Minor League Discussion & Boxes, 6-29-16

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Box Scores:

 

Iowa had the day off

 

Tennessee won 4-2 Box Score

 

CF J. Hannemann 2/4, 2B (13), HBP, SB (26), CS (8)

3B C. Young 1/4, 2B (10), K

2B I. Happ 0/2, 2 BB, K, SB (1), E (1, throw)

C V. Caratini 1/3, 2 R, HR (2), RBI, BB, K, E (2, throw)

RF B. McKinney 2/4, R, K, CS (3)

LF B. Rademacher 2/4, R, 2B (8), HR (6), 3 RBI, K

SS C. Penalver 1/4, 2B (12), 2 K

SP JH Tseng 5 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 6-5 GO-FO, 88-59 pitches-strikes

RP RJ Alvarez 1.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 1 HBP, 1 WP, 1-0 GO-FO

 

Myrtle Beach won 1-0 Box Score

 

CF R. Crawford 0/4, outfield assist at third base

SS G. Torres 2/4, R

C I. Rice 1/4, 2B (4)

3B J. Vosler 0/4

RF Je. Baez 2/3, SB (22)

SP J. Martinez 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K, 1 WP, 5-5 GO-FO, 80-52 pitches-strikes

RP R. McNeil 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 WP, 0-0 GO-FO

 

South Bend won 8-2 Box Score

 

CF D. Dewees 1/4, R, BB

RF E. Martinez 2/4, R, 2 2B (14), 3 RBI, 2 K

C T. Alamo 0/4

DH E. Jimenez 1/4, R, 2B (26), RBI

3B J. Hodges 2/4, R, E (12, throw)

SP R. Kellogg 6 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 1 HBP, 10-1 GO-FO, 86-54 pitches-strikes

RP P. Araujo 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K

 

Eugene won 9-7 Box Score

 

CF DJ Wilson 0/5, R, K

SS Y. Peguero 2/5, R

RF K. Mitchell 1/3, 2B (2), RBI, BB, K, SB (4)

3B M. Rose 1/5, R, 2B (4), K, E (1, fielding)

1B C. Pieters 3/4, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, SB (7)

DH W. Galindo 2/5, R, 2B (2), RBI, 2 K

SP D. Cease 4 IP,3 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 2 WP, 4-3 GO-FO

 

AZL Cubs lost 5-4 Box Score

 

CF J. Gonzalez 0/5, 3 K

2B Z. Short 1/4, R, RBI, BB

SS I. Paredes 0/5, 5 K

C G. Polanco 3/5, 2 R, 3B (1), RBI, 2 PB (2)

1B K. Zamudio 2/4, 2B (3)

LF Y. Matos 2/4, 2B (1), RBI

SP A. Diaz 0.1 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 0-0 GO-FO

RP A. Rondon 2.2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 1 HBP, 1 WP, 0-2 GO-FO

RP Y. Gomez 4 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 4-2 GO-FO

 

DSL Cubs 1 lost 11-2 Box Score

 

2B Y. Perlaza 1/4, BB, 2 K, E (2, fielding)

CF J. Gutierrez 0/3, BB

SS R. Narea 0/3, K

RF J. Sierra 1/3, 2 R, BB, E (1, fielding)

DH Her. Perez 0/3, BB, K

SP A. Bonalde 3.2 IP, 11 H, 6 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 HBP, 4 WP, 4-1 GO-FO

 

DSL Cubs 2 won game one of a doubleheader 3-1 (7 innings) Box Score

 

SS A. Ademan 1/3

DH F. Mejia 1/3

1B M. Amaya 0/2, R, BB

LF A. Rodriguez 2/3, R, 2B (3), K

2B L. Diaz 1/2, R, RBI, BB, SB (4)

SP C. Ocampo 5 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 1 HBP, 2 WP, 4-2 GO-FO

 

DSL Cubs 2 lost game two 3-0 (7 innings) Box Score

 

DH A. Ademan 0/3, K

1B A. Rodriguez 2/3, 3B (3), K

C M. Amaya 1/3, 2B (5), K

SS F. Mejia 0/2, 2 K

2B L. Diaz 0/3, 2 K

RF T. Rijo 0/0, 2 BB, SB (2)

SP E. Ferrebus 4 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 5 K, 2 HBP, 4-1 GO-FO

[davell]

Caratini HR

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Bah. Bad Dylan Cease today.

[Thrilho]

Bah. Bad Dylan Cease today.

 

Yeah he'd only given up 2 singles and 2 walks but no runs through three but fell apart in the fourth, giving up 2 doubles, a walk, and a wild pitch. In happier news, Ian Rice caught a 4 hit shutout and doubled in Torres for the only run in the game. Only went 1-4 with a K, and runners went 3-3 on him, but I'm sure he'll still take it.

[Hrubes20]

No Albertos again. That's an entire week without an appearance. Hopefully it's just the FO being really conservative with him, rather than an injury already.

