Minor League Discussion & Boxes 8-18-13

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Box Scores

 

Iowa lost 4-3 (16 innings) Box Score

 

Tennessee lost 5-2 Box Score

 

CF M. Szczur 1/5, 2B (23)

2B-SS A. Alcantara 1/4, 2B (30)

SS Ja. Baez 0/4, 2 K - ejected in the 9th inning for arguing balls and strikes

DH C. Villanueva 0/3, R, BB, K

RF B. Jackson 1/4, R, K

LF J. Andreoli 1/3, , BB, K

C R. Lopez 2/4, R, 2B (21), 4 RBI, K

SP E. Figueroa 6 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K, 5-4 GO-FO, 71-46 pitches-strikes

RP T. Zych 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, 3-3 GO-FO

 

Daytona won 5-3 Box Score

 

CF Z. DeVoss 2/4, R, 2B (16)

2B W. Darvill 1/4, K

1B D. Geiger 1/3, 2B (27), K, HBP

DH D. Vogelbach 1/4, R, HR (2), 2 RBI, K

3B K. Bryant 1/3, R, HR (3), 2 RBI, K, SB (1)

C C. Krist 1/4, 2B (12)

RF PC Chen 1/4, R, RBI, K

SP S. Baker 3 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, 1 HR, 4-3 GO-FO - rehab

RP P. Johnson 4 IP, 3 H, 2 E, 3 BB, 6 K, 2-3 GO-FO

RP A. Reed 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1-1 GO-FO

 

Kane County lost 4-2 Box Score

 

2B G. Amaya 0/5, 2 K

CF O. Zapata 1/4, 2 K

3B J. Candelario 0/3, K, HBP

DH R. Shoulders 0/4

SS M. Hernandez 1/4, E (27, fielding)

1B W. Contreras 0/4, R

RF R. Golden 1/4, 3 K

LF J. Dore 3/4, 2B (2), 2 RBI, K

SP T. Scott 5 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 7-5 GO-FO

 

Boise lost 10-2 Box Score

 

AZL Cubs had the day off

 

DSL Cubs had the day off

 

OVERALL: 1-4

[Guest]

Probable Starters

 

Iowa: RHP Kyle Hendricks (12 IP, 2.45 FIP, 3.00 ERA, 12 K, 4 BB)

Tennessee: RHP Eduardo Figueroa (16 IP, 6.08 FIP, 3.38 ERA, 4 K, 5 BB)

Daytona: RHP Pierce Johnson (41.2 IP, 3.13 FIP, 2.16 ERA, 41 K, 18 BB)

Kane County: RHP Tayler Scott (119 IP, 4.22 FIP, 4.31 ERA, 58 K, 49 BB)

Boise: RHP Paul Blackburn (35 IP, 3.40 FIP, 3.09 ERA, 30 K, 17 BB)

[Guest]

Brandon Hyde was on the Score a little bit ago. I didn't catch the whole thing, but piecing together his comments and some context from the hosts afterwards:

 

- Obviously, big fans of Baez. He's a shortstop. Hosts cited his size (6 foot nothing) as an underrated reason he'll remain a SS. Is putting himself in position to be competing for an MLB job next spring.

 

- Rivero was also mentioned as a guy who could impact next year's team. 6-6(I didn't realize he was this big), 94-97 fastball, "plus-plus slider"

 

- Sorting out the fall ball decisions this week, which came up re: Vizcaino. He's getting close to pitching again, and while he didn't commit to a role(he mentioned competing for a MLB job), it seemed like they were hedging towards him being a reliever. Mentioned he hit 100 multiple times in relief in one of his initial MLB outings, his multiple years of injury troubles, etc. They're big believers in his fastball.

 

- Stuck up for Vogelbach's future as a 1B, said they're continuing to work with him to shape his body, work on stretching, etc.

 

- Asked for under the radar guys(hosts used Alcantara as an example), gave Villanueva(unsurprisingly), but also Ha and Silva. Cited Ha's age and strong second half(his total OPS has gone up 80 points the last 3 weeks), as well as Silva's great athleticism and plus arm in the OF.

 

- I missed this part, but the hosts noted the contrast in how positive Hyde talked about all the players he mentioned, but was very realistic(like Hoyer was) in discussing Olt. They made allusions to him just starting over, this year being a lost year, etc.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

What if Rivero, Vizcaino and Rosscup are all what they appear they might be, simultaneously, in next year's pen?

