davell

[tweet] [/tweet]

There's a chance its just meant for de la Cruz. My guess is its meant for the rotation, trying to make them efficient. At any rate, I definitely think its a real thing, at the very least, for Oscar.

Casey Kelly got moved from EXST to Iowa and is starting tonight.

Hatch goes 5 5 4 4 4 7. Which needs to be commended in his case, as its the first time since his first start of the year, that he made it thru 5 innings. Broke a streak of 6 straight, prior to this. He really needs to go to SB.

Hatch is what he is. A third round prospect pitching a level too advanced for him. And him getting K's when his manager is saying pitch to contact isn't great. If anything, his stuff is hittable and guys are swinging out of their shoes at it, which will result in some misses obviously.

Even Blackburn is just 23, in AAA, and on Oakland's 40 man. He's a good bet to see the majors at some point.

Candelario was sent down as soon as Zobrist proclaimed his back being OK. Joe sounded like Heyward may need a rehab assignment, I wouldn't expect him tomorrow.

Wonder why they wouldn't just bring Pena back?

Please let the Lakers pass.

DJ Wilson has a 37.6% K rate right now. That's insane. It was 20.4% last year, so I guess he's working on something different? Because that's a ridiculous jump in going from short season to A Ball. Duke, did you notice anything interesting about his swing?

Dammit, these early morning games are dumb. Mills is pitching for Iowa this evening. Hedges is pitching for Tennessee this morning. Hatch tries to get it going for MB this evening, and Rondon is going for SB already. Parades hit a 2 run homer in the 1st. His numbers are up to respectable territory at this stage. I think he's got a decent chance to become a Candelario-type prospect for us in a couple of years.

SSR, any chance you guys sign Hayward AND go after Jimmy? Not the 1 this year, but maybe the Nets pick next year, Crowder, and maybe the Memphis pick or something like that?

Alzolay goes 7 3 4 4 1 7. Decent, but was perfect after the second inning.

Was curious, after seeing the talk of college pitching options not being great for 27 and 30. So, I looked at the past draft history of the FO, since they've been in Chicago..... 8 out of 25 picks have been High Schoolers, inside the first 5 rounds. In rounds 6-10, its just 2 of 25. Makes sense, with college senior signs and such. The 2 being Cease and Charcer Burks actually. So, this doesn't tell us a ton. But, I'd bet we take one college guy, at least, between our top two picks. Out of those 50 top 10 round picks, we've taken 37(!) pitchers and 13 position players. But, of the 13 position players, they were a 1st, 7th, and 9th round pick in 2012. Almora, in the 1st, Stephen Bruno in the 7th, and Chadd Krist(senior sign) in the 9th. In 2013, its KB in the 1st, Hannemann in the 3rd, and Burks in the 9th. In 2014, it was Schwarber in the 1st and Zagunis in the 3rd. In 2015, it was Happ in the 1st, Dewees in the 2nd, DJ Wilson in the 4th, and Vismael Machlin(senior sign) in the 10th. In 2016, it was just Michael Cruz in the 7th..... So, that does tell us that if we take position players at all inside the top 10 rounds, its going to be early obviously. Because those 13 breakdown to 4 1st rounders, a 2nd, 2 3rds, and a 4th. The other 5 being 2 7ths on regular college signees, ONE HS kid(Burks, not an over slot either) and 2 college seniors(Machlin and Krist) I'm really starting to suspect a guy like Allen or Holmes at 27. Then, a guy like Canning, Schmidt, Houck, Pearson, Lange, Little, or Crowe, at 30. Then, popping a single HS pitcher at some point in rounds 2-5, along with 2 other pitchers, and a position player.

Oh, and Sepulveda to the DL, Brooks gets promoted to Tennessee(ahead of Maples) and Rucker gets moved to MB(ahead of Mekkes)

What does that actually mean, I wonder? The pitcher throws the ball, the hitter hits it... So, does that mean: 1. Throw a lot of strikes and don't nibble? 2. Throw a lot of fastballs, for strikes, and not too many breaking balls? 3. Even if you get ahead 0-2, keep trying to throw strikes, maybe even fastball strikes, rather than throwing all chase pitch wannabes? 4. Don't overthrow your fastball? I'd guess some of the priorities might be quite different in AA/AAA versus low minors. But I'd guess what's valued in A+ would also be valued in lower levels. Yeah, its hard to figure out exactly what it means, but I agree with you that its probably different things at each level. Theo has said each prospect has individualized things to work on each year, so stat scouting is impossible to do, in all honesty. Its why I like hearing reports on the stuff. A lack of K's doesn't bother me at all if I hear a guy has a plus pitch, or multiple above average offerings, etc. The reports in past years on a guy like Underwood that throws hard, but no control or command, and lacks movement too- that's an issue.

A literal ground ball machine too. Very promising results recently, I'd love to hear a report on his stuff though.

Underwood threw 103 pitches, to go 5 5 1 1 4 5. Its nice to see a few K's, but not at this lack of control and averaging 20+ pitches per inning. On a side note, hearing MB's coach yesterday literally say that they're being taught to pitch to contact.....It makes it extremely hard for us to evaluate pitchers in a conventional way. I have to wonder if that's every stop or if its just MB? I'd assume everywhere, I think? But, working on different things at different stops makes sense too.

Well, it looks like there was an inside the park homer, followed by a delay. But, he evidently stayed in for the final two outs of the inning, before being replaced once they went back out in the field for the top of the 4th.

Alzolay is starting for MB today. Brooks is starting for Iowa. Underwood is starting for Tennessee and they're in the 5th inning too lol. Charcer Burks has a 3 run homer already.

Good lord. WE SUCK. South Bends game is already OVER lol. Galindo homered. Nice to have him back. Hudson with another excellent outing. 5 3 0 0 2 2, with 10/2 GO/FO.

Before we move someone of serious consequence, I'd kind of like to see if Beane could be enticed with some sort of group of 3 or 4 of Young, Candelario, Caratini, Zagunis, Clifton, Hedges, and Burks in a quantity type package for Gray.

no more cubans ever I'll second that.

And he just struck out his next AB. The curse is real. He's 2-3 with a double now though. And Chesny Young is 3-3. After starting the season 6-60, he's now OPS'ing .674 and hitting .297. In May, he's hitting .436 with a .993 OPS.

EJM is now under a .600 OPS. He's not striking out? That's basically the only positive he has. He's got 4 homers, but only 5 extra base hits total lol. I had hoped last year was just an adjustment period and he'd show actual breakout potential this season. Instead, he looks to be regressing. Biggest disappointment of the year, so far. Early enough to turn it around, but he needs to do something soon.