Tag: jeimer candelario

Dreamcast 68: Making It Worthwhile

Glad the Cubs didn’t blow it in the ninth, but they probably should figure out how to find a better lefty reliever.

Anyway, RC & Berselius hang out to discuss the happenings around the Trade Deadline now that it’s over, including what the Cubs did. We also hope for a quick fix for Marcus Stroman and Seiya Suzuki while also considering how the new rules and the fun injected into the game has benefitted the league in terms of attendance, plus how we watch games and the new Marquee streaming package.

You can check out the podcast page or just click on the embedded players below. You can also use the sidebar to get to our Apple Podcast pages and leave a nice review and rating if it pleases you.

Obstructed View Podcast
Obstructed View Podcast
Dreamcast 68: Making It Worthwhile
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Cubs still in on Aroldis Chapman

aroldis_chapmanI’ve assumed for some time now that the Cubs weren’t really all that interested in Aroldis Chapman. I had assumed their real and only interest was Andrew Miller, but according to Ken Davidoff, the Yankees have asked for best and final bids from four teams. Those four teams are the Nationals, Cubs, Indians and, you know it, a mystery team.

They’re advancing on a different front. An industry source told The Post that the Yankees had asked serious Chapman suitors — a list believed to include the Nationals, the Cubs and the Indians, as well as a mystery team — for their best and final offers. While that doesn’t clinch a trade of Chapman, the impending free agent, it makes such a transaction darn likely. The Yankees intend to hold onto Miller, who is signed through 2018.

Davidoff suggests the Yankees will not be moving Andrew Miller now who I actually thought was no longer a target after the Cubs acquired Mike Montgomery. But I do have to admit that acquiring Chapman intrigues me. A 7th, 8th and 9th inning of Pedro Strop, Hector Rondon and Aroldis Chapman is awfully good. It would give the Cubs the shutdown bullpen that teams try for when they’re serious about the playoffs.

Add in Carl Edwards, Jr., Mike Montgomery and I’m still hoping Justin Grimm can return to form. All of a sudden the Cubs would have a very good bullpen. It wouldn’t come cheap, but probably cheaper than it would cost to get Andrew Miller.

The Yankees gave up quantity to get Chapman, but not a lot of quality. They did give up a couple of prospects ranked in the lower half of the top 10 (#6 and #10) and then two prospects ranked outside the team’s top 30. More than half a season later and Chapman is closer to free agency. There’s also no possibility of getting a draft pick if Chapman signs with another team for next season.

I’d have to give it some more thought, but Billy McKinney and Jeimer Candelario are ranked by Baseball America in similar spots in the top 10. Eloy Jimenez has made a huge step forward and is now easily in the Cubs top 5 and probably off the table for Chapman. What do you guys think it would take to acquire Chapman?

Cubs Hot Stove 7.18.2016

With the deadline looming less than two weeks from today, the Cubs rumors are heating up. Theo and Jed Hoyer are almost assuredly going to make some kind of roster moves to improve the team. We’ve discussed in the comments quite extensively Andrew Miller and what we would/wouldn’t like to give up. Here are some updates:

  • Andrew Miller is still the Cubs number 1 target, according to George King of the New York Post
    • Early rumors had the Yankees wanting injured C/LF Kyle Schwarber. I think we’d all be shocked for Theo to part with Schwarber for a reliever with two years left on his deal
    • Yankees brass are reportedly still deciding what do at this deadline with an aging veteran squad. Cubs have plenty of positional talent to get a deal done should the Yankees not find another suitor willing to give up a big prospect
    • Cubs are more willing to part with 3B Jeimer Candelario, according to Heyman
  • Theo wants to upgrade the club, but also wants to maintain flexibility and not make a deal no matter the cost, according to Bruce Levine.
  • Teams are scouting breakout prospect (and international bonus baby) Eloy Jimenez. Jimenez was signed during the same spending spree that landed Gleyber Torres. At the time, many had Jimenez as the top amateur player above Torres. Look for Jimenez to be on some top 100 mid-season propect lists.
  • Dmick will happy to hear that the Cubs have scouted A’s OF Josh Reddick, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle.
    • Reddick is a pure rental as he becomes a FA after the season
  • Cubs have also scouted LHP Rich Hill (yes that Rich Hill)

It’s generally thought that Cubs need to upgrade their bullpen (loogy and set up), left field, and/or a top tier starter. What do you want them to upgrade the most?

Journeymen of tomorrow: Cubs minor league recap (6.24.16)

Nashville Sounds 0 @ Iowa Cubs 3 (Game 1)

Mark Zagunis was 1-3 with a double and run scored. Zagunis has done nothing but hit since being drafted by the Cubs in the 3rd round of the 2014 draft. He was signed for $0.6 million and aside from a 2-game, 9 plate appearance stint to begin his career, here are his wRC+ at each stop along with the way.

  • 2014 A- (191 PA): 145
  • 2014 A (62): 149
  • 2015 AFL (66): 139
  • 2015 A+ (512): 146
  • 2016 AA (211): 154
  • 2016 AAA (58): 162

He hasn’t hit for a lot of power and won’t for a lot of home runs if or when he gets called up to the big leagues. He’s done it with an impressive walk rate (16.2%, 16.1%, 15.6%, 14.2%, 13.8%). He also hits for a lot of doubles, which gives him a respectable to good ISO. He tends to put the ball in play too. There’s a lot to like about Zagunis.

Dan Vogelbach was 1-2 with a walk. In the comments, cerulean was advocating for the Cubs to call up Vogelbach and use him at 1st base. He was suggesting the Cubs give him the intro to Major League Baseball that they gave Kyle Schwarber a year ago. Rizzo is currently day to day with a sore back so it would have been a good time to do it, but I think there are at least a couple differences between Vogelbach and Schwarber.

