Minor League Discussion & Boxes 8-10-13

[craig]

Yeah, Maples is finally awesome. I hoping this can continue and he can start next year in Daytona.

 

Have we gotten any scouting on what Maples is throwing at Boise? At draft he was generally scouted as a late-1st or 2nd round talent, and the Cubs obviously paid him as a solid 1st rounder. The projection was for power fastball in time, although I don't think he was amazingly fast then; and for the possibility of a drop-dead curveball.

 

At Boise, he's knocked the walks off, but his K's and hits-allowed are decent but not special, and he hasn't really been showing any WOW 10K/5IP type games.

 

Back at Kane, I think there were a couple of reports; obviously many that he was super wild, but one in which he was low-90's, another that he was high 80's touching 90-91. But nothing incredible.

 

While his walks have vanished, he's still usually having several "wildness" outcomes per game (WP, HBP....), three yesterday.

 

I have no idea what's happening. Maybe they've told him to pretty much throw nothing but fastballs, work on getting a fastball you can throw for strikes this year, and we'll work the curve back in this winter? He wasn't controlling that at Kane, so still a huge step. Maybe he's been told to take a couple mph off, and can control it at 90, but if he tries to amp it to 92-94 he goes wild? Or maybe he's been nicely consistent, but the WP/HBP are occasional relapse pitches, or if he tries to throw a curve? Who knows.

 

I guess I'm wondering if after all the injuries and tweaks, and since he was a projection guy in the first place, whether he actually has ever added velocity, or has the velocity more typical for a 6th rounder than a 1st rounder. And whether his curveball is anything to get excited about anymore. High ceiling? Or just a guy with chance at back-of-rotation stuff?

[Quakers]

Yeah, Maples is finally awesome. I hoping this can continue and he can start next year in Daytona.

 

Have we gotten any scouting on what Maples is throwing at Boise? At draft he was generally scouted as a late-1st or 2nd round talent, and the Cubs obviously paid him as a solid 1st rounder. The projection was for power fastball in time, although I don't think he was amazingly fast then; and for the possibility of a drop-dead curveball.

 

At Boise, he's knocked the walks off, but his K's and hits-allowed are decent but not special, and he hasn't really been showing any WOW 10K/5IP type games.

 

Back at Kane, I think there were a couple of reports; obviously many that he was super wild, but one in which he was low-90's, another that he was high 80's touching 90-91. But nothing incredible.

 

While his walks have vanished, he's still usually having several "wildness" outcomes per game (WP, HBP....), three yesterday.

 

I have no idea what's happening. Maybe they've told him to pretty much throw nothing but fastballs, work on getting a fastball you can throw for strikes this year, and we'll work the curve back in this winter? He wasn't controlling that at Kane, so still a huge step. Maybe he's been told to take a couple mph off, and can control it at 90, but if he tries to amp it to 92-94 he goes wild? Or maybe he's been nicely consistent, but the WP/HBP are occasional relapse pitches, or if he tries to throw a curve? Who knows.

 

I guess I'm wondering if after all the injuries and tweaks, and since he was a projection guy in the first place, whether he actually has ever added velocity, or has the velocity more typical for a 6th rounder than a 1st rounder. And whether his curveball is anything to get excited about anymore. High ceiling? Or just a guy with chance at back-of-rotation stuff?

 

I saw Maples during his first game for Boise. He was not getting close to the plate, but he was pitching in the mid-90's according to the scoreboard's radar. The start after I saw him was when he started to put up quality numbers. My impression was that he had good stuff, but needed to control it. My thoughts afterwards were that the pitching coach told him to work on his mechanics, do not worry about walking batters, and the Hoffner came in and shut the opposing team down.

 

I really think that Maples is still a good prospect, but obviously we need to seem him pitch well against better competition.

[Quakers]

Yeah, Maples is finally awesome. I hoping this can continue and he can start next year in Daytona.

 

I'd be a little surprised by that.

 

I'd be very surprised. He'd essentially be skipping A-ball.

 

I would too, but the Cubs will have an abundance of pitchers at KC. To get in the innings, some will need to go to Daytona, or remain behind at Boise.

[Guest]

When I saw Maples at Kane County he had many fastballs at 90-91, and also more than a couple at 94-95. He had zero control of anything, but he had more control at 90-91 than 94-95, as you might expect.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Arguello saw Maples a few times at KC and said he was 91-96 with a plus curve. If he's trusting his improved mechanics and the control continues, his stuff will play at A+.