2011 Fall Instructs

[Guest]

Yesterday at Instructs: http://www.thecubreporter.com/2011/10/05/cub-bats-mostly-silent-talking-stick

 

The most interesting stuff came in the comments. Toonster already posted Arizona Phil's response regarding Marco Hernandez, but there's more in the comments:

 

As for his HR power potential versus Candelario, both drive the ball hitting LH and punch the ball RH. While both show loft-power LH, Candelario has a bigger frame and should be able to eventually become a significant HR hitter from the left-side.

 

As I mentioned last week, Candelario hasn't shown the plate discipline or patience I expected after seeing his walk total from the DSL. He has been more of a hacker so far, but while I can't say this for sure, I suspect it has to do with the Cubs probably viewing Candelario as a future middle-of-the-order guy and wanting him to be more aggressive hitting strikes, and he hasn't quite figured out what that means, so he just swings at everyting. (BTW, the guy who is REALLY patient is Garrett Schlecht).

 

Carlos Penalver is a flashy SS with enough arm to play there (a "true" SS), but he has been playing more (or as much) 2B & 3B as SS at Instructs because Javier Baez ALWAYS plays SS when he is in the lineup (and is not the DH). And Danny Lockhart is a very good defensive SS, too. But Penalver looks just so much more comfortable at SS than at either 2B or 3B. He looks like he's got that Venezuelan Aparicio-Concepcion-Guillen thing going where "I just want to play SS and don't ask me to play anywhere else."

 

Regarding Dunston:

 

Dunston had his best game offensively in his first pro game and he has struggled since. He is in a slump right now, and has been really showing his frustration both verbally and with his actions.

 

He is a more-patient hitter than his dad, but he runs the bases very aggressively.

 

His defense in CF is VERY good. He has plus-range and takes good routes, and he has a strong arm.

 

He appears to have been well-coached in the fundamentals of baseball.

[Guest]

Today at Instructs: http://www.thecubreporter.com/2011/10/06/geiger-blast-cant-counter-pitchers-wild-ride-through-fitch-park

 

Golden and Candelario hit back-to-back doubles and Geiger hit a monster home run. Matt Spencer and Amaury Paulino struggled massively.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

Regarding Dunston:

 

Dunston had his best game offensively in his first pro game and he has struggled since. He is in a slump right now, and has been really showing his frustration both verbally and with his actions.

 

He is a more-patient hitter than his dad, but he runs the bases very aggressively.

 

His defense in CF is VERY good. He has plus-range and takes good routes, and he has a strong arm.

 

He appears to have been well-coached in the fundamentals of baseball.

 

Besides for the negative reaction and slump, the other Dunston notes sound like what I expected. Same for Schlect as far as the note on his patience. I heard negative things on Dunston's hit tool (probably here), which was disappointing. Still, I think there's a whole lot to like about a 2nd generation player who turned down Vanderbilt.

[Guest]

http://www.thecubreporter.com/2011/10/07/its-burkes-law

 

Burke with 3 no-hit innings.

 

And with a triple and a single today, 17-year old switch-hitting 3B Jeimer Candelario is now hitting a robust 333/379/518.

[CUBZ99]

That is an impressive line by Burke. Does he have to be protected this year or is it pretty much assumed that he will not be taken by another team?

 

For some reason I thought that Candelario played SS, but still good to see him doing so well. Phil notes as well, that even though Vogelbach's avg. is fairly low so far that his OBP is .400+. That is nice to see for a change. Hopefully Wilken has had a change in draft philosophy and we will see more Golden, Vogelbach types in the future. It will definitely be fun to watch the minors next year.

[toonsterwu]

I'm pretty sure Kyler doesn't have to be protected until after the 2012 season. Going to be interesting what decision they make with him. Sure feels like he could get a rotation nod at perhaps Daytona, giving them some flexibility on what to do with him and a better understanding of where his capabilities are.

 

You might be thinking of Penalver. Candelario and Penalver were our big 2. Penalver could be to Marco Hernandez what Hak-ju Lee was to Starlin Castro, the slicker fielding shortstop who might not have the offensive tools of the other guy. At least, here's hoping. Exciting to have so much up the middle talent, even if it is in the lower levels, considering all that we've lost up-the-middle in recent years, due to graduations, trades, and physical growth.