First, Schwarber was only called up early last year because Miguel Montero was headed to the DL and the Cubs needed a second catcher behind David Ross. Second, Schwarber was a significantly better prospect. Schwarber’s wRC+’s were 197, 166, 188 and 173 before getting called up. His walk rate and strikeout rate were similar to Vogelbach. Vogelbach’s wRC”s have been 167, 189, 128, 166, 110 126, 140 and 155. At his best early on he was even better than Schwarber, but for the most part, he was a bit worse. I don’t think that’s too surprising. Schwarber had more power and was a better overall athlete. Third, and already mentioned, the Cubs had a clear need for Schwarber and no such need currently exists for Vogelbach.

Aaron Brooks pitched 3 innings, allowed 2 hits and struckout 1. Miguel Mejia pitched 2 innings and walked one while giving up 2 hits. He struckout 4. Corey Black picked up his first save with 1 inning, 1 hit and 1 strikeout.

Nashville Sounds 7 @ Iowa Cubs 4 (Game 2)

The Cubs split this doubleheader and fell to 34-37.

Zagunis and Vogelbach were each 0-4 in the second game. Zagunis had an RBI and 2 strikeouts. Matt Murton was 2-3 with 2 runs scored and Jeimer Candelario was 2-3.

Starling Peralta gave up 6 hits, a walk and 5 runs in 2.2 innings. He walked 1 and struckout 2.

Pensacola Blue Wahoos 6 @ Tennessee Smokies 4

Jacob Hannemann had quite a day. He was 2-4 with 2 home runs, which gives him 10 on the season. He also walked, struckout, drove in 2 and scored 2. Chesny Young was 2-4 with 2 strikeouts and a run scored. Billy McKinney was 1-3 with a walk, strikeout and run scored.

Yesterday I made the mistake of reading an article by Phil Rogers that was talking about Cubs prospects and in it he dismissed McKinney because he hasn’t had as good a season as people hoped. The same things were said about Albert Almora last year, which as I mentioned then, were unfair. They’re also unfair to McKinney this year.

While it’s true he has not hit as well as some hoped, he’s not yet 22 years old and has shown considerable improvement in some aspects in AA. His wRC+ is league average at 100. The only thing absent from McKinney’s game right now and his game from last year or the year before is that he’s hitting for less power.

I’m not really sure that’s his fault. McKinney had hit 10 home runs at the age of 20 in High A for the A’s before being traded. It was in 333 plate appearances, but he’s only hit 9 since in about 900 plate appearances. My guess is that he was rather lucky in hitting those home runs and we shouldn’t expect similar power from him. He’s still hitting fewer extra base hits this season and if I had to guess, I’d say some patience by us will be rewarded later on.

Ian Happ was promoted to Tennessee and got a pinch hit plate appearance in. He walked.

Tyler Skulina threw 2.1 innings and allowed 4 runs on 3 hits and 2 walks. He struckout none and allowed 2 home runs. Juan Paniagua continues to impress. He threw 1.2 innings, allowed no hits, a walk and struckout 2.

Joe Nathan is out on rehab assignment with the Cubs and in his first appearance this year outside Arizona, he threw an inning, allowed no hits and struckout 2.

Carolina Mudcats 2 @ Myrtle Beach Pelicans 1

The Pelicans had 7 hits and two players had two each. Gleyber Torres was 2-4 and Charcer Burks was 2-3 with a double. The only other extra base hit belonged to Daniel Spingola who was 1-3 with a double and Spingola scored the Pelicans only run.

Jonathan Martinez dropped to 3-5 after 7.1 innings of 2-hit baseball. He walked 3 and struckout 8, but he gave up a home run and 2 runs in total. Jordan Minch threw the final 1.2 innings and allowed no hits and struckout 10.

South Bend Cubs 11 @ Dayton Dragons 1

South Bend improved to 42-28 after beating up on Dayton. The Cubs had 11 runs on 11 hits and they took 9 walks as well. Dayton also committed 3 errors. Oddly enough, this was a 1-1 game entering the 8th. Unhappy with the score, the Cubs made it 11-1 entering the bottom of the 8th with a sweet 10-spot in the top half of the 8th.

Carlos Sepulveda was 2-5 with a triple, walk, 2 RBI and a run scored. P.J. Higgins was 2-5 with a double, strikeout and 2 runs scored. Ian Rice was 1-2 with 3 walks and 2 runs scored.

Eloy Jimenez has been playing so well so far it’s surprising he hasn’t been promoted yet. He was 2-5 with a double, home run, 3 RBI and 2 runs scored. We could complain that he’s not walking all that much, but he’s killing the baseball right now. He might have to be a little more challenged to begin to learn to lay off some pitches.

Josh Silver was 2-2 with 3 walks, a double, an RBI and a run scored. Bryant Flete was 2-4 with a double, RBI and run scored.

Spokane Indians 11 @ Eugene Emeralds 9

Spokane put up an 8-spot in the 5th to take a 9-2 lead, but the Emeralds wouldn’t quit. It was 9-5 after the 5th before the Indians scored a couple more to take a 11-5 lead after the top of the 7th. Eugene tried to come back, but it was too big of a lead. They had 16 hits and their starter was outstanding.

Andruw Monasterio was 3-5 with 2 RBI, 2 runs scored and a strikeout. Wladimir Galindo was 2-5 with 3 strikeouts. Yeller Peguero was 3-4 with a walk and 3 runs scored. Robert Garcia was 2-5 with a triple, 2 RBI, 2 strikeouts and a run.

Dylan Cease was as good as you could have hoped for last night. He threw 4 innings, allowed 3 hits and a run. He walked none while striking out 7. It was his second start of the season. The 20-year old right-hander was drafted in the 6th round in 2014 and signed for 1st round money ($1.6 million). No one threw harder than him among high school pitchers in the draft and only an injury to his elbow allowed the Cubs to draft him in the 6th round. They’ve taken it slowly with him for good reason. He was hitting 98 easily last night and got a lot of ground balls.

The next three pitchers were terrible so let’s just skip ahead to Scott Frazier who threw the final 2 innings of the game and allowed a hit, walked nobody and struckout 4.

