Donzo

Link to box scores to all the Cuds minor league games: http://www.milb.com/scoreboard/index.jsp?sid=milb&org=112 Hatch going for MB tonight, he needs a good game.

For some reason, today's game made think of this trade...

Pitchers having a good day. Clifton 5IP, 4H, 1ER, 1BB, 4K Miller 6IP, 3H, 1ER, 1BB, 4K Mekkes in a slump, he gave up anther hit... He's older, I imagine he'll be in Myrtle Beach pretty soon.

Nice go to checklist.

I knew I wasn't dreamin' it... https://baseballdraftreport.com/tag/duncan-robinson/ "10.314 – RHP Dakota Mekkes Dakota Mekkes (374) is the truth. Striking out 15.16 batters per nine as a redshirt-sophomore was only beginning for the 6-7, 250 pound righthander. His first 20 pro innings: 12.15 K/9 and 1.80 BB/9. How does he do? I have no idea! Or, more honestly, I can only make guesses on what I’ve seen, heard, and read. Mekkes’s stuff is what you’ll see out of literally dozens of mid-round college relievers (88-92 FB, 94 peak; average 82-84 SL), but the results point very strongly to their being more to the story. That’s where we start to see what separates Mekkes from the rest. Before we get to that, some earlier praise beginning with this from March 2016… If you read this site and/or follow college ball closely, this might be the first pick to surprise in some way, shape, or form. Mekkes wasn’t a pitcher mentioned in many 2016 draft preview pieces before the start of the season, but the 6-7, 250 pound righty has opened plenty of eyes in getting off to a dominant (16.36 K/9) albeit wild (7.16 BB/9) start to 2016. His stuff backs it up (FB up to 94, interesting SL, deceptive delivery), so he’s more than just a large college man mowing down overmatched amateurs. He’s a top ten round possibility now. Hey, he went in the tenth round! Neat. We got a little bit bolder by April 2016… Any pre-draft list of “fastest moving” potential draftees that doesn’t include Dakota Mekkes is one I’ll look at with a suspicious eye. Mekkes may not be one of the biggest names in college relief, but he’s one of the best. I’ll go closer upside with him while acknowledging his most likely outcome could be a long career of very effective, very well-compensated middle relief. Either way, I think he’s as close to a lock to be a useful big league pitcher as any reliever in this class. With Mekkes, it’s really about how how he maximizes his size and delivery to create all kinds of extension and deception. As he continues to figure out how to repeat that delivery, his command will only keep getting better. I think Mekkes can pitch in a big league bullpen in 2017 if that’s how the Cubs decide that’s what’s best for his development. I stand by that “as close to a lock to be a useful big league pitcher as any reliever in this class” comment."

I can't remember where I read, one of the Cub fan sites, but a guy was predicting Mekkes would be in the majors this year!- interesting...

Cruz struggled early, but finished strong in the 4th & 5th innings. Happ with a 2B & a BB early in Iowa. Tennessee with two shutouts; a 1 hitter & a 4 hitter... Pugliese started game two, his era is at 0.87- haven't thought about him in a couple years.

I've never seen Hudson pitch, so I'm going off of his scouting report at Cubs.com for the 94mph. The report doesn't just pump him up, it also sates he was pitching at 84-88mph. The report makes sense, I buy it.

Real nice to see Underwood have a good April. Just the one strikeout, but atleast it was against future MLBer, Nick Gordon

Well, he's been a "pro" for less than two years and he's 19 yrs old... So, those are good numbers for him in ExST... Is there any reason to doubt AZPhil? If all Hudson could do was top out at 88 mph, then he's pretty limited as a prospect. Since his scouting report states he can reach 94 mph (albeit, with Nuke LaLoosh type control), he's pretty interesting.

He's been struggling the past few games, 1/16 with 6K/1BB. The one hit was a HR in yesterdays game, so maybe he's back on track. His OBP is now just over .300, but his BABIP is just over .200, so he's still doing OK especially coming off of a mini slump. I actually see this as a good thing, we get to see how he adjusts through the ups and downs of the season. Last year he got off to good start in AA, then slumped and never rebounded. Defensively, he's got some errors, but he's been playing all over the place and making good plays. Like that he has a real good attitude about playing multiple positions. Generally, players don't always like flip flopping positions, but that hasn't been an issue for Cubs players... I give the players credit for that, but it's also a Maddon thing. He seems to get everyone to drink the kool-aid about being utility players.

Fantastic! =D>

Cease and Cruz going tonight- it's nice when pitching prospects are starting.

Any good pictures of The Park at Wrigley during game day?

At another Cubs board I was part of, a couple posters said the Cubs 2nd round pick in 2014 was between Stinnett and Brent Honeywell. Things would be considerably different with Honeywell in the system. By the end of season, with good luck with health, I think the Cubs' pitching prospects will be looking good. The problem is the cubs will need starting pitching in 2018 and the system will till be a year a way from helping. The Cubs went strong with position players with massive success. What we have to prepared for is when the Cubs leverage some of those position players into pitchers in 2018.

http://www.milb.com/scoreboard/index.jsp?sid=milb&org=112 Clifton and Cruz with OK starts. Clifton gave up a 3R HR, nothing after that. Cruz still looking like he did at the end of last year.

Good notes, thanks. He needs to stay healthy, he's had little fluke injuries the last couple seasons. If he can pitch the whole season, continue to progress and end the year at Iowa, he puts himself back on the map.

Happ with a 2B and a strong 7IP from Butler: 7IP, 4H, 1ER, 3BB, 1K. Kinda odd with just 1K, but that isn't a normal issue for him... It's real nice to have him in AAA. Can't remember the last time the Cubs had a guy sitting in AAA that I felt good about coming in starting a few games if needed.

Prospect of the Night: Duane Underwood... =D> 5IP, 4H, 2ER, 1BB, 8K. His stuff is top notch. If he can figure it out, he'll be a heck of an asset. He's still real young, too. He was missing a lot of bats last night, that's a great sign.

In particular, I think Butler and Zastryzny will be important part of the Cubs season. I see Butler as the 6th starter, ya never know when he'll be needed. The SP has been unusually healthy the past two seasons, so a 6th starter hasn't been a concern... It's nice to know he's there if the Cubs fortune runs out or when Maddon wants to go with six starters. Usually a 6th starter has fringe stuff, but Butler would be the hardest thrower on the staff. Zastryzny already showed he can be an excellent major league reliever. So, when another LHRP is needed (and that day will come), he'll get the call.

Nice job on the math... An OPS of 1.321... =D> He did have 2 errors today at 2B (fielding & throwing), so there's work to be done.

Absolutely on JHey! The guy crushed it 5 times today... He didn't crush it 5 times in the entire postseason.

Happ- wow!... :bow: Since the AFL championship game, has there been a better hitter in baseball?

I liked using Davis, he needed the work, especially with the off day on Tuesday... And, he had to throw anyway.

Just looked at it on google arial and it looks great. Question? What's getting built on Addison? I know the Park and Starwood motel are being built down the 3rd baseline on Clark, but I don't know what's getting built down the first baseline behind Addison. Thanks in advance... :flythew: