki Matsui out for at least three months, don't be surprised if we start hearing some Torii Hunter or Shannon Stewart rumors starting soon. If they get Hunter, Johnny Damon could play left field, a more natural position for him, and his arm.

• According to the LA Times, the Twins are not fielding offers on Torii Hunter at this time.

• In the 'How does this get into a story' story, in 2001, Tony Batista gave Blue Jays teammate Orlando Hudson the book The Greatest Salesman in the World and told him to read it before every game. Hudson says he has!

• Aaron Gleeman posts his choice for the #26 all-time Twins player today.

• Brad Rock of the Deseret (Utah) Morning News wrote a really good article on Harmon Killebrew.

• Zach Koenig of the UMM Register wrote an article called The Greatest Minnesota Twins Fantasy Baseball Team.

• Former Twins OF Jacque Jones talks about his mom for the Chicago Tribune.

• The Cubs also sent Michael Restovich back down to AAA earlier this week.

• Cristian Guzman had shoulder surgery and will miss the entire season.

• Luis Rivas had surgery in mid-March to repair a fractured finger. He is with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays organization.

• On the season for the Washington Nationals, Matthew Lecroy is hitting .297/.341/.459 with three doubles, a homer and six RBI in just 16 games (37 at bats).                  

Here are the pitching matchups for the Twins four game home stand against the Chicago White Sox:

• Friday - 7:05 - Johan Santana (3-3, 3.69, 1.19, .247) vs Javier Vazquez (4-1, 2.88, 0.93, .208)

• Saturday - 6:10 - Brad Radke (3-4, 7.75, 1.70, .360) vs Mark Buehrle (3-2, 3.66, 1.20, .257)

• Sunday - 7:00 - Carlos Silva (2-5, 8.23, 1.64, .355) vs Freddy Garcia (5-1, 4.64, 1.27, .238)

• Monday - 12:10 - Kyle Lohse (2-3, 8.33, 1.93, .331) vs Brandon McCarthy (2-1, 5.21, 1.26, .270)

Do you have any thoughts on the Twins, the White Sox, the AL Central or anything else? If so, send me an e-mail, or post some Comments below.                

TWINS MINOR LEAGUE NOTES

Do you have any further thoughts on any Twins prospects, minor leaguers, or these summaries? I would love any input, or ideas to make it better. Thanks! E-mail me, or also feel free to leave comments below.

Let me know what you think.  Send me an e-mail, or let's talk about it in the Comments here. That is it for today!