Minor League Discussion & Boxes 5-3-14

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Either way, it makes me feel marginally better.

 

I thought Iowa would trip Hendricks up this year more than it has. Now I'm looking forward to seeing him in the MLB rotation.

[ScrubMD]

Diving catch in RF robs Bryant of his 5th hit.

[UMFan83]

Hey guys, Daytona is in a rain delay.

Postponed. Lol. [expletive] that place.

 

So weird. I was just down there last week for 4 days and it didn't rain once. Of course the Cubs were out of town that week

[Little Slide Rooter]

Why is Rivero still in Double-A? Not only is he absolutely dominating, he's also 26 years old.

 

Wondering that myself. It's not like he's a random 26 year old fringer mowing through AA. He was a high-ish profile international FA. I'm starting to enjoy the idea of Strop-Ramirez-Wright-Grimm-Rivero-Rondon-Vizcaino rockin out the pen in the near future.

[CubsWin]

I wish they'd send Leal to KC.

No room.

 

Torrez is 20 (turns 21 on June 11th). Blackburn is 20 all season, Underwood is 19 (turns 20 in July 20th) and Tseng is 19 all season. All of these guys are doing well. Maybe if/when Skulina is promoted, but Leal (who is younger than any of the aforementioned pitchers) didn't see anytime at Boise last season so who knows. I would expect Maples makes it to KC before Leal does. He's currently rehabbing a rib/back injury in EXST. Not sure on his expected return date.

 

Good problem to have.

[CubsWin]

Why is Rivero still in Double-A? Not only is he absolutely dominating, he's also 26 years old.

 

Wondering that myself. It's not like he's a random 26 year old fringer mowing through AA. He was a high-ish profile international FA. I'm starting to enjoy the idea of Strop-Ramirez-Wright-Grimm-Rivero-Rondon-Vizcaino rockin out the pen in the near future.

Me too.

 

The first "wave" of pitching to reach Chicago appears to have all been relievers. Good, they needed them. There are even more power arms, though a bit more fringy, behind Vizcaino, Rivero and Ramirez. Cabrera and Hatley are pitching very well in AAA right now. Both have improved their ability to consistently throw strikes this season.

 

The 2nd wave should have more possible starters in it with Hendricks, Johnson, Edwards and Black. Wave three is looking strong as well with Torrez, 20, Blackburn 20, Underwood 19 and Tseng 19 all pitching well in Low-A.

[wekim81]

Javy 0-8 with 5K since I've been in Nashville. looks really bad. Maybe I should flee town.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Oh [expletive], I'm late to the party.

 

http://i.imgur.com/L3bwQ0v.jpg?1

[CubsWin]

The impact of the new regime's improved scouting and development staff on the arms in their organization is becoming evident.

 

Arrieta, Strop, Grimm, Ramirez, Edwards, Black were all acquired via trade last season with Hendricks, Vizcaino and Leal the year before.

 

The Cubs gave up two months of Dempster, Garza and Feldman, a year and two months of Maholm and Soriano (while saving $5 million) with the only controllable player lost being Tony Campana to get those 9 guys. (Not to mention Mike Olt, Christian Villanueva and 18 year old Jesus Castillo.)

 

Johnson, Blackburn and Underwood were all 2012 draft picks. Rivero and Tseng were signed as IFAs. Torrez was signed by the previous front office but largely developed by Epstein's new developmental squad/system.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

The impact of the new regime's improved scouting and development staff on the arms in their organization is becoming evident.

 

We're 20th in fWAR by pitchers and our minor-league pitching is considered to be in the vicinity of average.

 

They have committed some serious resources to it and it does seem to be helping, but we have such a very long way to go. Whiffing on their big FA investments pitching-wise is hurting.

[CubsWin]

The impact of the new regime's improved scouting and development staff on the arms in their organization is becoming evident.

 

We're 20th in fWAR by pitchers and our minor-league pitching is considered to be in the vicinity of average.

 

They have committed some serious resources to it and it does seem to be helping, but we have such a very long way to go. Whiffing on their big FA investments pitching-wise is hurting.

Indeed. They're not there yet. But my post wasn't asserting that their job was done just that the job they've done is showing needed improvement.

[Guest]

Seriously, Javy. 76 PAs is really pushing it on the "lol, he always does this at a new level before going into God mode" front.

 

i think you should panic and start criticizing his game again, it worked for him last time.

[Guest]

Daytona News-Journal[/url]"]There isn't a lot of talk about Zach Cates, but there should be. Ever since moving to the bullpen late last season, the hard-throwing righty has looked good. He's throwing in the mid-90s, and he's locating his fastball, which is why he had the second-best walks-per-nine-innings ratio among FSL relievers going into the weekend.

 

Cates, who has a 1.76 ERA and one save, has walked just one batter in 15.1 innings while striking out 12.

[Guest]

Jeffrey Baez laced an RBI triple and a double and scored a run and RHP Trevor Clifton threw 2.2 IP of shutout relief with five strikeouts in a losing cause for the Cubs on Field #5, and Mark Malave accounted for both Cub runs on Field #6 with an RBI double and an RBI single.

 

Jorge Soler (hamstring rehab) played RF for seven innings on Field #6 and batted six times, once in each of the first six innings, He struck out (swinging) on a 1-2 pitch in the bottom of the 1st, was called out on strikes on a 1-2 pitch in the 2nd, bounced-out 6-3 in the 3rd, roped a line-drive single to left (and then stole 2nd base!) in the 4th, reached base on an HBP (he was hit on the right inner elbow) in the 5th (his 3rd HBP in five EXST games this week), and then he struck out (swinging) on a pitch over his head in his final AB in the 6th.

