2010 Minor Leagues/Prospect Discussion Thread

Randle McMurphy · Post #21 » by **Randle McMurphy** » Thu Apr 15, 2010 8:19 am

I just noticed Brad Mills has 18 K and 1 BB in 11.1 IP in the PCL. Where the hell did that come from?

Michael Bradley · Post #22 » by **Michael Bradley** » Thu Apr 15, 2010 1:35 pm

I am finding myself to be a lot more interested in the minors than the Majors this year. First thing I did this morning was check the Vegas, New Hampshire, Dunedin, and Lansing box scores, then I remembered Morrow pitched last night and checked that box score (yikes). Once Hechevarria and eventually the 2010 draft picks start filtering the system it will be even more exciting. As much as I hated trading Halladay, if a team is going to rebuild, then rebuild completely, and the Jays seem to be the only sports team in Toronto willing to do it.

Great starts by Wallace and D'Arnaud thus far.

Avenger · Post #23 » by **Avenger** » Fri Apr 16, 2010 12:31 am

Zach Stewart got rocked today 4.1 IP 9 hits 7 ER 4BB 4K 2HR

Avenger · Post #24 » by **Avenger** » Fri Apr 16, 2010 6:27 pm

The Blue Jays had 3 players on Baseball America's prospect hot sheet, Brad Mills(SP), Travis D'Arnaud(C) and Luis Perez(SP)

Travis D'Arnaud
When you're involved in a series of trades involving Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Kyle Drabek, Michael Taylor and Brett Wallace, it's easy to get overlooked. Maybe that's the case with d'Arnaud, the former Phillies farmhand who went to the Blue Jays in the Halladay trade. His quick bat and hand-eye coordination make him difficult to strike out, and he's flashed power with two home run in the pitcher-friendly Florida State League. With J.P. Arencibia's struggles in Triple-A, d'Arnaud is looking more and more like Toronto's catcher of the future.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/pr ... 69817.html

-MetA4- · Post #25 » by **-MetA4-** » Fri Apr 16, 2010 11:46 pm

d'Arnaud already 2-2 tonight.

Jenkins is starting as well and he is pitching a good one so far; 3 innings, 2 h, 0 bb, 0 r, 4 k, 4-1 gb/fb

-MetA4- · Post #26 » by **-MetA4-** » Sat Apr 17, 2010 1:00 am

Schadenfreude wrote:they've updated Tim Collins' picture, and while he looks less like a leprechaun now, he still looks pretty goofy:

You think that is bad?

Eric Thames:

-MetA4- · Post #27 » by **-MetA4-** » Sat Apr 17, 2010 1:31 am

d'Arnaud just hit a HR.

Avenger · Post #28 » by **Avenger** » Sat Apr 17, 2010 3:24 am

Travis D'Arnaud finished 3-5 with 2 singles and a homerun bumping his average to .429 with a 1175 OPS. He's off to a spectacular start to the season, he only has one walk in 35AB's but he's also only struck three times despite all that power.

Brett Cecil got the start for Vegas today, gave up 1ER, 2BB, 3K's, 7 hits on 7 innings pitched. Brett Wallace was having an off game with 0-4 2k's but he homered in the 9th inning, he's hitting .302 with a 1092 OPS. Right behind Wallace, Doparik went 2-4 with a homerun he's hitting .286 with a 836 OPS. Arencibia had a decent game, he went 2-4 with a walk, he's average is now upto .273 with a 633 OPS.

Schad · Post #29 » by **Schad** » Sat Apr 17, 2010 1:56 pm

I wouldn't expect Wallace to see the bigs until something is resolved with our 1B situation, but yeesh...he's definitely allaying concerns early that he doesn't have the power for the position. According to the recaps, his home runs have gone to:

- left center field (vs. SLC)
- right field (vs. Fresno)
- left field (vs. Fresno)
- right field (vs. Colorado)

That's power to all fields, which in the PCL is a great sign...it's easy to hit wall-scrapers down the line, but hitting one out to left center takes real power, even if it was against the PCL's favourite launching pad. All three of D'Arnaud's have been to left, which meshes with the scouting report...like most young hitters, his power is pull side.

