Minor League Discussion & Boxes 6-20-13

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Box Scores

 

Iowa won 6-4 Box Score

 

2B L. Watkins 0/5, K

RF B. Bogusevic 4/4, 2 R, 2B (14), RBI, BB

1B S. Clevenger 0/4, R, BB - rehab

LF D. Sappelt 1/4, R, 3B (2), RBI, 2 K

3B J. Lake 3/4, R, 2 RBI

CF B. Jackson 0/4, 2 K, outfield assist at second base

SP Y. Negrin 8 IP, 9 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 7 K, 9-5 GO-FO, 97-63 pitches-strikes; batting: 0/3, 2 K

 

Tennessee won 3-2 Box Score

 

CF M. Szczur 0/3, 2 BB, K

SS A. Alcantara 1/3, R, 3B (2), BB, K

RF JH Ha 0/4, RBI, K, SB (7)

3B C. Villanueva 0/4, K

2B R. Torreyes 1/3, R, BB, K

SP A. Kirk 5.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 8 K, 5-3 GO-FO, 86-46 pitches-strikes; batting: 1/2, RBI

RP T. Zych 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 0-1 GO-FO

RP T. McNutt 1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, 1 WP, 1-2 GO-FO

 

Daytona won 4-0 Box Score

 

LF Z. DeVoss 1/4, R, 2 K, outfield assist at second base

DH Ja. Baez 2/4, R, HR (15), RBI, 2 K

1B D. Geiger 0/4, RBI, K

3B B. Carhart 2/3, R, 2B (19), BB, K, CS (3)

C C. Krist 1/4, RBI, K

SS T. Saunders 0/3, RBI, K, HBP

SP M. Loosen 6 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 K, 4-4 GO-FO

 

Kane County lost 5-3 Box Score

 

RF B. Rademacher 1/4, 2B (8), 2 K

CF A. Almora 1/4, RBI, E (1, throw), outfield assist at home

1B D. Vogelbach 2/5, 2B (14), 2 K

3B J. Candelario 1/5, K, E (15, fielding)

DH R. Shoulders 2/3, R, 2B (14), 2 BB

SS M. Hernandez 2/5, R, 2B (14)

C W. Contreras 1/5, K

2B G. Amaya 1/5, 2 K

SP B. Smith 5 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 6-4 GO-FO

RP J. Rosario 3 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 1 WP, 3-2 GO-FO

 

Boise PPD: Rain

 

AZL Cubs lost their season opener 1-0 Box Score

 

DH Z. Blair 1/4 - pro debut

RF Je. Baez 1/3, BB, K, outfield assist at second base

3B J. Hodges 0/3, E (1, throw)

SS G. Papaccio 1/3, BB - pro debut

2B F. Sanchez 0/3, K, E (1, fielding)

SP E. Leal 5 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 7-5 GO-FO

RP A. McKirahan 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K - rehab

RP C. Rodriguez 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 1-3 GO-FO

 

DSL Cubs lost 3-0 Box Score

 

SS F. De La Rosa 0/4, 2 K

1B A. Paula 0/2, BB, K

LF Jo. Paniagua 0/2, BB, K, outfield assist at second base

DH A. Gonzalez 1/3, K, SB (1)

SP L. Hernandez 4 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 3-4 GO-FO

RP O. De La Cruz 3 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 2-1 GO-FO

 

VSL Cubs lost 2-1 (10 innings) Box Score

 

RF R. Marcano 1/3, BB, CS (5), PO

CF A. Calero 0/3, BB, K

C J. Pereda 0/4

LF M. Hodwalker ¼, 3 K

2B B. Flete 2/4, RBI

SP E. De Los Rio 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 1 HBP, 1 WP, 9-5 GO-FO

RP C. Pieters 0.2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 WP, 1-0 GO-FO

 

OVERALL: 3-4

[Guest]

Probable Starters

 

Iowa: RHP Yoanner Negrin (49 IP, 3.28 FIP, 3.67 ERA, 54 K, 16 BB)

