Minor League Discussion & Boxes, 6-29-17

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Box Scores:

 

Iowa won 5-2 Box Score

 

CF J. Hannemann 0/3, BB, 2 K, SB (10)

LF K. Schwarber 1/3, R, BB, K

RF B. Rademacher 2/4, 2B (13), 3 RBI

SS C. Young 1/3, BB, CS (3)

3B S. Bruno 2/4, R, SB (6)

SP C. Kelly 6.1 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 1 HBP, 10-2 GO-FO, 84-54 pitches-strikes

RP J. Leathersich 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 0-1 GO-FO

 

Tennessee won 9-4 Box Score

 

LF C. Burks 0/5, K

2B B. Zobrist 2/3, R, BB- rehab

RF D. Bote 1/3, 2 R, 2 BB, K, outfield assist at third base

3B J. Vosler 1/3, 2 R, HR (14), 3 RBI, BB, K, HBP

C I. Rice 0/4

SS C. Penalver 3/4, R, E (11, fielding)

SP P. Morrison 6 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, 7-4 GO-FO, 80-55 pitches-strikes

RP B. Markey 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 5-0 GO-FO

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

 

Myrtle Beach lost 5-1 Box Score

 

2B B. Flete 2/4

C PJ Higgins 1/4

3B J. Hodges 1/4, R, 2B (18), E (11, throw)

LF E. Jimenez 1/3, 2B (6), RBI, BB

DH T. Alamo 0/4

RF E. Martinez 2/4

1B M. Rose 0/3, K

SS Z. Short 0/3, K, E (1, missed catch)

SP R. Kellogg 5 IP, 10 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 1 HBP, 1 WP, 7-1 GO-FO, 89-60 pitches-strikes

RP D. Mekkes 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 0-2 GO-FO

 

South Bend lost 7-4 Box Score

 

RF R. Caro 1/3, R, 3B (4), BB

SS I. Paredes 1/4, RBI

LF K. Mitchell 0/3, BB, K

1B J. Pereda 0/4, K

CF L. Ayala 0/4, K

2B Y. Peguero 0/2, BB, 2 K

SP B. Hudson 4.2 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 4 BB, 5 K, 1 HR, 1 WP, 4-3 GO-FO, 94-47 pitches-strikes

RP J. Paulino 3 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 2-4 GO-FO, 51-29 pitches-strikes

 

Eugene lost 2-1 (12 innings) Box Score

 

CF Z. Davis 0/1, 4 BB, 3 SB (8), E (2, fielding)

SS A. Ademan 0/4, BB, 2 K

1B M. Amaya 1/5, 2B (4), 2 K

DH G. Polanco 0/5, K

3B R. Narea 0/5, K

SP B. Clark 4.1 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 4 K, 2 WP, 5-2 GO-FO, 80-45 pitches-strikes

RP A. Rondon 2.2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 0-2 GO-FO

RP J. Marte 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K, 1-1 GO-FO

 

AZL Cubs lost 13-2 Box Score

 

CF J. Gutierrez 0/3, BB

3B A. Filiere 1/4, RBI, 2 K

2N A. Upshaw 0/4, K, E (1, throw)

C K. Zamudio 0/4, K, E (2, throw)

RF Y. Cuevas 0/4, K

SS D. Zinn 2/4, 2B (2), K

SP C. Sands 3 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, 3-0 GO-FO

RP J. Rosario 2 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 1 WP, 1 HR, 1-1 GO-FO - rehab

RP S. Ridings 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K, 1 HBP, 1 WP, 2-0 GO-FO

RP Y. Perez 1 IP, 6 H, 9 R, 7 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 1-2 GO-FO

RP N. Sweeney 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 2-0 GO-FO

 

DSL Cubs 1 won 6-5 Box Score

 

2B L. Diaz 1/3, 2 R, 2B 93), RBI, BB, SB (6)

SS C. Morel 2/3, 2 RBI, CS (4), E (8, fielding)

C Hen. Perez 1/1, R, 2 BB, CS (1), PB (5)

