Minor League Discussion & Boxes 6-15-13

[Guest]

Blackburn 1 H, 0 BB, 7 K through 4.

 

Wonder if he has gained any velocity or this is purely awesome movement/control against lower level hitters.

 

http://www.idahopress.com/members/high-hopes-for-hawks-hurlers/article_59b879de-d3fb-11e2-8946-0019bb2963f4.html

 

Hmm...

After going 2-0 with a 3.48 ERA in six starts last season with the Cubs’ Rookie League team in Mesa, Ariz., Blackburn stayed in Arizona during the offseason and worked on adding weight to his 6-foot-1, 160-pound frame.

When he starts for the Hawks Saturday in Eugene, Blackburn will stand 6-foot-2 and weigh 195 pounds.

One thing that hasn’t changed is Blackburn’s ability to hit the catcher’s mitt. Whether tossing a two-seam fastball between 91-94 mph, curveballs or changeups, Blackburn’s pinpoint accuracy is something that has amazed one particular teammate.

“He has unbelievably good control,” Underwood said.

[craig]

Blackburn 1 H, 0 BB, 7 K through 4.

 

Wonder if he has gained any velocity or this is purely awesome movement/control against lower level hitters.

 

http://www.idahopress.com/members/high-hopes-for-hawks-hurlers/article_59b879de-d3fb-11e2-8946-0019bb2963f4.html

 

Hmm...

After going 2-0 with a 3.48 ERA in six starts last season with the Cubs’ Rookie League team in Mesa, Ariz., Blackburn stayed in Arizona during the offseason and worked on adding weight to his 6-foot-1, 160-pound frame.

When he starts for the Hawks Saturday in Eugene, Blackburn will stand 6-foot-2 and weigh 195 pounds.

One thing that hasn’t changed is Blackburn’s ability to hit the catcher’s mitt. Whether tossing a two-seam fastball between 91-94 mph, curveballs or changeups, Blackburn’s pinpoint accuracy is something that has amazed one particular teammate.

“He has unbelievably good control,” Underwood said.

 

The alleged weight gain, that's pretty significant. You'd think that some better velocity could result, although of course not necessarily. The 91-94, I may be wrong but I suspect they just snagged that out of BA's draft notes from last summer or their prospects book this winter. By most accounts there wasn't much (if any) 91-94 last summer at mesa.

 

An actual controlled 91-94 2-seamer, if he now or someday could be working there regularly, would be a great pitch. Last summer he had 13 K's in 6 starts/21 innings. Fun to see 8 K's already in first start.

 

These Northwest league lineups are pretty weak now, before the college draft picks sign, get into shape, and get integrated. Often half or more of the starting lineup won't be starting in July or August. Still, it's a very fun start. One single, one flyout, everything else K's or groundouts.

[ctcf]

So 5IP, 1H, 0ER, 0BB, 8K for Blackburn? I'll take it.

[BeerHere]

I'm going to the Cougars game tonight and will provide my very amateur scouting review of the players that I see.

 

(assuming the game gets in - it is raining at the moment)

 

BeerNotes:

 

As someone mentioned earlier, Maples was terrible. No command of the FB whatsoever. Very Very wild. I was there 40 minutes before the game and watched him warm up. He was clearly working on his mechanics with his pitching coach who was stressing to him the importance of his stride. He seemed to repeat his delivery well but his motion is mostly in his shoulder, not much use of his lower body and his stride seemed a little short for someone of his size. The error my Amaya certainly didn't help but Maples wasn't getting out of that inning either way. Velo touched 92 and he threw one knee-buckling slider. Other than that, he was absolutely terrible. He did seem to be listening to his coach and genuinely working on what he was hearing.

 

Defensively, Amaya was pretty bad. The untimely error in the first and he booted a ball later as well. Generally the Cougars defense was pretty bad. Almora had a ball hit right at him, he broke in on it and it was well over his head. He turned and made a very nice over-the-shoulder grab (Willy Mays style). Candalario had an error as well. Vogelbach made a couple nice plays and seemed comfortable at first. He and Almora are clearly friends and hung out/stretched together. The two of them play loose.