[Guest]

Lots of good pitching today in Instructs: http://www.thecubreporter.com/2011/10/08/cubs-clip-angel-wings-fitch-park

[JeffH]

Unless protected, Burke is eligible for this winter's Rule 5 draft.

[Guest]

Yesterday at Instructs: http://www.thecubreporter.com/2011/10/10/giants-are-mean-cub-teenagers

 

LHP Christopher Pieters (signed as a 16-year old out of Curacao during the 2011 International Signing Period for a reported $350K) got the start for the Cubs, and could not throw strikes (33 pitches – only 11 strikes), allowing three runs on three walks and two hits (a single and a double) in the 1st inning.

 

RHP Alexander Santana (signed as a 16-year old out of the Dominican Republic in 2010) wasn’t any better in the 2nd inning, allowing four runs (three earned) on three hits (two singles and a double) and two walks while throwing 34 pitches (only 16 strikes).

 

The Cubs are missing a number of players who started the AZIL schedule on the Active List, as 2011 1st round draft pick SS Javier Baez, 1B Rock Shoulders, OF Taiwan Easterling, 3B-1B Dustin Geiger, and C Rafael Lopez are out of action.

 

Easterling, Geiger, and Lopez suffered injuries (either groin, quad, hamstring, or calf) while running the bases and/or sliding last week, Shoulder suffered a torn meniscus in a base-running drill two days prior to AZIL Opening Day, and Baez has been shut-down with a sore arm for more than a week (exact nature and extent of his injury is unknown at this time).

[BeerHere]

Yesterday at Instructs: http://www.thecubreporter.com/2011/10/10/giants-are-mean-cub-teenagers

 

LHP Christopher Pieters (signed as a 16-year old out of Curacao during the 2011 International Signing Period for a reported $350K) got the start for the Cubs, and could not throw strikes (33 pitches – only 11 strikes), allowing three runs on three walks and two hits (a single and a double) in the 1st inning.

 

RHP Alexander Santana (signed as a 16-year old out of the Dominican Republic in 2010) wasn’t any better in the 2nd inning, allowing four runs (three earned) on three hits (two singles and a double) and two walks while throwing 34 pitches (only 16 strikes).

 

The Cubs are missing a number of players who started the AZIL schedule on the Active List, as 2011 1st round draft pick SS Javier Baez, 1B Rock Shoulders, OF Taiwan Easterling, 3B-1B Dustin Geiger, and C Rafael Lopez are out of action.

 

Easterling, Geiger, and Lopez suffered injuries (either groin, quad, hamstring, or calf) while running the bases and/or sliding last week, Shoulder suffered a torn meniscus in a base-running drill two days prior to AZIL Opening Day, and Baez has been shut-down with a sore arm for more than a week (exact nature and extent of his injury is unknown at this time).

 

ugh

[Guest]

BA's Conor Glassey is at Instructs:

 

@conorglassey: About to watch #Cubs and #Giants instructs game. Highlight of my morning so far was watching Dan Vogelbach hit a 400 foot HR in BP.

 

@conorglassey: #Cubs RHP Dillon Maples 90-92. Delivery still stiff. Below-average control. 75-78 mph CB inconsistent. No CH. #instructs

 

Keith Law is there too:

 

@keithlaw: Cubs RHP Dillon Maples 89-92 today in instructs with poor command.

 

I'll post updates as they tweet them.

[davell]

I'm assuming there is a good bit of rust contributing to Maples very low velo at this point?

[seanhopper]

BA's Conor Glassey is at Instructs:

 

@conorglassey: About to watch #Cubs and #Giants instructs game. Highlight of my morning so far was watching Dan Vogelbach hit a 400 foot HR in BP.

 

@conorglassey: #Cubs RHP Dillon Maples 90-92. Delivery still stiff. Below-average control. 75-78 mph CB inconsistent. No CH. #instructs

 

I'll post updates as he tweets them.

 

Keith Law added this twitter - Cubs RHP Dillon Maples 89-92 today in instructs with poor command.

I don't know if he saw him in person or if he's just reporting what others were.

[Guest]

I'm assuming there is a good bit of rust contributing to Maples very low velo at this point?

 

I imagine so. The poor control could be linked to rust too but that (and the mechanics) are bigger concerns for me.