RF J. Jules 0/2, R, BB

3B Her. Perez 0/1, BB

SP C. Paula 2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 4 BB, 1 K, 1 HBP, 1 WP, 2-2 GO-FO

 

DSL Cubs 2 won 7-5 Box Score

 

SS O. Nuñez 3/5, CS (4)

3B J. Brete 2/4, 2 R, RBI, K

RF C. Alfonzo 0/2, K

SP D. Vargas 5 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 2 HBP, 1 WP, 6-1 GO-FO

[DouglasDorsey]

Schwarber is 1 for 3 with a BB and a K today. Kelly pitched 6 decent innings. Iowa up 5-2 in the 9th

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Zobrist is 2/2 with 2 singles.

[davell]

Hudson was decent, until the 5th. Wound up at 4.2 6 5 5 4 5.

 

I really wish we had an in game report on him. Its like a switch came on and his K's, HR's, and BB's all rose. While he's still getting GB's too. My guess is he's probably lost some command/control, while throwing a bit harder. Just a guess though. Like the K's, hope he can corral the rest somewhat over the rest of the season.

[Jaxbro]

Zobrist finishes 2/3 with a BB for Tennessee

 

Maples scoreless 9th no hits or walks. 15 pitches 11 strikes

 

MEKKES WATCH

1.1 no hits 1walk and strikeout on 16 pitches(11 strikes)

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Carson Sands gets another start for Mesa.

[davell]

Yunior Perez was considered raw, despite his bonus. I don't think he's changing any minds after a stateside debut of 1 6 9 7 2 1.

[Donzo]

Maples scoreless 9th no hits or walks. 15 pitches 11 strikes

 

Anyone know why Maples is so good this year?

 

We know his K's are way up- why?... Has he learned a killer 2-seamer, 4-seamer is up to 96mph or something else?

 

Thanks...

[Donzo]

Yeah, there's that, but I'm thinkin' something has improved, too.

 

He's fully healthy, so maybe he's just pitch to his ability... :-k

[CubsWin]

Maples scoreless 9th no hits or walks. 15 pitches 11 strikes

 

Anyone know why Maples is so good this year?

 

We know his K's are way up- why?... Has he learned a killer 2-seamer, 4-seamer is up to 96mph or something else?

 

Thanks...

I signed up for the MiLB.tv subscription this year and it's been really informative. It helps a lot to see these guys perform and understand better why they're putting up the numbers that they are. For instance, Kevonte Mitchell is a physical beast (6'4", 185 lbs.) and has hit some monster HRs this year (one rumored to have gone close to 500 feet). Ok, so the kid can run into one, why doesn't he hit safely more often? Why does he K so often? With the subscription, you get to see why. For a prospect-o-phile like myself, it's been well worth the price.

 

As for Maples, he's always had the fastball velocity and wicked curve ball, but he kept getting injured and struggled with controlling those pitches. His body has matured now (he's in Arrieta-like shape), strong, filled out, not the high school kid the Cubs drafted. That seems to have helped him stay healthy. And since he's been able to stay on the field, his control has improved.

 

One other key, was the work he did with Cubs pitching coach Anderson Tavares in South Bend last year. Tavares had him go back to pitching off his dominant curve ball which he now throws for strikes. He had been trying to set up hitters off of his 95 mph fastball but since his control of it wasn't as good as his curve (especially when he was struggling in previous seasons) his results suffered. Since reverting back, his numbers have really improved. Maples credits Tavares with restoring his confidence and trusting his stuff once again which in turn helped him improve his FB command some.

 

Consistency is huge for a prospect, and he's been able to remain consistent all season with his control improving as he goes. That improvement as continued after his promotion as he's now putting up his best month in AA (a level he's never pitched at before) which is a considerably more difficult pitcher's environment than High-A.

