Minor League Discussion & Boxes 4-11-11

[Outshined_One]

Box Scores

 

Iowa lost 6-5 in the 10th Box Score

 

CF T. Campana 3/6, 2 RBI, 2B (3)

RF F. Perez 2/5, BB, R, K, SB (2), CS (1), PO (1B)

LF L. Montanez 0/4, BB, K, SB (1)

1B B. LaHair 1/2, 3 BB, R, K

C M. Ramirez 0/4, RBI, K, PB (2)

3B M. Smith 0/4, BB, K

SS M. Camp 1/4, BB, R, RBI, 2B (3)

2B J. Mota 1/5, R, RBI, HR (1)

PH S. Moore 0/0, BB, R

PH/LF T. Wright 0/1, BB

SP R. Ortiz 5.2 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 7 K, HR, 6-1 GO-FO

RP P. Trinidad .1 perfect, 1-0 GO-FO

RP C. Carpenter 2 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, HBP, 1-1 GO-FO

RP S. Maine 1.1 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 1 K, HBP, 1-1 GO-FO

 

Tennessee lost a rain-shortened game 6-5 in 6 innings Box Score

 

RF B. Jackson 1/2, BB, R, RBI, 2B (1), K

SS R. Flaherty 1/3, R, 2 RBI, HR (1)

2B DJ LeMahieu 1/3, R, 2B (4)

LF M. Spencer 0/3

3B J. Vitters 1/3, R, 2 RBI, HR (1)

C S. Clevenger 1/3, R, RBI, HR (2)

SP B. Raley 3.2 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, 1 HR, 5-2 GO-FO

RP HW Chen 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 1-1 GO-FO

 

Daytona won 6-5 Box Score

 

2B L. Watkins 1/4, R, HBP, SB (2)

3B M. Cerda 0/1, 4 BB, RCS (1), E (2, throw)

CF JH Ha 2/5, 2B (2), K

1B J. Bour 0/4, BB, R

DH W. Castillo 0/3, BB, R, RBI, K

LF M. Burgess 3/5, 2 R, 5 RBI, 2 HR (4), Assist (3B)

C M. Brenly 0/3, BB, K, PB (1)

RF N. Perez 2/3, BB, K

SS J. Lake 0/4, K, E (2, fielding)

SP Z. Rosscup 5 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, HBP, 5-3 GO-FO

RP B. Ebinger 4 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, HBP, 4-3 GO-FO

 

Peoria lost 4-2 Box Score

 

CF M. Szczur 2/4, R

DH R. Silva 1/4, K, CS (1)

1B G. Rohan 1/4, K, E (1, missed catch)

C M. Gibbs 0/3, BB, K

LF DJ Fitzgerald 0/3, BB, R, K, SB (2)

SS E. Soto 1/3, RBI, 2 K

2B P. LePage 0/3

SP G. Hicks 4 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 6 BB, 0 K, 6-4 GO-FO

RP J. Serrano 3 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 7-1 GO-FO

RP M. Hatley 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1-1 GO-FO

 

OVERALL: 1-3

[Guest]

Probable Starters

 

Iowa: RHP Ramon Ortiz (2010 at Buffalo & Durham: 2-4, 4.57 ERA, 65 IP, 44 K, 14 BB)

Tennessee: LHP Brooks Raley (2010 at Daytona: 8-6, 3.50 ERA, 136.1 IP, 97 K, 43 BB)

Daytona: LHP Brent Ebinger (2010 at Boise & Mesa: 3-2, 3.12 ERA, 52 IP, 57 K, 6 BB)

Peoria: LHP Graham Hicks (2010 at Hagerstown & Vermont: 2-6, 5.02 ERA, 71.2 IP, 66 K, 25 BB)

[Vanilla Ice]

Daytona: LHP Brent Ebinger (2010 at Boise & Mesa: 3-2, 3.12 ERA, 52 IP, 57 K, 6 BB)

 

What's the scouting report on Ebinger?

[ctcf]

I feel like all Burgess ever does is HR or get out.

 

EDIT: And after a quick glance at his stats I suppose that would be because all 3 of his hits so far have been HRs...

[TruffleShuffle]

home runs for flaherty, vitters and clevenger. raley got drilled. AA is a big step for him with his fringy stuff.

[StarlinOnYou]

Vitters & Jackson are getting me excited..

 

It would be really nice to add another big time bat in the draft this year to go along with those two.

[rawaction]

Who do you guy like better between LeMahieu and Flaherty? LeMahieu seems to be a better hitter, but has shown no power. Flaherty seems to have some pop, but also has problems making contact. How do they compare defensively? Both look to be tall and rangy, does DJ project to hit for any power eventually? And lastly, are either able to be ready to be ML 2B by next year? Sooner?

