Minor League Discussion & Boxes, 7-14-17

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Box Scores:

 

Iowa PPD - Rain

 

Tennessee won 10-4 Box Score

 

LF C. Burks 0/3, RBI, BB, K

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

2B D. Bote 1/5, R

1B Y. Balaguert 3/4, R, 2 2B (20), RBI, BB, K

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

SS C. Penalver 1/4, 2 R, 3B (4), RBI, BB, SB (1)

SP Z. Hedges 7 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 13-4 GO-FO, 97-58 pitches-strikes

RP J. Rosario 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 WP, 1-0 GO-FO

RP D. Maples 1 IP, 0 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 1 WP, 1-1 GO-FO

 

Myrtle Beach lost 4-3 Box Score

 

SS Z. Short 1/5, R, 2 K, E (4, throw)

C PJ Higgins 1/5, 2 K

2B T. Giambrone 1/4, RBI, HBP

LF E. Martinez 0/4

1B T. Alamo 2/4, RBI

3B J. Hodge 1/4

DH V. Machin 2/4, 2 R, HR (1), RBI

SP T. Hatch 4 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, 4-2 GO-FO, 84-49 pitches-strikes

RP P. Araujo 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 0-2 GO-FO

 

South Bend won 7-4 Box Score

 

3B A. Monasterio 3/5, RBI, K

1B J. Pereda 0/3, 2 BB, CS (3)

2B A. Upshaw 2/4, R, 3B (1), K, E (6, fielding)

SS I. Paredes 2/4, 2 R, 2B (22), BB

CF DJ Wilson 2/4, 2 R, RBI

DH J. Martarano 1/4, R, 2 K

LF K. Mitchell 2/4, 2 RBI, K

SP B. Hudson 6 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 4 BB, 3 K, 1 HR, 6-3 GO-FO, 82-44 pitches-strikes

RP M. Malave 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 0-2 GO-FO

 

Eugene won 2-0 Box Score

 

CF Z. Davis 0/4, BB, K, SB (10)

SS A. Ademan 1/4

1B M. Amaya 0/3, BB

RF B. Hughes 1/3, BB, SB (2)

3B A. Filiere 1/3, R, 2B, BB, K

SP M. Swarmer 5 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K, 3-4 GO-FO, 65-44 pitches-strikes

RP RT Thomas 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 1-0 GO-FO - pro debut (2017 7th rounder)

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

 

AZL Cubs lost 6-5 Box Score

 

CF C. Singleton 2/5, K, SB (2)

2B Y. Perlaza 2/5, R, K, E (6, fielding)

RF J. Sierra 0/4, BB, 4 K, E (1, fielding)

1B R. Mejia 1/3, R, RBI, HBP

LF J. Gutierrez 1/4, R, RBI, 2 K

DH R. Romano 3/4, 2B (1), 2 RBI

SS D. Zinn 1/4, K, E (5, fielding)

SP F. Carrera 4 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 1 WP, 6-2 GO-FO

RP N. Sweeney 2 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, 1 HBP, 1 HR, 3-2 GO-FO

RP R. Lacy 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 0-0 GO-FO - pro debut (2017 11th rounder)

RP J. Passantino 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 0-2 GO-FO - pro debut (2017 40th rounder, Mr. Irrelevant)

 

DSL Cubs 1 won 14-5 Box Score

 

CF F. Kelli 2/3, 3 R, 2B (9), RBI, BB, K, HBP, 2 SB (28)

C Hen. Perez 3/4, 2 R, 2B 1), 2 RBI, K, PB (9)

3B C. Morel 1/4, R, RBI, BB

LF C. Pacheco 2/2, 2 R, HR (5), 3 RBI, 2 BB

SS L. Diaz 2/4, 2 R, BB, 2 K

RF J. Jules 2/4, R, RBI, CS (4)

SP C. Paula 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K, 5-3 GO-FO

 

DSL Cubs 2 lost 3-2 Box Score

 

DH R. Verenzuela 0/2, 2 K

2B O. Nuñez 0/5

SS J.Huma 2/4, R, 2B (1)

3B J. Brete 0/3

CF C. Alfonzo 0/2, BB, SB (7)

SP B. Rodriguez 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HBP, 2-2 GO-FO

[CubsWin]

I don't really have a strong sense of the order but with Eloy and Dylan gone and Happ officially no longer a prospect, I think my new top 11 would include (in no particular order):

 

Alzolay

Little

Lange

Paredes

Hatch

Candelario

Albertos

Ademan

Amaya

Caratini

Burks

[Tim]

*now* Paredes will make most top 10s

[Donzo]

I think my new top 11 would include.

 

I can't really wrap my mind around a "top list" right now. I'm kinda having a moment of reflection. Theo came in, built the stem from the ground up, and got to where we're at now.

 

Simply, and I don't overuse this adverb, Theo did a great job! =D>

 

On 7/3/17, that dynamic has changed. After years of graduation and three trades in the past year for pitching, the farm system is depleted. It is, what it is. On to rebuilding the system, again... It's gonna be fun!