[Thrilho]

With all the good hitting catchers the Cubs have at the major and minor league level, any thought to what would happen if MLB got robot umps and framing didn't matter anymore? You'd have to think the priority would swing pretty heavily into being able to call a game and throw guys out. And even more, it's just a skill that you don't really need anymore, so players with less defensive talent could play the position.

 

I could even see MLB not going to robot umps but giving the umpire a little ding in their ear when the ball is a strike. The ump can disagree and call it the other way, but he'd get hit at the end of the year. I wouldn't even be that surprised if they were doing that this year. In a lot of games it seems like the ump just doesn't miss much. Maybe it's because MLB is grading them harder, but it seems possible that something like that is happening now.

 

So anyway, if that was happening I'd think you'd try to stack up a bunch of good hitting, maybe bad framing catchers before the market adjusted. Just random thoughts as I'm thinking about Schwarber, Rice, and an as yet unproven framer in Contreras...

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Pedro Araujo stateside:

 

2014 Mesa: 16.1 IP, 12 H, 27/8 K/BB, 1 HR

2015 Eugene: 50.1 IP, 43 H, 70/9 K/BB, 1 HR

2016 South Bend: 19 IP, 7 H, 23/4 K/BB, 0 HR

[CubsWin]

Pedro Araujo stateside:

 

2014 Mesa: 16.1 IP, 12 H, 27/8 K/BB, 1 HR

2015 Eugene: 50.1 IP, 43 H, 70/9 K/BB, 1 HR

2016 South Bend: 19 IP, 7 H, 23/4 K/BB, 0 HR

Can't argue with those numbers. If only he weren't about to turn 23. It'd be nice to see what he can do in Myrtle Beach. Which leads me to a question.

 

This is not to say that Araujo is that good and would necessarily be high on team's lists, but with Araujo eligible to be selected in the rule 5 draft this off season, would the Cubs (or any team) leave him (or any player in a similar situation) in Low-A so as to not let other teams see what he can do at High-A or higher?

 

It makes sense especially with IFA guys who reach rule 5 eligibility often when they're still quite young and haven't come stateside until they're 20 or so. Despite Araujo's readiness for High-A, if keeping him at South Bend improved his chances of him not being selected, the Cubs would be able to evaluate him at High-A and AA next year (assuming he earns the promotion) and be in a much better position to know whether they want to roster him.

 

Do you think this is a common practice?

[CubsWin]

I know they're both in the majors and this is the minor league forum, but man, both Edwards and Almora are looking good in small samples so far.

 

Almora - .286/.327/.449 with 1 HR and 5 2Bs in just over 50 PAs.

 

Edwards - 1.59 ERA, 5.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R (earned), 1 BB, 8 Ks, OppBA .105 with a 0.53 WHIP.

 

Given that CJ only gave up 4 HRs in 317.2 minor league IP, it's odd that one of his 2 hits allowed this season was a HR. Let's hope these 2 can continue at this something close to this pace.

[CubsWin]

Ouch, Isaac Paredes with the ol' platinum sombrero.

[sneakypower]

With all the good hitting catchers the Cubs have at the major and minor league level, any thought to what would happen if MLB got robot umps and framing didn't matter anymore? You'd have to think the priority would swing pretty heavily into being able to call a game and throw guys out. And even more, it's just a skill that you don't really need anymore, so players with less defensive talent could play the position.

 

I could even see MLB not going to robot umps but giving the umpire a little ding in their ear when the ball is a strike. The ump can disagree and call it the other way, but he'd get hit at the end of the year. I wouldn't even be that surprised if they were doing that this year. In a lot of games it seems like the ump just doesn't miss much. Maybe it's because MLB is grading them harder, but it seems possible that something like that is happening now.

 

So anyway, if that was happening I'd think you'd try to stack up a bunch of good hitting, maybe bad framing catchers before the market adjusted. Just random thoughts as I'm thinking about Schwarber, Rice, and an as yet unproven framer in Contreras...

if they start to put Zagunis back behind the plate then we'll talk

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Pedro Araujo stateside:

 

2014 Mesa: 16.1 IP, 12 H, 27/8 K/BB, 1 HR

2015 Eugene: 50.1 IP, 43 H, 70/9 K/BB, 1 HR

2016 South Bend: 19 IP, 7 H, 23/4 K/BB, 0 HR

Can't argue with those numbers. If only he weren't about to turn 23. It'd be nice to see what he can do in Myrtle Beach. Which leads me to a question.

 

This is not to say that Araujo is that good and would necessarily be high on team's lists, but with Araujo eligible to be selected in the rule 5 draft this off season, would the Cubs (or any team) leave him (or any player in a similar situation) in Low-A so as to not let other teams see what he can do at High-A or higher?

 

It makes sense especially with IFA guys who reach rule 5 eligibility often when they're still quite young and haven't come stateside until they're 20 or so. Despite Araujo's readiness for High-A, if keeping him at South Bend improved his chances of him not being selected, the Cubs would be able to evaluate him at High-A and AA next year (assuming he earns the promotion) and be in a much better position to know whether they want to roster him.

