CaliforniaRaisin

You say that like Hendricks, Lackey and Hammel didn't put up a nice ERA of 1.69 in their last turn through.

Could just be for today because Locke is a lefty.

The position prospects well really dries up after those two. Rashad Crawford is interesting - he's a toolsy OF who started the season hot but has been in a massive slump since coming back from injury at the end of April. You should get Jake Stinnett (2014 2nd rounder) who has gotten off to a good start after a disappointing 2015 in South Bend.

So the fact that Contreras wasn't selected in the Rule 5 draft two years ago counts against him today but Edwards' most recent BB/9 (6.7 last year and 5.6 this year) shouldn't count against him? And you're going to say this on his birthday?? How dare you! Look, I'm a big fan of Carl's Jr. I think he can make a good pro and his guacamole bacon burger is top notch. I hope his performance of late means he's regained his control but it's only been 5 games since he walked 3 guys in one inning. He's always been difficult to hit, but you can't walk guys at that rate and be a valuable member of a pen in the majors. Meanwhile, in Contreras' most recent 611 ABs (AA, AZ Fall League and AAA this year), he has 202 hits, 47 doubles, 4 triples, 14 HRs, 80 BB, 84 Ks with a .331 avg and a .412 obp. How much more of a sample size does one need? I'm glad I'm not the only one carrying the Contreras torch. 20 posters on NSBB thought he was the best prospect in the system before the season began. You know, before Gleyber Torres started this season poorly and lost some of the shine on his prospect status. Yeah, I don't think he's ready for the big leagues defensively right now but that doesn't mean I don't think he's the best prospect in the Cubs system. I was one of those 20 who rated him ahead of Torres in that poll. Just because some of us don't think Contreras is ready and that a historically good team can withstand two weeks of the Tim Federowicz backup catcher experience doesn't mean we don't think Contreras is a top prospect.

Box Scores: Iowa won 17-2 Box Score CF A. Almora 3/6, R, 3B (3), 2 RBI, SB (5) C W. Contreras 2/5, 2 R, 3 RBI, BB 1B D. Vogelbach 1/5, R, 2B (6), RBI, BB, K 2B A. Alcántara 3/5, HR (5), 3 RBI, 3 BB SS M. Kawasaki 3'/5, 3 R, 2B (4), RBI, BB, SB (11), E (2, fielding) SP J. Buchanan 7 IP, 7 H, 2 E, 1 BB, 5 K, 1 HBP, 8-3 GO-FO, 93-53 pitches-strikes Tennessee lost 11-1 Box Score CF J. Hannemann 1/3, 2B (7), BB, SB (16) 2B C. Young 0/3, BB, E (2, fielding) 3B J. Candelario 1/4 RF B. McKinney 1/4, K 1B V. Caratini 1/4, R, 2B (8), K LF B. Rademacher 0/3 SP R. Zastryzny 6 IP, 3 H, 5 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 7 K, 1 WP, 2-4 GO-FO, 94-56 pitches-strikes Myrtle Beach won 11-3 Box Score RF R. Crawford 1/4, R, 2B (7), 2 RBI, BB, K SS G. Torres 2/5, R, 2 RBI, BB, CS (2), E (6, fielding) 2B I. Happ 1/5, R, RBI 1B Y. Balaguert 4/5, 2 R, HR (5), 3 RBI, K SP J. Null 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 HBP, 5-6 GO-FO, 77-52 pitches-strikes South Bend won 6-2 Box Score CF D. Dewees 1/4, R, 3B (8), RBI, BB DH PJ Higgins 1/5, RBI, BB, 3 K RF E. Jimenez 3/5, R, K, E (1, fielding) 3B J. Hodges 2/4, R, BB 1B T. Alamo 1/4, R, RBI, BB, 2 K SP P. Morrison 5.1 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 1 WP, 5-4 GO-FO, 85-57 pitches-strikes RP C. Brooks 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 2-0 GO-FO

Apparently Wacha's velocity is down this season. Cardinals lose, Cubs 8 up on Pittsburgh and St Louis.

