Minor League Discussion & Boxes, 4-13-17

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Box Scores:

 

Iowa won 5-2 Box Score

 

SS-LF C. Young 1/4

2B-LF I. Happ 2/4, R, HR (5), RBI

LF M. Zagunis 0/3

3B J. Candelario 1/3, R, 2B (6), BB, K

1B V. Caratini 3/4, 2B (1), 2 RBI, K

SP A. Brooks 5 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 8-3 GO-FO, 91-59 pitches-strikes

RP P. Johnson 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K, 1-0 GO-FO

 

Tennessee scored 8 in the bottom of the 9th to win 8-7 Box Score

 

LF C. Burks 1/4, BB, K

3B A. Ely 3/4, R, 2B (1), HBP

2B D. Bote 1/4, R, BB, K

RF Je. Baez 1/4, 2 R, RBI, BB, outfield assist at third base

SS C. Penalver 2/5, R, RBI

SP JH Tseng 5 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 2-6 GO-FO, 75-51 pitches-strikes

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

RP R. McNeil 1 IP, 2 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 2-0 GO-FO

 

Myrtle Beach won 4-0 Box Score

 

2B C. Sepulveda 3/4, R

C PJ Higgins 2/4, PB (2)

RF E. Martinez 1/4, RBI, CS (1)

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

DH T. Alamo 1/4, R, 2B (3), K

SP J. Steele 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K, 1 WP, 5-2 GO-FO, 68-45 pitches-strikes

RP C. Brooks 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K, 0-0 GO-FO

 

South Bend lost 3-2 Box Score

 

2B Y. Peguero 1/3, R, BB, E (4, throw)

SS I. Paredes 1/4, RBI

1B W. Galindo 1/4

LF K. Mitchell 0/3, HBP

DH J. Pereda 2/4

CF DJ Wilson 1/4, R, 2B (1), 3 K

SP D. Cease 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 K, 2-4 GO-FO, 75-47 pitches-strikes

[David]

I guess Happ just donged again

 

[tweet]https://twitter.com/IowaCubsGameDay/status/852573701447069696[/tweet]

 

plz do not trade him

[Hrubes20]

I guess Happ just donged again

 

[tweet]https://twitter.com/IowaCubsGameDay/status/852573701447069696[/tweet]

 

plz do not trade him

 

Keep beefing up that trade value, Happ.

[Hrubes20]

And Candelario rips a 1-1 pitch for a 2B in his first AB. I believe that's 10 XBHs already. Former Phillie great Vance Worley is the opposing pitcher today.

[Cubswin11]

I guess Happ just donged again

 

[tweet]https://twitter.com/IowaCubsGameDay/status/852573701447069696[/tweet]

 

plz do not trade him

Seriously, he shouldn't be going anywhere except to our 25-man next year (or even sometime this year).

[David]

I guess Happ just donged again

 

[tweet]https://twitter.com/IowaCubsGameDay/status/852573701447069696[/tweet]

 

plz do not trade him

Seriously, he shouldn't be going anywhere except to our 25-man next year (or even sometime this year).

 

Yep...sounds like he made some swing adjustments in the AFL.

 

He is looking like another beast middle of the order bat since. And loudly.

Edited April 13, 2017 by David

[Hrubes20]

I guess Happ just donged again

 

[tweet]https://twitter.com/IowaCubsGameDay/status/852573701447069696[/tweet]

 

plz do not trade him

Seriously, he shouldn't be going anywhere except to our 25-man next year (or even sometime this year).

 

So he can fight for 350 PAs each of the next 2 years at the big league level, while 60% of the starting rotation reaches FA?

[David]

I guess Happ just donged again

 

[tweet]https://twitter.com/IowaCubsGameDay/status/852573701447069696[/tweet]

 

plz do not trade him

Seriously, he shouldn't be going anywhere except to our 25-man next year (or even sometime this year).

