Minor League Discussion & Boxes 7-22-12

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Box Scores

 

Iowa lost 9-5 Box Score

 

CF B. Jackson 1/4, R, K

2B A. Cardenas 1/3, R, BB, K

3B J. Vitters 2/4, R, HR (15), 3 RBI, 2 K, E (19, throw)

C W. Castillo 1/4, R, HR (5), RBI, 2 K

RF D. Sappelt 1/4, K

SP C. Volstad 5 IP, 9 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, HBP, 9-4 GO-FO, 93-65 pitches-strikes; hitting: 0/1, K

RP T. Harris 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K, 1-0 GO-FO

 

Tennessee lost 12-11 in 11 innings (completion of game suspended 7-21-12 Box Score

 

3B J. Lake 2/7, 2 K

SS L. Watkins 3/6, 2 R, RBI, BB, K

CF JH Ha 2/5, R, BB

1B J. Bour 2/6, 3 R, 2B (28), HR (9), 2 RBI, BB, 3 K

LF G. Rohan 2/5, R, 2 2B (8), RBI, BB, K

RF M. Burgess 1/3, R, 2B (14), RBI, BB, K

SP D. Beeler 4.1 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, 4-2 GO-FO, 80-47 pitches-strikes; hitting: 0/2, BB, K

RP T. Zych 0.2 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, HR, HBP, 2-0 GO-FO

RP K. Rhoderick 1 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 1-0 GO-FO

 

Tennessee (game two) won 8-4 Box Score

 

3B J. Lake 2/4, R, 2B (12), RBI, K, HBP

SS L. Watkins 2/4, R, RBI, BB, K

CF JH Ha 2/5, R, SB (9)

SP N. Struck 5 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 6-7 GO-FO, 64-44 pitches-strikes; hitting: 0/2, K

RP Z. Rosscup 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K, 0-1 GO-FO

RP T. McNutt 1 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 0 K, 1-1 GO-FO

 

Daytona Cancelled - Rain

 

Peoria lost 3-2 Box Score

 

2B Z. DeVoss 0/3, BB

CF PC Chen 1/4, R, K, SB (25)

SS Ja. Baez 0/4, K, E (13, throw)

1B P. Hoilman 0/4, 4 K, E (17, fielding)

3B D. Geiger 1/4, R, HR (10), 2 RBI

C C. Krist 1/3, BB, K

RF B. Rademacher 0/3, BB, K, outfield assist at second base

LF O. Zapaga 1/4, 2B (7), CS (12)

SP S. Peralta 6 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 1 K, HBP, 10-6 GO-FO

 

Boise lost 8-1 Box Score

 

2B G. Amaya 1/4, 2 K, E (5, throw)

SS M. Hernandez 1/4, K, SB (3), E (10, fielding)

3B S. Bruno 1/4

DH J. Candelario 1/4

C W. Contreras 1/4, R, K

1B R. Shoulders 1/4

CF T. Martin 0/3

SP J. Pugliese 4 IP, 8 H, 7 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, HR, WP, 5-3 GO-FO

RP M. Heesch 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 2-0 GO-FO

 

AZL Cubs lost 6-4 Box Score

 

CF S. Dunston 3/4, R

3B B. Carhart 2/4, 2B (5)

1B D. Vogelbach 1/4, R, RBI

RF J. Soler 2/4, 2 R, HR (1), 2 RBI, K - first pro hit was a HR

2B C. Penalver 0/4, 2 K

C A. Mineo 0/3, E (2, throw), PB (2)

LF G. Schlecht 1/3, SB (2)

SP L. Castillo 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K, 4-1 GO-FO

RP D. Henrie 2 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, HR, 6-0 GO-FO

 

DSL Cubs 1 and 2 have the day off

 

OVERALL: 1-5

[Guest]

Probable Starters

 

Iowa: RHP Chris Volstad (5.55 ERA, 4.42 FIP, 58.1 IP, 44 K, 15 BB)

Tennessee (game two): RHP Ty'Relle Harris (2.70 ERA, 3.88 FIP, 26.2 IP, 17 K, 14 BB)

Daytona: RHP Matt Loosen (2.79 ERA, 3.87 FIP, 87 IP, 83 K, 31 BB)

Peoria: RHP Starling Peralta (2.81 ERA, 4.89 FIP, 48 IP, 29 K, 17 BB)

Boise: RHP James Pugliese (3.31 ERA, 3.62 FIP, 32.2 IP, 26 K, 10 BB)

AZL Cubs: RHP Lendy Castillo (0.00 ERA, 5 IP, 5 K, 1 BB)

[rawaction]

Tennessee going into the 11th, now tied at 10. Both teams scored 2 in the 10th.