[Guest]

What if Rivero, Vizcaino and Rosscup are all what they appear they might be, simultaneously, in next year's pen?

 

I just want 4 reliable relievers out of those 3, Parker, Strop, Russell, and Rusin. Surely that's not too outrageous an ask, right?

[Sammy Sofa]

Prior to this year and the last I would have said no.

[abohnhoff]

What if Rivero, Vizcaino and Rosscup are all what they appear they might be, simultaneously, in next year's pen?

 

I just want 4 reliable relievers out of those 3, Parker, Strop, Russell, and Rusin. Surely that's not too outrageous an ask, right?

 

Who closes out of that group? I would assume most likely candidates are Rivero, Vizcaino, and Strop?

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Strop for sure to start, considering his experience.

[Guest]

Maybe we can be the 08 Rays next year.

 

Massive bullpen turnaround and highly heralded prospect called up after the first month or two.

[imb]

and then we use our final high first-round pick on tim beckham ffffffffffffff

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Maybe we can be the 08 Rays next year.

 

Massive bullpen turnaround and highly heralded prospect called up after the first month or two.

 

My main worries right now are the offense and the top of the rotation. All of which could be solved by our so-called "core" players actually performing like stars.

[imb]

Bryant batting fifth again. Also, devoss is so weird. he walks so [expletive] much, another 73 walks in 372 at bats. too bad he can't do much if he does actually make contact.

[Guest]

and then we use our final high first-round pick on tim beckham ffffffffffffff

 

When Buster Posey was available.

[imb]

Alcantara hit his 30th double, bringing Baez up who strikes out on 3 pitches. (called strike) (swinging strike) (swinging strike)

[ScrubMD]

3 batters faced, 3 k's for Johnson so far.

[toonsterwu]

- Asked for under the radar guys(hosts used Alcantara as an example), gave Villanueva(unsurprisingly), but also Ha and Silva. Cited Ha's age and strong second half(his total OPS has gone up 80 points the last 3 weeks), as well as Silva's great athleticism and plus arm in the OF.

 

 

Silva has two problems facing him. One is a short term issue - the Cubs feel like Brett Jackson needs the opportunities and don't want him in AAA. So he's in AA, which forces a logjam in playing time. The bigger issue is his approach. To be fair, I haven't seen him in a year or so, but the numbers are similar, so my hunch is that things are still the same for him. When I last saw him, he was as aggressive as anyone in the system. He's got pretty good bat speed, IIRC, and covers the plate well, so there's a lot he can get to that others can't, but man, he went after some pretty bad pitches, IIRC. That said, he is a guy with solid speed, and better pop than many probably realize.

 

As for Ha, he's having another 2nd half surge, and hence why I slid him into the top 20. Leaving aside rankings, as they really only matter to promote discussion for fans, he looks like he's a solid bet to get time in the majors. It's just, as of now, he doesn't project as a starter, despite the fact that he's young, has some production, and has some tools to work with. The problem, though, is, it seems unlikely he'll ever tap into the raw power tools that he has, and while he has some speed, he's not a particularly adept base stealer. He's a better prospect than Szczur in many respects, but it's almost easier to envision Szczur in the bigs because of his base stealing potential (granted, his SB rate isn't all that good, but he's a more adept base stealer than Ha).

[ScrubMD]

6 batters, 5 k's for Johnson.

[tspain]

Toonster, if you add Jr Lake to Silva and Ha, then what?

[Guest]

Bryant got his first professional SB tonight.

[imb]

vogelbomb and bryant just went back-to-back and we have ENTERED THE BONE ZONE

[RammyFanny]

Johnson was awesome but he leaves with the bases loaded and nobody out.

[Guest]

@SmokiesonRadio: Javier Baez was ejected for arguing after a strikeout in the ninth inning. It is the second time that Baez has been tossed this year.

 

Ump sounds like he has an itchy trigger finger:

 

@SmokiesonRadio: A couple of Barons are tossed from the game including skipper Julio Vinas after a called third strike. One out, men at 2nd and 3rd for BIR

[RammyFanny]

Javy was tossed after a K in the 9th.

 

edit: CR is a ninja

Edited August 18, 2013 by RammyFanny

[Guest]

Fun with less than fair comparisons:

 

HR per 600 PA, 2013

 

Baez: 36

Bryant: 38

[davell]

vogelbomb and bryant just went back-to-back and we have ENTERED THE BONE ZONE

Its really amazing we've amassed THIS much power coming thru the system.