 

So he can fight for 350 PAs each of the next 2 years at the big league level, while 60% of the starting rotation reaches FA?

 

This organization knows how to find people to pitch well enough to win games with this defense and offense. I'm not all that worried about it, whether they sign a couple guys or trade for someone who is undervalued. Trading what is starting to look like an elite young bat (drafted and developed by guys who have had quite a bit of success with that recently) isn't a necessity.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/iowacubsgameday/status/852577206798884864[/tweet]

 

For a bit of calibration, the 16 team PCL had 24 players with an OPS over 1.000 entering play today.

[David]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/iowacubsgameday/status/852577206798884864[/tweet]

 

For a bit of calibration, the 16 team PCL had 24 players with an OPS over 1.000 entering play today.

 

i really should like him more than i do...it just feels like he's been around for so long and it's impossible to believe he's only 23. like i gave up on him being anything very good a while ago.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/iowacubsgameday/status/852577206798884864[/tweet]

 

For a bit of calibration, the 16 team PCL had 24 players with an OPS over 1.000 entering play today.

 

i really should like him more than i do...it just feels like he's been around for so long and it's impossible to believe he's only 23. like i gave up on him being anything very good a while ago.

 

The good news is that historically he's been garbage in April/May, so if current trends hold he'll be OPSing about 2.500 by August.

[Cubswin11]

I guess Happ just donged again

 

[tweet]https://twitter.com/IowaCubsGameDay/status/852573701447069696[/tweet]

 

plz do not trade him

Seriously, he shouldn't be going anywhere except to our 25-man next year (or even sometime this year).

 

So he can fight for 350 PAs each of the next 2 years at the big league level, while 60% of the starting rotation reaches FA?

He easily could reach more than that, if Javy continues to be ass vs RHP, they are clearly limiting Zobrist and it wouldn't be unreasonable for him to become a 120-130 game a year guy over the next 2-3 years, if Schwarber and Heyward show they struggle vs LHP (or certain types) he has plenty of opportunity to reach 400+ PAs pretty easily with what he offers/could supplement on the current roster. Use money on pitching or lesser prospects to get the pitching. The FO has shown they can do this.

 

I'll probably get killed for this but I'm getting to the point with Happ where I'd rather keep him and trade Javy if one had to go in a trade. I think the roster can be constructed where they co-exist and prefer that route but if one had to go to clear a jam (a jam I don't think exists because of our rosters positional versatility and Joe's ability/willingness to maximize that) I'd trade Javy. LaStella will be the guy to go for Happ I'd imagine though.

[Hrubes20]

Seriously, he shouldn't be going anywhere except to our 25-man next year (or even sometime this year).

 

So he can fight for 350 PAs each of the next 2 years at the big league level, while 60% of the starting rotation reaches FA?

 

This organization knows how to find people to pitch well enough to win games with this defense and offense. I'm not all that worried about it, whether they sign a couple guys or trade for someone who is undervalued. Trading what is starting to look like an elite young bat (drafted and developed by guys who have had quite a bit of success with that recently) isn't a necessity.

 

Sure. They can find the Jason Hammels, John Lackeys, and Brett Andersons to get the team to the playoffs. But you need better than that to contend once you get there. It's highly unlikely they luck into an Arrieta situation again. Happ has looked terrific ever since ST began, but we should probably pump the brakes on him with only an 8 game sample size. Let's see if he's still making contact this well after 150 PAs. Remember that he's playing in the 2nd most hitter friendly league in all of minor league baseball and he's still not good defensively.

[KingCubsFan]

Seriously, he shouldn't be going anywhere except to our 25-man next year (or even sometime this year).

 

So he can fight for 350 PAs each of the next 2 years at the big league level, while 60% of the starting rotation reaches FA?

 

This organization knows how to find people to pitch well enough to win games with this defense and offense. I'm not all that worried about it, whether they sign a couple guys or trade for someone who is undervalued. Trading what is starting to look like an elite young bat (drafted and developed by guys who have had quite a bit of success with that recently) isn't a necessity.