Tennessee: LHP Austin Kirk (11 IP, 4.47 FIP, 7.36 ERA, 7 K, 5 BB)

Daytona: RHP Matt Loosen (9 IP, 6.20 FIP, 8.00 ERA, 10 K, 6 BB)

Kane County: RHP Jose Rosario (23.1 IP, 5.81 FIP, 5.79 ERA, 7 K, 12 BB)

Boise: RHP Paul Blackburn (5 IP, 0.00 FIP, 0.00 ERA, 8 K, 0 BB)

[CubsWin]

Really intrigued to see how Blackburn does in his 2nd start.

[Quakers]

Found this on CBS's fantasy page

 

Albert Almora, OF, Cubs

Affiliate: Class A Kane County

2013 stats: .402/.434/.543/.978, one triple, one home run, eight doubles, 11 RBI, 16 runs, 13 strikeouts, five walks and three stolen bases in 22 games

Everyone knew Almora was good when the Cubs drafted him with the sixth overall pick in the 2012 draft, but batting .402 in 22 games is nothing short of jaw dropping. Almora missed the start of the season with a broken bone in his left hand, but it doesn't seem the down time affected him. In fact, it seems like he feels like he needs to make up for lost time. Surely there will be debate as to who is the better Cubs' outfield prospect -- Almora or Jorge Soler -- but everyone can agree that the Cubs' long-term outfield situation looks promising, and it could get even better if Brett Jackson solves whatever has been ailing him at Triple-A. Scouts rave that Almora has more polish and better makeup than most high schoolers in recent years, and the 19-year-old outfielder isn't disappointing. Cubs president Theo Epstein is usually adamant about a prospect logging heavy at-bats at Triple-A before his pro debut, so it will be interesting to see if Almora is the player that breaks the mold.

[Guest]

lol at even mentioning Brett Jackson (and acting like "what ails him" is some sort of mystery)

[Cubswin11]

lol at even mentioning Brett Jackson (and acting like "what ails him" is some sort of mystery)

That and somehow thinking Almora's next step is AAA and it's possible he skips it all together to go right from Kane County to MLB

[jersey cubs fan]

Cubs president Theo Epstein is usually adamant about a prospect logging heavy at-bats at Triple-A before his pro debut, so it will be interesting to see if Almora is the player that breaks the mold.

 

HE ALREADY MADE HIS PRO DEBUT AFTER HE SIGNED HIS PROFESSIONAL CONTRACT AND PLAYED PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL IN THE MINOR LEAGUES.

[Guest]

lol at even mentioning Brett Jackson (and acting like "what ails him" is some sort of mystery)

That and somehow thinking Almora's next step is AAA and it's possible he skips it all together to go right from Kane County to MLB

 

Well, he didn't necessarily imply that it was his next step. But it was odd to bring up AAA out of nowhere.

[jersey cubs fan]

lol at even mentioning Brett Jackson (and acting like "what ails him" is some sort of mystery)

 

When I was looking up Jeimer Candelario info I found a November 2011 story about Cubs top prospects that noted Brett Jackson has no below average tool, but his weakness was his swinging and missing. Isn't the "hit tool" the one that makes it so you don't strikeout a hell of a lot more than the average player? If you strikeout like that, isn't your hit tool below average?

[Guest]

lol at even mentioning Brett Jackson (and acting like "what ails him" is some sort of mystery)

 

When I was looking up Jeimer Candelario info I found a November 2011 story about Cubs top prospects that noted Brett Jackson has no below average tool, but his weakness was his swinging and missing. Isn't the "hit tool" the one that makes it so you don't strikeout a hell of a lot more than the average player? If you strikeout like that, isn't your hit tool below average?

yes

[davell]

While it definitely is being proven wrong, I think the reason quite a few saw his hit tool as average, is because they saw lots of extra base pop and possibly a sustainable BABIP that was high. Most saw him as a max .260ish BA type, just with a nice walk rate that would have given him a solid OBP.

