Minor League Playoff Discussion & Boxes, 9-13-16

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Box Scores:

 

Mills Cup Championship, Game 3 (best-of-5 series): Myrtle Beach won 7-0 to take a 2-1 series lead Box Score

 

LF C. Burks 2/3, 3 R, 2B (2), RBI, HBP

CF D. Dewees 2/3, R, RBI, K, CS (2)

3B-1B D. Bote 2/4, 2 2B (5), 2 RBI

DH E. Jimenez 0/3, BB

1B I. Rice 0/3, R, BB, 2 K

RF Je. Baez 2/4, 3B (1), RBI, 2 K

2B B. Flete 1/4, 2 R, 3B (1), 2 K, E (1, fielding)

SP T. Clifton 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K, 1 WP, 6-5 GO-FO, 78-48 pitches-strikes

RP T. Nance 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K, 1-0 GO-FO

 

NWL Championship, Game 3 (best-of-3 series): Eugene won 2-1 to win their first NWL Championship in 41 years Box Score

 

CF DJ Wilson 1/4, K

2B Y. Peguero 1/4, RBI, 2 K - go-ahead RBI single in the bottom of the 5th inning

1B C. Pieters 1/4

3B W. Galindo 1/4, R, 2 K

SS Z. Short 0/1, 2 BB, K

LF K. Mitchell 2/3, RBI, outfield assist at home to preserve 1-1 tie to end the top of the 5th inning

SP M. Rondon 5 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 1 HBP, 6-4 GO-FO, 81-52 pitches-strikes

RP W. Short 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 2-0 GO-FO - save

[CubsWin]

Exciting night tonight! Clifton on the mound to close out the Carolina League championship. The Northwest League championship also on the line, and the Cubs could get the magic number down to 1 with a win. Fun stuff!

[CubsWin]

Listening to the Pelicans game. Clifton getting a lot of swings and misses on his change up, especially to lefties. I knew he had a good FB and curve, but according to the Pelicans announcer his change-up has really improved is at least major league average. He describes Trevor's FB (which was sitting 93 in tonight's game) and curve as major league average or better as well.

 

In a recent article, Clifton described his biggest step forward this season was in the mental part of the game, learning to be a pitcher instead of a thrower. He talked about learning how to set up hitters and what to throw in certain situations. He's got an outside chance to be a 3 in the majors according to Fangraphs' Eric Longenhagen who wonders if his improved control will hold up enough to reach that ceiling. Sees him more safely as a 4. I'd definitely take that.

 

He was named the Carolina League Pitcher of the Year and so far tonight is living up to that title. Still a long way to go, but through 3 innings, he's allowed 2 hits, no runs, no walks and has one strikeout. Pelicans lead 2-0. The wind is blowing out, so things could change quickly...

[davell]

Clifton at 5 3 0 0 0 4 now. Definitely think he hits a few top 100 lists over the winter.

[David]

Jimenez has not struck out and drawn 3 walks in his first 9 PAs against High A competition. He's been on base 4 times times and drove in a run making one of his outs.

 

It's pretty obvious, using science, that he and Paredes are here to make up for Soler and Baez not developing into the studly starters they were supposed to become.

Who the horsefeathers is Paredes?

[davell]

Javy is pretty horsefeathering studly.

[David]

Who the horsefeathers is Paredes?

 

17 YO Mexican MIFer that can hit

 

Javy is pretty [expletive] studly.

 

He's iight, I have zero urge to expand his role beyond what it is.

I feel like his floor is this role with that defense and Joe managing his matchups. And beyond that he has three ability to be an absolute monster if he can manage some adjustments over the years.

[Cubswin11]

Who the horsefeathers is Paredes?

 

17 YO Mexican MIFer that can hit

 

Javy is pretty [expletive] studly.

 

He's iight, I have zero urge to expand his role beyond what it is.

These are my thoughts on Javy as well. At least we shouldn't go into next year with any sort of plan where him expanding his role is Plan A.

[David]

I feel like his floor is this role with that defense and Joe managing his matchups. And beyond that he has three ability to be an absolute monster if he can manage some adjustments over the years.

 

Agreed, but it is very possible, even likely, that the defense is not the same by the time the offense comes together.

Definitely but I don't think it'd diminish enough for the glove not to be an asset at that point

[CubsWin]

Pelicans Win, 7-0! That's Myrtle Beach's 2nd consecutive championship!

[davell]

Pelicans Win, 7-0! That's Myrtle Beach's 2nd consecutive championship!

 

Best of 5

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Eugene is 3 outs away from winning the NWL Championship. They're up 2-1.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

And Eugene wins their first championship in 41 years.

 

Wyatt Short with a quick 1-2-3 bottom of the 9th inning. 2-1 final. Both Eugene runs scored with 2 outs.