 

At the plate, Rademacher had a nice day. His homer was to straight away right and with the wind blowing out after the 5th, I'd guess it traveled to 380/390. He had a nice hit earlier in the game as well and was impressive at the plate. Vogelbach saw a minimum of 6 pitches in every AB. He works the count well and was robbed of a single up the middle by the Timber Rattlers 2B who is excellent with the glove. He squared up the ball well but didn't take advantage of the wind. Everything Almora hit was square. He has good speed as well and his SB wasn't even close despite the pitch being decent for the catcher to throw. Golden looks exactly like a friend of mine. He is a big guy but is still somewhat athletic. He seemed fine in right and has a pretty good arm. At the plate he seems like an all-of-nothing kind of swing but the TR relievers were throwing a lot of strikes after the 3rd. He was a little overly aggressive IMO, swinging at the first pitch in his first two AB's (both breaking balls).

 

Overall a disappointing day but still a good time for my family. This was my first trip to 5th 3rd Field this year and they have made some nice changes now that they are a Cubs affiliate. Fireworks after the game, running the bases, etc. The people around me were very nice and everyone knew who the prospects were, and followed them closely.

Edited June 16, 2013 by BeerHere

[Guest]

Okay, brain dump from seeing Kane County tonight. All opinions should be prefaced with #notascout.

 

- Derek Johnson was there. He was obviously very interested in Maples, even watching and taking notes on him warming up(Johnson was behind the plate, Maples down the RF line). There also seemed to be a greater than average number of scouts there. Rangers, Astros, Orioles, and at least 2 others there.

 

- Rademacher - Put a couple good swings on the ball, double was a line shot that bounced to to the RCF wall, HR was a no-doubter over the party deck. In all honesty I remember little of his at bats because OMGALMORANEXT

 

- Almora - Very easily the best player on the field. First single was hit as hard as you can hit a line drive up the middle. Second AB took an outside pitch to RF for a line drive single. 3rd AB crushed a line drive right at the CF. 4th AB was fooled twice by the new pitcher's slider and popped up. 5th AB swung and missed at that slider again, but got it once more and sliced one to the RF line that required a running catch. Had 2B stolen on Vogelbach's BB, his SB was also a ball in the dirt with no throw but he seemed to have a good jump. Defensively misread one ball hit on a line to CF but back-tracked to make the play. At that point I was so surprised that he would do that I tried convincing myself it was a deke of some sort. Came within inches of an incredible diving catch in LCF but missed, runner only got 2nd with Zapata backing up.

 

- Vogelbach - "Air Force Ones" is his walkup music, which seems pretty appropriate, #scouting. Took good at bats and worked counts. Hardest hit ball was a drive to the RCF warning track that he just missed barreling properly. Made a nice pick on a relay throw to prevent an extra base, threw out a guy at home on a ground ball. Could've prevented Candelario's error if he were Rizzo's height.

 

- Candelario - Also took very good at bats, as you would think. Single was a line drive to left center field on a nice swing. Defensively didn't get challenged much, error was a high but on target throw that Vogelbach had to jump to catch. Came right back the next hitter and made a play with soft hands and a quick throw to 2B.

 

- Hernandez - Not Marco's best night. Struggled to make hard contact, his single was a perfectly placed bunt. Had several "almost" plays in the field where he could've dazzled but didn't finish the play. e.g. dove for a ball that glanced off his glove, ranged to the hole but double clutched and cost him the out.

 

- Amaya - Hit the ball hard on the ground 3 times. Got robbed by the 2B(who had several nice defensive plays) and P in between a double down the line. Kicked a routine ground ball in the first to compound Maples' problems

 

- Golden - Had never seen Golden before, he is a thick, well built dude. Definitely no physical projection left there. The best way to describe him would be...not controlled. He takes violent hacks that didn't serve him well today. Showed off a pretty decent arm in overthrowing a relay over Amaya and wide of Vogelbach. Did seem to have a plan at the plate, and had a long AB with several fouled off pitches. Never really squared up the ball though.

