5/17 Minor League Discussion and Boxes

[davell]

Dammit, these early morning games are dumb.

 

Mills is pitching for Iowa this evening. Hedges is pitching for Tennessee this morning. Hatch tries to get it going for MB this evening, and Rondon is going for SB already.

 

Parades hit a 2 run homer in the 1st. His numbers are up to respectable territory at this stage. I think he's got a decent chance to become a Candelario-type prospect for us in a couple of years.

[davell]

DJ Wilson has a 37.6% K rate right now. That's insane. It was 20.4% last year, so I guess he's working on something different? Because that's a ridiculous jump in going from short season to A Ball.

 

Duke, did you notice anything interesting about his swing?

[Hrubes20]

I may have missed it, but per AZPhil, Jose Albertos was terrible again yesterday:

 

1.2 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 3 BBs, 1 K, 1 HBP, 1:2 GO/AO on 52 pitches

 

Brailyn Marquez wasn't a whole lot better:

 

1.2 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 1:0 GO/AO on 29 pitches

[Donzo]

Link to box scores to all the Cuds minor league games:

 

http://www.milb.com/scoreboard/index.jsp?sid=milb&org=112

 

 

Hatch going for MB tonight, he needs a good game.

[craig]

I may have missed it, but per AZPhil, Jose Albertos was terrible again yesterday:

 

1.2 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 3 BBs, 1 K, 1 HBP, 1:2 GO/AO on 52 pitches

 

Brailyn Marquez wasn't a whole lot better:

 

1.2 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 1:0 GO/AO on 29 pitches

 

Yeah, those guys appear to be doing pretty terrible in XST. O well. Hopefully they'll get better with time.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

I may have missed it, but per AZPhil, Jose Albertos was terrible again yesterday:

 

1.2 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 3 BBs, 1 K, 1 HBP, 1:2 GO/AO on 52 pitches

 

Brailyn Marquez wasn't a whole lot better:

 

1.2 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 1:0 GO/AO on 29 pitches

 

Yeah, those guys appear to be doing pretty terrible in XST. O well. Hopefully they'll get better with time.

 

Despite Albertos' early season struggles, Arizona Phil seems to think he'll start off in Eugene:

 

As things stand right now, Camargo would appear to be in strong contention to be the Opening Day starting pitcher for Eugene next month, with the Emeralds projected starting rotation likely to be - AS THINGS STAND RIGHT NOW - Camargo, Jose Albertos, Javier Assad, Enrique de los Rios, and Tyler Peyton.

[CubsWin]

Paredes is heating up! Nice!

 

And don't worry about Hatch. He's just following instructions and pitching to contact... :|

[davell]

Hatch is what he is. A third round prospect pitching a level too advanced for him. And him getting K's when his manager is saying pitch to contact isn't great. If anything, his stuff is hittable and guys are swinging out of their shoes at it, which will result in some misses obviously.

[davell]

Hatch goes 5 5 4 4 4 7. Which needs to be commended in his case, as its the first time since his first start of the year, that he made it thru 5 innings. Broke a streak of 6 straight, prior to this.

 

He really needs to go to SB.

[Aaron_Kennelly]

DJ Wilson has a 37.6% K rate right now. That's insane. It was 20.4% last year, so I guess he's working on something different? Because that's a ridiculous jump in going from short season to A Ball.

 

Duke, did you notice anything interesting about his swing?

 

I didn't notice much. I couldn't tell if there was a hole in Wilson's swing or anything. He took some aggressive swings, but he didn't chase much and he didn't whiff too much when I saw him. He fouled quite a few pitches off.

[davell]

Casey Kelly got moved from EXST to Iowa and is starting tonight.

[We Got The Whole 9]

Hatch is what he is. A third round prospect pitching a level too advanced for him. And him getting K's when his manager is saying pitch to contact isn't great. If anything, his stuff is hittable and guys are swinging out of their shoes at it, which will result in some misses obviously.

 

So we're legit running with this? The still likely highly misconstrued, and definitely misquoted, quote came from the bench coach.

 

Ks + no HRs are a combo that can carry, and at least hint that the High A assignment is not the issue. Yes, there's things he is not doing, join the club, but what he is doing well are quality skills to have.

The quote said it was the pitching coach.

 

"That's something we've been talking about, instead of strikeouts, pitch for contact," Myrtle Beach pitching coach Anderson Tavares said. "If you get into situations where you have to strike guys out, use your breaking ball, use your changeup or elevate and change eye levels. We just talk about pitching for contact and he did it tonight. It was a great outing for him."

[davell]

There's a chance its just meant for de la Cruz. My guess is its meant for the rotation, trying to make them efficient. At any rate, I definitely think its a real thing, at the very least, for Oscar.

