Graduation!
When I started the (now) Minor League Update, I chose the name Journeymen of Tomorrow because it seemed apropos. The vast, vast majority of players in the minor league system never make it to the big leagues. They are more likely to make it to shift manager at Home Depot… and that’s not a bad thing! Matt Loosen has no future in the major leagues, but he is better than 99.99% of people who have ever played baseball. That’s a heck of a feat, and he’ll always be able to tell his friends and family that he was a professional baseball player. People paid money to watch him play a game. Some of them even wanted him to sign their baseballs and hats. That’s awesome; as harsh as we can be at Obstructed View, I think I speak for everyone when I say that what any of these minor league “journeymen” has done is a hell of an accomplishment.
Journeymen of Tomorrow was also a way to keep measured expectations. Our top prospects can (and will, in some cases) fail. It’s a cold hard truth. Look at even our 2012 Top 10 list:
1. Brett Jackson
2. Javier Baez
3. Matt Szczur
4. Trey McNutt
5. Dillon Maples
6. Welington Castillo
7. Rafael Dolis
8. Junior Lake
9. Josh Vitters
10. Daniel Vogelbach
#2, #6, and #10 all have some measure of promise. If you squint just right, #5 and #8 might end up being something. The other 5 are journeymen.
That’s all in the past. dmick made this awesome banner, and it says Minor League Update. I like the name, so we’re keeping it.
Iowa was off yesterday.
Stargazing
Albert Almora: 4-6, 3 R, 2B, 2 RBI
Addison Russell: 4-6, R, 2B, RBI, SO
Christian Villanueva: 0-5, RBI, 2 SO
Stephen Bruno: 1-2, 2B, RBI, 3 BB (Note to Jed: go ahead and promote Stephen Bruno)
Has-Beens
Jae-Hoon Ha: 2-5, BB
Lars Anderson: 1-3, 2 R, HR, 2 RBI, 2 BB, SO
Charles Cutler: 2-5, RBI
Jonathan Mota: 1-5
Dustin Geiger: 2-2, 2B, 2 R, 3 BB
On the Mound
Eduardo Figueroa: 6 IP, 4 H, 5 ER, 3 BB, 4 SO
Colorado 1 @ Chicago 4
Stargazing
Arismendy Alcantara: 1-3, BB, 2B, R
Anthony Rizzo: 1-4, 2 RBI, SO
Starlin Castro: 1-3, BB, SO
Luis Valbuena: 0-1
Trade Bait
Emilio Bonifacio: 2-4, 2 R, SO
Justin Ruggiano: 1-2, RBI
Chris Coghlan: 0-3, 2 SO
Nate Schierholtz: 1-1
Flotsam
Junior Lake: 0-2
John Baker: 1-3, 2 SO
On The Mound
Tsuyoshi Wada: 7 IP, 5 H, ER, BB, 6 SO
James Russell: 0.1 IP, H
Pedro Strop: 0.2 IP, SO
Hecton Rondon: 1 IP, SO
Stargazing
Jacob Hanneman: 1-3, 2 R, 2B, 2 BB
Kyle Schwarber: 0-3, RBI, BB
Dan Vogelbach: 0-2, 2 R, 2 BB
Willson Contreras: 3-5, 2B, 2 RBI, SO
Billy McKinney: 2-5, 2B, 2 RBI
Gioskar Amaya: 2-3, BB
Has-Beens
Marco Hernandez: 1-4, 2 RBI
Wes Darvill: 1-4
Bijan Rademacher: 1-4, SO
On the Mound
Juan Paniagua: 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 SO
Tyler Bremer: 2 IP, perfection
West Michigan 2 @ Kane County 1
Stargazing
Shawon Dunston: 2-5, 2 2B, RBI, SO
Jeimer Candelario: 0-4, SO
Will Remillard: 1-3, BB, 2 SO
On the Mound
Daury Torrez: 6 IP, 5 H, 1 R (1 ER), BB, 4 SO
Stargazing
Mark Zagunis: 0-4, SO
*tumbleweed*
On the Mound
Trevor Clifton (2013 bonus baby): 3.2 IP, 6 H, 5 R (4 ER), 4 BB, 3 SO