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.
It’s all relative, eh?
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.
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 Dennis:
Are you the real Rocky Dennis or the version played by Eric Stoltz?
@ 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.
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.
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.
well thats like, your opinion man. mb21 wrote:
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.
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.
Boobs.
@ 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.
jeremy affeldt has a 4 year old son who is 4 foot 6.
WTF!
@ dylanj:
Steroids.
@ Rice Cube:
Or else he is a good boy and eats his veggies.
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.
@ 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.
haha just noticed the Cubs drafted Rusty Sveum, Dale’s son.
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.
@ 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.
@ dylanj:
He’s taller than Alvin.
@ AB:
The old fashioned late round nepotism pick.
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.
@ 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.
I’d consider it child abuse to push your child into signing with the Cubs. (dying laughing)
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)
To those interested:
http://espn.go.com/blog/playbook/visuals/post/_/id/3577/fan-writing-cubs-blog-as-a-comic-strip
Re: Concepticon’s start
Don’t you guys like anything?
@ josh:
Well done.
josh wrote:
That’s awesome, good for you. And the comics are entertaining. I read them and laughed. Well done!
Thanks, guys.
@ 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.
The Cubs drafted Rusty Trombone
/because they like it like that
@ Rice Cube:
Cool, glad you liked it.
Great job, Josh. Now that you’re all Hollywood and shit, will you be returning to this blog frequently?
@ 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.
MLB.com still having problems, I think. The audio is super choppy.
Nicely done on the ESPN piece, Josh!
$ner to get the start on saturday
@ 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 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
Didn’t realize the Pads were hurting for pitching like that. You normally think of them as a pitching-first team.
luebke, moseley, stauffer, wieland, owings, and now stults out for the pads. they just cut jeff suppan and replaced him with jason marquis
@ GW:
That’s crazy.
damn that is 6 starters out. Wonder if they want Randy Wells? where the hell is randy wells anyway? iowa?
@ Nate:
He pitched against the Brewers last night, didn’t he?
@ Nate:
Wells is re-taking his bullpen test.
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
Thanks. I thought my answers were pretty kick-ass.
@ josh:
Nice job on the interview too!
In the battle of euphemisms, Dickey > Wang.
@ Rice Cube:
I hear it was a long, hard game.
A bunt in front of the pitcher? That’s different.
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
Yeah, I heard the runs came in spurts.
@ Mucker:
Dickey is coming with the thunder but Wang is shooting blanks.
Josh, I just saw the article on espn! Well done! I read the comic strip pretty often, too, always enjoy it
@ Mucker:
Dickey just knuckled down and let his balls float on by.
braves signed their 12th rounder for 375k
@ TC:
Thanks.
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
Dickey pounds the Nats with dancing balls.
@ Mucker:
Dickey outlasts Wang, credits knuckles.
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
Nats’ Wang just couldn’t keep up with Mets’ Dickey.
@ Mucker:
Dickey Beats Wang In Swordfight
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
Dickey plows through Nats’ O.
@ Mucker:
Wang No Match For Dickey Knuckler
KOYIE HILL OUR HERO
Keith Moreland wasn’t that great of a player, according to Fangraphs. Didn’t help that his defense in Right field was consistently terrible.
Congrats, Josh.
No pinch-run for Soriano?
@ mb21:
Than—–LAHAIR!!!!
Never mind then.
LABOMB
Is LaHair’s future as a 3TO guy?
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
I think his future is as a 3 AB’s and call it a day guy.
@ 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.
@ 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.
@ 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.
@ josh:
Showcase for a DH role, perhaps?
Good job josh – glad the ESPN guy turned out to be legit. Have you seen an increase in traffic?
What was unfortunate about that situation is that Manny Corpas sucks.
@ 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.
Koyie…SMH
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
He got his hit for the week, MO, cut him some slack
@ Berselius:
I forgot about all the LEADERSHIP and FUNDAMENTALS, too.
This game could end up 10-11 now that these two bullpens are involved.
Aoki with the game-winning homerun?
Holy shit, I’m a wizard.
A-OK, I.
Yikes. That was quick.
@ josh:
LIGHTNING BOLT LIGHTNING BOLT
Klaw: Almora would be Cubs #1 prospect (ahead of Rizzo, Jackson) when he signs
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
@ Berselius:
Ouch. That’s not much of a compliment to Rizzo or Jackson.
@ 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.
@ 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.
@ 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
I wonder where Blackburn and Underwood will rate in the Cubs pitching prospect rankings, assuming they sign?
@ shawndgoldman:
Probably pretty low. Both are said to be high-upside, long-term projects.
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
Oops I thought those lists included MLB. Apparently they don’t.
@ shawndgoldman:
Second highest FIP amongst minor leaguers is pretty bad though.
@ Rice Cube:
Bad enough, to be sure.
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.
@ WaLi:
Probably age and potential. Plus the position he plays. That’s all I can think of.
@ WaLi:
I’m supposing that Law means by “projectability,” but even then, I don’t see it.
@ 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?
@ 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.
Correa —> $4.8MM bonus
RC –> wut
@ 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.
@ Rice Cube:
What about the contract?
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
klaw always puts a ton of weight on ceiling. even so, i’m a little surprised he rates almora over baez
@ 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?
@ GW:
Yeah, no matter how you look at it, it seems like a strange statement.
@ Rice Cube:
I’m not sure. The new rules are only slightly less complicated than US Tax Code
@ 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.
@ 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
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).
@ 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.
@ Rice Cube:
They signed him for that?
@ 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.
@ mb21:
It sounds relative though, i.e., winners compared to what they needed and what was available.
I know he’s having a good year and all that, but UGH!
@ 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.
DPLeeted.
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.
Every business in the world will have sponsored these minor league posts by the end of the year.
@ mb21:
Probably need to add something to the disclaimer at the bottom of the page (dying laughing)
Noticed new minor shit is up: http://www.obstructedview.net/minor-leagues/the-children-are-the-future-cubs-minor-league-update-sponsored-by-mastercard.html#comment-99444