Minor League Discussion & Boxes, 4-24-15

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Box Scores:

 

Iowa won 2-1 Box Score

 

Tennessee PPD - Inclement Weather

 

Myrtle Beach lost 3-2 Box Score

 

South Bend lost 5-1 Box Score

[toonsterwu]

Saw that Underwood report on BA the other day, when he was the 2nd starter in the doubleheader, and damn if it's not exciting to read about a high upside arm (yeah, I know, TINSTAAPP). IIRC, BA said he was topping out at 96 and throwing his curve for strikes, but he didn't go to his change, his 2nd best pitch, all that much. If that curve can develop into a plus pitch, a put-away pitch, to go along with his other two weapons, and he maintains his command/control improvement? This would be a legit TOR type prospect ... damn exciting. Going to be fun to see if he can take it to the next level.

[CubsWin]

Saw that Underwood report on BA the other day, when he was the 2nd starter in the doubleheader, and damn if it's not exciting to read about a high upside arm (yeah, I know, TINSTAAPP). IIRC, BA said he was topping out at 96 and throwing his curve for strikes, but he didn't go to his change, his 2nd best pitch, all that much. If that curve can develop into a plus pitch, a put-away pitch, to go along with his other two weapons, and he maintains his command/control improvement? This would be a legit TOR type prospect ... damn exciting. Going to be fun to see if he can take it to the next level.

And he's 20, doesn't turn 21 until late July and is off to a good start in High-A. Despite what TINSTAAPP tells us, some pitching prospects actually make it.

 

A study from a while back stated that over a 14 year period (1999-2003), about 77% of pitching prospects busted versus 63% of hitting prospects. Injury was a much bigger factor in the failure of a pitcher than a hitter, of course. That study is a bit dated. A lot of analysis has been done since then. The Cubs seem to be as good as any organization is using data to improve a prospect's chances of success. I'd love to see if those numbers have changed any in the last decade. It seems like young pitchers are being brought along more slowly allowing their innings/pitch counts to build up gradually as they progress through the upper levels, and that they spend a lot of their early development (at least with the Cubs) focusing on fastball command and limiting the number of sliders thrown. Here's hoping it's making a difference. If so, maybe that number is down to a 70% bust rate. That's a 3 in 10 chance for Underwood. Heck, if a hitter hits .300, he's doing pretty good! :wink:

 

Besides, what's the fun of following prospects if you don't allow yourself to dream a bit on the really good ones.

 

Happy Underwood Day!

[Guest]

Ron Zastryzny is coming off the DL and will get the start for Tennessee today.

[Guest]

@TommyBirch: Bumped into I-#Cubs RHP Blake Parker. Said he got a cortisone shot. Wait and see. Very upbeat. #MiLB #PCL

[ctcf]

Ron Zastryzny is coming off the DL and will get the start for Tennessee today.

 

In the words of Inspector Clouseau, "not anymore!"

 

Tonight's Smokies game has been rained out.