 

While he is still a bit rusty at the plate (he is hitting only 182/269/227 with no walks, five strikeouts, three HBP, and four hits--three singles and a double--in 26 EXST PA), he is running and playing outfield defense without any apparent difficulty, and so today could very well be the end of his EXST rehab. So don't be surprised if he is back with AA Tennessee by Monday.

 

http://www.thecubreporter.com/05032014/pena-punishes-pineiro-giants-double-their-pleasure-riverview-park

 

Torres went 0/3 with a BB. Mejia had a rough outing.

[CubsWin]

Whiffing on their big FA investments pitching-wise is hurting.

If by this you mean not getting Sanchez and Tanaka, I couldn't agree more. The big league club would be in much better shape if they had those two guys locked up long term, but I can't really put that on the Cubs front office. Reportedly, the Tigers were Sanchez's first choice and upped their offer after the Cubs came in at 5 years/77.5 mill. Sanchez took it without giving the Cubs a chance to top it. And Tanaka wanted an opt out clause that would've made no sense for the Cubs plus the Yankees had endless pockets. At the very best, they targeted guys who have done quite well. At the very worst, they suck because they missed out on them and didn't do whatever it took to change their minds and get them.

 

If you meant the FA pitchers they did get, then I agree with you on EJaxx. In a season and a month, he's been a below average starter and really bad when you consider what he's being paid. I'm sure Epstein and Co. are disappointed. But they've done well otherwise. Maholm, Feldman and so far Hammel have all worked out quite well. Maholm and Feldman were paid a combined 7.2 million approx. by the Cubs and were turned into Arrieta, Strop and Vizcaino, all of whom are controllable for several more seasons. At 31, who knows what Hammel might fetch, if he's traded at all.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Daytona News-Journal[/url]"]There isn't a lot of talk about Zach Cates, but there should be. Ever since moving to the bullpen late last season, the hard-throwing righty has looked good. He's throwing in the mid-90s, and he's locating his fastball, which is why he had the second-best walks-per-nine-innings ratio among FSL relievers going into the weekend.

 

Cates, who has a 1.76 ERA and one save, has walked just one batter in 15.1 innings while striking out 12.

 

Why the hell is he still in Daytona? He's already 24.

[pitchcs]

Daytona News-Journal[/url]"]There isn't a lot of talk about Zach Cates, but there should be. Ever since moving to the bullpen late last season, the hard-throwing righty has looked good. He's throwing in the mid-90s, and he's locating his fastball, which is why he had the second-best walks-per-nine-innings ratio among FSL relievers going into the weekend.

 

Cates, who has a 1.76 ERA and one save, has walked just one batter in 15.1 innings while striking out 12.

 

Why the hell is he still in Daytona? He's already 24.

 

I'm guessing just so he could work on some things as a reliever and get some confidence up?

[Hairyducked Idiot]

If you meant the FA pitchers they did get, then I agree with you on EJaxx. In a season and a month, he's been a below average starter and really bad when you consider what he's being paid. I'm sure Epstein and Co. are disappointed. But they've done well otherwise. Maholm, Feldman and so far Hammel have all worked out quite well. Maholm and Feldman were paid a combined 7.2 million approx. by the Cubs and were turned into Arrieta, Strop and Vizcaino, all of whom are controllable for several more seasons. At 31, who knows what Hammel might fetch, if he's traded at all.

 

That's the part I meant.

 

You listed three that hit. We also got nothing from Fujikawa or Baker, appear to be getting nothing from Veras. Throw in Jackson, and as a percentage of FA dollars spent, we're getting a ton of busts.

[Bryants Disco Ball]

If you meant the FA pitchers they did get, then I agree with you on EJaxx. In a season and a month, he's been a below average starter and really bad when you consider what he's being paid. I'm sure Epstein and Co. are disappointed. But they've done well otherwise. Maholm, Feldman and so far Hammel have all worked out quite well. Maholm and Feldman were paid a combined 7.2 million approx. by the Cubs and were turned into Arrieta, Strop and Vizcaino, all of whom are controllable for several more seasons. At 31, who knows what Hammel might fetch, if he's traded at all.

 

That's the part I meant.

 

You listed three that hit. We also got nothing from Fujikawa or Baker, appear to be getting nothing from Veras. Throw in Jackson, and as a percentage of FA dollars spent, we're getting a ton of busts.

 

Is a 50 percent hit rate or so pretty good when talking about free agents that cost on average like $4.5 million per season? And it's sort of unfair to blame them for Fujikawa.

[CubsWin]

If you meant the FA pitchers they did get, then I agree with you on EJaxx. In a season and a month, he's been a below average starter and really bad when you consider what he's being paid. I'm sure Epstein and Co. are disappointed. But they've done well otherwise. Maholm, Feldman and so far Hammel have all worked out quite well. Maholm and Feldman were paid a combined 7.2 million approx. by the Cubs and were turned into Arrieta, Strop and Vizcaino, all of whom are controllable for several more seasons. At 31, who knows what Hammel might fetch, if he's traded at all.

 

That's the part I meant.

 

You listed three that hit. We also got nothing from Fujikawa or Baker, appear to be getting nothing from Veras. Throw in Jackson, and as a percentage of FA dollars spent, we're getting a ton of busts.

Gotcha. Yeah, there have been some misses. I don't put injuries on a front office, though. That stuff happens. So far on EJaxx and Veras, though, not good at all. I wouldn't say that's hurt the team very much, though. EJaxx has had an impact, but not as much as missing out on Tanaka has. The Veras impact is minimal.

[Guest]

EJaxx has lost significant velocity and it rarely seems to get brought up.

 

He was 8th in MLB in average fb velocity in 2012 at 93.4 and 3rd in 2011 at 94.7. Last year 15th at 93.

 

This year, so far, he's 34th at 92.1.