Minor League Discussion & Boxes 7-5-14

[treebird]

Jorge Soler and Addison Russell are apparently Tennessee roommates.

 

http://i.imgur.com/qrqI4O6.jpg

[imb]

Observations from one live viewing

 

Alcantara, Baez and Bryant all obviously pass the eye test, but Baez is like on another planet entirely. Everything he does just screams "major leaguer." His first at bat was a rope to the RC gap even thought you could tell he didn't make great contact. Then he flied out to the track in center on another ball he didn't make great contact on. One of his Ks was a terrible call.

 

On defense he had just one play that I remember, and it was a lazy hopper into the hole. He was playing on the grass, no joke, and the ball is just slowly chopped to his right. He took two or three easy steps and fielded it like he was taking throws in between innings. It almost looked unreal because any other short stop would be charging it. But he just casually stuck his glove out, and then fired a strike to Valaika, getting the guy by two or three steps. Everything he did appeared to be "this is a thing I have to do for a while in order to be in the majors." Not in a bad way, you could just tell he's the kind of guy that has to be challenged or he gets bored.

 

Alcantara didn't get to make a play in the field, but he had two walks and a sharp single, and he was basically running at will, even though I don't think he was credited with a steal. You can tell the coaches just let him do what he feels like at this point.

 

Bryant had a nice single, a walk and then took a tough K on a curve (right after Baez K'd looking on the same pitch. That pitcher was sharp, 95mph with a big curve.) and then struck out on a changeup in the dirt. At third he looked like a mess. He made one nice snag and throw, then missed a throw from the catcher on a steal, that cost Iowa the lead (and the game,) missed a diving catch on a Torreyes grounder (remember him?) that was probably 50/50, then made a nice catch on a chopper to his left, but sailed the throw and looked horrible doing it.

 

Oh, Manny walked and stung a grounder to third, but the 3B made a nice catch and got him at first. He still looks pretty good.

[Guest]

Box Scores:

 

Boise won 15-3 Box Score

 

Not that I think much of the save stat but does anyone know why Jasvir Rakkar was awarded a save when a) he didn't even finish the game and b) he came in to the game with an 8-run lead and no one on base?

[XZero771679666304]

Observations from one live viewing

 

Alcantara, Baez and Bryant all obviously pass the eye test, but Baez is like on another planet entirely. Everything he does just screams "major leaguer." His first at bat was a rope to the RC gap even thought you could tell he didn't make great contact. Then he flied out to the track in center on another ball he didn't make great contact on. One of his Ks was a terrible call.

 

On defense he had just one play that I remember, and it was a lazy hopper into the hole. He was playing on the grass, no joke, and the ball is just slowly chopped to his right. He took two or three easy steps and fielded it like he was taking throws in between innings. It almost looked unreal because any other short stop would be charging it. But he just casually stuck his glove out, and then fired a strike to Valaika, getting the guy by two or three steps. Everything he did appeared to be "this is a thing I have to do for a while in order to be in the majors." Not in a bad way, you could just tell he's the kind of guy that has to be challenged or he gets bored.

 

Alcantara didn't get to make a play in the field, but he had two walks and a sharp single, and he was basically running at will, even though I don't think he was credited with a steal. You can tell the coaches just let him do what he feels like at this point.

 

Bryant had a nice single, a walk and then took a tough K on a curve (right after Baez K'd looking on the same pitch. That pitcher was sharp, 95mph with a big curve.) and then struck out on a changeup in the dirt. At third he looked like a mess. He made one nice snag and throw, then missed a throw from the catcher on a steal, that cost Iowa the lead (and the game,) missed a diving catch on a Torreyes grounder (remember him?) that was probably 50/50, then made a nice catch on a chopper to his left, but sailed the throw and looked horrible doing it.

 

Oh, Manny walked and stung a grounder to third, but the 3B made a nice catch and got him at first. He still looks pretty good.

 

People who know a lot more than I do have praised Bryant's defense, but the limited looks I have had didn't jive with that. And given our other assets, I still think it's extremely likely he ends up in the OF.

[Guest]

From what I read on Twitter today, he just had a horrible game defensively today (both IMB's post and a few different tweets made it sound like he could have been charged with a few more errors). Can't remember anything that bad from him based on Twitter reactions.

