Minor League Discussion & Boxes, 8-25-24

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Scheduled Games (Central Time):

Iowa at Toledo, 1:05 pm
Tennessee vs. Pensacola, 1:00 pm
South Bend vs. Beloit, 1:05 pm
Myrtle Beach at Charleston, 4:05 pm

Probable Starters:

Iowa: LHP Jordan Wicks (rehab)
Tennessee: RHP Sam Armstrong (28 IP, 3.86 ERA, 3.77 FIP, 22 K, 9 BB)
South Bend: RHP Erian Rodríguez (32 IP, 5.06 ERA, 4.80 FIP, 23 K, 19 BB)
Myrtle Beach: RHP Jeral Vizcaíno (54 IP, 3.17 ERA, 4.20 FIP, 51 K, 25 BB)

[Cubs420psd]

I think this has been asked before, but is Cam Smith using a new swing? Or is this the same swing he was using in college that was getting criticized for not giving him enough lift? 

 

I know an adjustment like that usually needs to come in the off season but I'm curious.

[Outshined_One]

6 minutes ago, Cubs420psd said:

I think this has been asked before, but is Cam Smith using a new swing? Or is this the same swing he was using in college that was getting criticized for not giving him enough lift? 

 

I know an adjustment like that usually needs to come in the off season but I'm curious.

As memory serves post-draft, Smith had two swings in college, one last season that put his power to use and caused a huge spike in Ks, and one that he employed this season that cut down on the strikeouts and was effective, but basically caused a power outage.

There was some discussion around the forum about getting him to use both as A/B hacks depending on the situation, rather than try to overhaul his swing altogether. I'm curious to see if that's the case.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

4 hours ago, Cubs420psd said:

I think this has been asked before, but is Cam Smith using a new swing? Or is this the same swing he was using in college that was getting criticized for not giving him enough lift? 

 

I know an adjustment like that usually needs to come in the off season but I'm curious.

Still looks like his sophomore year swing.

I would guess a swing change (or a blending of his freshman and sophomore swings) would be more of an offseason project..

[Bertz]

 

 

[Bertz]

7 minutes ago, Bertz said:

 

 

This is the last play he made before getting pulled, you don't see anything bad here but injury is probably the best assumption

 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Owen also has a double.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Jonathon Long now with HRs in consecutive games (4 at Tennessee and 14th on the year).

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Wicks: 4.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K on 73 pitches

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

[allen6510w]

1 hour ago, CaliforniaRaisin said:

Jonathon Long now with HRs in consecutive games (4 at Tennessee and 14th on the year).

His is a meteoric rise through the prospect charts.  I'm sure one could point out his poor ISO numbers (until very recently) but his K/W numbers are unreal for a first baseman, 

Edited August 25, 2024 by allen6510w

[We Got The Whole 9]

McGeary hit a walkoff granny

[CaliforniaRaisin]

2 hours ago, Bertz said:

This is the last play he made before getting pulled, you don't see anything bad here but injury is probably the best assumption

 

Yep - hurt himself on that play:

 

[Donzo]

Wicks in his last two games: 8.2IP/4H/1B/8K

Obviously he's ready for Chicago. I wonder if they just wait until Sep 1st to activate him.

[Bertz]

8 minutes ago, Donzo said:

Wicks in his last two games: 8.2IP/4H/1B/8K

Obviously he's ready for Chicago. I wonder if they just wait until Sep 1st to activate him.

The Athletic made it sound like there's not a major rush to get him up, thr team's POV essentially being he needs innings more than anything.  His velo is also down from where it was early in the season (but in line with last year).

[Bertz]

1 hour ago, CaliforniaRaisin said:

 

Over the last month Palencia has

11.1 IP, 3 BB, 20 K, 3.18 ERA, and a 1.something FIP

The fact that he's the Iowa closer indicates he's likely next man up.  Decent chance Merryweather needs an IL stint, so Palencia tomorrow and Kilian in a week when rosters expand?

[CaliforniaRaisin]

 

[We Got The Whole 9]

Holy horsefeathers 

[Tryptamine]

No idea why he's still in A ball.

[JBears79]

27 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

No idea why he's still in A ball.

I assume this will be his last game in A ball since they have an off day tomorrow

[craig]

Other than Shaw, guys kinda always look great on HR- swings.  The balance and weight-shift never looks bad on HR's.  (shaw, with his huge leg-kick, is somewhat unusual in that he still looks kinda yucky even on some HR's...).   But, my ramble is that maybe Shaw looks hopelessly off-balance and out-of-time on some non-HR swings.  

But many, it looks like he has almost no leg kick, and a pretty short stride.  Doesn't look like he needs to guess or commit very early at all, and while his follow-through seems to get excellent extension, his actual swing from load-to-contact seems pretty quick and compact? 

A couple days ago he reached and lifted a low breaking ball.  But several of these recent ones seem to be on top-of-zone pitches.  I think a lot of the 2016-era Cubs struggled with top-of-zone pitches; they liked to lift the low ones.  In the modern game with so much top-of-zone pitching, I wonder if Smith has a good stroke for top-of-zone pitches, and he might be a good fit?  

[Donzo]

2 hours ago, Bertz said:

The Athletic made it sound like there's not a major rush to get him up, thr team's POV essentially being he needs innings more than anything.  His velo is also down from where it was early in the season (but in line with last year).

 

From what I understand they're looking at Sep 1st or 6th for him. The thought is the Cubs would finsh the year with a 6-man roation beginning the 1st or 6th.

I was told he hit 94mph, but not confirmed.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

1 hour ago, JBears79 said:

I assume this will be his last game in A ball since they have an off day tomorrow

Yeah, the Cubs like to use the off day to give players time for promotions/travel/getting settled.

[CaliforniaRaisin]