[rawaction]

Tennessee pushed across 1 in the 11th, to take the lead. But after starting the inning by getting the 1st 2 guys out, Casey Harman gives up a single, walks the bases loaded, and then gives up a walkoff 2-run single to a .192 hitter on a 1-2 count.

[rawaction]

Baez with a flyout and throwing error to start the game. Error led to an unearned run, though it would have helped if Peralta didn't walk 3 hitters around the E6.

[JockJones]

Geiger with his 10th HR (in 37 games).

[Little Slide Rooter]

The last 10 games, Candelerio is a dreadful 7-35. However, he also has 7 walks, 6 of which came in the last 3. Could it be that they've Instructed him to work on his walks, which is what initially made him stand out in the DSL?

[Guest]

Daytona's game was cancelled due to rain.

 

James Pugliese is being lit up in Eugene.

[Guest]

Daytona's game was cancelled due to rain.

:x

[jumbo]

Went to the Peoria game again today. A few notes:

 

Peralta:

First couple innings his four seam fastball sat at 93-94 and hit 95. The next few innings he sat 90-92 and hit 93 a few more times and 94 one more time. Looked like a fairly hard slider at 81-84, also curveball around 75, and I'm guessing a two seamer at 85-86 (just a couple of those in later innings). I'd guess his pitch distribution was 50% four seam, 35% slider, 13% curve, 2% splitter/two seamer. Pitch count was I think close to 90. He may have been able to go all 8 innings, but he had errors in the 1st, 4th, 5th, 6th, of which only the error in the 6th didn't really cause extra pitches. 5 FO/10 GO (this may not be very accurate)

McDonald:

Pitched 7th and 8th. He sets up on the first base side of the rubber, bends almost 90* at the waist and hangs his pitching arm down toward the dirt. His arm slot is higher than side arm, but maybe below a low 3/4 delivery. He seems to try to catch the front outside corner against lefties, and managed to get a called third strike on a 88 MPH fastball that way. If my scorecard is right, he had 3K's in two innings, 1 looking and 2 swinging. Fastball was 85-88 easily. Because of his arm slot I couldn't figure out what his breaking pitch was, but he threw it 75-79. 3 FO/0 GO.

 

DeVoss:

As a hitter, yes, he's patient, but he doesn't seem to hit the ball hard - to the point that if he got a hit I would want to watch it again to see why it happened. He takes a lot of pitches and got on with a BB, and the promptly stole second. In the field he's a butcher at second. In the fourth, a ball went up the middle to the first base side of second base. Baez ranged over to it and got there the same time as DeVoss. DeVoss didn't give way to Baez and they ran into each other and no play was attempted. I ruled this a generous single on my scorecard, but Baez had the only possible chance to get an out and DeVoss didn't recognize it. Maybe not his fault. Then, with the runner on first, a ball got hit right up the middle. DeVoss got to the spot with a foot planted on second as the ball came to him with plans to field the ball and immediately throw to first for a 4-3 DP. But he didn't field the ball cleanly and both runners were safe.

 

PC Chen:

Good, patient approach. Takes a lot of pitches. Got on by an error and then stole second easily. Made some nice plays in the field. In the first he ran down a hard hit line drive that was over his head and near the wall. Made other plays but none looked like they took much effort.

 

Baez:

Looked foolish on some breaking pitches. Definitely looks for first pitch fastballs. I forgot to mention in yesterday's game, he swwung so hard he almost fell down, then raked his foot across the box as though the loose soil in the box was the reason. He swung like that a few times today without the theatrics. In the field his range and fielding seemed perfectly fine. Him getting to the DeVoss play above was impressive since DeVoss barely got there and it was the first base side of second. His throwing though was poor. In the first he had a throwing error on a ball he practically 'flipped' across to Hoilman, pulling him off the bag toward home plate. He did this again in the fifth, throwing the ball in the dirt, but Hoilman dug it out. I had read before that he likes to show off his cannon arm, but I saw nothing like that today.

 

Hoilman:

0-4 with 4 K's, all swinging. I concluded that he will never get above Daytona.

 

Geiger:

Drilled a HR to left center in the 4th. Hit a ball just as far in the 6th, but more towards CF for an out. In the field he got to a hard hit ball down the line, but couldn't make a clean throw to first, pulling Hoilman off the bag. Fielded everything that came his way cleanly. Started a potential 5-4-3 triple play, but the relay to first was at most a half step late. Got the ball out of his glove quick.

 

Krist:

Looks like a catcher. Took a lot of pitches, drawings a walk in the 9th with the Chiefs down. Would have taken a walk in the first, but he took off for first before the ump could call ball four (and he was vocalizing even the balls) and the ump rang him ump for strike three. Also singled and didn't draw any attention to himself behind the plate.

