Minor League Discussion & Boxes 7-30-13

[ScrubMD]

Baez with an unspectacular 1/6 with a BB, but went 7 PA's without a k. So that's good.

[Guest]

it's pretty cool how it seems like almora and baez both just kind of flipped a switch and started taking walks. especially with almora, who isn't striking out at all. actually doing it while striking out less.

[jumbo]

Has it been determined that Cabrera's move to the pen is due to an innings limit?

[CubsWin]

If you excuse Kris Bryant of his Platinum Sombrero (5 Ks in 5 AB) in his very first game in Boise and only his 3rd professional game after a long layoff, his line looks like this:

 

7 G, 26 AB, 5 R, 7 H, 3 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 3 BB, 4 K.

 

.269/.345/.615

[Guest]

well, it is boise

[Little Slide Rooter]

Has it been determined that Cabrera's move to the pen is due to an innings limit?

 

I did see it mentioned on Twitter recently that it was to build up arm strength for longer innings, which didn't make much sense to me as he's been going 5-6 innings all season.

[Little Slide Rooter]

-Kevin Rboderick gave up 7 walks in 1.2 IP. Wow. That's. Bad.

 

-Daury Torrez with his usual 0/4 BB/K over 4 IP. Sadly, he gave up 6 ER along with it.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Havn't seem Shawon Jr. in box scores lately. Is he injured?

[Guest]

Havn't seem Shawon Jr. in box scores lately. Is he injured?

 

Yes, he was finally placed on the DL yesterday.

[rawaction]

Mike Olt is 3-27, all singles, with 2 BBs and 10Ks as a Cub. Conversely, Villanueva has really taken off since Olt was acquired, even with the 0-5 yesterday.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Mike Olt is 3-27, all singles, with 2 BBs and 10Ks as a Cub. Conversely, Villanueva has really taken off since Olt was acquired, even with the 0-5 yesterday.

 

I feel for Villanueva. Texas moved him because he was blocked by Beltre and the then untouchable Olt. Now, he's again blocked by Olt with Baez and Bryant behind him. I really think he should be trade bait, even if for a pitching prospect of comparable value.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Olt is about 400 more PAs of this from being in DFA territory, and Bryant hasn't proven he can stick at 3b yet.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Olt is about 400 more PAs of this from being in DFA territory, and Bryant hasn't proven he can stick at 3b yet.

 

But those 400 PAs are likely to come at the MLB level while Vitters plays 3rd in Iowa and Baez and Bryant spend the next 2 years auditioning for the job for the foreseeable future. Meanwhile, we have a serviceable, big league ready stop gap in Valbuena under team control for the next few years if Olt and Vitters both flame out before the other two are ready. Not saying Villanueva isn't a good prospect, just that while we have a stockpile at one position we should consider shopping for something we're in need of. Prospect for prospect swaps don't happen often, but that doesn't mean that they can't.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

We don't have a stockpile at 3b.

[jersey cubs fan]

Szczur has really had himself a crappy little July here. He's 24 now and he hasn't really taken a step forward yet, with numbers declining at each level. Is there much of a chance he's removed from the 40-man?

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

He should be. The guy is still living on draft overslot hype. I'd rather have John Andreoli at this point.

[KingCubsFan]

Szczur has really had himself a crappy little July here. He's 24 now and he hasn't really taken a step forward yet, with numbers declining at each level. Is there much of a chance he's removed from the 40-man?

I think so. He could still be a 4th outfielder, but you don't keep guys on the 40 man with that type of ceiling and the depth that the Cubs have in their farm system.

[Guest]

Wow:

 

Lim has been clocked at 93-95 (and some reports as high as 99), which is unusual velocity for a sidearmer to go with a slider, forkball, and occasional curve. He hit 95 mph today.

 

http://www.chicagonow.com/cubs-den/2013/07/cubs-minors-recap-bryant-heating-up-clifton-debuts-golden-hits-another-moon-shot/

[Guest]

That's awesome to hear. In the last week or so I took note of how solid he's been at all his rehab spots, hopefully that continues at Iowa and he can be a usable pen arm next year.

[Warpticon]

I completely forgot about Lim. Also, random thought, but what gets people throwing sidearm in the first place? I especially wonder how the submarine sidearm pitchers got the idea to throw like that.

[Guest]

I completely forgot about Lim. Also, random thought, but what gets people throwing sidearm in the first place? I especially wonder how the submarine sidearm pitchers got the idea to throw like that.

 

I think it's mostly borne out of not being good enough to advance with a more traditional delivery. IIRC, they talk a little bit about how Bradford picked up a submarine in Moneyball. Came down to the fact that his 88-90 mph fastball was a lot harder to hit from that angle.

[jersey cubs fan]

I completely forgot about Lim. Also, random thought, but what gets people throwing sidearm in the first place? I especially wonder how the submarine sidearm pitchers got the idea to throw like that.

 

I think it's mostly borne out of not being good enough to advance with a more traditional delivery. IIRC, they talk a little bit about how Bradford picked up a submarine in Moneyball. Came down to the fact that his 88-90 mph fastball was a lot harder to hit from that angle.

 

When I was a kid it was fun just to copy the guys who did it. I think it is a bit like becoming a knuckleballer. If you can't be an effective 95mph thrower, mix it up by changing the batters eye level.

[MSG T]

I completely forgot about Lim. Also, random thought, but what gets people throwing sidearm in the first place? I especially wonder how the submarine sidearm pitchers got the idea to throw like that.

 

I think it's mostly borne out of not being good enough to advance with a more traditional delivery. IIRC, they talk a little bit about how Bradford picked up a submarine in Moneyball. Came down to the fact that his 88-90 mph fastball was a lot harder to hit from that angle.

 

When I was a kid it was fun just to copy the guys who did it. I think it is a bit like becoming a knuckleballer. If you can't be an effective 95mph thrower, mix it up by changing the batters eye level.

 

 

We faced a kid in high school that threw submarine style, he picked it up because Quisenberry was his favorite pitcher.

[jersey cubs fan]

I completely forgot about Lim. Also, random thought, but what gets people throwing sidearm in the first place? I especially wonder how the submarine sidearm pitchers got the idea to throw like that.

 

I think it's mostly borne out of not being good enough to advance with a more traditional delivery. IIRC, they talk a little bit about how Bradford picked up a submarine in Moneyball. Came down to the fact that his 88-90 mph fastball was a lot harder to hit from that angle.

 

When I was a kid it was fun just to copy the guys who did it. I think it is a bit like becoming a knuckleballer. If you can't be an effective 95mph thrower, mix it up by changing the batters eye level.

 

 

We faced a kid in high school that threw submarine style, he picked it up because Quisenberry was his favorite pitcher.

 

I tried to do it a couple times a game but my dad didn't like it.

[Guest]

UCLA's star closer picked up sidearming after screwing around in practice in HS. The stuff was way better than his middling over-the-top delivery.