AZL Diamondbacks 12 @ AZL Cubs 6

Weird day at the plate for the Cubs. They scored 6 runs on 5 hits, but the Dbacks only made 1 error. The Cubs only took 5 walks, but struckout 13 times.

Luis Ayala was 2-5 with a triple, 2 RBI, a strikeout and a run scored. Rafael Mejia was 1-2 with 2 walks, a strikeout and a run scored. Ruben Reyes was 1-3 with a double, walks, 2 RBI, a strikeout and 2 runs scored.

Former first rounder Aaron Crow (2009 Royals, 12th overall) is trying to get healthy with the Cubs. He threw the firs inning and allowed a hit and a strikeout. He’s now 29 years old and hasn’t pitched in MLB since 2014, but like Joe Nathan, if he could make it back this season, he could provide quite a boost to a bullpen that needs a little help. I wouldn’t count on it, but it’s possible.

Allt he other pitchers were either just OK or terrible so let’s move on.

DSL Indians 3 @ DSL Cubs1 1

The Cubs had 11 strikeouts at the plate and no walks. They also had only 6 hits and only Orian Nunez‘s double was for extra bases. Rafael Narea was 2-4 and he managed not to strikeout.

Yunior Perez got the start and threw 4 innings, allowed 6 hits and 2 runs. he didn’t walk anybody, struckout 4 and gave up a home run. Edison Novas pitched 3 innings, allowed a solo home run (no other hits), a walk and struckout 3. Fernando Calderon struckout the side in the 8th.

DSL Cubs2 1 @ DSL Dodgers1 7

The Cubs2 team scored only 1 run on 4 hits in this loss and both teams were 11-6 after the game.

Luis Diaz was 1-3 with a walk. Fernando Kelli was 1-2 with a walk and drove in the only run.

Emilio Ferrebus fell to 0-2 after a rather bad start. He gave up 5 runs (3 earned) in 2.2 innings. He allowed 7 hits and struckout 3.

Journeymen of tomorrow: Cubs minor league recap (6.16.16)

Iowa Cubs 6 @ Colorodo Springs Sky Sox 5

Four I-Cubs hitters had three hits apiece and none of them were Willson Contreras. Contreras was 1-5 with an RBI and extended his hitting streak to some number I don’t care about, but maybe you do. What I do care about is that the Cubs best catcher is catching games for the Iowa Cubs. The Cubs have a huge lead and can afford to take their time for whatever reason they think necessary, but the bottom line is that the Cubs are not fielding their best team and that bothers me whether it’s 2006, 2013 or 2016.

John Andreoli was 3-5 with a triple, RBI, run scored and 2 strikeouts. Mark Zagunis was 3-4 with 2 doubles, a walk and 2 runs scored. Jeimer Candelario was perfect at the plate. He was 3-3 with a triple, walk, RBI and run scored. He was also hit by a pitch. Logan Watkins was 3-4 with 2 RBI and a walk. He also stole 2 bases. Munenori Kawasaki was 1-3 and David Freitas was 1-5 with a double.

Rob Zastryzny was not good. He pitched 5 innings, allowed 3 hits and 3 runs, which isn’t terrible by itself, but in typical Cubs fashion, he walked 5 and struckout none. If C.J. Edwards could find the strike zone, he might replace Clayton Richard, but that’s not easy for him. He pitched a hitless 8th inning, but did allow a walk. Spencer Patton allowed a hit and struckout 2 for his 7th save.

Tennessee Smokies @ Jackson Generals (postponed)

Frederick Keys 0 @ Myrtle Beach Pelicans 1

The Pelicans only needed a run, which they scored in the 4th inning. They only need 5 hits and they improved to 34-31.

Rashad Crawford was 2-4 with a double and a strikeout. Gleyber Torres was 1-4 with a strikeout and he committed his 13th error of the season. Jason Vosler was 1-3 with a strikeout and Charcer Burks was  1-3 with a double and a strikeout.

The Pelicans took only 2 walks and struckout 13 times. Gioskar Amaya was 0-3 with 3 strikeouts.

Jake Stinnett improved to 5-3 behind a very good performance. He pitched 7 innings, allowed 8 hits and 0 runs. He walked 2 and struckout 7. Ryan McNeil picked up his 5th save of the season with 2 innings of no-hit baseball. He struckout a batter.

Stinnett was the 45th overall pick in the 2014 draft (2nd round). He hasn’t done a whole lot since being drafted. He pitched in only 11 innings in 2014 and is already 24 years old. He’s old for High A, but he’s finally putting together a decent season so there’s that.

South Bend Cubs 2 @ Dayton Dragons 3

The Cubs had runners on base all night long, but blew some opportunities to win this game. They had 9 hits and 2 walks, as well as 3 doubles and only plated 2 runs.

Ian Rice was 2-4 with a double, home run, RBI , strikeout and run scored. That was his 7th home run this year. Eloy Jimenez was 2-4 with a double, strikeout and run scored. Eddy Martinez was also 2-4 with a double and a strikeout.

The Cubs 6, 7 and 8 hitters combined to go 0-10 with an RBI. CF Roberto Caro was 2-3 with a walk and a strikeout.

Ryan Kellogg pitched well enough to win. He threw 6.2 innings, allowed 7 hits and 3 runs. He didn’t walk anybody and struckout 6. He surrendered 1 home run. Scott Efforts pitched the final 1.1 innings and allowed 2 hits and a walk. He struckout a batter.

DSL Yankees1 11 @ DSL Cubs1 3

The Cubs1 had 3 runs on 3 hits and 3 errors. Luis Hidalgo was 2-3 with a home run, walk, RBI and 2 runs scored. Henderson Perez had the other hit. He was 1-3 with a walk and a strikeout. The Cubs did take 7 walks and only struckout 3 times. Jose Jules was 0-1 with an RBI and 2 walks.

