CubsWin

Craig Brooks has a pattern of struggling with his control after a promotion. It's likely a mental thing, thinking that you have to be extra precise because the hitters are better at this level so you start nibbling instead of continuing to do what got you there and trusting your stuff. In 2016, his first full season in pro ball, Brooks was still refining his command. He was dominating Low-A with a 1.39 ERA while striking out 30.7% but walking 14.6%. After his promotion, he posted a 8.25 ERA with a 22.1% K-rate and a 16.4% BB-rate. His BAA jumped 100 points from .196 to .296. In 2017, he once again starts off dominating, this time in Myrtle Beach (where had finished the year prior) with a 0.44 ERA, a 39.5% K-rate, 7.9% BB-rate and a .134 BAA. After another mid-season promotion to AA, he had an ERA of 4.46, a 31.7% K-rate and a 15.9% BB-rate. His BAA, while still good, jumped to .201. This year, starting off in AA, he posted a 3.00 ERA, a 35.0% K-rate, a 7.7% BB-rate and a .181 BAA. After his promotion to AAA Iowa, his ERA ballooned to 4.73 (it was 7.36 2 weeks ago) with a K-rate of just 18.6% and a BB-rate of 27.1%. His BAA has actually remained good at .174. Assuming the pattern continues and Brooks starts 2019 dominating AAA (or at least markedly improving), the Cubs would have 4 intriguing, home grown relief arms ready to ride the shuttle or break with the team in Norwood (25), Maples (26), Mekkes (24) and Brooks (26). (Ages are as of opening day 2019). That would be a 1st during the Theo & Jed era and a sign of the Cubs improving pitching depth. The only pitcher from that group not currently on the 40-man roster is Mekkes. Mekkes isn't eligible for the rule 5 draft this winter so they can afford to keep him off the 40-man roster this off season which may be the reason why he hasn't been added already. It will be interesting to see if he is among the September call ups. He's certainly deserving, but that's not always the only consideration. Add in this year's successful acquisitions of Justin Hancock (Szczur trade), Randy Rosario (waivers) and Luke Farrell (waivers), all of whom will have options next season, and the relief depth looks even stronger. If none of them break with the team, that's a nice 7-man AAA bullpen right there (though Farrell would likely be in the rotation), albeit with just one lefty in the group.

Okay, what the horsefeathers? On the evening of July 22nd, Cole Roederer had just completed his 3rd multi-hit effort in 4 games and was batting .404/.509/.702 with 10 walks and just 7 Ks. Andy Weber mercifully had the night off because he had completed his 3rd 0-for-4 night in 6 games the evening before. He was hitting .087/.125/.087 with 1 BB and 13 Ks in just 24 plate appearances. We were all marveling at how hot Roederer was and scratching our heads at why Weber was so bad. We assumed neither performance was sustainable, but we didn't think they were connected in any way. But clearly, someone, perhaps Weber himself, snuck into Roederer's room, stole his mojo and injected it into Weber because since then: Roederer is hitting .080 (2-for-25) with no XBHs, 0 walks and 10 Ks. He lowered his slash line by -.112/-.131/-.216. Weber is hitting .333 (7-for-21) with 2 doubles, 2 HRs, 3 walks and 5 Ks. He raised his slash line by +.118/+.161/+.199. I've heard of taking the good with the bad, but this is ridiculous...

Eury Ramos found his control today. Got off to a rough start, but in his last 3 games: 14 IP, 11 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 13 K. With the reports of him sitting 93-96, T97 in ExST, this development is surely welcome. Well worth tracking.

Charlotte? I think you mean, Myrtle Beach. You're a little off on your stats there, but he's definitely improved in July. Still the periphs are so bad with him. I've yet to see a pitcher succeed at the upper levels with such a low K% and high BB% in a pitcher's league like the CL. Reports that his already good curve ball is even better likely has led to him being tougher to hit this year. There are a lot of bats in High-A that struggle with a good curve. He's still young, and tall pitchers can be slower to develop so I'm not giving up on him, but I don't see all that much to be excited about with him at the moment. If he can continue his July performance the rest of the season and improve his K:BB ratio, I'd like him a lot more...

Welcome back, Justin!

He does? I mean, it seems more like a commentary on how weak the system is than a sign he's deserving somehow. Don't get me wrong, he's answered some questions this year. He's stayed healthy. He has held his own in a hitter's league. He made his big league debut. But you could make a good argument that Clifton is a better prospect right now, and they've got him ranked 18th. Seems like after Hoerner slots 7 thru 20 are almost completely up to interpretation.

What do you think it takes for the Cubs to acquire Keone Kela? Ademan plus? Less? More?

At least Amaya made the top 100 (97th).

Yeah, leaving them off the list entirely is just weird. I'm not as high on Pereda as others, but he's still 20-25 for me solidly. They've got Norwood and Maples in there. I'd have Hatch off the list for sure. The reports they have of Uelman's and Thompson's stuff is way different than what I've seen in games. But I haven't watched every one of their outings for sure.

Albertos strikes out 2 in the first inning. He also walked 2, allowed 3 hits, 4 ER, 1 wild pitch on 30 pitches (10 strikes). To be overly fair, one of those runs came in on another wild pitch by the guy who relieved him...

Yeah, nice night for Abbott who was weirdly (stupidly) ranked 19th in the lastest MLB.com Cubs top 30 behind Uelman (12th) and Thompson (13th) and just ahead of Thomas Hatch (20th).

