Minor League Discussion & Boxes, 4-9-17

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Box Scores:

 

Iowa lost 12-1 Box Score

 

CF J. Andreoli 1/4, 2B (2), K

1B C. Young 0/4, K

2B I. Happ 1/4, R, HR (3), RBI, K

LF M. Zagunis 0/3, K

3B J. Candelario 0/3

C V. Caratini 0/3

RF B. Rademacher 0/3, K

SP J. Buchanan 5.2 IP, 11 H, 8 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 1 HBP, 3 HR, 8-2 GO-FO, 82-50 pitches-strikes

 

Tennessee lost 4-3 Box Score

 

LF C. Burks 1/5, R, HR (1), RBI, K

2B D. Bote 4/5, SB (1)

C I . Rice 0/3, BB, 2 K

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

SP P. Morrison 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 3 K, 7-1 GO-FO, 75-40 pitches-strikes

RP B. Markey 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K, 0-2 GO-FO

RP R. McNeil 0.2 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 1-0 GO-FO

 

Myrtle Beach won 4-3 Box Score

 

DH C. Sepulveda 1/5, RBI

C PJ Higgins 1/5

RF E. Martinez 0/3, R, 2 BB

3B M. Rose 3/4, R, 2B (1), HR (1), 3 RBI, K

1B T. Alamo 2/4, 2B (1), K

SP O. De La Cruz 5 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K, 1 WP, 4-4 GO-FO, 86-47 pitches-strikes

 

South Bend won 7-1 Box Score

 

SS Z. Short 3/3, 4 R, 2B (1), BB, SB (1), E (5, throw)

3B I. Paredes 3/4, 3 R, 2 2B (2), RBI

1B A. Mineo 2/4, 2B (1), 5 RBI

DH L. Ayala 1/3, K

CF DJ Wilson 0/3, K

SP M. Rondon 5.2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 K, 1 WP, 5-4 GO-FO, 79-49 pitches-strikes

[CubInOK]

The wind out to RF in OKC blew my hat off my head as I was walking into the stadium. Expect lots of runs and HRs in AAA today.

[CubInOK]

Buchanan Rosscup (?) is getting torched.

[Aaron_Kennelly]

Isaac Paredes is 3-3 with 2 doubles.

[davell]

De La Cruz went 5 5 0 0 2 5. Its going to be fun watching us move back to an elite system this year, with what's already on the roster.

[CubInOK]

Happ HR, 430ft to the gap between CF and RF. Edited April 9, 2017 by CubInOK

[davell]

Happ makes me Happy.

[Bobson Dugnutt]

ok fine don't trade happ

[davell]

Manny Rondon was decent today. 5.2 3 1 1 2 7. Not likely to wind up starting longterm. But, he'd be very interesting out of the pen.

[Donzo]

Happ- wow!... :bow:

 

Since the AFL championship game, has there been a better hitter in baseball?

[CaliforniaRaisin]

[tweet]

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[CubsWin]

Happ- wow!... :bow:

 

Since the AFL championship game, has there been a better hitter in baseball?

From the AFL Championship game (in which he went 4-for-4 with a double and 2 HRs) thru spring training to now his stat line is:

 

79 AB, 17 R, 31 H, 8 2B, 0 3B, 10 HR, 28 RBI, 8 BB, 20 K for an approximate slash line of .392/.448/.873 with 9.2% BB and 22.3% K.

 

Not bad...

[CubsWin]

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[/tweet]

The OKC announcer described the oppo blast Happ hit last night as hitting the brick wall behind and to the left of the LED video board in that picture. It was easy oppo power too. When I watched it, it looked like a fairly easy fly out. Wind was blowing out pretty strong though.

[CubsWin]

De La Cruz went 5 5 0 0 2 5. Its going to be fun watching us move back to an elite system this year, with what's already on the roster.

It certainly has been a good start for the top Cubs minor league pitchers. Butler (even thought he won't count towards the system's ranking is still important), Clifton, De La Cruz, Hatch and Cease combined for 24.2 IP, 17 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 11 BB, 25 K for a 1.09 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP.

 

Lesser prospects Zastryzny, P. Johnson, Tseng, Alzolay, T. Miller and Rondon threw 24.1 IP, 15 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 6 BB, 32 K for a 1.85 ERA and a 0.86 WHIP.

 

Add in bats like Jimenez, Happ, Candelario, Caratini with some emerging bats like EJM, Parades, etc., Albertos once short season gets started and the 27th and 30th draft picks and this system could be pretty solid by year's end. It will be fun to track for sure.

[CubInOK]

[tweet]

[/tweet]

The OKC announcer described the oppo blast Happ hit last night as hitting the brick wall behind and to the left of the LED video board in that picture. It was easy oppo power too. When I watched it, it looked like a fairly easy fly out. Wind was blowing out pretty strong though.

Wind was out today too, but the crack off the bat was "The Sound of HRs" no doubt power.

[Donzo]

From the AFL Championship game (in which he went 4-for-4 with a double and 2 HRs) thru spring training to now his stat line is:

 

79 AB, 17 R, 31 H, 8 2B, 0 3B, 10 HR, 28 RBI, 8 BB, 20 K for an approximate slash line of .392/.448/.873 with 9.2% BB and 22.3% K.