 

- Contreras - Contreras had a very interesting night. Hit a double to LCF where he beat the throw his first trip up, then smoked a single to LF in his second AB(Rangers scout was looking him up after that one). Had a passed ball on a Maples fastball in the first but also threw a guy out with a 1.45 pop time. Gave up 3 SB later, including one with a 2.00 pop time, one where the throw sailed on him to CF, and a third where it seemed like he didn't realize the runner was going at first, giving him awkward footwork and a mediocre throw. Also had a runner hung up between 2nd and 3rd after a pitch, and instead of waiting for him to commit and gunning him down easily, immediately threw to 3rd, enabling the runner to get back to 2nd. Nitpicking really but he's not a super instinctual catcher at this point.

 

- Zapata - "Hey, Almora's on deck next!" Also showed off a subpar arm trying to get a runner at the plate on a single.

 

Pitchers

 

- Maples - Bad. Fastball was 90-93 where I saw it, and all the strikes I saw were at 90-91. Threw a loopy breaking ball in the mid 70s and another offspeed in the 84-85 range. Didn't seem to be flustered with his lack of control or Amaya's error, to his credit. Seemed like a tight zone the inning he pitched, but it was also the beginning of the night so maybe I was used to a bigger zone from not watching that level of ball.

 

- Amlung - Short armed delivery, fastball at 88, slider at 80. Got some swings and misses with that slider(this became a theme), but was also tagged for 3 more runs.

 

- Pena - He looked pretty sharp. Fastball at 91, offspeed at 84 and 80(I'm terrible at identifying off speed pitches), his line is very much a reflection of how well he pitched. Wisconsin bit hard on sliders with two strikes, 4 of their 10 K's were dropped 3rd strikes.

 

- Castillo - Was not very good. Control issues, gave up some hard hit balls, Fastball was sitting 90

 

I think that's all, let me know and I can try to fill in any gaps. Very glad the rain held off until the game was over. Also, I was way too amused by the Zooperstars in between innings #scouting.

[BeerHere]

Okay, brain dump from seeing Kane County tonight. All opinions should be prefaced with #notascout.

 

- Derek Johnson was there. He was obviously very interested in Maples, even watching and taking notes on him warming up(Johnson was behind the plate, Maples down the RF line). There also seemed to be a greater than average number of scouts there. Rangers, Astros, Orioles, and at least 2 others there.

 

- Rademacher - Put a couple good swings on the ball, double was a line shot that bounced to to the RCF wall, HR was a no-doubter over the party deck. In all honesty I remember little of his at bats because OMGALMORANEXT

 

- Almora - Very easily the best player on the field. First single was hit as hard as you can hit a line drive up the middle. Second AB took an outside pitch to RF for a line drive single. 3rd AB crushed a line drive right at the CF. 4th AB was fooled twice by the new pitcher's slider and popped up. 5th AB swung and missed at that slider again, but got it once more and sliced one to the RF line that required a running catch. Had 2B stolen on Vogelbach's BB, his SB was also a ball in the dirt with no throw but he seemed to have a good jump. Defensively misread one ball hit on a line to CF but back-tracked to make the play. At that point I was so surprised that he would do that I tried convincing myself it was a deke of some sort. Came within inches of an incredible diving catch in LCF but missed, runner only got 2nd with Zapata backing up.

 

- Vogelbach - "Air Force Ones" is his walkup music, which seems pretty appropriate, #scouting. Took good at bats and worked counts. Hardest hit ball was a drive to the RCF warning track that he just missed barreling properly. Made a nice pick on a relay throw to prevent an extra base, threw out a guy at home on a ground ball. Could've prevented Candelario's error if he were Rizzo's height.

 

- Candelario - Also took very good at bats, as you would think. Single was a line drive to left center field on a nice swing. Defensively didn't get challenged much, error was a high but on target throw that Vogelbach had to jump to catch. Came right back the next hitter and made a play with soft hands and a quick throw to 2B.

 

- Hernandez - Not Marco's best night. Struggled to make hard contact, his single was a perfectly placed bunt. Had several "almost" plays in the field where he could've dazzled but didn't finish the play. e.g. dove for a ball that glanced off his glove, ranged to the hole but double clutched and cost him the out.