I generally agree, although I'd put him in a package for Quintana.

[David]

 

So he can fight for 350 PAs each of the next 2 years at the big league level, while 60% of the starting rotation reaches FA?

 

This organization knows how to find people to pitch well enough to win games with this defense and offense. I'm not all that worried about it, whether they sign a couple guys or trade for someone who is undervalued. Trading what is starting to look like an elite young bat (drafted and developed by guys who have had quite a bit of success with that recently) isn't a necessity.

 

Sure. They can find the Jason Hammels, John Lackeys, and Brett Andersons to get the team to the playoffs. But you need better than that to contend once you get there. It's highly unlikely they luck into an Arrieta situation again. Happ has looked terrific ever since ST began, but we should probably pump the brakes on him with only an 8 game sample size. Let's see if he's still making contact this well after 150 PAs. Remember that he's playing in the 2nd most hitter friendly league in all of minor league baseball and he's still not good defensively.

 

Nope, not really. It's still baseball. Only it's in short series so random lucky crap means a lot more. So, if anything, you could argue the opposite of what you said. You need better to make it through 162 than you necessarily do in a best of 5 and two best of 7s.

[David]

 

So he can fight for 350 PAs each of the next 2 years at the big league level, while 60% of the starting rotation reaches FA?

 

This organization knows how to find people to pitch well enough to win games with this defense and offense. I'm not all that worried about it, whether they sign a couple guys or trade for someone who is undervalued. Trading what is starting to look like an elite young bat (drafted and developed by guys who have had quite a bit of success with that recently) isn't a necessity.

I generally agree, although I'd put him in a package for Quintana.

 

probably maybe whatever i guess...that contract is really favorable.

[davell]

The Smokies were down 7-0 in the 9th. They scored 8 in the bottom half.

[David]

 

This organization knows how to find people to pitch well enough to win games with this defense and offense. I'm not all that worried about it, whether they sign a couple guys or trade for someone who is undervalued. Trading what is starting to look like an elite young bat (drafted and developed by guys who have had quite a bit of success with that recently) isn't a necessity.

 

Sure. They can find the Jason Hammels, John Lackeys, and Brett Andersons to get the team to the playoffs. But you need better than that to contend once you get there. It's highly unlikely they luck into an Arrieta situation again. Happ has looked terrific ever since ST began, but we should probably pump the brakes on him with only an 8 game sample size. Let's see if he's still making contact this well after 150 PAs. Remember that he's playing in the 2nd most hitter friendly league in all of minor league baseball and he's still not good defensively.

 

Nope, not really. It's still baseball. Only it's in short series so random lucky crap means a lot more. So, if anything, you could argue the opposite of what you said. You need better to make it through 162 than you necessarily do in a best of 5 and two best of 7s.

 

I mean 1/4 of our playoff rotation was absolute trash last year and we still won the world series...and arrieta was just decent overall. lester and hendricks were great, obviously. the point is, our starting pitching was a bit of a mixed bag and we won it all.

[Hrubes20]

 

Sure. They can find the Jason Hammels, John Lackeys, and Brett Andersons to get the team to the playoffs. But you need better than that to contend once you get there. It's highly unlikely they luck into an Arrieta situation again. Happ has looked terrific ever since ST began, but we should probably pump the brakes on him with only an 8 game sample size. Let's see if he's still making contact this well after 150 PAs. Remember that he's playing in the 2nd most hitter friendly league in all of minor league baseball and he's still not good defensively.

 

Nope, not really. It's still baseball. Only it's in short series so random lucky crap means a lot more. So, if anything, you could argue the opposite of what you said. You need better to make it through 162 than you necessarily do in a best of 5 and two best of 7s.

