Minor League Discussion & Boxes 5-21-12

[toonsterwu]

I like Ha as well. Last year he always seemed to make a play when reading Timmers' wraps on BCB. He can play all three OF spots, he makes contact, he's hitting doubles, and he's young.

 

I do wonder what his ultimate ceiling is. 4th OFer?

 

I mean ... if things really pan out for Ha, he's a potential stud CF, a top defensive guy who shows power, hits for average, and doesn't strike out a ton. That's his "ceiling".

[toonsterwu]

Torreyes' May BABIP is .044 (was .254 in April)...never really seen anything quite like that

 

also i just stumbled upon this, which is pretty amazingly convenient

http://firstinning.com/daily/chc

 

For me, the issue is what type of contact/swings Torreyes is making. Someone posted the other day that Goldstein, or someone else?, said that he was making weak contact. Not sure how to phrase it, but is he getting over-matched at the plate because of ability, or because of something else (say, not reading breaking balls.

 

.158/.224/.217 doesn't usually have any positive spins to it ... there's enough (lack of K's, BABIP) for some positive spin here.

[toonsterwu]

Francescon to Daytona, per Goldstein.

 

Good. I assume Ben Wells takes the vacant spot in Peoria's rotation.

 

About time ... I imagine Burke or Jensen have next man up rights ...

 

Wonder who is next guy up from XST - Peralta or Cruz would be the guess if they wanted a possible starter.

 

As a side note, wonder who gets bumped from Daytona? Francescon has to be going there to be starting .... I assume. Jokisch/Kirk/Del Valle/Loosen haven't really done anything to get bumped, but Cates is the higher upside arm there who was the top pick of McLeod's.

Edited May 21, 2012 by toonsterwu

[Guest]

Francescon to Daytona, per Goldstein.

 

Good. I assume Ben Wells takes the vacant spot in Peoria's rotation.

 

About time ... I imagine Burke or Jensen have next man up rights ...

 

Wonder who is next guy up from XST - Peralta or Cruz would be the guess if they wanted a possible starter.

 

I'd rather see Peralta up.

 

I have no problem with Jensen spending half the season at Peoria since it's his first pro season. I'd like to see Burke bumped up very soon.

[toonsterwu]

Francescon to Daytona, per Goldstein.

 

Good. I assume Ben Wells takes the vacant spot in Peoria's rotation.

 

About time ... I imagine Burke or Jensen have next man up rights ...

 

Wonder who is next guy up from XST - Peralta or Cruz would be the guess if they wanted a possible starter.

 

I'd rather see Peralta up.

 

I have no problem with Jensen spending half the season at Peoria since it's his first pro season. I'd like to see Burke bumped up very soon.

 

Edited my above post to add this thought, but might as well reply it as well - wonder who gets bumped from Daytona's rotation? Jokisch/Del Valle/Kirk haven't done anything to get bumped. Loosen's been solid since coming back and seemingly getting better. That leaves Cates ... who has a bit more upside than the other guys (well ... debatable in comparison vs. Loosen I guess) and is a McLeod draft pick.

[craig]

.... I assume Ben Wells takes the vacant spot in Peoria's rotation.

 

About time ... I imagine Burke or Jensen have next man up rights ... Wonder who is next guy up from XST - Peralta or Cruz would be the guess if they wanted a possible starter.

 

Wells is 10K/0BB/7 hits/8IP over this last two outings. 29K/7BB/35IP/0HR on the season looks like very nice splits. So there is good reason to be encouraged and hopeful. So I'm feeling optimistic.

 

Not sure any other promotions are very urgent. Burke could at any point, probably. And who knows how long they want to stick with him in rotation, or whether they kind of figure that it's just a matter of time before they move him to relief.

 

Jensen I'd think should stay put for a while. First year pro, not a rush. He's allowed 15 runs over his last four starts (20 innings), so for the moment it seems he's well challenged at the level he's at.

[toonsterwu]

I'm not expecting either guy to be promoted anytime soon, not with Jensen's recent slump and Burke still adjusting to "full-load" work. Just meant that I think they are the next two starters that could get called up. I'd be fine with Jensen staying in Peoria all year - it's only his age 21 season.

 

Jensen's last start was hurt by errors. Off the top, I want to say Darvill, but IIRC, all the runs were unearned. He had a bad 2 game stretch that acounted for ... uh 8 or 9 runs? I'm concerned about two things - his declining K rate and the significant decline of his GB rate. What made his April fascinating was the fact that he was getting a solid amount of strikeouts and pounding out GB's. On the plus side, he's still not giving up many HR's, and the command is solid.