Riger Fernandez dropped to 0-2 after throwing 3.2 innings and allowing 2 runs (1 earned) on 2 hits and 5 walks. He struckout 5 and gave up a home run. Charlie Sheen’s long lost brother did not do much winning. He pitched 1.1 innings, allowed 3 hits, 4 walks and 4 runs. Juan Rengifo picked right up from there. He pitched 2 innings, gave up 4 hits, 3 walks and 5 runs. The only pitcher who pitched halfway decently was Aneuris Rosario who pitched 2 innings, allowed 0 hits or runs and somehow managed to not walk anybody. He also struckout 2.

You aren’t going to win many games when you give up 9 hits and walk 12 batters.

DSL Cubs2 14 @ DSL Twins

All of the starters except their number 2 hitter, Aramis Ademan (SS) had a hit. Ademan was 0-5 with a walk, 2 strikeouts and an RBI. Let’s do some bullets.

  • Yovanny Cuevas (CF): 2-4, triple, 4 RBI, walk, 2 strikeouts, run scored
  • Miguel Amaya (1B): 2-4, RBI, walk, 2 runs scored
  • Tony Rijo (RF): 1-4, double, 2 RBI, strikeout 3 runs scored
  • Henrry Pedra (3B): 1-3, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts, 3 runs scored

Carlos Ocampo threw 4 innings, allowed 3 hits and 3 runs. He walked 3 and struckout 4. Ivan Medina picked up the win and improved to 3-0. He threw 4 innings, allowed 5 hits and a run. He walked 1 and struckout 2. Sucre Valdez struckout a batter and pitched a clean 9th.

Journeymen of tomorrow: Cubs minor league recap (6.15.16)

Iowa Cubs @ Colorodo Springs Sky Sox (Game 1)

Iowa took a 5-2 lead early on, but couldn’t hold on for the win. They dropped to 29-32.

Willson Contreras was batting 2nd and was 2-4 with a double and an RBI. Mark Zagunis continues to hit since being promoted to Iowa last week. He was 2-3 with a double, walk and run scored. Jeimer Candelario and Dan Vogelbach were each 0-2 with a walk, RBI, run scored and a strikeout.

Michael Wagner got the start and lasted 2.2 innings. He gave up 5 hits and 2 runs. He walked 3 and struckout 3. Corey Black pitched 1.1 innings of hitless and scoreless baseball. He struckout a batter. Black is a 24-year old reliever who strikes out a lot of guys, but has some control issues. I expect we’ll see him in Chicago at some point this season.

Felix Pena blew the save in spectacular fashion. In 1.1 innings, he gave up 6 hits, walked a batter, surrendered 4 runs and struckout 2. Miguel Mejia picked up the pieces and threw the final 0.2 innings.

Prior to this game, 26-year old Felix Pena had been dominating AAA batters. In 18 games totaling 29.1 innings, he had struckout 10.74 batters per 9 innings and walked only 2.76 per 9. He’d allowed just 1 home run and his ERA was 1.84 and his FIP was 2.80. This is Pena’s first year in the bullpen since 2012. The Cubs moved him to the rotation full time in 2013. He pitched well enough in that role, but has proven to be much better suited for relief.

Iowa Cubs @ Colorodo Springs Sky Sox (Game 2)

Iowa scored 3 in the 1st and then at the end of the top half of the 2nd inning, the Cubs led 12-0.

It started at the top of the order with John Andreoli who was 3-4 with 2 home runs and a walk. He drove in 4 and scored 4 runs. Logan Watkins was batting 2nd and playing SS. He was 4-5 with a double, triple, RBI and 2 runs scored. Mark Zagunis keeps improving his value with a 2-4 performance in the game. He doubled, walked, struckout, drove in a run and scored 2 runs. Dan Vogelbach was 1-1 with a home run and a walk. He left this one early after being hit by a pitch. Jeimer Candelario was 2-5 with a home run, 2 strikeouts, 3 RBI and a run scored. Juan Perez, David Freitas and Vimael Machin each added a hit. Perez tripled while Freitas hit a home run.

It was Pierce Johnson‘s return to the rotation. Johnson had been out for over a month. He threw 5 innings, allowed 5 hits and 3 runs. He walked 2 and struckout 2. I’m beginning to wonder if the Cubs have put a strikeout limit on their starting pitchers in the minor leagues.

In 5 starts for Johnson this year at AAA, it hasn’t gone too well. His best start was his second of the season and he followed that up with two consecutive games of allowing 4 runs and not making it through 5 innings. He’s allowed 23 hits in 20.2 innings so far and has given up 12 run, a home run, 10 walks and he’s struckout 22. He has a 5.23 ERA and a 3.81 FIP on the season.

Chattanooga Lookouts 1 @ Tennessee Smokies 4

Jacob Hannemann was 1-4 with a home run and a strikeout. That was Hannemann’s 8th home run of the season. Chesny Young was 3-4 with 2 RBI. Victor Carotin was 1-4 and Billy McKinney was 0-3. Cael Brockmeyer and Bijan Rademacher were each 2-4.

Jen-Ho Tseng improved to 2-2 with 6 strong innings. He allowed 5 hits and a run while striking out 2 and walking 1. Stephen Perakslis picked the 7th and allowed a hit and a walk while striking out a batter. Jose Rosario picked up the 2 inning save. He didn’t allow any hits or runs and walked a batter. He also struckout 1.

Frederick Keys 5 @ Myrtle Beach Pelicans 4

Rashad Crawford was 2-4 with a double, RBI and strikeout. He also scored a run. Ian Happ was 3-4 with a double, RBI and strikeout. Daniel Spingola was 2-4 with a run scored. Gleyber Torres pinch hit and was 0-1.

Jeremy Null fell to 2-3. He pitched 5 innings, allowed 9 hits and 5 runs. He didn’t walk anybody and to the surprise of nobody who has been paying attention, only struckout 1. Daury Torrez pitched 2.1 innings, allowed 2 hits and no runs. He walked a batter and struckout 2. Jordan Minch finished the game off with 1.2 innings of 1-hit baseball. He didn’t allow any runs and struckout 2.

