Minor League Discussion & Boxes, 8-1-16

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Box Scores:

 

Iowa won 13-0 Box Score

 

Tennessee won 3-2 Box Score

 

Myrtle Beach won 5-4 Box Score

 

South Bend won 5-1 Box Score

 

Eugene had the day off

 

AZL Cubs had the day off

 

DSL Cubs 1 lost 6-5 Box Score

 

DSL Cubs 2 won 6-0 Box Score

[Johnny OHagan]

Yeah. Pitching at rookie ball next year will be very interesting.

 

Add to the above post the BA reports on the others

 

Marquez

A 17-year-old from the Dominican Republic, Marquez is 6-foot-4, 185 pounds and projects to be a physical pitcher with power from the left side, touching 92 mph right now. He’s shown good feel for pitching as well, throwing strikes at the MLB international showcase last year in February when he threw 2 2/3 scoreless innings with two strikeouts and no walks. Marquez has flashed feel for both his curveball and changeup, with his curve more advanced at this point.

Carrera

a 17-year-old lefthander, signed for $250,000 in July from Tijuana. He’s not that big (5-foot-10, 165 pounds) but he has room to add weight to his skinny frame and add to his fastball, which is up to 89 mph, showing the Cubs feel to spin a curveball as well.

Assad

Assad has sturdier frame at 6-foot-1, 200 pounds with heavy sink on a low-90s fastball that touches 94 and flashes two average pitches in his slider and changeup, with his slider more advanced.

Albertos

Albertos is 6-foot-1, 185 pounds with a promising combination of stuff and feel for pitching. He touched 92 mph before he signed and has since been up to 94 with good angle. He’s poised on the mound, throwing strikes and changing speeds well with a slider that has a chance to be a plus pitch and feel for a changeup as well to profile as a starter. He’s polished enough that he will come to the United States this year.

Camargo

Camargo is an 18-year-old righthander with a fastball that’s hit 93 along with a changeup that flashes above-average and is ahead of his breaking ball.

Interesting as it is clear Albertos added to his fastball. Hoping for the same for Carrera tbh. Has a terrific groundout ratio.

 

And if you add Ochoa, Geurrero and older guys like Mac Donna and Colorado.....

 

Personally think Carlos Ocampo, Ferribus, Perez & Ramos get another year in the DSL.

 

 

Out of interest what position players do you expect to be promoted from the DSL next year?

[davell]

There's a glut of MI, but I definitely think Ademan comes over. Figure Diaz has a chance too. If Herson Perez has any chance, they'll bring him over, since he's 20.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Justin Steele coming on recently. Today: 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K.

[davell]

I think we may have been a year early, but next season could easily be the breakout for our pitching.

[Aaron_Kennelly]

Grimm gave up a hit and struck out 3 in an inning of work. La Stella hasn't played since the demotion.

[snoodmonger]

Grimm gave up a hit and struck out 3 in an inning of work. La Stella hasn't played since the demotion.

 

Why is that?

[davell]

Top 10 Pitching Prospects?

 

1 De La Cruz- With his frame and stuff, this ones easy for me.

2 Cease- easily the best stuff, likely to skyrocket in value with a few good outings in SB next year

3 Albertos- Not a lot of projection left, but very good stuff and knows how to pitch

4 Clifton- Throws hard enough, I see a reliever in the end

5 Paulino-Athletic, solid velo from a lefty, breakout poitential

6- Steele- Very good stuff, with command will come his breakout

7 Zastryzny- Future swing guy or LOOGY

8 Underwood- He's young and he's got excellent stuff. horsefeathers it.

9-Tseng- I think he's underrated, will start in the majors(not for us and we won't get any value out of him)

10 Kellogg- I wish the stuff ticked up. I'd be more enthused. Guess its still POSSIBLE it will next season

 

Others- Marquez, Hudson, Sands, Carrera, Clark, Miller, Moreno, Hatch,Rondon, Mekkes

 

Zero clue what to think of Ryan Williams right now and there's more DSL arms with breakout poitential. Maybe even to the point where I'd take the "field" over Marquez or Carrera.....

[Little Slide Rooter]

Grimm gave up a hit and struck out 3 in an inning of work. La Stella hasn't played since the demotion.

 

Why is that?

 

Could have been bothered by a mild injury and they opted to send him to Iowa rather than the DL so they could call him back in 10 days instead of 15, which would matter if they'd been working a trade for Baez that never happened.

[KingCubsFan]

What's wrong with Ryan Williams? He could get a spot start or two down the stretch if he were healthy.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

What's wrong with Ryan Williams? He could get a spot start or two down the stretch if he were healthy.

 

Shoulder injury.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Top 10 Pitching Prospects?

 

1 De La Cruz- With his frame and stuff, this ones easy for me.

2 Cease- easily the best stuff, likely to skyrocket in value with a few good outings in SB next year

3 Albertos- Not a lot of projection left, but very good stuff and knows how to pitch

4 Clifton- Throws hard enough, I see a reliever in the end

5 Paulino-Athletic, solid velo from a lefty, breakout poitential

6- Steele- Very good stuff, with command will come his breakout

7 Zastryzny- Future swing guy or LOOGY

8 Underwood- He's young and he's got excellent stuff. [expletive] it.

9-Tseng- I think he's underrated, will start in the majors(not for us and we won't get any value out of him)

10 Kellogg- I wish the stuff ticked up. I'd be more enthused. Guess its still POSSIBLE it will next season

 

Others- Marquez, Hudson, Sands, Carrera, Clark, Miller, Moreno, Hatch,Rondon, Mekkes

 

Zero clue what to think of Ryan Williams right now and there's more DSL arms with breakout poitential. Maybe even to the point where I'd take the "field" over Marquez or Carrera.....

