2012 AFL

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Apparently, Baez was upset because he was playing 3b and kept looking sullenly over at SS or something, and he botched every ball that was hit to him.

[Guest]

John Arguello was at Instructs and then went to today's Mesa AFL game:

 

@CubsDen Looks like Cubs coaches teaching Jorge Soler to use lower half. Jed Hoyer looking on.

 

@CubsDen Albert Almora has the sweetest swing here.

 

@CubsDen Szczur with a single between ss and 3b

 

@CubsDen Rubi Dilva whiffs on outside pitch. He's hacktastic.

 

@CubsDen Szczur steals third.

 

@CubsDen Nick Struck on for Mesa...

 

@CubsDen Struck at 90-93 mph with FB. Aggressive as usual. Scoreless inning

 

@CubsDen Baez grounds out to Ss

 

@CubsDen Struck out after 1.2 innings. Command off. 3 walks. Two long foul would be HRs

 

@CubsDen Szczur strikes out. Silva flies to wall in RF

 

@CubsDen Baez lines out hard to LF.

 

@CubsDen Baez with error at 3b. Easy chance through legs

 

@CubsDen Baez missed throw on play at 3b. No error. Runner did not advsnce

 

@CubsDen Theo and Jed here.

 

@CubsDen Phone issues so here is an ipdate...Baez Ks and another E. Szczur deep fly to LF. Silva IF hit.

 

@CubsDen Baez last two ABs disappointing. Both strikeouts, swinging from his heels.

[Guest]

http://www.chicagonow.com/cubs-den/2012/10/cubs-minor-league-recap-instructs-and-fall-league/

[toonsterwu]

I'm mighty curious about velo reports on Struck and Rhee, particularly in their short stints, in AFL. Struck's going to stay a starter in the system, partly due to the lack of talent (but he does have 2 capable pitches, usable 3rd, enough command), but I do wonder if his future is in the pen, where he can come out blasting with the fastball and throwing strikes.

 

If Rhee can ramp up the fastball and the split-change is sharp, he could be one of the better pen options in the system.

 

* Completely random thought, but watching Miguel Gonzalez last night, I kept thinking ... damn, if Rhee could only improve his breaking balls enough. I mean, they are fairly similar in profile with their two main pitches, plus split-change, average fastball.

[Guest]

Baez HR

[illiniguy]

Good lord he destroyed that ball.

[Guest]

10/11: Mesa won 6-5 Box Score

 

CF M. Szczur 1/4, R, RBI, BB

SS Ja. Baez 2/5, 2B (2), RBI, K

SP DE Rhee 2 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 0-3 GO-FO, 48-32 pitches-strikes

RP T. Zych 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 3-0 GO-FO, 16-11 pitches-strikes

[Guest]

Rhee was apparently 89-91 yesterday, Zych's slider was working (you have to scroll down): http://www.chicagonow.com/cubs-den/2012/10/cubs-fall-league-recap-a-small-glimpse-of-the-future/

[toonsterwu]

89-91 would be okay if could tighten up the breaking ball. I'm still mighty curious how he was throwing a bit harder last year than this year, but w/e.

 

Admittedly, after waiting 2 years for the breaking ball to tighten and improve, I'm not really holding out that much hope for it to improve significantly in the near future.

[Guest]

Baez 3 run homer on a 3-0 count :D

[Guest]

Arizona Fall League ‏@MLBazFallLeague

Javier Baez (#Cubs) crushes a monster home run to left field to give Mesa a 6-3 lead over Phoenix here in the bottom of the 5th. #AFL12

[davell]

Baez 3 run homer on a 3-0 count :D

He does WTF he wants.

[TruffleShuffle]

well hopefully he starts wanting to draw some walks.

[Guest]

well hopefully he starts wanting to draw some walks.

 

Well, he got to 3-0 today, but then decided he'd rather hit a 3 run bomb.

[Guest]

10/12: Mesa won 12-6 Box Score

 

CF M. Szczur 2/5, RBI, K, 2 SB (3)

RF R. Silva 1/5, 3 K, 2 SB (2)

RP K. Rhoderick 1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, HR, 1-0 GO-FO, 15-10 pitches-strikes

[Guest]

10/13: Mesa won 8-3 Box Score

 

RF R. Silva 2/5, 2 R, 2 K

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

SP N. Struck 1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, HR, 1-0 GO-FO, 13-10 pitches-strikes

RP T. Zych 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 0-0 GO-FO, 10-7 pitches-strikes

[ctcf]

10/15/12

 

Szczur - 3/4, 2B, RBI, SB(4) (BA: .368)

Baez - 0/4, K, RBI (BA: .238)

[Guest]

10/16: Mesa lost 4-2 Box Score

 

CF M. Szczur 0/4, K

DH R. Silva 0/4, 2 K

3B Ja. Baez 2/4, RBI, K

RP K. Rhoderick 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 0-0 GO-FO, 15-11 pitches-strikes

RP N. Struck 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 2-0 GO-FO, 6-5 pitches-strikes

[Guest]

10/17: Mesa lost 5-2 Box Score

 

CF M. Szczur 1/3, R, BB, K, CS (1)

SP DE Rhee 4 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, HBP, 5-1 GO-FO, 51-38 pitches-strikes

RP T. Zych 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 1-1 GO-FO, 19-12 pitches-strikes

[Guest]

10/18: Mesa lost 8-3 Box Score

 

SS Ja. Baez 0/4, R, K, 2 (E, fielding, throw)

RF R. Silva 0/3, K

[Guest]

@MLBazFallLeague: Javier Baez (#Cubs) crushes one to the top of the centerfield berm in Surprise for a 3 run HR. Mesa still trails 15-10 in the 8th. #AFL12

[Guest]

he also drew his first walk

[Guest]

10/19: Mesa lost 10-6 Box Score

 

CF M. Szczur 0/5

3B Ja. Baez 0/4, K, HBP

2B R. Silva 1/2, 3B (1), RBI

RP N. Struck 0.2 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 0 K, 1-0 GO-FO, 26-12 pitches-strikes

RP K. Rhoderick 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 1-1 GO-FO, 4-4 pitches-strikes

[Guest]

10/20: Mesa lost 16-10 Box Score

 

CF M. Szczur 1/4, R, 2 RBI, 2 BB

SS Ja. Baez 1/4, 2 R, HR (3), 3 RBI, BB, 2 E (6, fielding, throw)

RP T. Zych 1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, HBP, 1-0 GO-FO, 20-13 pitches-strikes

[scarey]

Anyone have any insight as to why Baez is suddenly falling apart in the field. I saw him play this year and he stood out as a ridiculously polished defender, especially after all the reports that pegged him as moving off of SS.