[Guest]

I'm actually not 100% sure, is the strict scouting definition of hit tool the ability to get hits(which definitely described Jackson in 2011), or the ability to make contact/avoid swings and misses? Maybe both?

[davell]

I'm actually not 100% sure, is the strict scouting definition of hit tool the ability to get hits(which definitely described Jackson in 2011), or the ability to make contact/avoid swings and misses? Maybe both?

Damn, good question.

[sneakypower]

I'm actually not 100% sure, is the strict scouting definition of hit tool the ability to get hits(which definitely described Jackson in 2011), or the ability to make contact/avoid swings and misses? Maybe both?

Rene Saggiadi (European Talent Evaluator): It’s simply the ability to square balls up.
 
Jason Parks (Baseball Prospectus, out of context quote): a “smooth swing and excellent barrel awareness that should allow [one] to hit over .300.”
 
Jim Callis (Baseball America, Interview): Someone’s pure hitting ability.
 
Jeff Reese (Bullpen Banter): The hit tool is evaluating the aspects that are conducive to high batting averages.
 
Additionally, Kevin Goldstein, Ben Badler, and Jim Callis noted that MLB regulars with 80 hit tools included Albert Pujols, Ichiro Suzuki, and Joe Mauer.

http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2011/3/1/2020683/statistical-head-scratchers-the-hit-tool
 
i'd think of Votto, for example, having a 75 or whatever hit tool despite relatively high K rates

[Guest]

meh. Then there should be an "ability to not strike out excessively in the minors" tool.

[jersey cubs fan]

The idea that people try to put a numerical distinction on such a nebulous idea is mind boggling.

[Guest]

The idea that people try to put a numerical distinction on such a nebulous idea is mind boggling.

I just think of those numbers as ordinal data. I don't know why they go to 80 instead of 100 though.

[Cubswin11]

lol at even mentioning Brett Jackson (and acting like "what ails him" is some sort of mystery)

That and somehow thinking Almora's next step is AAA and it's possible he skips it all together to go right from Kane County to MLB

 

Well, he didn't necessarily imply that it was his next step. But it was odd to bring up AAA out of nowhere.

I know he didn't imply it, but I took as him saying this guys is hitting .400+ in the minors below AAA. Once he gets promoted the only options are AAA/MLB and he seemingly doesn't acknowledge that he's 2 levels below AAA right now.

 

Like you said the AAA reference was weird. It would have made more sense to say something like "Theo is adamant about prospects logging heavy ab's at all levels but it will interesting to see if Theo breaks the mold and has Almora skip A+ all together and go right to AA."

[Guest]

i always thought hit tool was just the raw ability to avoid swings and misses, and that low strikeouts are just kind of a byproduct of it.

[ctcf]

Jason Parks @ProfessorParks

The BP Mid-Season Top 50 prospect list will be published next Tuesday. The list has been finalized and has pushed me into alcoholism.

 

Should be interesting to see if the Cubs still have 4 in there since Bryant hasn't signed.

[Guest]

Jason Parks @ProfessorParks

The BP Mid-Season Top 50 prospect list will be published next Tuesday. The list has been finalized and has pushed me into alcoholism.

 

Should be interesting to see if the Cubs still have 4 in there since Bryant hasn't signed.

They will only have 3 if Bryant isn't included.

[Warpticon]

The idea that people try to put a numerical distinction on such a nebulous idea is mind boggling.

 

The fact that they do it on a scale that starts at 20 is even more mind-boggling.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

The idea that people try to put a numerical distinction on such a nebulous idea is mind boggling.

 

The fact that they do it on a scale that starts at 20 is even more mind-boggling.

 

I have no idea why they started at 50, but the idea of going 3 standard deviations in either direction is pretty useful.

[Guest]

Jacob Hannemann added to Boise's roster. That was quick.

[Guest]

Jacob Hannemann added to Boise's roster. That was quick.

 

Sweet!