Minor League Discussion & Boxes 8-8-12

[Guest]

Bill Mitchell ‏@billazbbphotog

 

Play of the game: Albert Almora makes a running over the shoulder catch on a ball to deep center, and runner is doubled off 2nd. Game over.

 

@billazbbphotog: The catch by Albert Almora to end the AZL #Cubs game tonight is one of the best defensive plays I've ever seen by an outfielder.

 

@SDUNSTONJR: Me and @albertalmora holding it down in left and center. Dude is unreal defensively in center!!

[Guest]

a few more

 

Anthony Lee Prieto ‏@INAPriets109

 

Wow.. Game ending DP starting with @albertalmora 's grab in centerfield.. I've never seen anything like that in my life.. Wow

 

shawon dunston jr ‏@SDUNSTONJR

 

My boy @albertalmora just made the sickest over the shoulder catch I've seen. Ball game! #nasty

 

Trevor Gretzky ‏@TrevorGretzky

 

Thata boy @albertalmora Making the greatest catch I've seen the guy plays #forthekids

[Guest]

@Rakkar_27: Great catch to end the game by my boy @albertalmora #cubs

 

@justinmarra: shutout to my boy @albertalmora making the most phenomenal catch I've ever seen!

 

@justinmarra: @FlynnTheMin wish you could have seen this. Over the shoulder on the warning track. Doubled him off at second to end the game

[Guest]

Arizona Phil[/url]"]The most-impressive performance by a Cub pitcher tonight was the one turned-in by 20-year old RHP Dillon Maples, who (finally) displayed the velocity and command not seen previously, including three outings at AZ Instructs last fall (4.91 ERA, 1.91 WHIP, .231 OppBA, 3.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 2 K, 1 HBP), or over the course of his two previous appearances in the AZL this season (3.38 ERA, 1.88 WHIP, .111 OppBA, 2.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 2 K, 2 HBP, 2 WP).

 

But he was much better tonight, throwing two shutout innings (31 pitches - 20 strikes), allowing two singles and a HBP, while striking out three (two swinging). The big difference tonight was that he threw strikes (especially "strike one") and worked fast.

 

When he's right, Maples throws a 93 MPH fastball (with movement) and a hard-breaking nearly-unhittable curve, and he displayed both pitches tonight. If he can command his electric stuff (as he did tonight) and maybe develop a change-up, he could be a potential MLB "Top-of-the-Rotation" guy down the road.

 

...

 

After being shut-down with a sore arm midway through Instructs last year and not pitching at Minor League Camp or at Extended Spring Training this season while dealing with elbow/forearm issues, Maples finally appears to be moving forward.

 

The Defensive Gem of the Game was the very last play of the game.

 

With the Cubs up 5-2 with one out in the top of the 9th and with Dodger runners at 2nd and 3rd and the tying run at the plate, CF Albert Almora made a brilliant Willie Mays style catch, racing full-speed with his back to the infield and catching a towering fly ball basket-style just as he hit the CF Batter's Eye, before turning around 180 degrees and (without having time to measure the throw) firing a strike to 2nd base that doubled Alex Santana off base for the final out of the game.

 

A truly amazing play by the Cubs 2012 #1 draft pick.

[El Duderino]

Son of a bitch, I REALLY want to see this catch now.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

The legend of 40/80 grows.

[hawkeyecub]

The legend of 40/80 grows.

 

?

[davell]

The legend of 40/80 grows.

 

?

 

Speed and fielding, I believe.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

The legend of 40/80 grows.

 

?

 

An offhand comment by a scout in a BA article described Almora as having 40 (average-ish) speed with 80 (elite) range in CF because of his jumps and routes. Being myself, I've really latched on to the idea.

[Guest]

The legend of 40/80 grows.

 

?

 

An offhand comment by a scout in a BA article described Almora as having 40 (average-ish) speed with 80 (elite) range in CF because of his jumps and routes. Being myself, I've really latched on to the idea.

 

That's probably why he Edmonds'd the catch

[Guest]

somebody asked KG about that the other day

[El Duderino]

Daytona wins on a walk-off... passed ball.