Minor League Discussion & Boxes, 5-3-23

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Scheduled Games (Central Time):

Iowa at Columbus, 5:35 pm

Tennessee at Rocket City, 11:05 am

South Bend vs. Cedar Rapids, 10:05 am

Myrtle Beach at Columbia, 6:05 pm

Probable Starters:

Iowa: RHP Kyle Hendricks (rehab)

Tennessee: TBD

South Bend: RHP Brandon Birdsell (15.2 IP, 0.57 ERA, 3,14 FIP, 13 K, 6 BB)

Myrtle Beach: RHP Cade Horton (10.1 IP, 0.00 ERA, 2.06 FIP, 14 K, 3 BB)

[CubinNY]

While the board was down, Matt Mervis hit a 114 MPH double off the wall. I had to get that out of my system. I told my wife and she just kind of looked at me funny and walked away. 

[Hrubes20]

3 hours ago, CubinNY said:

While the board was down, Matt Mervis hit a 114 MPH double off the wall. I had to get that out of my system. I told my wife and she just kind of looked at me funny and walked away. 

Thankfully you're in a safe space now.  

In today's Fun With Arbitrary Endpoints:

Brennen Davis since Iowa had that week off due to weather (11 games, 46 PA): .316/.435/.447, 8.7% BB, 6.5%K, 5-5 SBs, 137 wRC+, .324 BABIP

[Hrubes20]

McGeary just hit his 1st AA bomb off former 1st round pick Sam Bachman.  

[Bertz]

2 minutes ago, Hrubes20 said:

McGeary just hit his 1st AA bomb off former 1st round pick Sam Bachman.  

I've refrained from getting too excited about McGeary since it seemed like he was just way too advanced to be at SB, but if he keeps hitting at Tenn there's not a ton of reason to pump the brakes

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Birdsell: 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 5/2 K/BB

Still a bit high on the BBs, but you have to start wondering if he'll be in Tennessee soon if he's going to be putting up a sub-1 ERA and going this deep into games with regularity.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

22 minutes ago, Hrubes20 said:

McGeary just hit his 1st AA bomb off former 1st round pick Sam Bachman.  

 

[CubinNY]

17 minutes ago, Bertz said:

I've refrained from getting too excited about McGeary since it seemed like he was just way too advanced to be at SB, but if he keeps hitting at Tenn there's not a ton of reason to pump the brakes

He mashed in college and in the CCL. 

[CubinNY]

Caissie just went deep. 

[CubinNY]

Bachman is a big man. He looks like a giant from Jack and the Beanstock on the mound. 

[Hrubes20]

9 minutes ago, Bertz said:

I've refrained from getting too excited about McGeary since it seemed like he was just way too advanced to be at SB, but if he keeps hitting at Tenn there's not a ton of reason to pump the brakes

The covid year really messed up my perception.  Normally a 23 year old mashing at High A, even the year immediately after being drafted, was easily ignored.  But now?  There are plenty of pitchers his age that he faced in High A.  It's not like he was beating up on 20 year olds.  A weird time for us prospect nuts.  

4 minutes ago, Transmogrified Tiger said:

Birdsell: 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 5/2 K/BB

Still a bit high on the BBs, but you have to start wondering if he'll be in Tennessee soon if he's going to be putting up a sub-1 ERA and going this deep into games with regularity.

I'm surprised that he wasn't moved up to take Brown's spot, with Horton taking his spot at SB.  

[Transmogrified Tiger]

10 minutes ago, Hrubes20 said:

I'm surprised that (Birdsell) wasn't moved up to take Brown's spot, with Horton taking his spot at SB.  

They're even lined up on dates too, since this would've been Brown's day to start I think.  With Birdsell's performance and what I assume is coming from Horton later, I wouldn't be at all surprised if they're pitching a level higher on Tuesday.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

43 minutes ago, Transmogrified Tiger said:

They're even lined up on dates too, since this would've been Brown's day to start I think.  With Birdsell's performance and what I assume is coming from Horton later, I wouldn't be at all surprised if they're pitching a level higher on Tuesday.

I think Herz is the likely choice to replace Brown. He seems ready to finish his rehab at Extended ST.

[Hrubes20]

8 minutes ago, CaliforniaRaisin said:

I think Herz is the likely choice to replace Brown. He seems ready to finish his rehab at Extended ST.

I completely forgot about Herz. 

[CubinNY]

It's clear that PCA is cut above, but he needs to learn plate discipline or he's going to get exposed by better pitchers. 

[Transmogrified Tiger]

1 minute ago, CubinNY said:

It's clear that PCA is cut above, but he needs to learn plate discipline or he's going to get exposed by better pitchers. 

After the story about how AA is being experimented on with the pre-tacked ball and what it's done to pitchers, I'm re-thinking what I thought of the start for some of the players there.  

 

 

In particular, it makes me curious how Brown adapts to AAA, because the K rate may have a little to do with the ball(though he's obviously been a strikeout pitcher before), and his strong control while others struggle is intriguing.  On the hitter side, I'm a little less anxious about Caissie's obscene K rate knowing that the *league* is K'ing at a 30% rate.  And that knowledge also is encouraging for PCA, who even though he's not walking is also running a strong K rate relative to his peers, so a few weeks of batted ball struggles could be necessary to help reinforce the right swing decisions.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Regarding Brown and the enhanced grip ball, Meghan Montemurro has a story coming out soon. It does sound like the Cubs wanted to get him to a more comparable ball at AAA.

 

[CubinNY]

36 minutes ago, CubinNY said:

It's clear that PCA is cut above, but he needs to learn plate discipline or he's going to get exposed by better pitchers. 

I knew as soon as I posted that he'd make a liar out of me by having a great AB. Against a lefty with the bases loaded and two outs. Not the best outcome, but a great AB

[craig]

2 hours ago, CaliforniaRaisin said:

I think Herz is the likely choice to replace Brown. He seems ready to finish his rehab at Extended ST.

What was Herz extended for?  An injury?  Or developmental work, some modifications to help enable him to throw strikes?  

[CaliforniaRaisin]

1 hour ago, craig said:

What was Herz extended for?  An injury?  Or developmental work, some modifications to help enable him to throw strikes?  

I believe a groin injury.

[Hrubes20]

Horton finally gave up a run.