 

Not bad...

 

Nice job on the math... An OPS of 1.321... =D>

 

He did have 2 errors today at 2B (fielding & throwing), so there's work to be done.

[Donzo]

It certainly has been a good start for the top Cubs minor league pitchers. Butler (even thought he won't count towards the system's ranking is still important).

 

Lesser prospects Zastryzny, P. Johnson, Tseng, Alzolay, T. Miller and Rondon threw 24.1 IP, 15 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 6 BB, 32 K for a 1.85 ERA and a 0.86 WHIP

 

In particular, I think Butler and Zastryzny will be important part of the Cubs season.

 

I see Butler as the 6th starter, ya never know when he'll be needed. The SP has been unusually healthy the past two seasons, so a 6th starter hasn't been a concern... It's nice to know he's there if the Cubs fortune runs out or when Maddon wants to go with six starters. Usually a 6th starter has fringe stuff, but Butler would be the hardest thrower on the staff.

 

Zastryzny already showed he can be an excellent major league reliever. So, when another LHRP is needed (and that day will come), he'll get the call.

[CubsWin]

Zastryzny already showed he can be an excellent major league reliever. So, when another LHRP is needed (and that day will come), he'll get the call.

I'd caution against saying we can count on Zastryzny to be definitively anything at the major league level after just 16 innings, but I agree he's shown he can be good. The question now is can he do it consistently. One thing seems fairly certain. He'll get another chance and, as you stated, will likely be the first lefty reliever called upon from AAA.

[We Got The Whole 9]

De La Cruz went 5 5 0 0 2 5. Its going to be fun watching us move back to an elite system this year, with what's already on the roster.

It certainly has been a good start for the top Cubs minor league pitchers. Butler (even thought he won't count towards the system's ranking is still important), Clifton, De La Cruz, Hatch and Cease combined for 24.2 IP, 17 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 11 BB, 25 K for a 1.09 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP.

 

Lesser prospects Zastryzny, P. Johnson, Tseng, Alzolay, T. Miller and Rondon threw 24.1 IP, 15 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 6 BB, 32 K for a 1.85 ERA and a 0.86 WHIP.

 

Add in bats like Jimenez, Happ, Candelario, Caratini with some emerging bats like EJM, Parades, etc., Albertos once short season gets started and the 27th and 30th draft picks and this system could be pretty solid by year's end. It will be fun to track for sure.

 

I can't imagine it's a popular thought around here but I kind of also like Morrison as well. He doesn't have the stuff or pedigree to stir prospect love but he does maintain excellent KBB, GB, and suppresses HR. He seems to miss a lot of barrels and could possibly thrive with our defense IMO. I'm not saying he will be as successful as Hendricks but I think there's a MLB pitcher there.

 

Anyway, he also had a good start for the Smokies as well.

 

I personally really like the pitching crop we have.

[philosophizer75]

Happ had a quote earlier this year about "working hard and making it a tough decision for the FO to think about him as a tradebait." Or something to that effect anyways.

 

Seems like he is putting his money where his mouth is. I also remember someone speculating how he could become a young, in-house version of Zobrist and be a utility IF/Corner OF. Wouldn't that be a nice add?

 

I could easily see him forcing me to retroactively change the landscape of my mental debate from "LaSeal or Scizzors" to "Happ or Scizzors" if he continues raking.

Edited April 10, 2017 by philosophizer75

[Cubswin11]

Is there any sort of ETA for Eloy's return from the shoulder issue?

[We Got The Whole 9]

Is there any sort of ETA for Eloy's return from the shoulder issue?

That was no 'bone bruise', right?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Is there any sort of ETA for Eloy's return from the shoulder issue?

 

Last I saw they were going to give him 2 weeks rest, that was around opening day.

[CubsWin]

Happ had a quote earlier this year about "working hard and making it a tough decision for the FO to think about him as a tradebait." Or something to that effect anyways.

 

Seems like he is putting his money where his mouth is. I also remember someone speculating how he could become a young, in-house version of Zobrist and be a utility IF/Corner OF. Wouldn't that be a nice add?

 

I could easily see him forcing me to retroactively change the landscape of my mental debate from "LaSeal or Scizzors" to "Happ or Scizzors" if he continues raking.

In an abstract, big picture discussion, I get this. But I just can't see Happ (or any player with his profile/talent) being a 6th infielder or outfielder which he would be on this team as it's currently constructed. He's young (22), needs to play everyday to continue his development and really needs to play 2B a lot to see if he can stick there as that would maximize his value.

 

In the present, he provides excellent depth in case of injury which is something this FO really values. If I had to choose, I would want La Stella or Szczur coming up to pinch hit at this stage because they strike out so much less frequently than Happ.

 

In the future, I can only see him staying with the team if they move somebody. Zobrist could be traded as he ages. As much as I wouldn't want to see it, Baez could be moved. But the most likely scenario for me is still Happ being dealt. The better he hits, the better chance he can headline a package for a young pitcher with upside.

 

If his development means the Cubs can acquire a good, young starter without giving up Jimenez, that's providing a ton of value.

[David]

Forever against trading good young bats for the myth that is "young pitching."