Minor League Discussion & Boxes, 5-25-15

[ctcf]

Scheduled Games (All Times Central):

 

Iowa vs. Tacoma, 1:08 p.m.

Tennessee at Montgomery, 12:05 p.m.

Myrtle Beach vs. Potomac, 5:05 p.m.

South Bend vs. Bowling Green, 1:05 p.m.

VSL Cubs vs. VSL Rays, 10:30 a.m.

 

 

Probable Starters:

 

Iowa: LHP Eric Jokisch (30 IP, 3.00 ERA, 3.54 FIP, 18 K, 11 BB)

Tennessee: RHP Felix Pena (48 IP, 3.19 ERA, 3.27 FIP, 45 K, 17 BB)

Myrtle Beach: RHP Jen-Ho Tseng (25.2 IP, 5.26 ERA, 4.22 FIP, 16 K, 8 BB)

South Bend: RHP Erick Leal (37.1 IP, 4.10 ERA, 3.50 FIP, 26 K, 10 BB)

[ctcf]

Of note today, the Pelicans will be squaring off against Lucas Giolito.

 

Raisin should be back tomorrow with the box score threads. Have a great Memorial Day, everyone.

[Little Slide Rooter]

@tim815: Dan Vogelbach doubles, but pulls a hammy in the process. Darvill to replace Vogelbach.

 

Bullocks.

[JeffH]

@tim815: Dan Vogelbach doubles, but pulls a hammy in the process. Darvill to replace Vogelbach.

 

Bullocks.

 

"Who are Sandra and Jim J., Alex?"

[Guest]

@billazbbphotog: Dylan Cease sat 95-98 in one inning for #Cubs extended spring team, still struggling to throw strikes but less than year since TJ.

 

@billazbbphotog: Erling Moreno pitching in 1st #Cubs extended spring game. Tall, projectable RHP from Colombia signed for $1M. FB 88-92, good changeup 83-84.

 

@billazbbphotog: Joey Martarano has reported to #Cubs extended spr team and in lineup today. Linebacker for Boise State last year, starred in Fiesta Bowl.

[Little Slide Rooter]

What position does Martarano play? I have to assume that this is a somewhat large individual.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Felix Pena had 1/9 BB/K in 6 innings. I feel as though he's been kind of-sort of on the radar in years past. Am I right?

[JeffH]

What position does Martarano play? I have to assume that this is a somewhat large individual.

 

3B/1B

[TruffleShuffle]

gleyber torres went 3-5. he's 3rd in the midwest league in batting average and 5th in obp, which is pretty good for being the youngest player in that league.

[Guest]

In 22 Cactus League EXST games, Kevonte Mitchell leads the EXST Cubs in stolen bases with 12 (one CS and one PO). Also, he is hitting 239/345/310, with three doubles and a triple, eleven walks, 15 K, and one HBP, ten runs scored, and seven RBI, in the 22 games (84 PA). The 19-year old 6'4 185 Mitchell (Cubs 2014 13th round draft pick - Kennett HS - Kennett, Mo) is a virtual lock to play CF and hit lead-off for the Eugene Emeralds, once the Northwest League (NWL) commences play next month. 

 

RHP Erling Moreno (2013 IFA - Colombia) got the start for the Cubs today and retired six of the seven men he faced (1B, 5-3, 4-3, K, F-8, K, 4-3). He allowed one run on one hit (a single leading off the bottom of the 1st inning that came around to score on a couple of ground outs and a WP) and no walks, with two strikeouts (both swinging). Moreno rolled easily through his two innings, throwing a good percentage of strikes (27 pitches - 18 strikes - 67% K), and mixing his 91-92 MPH fastball, plus-curve, and change-up to keep the A's hitters mostly off-balance.