[CubsWin]

Eugene is 3 outs away from winning the NWL Championship. They're up 2-1.

And done. Emeralds win it! That's 2-for-2. Now we just the Cubs to complete the trifecta!!

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Eugene is 3 outs away from winning the NWL Championship. They're up 2-1.

And done. Emeralds win it! That's 2-for-2. Now we just the Cubs to complete the trifecta!!

 

Myrtle Beach hasn't won their series yet. They're up 2-1 in a best-of-5.

[CubsWin]

And Eugene wins their first championship in 41 years.

 

Wyatt Short with a quick 1-2-3 bottom of the 9th inning. 2-1 final. Both Eugene runs scored with 2 outs.

Didn't they also set a franchise record (or maybe it was a NWL record) for most wins in a season?

[CubsWin]

Eugene is 3 outs away from winning the NWL Championship. They're up 2-1.

And done. Emeralds win it! That's 2-for-2. Now we just the Cubs to complete the trifecta!!

 

Myrtle Beach hasn't won their series yet. They're up 2-1 in a best-of-5.

Oh. Poo. I thought it was a best of three like the first round.

 

 

Never mind...

[CubsWin]

And Eugene wins their first championship in 41 years.

 

Wyatt Short with a quick 1-2-3 bottom of the 9th inning. 2-1 final. Both Eugene runs scored with 2 outs.

Didn't they also set a franchise record (or maybe it was a NWL record) for most wins in a season?

It was a NWL record for most consecutive wins at 15 that I was thinking of.

[CubsWin]

Wow. Last time the Ems won their league's championship was 1975. That's a long time for an 8-team league. Now let's vanquish that 1908 record...

[CaliforniaRaisin]

And Eugene wins their first championship in 41 years.

 

Wyatt Short with a quick 1-2-3 bottom of the 9th inning. 2-1 final. Both Eugene runs scored with 2 outs.

Didn't they also set a franchise record (or maybe it was a NWL record) for most wins in a season?

 

It was a franchise record. They came three wins shy of the NWL record. Especially impressive considering they lost their top two pitchers and one of their best position players to promotion (Oscar de la Cruz, Jose Paulino and Andruw Monasterio) and also lost Jesus Castillo in the trade for Joe Smith.

[CubsWin]

And Eugene wins their first championship in 41 years.

 

Wyatt Short with a quick 1-2-3 bottom of the 9th inning. 2-1 final. Both Eugene runs scored with 2 outs.

Didn't they also set a franchise record (or maybe it was a NWL record) for most wins in a season?

 

It was a franchise record. They came three wins shy of the NWL record. Especially impressive considering they lost their top two pitchers and one of their best position players to promotion (Oscar de la Cruz, Jose Paulino and Andruw Monasterio) and also lost Jesus Castillo in the trade for Joe Smith.

That is impressive. The league record I was thinking of was most consecutive wins at 15.

[craig]

Listening to the Pelicans game. Clifton getting a lot of swings and misses on his change up, especially to lefties. I knew he had a good FB and curve, but according to the Pelicans announcer his change-up has really improved is at least major league average. He describes Trevor's FB (which was sitting 93 in tonight's game) and curve as major league average or better as well.

 

In a recent article, Clifton described his biggest step forward this season was in the mental part of the game, learning to be a pitcher instead of a thrower. He talked about learning how to set up hitters and what to throw in certain situations. He's got an outside chance to be a 3 in the majors according to Fangraphs' Eric Longenhagen who wonders if his improved control will hold up enough to reach that ceiling. Sees him more safely as a 4. I'd definitely take that....

 

Thanks for passing along that stuff/scouting info, Win. The favorable report on the change is news to me. I believe it. That would help explain both how he's gotten to be so good at the end of the year, and also why he's been so very effective against lefties. Big curve and change, are there any harder pitches to control? Not sure how well that control will carry over into next year, but if he's actually developed a good change, and can throw his curve for strikes, that's a good combo.

[craig]

Wyatt Short quietly did not allow an earned run in his pro debut with 16 Ks in 17 IP and just 5 hits allowed. He's a 5'8" former college closer. 90-93 lefty with a slider and change, known for an aggressive approach. Between the Cape and regular season NCAA he picked up 134 Ks in 130 innings while allowing just 4 HRs in his 3 years at Ole Miss.

 

Thanks for pointing him out. I'd been thinking the same thing, that he's been good for Eugene, just as he'd been good for Miss and in Cape. Sure, he's a short reliever. But a lefty who can throw strikes in the 90's, not sure why that might not play up. Will be interesting to see how he does going forward.

 

I'm a huge believer in the value of relievers.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

The final out of the Eugene game last night:

 

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