Iowa
No Game
Trey McNutt had a decent start working 5.2 shutout innings. He walked 4 and struck out 3 batters. His ERA remains find but man oh man his secondary stats are ugly.
Matt Loosen struck out 6 in 5.2 IP. Matt Szczur hasn't played in over a week and I have idea why not.
Taiwan Easterling had a nice game going 3-4 with a HR. Easterling has struggled most of the season but has been hitting much better as of late posting a .917 OPS in his last 10 games. Javier Baez keeps stroking the ball going 3-4 with a triple. Geraldo Concepcion had his first good start since becoming a pro working 5.2 IP and allowing zero runs. He walked 4 and struck out 4.
Comments
It’s all relative, eh?
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Szczur retiring from baseball to become a wideout for the bears. he gets a sb ring this year with the bears then rejoins the cub for a ws ring in 2016. what other reason could there possibly be?? well played by szczur.
danQuote Reply
I thought it was interesting Concepcion managed to do all that while the box score shows him having thrown only 43 pitches (27 strikes).
If that’s true he walked 4 guys and then didn’t throw a single ball to the other 18 batters he faced.
Rocky DennisQuote Reply
@ Rocky Dennis:
Are you the real Rocky Dennis or the version played by Eric Stoltz?
MuckerQuote Reply
@ Rocky Dennis:
Minor league pitch counts are messed up. It’s kind of like MLB pitch counts early in spring training. They record only the outs and only the balls in the walks or something like that. I don’t get how they do it, but it’s not any good.
mb21Quote Reply
I wouldn’t say it was a good start for Concepcion as RC pointed out. It was OK because the balls in play didn’t find holes, but 4/4 K/BB ratio is terrible.
mb21Quote Reply
I see Starling Peralta may have been converted to relief, which is probably good. He struckout only 58 in 70 innings last year in rookie league and Low A. We could expect his K rate to be Dolis-like by the time he reaches AAA if he ever even manages to do that.
mb21Quote Reply
well thats like, your opinion man. mb21 wrote:
dylanjQuote Reply
I don’t know if it’s worth noting or not, but apparently the Peoria manager said that Concepcion would be dominating right now if he was allowed to throw his offspeed stuff consistently. But they want him working on his fastball so he’s throwing that almost exclusively. Which is why his numbers look shitty.
“Sahadev Sharma (@sahadevsharma)
6/6/12 9:01 PM
Asked Chiefs manager about Concepcion’s slow start, said he’s really working on his FB, if he threw just CH & SL, he’d dominate low-A”
That’s where I got that info from.
DoogolasQuote Reply
i dont know about that. I’ve listened to three of his starts and he throws the curve ball quite a bit. Maybe the manager just wants to spare his feelings.
dylanjQuote Reply
Boobs.
jtsunamiQuote Reply
@ mb21:
I thought that only happened in spring training. I see now. A strikeout is 3 pitches, a walk is 4 pitches and a ball in play is 1 pitch.
4K = 12 pitches
4BB = 16 pitches
13 outs in play = 13 pitches
2 singles = 2 pitches
You’re right about how they track it. My bad.
On a different note, after going over the Gameday in more detail, I am more encouraged by Concepcion than I was with the raw stats. The hits he gave up were both infield singles, 2 of his walks were the first 2 batters and then he drew 4 popups in his 5.2 IP. He rarely gave up balls to the outfield up to the end of his start.
Rocky DennisQuote Reply
jeremy affeldt has a 4 year old son who is 4 foot 6.
WTF!
dylanjQuote Reply
@ dylanj:
Steroids.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
@ Rice Cube:
Or else he is a good boy and eats his veggies.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Rocky Dennis wrote:
No reason to apologize over that. It’s confusing. I think AAA pitch counts are fairly accurate (maybe even exact). AA might even be, but I don’t know.
The problem with Concepcion is that he can’t really strike anybody out and he walks as many as he strikes out. Maybe those rates improve a bit, but right now they’re just terrible. My guess is he is bullpenned in the near future and we see considerable improvement, but not enough to get excited about or come close to justify the money he was given. I’d say the Cubs could safely remove him from their 40-man roster right now. Nobody is going to touch him. If you figure the Cubs had the best offer and that’s why he signed with the Cubs it means nobody was willing to either pay as much or add him to their 40-man roster.