Once again, MLB.com's prospect list is a mixed bag. Some of their picks a just straight up headscratchers.

Dude. Underwood and Clifton are picking up the slack with their seasons and return to legit prospect status. And on top of it all, the Smokies have to face Dylan Cease tonight just remind us of when we actually had some high end talent...

What a depressing minor league season for the Cubs. By some lists, the 3 top pitching prospects for the Cubs: Alzolay out for the year. De La Cruz sucked and then got suspended for 80 games. Albertos imploded. Their top hitting prospect at the start of the season, Ademan struggled mightily in the first half after a very aggressive promotion and is hitting worse 100 ABs into his 2nd half. A very not top heavy organization has seen arguably their highest rated prospects heading into the year either get injured, fall apart or underperform. Then their top draft pick's elbow lands him out the rest of the season. And now, I have to waste a day watching Casey Coleman, Erich Uelman, Matt Lawler and Zach Mort pitch. Thank God for Miguel Amaya, Brailyn Marquez and Cole Roederer...

LHP Luis Rodriguez continues to mow them down in the DSL. I have no idea about his stuff, but the numbers are great. 5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3Ks today. 36.1 IP, 19 H, 7 R (4 ER), 5 BB, 36 K, .151 BAA, 0.66 WHIP, 0.99 ERA on the year. He's 6'1", 190 lbs., so he's not one of these featherweight lefties, but he could still be a soft-tossing, pitchability types that are uber effective at this level. Whatever he's doing it's repeatable. He hasn't had a bad outing yet (10 appearances so far). He's 18, but this is his first pro season so he's not repeating a level. It'll be interesting to see if he makes Mesa next season and possibly get a scouting report from AZ Phil next spring.

I got a pretty heavy work week this week, but I'll try to take a look at his game tonight (or some of his more recent ones if tonight's isn't broadcast) and give you my description.

3rd rounder OF Jimmy Herron promoted to South Bend. He had a slash of .310/.459/.517 with 8 walks and 2 Ks in 9 games with the AZL Cubs.

Dude, you don't want to double down on a pair of 6s, much less 3 of them...

I go: So far, but it's early. Huge uptick in velocity. 89-92, T93 per AZ Phil to sitting 94-96, T97-99. He's been able to maintain decent control of that FB even with the added velocity. Perceived ceiling? As in what I perceive it to be what he's capable of if he fulfills his potential to the fullest? He's so young and there's not a lot of data to go on, but with that stuff (solid curveball along with mid-90s heater) and his performance to date in the NWL, a TOR starter is his absolute ceiling, I guess. We will know so much more in two years. For me, AA is the proving ground, and we saw what happened to Albertos this year.

I say let him rack up some more numbers for another week and then send him to Eugene. 3 PAs, 3 times on base to start the night. Walk, Double, Single. On the single, he steals 2nd (5th in 12 games) and ties the game on a Henderson Perez double. Roederer and Mike Montgomery both went to the same high school about a mile from where I live. I believe Paul Richan went there, too. #HotBed

Pfft. 3 for 4 with a BB. But they were all singles. Bum couldn’t even get an XBH. I know, right? He had extra base hits 4 games in a row coming into that game (3 HRs, 2 doubles), why couldn't he have just made it 5? Dude's 18 and already a lollygagger.

Just trade Roederer for Tolly Filotei and get Cole in the line-up!

Davis got taken out around the 7th inning. He was DHing and was pinch hit for in the bottom of the 7th. Might've been planned that Davis not play the full game to ease him back in. His last at bat was in the 5th. He walked and was forced at 2nd base. Might have aggravated something. We'll just have to wait and see when he plays next.

Adding Bote to the graduated list, I've got: 1. Miguel Amaya 2. Adbert Alzolay 3. Aramis Ademan 4. Nico Hoerner 5. Alex Lange 6. Brailyn Marquez And a large fog bank after that... Lost in that fog you will find many Cubs prospects wandering around. You see a figure in the distance. Is that Trevor Clifton? You hear two guys discussing pitch selection. It's Johnny Pereda and Tyson Miller. You bump into what feels like a tree. "Oh, hey Duncan." "Watch where you're going," he responds. Draftmates Brendon Little and Cory Abbott walk by sharing a compass. You don't recognize that guy. Must be Gallardo. You hear someone complaing, "Why does no one know who I am?" You strain through the fog to see Giambrone written across the back of his jersey. Suddenly, you trip over something. You look down to see a pile of leaves covering the shallow grave of Jose Albertos. You hear some footfalls behind you and spin to find Christopher Morel feeling his way through the spectral mist. "Can you help me find my bat?", he asks. Under your breath you mutter, "Check extended spring training". A fresh-faced, wide eyed Michael Rucker approaches. He wonders aloud, "Is this heaven?" "No, it's Iowa", you joke. "Cool, I got promoted!" The fog thins. You see a clearing up ahead. As you emerge from the haze, Cole Roederer is there leaning jauntily on his bat like Mr. Peanut minus the monocle. "Dude, I think you've been looking for me..."

This guy horsefeathers Roederer has gotten on base in all 11 games of his pro career leading to a current OBP of exactly .500. Of those 11 games, 5 have been multi-hit affairs with a pattern of one every other game during his current 9 game hitting streak. .395/.500/.698 with more walks (9) than strikeouts (7). This has to stop at some point. I mean, I guess. But I really hope it doesn't...