Minor League Discussion & Boxes 5-14-12

[Outshined_One]

Box Scores

 

Iowa won 3-1 Box Score

 

CF B. Jackson 1/4, K, 2 SB (7)

1B A. Rizzo 1/4, R, RBI, HR (12), K

3B J. Vitters 0/4

RF D. Sappelt 0/4

SP R. Lopez 5 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 6-3 GO-FO

RP J. Jackson 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K, 1-0 GO-FO

 

Tennessee won Game 1 of their DH 15-4 Box Score

 

3B J. Lake 2/2, 3 BB, 4 R, RBI, 2B (2), HR (1), 2 E (5, fielding, missed catch)

SS L. Watkins 2/3, 2 BB, 4 R, 4 RBI, 2B (3), HR (3)

CF JH Ha 3/5, 3 R, RBI, 2B (11)

SP T. McNutt 5 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 2 HR, 6-4 GO-FO

 

Tennessee lost Game 2 of their DH 3-1 Box Score

 

3B J. Lake 1/4, K, CS (4)

2B L. Watkins 0/4, 2 K

CF JH Ha 1/3, 2B (12)

DH M. Cerda 1/3, K

SP D. Beeler 7 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 2 HR, 13-4 GO-FO

 

Daytona won 2-1 Box Score

 

SS A. Alcantara 1/4, R, 2 SB (10)

2B R. Torreyes 0/3, BB, R, K

RF R. Silva 0/4

CF J. Andreoli 0/4, 2 K, Assist (2B)

SP A. Kirk 7 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 5-6 GO-FO

RP AJ Morris 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1-1 GO-FO

RP T. Zych 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1-0 GO-FO

 

Peoria won 2-1 Box Score

 

2B Z. DeVoss 1/2, BB, SB (7), E (7, fielding)

CF T. Easterling 0/2, BB, RBI, 2 K

RF O. Zapata 1/3

SS M. Hernandez 0/3, K

LF PC Chen 1/3, R

SP K. Burke 6 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 7-4 GO-FO

RP A. Reed 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 3 K, 1-0 GO-FO

RP YL Wang 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 1-0 GO-FO

 

OVERALL: 4-1

[Guest]

Probable Starters

 

Iowa: RHP Rodrigo Lopez (2.00 ERA, 3.23 FIP, 9 IP, 8 K, 4 BB)

Tennessee (game one): RHP Trey McNutt (2.66 ERA, 4.38 FIP, 20.1 IP, 15 K, 10 BB)

Tennessee (game two): RHP Dallas Beeler (3.89 ERA, 3.32 FIP, 37 IP, 16 K, 8 BB)

Daytona: LHP Austin Kirk (1.83 ERA, 3.20 FIP, 44.1 IP, 22 K, 9 BB)

Peoria: LHP Kyler Burke (2.41 ERA, 2.92 FIP, 33.2 IP, 24 K, 7 BB)

[KingCubsFan]

If Burke has another good start, I'd like to see him moved up. Given his age and (likely) innings limit this year, I think it would be good to see how far up the ladder he can go and sustain success.

[SouthSideRyan]

Why does it feel like Rodrigo Lopez starts every other game?

[Guest]

Why does it feel like Rodrigo Lopez starts every other game?

 

I feel the same way about Camp coming out of the bullpen.

[BeerHere]

Does anyone have the prospect report on Rusin? I know he was a 4th round selection in 2009 but beyond that the only information that I have makes him seem like another finesse lefty - good control of a couple pitches, K's a little under 6 per 9 and doesn't issue a lot of walks.

 

Does anyone know what he throws and the velocity on the FB?

[UK1679666180]

Does anyone have the prospect report on Rusin? I know he was a 4th round selection in 2009 but beyond that the only information that I have makes him seem like another finesse lefty - good control of a couple pitches, K's a little under 6 per 9 and doesn't issue a lot of walks.

 

Does anyone know what he throws and the velocity on the FB?

 

86-90-FB

Curve

Change-up

 

Chanegup is his best pitch, very good command/control.

[davell]

If I remember correctly, his only potential plus pitch was his curve. I don't think he even tops out at 90. He was a senior sign by us, and only got a 40,000 bonus. Meaning we probably overdrafted him to spend a little more elsewhere. Very polished, but definitely a finesse guy. I think everyone thought he'd move very quickly, but would stall out in AAA. Maybe his control is good enough to get him a job in a pen at this point though.

[UK1679666180]

If I remember correctly, his only potential plus pitch was his curve. I don't think he even tops out at 90. He was a senior sign by us, and only got a 40,000 bonus. Meaning we probably overdrafted him to spend a little more elsewhere. Very polished, but definitely a finesse guy. I think everyone thought he'd move very quickly, but would stall out in AAA. Maybe his control is good enough to get him a job in a pen at this point though.

 

His curve and change both have the potential to be plus pitches.

[Little Slide Rooter]

If I remember correctly, his only potential plus pitch was his curve. I don't think he even tops out at 90. He was a senior sign by us, and only got a 40,000 bonus. Meaning we probably overdrafted him to spend a little more elsewhere. Very polished, but definitely a finesse guy. I think everyone thought he'd move very quickly, but would stall out in AAA. Maybe his control is good enough to get him a job in a pen at this point though.

 

His curve and change both have the potential to be plus pitches.

 

It would be niceto be able to put the back end of our rotation from within and just sign a front end guy to go with Garza and Shark. Rusin and Wood seem like they could be it for next year with McNutt, Beeler, Struck, and Rhee as options futher down the road.

