Random Cubs Musings: Minor League Edition

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

only two consensus top five in Stinnett and Zastryzny from that sample. Interesting. TT will now explain why he hates Underwood (just kidding, kinda)

[Guest]

He's at the top of Tier 2!

 

Really though, I'm lower on Underwood and Blackburn than most. In Underwood's case he at least has the stuff, but the middling results at 3 levels don't rank that highly for me. All the guys ahead of him on my list save Zastryzny/Martinez have good stuff too, and are at least striking out a lot of guys(and sometimes walking very few too).

 

The one I really want to go to bat for is Martinez. I'd love to read an interview with him or article about his approach to see how many commonalities he has with Hendricks.

[Guest]

Underwood's K numbers aren't great but given how good his stuff can be and how raw he is, his improved control this season makes me think the strikeouts should increase. I'll err on the side of better stuff at the lower levels, especially if the player has already shown some improvement year to year.

[Banedon]

Sickles' Cubs Top 20 2014 PRE-SEASON Prospects in Review

 

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2014/9/5/6076877/chicago-cubs-top-20-2014-pre-season-prospects-in-review

 

This list was originally published January 8, 2014.

[bauermj]

maybe some of you guys can humor me. rank these pitchers:

for my taste

 

Underwood

Zastryzny

Martinez

Blackburn

Stinnett

Black

Mejia

Sands

Steele

 

Ivan Pineyro

Tyler Skulina

Trevor Clifton

Daury Torrez

Juan Paniagua

 

James Pugliese (RP)

James Norwood

Ryan Williams (RP)

[UMFan83]

Was just looking at Rizzo's minor league numbers for some reason, and realized that his and Bryant's sample size at Iowa is very similar (Rizzo in 2012 and Bryant in 2014). They were also both 22 at the level, with Rizzo obviously having significantly more minor league pas (~1900 vs ~700) due to being drafted out of HS.

 

Rizzo 2012 at Iowa - 70 G, 284 PA, 18 2B, 2 3B, 23 HR, 62 RBI, 23 BB, 52 K, .342/.405/.696/1.101

Bryant 2014 at Iowa - 70 G, 297 PA, 14 2B, 1 3B, 21 HR, 52 RBI, 43 BB, 85 K, .295/.418/.619/1.036

 

If anything I guess Rizzo's numbers look a little better, but they are very similar. Also possibly relevant is that Rizzo's numbers were from April - July whereas Bryant's were June - September, and this was Bryant's first full minor league season and he definitely tailed off a bit later in the year. Would everyone be happy if Bryant turned into a RH Rizzo in the OF?

Edited September 16, 2014 by UMFan83

[Guest]

Was just looking at Rizzo's minor league numbers for some reason, and realized that his and Bryant's sample size at Iowa is very similar (Rizzo in 2012 and Bryant in 2014). They were also both 22 at the level, with Rizzo obviously having significantly more minor league pas (~1900 vs ~700) due to being drafted out of HS.

 

Rizzo 2012 at Iowa - 70 G, 284 PA, 18 2B, 2 3B, 23 HR, 62 RBI, 23 BB, 52 K, .342/.405/.696/1.101

Bryant 2014 at Iowa - 70 G, 297 PA, 14 2B, 1 3B, 21 HR, 52 RBI, 43 BB, 85 K, .295/.418/.619/1.036

 

If anything I guess Rizzo's numbers look a little better, but they are very similar. Would everyone be happy if Bryant turned into a RH Rizzo in the OF?

 

Are you [expletive] kidding with this question?

 

I'd be ecstatic.

[davell]

Was just looking at Rizzo's minor league numbers for some reason, and realized that his and Bryant's sample size at Iowa is very similar (Rizzo in 2012 and Bryant in 2014). They were also both 22 at the level, with Rizzo obviously having significantly more minor league pas (~1900 vs ~700) due to being drafted out of HS.

 

Rizzo 2012 at Iowa - 70 G, 284 PA, 18 2B, 2 3B, 23 HR, 62 RBI, 23 BB, 52 K, .342/.405/.696/1.101

Bryant 2014 at Iowa - 70 G, 297 PA, 14 2B, 1 3B, 21 HR, 52 RBI, 43 BB, 85 K, .295/.418/.619/1.036

 

If anything I guess Rizzo's numbers look a little better, but they are very similar. Would everyone be happy if Bryant turned into a RH Rizzo in the OF?

 

Are you [expletive] kidding with this question?

 

I'd be ecstatic.

 

This.

[jersey cubs fan]

If Bryant's face starts to shrink I will be concerned.

[Sammy Sofa]

Would everyone be happy if Bryant turned into a RH Rizzo in the OF?