[We Got The Whole 9]

Yeah. Basically, throw quality strikes, force hitters to swing at your pitches aka pitchers pitches, don't blow up your PC trying to get Ks. It's basic horsefeathers. The coaches, scouts, and the FO know what kind of stuff the pitchers have, whether it's swing and miss stuff, or more geared toward inducing weak contact with deception or something other. They want to see these pitchers locate and master their command and not worry so much about personal results.

 

They are probably totally thrilled with Hudson and his ability to keep the ball in the infield, even if it means he doesn't miss many bats. Seeing Oscar throw 10 pitches/inning over 7 frames was exciting I'm sure.

[davell]

Caratini just won't stop hitting. 2-2 tonight already. Definitely think he's getting dealt in July.

[davell]

Kelly goes 5 5 2 2 1 6 in his debut for Iowa. I guess it wouldn't totally shock me if he made his way to the majors under our watch and the FO's familiarity with him.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Hatch is what he is. A third round prospect pitching a level too advanced for him. And him getting K's when his manager is saying pitch to contact isn't great. If anything, his stuff is hittable and guys are swinging out of their shoes at it, which will result in some misses obviously.

 

Not sure an assignment to high-A was too advanced for a guy with his pedigree. Most of us were hoping he'd start in Myrtle Beach over the winter.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

I may have missed it, but per AZPhil, Jose Albertos was terrible again yesterday:

 

1.2 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 3 BBs, 1 K, 1 HBP, 1:2 GO/AO on 52 pitches

 

Brailyn Marquez wasn't a whole lot better:

 

1.2 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 1:0 GO/AO on 29 pitches

 

Yeah, those guys appear to be doing pretty terrible in XST. O well. Hopefully they'll get better with time.

 

Despite Albertos' early season struggles, Arizona Phil seems to think he'll start off in Eugene:

 

As things stand right now, Camargo would appear to be in strong contention to be the Opening Day starting pitcher for Eugene next month, with the Emeralds projected starting rotation likely to be - AS THINGS STAND RIGHT NOW - Camargo, Jose Albertos, Javier Assad, Enrique de los Rios, and Tyler Peyton.

 

Arizona Phil[/url]"]There doesn't appear to be anything wrong with his stuff (92-94 MPH FB, dynamic curve, and a promising CH), but his command has been poor and hitters are squaring up his FB. It might be part mechanics and part confidence, but Albertos is struggling right now.

 

BTW, Albertos signed with the Boras Corporation (player agency) last June after he pitched "lights-out" at EXST, and Scott Boras (and his "associates") know promising pitchers when they see them. (Then again, Boras Corp also signed Junior Marte at the same time they signed Albertos, and Marte is pretty much a mess right now).

[davell]

Hatch is what he is. A third round prospect pitching a level too advanced for him. And him getting K's when his manager is saying pitch to contact isn't great. If anything, his stuff is hittable and guys are swinging out of their shoes at it, which will result in some misses obviously.

 

Not sure an assignment to high-A was too advanced for a guy with his pedigree. Most of us were hoping he'd start in Myrtle Beach over the winter.

 

Oh, I was hoping he would too. Just don't think its worked out. Revisionist crap and all.

[craig]

"That's something we've been talking about, instead of strikeouts, pitch for contact," Myrtle Beach pitching coach Anderson Tavares said. "If you get into situations where you have to strike guys out, use your breaking ball, use your changeup or elevate and change eye levels. We just talk about pitching for contact and he did it tonight. It was a great outing for him."

 

I suspect this may be more individual, than organizational. "If you get into situations where you have to strike guys out", try to. I wonder if, to a pitcher, "pitch to contact" is basically understood to mean "throw more fastballs"?

 

Watched part of Butler's game on Friday. Totally different approach than Lester or Hendricks. Suspect if Butler tries to pitch like Lester, he'll not do very well. But for that day at least, he had enough fastball that he could throw a lot of fastballs, and still succeed. Did he spot them all, and were they so fast and so explosive that they were swing-and-miss fastballs? No. But they were fast enough and had enough run/movement that they weren't all getting mashed. In his case, I'd guess "pitch to contact" in practice means "throw your fastball a lot, don't get behind in the count all the time, and if they' sit on fastball, your change doesn't need to be Hendricks-esque to get some chase swings."

 

Montgomery could perhaps use a little "pitch to contact" encouragement. Does he ever throw two fastballs in a row, or three strikes in a row? When he does does mix in a fastball, the hitter could almost count on the next pitch *Not* being another fastball. Perhaps if he threw more fastballs, maybe he'd pitch ahead more often, and maybe guys wouldn't be sitting offspeed as effectively if they weren't so sure fastball wasn't coming.

