2021 AFL

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Rosters haven’t been released but this is a big one:

 

[Bertz]

YES!

 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

RHP Dannis Correa

RHP Ryan Jensen

RHP Caleb Kilian

LHP Brendon Little

SS Luis Vázquez

SS Andy Weber

OF Nelly Velázquez

 

No Kohl Franklin but normally each team sends 8 so maybe there’s still hope.

[Bertz]

NELLY!

 

[Bertz]

 

Ryan Jensen starting tomorrow night at...6:60??

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Luis Vázquez is leading off at SS and Nelly Velázquez batting cleanup in CF for Mesa on opening day.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

[CaliforniaRaisin]

10/13 (Opening Day): Mesa lost 5-0 Box Score

 

SS L. Vázquez 0/3, BB, K

CF N. Velázquez 3/4, K, 2 2B (2)

[NOLA]

What a story Nelson Velazquez is slowly becoming. This guy’s been hitting HRs since the AZL, been a lynchpin on a couple MiLB champion rosters (Eugene, South Bend), can play all 3 OF spots, runs, busts his ass, stays healthy, and now he’s hitting upper minors pitching?

 

A few branches from that...

 

- Power is a serious trump card for prospects? Velazquez’s over the fence power was notable going back to the Rk and SS levels, and it’s not as if he was a low average hitter relative to the leagues

 

- Does this kind of offensive profile making waves in the upper minors (SSS notwithstanding) get the Cubs a little more willing to take risks on ? They should be! Closing the door on hitters with some swing and miss is closing the door on a horsefeathers ton of talent who may or may not have plenty of other skills and tools to work with. I’d love to see someone maybe on the outs with their current org like Monte Harrison get acquired cheaply and coached up. Wisdom and Hermosillo were pickups in this vein but maybe it’s time to target someone more specific and/or younger

 

Alrighty that seemed like a necessary post

[We Got The Whole 9]

He walked 4 and recorded 4 outs

[jersey cubs fan]

Brozdowski's piece, as usual, is surprisingly meaty

 

How can something be surprisingly meaty, as usual?

[CaliforniaRaisin]

10/14: Mesa won 13-5 Box Score

 

SS L. Vázquez 2/6, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 K

2B A. Weber 0/4, R, RBI, BB, 3 K

SP R. Jensen 1.1 IP, 3 H, 4 ER, 4 BB, 1 K, 0-1 GO-FO

[CaliforniaRaisin]

10/15: Mesa won 9-3

 

CF N. Velázquez 1/5, 3 K

 

10/16: Mesa lost 15-7

 

CF N. Velázquez 0/5, RBI, 3 K

SS L. Vázquez 1/3, RBI, 2 K

2B A. Weber 0/2, R, 2 BB

RP C. Killian 0+ IP, 5 H, 7 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, 1 HR, 1 HBP, 1 WP

RP B. Little 1 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 1 HBP, balk

 

10/17: No games

[Tim]

10/15: Mesa won 9-3

 

CF N. Velázquez 1/5, 3 K

 

10/16: Mesa lost 15-7

 

CF N. Velázquez 0/5, RBI, 3 K

SS L. Vázquez 1/3, RBI, 2 K

2B A. Weber 0/2, R, 2 BB

RP C. Killian 0+ IP, 5 H, 7 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, 1 HR, 1 HBP, 1 WP

RP B. Little 1 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 1 HBP, balk

 

10/17: No games

From Keith Law:

Cubs right-hander Caleb Kilian, who was part of the return for Kris Bryant, faced seven batters Saturday night, and they all reached safely and scored, culminating in a home run for Rockies first baseman Michael Toglia (which I predicted — I have a witness). Kilian was just 91-93 with four pitches, getting hit hard, with no ability to finish his curveball and too little deception. He was followed by Cubs lefty Brendon Little, who was 93-96 but all over the place and left the game with the trainer.

[Hrubes20]

10/15: Mesa won 9-3

 

CF N. Velázquez 1/5, 3 K

 

10/16: Mesa lost 15-7

 

CF N. Velázquez 0/5, RBI, 3 K

SS L. Vázquez 1/3, RBI, 2 K

2B A. Weber 0/2, R, 2 BB

RP C. Killian 0+ IP, 5 H, 7 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, 1 HR, 1 HBP, 1 WP

RP B. Little 1 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 1 HBP, balk

 

10/17: No games

From Keith Law:

Cubs right-hander Caleb Kilian, who was part of the return for Kris Bryant, faced seven batters Saturday night, and they all reached safely and scored, culminating in a home run for Rockies first baseman Michael Toglia (which I predicted — I have a witness). Kilian was just 91-93 with four pitches, getting hit hard, with no ability to finish his curveball and too little deception. He was followed by Cubs lefty Brendon Little, who was 93-96 but all over the place and left the game with the trainer.

 

That velo is way down for Killian from where he was before COVID. Hopefully it's just a matter of getting the strength and conditioning back up.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

10/18: Mesa lost 7-1

 

SS L. Vázquez 0/3, R, BB, K

[CaliforniaRaisin]

10/20: Mesa won 11-9

 

3B A. Weber 2/4, 2 RBI, 2 BB

RF N. Velázquez 2/4, 4 R, RBI, BB, K, 2B (3)

[CaliforniaRaisin]

10/21: Mesa won 7-6

 

3B A. Weber 0/5, R, BB, K

RF N. Velázquez 0/1, 4 BB, K

SS L. Vázquez 1/3, R, RBI, 2 BB, K, HR (1)

SP C. Kilian 2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 3 K, 2-0 GO-FO, 46-27 pitches-strikes

RP R. Jensen 3 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 1 HR, 1-0 GO-FO, 60-35 pitches-strikes

 

[Bertz]

 

Context for any BB/K wonkiness we might see

[Bertz]

[CaliforniaRaisin]

10/22: Mesa won 9-5

 

RF N. Velázquez 2/4, R, 2 RBI, BB, K, HR (1), OF assist at home

SS L. Vázquez 0/4, R, BB, 2 K, E (1, interference)

[CaliforniaRaisin]

10/23: Mesa won 9-4

 

3B A. Weber 2/4, R, 2 RBI, BB, K, 3B (1), CS (1)

RF. N. Velázquez 2/4, 2 R, RBI, BB, K, 2B (4)

SS L. Vázquez 0/3, 2 R, BB, 2 K, SB (1), HBP

RP D. Correa 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K, 0-0 GO-FO, 25-12 pitches-strikes

 

10/25: Mesa lost 16-15

 

2B-SS A. Weber 3/6, 2 R, 2 RBI, K, 2B (1), 3B (2)

CF N. Velázquez 1/6, R, RBI, 2 K

SS L. Vázquez 0/2, K - left game in the middle of the 4th

 

Speculating here but I’m guessing Vázquez got hurt yesterday. There was an injury delay right after he grounded out in the top of the 4th and he was pulled in the bottom half of the inning. He’s not playing today.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

[CaliforniaRaisin]

10/26: Mesa lost 15-7

 

3B A. Weber 1/4, BB, K, E (3, throw)

RF N. Velázquez 4/5, R, 2 RBI, HR (2)

[Bertz]

I have a feeling I won't be on an island much longer with having Velazquez in my top 10