South Bend Cubs 7 @ Dayton Dragons 2

The Cubs improved to 39-25 and are with a few games of nailing down a playoff spot at the end of the season.

The Cubs had 11 hits in this one, but only 2 extra-base hits. Carlos Sepulveda was 2-4 with a double, 2 RBI and a run scored. P.J. Higgins was 2-5 with 2 strikeouts and Ian Rice was 1-5 with a double, RBI and run scored. Eloy Jimenez was 3-5 with an RBI, strikeout and run scored. Donnie Dewees, Eddy Martinez and Josh Silver each had hits.

Adbert Alzolay improved to 5-3 behind 7 very good innings. He allowed just 3 hits and 2 runs and a home run. He walked none and struckout 5. John Williamson pitched a clean 8th. He struckout a batter. Craig Brooks struckout 2 in a perfect 9th inning.

DSL Cubs1 4 @ DSL Yankees1 1

The Cubs1 team improved to 4-5 with this 4-1 win over the Yankees1.

DH Jose Gutierrez led the game off and was 3-5 with a triple, 2 RBI, a run scored and a strikeout. Jose Jules was 3-3 with a triple and a walk. The following players each had 1 hit: Jonathan Sierra, Richard Nunez, Samir Lara, Raymond Pena and Rafael Narea. Sierra and Narea each walked.

Eury Ramos threw 4 innings, allowed 4 hits, a run, walked 4 and struckout 2. Jose Mac Donna threw the next 4 inning and allowed just 2 hits. He didn’t allow any runs, didn’t walk anybody and struckout 4. Elvis Diaz picked up the save with 1 inning of work. He allowed a hit and struckout a batter.

DSL Twins 3 @ DSL Cubs2 5

The Cubs2 improved to 5-4 after this win.

Everybody in the lineup except for a replacement with only 1 plate appearance had a hit.

Faustino Carrera threw 6 great innings. he allowed 3 hits and an unearned run. He walked a batter and struckout 8. He did not get the memo. Omar Ventura threw 2 innings, allowed 3 hits and no runs. He walked 2 and struckout 2. Jhon Romero pitched the 9th and allowed a hit and 2 runs (1 earned). He didn’t walk or strikeout anybody.

Journeymen of tomorrow: Cubs minor league recap (6.13.16)

Round Rock Express 10 @ Iowa Cubs 7

John Andreoli was 2-3 with a home run and 2 walks. He drove in a run and scored 2. Willson Contreras was 1-4 with a triple and an RBI. He walked and struckout twice. Miguel Montero has started to hit a little at the MLB level, but I remain in favor of calling Contreras up. He has nothing left to learn to in AAA as far as I can tell. 

Mark Zagunis has made the transition to AAA rather easily. He was 2-4 with a walk, run scored and a strikeout. Dan Vogelbach had a huge game. He was 3-4 with a home run and a walk. He drove in 2 and scored 2. Jeimer Candelario was 1-4 with a double and 2 RBI. He also walked. The I-Cubs as a team took 7 walks. 

Drew Rucinski got the start and went 4.2 innings. He allowed 6 hits, a walk and surrendered 5 runs (4 earned). He also gave up a home run and walked a batter. I'd begun stumping for Gerardo Concepcion to replace Clayton Richard on the Cubs 25-man roster so he pays me back by pitching 0.2 innings, allowing 3 hits and 2 runs. He walked 2. C.J. Edwards has not been very good this season. He pitched an inning, allowed 2 hits and 3 runs. He struckout a batter and gave up a home run. 

Chattanooga Lookouts 4 @ Tennessee Smokies 5

Jacob Hannemann was 1-4 with a double. Chesny Young was 1-4. Victor Caratini was 3-4 with a triple, RBI and 2 runs scored. David Bote was 2-4 and Daniel Lockhart was 2-4 with a double. 

Paul Blackburn got the win and a quality start. He pitched 7 innings, allowed 6 hits and a walk. He gave up 3 runs. Juan Paniagua picked up the 2-inning save. He allowed a run on a home run, walked a batter and struckout a batter.

Blackburn has a shiny ERA, but his strikeout rate is still pretty bad. He's struckout 48 batters now in 78.1 innings. He's shown excellent control. 

Myrtyle Beach Pelicans 2 @ Lynchburg Hillcats 3

The Pelicans scored 2 runs on 4 hits. He had no walks, but they did hit 2 home runs. Too bad they couldn't have had at least a couple more guys on base when they hit them. Gioskar Amaya was 2-3 with 2 solo home runs. He struckout once. Ian Happ was 1-4 and Charcer Burks was 1-3. Gleyber Torres was 0-4. 

Trevor Clifton continues to be one of the few bright spots among the pitchers in the minors. He pitched 5 innings, allowed 4 his and 2 runs. He struckout 6 and walked 3. His strikeout rate is still comfortably above 9. His walk rate could improve a bit though. Dillon Maples picked up the loss in this one. He gave up a hit, 2 walks and a run in 0.1 innings. 

South Bend Cubs 0 @ Bowling Green Hot Rods 6

P.J. Higgins was 2-4. The rest of the lineup was 0-27 with 11 strikeouts. 

Carson Sands struggled. he threw only 2 innings, gav eup 3 hits, 3 walks and 3 runs. He struckout 2. Greyfer Eregua pitched 4 innings, gave up 3 hits and a walk. He surrendered a home run and 2 runs in total. Scott Effross pitched the final 2 innings and allowed 4 hits and a run. 

Journeymen of tomorrow: Cubs minor league recap (6.10.16)

Round Rock Express 8 @ Iowa Cubs 5

The number one through eight hitters each had a hit last night. Munenori Kawasaki was 1-5 with an RBI. Willson Contreras was back from his foot injury after a few days and was 1-4 with a couple strikeouts and a run scored. Dan Vogelbach was 1-3 with a walk and a strikeout. 

