Minor League Discussion & Boxes, 5-26-17

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Box Scores:

 

Iowa lost 7-6 Box Score

 

CF J. Andreoli 1/4, R, BB, K

2B T. La Stella 1/4, R, K, E (4, fielding)

3B J. Candelario 1/3, R, 2B (15), 3 RBI, BB

LF B. Rademacher 1/1, 2B (7)

SP A. Brooks 7+ IP, 9 H, 5 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, 9-2 GO-FO, 91-66 pitches-strikes

RP P. Johnson 1 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, 1-1 GO-FO

RP D. Rollins 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K, 2-0 GO-FO

 

Tennessee won 3-2 Box Score

 

RF Je. Baez 1/3, R, HR (7), RBI, BB

2B D. Bote 0/3, R

3B J. Vosler 0/4, 3 K

CF J. Hannemann 2/3, R, 2 2B (8), BB

SS C. Penalver 0/4, K

SP P. Morrison 6 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 8 K, 5-5 GO-FO, 104-63 pitches-strikes, E (1, missed catch)

RP D. Torrez 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 2-1 GO-FO

 

Myrtle Beach lost 5-3 Box Score

 

DH B. Flete 1/4, 2 R

SS A. Monasterio 1/3, 2B (1), HBP, E (2, throw)

RF E. Martinez 0/4, RBI

C T. Alamo 0/4, 3 K

3B J. Hodges 1/4, K

PH E. Jimenez 0/0, BB

SP R. Kellogg 5.2 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 1 HR, 8-3 GO-FO, 1 WP, 98-65 pitches-strikes

 

South Bend PPD - Rain

[craig]

Has anybody seen Michael Rucker, or have inside scoop? 32K/2BB/1HR/19.2IP, pretty good splits.

 

What I think I know:

1. Lists as only 6'1", 185, so not a big guy.

2. 11th round, but got $180 overslot. So, the Cubs liked him kinda, although still $180K isn't exactly a bonus baby.

3. 23, so already kinda old.

4. Was 3rd team All-American at BYU last year, his only rotation year.

5. Started at Gonzaga (he's a Washington kid), pitched like 10 innings as freshman; sat out sophomore year while transferring; swing reliever/6-start guy as junior; last year Friday night starter as senior, 180 innings total over his four years in college.

6. The bizarre K/BB/IP splits he's showing this year have no precedent in college. He was <1K/IP at BYU, and senior year was first year his K/BB got as high as 3/1. So good chance this is kinda SSS non-sustainable fluke.

7. Perhaps relief is an advantage, don't mix in as many pitches?

8. Beats me, but maybe pitching in BYU/WAC is like pitching for the Rockies? All anti-pitcher environments, thin air, etc? Last year at BYU, he had a 2.76 ERA; the rest of the staff was 4.5, nobody else was less than 3.5, and BYU ERA-against >7. So perhaps relative to environment/competition, he was better than realized?

 

9. https://baseballdraftreport.com/tag/michael-rucker/ Listed Rucker as #158 draft prospect last year, quoting some scouting report that said:

Michael Rucker checks two of our three boxes pretty easily: he’s 88-94 (96 peak) with his fastball while commanding three offspeed pitches (low-80s SL, low- to mid-80s CU, mid-70s CB) with a veteran’s mindset on the mound. He’s not particularly big (6-1, 185) nor does he have that plus offspeed pitch (slider comes closest), but it’s still a potential big league starter skill set.

 

Draft scouting always seems to inflate everybody, but if in relief he's able to consistently pump it up and work at low 90's, with control, and has somehow tweaked up his slider into a good knockout pitch, maybe he's a thing?

[CubsWin]

Eloy not in the line up for Myrtle Beach tonight.

[CubsWin]

Uh oh, Kellogg gives up a HR to the 1st batter of the game.

[Aaron_Kennelly]

Eloy pinch hit and walked. He's going to be really terrifying if he gets his BB/K stuff straightened out this year.

[Bear Cub]

Daury Torrez ERA down to 0.38. Get the guy to Iowa and unload one of those old timers taking up a roster spot.

[CubsWin]

Eloy pinch hit and walked. He's going to be really terrifying if he gets his BB/K stuff straightened out this year.

Yep! And so far so good. 6 BB (2 intentional) against 5 Ks in 38 PAs. SSS, of course, but thats a 15.8% BB rate and a 13.1% K rate.

[CubsWin]

In ExST news, Miguel Amaya had a triple, a single, 2 walks, a sac fly, scored twice and drove in 3. Oh, he also threw out the only guy stupid enough to try to steal a base against him. Not a bad day at the office. Dude turned 18 in March.

 

Another 18 year old, at least for the next 2 days, RHP Hector Garcia threw 3 scoreless innings allowing 2 hits, no walks while striking out 4. According to BR, Hector weighs 157 lbs. Someone give him one of Adam Shaheen's burritos.

 

Man amongst boys, 6'4", 235 lb. former Boise State linebacker, Joey Martarano got on base in all 5 of his plate appearances walking once, hitting a double, 2 singles and getting hit by a pitch. He's fine. Can't say the same for the ball, however. Martarano turns 23 in a couple months.

[CubsWin]

Jeimer Candelario maintained an OBP over .400 for 28 straight games. It now stands at .399. Trade him.

 

No, really. Trade him.