 

Guessing De la Cruz has got a pretty decent fastball,and maybe is throwing lots of curves and changeups which result in long and unfavorable counts? Maybe throwing more fastballs for him is "pitching to contact" and helps him in A-ball. Whether it will help him have the command for majors, not so sure.

 

Cease might be another guy who might be encouraged to "pitch to contact. But kinda guessing he can get some K's even with his fastball; that developmentally he needs plenty of work on curve and change; and that even if he threw mostly fastballs that he'd still be wild.

[davell]

"That's something we've been talking about, instead of strikeouts, pitch for contact," Myrtle Beach pitching coach Anderson Tavares said. "If you get into situations where you have to strike guys out, use your breaking ball, use your changeup or elevate and change eye levels. We just talk about pitching for contact and he did it tonight. It was a great outing for him."

 

I suspect this may be more individual, than organizational. "If you get into situations where you have to strike guys out", try to. I wonder if, to a pitcher, "pitch to contact" is basically understood to mean "throw more fastballs"?

 

Watched part of Butler's game on Friday. Totally different approach than Lester or Hendricks. Suspect if Butler tries to pitch like Lester, he'll not do very well. But for that day at least, he had enough fastball that he could throw a lot of fastballs, and still succeed. Did he spot them all, and were they so fast and so explosive that they were swing-and-miss fastballs? No. But they were fast enough and had enough run/movement that they weren't all getting mashed. In his case, I'd guess "pitch to contact" in practice means "throw your fastball a lot, don't get behind in the count all the time, and if they' sit on fastball, your change doesn't need to be Hendricks-esque to get some chase swings."

 

Montgomery could perhaps use a little "pitch to contact" encouragement. Does he ever throw two fastballs in a row, or three strikes in a row? When he does does mix in a fastball, the hitter could almost count on the next pitch *Not* being another fastball. Perhaps if he threw more fastballs, maybe he'd pitch ahead more often, and maybe guys wouldn't be sitting offspeed as effectively if they weren't so sure fastball wasn't coming.

 

Guessing De la Cruz has got a pretty decent fastball,and maybe is throwing lots of curves and changeups which result in long and unfavorable counts? Maybe throwing more fastballs for him is "pitching to contact" and helps him in A-ball. Whether it will help him have the command for majors, not so sure.

 

Cease might be another guy who might be encouraged to "pitch to contact. But kinda guessing he can get some K's even with his fastball; that developmentally he needs plenty of work on curve and change; and that even if he threw mostly fastballs that he'd still be wild.

 

He's got a plus FB and a CB that flashes plus too. The change is obviously below average. No idea how they call a game for him. His command is still relatively weak too, but expected to come around. Since he's only been pitching for 4 years total, it very well may be that they just want to get him to a certain innings amount, since he missed time last year, and pitching to contact, helps get to that. Outside of Cease and Albertos, he's got the most upside of any pitcher in the system. He's got size, velo, athleticism, a real chance at two plus pitches, and is known as a hard worker.

[Hrubes20]

 

Arizona Phil[/url]"]There doesn't appear to be anything wrong with his stuff (92-94 MPH FB, dynamic curve, and a promising CH), but his command has been poor and hitters are squaring up his FB. It might be part mechanics and part confidence, but Albertos is struggling right now.

 

BTW, Albertos signed with the Boras Corporation (player agency) last June after he pitched "lights-out" at EXST, and Scott Boras (and his "associates") know promising pitchers when they see them. (Then again, Boras Corp also signed Junior Marte at the same time they signed Albertos, and Marte is pretty much a mess right now).

 

That's still a good bit down on his stuff from the scant reports we received last year. He was supposedly 94-96, touching 98. 2 mph slower and an inability to command it does not bode well.

[davell]

 

Arizona Phil[/url]"]There doesn't appear to be anything wrong with his stuff (92-94 MPH FB, dynamic curve, and a promising CH), but his command has been poor and hitters are squaring up his FB. It might be part mechanics and part confidence, but Albertos is struggling right now.

 

BTW, Albertos signed with the Boras Corporation (player agency) last June after he pitched "lights-out" at EXST, and Scott Boras (and his "associates") know promising pitchers when they see them. (Then again, Boras Corp also signed Junior Marte at the same time they signed Albertos, and Marte is pretty much a mess right now).

 

That's still a good bit down on his stuff from the scant reports we received last year. He was supposedly 94-96, touching 98. 2 mph slower and an inability to command it does not bode well.

 

He's set for Salem, according to AZPhil. Its still relatively early for him, could be something simple still. It doesn't sound great, but real game action may be a different story.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Eugene, not Salem.

[davell]

Dammit. I actually still call them Boise usually lol