Two players in the lineup were making their AAA debuts. 23 year old right outfielder Mark Zagunis and 22 year old 3rd baseman Jeimer Candelario were promoted from Tennessee to Iowa. Zagunis was batting second and he was 1-5 with a strikeout. Candelario is the more highly touted prospected. He was 2-4 with with 2 doubles, 2 runs scored and a strikeout. 

Zagunis is a high walk, low strikeout batter who had a great start to the 2016 season. He hit .302/.408/.453 with a .403 wOBA and 153 wRC+ at Tennessee. His walk rate was 14.2% and strikeout rate was 17.1%. It was 15.6% and 16.8% the year before in High A and has been about the same throughout his career. Candelario was much better in AA last year at the end of the season than this year, but he probably didn't have a lot left to prove at that level. Despite the low average, Candelario still had a .328 wOBA and a wRC+ of 102. 

Rob Zastryzny got the loss after throwing 5.2 innings and allowing 5 hits and 5 runs. He walked 3, struckout 6 and gave up a home run. Gerardo Concepcion threw 1.1 innings, allowed no hits or walks and struckout 2. C.J. Edwards pitched 0.1 innings, allowed 2 hits and 3 runs. He walked 3. Dallas Beeler had a clean inning and Miguel Mejia pitched 0.2 innings and walked a batter while striking one out. 

A year ago I'd have laughed at the idea of Concepcion being an MLB pitcher, but here we are. Clayton Richard is terrible and Concepcion has turned in a really good season so far. He was very impressive at AA to start the year and has thrown 13 innings at AAA now. He threw 17.2 innings in AA so we're still talking small samples, but I don't think there's ever been a 30 inning stretch where Concepcion was anything other than terrible so this is real progress. He's striking out a lot of batters and while he's walked quite a few at AAA, I'm thinking it's time to give him a shot and release Clayton Richard. 

Tennessee Smokies 0 @ Mississippi Braves 3

The Smokies had only 6 hits in this game. Their top two guys, Jacon Hannemann and Chesny Young combined to go 0-10 with a strikeout. Victor Caratini had half of the team's hits. He was 3-5 with a strikeout. Billy McKinney was 1-4 with a double, walk and strikeout. Daniel Lockhart was was also 1-4 with a double. Pitcher Jen-Ho Tseng was 1-2. 

Caratini is a 22-year old, switch hitting catcher. He's 6-1, 205 and will turn 23 in August. Drafted in the 2nd round of the 2013 draft by the Atlanta Braves, the Cubs acquired him in 2014 for Emilio Bonifacio. He doesn't have much power, but he walks a lot and doesn't strike out much. After the trade to the Cubs in 2014, he was in A ball for 14 games. In 2015 he went to High A and in 453 PA he hit .257/.342/.372 with a wOBA of .335 and a wRC+ of 111. He hit just 4 home runs, but did add 31 doubles and a triple. So far in 2016 at AA, he's had 203 PA prior to yesterday's game and has hit .296/.399/.391 with a .373 wOBA and a wRC+ of 132. His walk rate last year was 10.8% and it's jumped to 14.3% this season. His strikeout rate has remained about the same and he's struckout in 17.7% of his PA this season. 

MLB.com ranks Caratini 25th in the Cubs system. He's apparently expected to stick behind the plate, but still needs a little work, which isn't surprising since he's only 22. If Willson Contreras takes over as the full time catcher in the near future, the Cubs could use a backup catcher. Caratini could be that guy and it's a bonus that he's a switch hitter. He can also play 3rd base so you'd have a utility player as your backup catcher enabling Joe Maddon to carry more relievers. Everybody wins!

Jen-Ho Tseng had a really good start. He threw 5 innings, allowed just 2 hits and a walk. He struckout 5. Juan Paniagua continues to pitch well in relief for the Smokies with a scoreless inning, though it wasn't without drama. He allowed 2 hits and a walk. David Garner and James Farris pitched 2 shutout innings each. Both allowed a hit and Farris struckout 3. Nick Sarianides got the loss with 0.1 innings, 1 hit, 2 walks and a game-losing 3-run home run. 

Myrtyle Beach Pelicans 3 @ Lynchburg Hillcats 9

The Pelicans only had 5 hits, but 3 of them were extra-base hits and they also walked 5 times. They still only scored 3 runs. Rashad Crawford was 0-3 with a walk, run scored and a strikeout. Gleyber Torres was 1-3 with a 2-run home run and a walk. Ian Happ was 1-4 with 2 strikeouts. Gioskar Amaya was 1-2 with a double and 2 walks. Jeffry Baez was 1-4 with a double and 2 strikeouts. 

2014 2nd round pick, Jake Stinnett continues not impress. He's 24 years old and in High A and not very good. He started and threw 5.1 innings, allowed 7 hits and 3 runs. He did strikeout 6 and walk none so there's that. Daury Torrez gave up 4 hits anf 4 runs over 1.1 innings. Dillon Maples is still a thing. 0.1 innings from him with a hit allowed a run scored. A lot of disappointment in this game with Stinnett and Maples. Daniel Lewis gave up a hit, walk and a run in 1 inning of work.

Dayton Dragons 2 @ South Bend Cubs 5

P.J. Higgins had a rough night at the plate going 0-4 with 3 strikeouts. Donnie Dewees was 2-3 with a triple and a walk. He also scored 2 runs. Eloy Jimenez did Jimenez things. He went 2-4 with a double, RBI, 2 runs scored and a strikeout. Eddy Martines also had 2 hits. He was 2-4 with 2 doubles and an RBI. He struckout twice. 

Ryan Kellogg threw 7 innings, allowed 5 hits and 2 runs. He walked nobody and struckout 5. He did surrender a home run. Scott Effross picked up the win in relief, improving to 4-0, with 2 innings pitched and 2 hits allowed. He walked 1 and struckout 2. 