BA mock draft: http://bba.am/S6NsVQ

Will the Pirates ever beat the Cubs?

It's just one inning but the difference between Hammel's last start and today is like night and day. Good command and hitting his spots. ETA: I take full responsibility if this post jinxes him.

Concepcion should have taken Juan Paniagua with him to AAA.

Box Scores: Iowa won 3-2 on an Albert Almora walk-off double Box Score RF S. Victorino 0/4 DH W. Contreras 1/4, R, HR (3), RBI, K 1B D. Vogelbach 0/3, BB, E (2, pickoff) CF A. Almora 2/4, 2B (7), 3B (2) 2B L. Watkins 0/3, K SS M. Kawasaki 1/2, BB SP R. Williams 6 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 K, 3-2 GO-FO, 99-66 pitches-strikes RP G. Concepcion 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 1-0 GO-FO RP C. Edwards Jr 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 2-0 GO-FO Tennessee won 12-5 Box Score CF J. Hannemann 1/5, 3B (3), 2 RBI, K, HBP, E (2, fielding) 2B C. Young 1/5, R, BB 3B J. Candelario 1/4, 2B (9), 2 BB, K LF M. Zagunis 0/4, R, RBI, 2 BB, K C V. Caratini 1/4, R, 2B (7), RBI, 2 BB RF B. McKinney 2/4, 2 R, 2B (4), RBI, BB SP B. Markey 4 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 3-3 GO-FO, 77-44 pitches-strikes RP S. Peralta 3 IP 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 WP, 2-3 GO-FO RP D. Garner 1 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 0 K, 3-0 GO-FO Myrtle Beach won 8-3 Box Score LF C. Burks 2/5, R, 2B (5), HR (2), 2 RBI, 3 K, E (3, fielding) SS G. Torres 1/4, R, HR (4), 3 RBI, K 2B I. Happ 0/4, R, BB, K 1B Y. Balaguert 1/4, R, HR (4), 2 RBI 3B J. Vosler 2/3, R, 2 2B (9), BB RF Je. Baez 0/4, K, outfield assist at second base SP E. Leal 7.2 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 7-8 GO-FO, 86-67 pitches-strikes South Bend won 15-2 Box Score CF D. Dewees 4/6, 2 R, 2B (9), 3B (7), 6 RBI, K, SB (9) C PJ Higgins 1/3, R, 2B (9), 2 RBI, BB, K 3B J. Hodges 1/6, R, 2 RBI, K LF E. Jimenez 2/4, R, 2B (11), HR (2), 2 RBI, BB, K RF E. Martinez 0/3, R, 2 BB 1B M. Rose 0/5, R, K DH T. Alamo 3/5, 2 R, RBI, K SP A. Alzolay 6 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 0 K, 6-6 GO-FO, 87-54 pitches-strikes RP C> Bloomquist 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 K, 2-0 GO-FO A perfect day in the system!

I hope OMC has a nice long run, but I really hope Rondon Fan gets like an 18 game winning streak. With no rain outs or delays.

That was very funny. And mojo really should be putting all his efforts into anti-Lackey posts.

MLB is investigating the Red Sox over potential package deal signings in 2015. MLB comes off looking pretty bad in the investigation:

