Minor League Discussion & Boxes 4-22-14

[craig]

Alcantara's two-day binge has helped his numbers. His OBP is now up to .284. He is a high-K guy, like a slugger. Hopefully he'll hit enough HR's to partially justify the high K's, and to keep his batting average adequate or better.

 

Interesting, he's reverted to his no-walk ways thus far. For 4 years he was a low-walk guy; then last year he made an adjustment and walked a lot; now he's 2 walks/70 AB. 19K/2BB is a great ratio for pitchers, but not for hitters!

 

I think he's got a lot of learning left to do. So I'm in no hurry to rush him up.

[wekim81]

Who's getting bounced outta the rotation for Pierce? loosen?

Arrieta?

We had Edwards Black Pineyro Loosen and Rhee starting games even after Arrieta left. So I'm guessing Loosen or Rhee is out, not Arrieta

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

I doubt Loosen's going to get many starts. He and Rhee probably both belong in the pen at this point.

[ctcf]

Man Candelario sure is scuffling so far

[davell]

Twitter down for anyone else?

[thefranchise]

Daytona's offense has come to life the last few games.

[ScrubMD]

Pierce Johnson comes out bustin nuts.

[NOLA]

Pierce Johnson comes out bustin nuts.

Generally I would say this is a good thing. Right?

[ScrubMD]

Pierce Johnson comes out bustin nuts.

Generally I would say this is a good thing. Right?

 

Big time.

[craig]

I doubt Loosen's going to get many starts. He and Rhee probably both belong in the pen at this point.

 

Yeah, those two are on a different planet from Johnson-Edwards-Pineyro-Black.

 

How Rhee is still getting starts after all these years of bad pitching is kind of amazing.

[Gilby]

This may not be a bold prediction, but I think Bryant gets to Iowa before Javy gets to Chicago, creating one helluva 3-4 in the lineup.

[Guest]

This may not be a bold prediction, but I think Bryant gets to Iowa before Javy gets to Chicago, creating one helluva 3-4 in the lineup.

I don't doubt that especially given Baez recent bouts of churlish behavior. I am so on the Bryant bandwagon.

[treebird]

This may not be a bold prediction, but I think Bryant gets to Iowa before Javy gets to Chicago, creating one helluva 3-4 in the lineup.

I don't doubt that especially given Baez recent bouts of churlish behavior. I am so on the Bryant bandwagon.

 

as bryant's stock rises and baez's stands still, the urge to just group these guys together and wait to bring them both up until after the super-two cutoff next year is only going to rise. we're not trying/going to win next year anyway.

[RammyFanny]

Bryant average now up to .317.

[NOLA]

we're not trying/going to win next year anyway.

:banghead:

[RammyFanny]

Almora's due for a trademark 5/5 game any day now.

[toonsterwu]

I doubt Loosen's going to get many starts. He and Rhee probably both belong in the pen at this point.

 

Yeah, those two are on a different planet from Johnson-Edwards-Pineyro-Black.

 

How Rhee is still getting starts after all these years of bad pitching is kind of amazing.

 

I think Rhee continuing to get starts is a byproduct of two things;

 

1 - There simply hasn't been a ton of competition to push him out. Even now, there really isn't anyone from Daytona pushing up, as Ben Wells probably needs a bit more time (and despite a totally different body, has a somewhat similar profile to Rhee). In Tenneessee, it's Loosen, a guy I sorta like in a curious for the bullpen type way ... and PJ Francescon (who I actually wouldn't mind seeing in the rotation, although fully acknowledging that the lack of a quality 3rd pitch makes him better suited for the pen).

 

2 - The occasional glimpses of ... something ... in Rhee. I mean, by most accounts, it's still a plus splitter with a fastball that has some juice.

 

That said, he really may be better off in the pen, as it pertains to getting a shot at the bigs. In some respects, he reminds me of Tyler Clippard, a marginal starting prospect with a good secondary option and enough juice on the fastball, but an inconsistent third option. In Clippard's case, it's a change-up (and he added the splitter this year).

 

______________________________

 

It was nice to see Amaya back in the lineup. Wasn't paying attention to why he was out, but still curious if he can breakout this year, offensively.

 

Penalver's start has been a nice thing to see.

[craig]

at this point, I'm pretty comfortable that Rhee and Loosen are just roster fillers. You've got to have at least five starters, and somebody has to fill in that 5th spot. A lot of progress has happened with the pitching, but not enough to be 5-prospects deep at Tennessee. Iowa has that too, and Daytona's rotation is almost all roster-fill.

[rawaction]

Almora's due for a trademark 5/5 game any day now.

 

5-game hitting streak, but he's only 6 for his last 28, with 1 XBH and 5 Ks.

[abohnhoff]

Iowa goes to Colorado Springs starting Thursday. Javy could kill some stuff.

 

Ill be there for at least the Saturday game. Making the short drive down from Denver. Hope to get a couple vids of his at bats. Will report back.

[toonsterwu]

at this point, I'm pretty comfortable that Rhee and Loosen are just roster fillers. You've got to have at least five starters, and somebody has to fill in that 5th spot. A lot of progress has happened with the pitching, but not enough to be 5-prospects deep at Tennessee. Iowa has that too, and Daytona's rotation is almost all roster-fill.

 

I really can't think of many minor league teams that are legitimately five deep with starters right now. Admittedly, I don't follow as closely as before, but it's really hard to get that much depth. I tend to think if you have 3 legitimate starting pitching prospects (let's define that as guys with at least mid-rotation potential) on a level, that is a pretty good win for your system at that level.

 

Daytona isn't pretty, but I think we were all prepared for that as the KC group was debatable last year, prospect-wise (from a pitching perspective). I don't buy Scott or Pena yet, and Rosario really should be in the pen (to be quite honest, was fairly stunned he was penciled in for the rotation ... but maybe he showed real well n the spring). I want to be believe in Zastryzny, but the few things I read in the spring, combined with the slow start, gives some pause. At this point, Wells shouldn't be the most intriguing starting pitching prospect on a team, and you can make a case that he is more intriguing than the other 4 right now.

 

I tend to be a bit more okay with Iowa's rotation. Ideally, you want higher ceiling guys, but at the very least, you want guys that could potentially step in this year if your high ceiliing guys aren't ready and SP is a need. With Rusin, Joksich, Hendricks, we have that (and I guess Wada and who am I blanking on?) Still a bit disappointed that Ramirez was stuffed in the pen.