The Cubs just made a mistake with Concepcion and I hope they don’t do the same with Soler.
mb21Quote Reply
@ mb21:
Gameday is available for AAA and AA games, although they don’t track trajectories or pitch speed as well as they do with the MLB games. Spring training games seem to follow what Rocky Dennis was describing although there is one stadium in AZ that has Pitchf/x enabled, I think it’s the one used by the Royals.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
haha just noticed the Cubs drafted Rusty Sveum, Dale’s son.
ABQuote Reply
Doogolas wrote:
That’s easy to say, but I don’t believe it for a couple reasons. 1) if all he was doing was throwing fastballs his numbers be A LOT worse than they are. If Justin Verlander threw nothing but fastballs he’d get rocked. 2) he has horrible control with his fastball so his offspeed stuff wouldn’t be nearly as effective as it could be. I’ll throw in a third one for fun: the manager is just standing up for a struggling pitcher who is new to the country.
mb21Quote Reply
@ dylanj:
Agreed. It’s just not a believable comment and I’ve not listened to any of his starts. No team would just let a pitcher throw fastballs. Especially one that’s new to the country and trying to establish himself. If all you want is fastballs then he should be in extended spring training. The fact he isn’t means he’s throwing off speed pitches. There’s just no way the Cubs are sending him to Peoria and allowing him to throw nothing but fastballs.
mb21Quote Reply
@ dylanj:
He’s taller than Alvin.
mb21Quote Reply
@ AB:
The old fashioned late round nepotism pick.
mb21Quote Reply
and the best part is Dale said his son needed to go to college to develop. Even our manager doesnt want his kid in our system.
dylanjQuote Reply
@ dylanj:
(dying laughing) to be fair though, I think it’s pretty cool that Sveum is pushing his kid toward college rather than signing with the Cubs. I also think it would be bad parenting to want your child to become a Cub. Dale’s looking out for his son in more than one way.
mb21Quote Reply
I’d consider it child abuse to push your child into signing with the Cubs. (dying laughing)
mb21Quote Reply
i dont really care i guess although i would be Dale can pay for his kids schooling. I just find it hilarious that he talked about in the context of needing college to develop his baseball ability. Talk about a slap in the fucking face (dying laughing)
dylanjQuote Reply
To those interested:
http://espn.go.com/blog/playbook/visuals/post/_/id/3577/fan-writing-cubs-blog-as-a-comic-strip
joshQuote Reply
Re: Concepticon’s start
Don’t you guys like anything?
MuckerQuote Reply
@ josh:
Well done.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
josh wrote:
That’s awesome, good for you. And the comics are entertaining. I read them and laughed. Well done!
DoogolasQuote Reply
Thanks, guys.
joshQuote Reply
@ josh:
I very much enjoyed the newest comic. You’ve expertly encapsulated what I have to deal with every day while running a Cubs internet community on the side.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
The Cubs drafted Rusty Trombone
/because they like it like that
Rodrigo RamirezQuote Reply
@ Rice Cube:
Cool, glad you liked it.
joshQuote Reply
Great job, Josh. Now that you’re all Hollywood and shit, will you be returning to this blog frequently?
Rodrigo RamirezQuote Reply
@ Rodrigo Ramirez:
It’ll just depend, with all the interviews and the tour if I have time. I do plan on getting a computer for every room in my mansion, so I’ll probably have a little time while I’m on the toilet to chime in.
joshQuote Reply
MLB.com still having problems, I think. The audio is super choppy.
joshQuote Reply
Nicely done on the ESPN piece, Josh!
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
$ner to get the start on saturday
GWQuote Reply
@ GW:
Straight from short work in the bullpen? Do the Padres know they’re doing something incredibly risky with a guy who has already had shoulder problems?
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
sounds like he’ll be limited to three innings for his first start, at least. their staff is pretty damn depleted at this point
GWQuote Reply
Didn’t realize the Pads were hurting for pitching like that. You normally think of them as a pitching-first team.
joshQuote Reply
luebke, moseley, stauffer, wieland, owings, and now stults out for the pads. they just cut jeff suppan and replaced him with jason marquis
GWQuote Reply
@ GW:
That’s crazy.
joshQuote Reply
damn that is 6 starters out. Wonder if they want Randy Wells? where the hell is randy wells anyway? iowa?
NateQuote Reply
@ Nate:
He pitched against the Brewers last night, didn’t he?
joshQuote Reply
@ Nate:
Wells is re-taking his bullpen test.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
Thanks. I thought my answers were pretty kick-ass.
joshQuote Reply
@ josh:
Nice job on the interview too!
WaLiQuote Reply
In the battle of euphemisms, Dickey > Wang.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
@ Rice Cube:
I hear it was a long, hard game.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
A bunt in front of the pitcher? That’s different.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
Yeah, I heard the runs came in spurts.
