Minor League Discussion & Boxes, 8-26-23

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Scheduled Games (All Times Central):

Iowa at Indianapolis, 6:05 pm
Tennessee at Chattanooga, 6:15 pm
South Bend vs. Cedar Rapids, 6:05 pm
Myrtle Beach vs. Kannapolis, 5:05 pm

Probable Starters:

Iowa: RHP Nick Neidert (94.1 IP, 5.44 ERA, 5.40 FIP, 76 K, 34 BB)
Tennessee: RHP Kohl Franklin (68.2 IP, 5.50 ERA, 6.23 FIP, 66 K, 34 BB)
South Bend: RHP Luis Devers (45.2 IP, 5.32 ERA, 4.84 FIP, 46 K, 27 BB)
Myrtle Beach: LHP Drew Gray (19.2 IP, 5.03 ERA, 4.51 FIP, 28 K, 20 BB)

[WhyCantWeWin]

6 minutes ago, TomtheBombadil said:

3 hits from Shaw including a triple, but SB got walloped. Ezequiel Pagan seems like some kind of breakout candidate next year as a contact LHH CF/OF defender with some speed/power on offense heading up to the upper minors

MB got suspended, Gray snuck in 2 IP with 5 Ks and a BB, 30% CSW

 

I think you gotta be aggressive and promote Shaw to AA. Skenes is already there. 

[PackLandVA]

4 minutes ago, WhyCantWeWin said:

I think you gotta be aggressive and promote Shaw to AA. Skenes is already there. 

That’s not really the Cubs MO, is it?

[WhyCantWeWin]

Just now, PackLandVA said:

That’s not really the Cubs MO, is it?

Yeah you are right, just what I was hoping for. Personally I think it's more detrimental to continually be in a non challenging environment for growth. 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Does it change anything if he gets 2-3 weeks at AA?

A better assignment would be the AFL.

[Tryptamine]

9 minutes ago, CaliforniaRaisin said:

Does it change anything if he gets 2-3 weeks at AA?

A better assignment would be the AFL.

I might be wrong, but isn't it unusual for the newly drafted players to go to the AFL? I'd really like Shaw to get at least 50 PAs at AA this year with an eye on quick promotion if he tears AA up to start next year.

Edited August 27, 2023 by Tryptamine

[CaliforniaRaisin]

8 hours ago, Tryptamine said:

I might be wrong, but isn't it unusual for the newly drafted players to go to the AFL? I'd really like Shaw to get at least 50 PAs at AA this year with an eye on quick promotion if he tears AA up to start next year.

Bryant and Hoerner did it in the fall after they were drafted.

[jersey cubs fan]

12 hours ago, WhyCantWeWin said:

I think you gotta be aggressive and promote Shaw to AA. Skenes is already there. 

Where he couldn’t get out of the 1st. 

[Transmogrified Tiger]

For me it's less about 'aggressiveness' or if it changes Shaw's timeline, but a matter of putting him at a level that's going to do the most for his development.  He's at 20 games and 89 PA of a 197 wRC+ and hitting nearly .400, we're quickly reaching the point where additional A+ games are not going to be enough challenge to help with the things he needs to improve on to be MLB ready. So even if it's only a couple weeks and doesn't change how long he stays at AA in 2024, AA can still be the right spot for him.

[WhyCantWeWin]

1 hour ago, jersey cubs fan said:

Where he couldn’t get out of the 1st. 

Yeah he's a bust

[jersey cubs fan]

1 hour ago, WhyCantWeWin said:

Yeah he's a bust

Yep, I said that. Well done. Good intuiting. 

[WhyCantWeWin]

1 minute ago, jersey cubs fan said:

Yep, I said that. Well done. Good intuiting. 

Thank you. I appreciate the compliment. Kinda my point to challenge players against tougher talent. One bad start doesn't mean he shouldn't be at AA or won't benefit from facing a tougher assignment. Time will tell

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Really surprised the Pirates are still pitching Skenes after 120+ innings at LSU, some of which very big time games.  Doesn’t seem like many teams push their college pitchers in their draft year, especially because of the layoff between the end of the college season and when they sign.