[Guest]

BA's Conor Glassey is at Instructs:

 

@conorglassey: About to watch #Cubs and #Giants instructs game. Highlight of my morning so far was watching Dan Vogelbach hit a 400 foot HR in BP.

 

@conorglassey: #Cubs RHP Dillon Maples 90-92. Delivery still stiff. Below-average control. 75-78 mph CB inconsistent. No CH. #instructs

 

I'll post updates as he tweets them.

 

Keith Law added this twitter - Cubs RHP Dillon Maples 89-92 today in instructs with poor command.

I don't know if he saw him in person or if he's just reporting what others were.

 

I'm sure he's there too. He lives in the Phoenix area and has been to various Instructs and AFL games the past week.

[ArizonaGM]

BA's Conor Glassey is at Instructs:

 

@conorglassey: About to watch #Cubs and #Giants instructs game. Highlight of my morning so far was watching Dan Vogelbach hit a 400 foot HR in BP.

 

I'll post updates as they tweet them.

 

Took at look at BP before I headed over to watch the AZFL and one of the balls that Vogelbach hit went at LEAST 400feet. He looks like freaking Babe Ruth up there sometimes.

 

AZGM

[Guest]

The Cub Reporter[/url]"]RHP Dillon Maples (Cubs 2011 14th round draft pick - $2.5M bonus) made his second Instructs appearance, throwing two shutout innings (28 pitches - 15 strikes). He allowed a single and a double, and he hit a batter (and almost hit two more). He was behind on almost every hitter, and the outs he did get were mainly ground balls on low-90's two-seamers (and he did not rack up any strike outs). He also benefitted from a CS. But at least he looked better than he did in his pro debut last week, when he walked three and couldn't retire the side before reaching his pitch limit.

 

Zac Rosscup started and had a good line. Amaury Paulino had a good outing too.

[toonsterwu]

Rosscup was having a solid season before he got hurt. I wonder what the Cubs will do with him next year. If they keep him as a starter, there are several lefty arms that could be in the mix at Daytona in Kirk, Harman, Del Valle, Rosscup, Burke. Certainly possible that Harman/Rosscup could be in AA, but that would probably be in the pen. Rosscup looked promising enough that I'd rather see him be given some leeway, but with several guys of similar skills in the same range, it'll be interesting to see what decision a new front office makes on small decisions like this.

[Vinestal]

I'm guessing they are in the process of retooling Maples mechanics? I thought I remembered it being said they were kind of awkward or something to that effect. I'm sure that'll alter his control/velocity somewhat till he's comfortable. This may have been mentioned already here I cant remember.

[Guest]

http://www.thecubreporter.com/2011/10/12/spoon-hair-and-grichuk-spell-doom-cubs

 

Del Valle and Zych continue to dominate but most of the rest of the team struggled. Vogelbach was strong at the plate.

[toonsterwu]

I'm guessing they are in the process of retooling Maples mechanics? I thought I remembered it being said they were kind of awkward or something to that effect. I'm sure that'll alter his control/velocity somewhat till he's comfortable. This may have been mentioned already here I cant remember.

 

That's the assumption. Although they may simply want to get him acclimated to pro ball.

 

The clips I've seen of Maples, his delivery reminds me a bit of Nick Struck, and to an extent, Tommy Hanson. There's a little, hitch/pullback/dragback, for lack of a better term at this hour, causing extra-motion usage. From what I understand, guys with this type of motion can pitch, but they are at risk of injury, and it impacts their command to a certain extent.

 

That said, there's got to be someone more knowledgeable on mechanics than me, so maybe someone could offer some insight on the risks associated with this type of arm action.

 

My general opinion is that I'd rather see them attack the issue now, even if it means delaying his progress up the system. The higher up one gets, the harder it is to adjust and change things, as there's a higher burden on productivity. If It means Maples is in XST/Arizona all year, I'm not against it.

[toonsterwu]

Part of me does wonder what Tarlandus Mitchell keeps showing them to keep him around. I guess it's the velocity, but many guys have failed to get as many seasons as he has without advancing.

[toonsterwu]

Asked AzPhil some questions, and he kindly provided some answers:

 

AzPhil

 

Couple questions, if you have the time.

 

Trey Martin - He's been noted as the sleeper in this class by many outlets. Does he look natural in CF? How does he look at the plate?

