2011 Arizona Fall League

[Rob]

Vitters walk!!!

 

WOOOOOO

[ArizonaGM]

Went to the game was nice to see Gerit Cole make his proffesional debut. The kid throws hard. He was throwing 98-99 and hitting 100 a few times on the gun. Has a hard slider that bites hard. His delivery is very balanced and he uses his lower body well. Very repeatable delivery. Was cool to see him face another first overall pick in Beckham from TB. He got him out the first round but the second time around Beckham doubled hard into the gap and sent Cole packing to the showers. As for the Cubs, Lake played 3B today which is something I’d like to see more of. Hit got robbed in his first AB on a diving catch and hit a Home Run in his next at bat. He was overmatched badly in his next AB by Miguel De Los Santos of the Rangers. He had a nasty change up had Lake guessing and ended him with a high fastball at 91 that looked like 96. Lake grounded out sharply then struck out in the 9th.

Vitters hit the ball hard almost everytime up. He was DH’ing today. Did a great job in his first at bat turning on a 96MPH fastball inside. His bat looked real quick. Second AB he inside outed a ball diving in at him for another knock. He hit a rocket to SS that the guy made a good play on it. Vitters got another single in his next AB and in his final AB went the other way to the Gap for a double. Overall a solid dat at the plate for Vitters.

LeMahieu played 1st and singled up the middle in his first ab. Flew out to CF in his second walked and stole a base in his 3rd flew out his next AB then hit a bomb in th 9th to score teammate Vitters who had just doubled.

The hitters did well today but the pitching was a different story. Hatley came in to pitch was throwing 94-95 and blew his first hitter away on a 94, 95, 95 MPH Fastballs. His next hitter singled the other way on a fastball, then Beckham came up and smoked a ball to the gap. It seemed like he lost some composure from there. Threw a wild pitch and walked a guy, gave up a Sac fly and a single and seemed to lose velocity as he was trying to find the zone again. Got out of the inning on a running mistake after the last base hit. He came out the next inning and gave up a single the got a groundball to 3rd. He proceeded to hit the next batter on what looked like a slider that got away then gave up a Sac fly and was pulled. I’ve seen Hatley’s last two starts and these guys are wacking him around. He doesn’t have much of a 2 seam fastball and his ball is very straight. 94-95 isn’t enough to get away with straight fastballs unless you’re locating on the black. His secondary pitches don’t seem real tight and he looks like when he gets flustered he looses his release points and looses 3-4 MPH on his fastball while trying to find it again. Seems to be pretty quick to the plate for a Righty however.

Cashner came in throwing gas again. Blew away his first hitter then walked his next guy. That man Beckham again turned a pitch around and hit it for a triple He popped the next hitter out but gave up a single and a run before inducing another groundball.

Didn’t realize I wrote so much this time but saw a lot of good talent today and again was impressed by the 3 Cubbie hitters in the heart of the order.

[Guest]

Cashner hit 100 mph today.

 

3 Mesa Solar Sox have hit triple digits on the radar gun and 2 of them are Cubs: Andrew Cashner, Chris Carpenter and Gerrit Cole.

[toonsterwu]

Hatley's slider came and went this season. I don't know if it has enough quality and consistency to it as of now to get upper level guys out consistently.

 

That said, he is eligible for Rule 5, so a strong performance at some point could get a scout asking their GM to take a chance, unless the Cubs protect him.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Hatley's slider came and went this season. I don't know if it has enough quality and consistency to it as of now to get upper level guys out consistently.

 

That said, he is eligible for Rule 5, so a strong performance at some point could get a scout asking their GM to take a chance, unless the Cubs protect him.

 

Too many more important guys to protect: Vitters, Flaherty, Szczur, Clevenger, and Jackson, possibly Lake and Rhee although i cant see a team keeping either of them on their big league roster all season. If someone takes Hatley, I'm OK with it.

[ctcf]

Vitters batting .408 after going 4-5 today. Not bad.

[ArizonaGM]

Hatley's slider came and went this season. I don't know if it has enough quality and consistency to it as of now to get upper level guys out consistently.

 

That said, he is eligible for Rule 5, so a strong performance at some point could get a scout asking their GM to take a chance, unless the Cubs protect him.

 

Too many more important guys to protect: Vitters, Flaherty, Szczur, Clevenger, and Jackson, possibly Lake and Rhee although i cant see a team keeping either of them on their big league roster all season. If someone takes Hatley, I'm OK with it.

 

I don't think you need to protect Hatley either. He needs to find a consistent release point with his slider. He has some work to do. I can't see anyone picking him up in the Rule 5 but we'll see.

[toonsterwu]

Hatley's slider came and went this season. I don't know if it has enough quality and consistency to it as of now to get upper level guys out consistently.

 

That said, he is eligible for Rule 5, so a strong performance at some point could get a scout asking their GM to take a chance, unless the Cubs protect him.

 

Too many more important guys to protect: Vitters, Flaherty, Szczur, Clevenger, and Jackson, possibly Lake and Rhee although i cant see a team keeping either of them on their big league roster all season. If someone takes Hatley, I'm OK with it.

 

Hatley's fairly down the list of guys that are more important to me, but there's always been a general feeling that the Cubs organization held him in higher esteem than his production/ability, so that to me, particularly considering he did get an AFL slot (granted, Muyco got a slot last year, but Hatley has far more potential than Muyco), makes him a guy to watch when it comes to Rule 5.