 

I agree with your top four. I'm intrigued with Steele's recent run but can't go too high just yet. Ignoring Carl Edwards Jr:

 

1. De La Cruz - in my eyes, this isn't even a question

2. Cease

3. Albertos

4. Clifton

5. Hatch - obviously based only on draft profile

6. Paulino

7. Tseng

8. Steele

9. Underwood Jr

10. Stinnett

 

Tyson Miller would've been next.

[davell]

I didn't want to slot Hatch in until the off season. No clue if we get any action out of him though before that. I think I'd have slotted him at 7 and Miller at 10 though, if I were including them.

[craig]

Hatch is in the organization now, so whether he pitches 6 innings or not this month, I'd include him too. I'd include both him and Miller in the top 10, both have good arms and neither has failed yet. Stinnett has been so persistently ineffective, and his velocity predominantly too mediocre, to make top-10 for me. But I know I tend to give a guy with a good arm and projection for good arm/stuff/control, and hasn't accumulated evidence to the contrary, ahead of somebody who has a track record of failure. It's a very limited pool, that's for sure. Hopefully some will progress more favorably next year than has been true these last several years.

[craig]

The Joe Smith acquisition brought Preston Morrison to mind. Smith has assembled a 10-year career with a 2.94 ERA as a no-velocity sidearm guy. Nothing great, but a useful, productive, functional career for him.

 

I haven't seen any Preston Morrison video since college. But he had a very low arm slot in the video I recall. I wonder if he's got any chance to lower it further, and to carve out a Smith-like career as a funky reliever? Or perhaps something more?

 

Preston is a good example of how little attention we pay to results in A-ball. I assume we have the worst collection of minor league pitching of any organization in baseball. But a guy who's allowed 1 earned run in 7 starts still doesn't even get a thought for a top-10 list.

 

I wonder if he'll be a guy like David Berg who finally hits the wall in AA?

[davell]

I wouldn't assume that at all. Go look at the Angels and Marlins systems.

[Donzo]

Good thread, nice stuff on the pitching prospects.

 

A couple things:

 

Do some of you still have Cruz above Cease?... From the Cubs rankings, they clearly have Cease ahead of Cruz.

 

Do we know Clifton's actual measurables?... I see 6'1 and 6'4... Just browsing and I've seen some confusion here as well.

 

Thanks...

[davell]

He's at least 6'4. No idea why that's a mix up on milb.

 

Can't speak for anyone else obviously, but I've got it Cease, Clifton, de la Cruz respectively.....

[craig]

..Can't speak for anyone else obviously, but I've got it Cease, Clifton, de la Cruz respectively.....

 

Same. Those are three pretty good prospects, I think, pending De la Cruz's health. After that, we'll see. I'm sure I'm forgetting somebody, and I've got some in wrong order. But just a quick listing: Maybe Steele could still fit in there somewhere; maybe finesse Morrison. I guess rostered Rosario.

 

Zastrysny

Hatch

Albertos

Clark

Paulino

Hudson

Kellogg

Rivero

Moreno

Torrez

Pierce Johnson

Underwood

Hedges

Leal

McNeil

[Tim]

..Can't speak for anyone else obviously, but I've got it Cease, Clifton, de la Cruz respectively.....

 

Same. Those are three pretty good prospects, I think, pending De la Cruz's health. After that, we'll see. I'm sure I'm forgetting somebody, and I've got some in wrong order. But just a quick listing: Maybe Steele could still fit in there somewhere; maybe finesse Morrison. I guess rostered Rosario.

 

Zastrysny

Hatch

Albertos

Clark

Paulino

Hudson

Kellogg

Rivero

Moreno

Torrez

Pierce Johnson

Underwood

Hedges

Leal

McNeil

Is Ryan Williams dead?

[craig]

Yeah, figured I'd forget somebody! :):)

 

Is he dead? Did we ever get a report on what was wrong with him, and what his rehab/comeback prognosis is?

[Donzo]

Those are three pretty good prospects, I think, pending De la Cruz's health.

 

 

Hey Craig,

 

How about those World Series champion Chicago Cubs!

 

I know how much time and effort you’ve put into following the Cubs and their minor league system over the years. I remember us discussing how great David Kelton was going to be. Well, I was sure he was going to be great, you not so much- good call.

 

So, congratulation my fellow Cub fan! Congratulations to all of you… As a sports fan, I’ve been a lucky fan with my various pro and college teams winning championships the past twenty years… Nothing beats the Cubs winning the World Series!

 

Enjoy the moment!

 

:flythew:

[Donzo]

Thanks for all the feedback on the pitching prospects.

 

It does appear there is some real pitching talent in the system now, with a few top prospects and lot of mid-level prospects. The issue I see is the pitching prospects look like they’re a year away from being a year away before they can realistically contribute to the Cubs.

 

This will probably lead to some trades. Trades that will see players traded that we don’t want traded… Theo said, down the road, there will be trades that make us squirm. We very well could be down that road right now… He put a lot of assets into position players with the idea of trading surplus position players for pitching when needed… Here we are.