 

I mean 1/4 of our playoff rotation was absolute trash last year and we still won the world series...and arrieta was just decent overall. lester and hendricks were great, obviously. the point is, our starting pitching was a bit of a mixed bag and we won it all.

 

Arrieta was really good in 3 of 4 starts last playoffs. That team absolutely had a 3 horse rotation and to think otherwise is ridiculous. But he's gone after the season and Lester is another year older. You don't mess around with any of the premium years of this core by putting out a playoff rotation of Lester/Hendricks/Mike Montgomery?/Cobb?/Liriano?/Butler?/Mills?. This FO may be the best in the business at recognizing and developing amateur offensive talent. Up to this point, they've been bad at recognizing and developing amateur pitching talent. I have all the faith in the world that they can find another Happ. I don't believe they can find a guy like, say, Chris Archer.

[KingCubsFan]

 

Nope, not really. It's still baseball. Only it's in short series so random lucky crap means a lot more. So, if anything, you could argue the opposite of what you said. You need better to make it through 162 than you necessarily do in a best of 5 and two best of 7s.

 

I mean 1/4 of our playoff rotation was absolute trash last year and we still won the world series...and arrieta was just decent overall. lester and hendricks were great, obviously. the point is, our starting pitching was a bit of a mixed bag and we won it all.

 

Arrieta was really good in 3 of 4 starts last playoffs. That team absolutely had a 3 horse rotation and to think otherwise is ridiculous. But he's gone after the season and Lester is another year older. You don't mess around with any of the premium years of this core by putting out a playoff rotation of Lester/Hendricks/Mike Montgomery?/Cobb?/Liriano?/Butler?/Mills?. This FO may be the best in the business at recognizing and developing amateur offensive talent. Up to this point, they've been bad at recognizing and developing amateur pitching talent. I have all the faith in the world that they can find another Happ. I don't believe they can find a guy like, say, Chris Archer.

Eddie Butler and Mike Montgomery disagree.

[davell]

 

Nope, not really. It's still baseball. Only it's in short series so random lucky crap means a lot more. So, if anything, you could argue the opposite of what you said. You need better to make it through 162 than you necessarily do in a best of 5 and two best of 7s.

 

I mean 1/4 of our playoff rotation was absolute trash last year and we still won the world series...and arrieta was just decent overall. lester and hendricks were great, obviously. the point is, our starting pitching was a bit of a mixed bag and we won it all.

 

Arrieta was really good in 3 of 4 starts last playoffs. That team absolutely had a 3 horse rotation and to think otherwise is ridiculous. But he's gone after the season and Lester is another year older. You don't mess around with any of the premium years of this core by putting out a playoff rotation of Lester/Hendricks/Mike Montgomery?/Cobb?/Liriano?/Butler?/Mills?. This FO may be the best in the business at recognizing and developing amateur offensive talent. Up to this point, they've been bad at recognizing and developing amateur pitching talent. I have all the faith in the world that they can find another Happ. I don't believe they can find a guy like, say, Chris Archer.

 

They'll get a top tier FA SP next year, to replace Jake. They'll likely continue to try and "unearth" more Jake's, as they're currently trying to do.

 

I feel confident that IF they ever get to the point where they HAVE to pull the trigger on a big SP trade, they'll do it. But I'm equally as confident that they'll keep finding pitching thru low end trades and Free Agency, that they'll never get to that point.

[Aaron_Kennelly]

Yeah, if Arrieta is gone, it likely means Yu Darvish or Johnny Cueto was signed in his place. They aren't just going to let Arrieta walk and roll with Mike Montgomery as our third starter.

[Aaron_Kennelly]

Also, Jon Lester is ageless and will continue posting 5-win seasons every year until he's 50. And Eddie Butler is going to win the 2019 Cy Young. We've got it all covered already.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

[tweet]

[/tweet]

[Aaron_Kennelly]

Through 4, Cease has given up 1 hit, walked 2, and struck out 6.