MuckerQuote Reply
@ Mucker:
Dickey is coming with the thunder but Wang is shooting blanks.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Josh, I just saw the article on espn! Well done! I read the comic strip pretty often, too, always enjoy it
TCQuote Reply
@ Mucker:
Dickey just knuckled down and let his balls float on by.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
braves signed their 12th rounder for 375k
GWQuote Reply
@ TC:
Thanks.
joshQuote Reply
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
Dickey pounds the Nats with dancing balls.
MuckerQuote Reply
@ Mucker:
Dickey outlasts Wang, credits knuckles.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
Nats’ Wang just couldn’t keep up with Mets’ Dickey.
MuckerQuote Reply
@ Mucker:
Dickey Beats Wang In Swordfight
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
Dickey plows through Nats’ O.
MuckerQuote Reply
@ Mucker:
Wang No Match For Dickey Knuckler
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
KOYIE HILL OUR HERO
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Keith Moreland wasn’t that great of a player, according to Fangraphs. Didn’t help that his defense in Right field was consistently terrible.
joshQuote Reply
Congrats, Josh.
mb21Quote Reply
No pinch-run for Soriano?
Rice CubeQuote Reply
@ mb21:
Than—–LAHAIR!!!!
joshQuote Reply
Never mind then.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
LABOMB
BerseliusQuote Reply
Is LaHair’s future as a 3TO guy?
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
I think his future is as a 3 AB’s and call it a day guy.
shawndgoldmanQuote Reply
@ Rice Cube:
I have to say, I’m in awe of Soriano this year. He clearly has no legs left under him, yet he continues to play hard. The difference between him running the bases and trotting after a home run is very noticeable.
shawndgoldmanQuote Reply
@ shawndgoldman:
Sveum had some very glowing remarks for Soriano’s work ethic. I was thinking pinch-run more to save his legs than anything, but I guess it didn’t matter.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
@ shawndgoldman:
He’s doing well, and he’s hitting. I just don’t get why they don’t give the guy a break to heal up. Maybe he’s in a situation where he needs surgery so he figures he’ll go until the ACL snaps and then do the surgery all at once? It seems odd, to me.
joshQuote Reply
@ josh:
Showcase for a DH role, perhaps?
shawndgoldmanQuote Reply
Good job josh – glad the ESPN guy turned out to be legit. Have you seen an increase in traffic?
jtsunamiQuote Reply
What was unfortunate about that situation is that Manny Corpas sucks.
joshQuote Reply
@ jtsunami:
It’s definitely the best day I’ve had so far, as far as traffic goes. I’m not sure when, exactly, I get my paycheck from the Internet, but it should be a good one.
No, he was all right. I think he was a Cubs fan, too.
joshQuote Reply
Koyie…SMH
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
He got his hit for the week, MO, cut him some slack
BerseliusQuote Reply
@ Berselius:
I forgot about all the LEADERSHIP and FUNDAMENTALS, too.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
This game could end up 10-11 now that these two bullpens are involved.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Aoki with the game-winning homerun?
joshQuote Reply
Holy shit, I’m a wizard.
joshQuote Reply
A-OK, I.
shawndgoldmanQuote Reply
Yikes. That was quick.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
@ josh:
LIGHTNING BOLT LIGHTNING BOLT
BerseliusQuote Reply
Klaw: Almora would be Cubs #1 prospect (ahead of Rizzo, Jackson) when he signs
BerseliusQuote Reply
Might have been linked yesterday, but Mayo has the Cubs listed as one of the draft winners
http://mlb.mlb.com//news/article.jsp?ymd=20120606&content_id=32875604&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb
BerseliusQuote Reply
@ Berselius:
Ouch. That’s not much of a compliment to Rizzo or Jackson.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
@ Berselius:
That’s cool. Seems like the Cubs are trying to move in a Padres-like direction, a few bats and lots of pitching. That probably means lots of turnover, but maybe cheaper in the end.
joshQuote Reply
@ josh:
It could also be an honest self-assessment of the organization’s current resources. They have a few decent position players coming up through the system, but a dearth of top pitching prospects… or even middling pitching prospects. Right?