[TruffleShuffle]

i don't know who graham hicks is, but he's walked 6 and given up 3 hits in 4 innings, and has managed to give up only 1 earned run. he also has no strikeouts.

 

some guy named rosscup started for daytona and had 5 ip, 5 h, 2 r, 1 bb, 5 k.

[seanhopper]

<>

 

I believe Rosscup is the lower level minor league pitcher the Cubs got back as part of the Garza deal. I don't know what the scouts saw him in to ask for him back, but Hendry has done reasonably well with "throw ins" in the past.

[Little Slide Rooter]

I think Graham Hicks was from the Gorzalanny trade.

[ctcf]

Wow has Cerda really walked 4 times?

 

EDIT: 4/5 of Burgess' hits have now been for HRs. I think that boy has some power.

[TruffleShuffle]

Wow has Cerda really walked 4 times?

 

EDIT: 4/5 of Burgess' hits have now been for HRs. I think that boy has some power.

 

cerda is one of our few prospects who has a really good eye.

 

if burgess developed some plate discipline and was less fat he'd be a really interesting prospect. i guess it depends on whether he can play a decent corner OF without giving back too many runs.

[TruffleShuffle]

one note that i find interesting (and probably nobody else does) - the 1B for clearwater (daytona's opponent) is joe savery, who was a first round draft pick as a pitcher by the phillies and ended up being a bust. he's trying to make the rare transition from pitcher to position player. so far so good, as he's hitting .800 this year.

[davell]

Who do you guy like better between LeMahieu and Flaherty? LeMahieu seems to be a better hitter, but has shown no power. Flaherty seems to have some pop, but also has problems making contact. How do they compare defensively? Both look to be tall and rangy, does DJ project to hit for any power eventually? And lastly, are either able to be ready to be ML 2B by next year? Sooner?

 

I like LeMahieu quite a bit more than I do Flaherty at this stage. Other than power, I really don't see anything that Flaherty does better than LeMahieu does. And now that DJ has added some weight to his frame, I'm not even sure there's going to wind up being all that big of a difference there.

 

As far as either of them being ready to play 2B next year? In a perfect world, DJ doesn't grow out of the position, but I'm not sure that's going to be possible to control. I think Flaherty already HAS outgrown it, by the way, especially since the Cubs are already supposedly looking at him as a future utility guy. I think that IF DJ does outgrow 2B, they'll look at him as a 3B(even if he's blocked there). i just think it's kind of telling that the Cubs have already made Flaherty a utility guy anyway.

 

But, I'll say this: DJ's bat is probably going to be ready soon and early next year makes perfect sense to me, especially if he adds a little power.

[Outshined_One]

Who do you guy like better between LeMahieu and Flaherty? LeMahieu seems to be a better hitter, but has shown no power. Flaherty seems to have some pop, but also has problems making contact. How do they compare defensively? Both look to be tall and rangy, does DJ project to hit for any power eventually? And lastly, are either able to be ready to be ML 2B by next year? Sooner?

 

I like LeMahieu quite a bit more than I do Flaherty at this stage. Other than power, I really don't see anything that Flaherty does better than LeMahieu does. And now that DJ has added some weight to his frame, I'm not even sure there's going to wind up being all that big of a difference there.

 

As far as either of them being ready to play 2B next year? In a perfect world, DJ doesn't grow out of the position, but I'm not sure that's going to be possible to control. I think Flaherty already HAS outgrown it, by the way, especially since the Cubs are already supposedly looking at him as a future utility guy. I think that IF DJ does outgrow 2B, they'll look at him as a 3B(even if he's blocked there). i just think it's kind of telling that the Cubs have already made Flaherty a utility guy anyway.

 

But, I'll say this: DJ's bat is probably going to be ready soon and early next year makes perfect sense to me, especially if he adds a little power.

 

I know the guy hits for average and the primary concern about LeMahieu is his lack of power, but what's really starting to bother me about him is his sheer lack of patience at the plate. He hasn't drawn a walk yet this year. Last season, his IsoD was .032, which is pretty awful.

 

I'll give him credit; he doesn't strike out much. He employs an aggressive approach which results in a lot of balls put into play. So far, it's worked for him. He could potentially learn better plate discipline as he moves up.

 

However, I really have to wonder what will happen to his numbers when he reaches AAA and the majors. Maybe the batting average carries over, but if he's not hitting for much power and not walking when he reaches the majors, how good will he be?

[Outshined_One]

one note that i find interesting (and probably nobody else does) - the 1B for clearwater (daytona's opponent) is joe savery, who was a first round draft pick as a pitcher by the phillies and ended up being a bust. he's trying to make the rare transition from pitcher to position player. so far so good, as he's hitting .800 this year.

 

He received quite a bit of consideration as a 1B when he was drafted. The Phillies were smart to move him while he was still young enough to develop at the plate.