 

Rademacher:

Took a maybe 7 pitch walk in the third. Lined out in the 5th, and tried a two out bunt attempt in the 6th against an infield playing back, but was unsuccessful. Took a check swing strike three in the 9th. In the field he made all the plays he should have. In the fifth the Hawks lead off man hit a single past Hoilman and aggressively rounded first. Rademacher fielded it and threw behind the runner to pick him off for the third out.

 

Zapata:

Patient approach. Took the ball the other way for a double down the third base line.

 

Burruel:

DH'd today, but not sure why. Had a couple singles, but doesn't look like much of a hitter. Was fine behind the plate yesterday.

[Guest]

Wow - thanks, jumbo!

 

Keith Law will be at the AZL Cubs game tonight.

[davell]

Wow on the Peralta velo. At least we have some live arms in the lower levels, with him, Rosario, and Arias. Any chatter on Rosario's injury yet?

[Guest]

Wow on the Peralta velo. At least we have some live arms in the lower levels, with him, Rosario, and Arias. Any chatter on Rosario's injury yet?

 

That's why I'm so high on Peralta.

[RammyFanny]

This was from Soler's first game, via Law (apologies if it was posted earlier):

Cuban outfielder Jorge Soler made his pro debut on Thursday night with the Chicago Cubs' club in the rookie-level Arizona League, the lowest level of organized baseball, with teams largely populated by teenaged prospects, rehabbers, and a handful of older organizational players. Already 20, he's old to be in this league, but given how long it has been since he faced live pitching, it's a reasonable place for him to start.

 

Soler, who signed a nine-year, $30 million dollar deal with the Cubs in June, only DH'd and had three at-bats before he was pulled for a pinch hitter -- you know, don't want to overtax the guy or anything -- and did at least get a chance to show how explosive his hands are at the plate. He loads his hands high and deep, but accelerates quickly enough to catch up to above-average stuff, even meeting a few balls out in front of the plate (perhaps because his timing is still off). He's balanced through the swing and should be able to generate power from his lower half. He grounded out twice but didn't run hard either time, although his strides are long and easy and he should be an above-average runner when he decides to show it. (His third at-bat was a hard lineout to the pitcher.) He's in very good shape and his body looks loose and athletic. This wasn't an ideal look since he didn't play the field and hasn't faced live pitching in ages, but at least some of the tools were on display -- and yes, I will go back in a week or so to try to see him in the field.

http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/blog/_/name/law_keith/id/8185225/scouting-jorge-soler-chicago-cubs-tyler-skaggs-arizona-diamondbacks-mlb

[Little Slide Rooter]

Some nice pitching from Struck and Rosscup after getting roughed up in their previous outtings. I wish I could say the same about McNutt.

[Guest]

"@keithlaw: Jorge Solver in RF here in Mesa. Lendy Castillo pitching as he continues his recovery from rule5itis."

 

"@keithlaw: That should have said Jorge Soler."

[sporrer17]

Logan Watkins continues to hit...almost up to .290 now. What is his ceiling? Is he a utility guy, or could he end up a starter at 2b?

[rawaction]

Soler grounds out to the pitcher in his 1st AB.

[XZero771679666304]

HR Vitters

[TruffleShuffle]

3 run homer for vitters. but also two K's to give him 14 in the last 8 games.

[rawaction]

Logan Watkins continues to hit...almost up to .290 now. What is his ceiling? Is he a utility guy, or could he end up a starter at 2b?

 

I asked this question before. But he strikes me as a guy that is going to make a major league team, and probably be best as a utility guy, but he won't kill you getting the majority of the starts in a 2B platoon situation. He's a solid defender that has played SS, 2B, 3B, and all 3 OF positions in the last few years in the minors. Seems to have a really good idea at the plate with a very good walk rate. He hasn't hit LHPs at all this year (being a LH hitter), so platoon is going to be the way to go for him.

[Rizzo Smash]

Soler Bomb

[Guest]

Soler Bomb

 

 

:D :D

[rawaction]

OH SNAP!

 

keithlaw ‏@keithlaw

 

Soler just completely unloaded on one - two run HR to deep left center

[davell]

Logan Watkins continues to hit...almost up to .290 now. What is his ceiling? Is he a utility guy, or could he end up a starter at 2b?

I think he's pretty underrated, but Raisin brought up a great point with him probably getting a shot in the AFL this fall. That'll probably help dictate what our plans are for him. My guess is most see him as a utility type, but I can see him as a starter, since he's showing a bit more pop than previously.