 

(Edit: That was supposed to be decline in GB rate, not BB rate).

Edited May 21, 2012 by toonsterwu

[Guest]

Francescon to Daytona, per Goldstein.

 

Good. I assume Ben Wells takes the vacant spot in Peoria's rotation.

 

About time ... I imagine Burke or Jensen have next man up rights ...

 

Wonder who is next guy up from XST - Peralta or Cruz would be the guess if they wanted a possible starter.

 

I'd rather see Peralta up.

 

I have no problem with Jensen spending half the season at Peoria since it's his first pro season. I'd like to see Burke bumped up very soon.

 

Edited my above post to add this thought, but might as well reply it as well - wonder who gets bumped from Daytona's rotation? Jokisch/Del Valle/Kirk haven't done anything to get bumped. Loosen's been solid since coming back and seemingly getting better. That leaves Cates ... who has a bit more upside than the other guys (well ... debatable in comparison vs. Loosen I guess) and is a McLeod draft pick.

 

Yeah, I'm not sure what to do. I'd hate to bump Cates. Obviously the 3 lefties don't warrant a demotion and Loosen is pitching better than Cates.

[davell]

Pugliese just mentioned Peralta left EXST today, so I guess he's heading to Peoria.

[Guest]

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TCRfeed/~3/uKtjTCipwUY/angels-cant-even-contain-baez-much-less-stop-him

 

Javier Baez drove-in six runs with a two-run HR and a grand slam, Yasiel Balaguert knocked-in four runs with a three-run home run and a sacrifice fly, Dong-Yub Kim drove-in two runs with an RBI single and a solo HR, and Wilson Contreras ripped a two-run double, leading the Cubs to a 14-4 demolition of the Angels in Cactus League Extended Spring Training action this morning at Fitch Park Field #3 in Mesa, AZ.

[davell]

Damn, so Golden tore his ACL and is missing the rest of the season.

[PriortoTheoIhadWood]

I like Ha as well. Last year he always seemed to make a play when reading Timmers' wraps on BCB. He can play all three OF spots, he makes contact, he's hitting doubles, and he's young.

 

I do wonder what his ultimate ceiling is. 4th OFer?

 

I mean ... if things really pan out for Ha, he's a potential stud CF, a top defensive guy who shows power, hits for average, and doesn't strike out a ton. That's his "ceiling".

 

What's with the quotes around ceiling? And that's reeeeeeeally panning out, because I don't think that's what his toolset entails. Mostly I don't think he's any great shakes in CF, though he can handle it, and I think he profiles more as a RF. The rest is true enough, though hes' been purely a doubles guy as far as power is concerned so far (though I do like doubles, part of why I like Ha).

 

Sick performance by Baez.

[toonsterwu]

Probably not the exact words to use, but I couldn't think of anything better. What I was getting at was that he has less organized baseball experience than your average draftee.

 

South Korea doesn't have much organized baseball for teenagers?

 

They do - they have HS baseball but don't have travel leagues like we do in the U.S. and Canada.

 

I don't know the exact situation in S. Korea, but I know in Asia (primarily Japan and Taiwan), there is a really high amount of organized youth baseball in other fashion. It might not be as ... challenging as the travel leagues, but the top kids do get in a fair amount of organized baseball. What America offers youth, in terms of organized baseball, is the opportunity for everyone to be involved. I think, often times, in Japan and Taiwan, the top kids get some more opportunities than the rest.

[toonsterwu]

Pugliese just mentioned Peralta left EXST today, so I guess he's heading to Peoria.

 

I like it. Cruz had his shot. Peralta's an intriguing power arm, and I'd rather see him get a go in Peoria than stay in XST and wait for Boise. Wonder how the rotations are going to get juggled. Guessing Peralta slides into the piggyback role with Concepcion, and Wells goes to "rotation", with maybe someone primed for a 2-3 inning role on nights Wells is going.

[davell]

That sounds about right. Maybe Cruz gets another look once Burke gets moved up. If not him, I think Pugliese has earned a look at this point.

[toonsterwu]

I like Ha as well. Last year he always seemed to make a play when reading Timmers' wraps on BCB. He can play all three OF spots, he makes contact, he's hitting doubles, and he's young.

