Minor League Discussion & Boxes, 5-21-23

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Scheduled Games (Central Time):

Iowa at Indianapolis, 12:35 pm

Tennessee at Pensacola, 4:05 pm

South Bend at Beloit, 1:05 pm

Myrtle Beach vs. Augusta, 5:05 pm

Probable Starters:

Iowa: RHP Ben Brown (14.2 IP, 4.91 ERA, 5.16 FIP, 19 K, 8 BB)

Tennessee: RHP Porter Hodge (26.1 IP, 5.47 ERA, 3.57 FIP, 29 K, 15 BB)

South Bend: RHP Brandon Birdsell (24.2 IP, 0.73 ERA, 3.13 FIP, 19 K, 9 BB)

Myrtle Beach: RHP Brody McCullough (24.2 IP, 2.92 ERA, 2.73 FIP, 33 K, 8 BB)

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

[Tim]

24 minutes ago, CaliforniaRaisin said:

 

attn: Tom

 

ED HOWARD - age 21 - 6'1 185 - 2020 1st round draft pick (Mt. Carmel HS - Chicago, IL)
333/448/667 (1.115 OPS)
29 PA (12 games) 
8-24 
1 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 8 RUNS, 4 BB (21% walk-rate), 5 K (14% K-rate), 1 HBP, 1 GIDP, 0 SB  
DEFENSE: SS (9 games), 2B (1 game), and 3B (1 game) 
NO ERRORS 
NOTE-1: Is second in AVG, OBP, and SLG behind Soto, has second-lowest (best) K-rate to Suriel and second-highest (best) walk-rate to Collier, and is tied for second in triples with Suriel behind Y. Santana 
NOTE-2: Has been on Hi-A South Bend 7-day IL (2022 hip surgery) since the beginning of the season and is at EXST on a rehab assignment. He began playing in EXST games on 4/25.  

[Hrubes20]

Brown likely done after 4. Terrific in 3 of those innings. Lost control in the 2nd, walked a couple, and gave up a couple singles.

4IP, 2H, 1ER, 2BBs, 6Ks

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Vázquez getting national attention

[CaliforniaRaisin]

11 minutes ago, Hrubes20 said:

Brown likely done after 4. Terrific in 3 of those innings. Lost control in the 2nd, walked a couple, and gave up a couple singles.

4IP, 2H, 1ER, 2BBs, 6Ks

 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

21 minutes ago, Hrubes20 said:

Brown likely done after 4. Terrific in 3 of those innings. Lost control in the 2nd, walked a couple, and gave up a couple singles.

4IP, 2H, 1ER, 2BBs, 6Ks

It was against the same opponent as his last start so it was especially nice to see a bounce back.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Birdsell finally racked up the Ks in his first start since May 9th (not sure why he was out but he was never played on the IL): 4 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, 1 HR

[Hrubes20]

Triantos bomb #2. That’s fun.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

13 minutes ago, Hrubes20 said:

Triantos bomb #2. That’s fun.

Oppo!

 

[craig]

1 hour ago, CaliforniaRaisin said:

Birdsell finally racked up the Ks in his first start since May 9th (not sure why he was out but he was never played on the IL): 4 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, 1 HR

Yeah, I wonder about that?  I suspect the 6-day rotation combined with no-Monday games provides some flexibility.  Skip a start, and make sure a 1st-year-pro is super rested and never pitches a tired inning?  

Or is that maybe an opportunity for some developmental stuff?  12-day cycle, get several side-sessions in between box score starts, and maybe work on tweaking or adding something?  Spring training goes so fast, maybe guy worked on some new or adjusted pitch, but didn't actually use it in first month of games?  But maybe with 3-4 side-sessions to work on it, you come back after the 12 days and start using something new?

Draft scouting suggested he was mostly fastball/slider, and change wasn't used much, and then only to lefties.  Maybe touched that up some?  Or maybe cutter of some kind added?