Minor League Discussion & Boxes, 5-3-19

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Box Scores:

 

Iowa won 9-1 Box Score

 

LF D. Dewees 1/4, R, BB

CF I. Happ 0/2, R, 3 BB, K

SS A. Russell 1/4, 2 R, HR (2), 4 RBI, BB

3B T. Giambrone 0/4, K

SP M. Montgomery 6 IP, 1 H, 1 ER< 2 BB, 3 K, 1 WP, 8-5 GO-FO, 76-45 pitches-strikes - rehab

RP T. Collins 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 0-1 GO-FO

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

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

 

Tennessee lost 16-9 Box Score

 

1B V. Machin 3/5, 2 R, 2 2B (5), 2 RBI

LF J. Young 3/4, 2 RBI, 2B (4), BB

3B R. Garcia 1/3, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 2 K

C J. Pereda 0/4, R, BB, K

SS L. Vázquez 2/5, R, K

SP T. Hatch 4 IP, 8 H, 8 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, 5-0 GO-FO, 87-56 pitches-srtikes

RP M. Rucker 2.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 K, 1-0 GO-FO, 68-50 pitches-strikes

 

Myrtle Beach won 12-2 Box Score

 

C M. Amaya 2/5, 2 R, 2B (7)

CF J. Herron 1/3, R, RBI, 2B (7), 2 BB

2B A. Ademan 2/4, R, RBI, K, CS (2)

3B Y. Peguero 2/4, 2 R, RBI, 2 K

SP J. Assad 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 3 K, 1 HBP, 7-6 GO-FO, 80-47 pitches-strikes

 

South Bend lost 3-1 Box Score

 

LF DJ Artis 0/3, BB, CS (3)

CF C. Roederer 0/4, 2 K

SS A. Weber 0/4, K

DH J. Sierra 1/3, R

RF N. Velázquez 1/3, 2B (8), 2 K

1B T. Durna 1/2, BB

3B C. Morel 0/3, K, E (5, fielding)

SP F. Carrera 6 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 1 WP, 2 HR, 10-2 GO-FO, 86-54 pitches-strikes

RP E. Roberts 2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 2-1 GO-FO

[CubsWin]

Welcome news from AZ Phil:

 

SP Adbert Alzolay (on Iowa 7-day IL - lat strain) hurled three innings of shutout ball for the Cubs (F-9, P-5, 4-3 * P-4, 1B - CS, K * K, K, 1B, 6-4 FC). He threw 39 pitches (11 in the 1st, 12 in the 2nd, and 16 in the 3rd), of which 22 were strikes. All three of his strikeout victims went down swinging. Alzolay velo was FB 92-95 (T-96), CH 83-86, and CV 79-82, and he was generally able to command all three of his pitches. The FB gained velo during the outing, starting at 92-94 in the 1st inning before consistently sitting at 94-95 (touched 96 once) in the 2nd and 3rd. He mixed his FB & CV (only) in his first two innings, before introducing his CH (he threw five) in his third inning. Alzolay was almost too efficient, because after finishing his three innings of work in the game, he was directed to throw an additional 15 pitches in the bullpen (five FB, five CV, and five CH).

 

Last year, Alzolay's change up was said to be a work in progress. He seems to have made some progress...

[craig]

Thanks for info, that's great to hear. It would be so helpful if he stayed healthy, and was able to pitch like a guy you could hope for. Particularly with our bullpen this year, if he was able to come up in July and be a guy we looked forward to seeing, that could be a big boost to the team.

 

Likewise for next year, **IF** he was to develop well enough so that you'd be happy to give him the #5 starter spot, that could help a lot. If you could use Hamels $20 to pay for some of the inflation that Bryant, Javy, etc. will be getting paid, they might be able to perhaps make the budget work.

[CubsWin]

Thanks for info, that's great to hear. It would be so helpful if he stayed healthy, and was able to pitch like a guy you could hope for. Particularly with our bullpen this year, if he was able to come up in July and be a guy we looked forward to seeing, that could be a big boost to the team.