 

Jose Rosario - Love the velocity, but is there better consistency on the secondary pitches? Granted, 1-2 inning outings don't tell much.

 

Dillon Maples - The clips I've seen of him, his arm action reminds me a bit of the issues with Nick Struck. Is that a fair comparison (if you remember Struck's mechanics that is)? What's your overall take on the level of concern we should have with his mechanics?

 

====================================

 

TOONSTER: Trey Martin is a younger version of Evan Crawford, a tall, lanky long-strider with a slashing style of hitting and no HR power. He looks OK in all three OF positions. He has plenty of range and a strong arm.

 

Jose Rosario has no decent secondary pitches at this time. Breaking ball and change-up are works-in-progress. His future is probably in the bullpen.

 

Nick Struck is probably a good comp for Dillon Maples as far as motion/mechanics.

 

BTW, I don't think the Maples delivery is being reconstructed or reworked or revamped. If it is, why would you spend $2.5M on a pitcher whose delivery is out of whack like that?

 

To me, he just looks rusty and/or a bit out of sync. He was the last pitcher at Instructs to be deemed game-ready, but clearly he is not.

 

I keep on wondering why numerous places have suggested Trey Martin is a good sleeper. If he's a slashing type of minimal power guy, he's really going to need an elite hit tool. AzPhil's wording, and I may be reading too much into it, seems to suggest that Martin is going to need to rework his swing to develop some power. Physically, he would seem to have the potential to add it, but we'll have to wait and see.

 

I'm a bit bothered that AzPhil seems to think that we aren't working on Maples mechanics. Granted, it seems like speculation on his part, and it is also possible that they might simply want him to get his feet wet in pro ball before pondering changes. That said, they did aggressively push someone with similar mechanical concerns in Struck.

 

Edit: In a follow-up, AzPhil cleared things up a bit and his speculation is that they aren't working on it now as there simply isn't enough time to get Maples enough reps.

Edited October 13, 2011 by toonsterwu

[KingCubsFan]

Asked AzPhil some questions, and he kindly provided some answers:

 

AzPhil

 

Couple questions, if you have the time.

 

Trey Martin - He's been noted as the sleeper in this class by many outlets. Does he look natural in CF? How does he look at the plate?

 

Jose Rosario - Love the velocity, but is there better consistency on the secondary pitches? Granted, 1-2 inning outings don't tell much.

 

Dillon Maples - The clips I've seen of him, his arm action reminds me a bit of the issues with Nick Struck. Is that a fair comparison (if you remember Struck's mechanics that is)? What's your overall take on the level of concern we should have with his mechanics?

 

====================================

 

TOONSTER: Trey Martin is a younger version of Evan Crawford, a tall, lanky long-strider with a slashing style of hitting and no HR power. He looks OK in all three OF positions. He has plenty of range and a strong arm.

 

Jose Rosario has no decent secondary pitches at this time. Breaking ball and change-up are works-in-progress. His future is probably in the bullpen.

 

Nick Struck is probably a good comp for Dillon Maples as far as motion/mechanics.

 

BTW, I don't think the Maples delivery is being reconstructed or reworked or revamped. If it is, why would you spend $2.5M on a pitcher whose delivery is out of whack like that?

 

To me, he just looks rusty and/or a bit out of sync. He was the last pitcher at Instructs to be deemed game-ready, but clearly he is not.

 

I keep on wondering why numerous places have suggested Trey Martin is a good sleeper. If he's a slashing type of minimal power guy, he's really going to need an elite hit tool. AzPhil's wording, and I may be reading too much into it, seems to suggest that Martin is going to need to rework his swing to develop some power. Physically, he would seem to have the potential to add it, but we'll have to wait and see.

 

I'm a bit bothered that AzPhil seems to think that we aren't working on Maples mechanics. Granted, it seems like speculation on his part, and it is also possible that they might simply want him to get his feet wet in pro ball before pondering changes. That said, they did aggressively push someone with similar mechanical concerns in Struck.

Didn't Epstein say something about how the Red Sox have been focusing on pitcher health? If that's the case, I'd have to think Maples would be the first candidate to have his mechanics changed if they're as bad as everyone says they are.

[Vinestal]

Iv'e been super impressed with Vogelbach's eye at the plate. What's his OBP up to now I wonder. Its a great sign when a power guy like that can take walks at the clip he's been doing it.