[Northside Blues]

DJ LeMahieu is 6'4" and probably doesn't weigh any more than 175 lbs. He's just 22 still and I don't know how many hitters who are 6'4" in the majors have 072 IsoP. My guess would border on zero. He's yet to fill out his rather large frame and once he does the power will come. He may develop it late, but he should have some when it's all said and done. Patience on the other hand is different.

[scarey]

DJ LeMahieu is 6'4" and probably doesn't weigh any more than 175 lbs. He's just 22 still and I don't know how many hitters who are 6'4" in the majors have 072 IsoP. My guess would border on zero. He's yet to fill out his rather large frame and once he does the power will come. He may develop it late, but he should have some when it's all said and done. Patience on the other hand is different.

 

He runs about 195 to 205 depending on who you ask after Camp Colvin this off season.

[Northside Blues]

Okay then well him bulking up over the last few months is certainly only going to make it more likely for him to develop some power in his game.

[KingCubsFan]

Who do you guy like better between LeMahieu and Flaherty? LeMahieu seems to be a better hitter, but has shown no power. Flaherty seems to have some pop, but also has problems making contact. How do they compare defensively? Both look to be tall and rangy, does DJ project to hit for any power eventually? And lastly, are either able to be ready to be ML 2B by next year? Sooner?

 

I like LeMahieu quite a bit more than I do Flaherty at this stage. Other than power, I really don't see anything that Flaherty does better than LeMahieu does. And now that DJ has added some weight to his frame, I'm not even sure there's going to wind up being all that big of a difference there.

 

As far as either of them being ready to play 2B next year? In a perfect world, DJ doesn't grow out of the position, but I'm not sure that's going to be possible to control. I think Flaherty already HAS outgrown it, by the way, especially since the Cubs are already supposedly looking at him as a future utility guy. I think that IF DJ does outgrow 2B, they'll look at him as a 3B(even if he's blocked there). i just think it's kind of telling that the Cubs have already made Flaherty a utility guy anyway.

 

But, I'll say this: DJ's bat is probably going to be ready soon and early next year makes perfect sense to me, especially if he adds a little power.

 

I know the guy hits for average and the primary concern about LeMahieu is his lack of power, but what's really starting to bother me about him is his sheer lack of patience at the plate. He hasn't drawn a walk yet this year. Last season, his IsoD was .032, which is pretty awful.

 

I'll give him credit; he doesn't strike out much. He employs an aggressive approach which results in a lot of balls put into play. So far, it's worked for him. He could potentially learn better plate discipline as he moves up.

 

However, I really have to wonder what will happen to his numbers when he reaches AAA and the majors. Maybe the batting average carries over, but if he's not hitting for much power and not walking when he reaches the majors, how good will he be?

As his power develops, pitchers will probably stop giving him so many pitches to hit, and hopefully that translates to a bit more walks.

[ddwyer]

For some reason it hit me today looking at the Tennessee box score ... does anyone in the minors start a taller double play combination with Flaherty at 6'5" and LeMahieu at 6'4"? I know this isn't their normal starting positions but I would think this is pretty rare.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Wow has Cerda really walked 4 times?

 

EDIT: 4/5 of Burgess' hits have now been for HRs. I think that boy has some power.

 

cerda is one of our few prospects who has a really good eye.

 

if burgess developed some plate discipline and was less fat he'd be a really interesting prospect. i guess it depends on whether he can play a decent corner OF without giving back too many runs.

 

Looking at his build, is there any chance he could be converted to one of the middle infield positons?

[scarey]

Okay then well him bulking up over the last few months is certainly only going to make it more likely for him to develop some power in his game.

 

I would say it's already had an effect. He had 31 extra base hits all of last year. He already has 4 through 5 games.

[Guest]

Wow has Cerda really walked 4 times?

 

EDIT: 4/5 of Burgess' hits have now been for HRs. I think that boy has some power.

 

cerda is one of our few prospects who has a really good eye.

 

if burgess developed some plate discipline and was less fat he'd be a really interesting prospect. i guess it depends on whether he can play a decent corner OF without giving back too many runs.

 

Looking at his build, is there any chance he could be converted to one of the middle infield positons?

 

I assume you are asking about Cerda. He does project as a 2B in the bigs (SS is out). His bat is never going to stick at 3B but it should be good at 2B and he should be ok defensively. His patience is impressive and he does have decent power which is nice considering his size. Sadly, Logan Watkins gets priority at 2B right now - probably in part because Cerda can play 3B and Watkins can't but also likely because the Cubs view Watkins as the better prospect, which I disagree with.

[rawaction]

Okay then well him bulking up over the last few months is certainly only going to make it more likely for him to develop some power in his game.

 

It's also going to make him less likely to be able to play ML 2nd base.