 

Obviously there are a lot of limitations to Twitter "scouting."

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Bryant is obviously great. However, shouldn't we be concerned about his contact rate? He's had absurdly high BABIPs at every level so far.

 

A little concerned and yes, the BABIP should temper the results a little bit. He's been more like an 1.100 OPS guy than a 1.200 OPS guy.

[Guest]

Bryant is obviously great. However, shouldn't we be concerned about his contact rate? He's had absurdly high BABIPs at every level so far.

 

A little concerned and yes, the BABIP should temper the results a little bit. He's been more like an 1.100 OPS guy than a 1.200 OPS guy.

 

I haven't seen North harp on his contact numbers so I just assumed they were in an acceptable range (unlike where Javy was with his historically low numbers a few weeks ago).

[RammyFanny]

I feel like Javy gets screwed over by the umps more than anyone I see. Nothing sucks more than knowing he's trying to be patient and the ump rings him up on two bad calls and a borderline pitch, and then he goes hacking at 3 sliders in the dirt the next AB. Just speaking in general, not specifically from today.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Fun with sample sizes

 

Over the past 10 days:

 

Baez: .273/.419/.485/.903

Bryant: .336/.390/.688/1.077

Almora: .442/.478/.628/1.106

Alcantara: .415/.455/.585/1.040

Schwarber: .342/.444/.658/1.102

Vogelbach: .353/.465/.618/1.083

 

Bonus:

Villanueva .300/.364/.475/.839

 

Condescending pat on the head

Jackson .292/.414/.542/.955

Szczur .300/.344/.367/.710

[sneakypower]

Bryant is obviously great. However, shouldn't we be concerned about his contact rate? He's had absurdly high BABIPs at every level so far.

 

A little concerned and yes, the BABIP should temper the results a little bit. He's been more like an 1.100 OPS guy than a 1.200 OPS guy.

 

I haven't seen North harp on his contact numbers so I just assumed they were in an acceptable range (unlike where Javy was with his historically low numbers a few weeks ago).

80% in July, but 65% overall at Iowa

 

he'll K a lot, but who cares

[CubInOK]

Fun with sample sizes

 

Over the past 10 days:

 

 

Bryant: .336/.390/.688/1.077

He's slumping and hasn't figured out AAA pitching.

[weis21]

Fun with sample sizes

 

Over the past 10 days:

 

 

Bryant: .336/.390/.688/1.077

He's slumping and hasn't figured out AAA pitching.

Facing adversity, I'd say.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[ScrubMD]

 

People who know a lot more than I do have praised Bryant's defense, but the limited looks I have had didn't jive with that. And given our other assets, I still think it's extremely likely he ends up in the OF.

 

I think he could become a decent at 3B, but with our system and the fact that our FO really pushes groundball pitching, I'd rather go with a Baez-Russell-Castro-Rizzo infield. We still have mashers at every position, but we also get plus defense. Then if we eventually have an OF of Soler-Almora-Bryant, that's some good defense.

[Guest]

Bryant is obviously great. However, shouldn't we be concerned about his contact rate? He's had absurdly high BABIPs at every level so far.

 

A little concerned and yes, the BABIP should temper the results a little bit. He's been more like an 1.100 OPS guy than a 1.200 OPS guy.

 

I haven't seen North harp on his contact numbers so I just assumed they were in an acceptable range (unlike where Javy was with his historically low numbers a few weeks ago).

80% in July, but 65% overall at Iowa

 

he'll K a lot, but who cares

 

Yeah. As long as he can hit for an acceptable average, it doesn't bother me at all.

 

Where do you guys get the contact numbers btw?

[mhuber92211]

Fun with sample sizes

 

Over the past 10 days:

 

Condescending pat on the head

Jackson .292/.414/.542/.955

Szczur .300/.344/.367/.710

 

Is it wrong to want to see Szczur play instead of Lake?

[ScrubMD]

Fun with sample sizes

 

Over the past 10 days:

 

Condescending pat on the head

Jackson .292/.414/.542/.955

Szczur .300/.344/.367/.710

 

Is it wrong to want to see Szczur play instead of Lake?

 

There is no right answer if the question is Lake or Szczur.

[gscool89]

Soler HR

[imb]

Bring Soler up

[ScrubMD]

Soler HR

 

Get with the program, McFly.