Minor League Discussion & Boxes, 4-21-18

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Box Scores:

 

Iowa lost 8-4 Box Score

 

1B-LF E. Navarro 1/4, R, HR (1), RBI, BB, 2 K

RF M. Zagunis 1/1, 2 R, 4 BB

C T. Davis 3/5, R, 2B (2), RBI

3B-SS R. Court 2/5, RBI, K, E (4, fielding)

SP D. Underwood Jr 5 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 1 HBP, 7-2 GO-FO, 81-56 pitches-strikes

RP B. Markey 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 4-0 GO-FO

RP S. Simmons 1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 0 K, 3-1 GO-FO

 

Tennessee won 4-3 (10 innings) on an Eddy Martinez walk-off single Box Score

 

SS Z. short 0/3, RBI, 2 BB, 3 K

LF C. Burks 0/4, BB, 4 K

3B J. Vosler 2/4, R< HR (3), RBI, BB

RF E. Martinez 1/4, R, RBI, BB, K

C I. Rice 1/3, R, 2B (3), BB, K

SP T. Clifton 5 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 6-5 GO-FO, 68-43 pitches-strikes

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

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

 

Myrtle Beach won 5-4 Box Score

 

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

C PJ Higgins 0/4, K; defense - 0/1 CS

3B W. Galindo 0/3, BB, 2 K

2B A. Monasterio 0/3, BB, K, CS (1)

1B-3B A. Upshaw 2/4, R

SS A. Ademan 1/3, 2 RBI, BB, K

SP A. Lange 5 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 1 WP, 3-3 GO-FO, 89-54 pitches-strikes

 

South Bend won 2-1 Box Score

 

LF R. Caro 2/3, RBI, E (1, fielding), outfield assist at home

2B J. Bethencourt 1/3, RBI, BB

SS Y. Peguero 0/4, K, E (3, throw)

3B A. Filiere 0/4, 2 K, E (6, throw)

C M. Amaya 1/3, K; defense - 0/2 CS

RF B. Hughes 0/3, K

CF Z. Davis 2/3, R, SB (4)

SP J. Assad 5 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K, 1 HBP, 1 WP, 4-2 GO-FO, 95-60 pitches-strikes

[CaliforniaRaisin]

[Transmogrified Tiger]

You all won’t believe this, but Underwood got smacked around.

[CubsWin]

Finally got my MiLB subscription up and running. Any velo readings given will be passed along.

 

Javier Assad: He looks to have slimmed down a bit from last year.

 

1st inning - 90-91 FB, looping curveball. Struggled to find his spots. Got a called 3rd strike on a much tighter curve (could've been a change up) perfectly placed on the outside corner.

 

2nd inning - 91 FB, better control of the both the curve and FB. Darin Pritchett (South Bend announcer) didn't give any other velo readings. Assad walked his only batter. Got out of a bases loaded situation with 2 outs on a great catch by CF Zach Davis.

 

3rd inning - 92 FB, 75 mph CB, bases loaded again, this time with 1 out on a HBP and two singles. Got out of it on back to back Ks, both swinging, one on a tight curve on the outside corner and the second on a high FB.

 

4th inning - 91-93 FB, some with some nice arm side run over the outside corner (to right-handers). Better placement of pitches this inning. 76 on a nice (less looping) curve.

 

5th inning - 91 FB, 74 change up. Continued better control. Buzzed FBs under the hands to left-handers with confidence, got a called strike 3 on one of them.

 

Notes: Assad definitely got better as the game went along. Command improved on all his pitches and was effective in innings 3-5. He's likely going to have to add velo on his breaking balls (and maybe a tick or two on his FB) to be effective at the upper levels, but so far, he's able to beat MWL hitters with what he's got. Got hit a bit, especially in the first two innings.

 

Amaya looks to have improved his receiving behind the plate. He blocked several breaking balls in the dirt. The box score doesn't tell the story on Amaya's 0-2 on stolen base attempts. His arm looked strong and accurate on his one throw. Impressively, he almost threw out Kevin Smith on a curveball in the dirt with a perfect throw after digging it out while beginning to get out of his crouch. The other SB was by Reggie Pruitt (who can flat out fly) on a pick off attempt, so Amaya never touched the ball.

 

2017 10th rounder, Brian Glowicki's only velo reading was a 90 mph FB.

[Hrubes20]

Finally got my MiLB subscription up and running. Any velo readings given will be passed along.

 

Javier Assad: He looks to have slimmed down a bit from last year.

 

1st inning - 90-91 FB, looping curveball. Struggled to find his spots. Got a called 3rd strike on a much tighter curve (could've been a change up) perfectly placed on the outside corner.

 

2nd inning - 91 FB, better control of the both the curve and FB. Darin Pritchett (South Bend announcer) didn't give any other velo readings. Assad walked his only batter. Got out of a bases loaded situation with 2 outs on a great catch by CF Zach Davis.