[toonsterwu]

If Burke has another good start, I'd like to see him moved up. Given his age and (likely) innings limit this year, I think it would be good to see how far up the ladder he can go and sustain success.

 

I'd like to see Burke up first, but if there's a pecking order, I think Francescon should go first. He's carried a full-load longer, and is older.

[UK1679666180]

If I remember correctly, his only potential plus pitch was his curve. I don't think he even tops out at 90. He was a senior sign by us, and only got a 40,000 bonus. Meaning we probably overdrafted him to spend a little more elsewhere. Very polished, but definitely a finesse guy. I think everyone thought he'd move very quickly, but would stall out in AAA. Maybe his control is good enough to get him a job in a pen at this point though.

 

His curve and change both have the potential to be plus pitches.

 

It would be niceto be able to put the back end of our rotation from within and just sign a front end guy to go with Garza and Shark. Rusin and Wood seem like they could be it for next year with McNutt, Beeler, Struck, and Rhee as options futher down the road.

 

They will, while Maholm has worked well so far, they're likely hoping one or two can fill the back end of the rotation.

 

My hope for Rusin is that he becomes a poor man's Ted Lilly.

[PriortoTheoIhadWood]

Dallas Beeler needs more K's. Hell, all those pitchers need more K's.

 

Rusin is pretty smooth so I have some hope for him as a 5th starter. I think you can throw him in the pool of arms next year who might get some starts in the 5 spot.

[davell]

I think our rotation next year is Garza/Shark/Maholm/Wood and a TOR guy added thru FA or trade.

[craig]

If I remember correctly, his only potential plus pitch was his curve. I don't think he even tops out at 90. He was a senior sign by us, and only got a 40,000 bonus. Meaning we probably overdrafted him to spend a little more elsewhere. Very polished, but definitely a finesse guy. I think everyone thought he'd move very quickly, but would stall out in AAA. Maybe his control is good enough to get him a job in a pen at this point though.

 

His curve and change both have the potential to be plus pitches.

 

I thought I'd read some report that his 2-seamer has some decent sink? Not really?

 

Most outs are made with movement, not velocity. If a guy can command both curve and change, he's got a chance. In my naive experience, though, nobody commands everything all the time, and then you get slaughtered when you're not on your game. (I think this has been something of Rusin's history; he pitches quite a few good games, but when he's bad he's really bad.)

 

I always worry some about the "Micah Bowie" factor, too. Some of you will remember Bowie, lefty curveballer with good minor-league numbers. And in minors he got to enough 2-strike counts to score K's. But in the majors, he was scared to throw his fastball over the plate, and the hitters would just lay off his curveball, which didn't all that often actually go for strikes. So he was pitching 2-0, 3-1 all the time so they had no reason to suck for his curveballs. Rusin has somehow never walked a lot of guys. So either his offspeed stuff must have pretty good "get me over" ability, or else whatever his velocity lacks, he's still able to throw it for strikes.

 

He's hot right now, so I'm interested. But good chance he'll have a big-league career, but as a lefty reliever. His Loogy splits this year are pretty striking.

[Little Slide Rooter]

I think our rotation next year is Garza/Shark/Maholm/Wood and a TOR guy added thru FA or trade.

 

Sounds about right. However, as I've said before I wouldn't be opposed to re-upping Dempster on a team friendly deal and trading Maholm and/or Wood. If we trade one, the other is the 5th starter. If both, someone like Rusin, Coleman, or Volstad is the 5th.

[davell]

Watkins with his 3rd homer, lake with his 6th walk in 7 games. These are both excellent developments obviously.

[PriortoTheoIhadWood]

I think our rotation next year is Garza/Shark/Maholm/Wood and a TOR guy added thru FA or trade.

 

In dreaming of:

 

Hamels

Garza

Dempster/Shark

Shark/Maholm

Wood/Fodder that somehow doesn't F it up and gives innings

[PriortoTheoIhadWood]

Watkins with his 3rd homer, lake with his 6th walk in 7 games. These are both excellent developments obviously.

 

I like Junior Lake a lot actually relative to other guys in the system. He's got some young Soriano in him with the power/speed/K's thing and patience from him is some good stuff. Maybe he can hit a breaking ball better than Soriano one day as well, but he's definitely a mist watch guy in the system this year. A good year would really help legitimatize him.

[abohnhoff]

And now a HR from Lake leading off the inning, hes also playing 3b today.

 

McNutt with 4 strikeouts through 3.

 

Found a link to listen online:

 

http://media4.aicmail.net:8080/MiLB/GameAudio/LiveStreamFlash/sou_tennessee_smokies

[Guest]

McNutt: 4 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 53 pitches

[PriortoTheoIhadWood]

McNutt: 4 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 53 pitches

 

More of this please...May seems to be doing alright for the system.

[iowahawkeyes89]

Another walk for Lake

 

His improved plate discipline is huge for a couple reasons.

 

1. Higher OBP (duh)

2. Will lead to better pitches to hit which could really tap into that raw power.

 

Its still early, but Lake would certainly be a legitimate prospect if these things happen

[jersey cubs fan]

Was Lake injured? Why does he only have 27 PA so far this year?

 

well, google answered my question. I was excited to see a 994 OPS for the season at AA then bummed to see it's just been a brief display so far.

Edited May 14, 2012 by jersey cubs fan

[jersey cubs fan]

everbody on tenn is hitting right now, it's 11-1 in the 4th.