2012 AFL

[Guest]

another 6 weeks of baez at-bats during the offseason, sweeeeet. i was expecting soler to be the one guy under AA, but baez will be fun.

[Guest]

Sahadev Sharma[/url]"]Though he's impressed thus far in his short stint in the minors, the Cubs opted not to send Soler to the Arizona Fall League. The AFL is a league that runs from early October to mid-November and consists of six teams comprised of multiple prospects from every MLB team's minor league system.

 

McLeod said the decision was based more on experience rather than talent. When he signed in June, Soler hadn't played since November. If he had gotten a full season of minor league ball under his belt, McLeod felt that Soler likely would have been someone they placed on the AFL roster. However, with his inexperience, the Cubs decided having him work in the instructional league was better for his development.

 

"It's more intensive instruction and more one on one," McLeod said of the instructional league. "You can really break down mechanics and zero in on areas for improvement. They play about three games a week, so you're still getting live action. So he'll get four weeks of instructional league then an offseason strength and conditioning program."

[Guest]

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/arizona-fall-league-breakdown-mesa-solar-sox/

 

Tony Zych, RHP, Chicago: A solid fourth-round selection during the 2011 draft, Zych reached double-A in his first full pro season. The right-hander flashes heat that sits in the mid-90s but he has yet to develop a consistent slider, which has hampered his overall effectiveness… to a degree. Zych struck out 28 battes in 23.2 double-A innings and also showed an above-average ground-ball rate. If he can improve his command of his secondary pitch and sharpen his overall control, Zych could develop into a high-leverage reliever and could reach the Majors in 2013.

[ctcf]

Starts today! The Mesa Solar Sox play at 8:35 PM CST.

 

Link to the AFL page: http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/afl/index.jsp

 

Cubs on the Mesa Solar Sox roster:

 

Position Players

 

Javier Baez (SS)

Rubi Silva (2B/OF)

Matt Szczur (OF)

 

Pitchers

 

Dae-Eun Rhee (SP/RP)

Nick Struck (SP)

Tony Zych (RP)

Kevin Rhoderick (RP)

[Guest]

keithlaw ‏@keithlaw

And Javier Baez just took 94 from Chatwood out to dead center. Had to go 430+.

[Guest]

keithlaw ‏@keithlaw

Meanwhile, Matt Szczur just sacrificed a runner to second in the third inning of an Arizona Fall League game. #smrtbaseball

Edited October 10, 2012 by David

[JockJones]

keithlaw ‏@keithlaw

And Javier Baez just took 94 from Chatwood out to dead center. Had to go 430+.

 

YESSSSS

[Sammys Boombox]

Do they purposefully not combine division opponents on the same AFL teams? Only the Rockies/DBacks and Marlins/Braves play with division foes (since Astros are going to AL West next year I'm not counting them and the Cubs as division foes)?

[Guest]

You guys realize they have Gameday for all AFL games?

 

Tonight's Mesa game: http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/y2010/index.jsp?gid=2012_10_09_msswin_srrwin_1

 

Szczur is leading off and 0/1 so far. Baez 1/2 with that HR and a strikeout. Rhoderick has thrown 0.2 scoreless with a strikeout out of the pen.

[Guest]

Baez just crushed a double

[Brian]

JAVY JAVY JAVY JAVY

[El Duderino]

damn, I wish the AFL was on MILB.tv

[Guest]

damn, I wish the AFL was on MILB.tv

 

The all-star game will be on the MLB Network and Baez will surely be there.

[Gilby]

The offseason just got more fun. Javy can be the bridge from now until the hot stove season.

[davell]

If he crushes in the AFL, he could be a consensus top 10 prospect heading into next year.

[Guest]

If he crushes in the AFL, he could be a consensus top 10 prospect heading into next year.

 

Doubt it.

[Guest]

If he crushes in the AFL, he could be a consensus top 10 prospect heading into next year.

 

Doubt it.

I guess it would depend on the crushing.

 

But I think his relatively rough showing in Daytona suppresses any hope of a top 10 ranking this year.

[davell]

I threw that out there since Callis mentioned him as a 11-20 guy. But after looking at Sickels preliminary lists, I'll retract what I said. I guess it's possible he could move past Bogaerts with a great showing, but he's not passing Profar, Myers, or Taveres. And pitching has lots of depth, with 7-10 guys that are all likely to be ranked as high or higher than him. I'll say top 15 though and feel comfortable about it, after looking though.

[Guest]

10/9: Mesa lost 6-5 Box Score

 

CF M. Szczur 0/2, 2 BB

PH-DH R. Silva 1/1, R

SS Ja. Baez 2/4, R, 2B (1), HR (1), 3 RBI, 2 K

RP K. Rhoderick 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 0-0 GO-FO, 23-18 pitches-strikes

RP T. Zych 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 0-0 GO-FO, 3-3 pitches-strikes

[rawaction]

10/9: Mesa lost 6-5 Box Score

 

CF M. Szczur 0/2, 2 BB

PH-DH R. Silva 1/1, R

SS Ja. Baez 2/4, R, 2B (1), HR (1), 3 RBI, 2 K

RP K. Rhoderick 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 0-0 GO-FO, 23-18 pitches-strikes

RP T. Zych 0.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 0-0 GO-FO, 3-3 pitches-strikes

Wait. 3 pitches, a k and a hit allowed?

[Cubswin11]

If he crushes in the AFL, he could be a consensus top 10 prospect heading into next year.

 

Doubt it.

I guess it would depend on the crushing.

 

But I think his relatively rough showing in Daytona suppresses any hope of a top 10 ranking this year.

Agreed. Does the fact that he isn't a lock to stick at SS also affect that (though it seems the consensus is he made some strides this year and the likelihood increases he sticks there) and might have to move to a position where his bat isn't as valuable (3B/2B/OF)?

[Hairyducked Idiot]

keithlaw ‏@keithlaw

And Javier Baez just took 94 from Chatwood out to dead center. Had to go 430+.

 

That's a major league pitcher, albeit not a great one.

[Guest]

10/9: Mesa lost 6-5 Box Score

 

CF M. Szczur 0/2, 2 BB

PH-DH R. Silva 1/1, R

SS Ja. Baez 2/4, R, 2B (1), HR (1), 3 RBI, 2 K

RP K. Rhoderick 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 0-0 GO-FO, 23-18 pitches-strikes

RP T. Zych 0.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 0-0 GO-FO, 3-3 pitches-strikes

Wait. 3 pitches, a k and a hit allowed?

 

Whoops, fixed. 0 hits.

[Guest]

10/10: Mesa lost 11-3 Box Score

 

DH M. Szczur 1/4, K, HBP, SB (1)

LF R. Silva 1/5, K

3B Ja. Baez 0/4, 2 K, 2 E (fielding, fielding)

RP N. Struck 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 1 K, 1-2 GO-GO, 39-20 pitches-strikes

[Cubswin11]

No bueno, Javier!