 

"Would everyone be happy if it started raining hundred dollar bills? I better check just to be sure."

[UMFan83]

ok ok dumb question. Obviously we'd be thrilled. Was mostly just pointing out how similar their Iowa numbers were.

[imb]

If Bryant's face starts to shrink I will be concerned.

 

sparkle comes at a grievous price

[Guest]

ok ok dumb question. Obviously we'd be thrilled. Was mostly just pointing out how similar their Iowa numbers were.

 

except for a glaring elephant in the room

[UMFan83]

ok ok dumb question. Obviously we'd be thrilled. Was mostly just pointing out how similar their Iowa numbers were.

 

except for a glaring elephant in the room

 

Dammit, I'm going to feel dumb for asking this...what elephant is that?

[Sammy Sofa]

ok ok dumb question. Obviously we'd be thrilled. Was mostly just pointing out how similar their Iowa numbers were.

 

except for a glaring elephant in the room

 

Dammit, I'm going to feel dumb for asking this...what elephant is that?

 

http://www.rlrouse.com/pic-of-the-day/swing-miss.jpg

[jersey cubs fan]

ok ok dumb question. Obviously we'd be thrilled. Was mostly just pointing out how similar their Iowa numbers were.

 

except for a glaring elephant in the room

 

Dammit, I'm going to feel dumb for asking this...what elephant is that?

 

vogelbach

[UMFan83]

ok ok dumb question. Obviously we'd be thrilled. Was mostly just pointing out how similar their Iowa numbers were.

 

except for a glaring elephant in the room

 

Dammit, I'm going to feel dumb for asking this...what elephant is that?

 

http://www.rlrouse.com/pic-of-the-day/swing-miss.jpg

 

Oh yeah...their BB/K rates are similar but Rizzo didn't come close to Bryants high K rate overall.

[Sammy Sofa]

ok ok dumb question. Obviously we'd be thrilled. Was mostly just pointing out how similar their Iowa numbers were.

 

except for a glaring elephant in the room

 

Dammit, I'm going to feel dumb for asking this...what elephant is that?

 

vogelbach

 

That got a straight up guffaw.

[Guest]

it's ok, though

 

rizzo, soler, and maybe russell can handle being the really good overall hitters and javy and bryant can hit like .240-.260 and mash a lot of dongs on the back end. it'll still result in lots of runs.

 

oh and that castro guy can do stuff too.

[Guest]

Oh yeah...their BB/K rates are similar but Rizzo didn't come close to Bryants high K rate overall.

 

ALSO HIS BB RATE

[MWV]

Oh yeah...their BB/K rates are similar but Rizzo didn't come close to Bryants high K rate overall.

 

ALSO HIS BB RATE

Yeah, it is worth noting that Bryant posted a higher OBP than Rizzo despite giving up almost 50 points in avg.

[Guest]

Oh yeah...their BB/K rates are similar but Rizzo didn't come close to Bryants high K rate overall.

 

ALSO HIS BB RATE

Yeah, it is worth noting that Bryant posted a higher OBP than Rizzo despite giving up almost 50 points in avg.

 

It's also worth nothing that Rizzo has managed a higher BB rate in the major leagues (than the stint which is being discussed) which, if anything, is the opposite of what should be expected.

 

He became better at that in the big leagues (or about as good, if you go a bit further back into his minor league career). Bryant (or any minor leaguer) shouldn't be expected to do that. His BB rate should be expected to go down and his K rate should be expected to go up, because MLB is a lot harder than AAA.

 

Obviously, if he can similarly become better or as good at certain things in MLB as he was in AAA, the way Rizzo did, that'd be a great thing. But the fact that Rizzo has made the strides he did in approach to get his BB rate in the bigs to what it is is a big point in his favor, and so is the fact that he struck out a lot less (and has a considerably lower K rate in MLB than Bryant could dream of even in AA).

[JennieGarthAlgar]

it's ok, though

 

rizzo, soler, and maybe russell can handle being the really good overall hitters and javy and bryant can hit like .240-.260 and mash a lot of dongs on the back end. it'll still result in lots of runs.

 

oh and that castro guy can do stuff too.

 

Javy could hit .200 and it wouldn't be the end of the world.

[A New Era]

it's ok, though

 

rizzo, soler, and maybe russell can handle being the really good overall hitters and javy and bryant can hit like .240-.260 and mash a lot of dongs on the back end. it'll still result in lots of runs.

 

oh and that castro guy can do stuff too.

 

They should probably just focus on hitting home runs.

[ctcf]

The Brewer Nation @BrewerNation

The hero of the Midwest League playoffs, Mike Olt, is pinch-hitting here. Wow! From Low-A to MLB in September. Amazing. #BS

 

Bitter much?