 

But what the ability to watch these games as really provided to is to see the movement of the pitches, see the hitter's reactions to them, how he handles adversity/performs under pressure and to hear the announcer's comments and velocity readings. The movement on his power curve is remarkable. Announcer's remarked that it has a 3100 rpm spin rate. Major league average is 2300 on a curve ball. I've never watched minor league games before, but had watched major league games for over 40 years. At first you noticed all the things that are different. The exit velocity on hits is much weaker. Pitchers stuff is pretty unimpressive even though they're getting guys out, etc. But then somebody does something that opens your eyes because it triggers what you're used to seeing in the majors. That's what Maples power curve is like. The Mobile BayBears announcer kept calling it a slider cuz he'd never seen a curveball like it.

 

His fastball has good movement on it also. According to announcers, he's sitting 95-96 with it and touching 99. The only question remaining with Maples is can he keep this level of consistency throughout the rest of the season. He's looking dominant and has the numbers to prove it. But with only 7 IP at the AA level, I want to see him keep it up. The stuff is there, though. No doubt. There's room for improvement on his command of each of those pitches. The more often he can pinpoint them on the edges of the strike zone (which he's already doing with some consistency), the better his chances become of being able to be a very good major league reliever.

[Donzo]

Great post... Thanks for the breakdown.

[craig]

Yes, thanks also.

 

win, I believe Az Phil has noted in past that Maples delivery doesn't have much deception, and his take (this may have been a 2016 comment) was that his fastball (at that time) didn't have much movement?

 

So, the sense was that while the fastball had velocity, it still was pretty hittable. Not as excellent or valuable a weapon as one might assume based on velocity. Does that makes sense, or seem to jive with what you've seen?

 

I may be misremembering, so forgive me in advance, I don't want to be attributing observations to Phil that weren't actually his, and that I've misremembered and twisted/fabricated in my own fuzzy memory. And even if I am kinda remembering sorta accurately, even then a post from over 12 months ago based on observations that precede that may not represent current realities, so who knows.

 

Even this year, in Maples breakout year at age 25, he's still got bad walk-rates. Not sure whether his command issues will prevent him from ever having any lasting success in the majors. Would really be a cool story if he did end up having lasting success.

 

Maybe a chance to be a wilder version of Grimm?

[weis21]

fwiw (read: little) the time or two that I saw Maples he didn't have very good command and scuffled a bit. of course these are isolated games/instances but just wanted to chime in that I agree it's just a matter of commanding his stuff to be successful. he clearly had good stuff, though.

[Donzo]

The Cubs have noticed him this year. I forget who, but someone involved with the Cubs minor league system had good things to say about him.

 

In that article, it said Maples hit 100 mph this year... I knew he could hit the high 90's, but not triple digits.

[We Got The Whole 9]

Crappy night for Cease

[Donzo]

Article on Maples... It explains his resurgence, it's a good read. Long story short, he shortened up his delivery which got his FB up to 100mph and added a cutter.

 

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/sports/baseball/iowa-cubs/2017/07/28/how-phone-call-his-father-turned-around-career-chicago-cubs-prospect-dillon-maples/513351001/

[David]

Article on Maples... It explains his resurgence, it's a good read. Long story short, he shortened up his delivery which got his FB up to 100mph and added a cutter.

 

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/sports/baseball/iowa-cubs/2017/07/28/how-phone-call-his-father-turned-around-career-chicago-cubs-prospect-dillon-maples/513351001/

 

cool but why'd you post it in this month old thread

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Article on Maples... It explains his resurgence, it's a good read. Long story short, he shortened up his delivery which got his FB up to 100mph and added a cutter.

 

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/sports/baseball/iowa-cubs/2017/07/28/how-phone-call-his-father-turned-around-career-chicago-cubs-prospect-dillon-maples/513351001/

 

cool but why'd you post it in this month old thread

 

Probably because of the Maples conversation in this thread.

[David]

yeah but still a weird choice

[Donzo]

Article on Maples... It explains his resurgence, it's a good read. Long story short, he shortened up his delivery which got his FB up to 100mph and added a cutter.

 

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/sports/baseball/iowa-cubs/2017/07/28/how-phone-call-his-father-turned-around-career-chicago-cubs-prospect-dillon-maples/513351001/

 

cool but why'd you post it in this month old thread

 

Probably because of the Maples conversation in this thread.

 

 

Exactly... This was the thread with a lot of discussion about Maple's ascension.