Minor League Discussion & Boxes 4-17-14

[Guest]

@TommyBirch: I-#Cubs manager Marty Pevey said injured SS Javier Baez will take groundballs tomorrow. No throwing. Will also hit some. #PCL #MiLB

[Clem Fandango]

@TommyBirch: I-#Cubs manager Marty Pevey said injured SS Javier Baez will take groundballs tomorrow. No throwing. Will also hit some. #PCL #MiLB

 

For a split second I thought that said "Marty Pevey injured SS Javier Baez with groundballs"

[Guest]

Almora back in the lineup, batting third and playing centerfield.

[rawaction]

Corey Black, nooooooooooo

 

No ejectioin that game, but 4 hit batters so far. Black with 2 and 5 walks.

[SouthSideRyan]

My guess is he'll move up in June, and probably up to the majors in September when the AAA season is over.

 

I believe he could handle that, maybe even sooner. But the organization will want to leave open the option of keeping him down through May of next year, or whatever date it is, to extend their control over his prime years.

 

I'm almost certain that's the case. I'd be shocked to see him in the majors this year. If he kills AAA for 4 months, it's tough to reason why he's breaking camp in Iowa next year.

[Guest]

http://www.thecubreporter.com/04172014/pierce-johnson-wows-em-riverview-rally-edge-cubs

 

RHP Pierce Johnson (hamstring rehab) got the start for the Cubs and threw five shutout innings (75 pitches - 48 strikes), allowing three hits (all three singles) and a walk while striking out seven. Johnson's fastball velocity was clocked as high as 97 in the 2nd inning and his killer-slider was virtually unhittable, but he did struggle to throw his change-up for strikes. Johnson retired ten A's in a row at one point over innings 1-2-3-4, striking out five of the six batters he faced in the 2nd & 3rd innings.  

 

After he left the game, Johnson went out to the LF bullpen and threw another 15 pitches, so he's definitely stretched-out. It would appear that his rehab is complete (although it actually appeared that way last Saturday, too), but it's very possible that Johnson's move to the AA Tennessee starting rotation is related directly to Jake Arrieta completing his Minor League Rehab Assignment at Tennessee this weekend. 

 

...

 

Prior to the game RHP Josh Conway (2013 elbow stress fracture) and RHP Hector Perez threw a two-inning "live" BP session (40 pitches thrown by each pitcher - 20 pitches thrown each "inning") on Field #5, with Jorge Soler (hamstring rehab), Ricardo Marcano, and Shamil Ubiera the three hitters. Soler was swinging freely and without any visible discomfort, although he still is not participating in outfield or baserunning drills.

[rawaction]

Tennessee sent the minimum to the plate in the 7 inning DH opener and Bryant only got 2 ABs..... struck out in both.

[rawaction]

Daury Torrez took a perfect game into the 6th. Gave up a walk and a couple hits and a run now. KC up 13-1

[ScrubMD]

2 more walks for Bryant. Hasn't put the ball in play once today.

[CubsWin]

Vizcaino 1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 3 K today. On the year, 5 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K.

[Guest]

Vizcaino 1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 3 K today. On the year, 5 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K.

 

Topped out at 98.

[Irrelevant Dude]

Vizcaino 1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 3 K today. On the year, 5 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K.

 

Topped out at 98.

I guess he is no Neil Ramirez.

[ctcf]

Man that Kane County rotation is a lot of fun.

[ScrubMD]

Vizcaino 1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 3 K today. On the year, 5 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K.

 

Rivero with an identical line today.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Armando Rivero's K and BB numbers are absurd.

[Guest]

http://www.thecubreporter.com/04172014/pierce-johnson-wows-em-riverview-rally-edge-cubs

 

RHP Pierce Johnson (hamstring rehab) got the start for the Cubs and threw five shutout innings (75 pitches - 48 strikes), allowing three hits (all three singles) and a walk while striking out seven. Johnson's fastball velocity was clocked as high as 97 in the 2nd inning and his killer-slider was virtually unhittable, but he did struggle to throw his change-up for strikes. Johnson retired ten A's in a row at one point over innings 1-2-3-4, striking out five of the six batters he faced in the 2nd & 3rd innings.  

 

After he left the game, Johnson went out to the LF bullpen and threw another 15 pitches, so he's definitely stretched-out. It would appear that his rehab is complete (although it actually appeared that way last Saturday, too), but it's very possible that Johnson's move to the AA Tennessee starting rotation is related directly to Jake Arrieta completing his Minor League Rehab Assignment at Tennessee this weekend. 

 

...

 

Prior to the game RHP Josh Conway (2013 elbow stress fracture) and RHP Hector Perez threw a two-inning "live" BP session (40 pitches thrown by each pitcher - 20 pitches thrown each "inning") on Field #5, with Jorge Soler (hamstring rehab), Ricardo Marcano, and Shamil Ubiera the three hitters. Soler was swinging freely and without any visible discomfort, although he still is not participating in outfield or baserunning drills.

 

Did everyone catch that apparently Pierce hit 97?

[Guest]

Yeah, he did it in college too.

[KingCubsFan]

So at what point do we become more intrigued with Balaguert? He's not walking that much, but he's not striking out a ton either.

[davell]

So at what point do we become more intrigued with Balaguert? He's not walking that much, but he's not striking out a ton either.

 

I think we are intrigued, but he's going to have to hit at every level. Playing a corner, there's no room for error. Especially for a guy without a truly loud skill set.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

His babip is .438 or something, so he's going to have to start hitting for more power like he did in Boise. I do like the low K rate, though.

[rawaction]

His babip is .438 or something, so he's going to have to start hitting for more power like he did in Boise. I do like the low K rate, though.

 

He does look like he's going to hit for power at some point. He's a really big dude. Listed at 6'2", 215, but looks like a good 230-240. Maybe some RH Randall Simon to his game? IDK, haven't seen him play.

[Tryptamine]

Yeah, he did it in college too.

 

Isn't it weird then that he was draft rated based on upper 80s and low 90s velocity like it said in our draft thread? Seems weird to rate him based on that low velocity when that seems to be anomaly rather than the norm.

[Guest]

Yeah, he did it in college too.

 

Isn't it weird then that he was draft rated based on upper 80s and low 90s velocity like it said in our draft thread? Seems weird to rate him based on that low velocity when that seems to be anomaly rather than the norm.

 

I'm not saying he works there, just that he's topped out at 96-97 before. He normally works in the low 90s. Besides, most pitchers lose a bit of velo coming from college to the pros (going from 6 days rest to 4 days rest).

 

From draft day:

 

crazycooter[/url]"]

Kiley McDaniel: Saw Pierce Johnson face Miami a few days ago and he hit 96 with a plus slider and usable changeup. Some injury issues and isn't a great touch and feel guy so could be reliever but when healthy is electric.

 

Jim Callis[/url]"]The 6-foot-3, 180-pounder misses bats with a lively 92-93 mph fastball that reaches 96 mph and a hard three-quarters breaking ball.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

It's not uncommon for a pitcher to "touch" a velocity 5 MPH faster than where they usually work. It's usually a high, straight fastball that they'd wear out in two innings if they threw every time.

[jersey cubs fan]

It's not uncommon for a pitcher to "touch" a velocity 5 MPH faster than where they usually work. It's usually a high, straight fastball that they'd wear out in two innings if they threw every time.

 

or a bad reading on the gun