 

Now, after two drafts dominated by pitching, the system is stronger with potential pitching than position players. Also, I have a feeling Theo isn't done raiding the system. So, I'm thinkin' the remains of the system will be whittled down a little bit more.

 

Theo isn't gonna have top 5 and top 10 picks to rebuild the system this time. The process will be more challenging.

 

Lets enjoy the ride!

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Theo isn't gonna have top 5 and top 10 picks to rebuild the system this time. The process will be more challenging.

 

Lets enjoy the ride!

 

Nor will he have the ability to sign two years worth of big time IFAs in one year with the new CBA.

[Donzo]

Theo isn't gonna have top 5 and top 10 picks to rebuild the system this time. The process will be more challenging.

 

Lets enjoy the ride!

 

Nor will he have the ability to sign two years worth of big time IFAs in one year with the new CBA.

 

 

And, we wont be sellers at the deadline.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Theo isn't gonna have top 5 and top 10 picks to rebuild the system this time. The process will be more challenging.

 

Lets enjoy the ride!

 

Nor will he have the ability to sign two years worth of big time IFAs in one year with the new CBA.

 

 

And, we wont be sellers at the deadline.

Well, they weren't sellers at the 2015 deadline but still had the ability to go crazy in the international market (and signed Albertos, Paredes, Ademan, Amaya and Sierra amongst others). The international market was the last place teams could load up on amateur talent without regard and it too is gone.

[davell]

Its a numbers game. Its not an absolute necessity that kids only spend a season in the DSL. Nunez is only back there because he can get a full seasons worth of AB's there, and couldn't, if he had moved over to the US.....

 

Perez is raw, catchers move and develop slower in many cases.....Kelli was raw too. Just glad to see them play well. They'll get another look in Arizona after the season.

 

I'd say that MOST true prospects only spend a year there. But, sometimes guys develop later. Sometimes there's a better shot at PT down there.

 

I just wish there were scouting reports that'd pop up during the season from down there on occasion.

[davell]

Hatch finishes 4 6 3 3 2 6, on 84 pitches. Need him to get back to being economical.

[Tryptamine]

2/3 with a double and a walk for Paredes so far. There's some shot he's done tonight. If so his season line sits at .274/.361/.424 with a K rate somewhere between 13-14% as an 18 YO playing SS in full season ball.

 

Gd I <3 that 2015 IFA group, they really made it easy to not even flinch over yesterday's trade.

 

Edit: Got another PA in and finished 2/4.

 

For a middle infielder it sure seems like a rather large portion of his hits go for extra bases.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Ricky Tyler Thomas is making his pro debut for Eugene.

[CubsWin]

*now* Paredes will make most top 10s

Yep. That and he's hit incredibly well for about two months now. Couple that with him doing that at age 18 in full season ball and he's clearly in that "top" group. If we can even use that word now...

[CubsWin]

Ricky Tyler Thomas is making his pro debut for Eugene.

Along with 11th rounder Rollie Lacy and 40th rounder Jeff Passantino for Mesa.

[CubsWin]

Its a numbers game. Its not an absolute necessity that kids only spend a season in the DSL. Nunez is only back there because he can get a full seasons worth of AB's there, and couldn't, if he had moved over to the US.....

 

Perez is raw, catchers move and develop slower in many cases.....Kelli was raw too. Just glad to see them play well. They'll get another look in Arizona after the season.

 

I'd say that MOST true prospects only spend a year there. But, sometimes guys develop later. Sometimes there's a better shot at PT down there.

 

I just wish there were scouting reports that'd pop up during the season from down there on occasion.

Especially with a lot of the 2015 IFA haul starting stateside this season. None of the noteworthy guys in the DSL will be in the top 25, but it's nice to see them doing well.

 

We are back to identifying interesting 17 and 18 year olds and monitoring their progress again after an incredibly well executed rebuild. The fact that the Cubs very likely won't have a need for position players for the next 4-5 years and, after acquiring Quintana, their need for young pitching has a chance to be filled from within (given the presence of Little, Alzolay, Lange, Hatch, etc.), the fact that so much of the upside exists in Mesa and Eugene is about right.

 

It's more obvious now than ever that the 2015 IFA class was a part of the plan. Now some of them just need to make good...

[CubsWin]

Also, I have a feeling Theo isn't done raiding the system. So, I'm thinkin' the remains of the system will be whittled down a little bit more.

I have the same feeling. Perhaps it's just wishful thinking, but with Quintana in the fold, I have no problem with going after a few more pieces especially if they have some team control left.

 

There's a lot of buzz around Alzolay right now and for good reason. He's definitely an asset I can see a lot of other GMs desiring. A package of Alzolay, Candelario and one or two of Caratini, Zagunis, Clifton, Hatch, Burks, etc. could bring back something quite useful. Maybe even 2 useful pieces (with a veteran back-up catcher being one of them).

 

The problem is none of those guys are top prospects so it all depends on what other GMs are willing to part with. That package is a broad, high floor type offer that could be blown away by other teams without the Cubs being able to counter offer unless they include someone good off the 25-man roster.