Kellog was a 5th round pick in 2015. He's a 22-year old left-hander who so far hasn't struckout a ton of batters, but also has shown good command. John Sickels wrote a good article on him last year. 

However, the hoped-for fastball velocity gain never really happened. He was upper-80s in high school and has picked that up just a tiny bit, working at 88-91 most of the time and topping at 92. It played in college due to his strong secondary arsenal, but there's no guarantee that will happen at the highest levels, which is why he lasted until the fifth round this spring.

All that is the standard report on Kellogg, but here is the unsubstantiated prediction part.

I think his velocity WILL increase, not up to 97 or anything, but into the 90-94 range. Add that to his three strong secondary pitches and his mound instincts and you have a mid-rotation starter with advanced command who will zip through the minors fairly quickly. I think pro instruction and a mechanical tweak or two will add that extra zip to the heat Kellogg needs to live up to his full potential. And I think that velocity gain will be obvious and in place by the end of 2016.

DSL Cubs1 3 @ DSL Pirates 6

The Cubs1 team fell to 0-5 with this loss and it was the Pirates only win. Herson Perez (DH) was 2-3 with 2 walks, an RBI and a run scored. Orian Nunez (SS) was 2-4 with a home run. Yonathan Perlaza (2B) and Samir Lara (CF) had the other two hits. 

Yunior Perez got the loss with 4.1 innings of work. He gave up 2 hits, walked a batter, surrendered 3 runs (2 earned) and struckout 3. Freddy Tineo pitched 2 innings, allowed 4 hits and 2 runs (1 earned). He walked 3 and struckout 1. Aneuris Rosario pitched 1.2 innings, allowed 2 hits and a run. He struckout 2.

DSL Reds 3 @ DSL Cubs2 4

Fidel Mejia (SS) was 2-4 with 3 RBI. Luis Diaz (2B) was 2-4 with a strikeout and Henrry Pedra (3B) was 2-2 with a double, RBI and 3 runs scored. Miguel Amaya (C) and Fernando Kelli (LF) had the other two hits. 

Andres Bonalde threw 4 innings, allowed a hit and a walk and one run. He struckout 4. Omar Ventura threw 2.1 innings, allowed a hit and a walk. He gave up 2 runs (1 earned) and struckout 1. Fauris Guerrero picked up the with 2.2 scoreless innings. He allowed a hit, walked none and struckout 4. 

Cubs Minor League Recap (6.4.16)

Iowa Cubs 7, Oklahoma City Dodgers 5

The rainout on Wednesday didn't slow Willson Contreras down. He went 1-4 with a walk and hit his 9th home run of the season. He drove in 3 runs and scored 2. Dan Vogelbach and Albert Almora didn't miss a beat either. Vogelbach was 2-4 with a double and Almora was 2-3 with a sac bunt. I'm not sure why Almora is sacrificing when he's hitting this well, but I do imagine it will be something he'll be called upon to do at the MLB level more regularly than he has in the minors. At least initially. Arismendy Alcantara also had a good night at the plate. He was 2-4 with a double, walk, RBI and run scored. He struckout once. 

Rob Zastryzny threw 5.1 innings, allowed 7 hits and 3 runs. He walked 2 and struckout 5. Zastryzny doesn't have a spot in the Cubs rotation anytime soon and he's a back of the rotation type starter anyway. I think his future with this organization is probably going to be in the bullpen and perhaps sooner than the Cubs would like. They could use a LOOGY at the MLB level and I wouldn't be opposed to seeing what Zastryzny could do in that role. His velocity would more than likely tick up a couple miles per hour and he'd always have the first time through the order advantage that relievers have. Travis Wood has turned a similar move to the bullpen into a fairly decent career and I think we'll eventually see the same thing here. 

Giovanny Soto blew the save and then Dallas Beeler threw 2 innings, allowed a hit and a run and picked up the win. Jean Machi got the save.

Until Contreras gets called up to MLB, I'm just going to say this each time at the end of the recap: Willson Contreras has nothing left to prove in the minors. I hate the idea of having 3 catchers on the roster, but in this case, I think it would be worth it. 

Jackson Generals 2 @ Tennessee Smokies 1

Cael Brockmeyer was 2-3 with a double and a strikeout. Stephen Bruno was 1-2 with a walk. Jacob Hannemann and Mark Zagunis were each 1-4 with a double. Hannemann struckout twice while Zagunis struckout only once. Billy McKinney was also 1-4 and that's all the hitting the Smokies did. Jeimer Candelario was 0-4 again and this time he struckout 3 times. 

Mark Zagunis is off to a great start at Tennessee. Prior to this game, he was hitting .311/.421/.457 with a wOBA of .411 and wRC+ of 157. His walk rate is 14.9% and his strikeout rate is 16.9%. These numbers are very similar to what he did last year at Daytona (.271/.406/.412/, .387, 146). 

Zagunis is a corner outfielder without a lot of power. He was drafted in 2014 in the 3rd round (78th overall pick). He was drafted as a catcher, but couldn't throw any base-stealers out so he was moved to the outfield. He's been an extremely patient hitter who doesn't strikeout a whole lot. He doesn't have tremendous power. He hit 8 home runs last year for Myrtle Beach. He could be a 10-15 home run guy in his prime with lots of walks and not that many strikeouts. 

He's not a top prospect or anything, but he's a good prospect and one worth watching in my opinion. He's 23 years old so it would be nice if he was moved to Iowa so we could get a better idea of his real talent level. 

Myrtle Beach Pelicans 10, Salem Red Sox 11

The Pelicans blew an 8-2 lead entering the bottom of the 5th. The Red Sox scored 5 in that half of the inning. The Pelicans added 2 in the 6th and the Red Sox scored a single run in the 6th and then 3 in the 7th. There were 30 hits in this one so the fans in attendance had some fun.