 

- Amaya - Hit the ball hard on the ground 3 times. Got robbed by the 2B(who had several nice defensive plays) and P in between a double down the line. Kicked a routine ground ball in the first to compound Maples' problems

 

- Golden - Had never seen Golden before, he is a thick, well built dude. Definitely no physical projection left there. The best way to describe him would be...not controlled. He takes violent hacks that didn't serve him well today. Showed off a pretty decent arm in overthrowing a relay over Amaya and wide of Vogelbach. Did seem to have a plan at the plate, and had a long AB with several fouled off pitches. Never really squared up the ball though.

 

- Contreras - Contreras had a very interesting night. Hit a double to LCF where he beat the throw his first trip up, then smoked a single to LF in his second AB(Rangers scout was looking him up after that one). Had a passed ball on a Maples fastball in the first but also threw a guy out with a 1.45 pop time. Gave up 3 SB later, including one with a 2.00 pop time, one where the throw sailed on him to CF, and a third where it seemed like he didn't realize the runner was going at first, giving him awkward footwork and a mediocre throw. Also had a runner hung up between 2nd and 3rd after a pitch, and instead of waiting for him to commit and gunning him down easily, immediately threw to 3rd, enabling the runner to get back to 2nd. Nitpicking really but he's not a super instinctual catcher at this point.

 

- Zapata - "Hey, Almora's on deck next!" Also showed off a subpar arm trying to get a runner at the plate on a single.

 

Pitchers

 

- Maples - Bad. Fastball was 90-93 where I saw it, and all the strikes I saw were at 90-91. Threw a loopy breaking ball in the mid 70s and another offspeed in the 84-85 range. Didn't seem to be flustered with his lack of control or Amaya's error, to his credit. Seemed like a tight zone the inning he pitched, but it was also the beginning of the night so maybe I was used to a bigger zone from not watching that level of ball.

 

- Amlung - Short armed delivery, fastball at 88, slider at 80. Got some swings and misses with that slider(this became a theme), but was also tagged for 3 more runs.

 

- Pena - He looked pretty sharp. Fastball at 91, offspeed at 84 and 80(I'm terrible at identifying off speed pitches), his line is very much a reflection of how well he pitched. Wisconsin bit hard on sliders with two strikes, 4 of their 10 K's were dropped 3rd strikes.

 

- Castillo - Was not very good. Control issues, gave up some hard hit balls, Fastball was sitting 90

 

I think that's all, let me know and I can try to fill in any gaps. Very glad the rain held off until the game was over. Also, I was way too amused by the Zooperstars in between innings #scouting.

 

Where did you sit?

[Guest]

Behind the plate, in the first row of silver benches. The Astros and Rangers scout(and Johnson to his right) were right in front of me, I didn't catch the exact words but at one point I'm pretty sure the two scouts were bummed out that Camp wasn't still in KC to help move things along, but they also made fun of his (lack of) velocity.

[BeerHere]

Who is Derek Johnson?

[Guest]

Minor League Pitching Coordinator, formerly Vanderbilt's pitching coach.

 

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=61566

[BeerHere]

He clearly needs to work with Maples. It wasn't just that he was wild, he certainly was, but he looks like a shoulder injury waiting to happen.

[Guest]

Meh. Frandy de la Rosa: 16 PA, 8 Ks.

[craig]

Meh. Frandy de la Rosa: 16 PA, 8 Ks.

 

He was pretty much like that in instrux, too. Whatever it was McLeod saw in him that looked so polished, it didn't appear to be his ability to make contact.

[Guest]

Meh. Frandy de la Rosa: 16 PA, 8 Ks.

 

He was pretty much like that in instrux, too. Whatever it was McLeod saw in him that looked so polished, it didn't appear to be his ability to make contact.

 

I wasn't too concerned about his strikeouts in ExST since it was against older, better competition (I assume you meant ExST where he struck out 8 times in 24 AB because he really shined in Dominican instructs).

 

Ben Badler[/url]"]He has quick hands, good bat control and a knack for putting the barrel to the ball, with more line drives than power right now. He stood out among Cubs position players at the team's Dominican instructional league, even with more advanced players like Marco Hernandez in attendance.