 

Do you think this is a common practice?

 

The Rule 5 thing is a small issue(and definitely small, because the upshot here is already capped at reliever), but I don't particularly care about Araujo's age. He's not a 25 year old beating up on guys in Eugene, nor is he an advanced College guy killing the lower levels either.

 

The Rule 5 question I don't have a good answer to. My guess is that it's not terribly common, I would think that if a team cared enough to hold a player back to keep him, that they'd push him forward instead. That way it'd be easier to justify rostering that player, and at higher levels they're more likely to struggle or have flaws exposed that make them less attractive to drafting teams. Leaving them to dominate the same lower level gives other teams more to dream on.

[Thrilho]

With all the good hitting catchers the Cubs have at the major and minor league level, any thought to what would happen if MLB got robot umps and framing didn't matter anymore? You'd have to think the priority would swing pretty heavily into being able to call a game and throw guys out. And even more, it's just a skill that you don't really need anymore, so players with less defensive talent could play the position.

 

I could even see MLB not going to robot umps but giving the umpire a little ding in their ear when the ball is a strike. The ump can disagree and call it the other way, but he'd get hit at the end of the year. I wouldn't even be that surprised if they were doing that this year. In a lot of games it seems like the ump just doesn't miss much. Maybe it's because MLB is grading them harder, but it seems possible that something like that is happening now.

 

So anyway, if that was happening I'd think you'd try to stack up a bunch of good hitting, maybe bad framing catchers before the market adjusted. Just random thoughts as I'm thinking about Schwarber, Rice, and an as yet unproven framer in Contreras...

if they start to put Zagunis back behind the plate then we'll talk

 

I think the first place you'd see something will be in the statcorner framing values. If I understand the stat, the more umps get the call right the less framing value catchers will have. I doubt they'll go after the hackiest catchers try can find, but I wouldn't be surprised if they're putting more weight in arm and game calling. It'll be tough to confirm though since MiLB framing stats aren't on the horizon and the MLB spot will be manned by a dude who could drop every pitch and still have positive value due to his bat.

[davell]

Araujo to MB lol

[CyHawk_Cub]

Araujo to MB lol

 

[tweet]

[/tweet]

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Araujo to MB lol

 

Corresponding move: Dillon Maples demoted to South Bend.

[CubsWin]

Araujo to MB lol

That's awesome. Absolutely hilarious.

[CubsWin]

Pedro Araujo stateside:

 

2014 Mesa: 16.1 IP, 12 H, 27/8 K/BB, 1 HR

2015 Eugene: 50.1 IP, 43 H, 70/9 K/BB, 1 HR

2016 South Bend: 19 IP, 7 H, 23/4 K/BB, 0 HR

Can't argue with those numbers. If only he weren't about to turn 23. It'd be nice to see what he can do in Myrtle Beach. Which leads me to a question.

 

This is not to say that Araujo is that good and would necessarily be high on team's lists, but with Araujo eligible to be selected in the rule 5 draft this off season, would the Cubs (or any team) leave him (or any player in a similar situation) in Low-A so as to not let other teams see what he can do at High-A or higher?

 

It makes sense especially with IFA guys who reach rule 5 eligibility often when they're still quite young and haven't come stateside until they're 20 or so. Despite Araujo's readiness for High-A, if keeping him at South Bend improved his chances of him not being selected, the Cubs would be able to evaluate him at High-A and AA next year (assuming he earns the promotion) and be in a much better position to know whether they want to roster him.

 

Do you think this is a common practice?

 

The Rule 5 thing is a small issue(and definitely small, because the upshot here is already capped at reliever), but I don't particularly care about Araujo's age. He's not a 25 year old beating up on guys in Eugene, nor is he an advanced College guy killing the lower levels either.

 

The Rule 5 question I don't have a good answer to. My guess is that it's not terribly common, I would think that if a team cared enough to hold a player back to keep him, that they'd push him forward instead. That way it'd be easier to justify rostering that player, and at higher levels they're more likely to struggle or have flaws exposed that make them less attractive to drafting teams. Leaving them to dominate the same lower level gives other teams more to dream on.

Araujo was 22 (and will be for 3 more days), so the age difference in Low-A wasn't a huge deal for me either, it's just always preferable to have guys putting up dominant numbers like his against guys his age or older. Now that he'll be turning 23 in Myrtle Beach, he'll be on par or close to it with a lot of his colleagues. I'm excited to see what he can do in the CL. The timing is hilarious. It's like the Cubs were reading our conversation!

 

As far as being picked in the rule 5 draft, I find that reliever is the most common position selected. 10 of the 16 players selected in the major league portion of the draft last year were pitchers. 7 of those 10 pitchers were relievers in the minors. Having your upshot capped at being a reliever doesn't seem to dissuade teams from taking you.