 

I do wonder what his ultimate ceiling is. 4th OFer?

 

I mean ... if things really pan out for Ha, he's a potential stud CF, a top defensive guy who shows power, hits for average, and doesn't strike out a ton. That's his "ceiling".

 

What's with the quotes around ceiling? And that's reeeeeeeally panning out, because I don't think that's what his toolset entails. Mostly I don't think he's any great shakes in CF, though he can handle it, and I think he profiles more as a RF. The rest is true enough, though hes' been purely a doubles guy as far as power is concerned so far (though I do like doubles, part of why I like Ha).

 

Sick performance by Baez.

 

Put the quotes in because I wasn't sure what you meant by ultimate ceiling his this case, and ceiling is subjective to what one sees.

 

I think you could make a case that, tools wise, Ha has the best defensive tools of the CF's in our full-season affiliates (anyone ... but mainly Jackson/Szczur/Chen, but Silva could be thrown in there, along with Easterling). He has the speed/athleticism to track down balls, and the arm strength that Jackson/Szczur lacks. The issue is consistency with routes/reads/etceteras ... BUT he hasn't had that much work in CF and didn't start off in CF for us. Can he learn it? Don't know ... but the tools are there.

 

I noted this above ... but there were folks that felt he was an elite defensive CF last year. Do I think he'll be an elite CF? I don't know, but like I said elsewhere, if Szczur is ready, even if Ha is better defensively, you give Szczur the run with it in CF because he looks capable of filling a role in the majors quicker than Ha.

[toonsterwu]

That sounds about right. Maybe Cruz gets another look once Burke gets moved up. If not him, I think Pugliese has earned a look at this point.

 

If the decision is only b/w those two guys, then I'd lean Cruz if they simply wanted an arm there, either in piggybacking or in the pen. I'd consider Pugliese if they wanted a starter, but he's awful young (19) and playing it safe is fine.

[davell]

Actually, I had forgotten Pugliese was that young. Thought he had 2 years of college for some reason. Arias probably needs to see Arizona or at least Boise, correct?

[Guest]

Pugliese just mentioned Peralta left EXST today, so I guess he's heading to Peoria.

 

Hope he starts or gets starter's innings piggybacking.

[Guest]

Actually, I had forgotten Pugliese was that young. Thought he had 2 years of college for some reason. Arias probably needs to see Arizona or at least Boise, correct?

 

I could see Boise but I expect Mesa. Cruz did skip the AZL last year in favor of Boise but I think he was a year older than Arias will be (I can't seem to get on MiLB.com to confirm).

[davell]

Arias is 21 all season. Turns 22 in January, so he needs to be in Peoria next year at the latest, I guess.

[Guest]

Damn, so Golden tore his ACL and is missing the rest of the season.

 

Damn, I didn't realize it was that serious.

[davell]

Almost 2 pages of discussion, which is awesome obviously, Jensen threw 5.1, gave up 3 hits, two runs(both earned) 3 walks and struck out 4. Not much on the hitting side. Zapata was 1-1 with 3 walks and 2 steals.

[Guest]

Arias is 21 all season. Turns 22 in January, so he needs to be in Peoria next year at the latest, I guess.

 

Well then, I hope he's up at Boise this year.

[PriortoTheoIhadWood]

 

Put the quotes in because I wasn't sure what you meant by ultimate ceiling his this case, and ceiling is subjective to what one sees.

 

I think you could make a case that, tools wise, Ha has the best defensive tools of the CF's in our full-season affiliates (anyone ... but mainly Jackson/Szczur/Chen, but Silva could be thrown in there, along with Easterling). He has the speed/athleticism to track down balls, and the arm strength that Jackson/Szczur lacks. The issue is consistency with routes/reads/etceteras ... BUT he hasn't had that much work in CF and didn't start off in CF for us. Can he learn it? Don't know ... but the tools are there.

 

I noted this above ... but there were folks that felt he was an elite defensive CF last year. Do I think he'll be an elite CF? I don't know, but like I said elsewhere, if Szczur is ready, even if Ha is better defensively, you give Szczur the run with it in CF because he looks capable of filling a role in the majors quicker than Ha.

 

I've seen Ha a couple times and I have to disagree. Routes and reads are part of CF defensive tools, and he's not that good there with that stuff. He's also not as fast as most of those guys.

 

He does probably have the best OF arm in the system, hence my RF projection. Szczur would get CF over Ha because he's better in CF than Ha is.