Box Scores: Iowa lost 7-2 Box Score RF S. Victorino 1/3, SB (1) DH W. Contreras 1/4 C M. Montero 0/3 - rehab CF A. Almora 2/4, R, 2 K 1B D. Vogelbach 2/3, R, HR (6), 2 RBI, BB, K 2B A. Alcántara 1/3, BB, K SS M. Kawasaki 0/4, 3 K SP M. Wagner 4 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 4 BB, 2 K, 1 WP, 5-3 GO-FO, 43-20 pitches-strikes RP A. Rivero 1.2 IP, 0 H, 3 ER, 4 BB, 2 K, 1 WP, 0-3 GO-FO Tennessee lost 5-4 (10 innings) Box Score CF J. Hannemann 1/5, 2 K, SB (15), outfield assist at second base LF M. Zagunis 1/3, R, HR (2), RBI, 2 BB, K 3B J. Candelario 0/3, BB DH B. McKinney 1/4, R, BB, K RF B. Rademacher 2/4, 2B (4), RBI, K SP T. Skulina 5 IO, 4 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 1 HBP, 1 WP, 2-6 GO-FO, 87-48 pitches-strikes RP J. Paniagua 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 1-2 GO-FO RP D. Berg 2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 2-2 GO-FO Myrtle Beach won 3-0 Box Score RF R. Crawford 0/4, K SS G. Torres 1/4, K, SB (5) 2B I. Happ 0/3, RBI, K 1B Y. Balaguert 0/4, 3 K 3B J. Vosler 2/3, 2 R, 2B (7), HR (1), RBI SP T. Clifton 6 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 10 K, 3-3 GO-FO, 95-63 pitches-strikes South Bend lost 5-0 Box Score C PJ Higgins 1/3, BB, K, PB (5) CF D. Dewees 1/4, SB (8) DH E. Jimenez 0/3, 2 K RF E. Martinez 0/2, BB, 2 K, E (1, fielding) 3B J. Hodges 0/3, K 1B T. Alamo 0/3, K SP K. Twomey 5 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 0 K, 2 HBP, 1 HR, 8-3 GO-FO, 73-43 pitches-strikes

Orioles

[tweet]https://twitter.com/hudsonbelinsky/status/730517305176797184[/tweet]

Easily the most frustrating player on this team for me. Oh yeah, Strop is so frustrating. [tweet] [/tweet]

Geez, I thought that was gone (ditto Bryant's flyout).

2-strike meatballs from relievers on consecutive days.

Almora Jr with two doubles already.

I'm just going off memory and not looking at logs but I believe he's strictly been a 1-inning reliever this season.

No one mocks past the first round, let alone all the way down to 104, so there's not much out there about the Cubs. I'm just a baseball fan. Here's BA's most recent mock draft (John Manuel) and MLB.com's most recent top 10 (Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo). The top of the draft still isn't set and it sounds like Philadelphia is still considering Florida LHP AJ Puk, New Jersey prep LHP Jason Groome, Kansas prep RHP Riley Pint and Mercer OF Kyle Lewis.

Box Scores: Iowa lost 4-2 Box Score CF A. Almora 2/5, 2 R, 2 2B (6), RBI, K, outfield assist at first base C W. Contreras 1/4, R, 2B (8), RBI, K DH M. Montero 2/4, 2 RBI - rehab 1B D. Vogelbach 1/3, BB 2B A. Alcántara 1/4, 2 K, SB (9) SP D. Rucinzki 5+ IP, 6 H, 2 E, 3 BB, 5 K, 5-3 GO-FO, 88-51 pitches-strikes RP S. Patton 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 0-0 GO-FO Tennessee lost 8-1 Box Score CF J. Hannemann 0/2, 2 BB LF M. Zagunis 2/4, K 3B J. Candelario 0/3, BB RF B. McKinney 0/4, outfield assist at third base C V. Caratini 0/4, K SP P. Blackburn 6 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 1 WP, 1 HR, 8-3 GO-FO, 81-51 pitches-strikes Myrtle Beach lost 5-1 Box Score CF R. Crawford 2/4, 2B (6), K SS G. Torres 0/4, 2 K LF I. Happ 1/4, 2 K 3B J. Vosler 1/3, BB, K RF Je. Baez 0/4, K, SB (12), outfield assist at second base C C. Brockmeyer 1/3, R, HR (3), RBI, K SP Z.Hedges 6 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 8-2 Go-FO, 84-63 pitches-strikes RP D. Torrez 1 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 2-1 GO-FO, E (1, throw) South Bend won 2-0 Box Score CF D. Dewees 1/4, 2 K LF E. Jimenez 0/4, RBI, 2 K RF E. Martinez 0/3, R, 2 K, HBP 3B J. Hodges 3/4, RBI, E (3, fielding) C T. Alamo 0/4 1B M. Rose 0/3, 2 K, HBP SP J. Steele 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K, 10-0 GO-FO, 63-46 pitches-strikes RP J. Norwood 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 1-0 GO-FO

I noticed that too.