[Guest]

"It was exciting seeing 4,000 people out there. It definitely was a little nerve-racking. But I just went out there and threw my pitches and I took the crowd out of the game early, which helped me a lot," Blackburn said.

 

The 19-year-old right-hander gave up a two-out single in the first to Edwin Moreno, then retired the next 13 batters. He struck out Cade Kreuzer and exited with the game scoreless.

 

"Everything was working, all three of my pitches," Blackburn said. "I could throw whatever I wanted whenever. I was able to locate anywhere I wanted to."

 

Blackburn throws a two-seam fastball in the low 90s and complements it with a changeup and curveball that got him most of his strikeouts against the Emeralds. Unlike most pitchers, he throws his two-seamer harder than his four-seam fastball.

 

"I've always thrown a two-seamer, I feel like I throw it harder and have more control over it. I'm just more comfortable with it," the California high school product said.

 

Blackburn prepared for his debut by heading to extended spring training and focusing on adding muscle to his 6-foot-2, 185-pound frame.

 

"[The Cubs] aren't trying to rush me, they were basically putting me somewhere I'll succeed and feel comfortable," he said, adding he'll pitch on regular rest as the Northwest League season unfolds.

 

Article about his start last night but it looks like it's just going off the same information from before and not an actual report of what was happening in this start (in terms of his stuff).

 

http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130616&content_id=50792896&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_milb&sid=milb

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

He throws a two-seamer harder than a four-seamer? That's really weird.

[craig]

He throws a two-seamer harder than a four-seamer? That's really weird.

 

Yeah, really weird.

[Guest]

He throws a two-seamer harder than a four-seamer? That's really weird.

 

Yeah, really weird.

 

Maybe that means there are some untapped MPHs in his four seamer that our coaching can get at.

[Guest]

I saw a report thar Blackburn was in the low 90s last night.

[sports1]

No talk about Hendricks? Looks like he had another solid start.

[ctcf]

No talk about Hendricks? Looks like he had another solid start.

 

It actually might qualify as one of his worst ones recently. Not much to say about the guy at the point other than it's time to move him up a level.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

No talk about Hendricks? Looks like he had another solid start.

 

No one's going to buy in because of his average stuff. But it's really hard to ignore what he's done, and his performance has nothing to do with luck. I have him 14th right now in my top 15.

[sports1]

No talk about Hendricks? Looks like he had another solid start.

 

No one's going to buy in because of his average stuff. But it's really hard to ignore what he's done, and his performance has nothing to do with luck. I have him 14th right now in my top 15.

 

I guess it's hard to get excited over any Cubs pitcher in the minors right now, so I guess we'll take it.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

No talk about Hendricks? Looks like he had another solid start.

 

No one's going to buy in because of his average stuff. But it's really hard to ignore what he's done, and his performance has nothing to do with luck. I have him 14th right now in my top 15.

 

I guess it's hard to get excited over any Cubs pitcher in the minors right now, so I guess we'll take it.

 

There are two guys that could provide legitimate excitement besides Pierce Johnson. Unfortunately, one of them is probably not going to pitch this year and the other is currently not being allowed into the United States.

 

Blackburn and Underwood could join the group depending on their outings the rest of the year, or even Maples for that matter. Zastryzny as well.

 

note: spell check's suggestion for Zastryzny was Astronomy.

[BeerHere]

No talk about Hendricks? Looks like he had another solid start.

 

No one's going to buy in because of his average stuff. But it's really hard to ignore what he's done, and his performance has nothing to do with luck. I have him 14th right now in my top 15.

 

I guess it's hard to get excited over any Cubs pitcher in the minors right now, so I guess we'll take it.

 

There are two guys that could provide legitimate excitement besides Pierce Johnson. Unfortunately, one of them is probably not going to pitch this year and the other is currently not being allowed into the United States.

 

Blackburn and Underwood could join the group depending on their outings the rest of the year, or even Maples for that matter. Zastryzny as well.

 

note: spell check's suggestion for Zastryzny was Astronomy.

I don't have much hope for Maples.