 

3rd inning - 92 FB, 75 mph CB, bases loaded again, this time with 1 out on a HBP and two singles. Got out of it on back to back Ks, both swinging, one on a tight curve on the outside corner and the second on a high FB.

 

4th inning - 91-93 FB, some with some nice arm side run over the outside corner (to right-handers). Better placement of pitches this inning. 76 on a nice (less looping) curve.

 

5th inning - 91 FB, 74 change up. Continued better control. Buzzed FBs under the hands to left-handers with confidence, got a called strike 3 on one of them.

 

Notes: Assad definitely got better as the game went along. Command improved on all his pitches and was effective in innings 3-5. He's likely going to have to add velo on his breaking balls (and maybe a tick or two on his FB) to be effective at the upper levels, but so far, he's able to beat MWL hitters with what he's got. Got hit a bit, especially in the first two innings.

 

Amaya looks to have improved his receiving behind the plate. He blocked several breaking balls in the dirt. The box score doesn't tell the story on Amaya's 0-2 on stolen base attempts. His arm looked strong and accurate on his one throw. Impressively, he almost threw out Kevin Smith on a curveball in the dirt with a perfect throw after digging it out while beginning to get out of his crouch. The other SB was by Reggie Pruitt (who can flat out fly) on a pick off attempt, so Amaya never touched the ball.

 

2017 10th rounder, Brian Glowicki's only velo reading was a 90 mph FB.

 

Thanks for that. Seems about usual for Assad. Maybe he can gain a tick as he hopefully continues to shed the ample baby fat.

[CubsWin]

No notes on Trevor Clifton as the Smokies broadcast was, once again, unwatchable. Whoever is mixing the sound for that broadcast consistently has the in-stadium feed (PA announcer, walk up music, inane sound effects, etc.) 5 times louder than the play-by-play. Can barely hear the announcer.

 

Alex Lange: First thing you notice is his build. He just looks like a major league pitcher. The difference of quality of athlete between Low-A and High-A is noticeable as it is between High-A and AA.

 

1st inning - Nice inning for Lange. Kept the FB low with good control. Was inconsistent with curveball command early on but, when it was on, it was very good with tight 12-6 break. PBP announcer Scott Kornberg gave no velo readings.

 

2nd inning - More of the same from Lange. No velocities given.

 

3rd inning - Consistently around the plate in good spots (on the corners, kept FBs down, good curves in the dirt and over the plate). Got a K on a CU in the dirt.

 

4th inning - Hitters started to turn on the inside FBs. 2nd run scored from 3rd on a wild curve 5 feet too high and outside. Went to the change more in this inning with good outcomes. CU starts in the center of the plate and dives down and in to right-handers.

 

5th inning - Breezed through. The curve and the change up were most effective. FB got hit hard but DJ Wilson made a great diving catch. Got the 3rd out on a swinging strikeout on a 3-2 change.

 

6th inning - Had thrown 81 pitches thru 5. Pitch count was set at 95. This was his first time pitching in the 6th this year. Don't know if he was tired but, results wise, he should've stayed in the dugout. Inside FB hit sharply for a single. Center cut FB driven in the gap to drive in a run after which he was pulled. Lange's 4th ER scored when 2B Monasterio threw the ball wide of 1st on a double play that would've ended the inning.

 

Notes: Casey Bloomquist took a line drive off the back of his head. He immediately went down as the ball ricocheted into short left field. He walked off the field under his own power and did not appear to be woozy. Hopefully, he'll be okay.

[CubsWin]

Thanks for that. Seems about usual for Assad. Maybe he can gain a tick as he hopefully continues to shed the ample baby fat.

It looks like he's shed a lot of it this off season. There's a little more to go, but he's always going to have a more stocky build. He's still just 20, so he's got time to continue to tone it up.

[We Got The Whole 9]

In the Fringe Five, Amaya was listed among sleepers who have low K and GB rates, FWIW

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Yesterday in Arizona: https://www.thecubreporter.com/04222018/sac-fly-earns-giants-black-tie-indian-school-park

 

1. Fernando Kelli, DH #1: 1-3 (2B, HBP, 4-3, 3-1, 2 R)

2. Fabian Pertuz, SS: 1-3 (L-9, 1B, 5-3, BB, 2 RBI)

3. Luis Vazquez, DH #2: 0-3 (6-3, HBP, 1-3, L-4 DP, RBI)

10a. Reivaj Garcia, 2B: 1-1 (BB, 1B, R, CS)

 

1. Didier Vargas: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 0/1 GO/AO, 17 pitches (14 strikes)

2. Riger Fernandez: 2.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HR, 1 WP, 1/2 GO/AO, 39 pitches (20 strikes)