Minor League Discussion & Boxes, 6-5-16

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Box Scores:

 

Iowa won 6-1 Box Score

 

2B A. Alcántara 1/5, 2 K, SB (20)

CF A. Almora 1/4, R, BB, SB (10)

LF M. Murton 2/3, R, HR (1), 2 RBI, BB

1B D. Vogelbach 0/3, BB, K

SP A. Sanabia 5 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 2 HBP, 1 WP, 5-1 GO-FO, 80-51 pitches-strikes

RP A. Rivero 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 1-0 GO-FO

RP C. Edwards Jr 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 1-1 GO-FO

RP F. Peña 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 1-0 GO-FO

 

Tennessee won 11-6 Box Score

 

CF J. Hannemann 2/5, R, HR (6), 4 RBI, 2 K, SB (20)

2B C. Young 0/4, RBI, BB, CS (6)

RF M. Zagunis 1/5, 3B (1), RBI, K, E (1, fielding)

3B J. Candelario 1/3, 3 R, HR (4), RBI, 2 BB, K

SS C. Penalver 2/3, 2 R, RBI, HBP, 2 E (13, fielding, throw)

SP S. Perakslil 4 IP, 9 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 HBP, 5-3 GO-FO, 78-49 pitches-strikes

RP J. Paniagua 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1 WP, 0-0 GO-FO

RP D. Garner 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 1-0 GO-FO

RP D. Berg 1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 2-0 GO-FO

 

Myrtle Beach won 15-0 Box Score

 

CF R. Crawford 1/4, 2 R, 3B (5), 2 RBI, 2 BB, K, SB (9)

SS G. Torres 1/2, 2 R, 3 BB, K, 2 SB (10)

2B I. Happ 2/4, 3 R, HR (6), 3 RBI, BB, K, SB (9)

1B Y. Balaguert 2/4, R, HR (9), 4 RBI, BB, K

DH C. Burks 2/4, R, 2B (9), RBI

SP T. Clifton 6 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K, 0-7 GO-FO, 77-54 pitches-strikes

RP D. Lewis 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 2-2 GO-FO

RP D. Maples 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 3-0 GO-FO

 

South Bend won 2-1 Box Score

 

CF D. Dewees 1/4, outfield assist at third base

C PJ Higgins 1/4, R, 2B (13)

DH I. Rice 0/3, RBI, K

LF E. Jimenez 1/3

3B J. Hodges 1/3, R, 2B (5), K

1B M. Rose 0/3, RBI

RF E. Martinez 1/3, K

SS A. Ely 1/3, E (11, fielding)

2B C. Sepulveda 1/3, CS (1)

SP K. Twomey 5 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 2 HBP, 6-4 GO-FO, 62-44 pitches-strikes

 

DSL Cubs 1 and DSL Cubs 2 had the day off

[Aaron_Kennelly]

Stop the presses, Albert Almora walked.

[Tim]

Stop the presses, Albert Almora walked.

Gotta be a misprint.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I wonder if Alcantara has a chance at cracking a playoff roster as the new Quintin Berry. 20 for 20 on SB now, 37 of 43 the last 2 years.

 

Also the back end of the Iowa pen stayed strong. Rivero 1 IP 1 H 2 K; Edwards .2 IP 0 H; Pena 1.1 IP 0 H 2 K

[raw]

Nice to see Edwards get worked two days in a row as a reliever, something that has never happened before.

 

Hopefully in preparation for a call up.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Nice to see Edwards get worked two days in a row as a reliever, something that has never happened before.

 

Hopefully in preparation for a call up.

 

That's what I was thinking. Kind of like Russell getting some 2B reps before he was promoted last year.

[Aaron_Kennelly]

Myrtle Beach has scored 14 runs in the first 4 innings. Happ is 2-3 with a homer, a walk, and a stolen base. Gleyber has 3 walks, struck out, and has stolen 2 bases. Clifton has been solid. 4IP 2H 0R 1BB 3K

 

Tennessee has scored 9 runs already. Hannemann and Candelario have homered.

[ctcf]

Another fantastic line for Clifton: 6 IP, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K. He did not allow an extra base hit. His ERA is down to 2.08.

[David]

what kind of stuff does clifton have?

[davell]

what kind of stuff does clifton have?

 

I'd love to see a report from his time at MB, but he's a 4 pitch guy. The FB is plus, with velo and movement. Can get it to 96-97 in short stints, but sits 92-93. Throws a curve and slider that flash average, but are(were?) far from consistent. Has a below average change. He needs one of the SL or CB to become consistent, in order to be looked at as a true rotation option in the future. The FB could put him in the back of a pen though, if the other pitch never comes around. But I'm very interested to see a newer report, as his success at High A could easily mean he's getting a grasp on a second pitch.

[Aaron_Kennelly]

Over his last five starts, Clifton's at: 29IP 22H 2ER 5BB 33K

[Brickhouse]

what kind of stuff does clifton have?

 

Trevor Clifton, rhp, Cubs: There are a number of Cubs we could pick, including Bryan Hudson and D.J. Wilson, but Clifton fits well on this list as an impressive sleeper who has filled into his body. Clifton has plenty of fastball (91-95 mph) and a changeup and curveball that both show promise, if not consistency. He’ll be fun to watch at high Class A Myrtle Beach this year.