If you were going to draft “around” such a situation, you’d focus on getting a lot of pitching and any hitters you’d draft would be relatively young guys.
shawndgoldmanQuote Reply
@ Berselius:
I’m very high on Rizzo right now. He’s having one of the best seasons in all of professional baseball, and is doing it at a very high level and a young age:
http://www.fangraphs.com/minorleaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=bat&lg=all&qual=100&type=1&season=2012&team=0&players=0
shawndgoldmanQuote Reply
I wonder where Blackburn and Underwood will rate in the Cubs pitching prospect rankings, assuming they sign?
shawndgoldmanQuote Reply
@ shawndgoldman:
Probably pretty low. Both are said to be high-upside, long-term projects.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Ugh. Hayden Simpson has the 2nd-highest FIP of all professional baseball players with at least 30 IP this year:
http://www.fangraphs.com/minorleaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=pit&lg=all&qual=30&type=1&season=2012&team=0&players=0&sort=15,d
shawndgoldmanQuote Reply
Oops I thought those lists included MLB. Apparently they don’t.
shawndgoldmanQuote Reply
@ shawndgoldman:
Second highest FIP amongst minor leaguers is pretty bad though.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
@ Rice Cube:
Bad enough, to be sure.
shawndgoldmanQuote Reply
I don’t understand how someone who is tearing up AAA is going to be rated lower than someone who hasn’t played a game past HS yet.
WaLiQuote Reply
@ WaLi:
Probably age and potential. Plus the position he plays. That’s all I can think of.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
@ WaLi:
I’m supposing that Law means by “projectability,” but even then, I don’t see it.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
I could see it before this season, I guess, if you’re heavily weighting Rizzo’s call-up. I guess its similar to calling Baez the Cubs’ highest-rated prospect, right?
shawndgoldmanQuote Reply
@ shawndgoldman:
In some ways it’s worse, because we’ve actually seen Baez have success in pro ball. Almora hasn’t swung a bat in a pro game yet. Seems like a silly thing for KLaw to say.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Correa —> $4.8MM bonus
RC –> wut
Rice CubeQuote Reply
@ shawndgoldman:
If you weight Rizzo’s call-up, then I guess it hurts him a bit. But he is still young (I didn’t realize Rizzo was so young). With the rate of failure of prospects in baseball, I rather have someone that has proved something rather than someone who hasn’t shown anything rated near the top.
WaLiQuote Reply
@ Rice Cube:
What about the contract?
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
klaw always puts a ton of weight on ceiling. even so, i’m a little surprised he rates almora over baez
GWQuote Reply
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
I don’t know. I thought the bonus was the big number and draftees were no longer allowed to be signed to major league contracts?
Rice CubeQuote Reply
@ GW:
Yeah, no matter how you look at it, it seems like a strange statement.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
@ Rice Cube:
I’m not sure. The new rules are only slightly less complicated than US Tax Code
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
I always thought that the bonus was just to get the guy to play baseball for that team, and then once he signs, he’s paid whatever players get paid at the level he’s playing at.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
@ dylanj:
Maybe he was born when Affeldt was playing winter league ball in the Dominican. That means the kid is really 7.
/late to the game
SVBQuote Reply
Aroldis just allowed his first earned run. He also struck out 2 and walked none in 1 inning of work. Even when allowing his ERA to rise for the first time, he still manages to lower his FIP (which was already 0.48).
ACTQuote Reply
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
I’m not sure it’s that strange. It’s not uncommon for the first round pick to end up the top prospect. At this point everything is ceiling for Almora so sure he’s the best prospect. Realistically? No. Not close.
mb21Quote Reply
@ Rice Cube:
They signed him for that?
mb21Quote Reply
@ Berselius:
That’s scary for this organization if it’s true. I was hoping the opposite because then I could at least be optimistic about things improving they better invest in free agents. That or get luckier than shit.
mb21Quote Reply
@ mb21:
It sounds relative though, i.e., winners compared to what they needed and what was available.
joshQuote Reply
I know he’s having a good year and all that, but UGH!
joshQuote Reply
@ mb21:
Jon Heyman
@JonHeymanCBS
Follow
Hear carlos correa deal with astros is for $4.8M
Reply Retweet Favorite
It’s a Heyman tweet so take it for what you will.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
DPLeeted.
PerkinsQuote Reply
I realize I’m late to the party, but the Dickey/Wang matchup might be the most entertaining since Rich Harden faced Dave Bush a few years back.
PerkinsQuote Reply
Every business in the world will have sponsored these minor league posts by the end of the year.
mb21Quote Reply
@ mb21:
Probably need to add something to the disclaimer at the bottom of the page (dying laughing)
Noticed new minor shit is up: http://obstructedview.net/minor-leagues/the-children-are-the-future-cubs-minor-league-update-sponsored-by-mastercard.html#comment-99444
WaLiQuote Reply