 

Likewise for next year, **IF** he was to develop well enough so that you'd be happy to give him the #5 starter spot, that could help a lot. If you could use Hamels $20 to pay for some of the inflation that Bryant, Javy, etc. will be getting paid, they might be able to perhaps make the budget work.

Yeah, I agree that would be ideal. I don't know if he has the stamina to be a starter with the way his body started to break down after consecutive seasons of over 100 innings pitched. His lat injury may have had nothing to do with workload and could just be coincidence but it makes you wonder.

 

He probably could be a valuable pen arm at the major league level, but our pen has actually been really, really good since April 7th. They got off to a very rough start (as did much of the starting rotation) and created the narrative that the Cubs pen was in trouble, but they've righted the ship.

 

Now, with Morrow out for much of the season and a pen that may be overperforming, reality could set in fast. But the Cubs have some high quality depth in AAA.

 

1. Edwards is doing really well for the I-Cubs.

 

2. Montgomery's rehab is ending soon.

 

3. Maples can ride the shuttle all year and has been absolutely filthy. I like him, even with his control issues. You just can't bring him in with men on yet.

 

4. Cedeno and Barnette are no great shakes, but good depth pieces. Cedeno is out of options, but Barnette has 3 years left (though it's unclear if he can elect FA if sent down).

 

5. Kyle Ryan can ride the shuttle, though he's been great thus far.

 

6. I can see the Cubs placing Brad Brach on the IL from time to time to buy roster space.

 

7. James Norwood, Rowan Wick and Tim Collins all have options remaining (though Collins can refuse assignment and elect FA).

 

8. Further away but still on the 40-man, the Cubs have Oscar De La Cruz and Justin Steele who could contribute effectively later this year. (I'm not including Duane Underwood who is also on the 40-man because I think he's done. Not enough movement on his FB, it's too hittable for batters to care about his above average curve.)

 

Adding someone dominant at the top of the pen to push everyone down is never a bad idea, but otherwise I think the Cubs can handle injuries and poor performance via in-house options pretty well as is. I mean, that's a lot of quality depth there.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Faustino Carrera has already given up 5 HRs, including one so far tonight. Maybe cool out on those for the next 50-70+ innings, please!

 

Edit: Make that 6 on the season

 

——

 

MB put up 12 so far yet Ademan and Amaya have 3 si gles btw them

 

Luis Vazquez has held his own filling in for Hoerner. I wonder if he just auditoned to replace the struggling Weber in SB? Probably not...IIRC he showed some probably limited power, patience, and contact with Eugene last year but struggled to hit for average

 

The struggling Weber has a .996 OPS in his last 10 games.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Today in Arizona: https://www.thecubreporter.com/05032019/dingcong-kelly-combo-too-much-cubs-fitch-park

 

1. Brennen Davis, CF: 0-3 (6-3, F-8, F-9)

4. Fabian Pertuz, DH #1: 0-3 (5-3, 6-3, K)

6. Luis Verdugo, SS: 1-3 (L-4, 1B, F-9, CS)

 

1. Jeremish Estrada: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 3 K, 1 GIDP, 2/0 GO/AO, 39 pitches (22 strikes)

2. Jose Albertos: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 0 K, 6/0 GO/AO, 18 pitches (11 strikes)

[CubsWin]

Today in Arizona: https://www.thecubreporter.com/05032019/dingcong-kelly-combo-too-much-cubs-fitch-park

 

1. Brennen Davis, CF: 0-3 (6-3, F-8, F-9)

4. Fabian Pertuz, DH #1: 0-3 (5-3, 6-3, K)

6. Luis Verdugo, SS: 1-3 (L-4, 1B, F-9, CS)

 

1. Jeremish Estrada: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 3 K, 1 GIDP, 2/0 GO/AO, 39 pitches (22 strikes)

2. Jose Albertos: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 0 K, 6/0 GO/AO, 18 pitches (11 strikes)

Brennan Davis strikes me as another version of Jonathan Sierra. Different skill sets, but really raw and if it all comes together, look out. I don't think it's going to all come together for Sierra. Let's hope it's a different outcome for Davis...