[Guest]

10/14: Mesa lost 16-8 Box Score

 

3B J. Lake 1/5, R, HR (2), RBI, 2 K

DH J. Vitters 4/5, 2 R, 2B (3)

1B DJ LeMahieu 2/4, 2 R, HR (1), 2 RBI, BB, SB (3)

RP M. Hatley 1.2 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HBP, WP, 1-2 GO-FO, 34-21 pitches-strikes

RP A. Cashner 1 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 1-0 GO-FO, 17-8 pitches-strikes

[Rob]

Wow, I did not realize they've got Gameday working for AFL games. Crazy.

 

Anyway, LeMahieu and Lake have got a multi-hit game already and have a couple swipes each. Lake is actually leading the league in steals as of this moment.

[ArizonaGM]

Wow, I did not realize they've got Gameday working for AFL games. Crazy.

 

Anyway, LeMahieu and Lake have got a multi-hit game already and have a couple swipes each. Lake is actually leading the league in steals as of this moment.

 

Also the Futures Game on NOV 5th and the Championship game (which I doubt we will be apart of) on the 19th will be shown live on MLB Network.

[Rob]

Look at me! I'm Raisin!

 

10/15: Mesa wins 14-3 Box Score

 

SS J. Lake 3/5, 3 R, HR (3), 4 RBI, K, SB (7)

3B DJ LeMahieu 3/5, R, 2 RBI, K, 2 SB (5)

RP C Carpenter 1.2 IP, H, 0 BB, 5 K

 

Great day in Arizona. Lake's batting average is up to .333 and his OPS is up to 1.039, while leading the league with 7 SB.

[Guest]

holy isht on Carpenter's day.

 

Rob, you and I are Lake's biggest defenders. Gotta love what he's doing down there.

[ctcf]

holy isht on Carpenter's day.

 

Rob, you and I are Lake's biggest defenders. Gotta love what he's doing down there.

 

Lake's certainly caught my attention.

[Guest]

Look at me! I'm Raisin!

 

10/15: Mesa wins 14-3 Box Score

 

SS J. Lake 3/5, 3 R, HR (3), 4 RBI, K, SB (7)

3B DJ LeMahieu 3/5, R, 2 RBI, K, 2 SB (5)

RP C Carpenter 1.2 IP, H, 0 BB, 5 K

 

Great day in Arizona. Lake's batting average is up to .333 and his OPS is up to 1.039, while leading the league with 7 SB.

 

Before you get the job, I need to check your references.

[Vinestal]

is speed a component of Lakes game or does everyone run in that league?

[Guest]

is speed a component of Lakes game or does everyone run in that league?

 

Lake is relatively fast and an efficient base runner. He was 38/44 during the regular season.

 

On the flip side, while he's hitting well, he's sporting a 10/2 K/BB ratio in 36 AFL at bats.

[ArizonaGM]

is speed a component of Lakes game or does everyone run in that league?

 

Lake is relatively fast and an efficient base runner. He was 38/44 during the regular season.

 

On the flip side, while he's hitting well, he's sporting a 10/2 K/BB ratio in 36 AFL at bats.

 

Bothersome considering some of those walks will end up turning into doubles. I've been quite impress with what i've seen thus far. He's an intriguing player with some nice tools.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

is speed a component of Lakes game or does everyone run in that league?

 

Lake is relatively fast and an efficient base runner. He was 38/44 during the regular season.

 

On the flip side, while he's hitting well, he's sporting a 10/2 K/BB ratio in 36 AFL at bats.

 

Bothersome considering some of those walks will end up turning into doubles. I've been quite impress with what i've seen thus far. He's an intriguing player with some nice tools.

 

And with is aptitude in baserunning this year, the dominant of High A, the not falling apart int he AFL, and the signs of power he's shown this year we're seeing that he's someone who is showing legit developing skills. Not anyone's favorite prospect, not someone who's going to become that dream .300/.400/.500 player with a good K:BB and a position he owns from Day 1, but definitely a good upside guy. I feel like in a different/more hyped system we'd hear more about someone like Lake...He's got some Soriano in his game, though he doesn't have young Soriano's wrists to generate bat speed that generated Soriano's formerly really impressive power.

 

I'm glad to hear that most of the Cubs prospects seem to be doing alright for themselves out there...Vitters 2012.

[Rob]

holy isht on Carpenter's day.

 

Rob, you and I are Lake's biggest defenders. Gotta love what he's doing down there.

 

We should definitely have t-shirts made. We just need a catchy slogan.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

holy isht on Carpenter's day.

 

Rob, you and I are Lake's biggest defenders. Gotta love what he's doing down there.

 

We should definitely have t-shirts made. We just need a catchy slogan.

 

Tss. Root fa Lake or jump in a river or ocean or somethin.

[TruffleShuffle]

holy isht on Carpenter's day.

 

Rob, you and I are Lake's biggest defenders. Gotta love what he's doing down there.

 

We should definitely have t-shirts made. We just need a catchy slogan.

 

Tss. Root fa Lake or jump in a river or ocean or somethin.

 

boy with comedy like this i am just stunned that you don't get community and parks and rec.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

holy isht on Carpenter's day.

 

Rob, you and I are Lake's biggest defenders. Gotta love what he's doing down there.

 

We should definitely have t-shirts made. We just need a catchy slogan.

 

Tss. Root fa Lake or jump in a river or ocean or somethin.

 

boy with comedy like this i am just stunned that you don't get community and parks and rec.

 

No one cares about your stupid TV show brochachmigo. Sorry I dishonored it. Get over it. It's not going to make the show any better.

 

The joke is a reference to a great character named Chip Chipperson:

[Rob]

Lake had another nice day. Doubled in a couple runs, drew a walk, stole a base. A strikeout and and two other outs, but still... not a bad day.

[Guest]

11/17:

 

Mesa won 7-1 Box Score

 

DH J. Lake 1/4, 2B (3), 2 RBI, BB, K, SB (8)

3B DJ LeMahieu 0/4, R, BB