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/ask-ba-sleeper-prospects-emerge-2016/#dZtBp1mkIl6rBl0o.99

 

The curveball is more of a power pitch, as high as the low 80s with 1-7 break, and is his best offspeed. BA's 2016 handbook has his changeup as his other offspeed, lagging behind the curve. I vaguely remember in 2013 that his changeup was his best offspeed out of HS, can't find a link, but he was drafted based on his size, arm strength, arm speed, athleticism, and high level of conditioning anyway rather than offspeeds. Even as a pro his fitness stands out enough that it ate up maybe a quarter of BA's 2016 handbook writeup - they say he's up to 215 by adding "strength and definition to his now well-toned frame." I'm too lazy to link but various articles have a peak velocity of 97.

 

This is one of my preferred prospects in the system. I have been comparing him to Underwood for some time now thanks to having the same ARLs, and he's consistently been the better performer. I don't buy him as a starter but there is no need to get caught up in that for a healthy, effective arm in High A.

The shaky nature of his secondary pitches before this season, I don't know how much they've improved, and his funky delivery could have his future in the pen, but so far so good with Clifton.

 

I know you were much higher on Kellogg than Clifton before. Has that changed?

[Brickhouse]

I know you were much higher on Kellogg than Clifton before. Has that changed?

 

Whoa, I don't think I have ever compared the two directly. It's possible to like two, this is one of those cases. I had hopes the Cubs could maybe get a little more velocity out of Kellogg without losing innings and he would emerge as the system's most legit SP prospect, but clearly putting that much hope on a Canadian was not my best prospect #hottake.

Sorry, just asking. I remembered this from the BP top 101 thread in the context of who could make a big jump into the top 100 or top 75 this year. Just curious what your thoughts on the two were now.

 

I'm full Kellogg this year...I'd give Clifton a shot, but that kind of breakout and/or attention might be another year off. Staying healthy and racking up 130-140 innings with his career periphs would be fine, but probably wouldn't get him a ton of national attention in the form of a top 75 or better ranking. Kellogg is someone I can go on and on about as a player, and I am excited to see this season play out. I've never seen that guy not improve as a player, somehow, and don't expect that to stop in his first full season a pro with such a good organization. I'm basically expecting a LH Hendricks in many ways, but stronger and more durable.

[Brickhouse]

Well [expletive] me running, I have never been so flattered here. You had a specific quote of mine in mind, lined up in the chamber and everything.

 

At this stage we're still just talking two physically healthy longshots for a ML rotation playing the A ball levels. Clifton has the better stuff while Kellogg has the better command and control. Objectively, Clifton is easily the better bet to make the back of a top 100 at this point, Kellogg is well off a Hendricks trajectory, and Kellogg does not seem to have improved his stuff or game. Anything more dramatic than that in June is just doing what I did by going all in on Kellogg and putting the cart before the horse.

 

At the risk of seeming either aggressive or defensive, whichever, is it going to be a thing everytime I single out Clifton this year? IIRC last time I singled him out the angle was the reliever thing. I'm fine with hearing it on Kellogg, being wrong comes with the territory of having #hottakes, but it seems like the end game is to make it seem like I was never highly complimentary towards Clifton until this run - just not the case. You seem well versed enough in my opinions to probably know this too, which is what makes me ask.

Totally defensive.

 

I'm truly asking, not questioning or criticizing. If you go back and look at my posts, they're just straightforward questions. I don't know as much as you guys. I'm just here learning. I lurk a lot, reading, but rarely post because everybody here knows more than I do. I have opinions but I know they're just that, opinions. So when someone expresses a different opinion than most others, I'm curious as to why because I want to learn. If you know something I don't about Clifton or Kellogg or anyone else, I want to know what you know. So I ask. That's all. I appreciate you taking the time to answer.

[Brickhouse]

Well [expletive] me running, I have never been so flattered here. You had a specific quote of mine in mind, lined up in the chamber and everything.

 

At this stage we're still just talking two physically healthy longshots for a ML rotation playing the A ball levels. Clifton has the better stuff while Kellogg has the better command and control. Objectively, Clifton is easily the better bet to make the back of a top 100 at this point, Kellogg is well off a Hendricks trajectory, and Kellogg does not seem to have improved his stuff or game. Anything more dramatic than that in June is just doing what I did by going all in on Kellogg and putting the cart before the horse.

 

At the risk of seeming either aggressive or defensive, whichever, is it going to be a thing everytime I single out Clifton this year? IIRC last time I singled him out the angle was the reliever thing. I'm fine with hearing it on Kellogg, being wrong comes with the territory of having #hottakes, but it seems like the end game is to make it seem like I was never highly complimentary towards Clifton until this run - just not the case. You seem well versed enough in my opinions to probably know this too, which is what makes me ask.

Totally defensive.

 

I'm truly asking, not questioning or criticizing. If you go back and look at my posts, they're just straightforward questions. I don't know as much as you guys. I'm just here learning. I lurk a lot, reading, but rarely post because everybody here knows more than I do. I have opinions but I know they're just that, opinions. So when someone expresses a different opinion than most others, I'm curious as to why because I want to learn. If you know something I don't about Clifton or Kellogg or anyone else, I want to know what you know. So I ask. That's all. I appreciate you taking the time to answer.

 

 

I appreciate that my opinions stand out to you, possibly even in a non-negative way, and you take them serious enough to ask more.

I wouldn't say they stand out. Like I said, I'm still learning my stuff when it comes to prospects, so everyone's opinions matter to me.