 

The 18-year old 6'3 200 Moreno was signed by the Cubs ($650K bonus) out of the same 2013-14 International Signing Period class that produced OF Eloy Jimenez, SS Gleyber Torres, RHP Jen-Ho Tseng, 3B-1B Wladmir Galindo, C Yohan Matos, and RHP Jeferson Mejia (since traded to AZ in the Miguel Montero deal), but he underwent an elbow UCL transplant (Tommy John Surgery) midway through the 2014 season that has slowed his development, and so this was his first game action in almost a year.

 

Speaking of Dylan Cease, he also saw action in today's game, "piggy-backing" with Moreno. Although he threw just 1.0 IP, Cease actually pitched in parts of two different innings (facing eight hitters total), hence the high pitch count (37 pitches) in just one inning (three outs). 

 

Cease was working his fastball at 95-97 MPH to the first four batters he faced, but then elevated the FB velocity up to 98-99 when facing the next four. He continues to struggle with command, however, walking two and going to three-ball counts on two other hitters, bouncing his breaking ball (which is a really a plus-pitch when he throws it over the plate instead of bouncing it in front of the plate), and throwing only 56% strikes.

 

http://www.thecubreporter.com/05252015/moreno-cease-piggy-back-their-way-fitch-park

[toonsterwu]

Felix Pena had 1/9 BB/K in 6 innings. I feel as though he's been kind of-sort of on the radar in years past. Am I right?

 

Sort of ... IIRC, and someone correct me if I'm wrong, but the curveball was a work in progress back in the day, but he had good life on his fastball, and I want to say, velo in that 90-93 range?

[RammyFanny]

Gleyber now hitting .340. And his picture reminded me of someone...

 

http://www.milb.com/images/650402/t550/180x270/650402.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/P13trmO.jpg

 

[toonsterwu]

No idea how he actually pitched, but it was nice to see a good line from Jen Ho Tseng. Seems like it's been awhile.

 

Jeimer's on a nice little run of late, offensively.

 

I keep thinking Gioskar Amaya is really old ... so it's still weird to think this is his age 22 season. A nice little stretch overall of late, offensively, but been there, done that so can't read too much into his MWL work.

 

Francescon's had a nice run since moving to the pen. Jensen should be ahead of him, but with his fastball/slider, Francescon is someone to keep one eye out on if there's a need for a pen arm.

 

Willson Contreras just keeps hitting. I expect him to cool off at some point, but he's arguably been one of the top surprises in this first half for us.

 

____

 

In non-Cubs news, looks like Marco Hernandez is scorching. Walks even less than before, though, if that was possible, and still no pop.

 

Very glad to see Brett Jackson has found some sort of rhythm. K rate is as low as it's ever been in AAA (granted, only 100+ AB's). I don't know if he can keep it up (although who knows ... Sacramento is a pitcher's park IIRC), but I never thought he was as bad as he looked his final years here. Sort of funny, to me, how the Giants already had their own "Brett Jackson" in Jarrett Parker.

[Sammy Sofa]

Gleyber now hitting .340. And his picture reminded me of someone...

 

http://www.milb.com/images/650402/t550/180x270/650402.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/P13trmO.jpg

 

YES.

[Guest]

That hat is awesome.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Willson Contreras just keeps hitting. I expect him to cool off at some point, but he's arguably been one of the top surprises in this first half for us.

 

Contreras was signed at 16-17 for $850,000, which was one of the biggest IFA bonuses given out in the Hendry era. The ones who were given more were Rubi Silva ($1MM) and Mark Malave (1.6MM,) who I believe is floating around the organization somewhere.

 

At the time, that would have been viewed as the equivalent of, what, late 1st-supplemental round talent for a high school age player?

 

He literally just turned 23, so who knows, he could be of some value in the near future.

[toonsterwu]

Malave is being transitioned to pitching, at least, the last reports from AzPhil I checked said that.

 

To be quite honest, unless his defense has stalled/gone backwards/is horrendous ... I've got to think he has some value now. There tends to be some leeway given to catchers and their development, and he moved to catching what, 3 years ago?