Gleyber Torres  breaks out of his season-long slump. He was 3-4 with 3 doubles and a walk. More of that, please. Jason Vosler was 3-5 with 2 doubles and 3 RBI. Even Gioskar Amaya got in on the hitting. He was 3-5 with a double, triple and 3 RBI. Someone Shawon Dunston Jr. didn't ge the memo that he was supposed to rack up some hits in this one. He was 0-5 with a couple of strikeouts. 

The pitching sucked in this one. They gave up 11 runs on 17 hits. Jonathan Martinez pitched 4.2 innings, allowed 8 hits and 7 runs. He walked 3 and struckout 2. Daury Torrez pitched 2 innings, allowed 8 hits and run runs. Jordan Minch wasn't scored upon. He threw 1.1 innings, allowed a hit and a walk. The Pelicans pitchers walked 5 in this one while striking out only 2. 

West Michigan Whitecaps 2, South Bend Cubs 1

The Cubs only had 6 hits in this game. They also took 3 walks and only struckout twice. P.J. Higgins was 1-3 with a walk. Donnie Dewees scored the team's only run after he doubled and Ian Rice (1-3, walk, RBI) drove him in. Eloy Jimenez had a rare night in which he didn't contribute. He was 0-4 and made an error in the field. 

Preston Morrison had a solid start. He threw 6 innings, allowed 4 hits and a run (unearned). He walked no one and struckout 4. Kyle Miller allowed the other run in 2 innings of work. He gave up 3 hits, a walk and struckout 2. 

Morrison is 22 years old. He'll turn 23 in July. He's a 6-2, 185 pound right handed starter. He was drafted in the 8th round of last year's draft (233rd overall). He appeared in only 9 games last season and threw 22.1 innings. He struckout over 12 batters per 9 and walked only 1.2. It wsa a very small sample though. So far this year in 50.1 innings he's walked 2.86 batters per 9 and struckout 7.5. He had struckout over 8.2 per 9 prior to the start last night. 

Morrison was a 4-year player for TCU and had great numbers, but his velocity is, let's just say, not an important part of his game. Kyle Hendricks has outstanding velocity when compared to Morrison. He sat in the 84-85 mph range at TCU and has tried to add some muscle since being drafted. Word is the velocity has went up a couple miles per hour. He throws from a three quarters delivery and had pinpoint control in college. If he can get that velocity up even a little bit more it's entirely possible we see numbers fairly similar to what Kyle Hendricks did in the minor leagues. 

Cubs Minor League Recap (6.3.16)

Iowa Cubs @ Oklahoma City Dodgers (Postponed)

I guess this is about the only way to keep Willson Contreras from having a good day. 

Jackson Generals 8 @ Tennessee Smokies 4

The Smokies had 10 hits and took 7 walks, but managed only 4 runs. Almost all of them were in the first inning (3). Jacon Hanneman was 2-4 with a walk and 2 strikeouts. Chesny Young was 1-3 with a double, 2 walks and a strikeouts. Mark Zagunis has been on fire. He was 2-4 with a double, walk and strikeout. Billy McKinney took a couple more walks and was 1-3. Victor Caratini and Stephen Bruno were each 2-4. Jeimer Candelario's slide fell even more with an 0-5 performance. 

Paul Blackburn didn't have a good start. He threw only 4.2 inning, allowed 6 hits and 4 runs. He walked 3 and struckout 7. It's nice to see him striking out some batters, but he gave up a lot of base runners. Prior to the game his strikeout rate had fallen below 5. His walk rate was 2.07. Like all the other Cubs pitchers, Blackburn doesn't strike anybody out. I'm honestly not sure what this organization was thinking. I know this is the cost of focusing so heavily on position players in the draft. That's worked out beautifully, but it's left the pitching pretty bare. I guess if the biggest reason to complain about this team is that their pitching that may only potentially be of use one day kind of sucks, well, it's more than worth it. And for the record, I'd not have done anything differently than what the front office did. It's just an unpleasant result in an otherwise fantastic rebuild. 

Juan Paniagua lowered his ERA to 1.14 with 1.1 innings of work allowing 1 hit and no runs. He struckout 2. David Berg allowed 4 runs in 1.1 innings. 

Myrtle Beach Pelicans 1, Salem Red Sox 7 (Game 1)

Charcer Burks played LF and batted leadoff in this one. He ws 2-4 with a double and a strikeout. The Pelicans didn't do much offensively. They only had 3 other hits. Gleyber Torres was 1-2 with a walk. Ian Happ was 1-3 with the team's only RBI. Trey Martin was 1-2 with a walk. 

Jeremy Null threw 5 innings, allowed 5 hits, 3 unearned runs, walked nobody and struckout 3. There was another Dillon Maples sighting. He threw 0.2 innings, gave up 5 hits and 4 runs. He walked a batter for good measure and struck one out too. Jordan Minch cleaned up his mess.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans 2, Salem Red Sox 9 (Game 2)

The Pelicans had even fewer hits in this one (3). They also made 2 errors. Centerfielder Rashad Crawford was 1-4 with a double. Jason Vosler was 1-3 and Shawon Dunston Jr. was 1-2 with a walk and a strikeout. Ian Happ was 0-2 with a sac fly. 

Jake Stinnett had a not so good outing. He threw 5.1 innings, allowed 12 hits and 9 runs. He walked a batter and struckout 4. Ryan McNeil threw the final .2 innings, allowed a hit, walked a batter and struck one out. 

South Bend Cubs 3, Fort Wayne TinCaps 4

The top three batters in the order combined to go 0-11 with a walk. Ian Rice was 2-2 with 2 walks and a double. Eddy Martinez was 2-4 with a double, home run, 3 RBI and a strikeout. Bryant Flete was 2-4. 

Ryan Kellog threw 6.2 innings, allowed 5 hits, and a run. He walked only 1 and struckout 7. Kellogg hasn't had a great season, but that was a pretty good start. He was in line for the win until James Norwood blew it. Norwood threw 0.2 innings, allowed 3 hits and 3 runs.