Minor League Musings

[Bertz]

48 minutes ago, craig said:

Not to belabor, but Gomes hit 137 big-league HR and had a career OPS of .706, BA .246.  That's in the major leagues, not awful.  Armas had .673 OPS and .234 BA in A-ball.  So more overwhelmed by A-ball pitching than Gomes in the majors.  Whole lot of improving to promote three levels to the majors and have his bat be playably antiawful.  Hope it happens.  Not saying it can't; but most guys who are anti-awful enough to play in the majors were comfortably above average in A ball.  

Yan Gomes had a career 89 wRC+, and for most of his career was shielded with platoon duty.  Ariel Armas had a 95 in high A last year, which accounts for league not ballpark.  Add in South Bend's park-specific factor and we're probably in the black.  He also got stronger as the year went on, 117 from 6/1 onward and 131 from 7/1 onward.

Like yeah sure most prospects don't play 12 years and put up 17 career WAR but like you could say similar about anyone we discuss here?

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Who else would be in Iowa's rotation? Will Sanders and Connor Noland and I'm blanking after that.

[craig]

1 hour ago, Bertz said:

Yan Gomes had a career 89 wRC+, and for most of his career was shielded with platoon duty.  Ariel Armas had a 95 in high A last year, which accounts for league not ballpark.  Add in South Bend's park-specific factor and we're probably in the black.  He also got stronger as the year went on, 117 from 6/1 onward and 131 from 7/1 onward.

Like yeah sure most prospects don't play 12 years and put up 17 career WAR but like you could say similar about anyone we discuss here?

True.  Well stated, and thanks for the encouraging stats showing improvement as year progressed.  Helpful and hopeful. 

I'm just thinking for most anyone we discuss here, most could already hit quite well in A-ball, better than .673 OPS?  And/or most also have a much more favorable age/league profile?  Arias is 23, coming off .673 in A.  For him to reach Gomes-level hitting is a long-shot for sure.  But baseball development is a funny game and sometimes improbably outcomes happen.  Would be really fun if he could develop into the kind of hitter who could play as a #2 catcher in the majors.  

[Post Count Padder]

1 hour ago, Tangled Up in Plaid said:

Who else would be in Iowa's rotation? Will Sanders and Connor Noland and I'm blanking after that.

Roster resource also has the ST invite guys Vince Velasquez and Kyle Wright. There's also Grant Kipp, indy ball signing Connor Schultz, KBO signing Charlie Barnes and (when he's back and healthy) Jordan Wicks.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

1 hour ago, Tangled Up in Plaid said:

Who else would be in Iowa's rotation? Will Sanders and Connor Noland and I'm blanking after that.

Grant Kipp and Vince Velázquez.

[craig]

When will Iowa release it's roster, I wonder?  I think the pitching could be quite interesting and good.  

Assad-Wiggins-Sanders-Noland-Velasquiz-Kipp, with Wright and Wicks on IL, that could be a pretty good group.  

Gavin Hollowell, Ethan Roberts, Luke Little, and Ryan Rolison, Snider, Corbin Martin, Brigham, seems like a pretty good group of relievers, too.  

Should be a lot of competition for roles and for callup when needed.  

[Bertz]

I assume Noland's hurt, he hasn't gotten into a ST game in 3 weeks despite showing a velo spike that makes him way more interesting than he was last year.

The team usually errs on the side of leaving all the washed up veterans in the Iowa rotation while some prospects you'd think earned a promotion repeat Tenn for a month.  So I'd expect Assad / Sanders / Wiggins for sure but then the Wright/Velasquez/Barnes types to have pref over the Kipps of the world.

[craig]

Yeah, makes sense.  Not that Kipp back to AA is exactly unfair.  4.22 at super-pitcher-friendly Knoxville at age 26 isn't that compelling for promotion.  

[allen6510w]

Riley Martin is also in the mix. 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

 

[Post Count Padder]

 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

[Bertz]

1 hour ago, CaliforniaRaisin said:

 

 

@Named After Maddux This was so good!

Flanagan especially stands out.  I think we saw this spring with Luke Little the difference that having a "real offseason" can make, at least in terms of your measurables.  Reports on Flanagan's stuff last summer were a little solid and unspectacular.  But if more strength leads to a little more juice on the fastball he could get fun fast.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Wonder if Cabada actually makes the Myrtle Beach’s roster.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

[Jason Ross]

AZ Phil has some whopper takes, but this one makes things make a bit of sense if it's correct.

 

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Brewers signed Cooper Pratt to an 8 year/50 million extension.

[We Got The Whole 9]

2 hours ago, Tangled Up in Plaid said:

Brewers signed Cooper Pratt to an 8 year/50 million extension.

I dont know the kid but I wish him all the worst

 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

sure seems like Cabada is gonna start in Myrtle. very exciting.

[allen6510w]

12 minutes ago, Tangled Up in Plaid said:

sure seems like Cabada is gonna start in Myrtle. very exciting.

Yes, with F. Cruz, A. Hernandez, and Y. Melendez injured, his main competition may have been Eriandys Ramon - who posted a 0.508 OPS in low-A last year.   I see there are 7 IFs in high-A so there is a small chance one of the high-A infielders could get moved to low-A and one of the low-A infielders gets moved to XST when the final rosters come out later this week. 

[Bertz]

11 minutes ago, Tangled Up in Plaid said:

sure seems like Cabada is gonna start in Myrtle. very exciting.

Less surprising after all the run he got in Spring Training but Hartshorn too.  It wouldn't have been a huge shock to wait until May.  Lovich and Southisene were on that timeline last year.

I'm annoyed at the South Bend infield.  Southisene and Mathis should be up there.  Escobar probably too, though maybe this is confirmation Escobar going to tbe outfield is more about his deficiency rather than deference to other guys.

[allen6510w]

3 minutes ago, Bertz said:

Less surprising after all the run he got in Spring Training but Hartshorn too.  It wouldn't have been a huge shock to wait until May.  Lovich and Southisene were on that timeline last year.

I'm annoyed at the South Bend infield.  Southisene and Mathis should be up there.  Escobar probably too, though maybe this is confirmation Escobar going to tbe outfield is more about his deficiency rather than deference to other guys.

Southisene is where he belongs (0.032 ISO).  Of course, last year he started in the AFL and was moved up after one game. Mathis is a shock.  Hopefully, the Cubs are just sending him a message. 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Shame Jerzembeck is already a reliever but it makes sense with his injury history.