Arencibia is being the anti-JP right now: an OBP of .360, a SLG% of .273. Still striking out at a good clip, though, and it's always nice to have a constant.

-MetA4- · Post #30 » by **-MetA4-** » Sat Apr 17, 2010 5:05 pm

Schadenfreude wrote:but yeesh...he's definitely allaying concerns early that he doesn't have the power for the position.

I brought up his very low fly-ball rates when the Taylor trade was made, but....

2008: 28.8% FB
2009: 28.7% FB
2010: 39.1% FB

The sample size is really small, but his "problem" has always been the fact that his swing didn't match with the general tendencies of most big HR hitters: high flyball rates. Common sense tells you that if you have plus power and tend to hit the ball in the air, you'll hit a good amount of homeruns. What he has shown so far is encouraging and may be something to look for over the course of the season. It is possible that he has altered his swing to some extent to generate more loft.

Schad · Post #31 » by **Schad** » Sat Apr 17, 2010 5:18 pm

-MetA4- wrote:
Schadenfreude wrote:but yeesh...he's definitely allaying concerns early that he doesn't have the power for the position.

I brought up his very low fly-ball rates when the Taylor trade was made, but....

2008: 28.8% FB
2009: 28.7% FB
2010: 39.1% FB

The sample size is really small, but his "problem" has always been the fact that his swing didn't match with the general tendencies of most big HR hitters: high flyball rates. Common sense tells you that if you have plus power and tend to hit the ball in the air, you'll hit a good amount of homeruns. What he has shown so far is encouraging and may be something to look for over the course of the season. It is possible that he has altered his swing to some extent to generate more loft.

Yeah, that's part of the reason that the shot to left-center stood out...you can muscle a liner out to right, but to hit one 370+ slicing to the opposite field usually takes a good bit of loft. Thanks for the rate stats...they really illustrate the difference, and I hadn't even thought to check them.

Schad · Post #32 » by **Schad** » Sat Apr 17, 2010 8:27 pm

Bobby Bell hasn't fared well in New Hampshire...he gave up 7 ER in 5 innings today, though the team has rallied thanks to David Cooper and Eric Thames' facial hair. Seriously, if you have a box goatee, logic dictates that it shouldn't measure two feet across. I don't really know how that's possible.

Hendrix · Post #33 » by **Hendrix** » Sun Apr 18, 2010 2:25 am

Tin Collins had another good outing with 4 so's in 2 innings, and 0 hits, 0 walks.

-MetA4- · Post #34 » by **-MetA4-** » Sun Apr 18, 2010 2:41 am

Pastornicky got on base all 6 times today and had 4 hits. He now has 7 hits in his past 2 games and his OPS is considerably higher than it was last season.

Kenny Wilson had a good game as well and is showing some ability.

Schad · Post #35 » by **Schad** » Sun Apr 18, 2010 2:45 am

D'Arnaud goes 2-5 with a walk and a double, continuing his exceptional play. Henderson Alvarez remains entirely unhittable, as he has now given up seven hits and 1 ER in 14 IP.

Hendrix · Post #36 » by **Hendrix** » Sun Apr 18, 2010 2:59 am

Schadenfreude wrote:D'Arnaud goes 2-5 with a walk and a double, continuing his exceptional play. Henderson Alvarez remains entirely unhittable, as he has now given up seven hits and 1 ER in 14 IP.

Bad game for D'arnaud. He dropped his OPS after that performance.

Randle McMurphy · Post #37 » by **Randle McMurphy** » Sun Apr 18, 2010 4:08 am

D'Arnaud didn't get as much press as Drabek or Wallace from that trade, but he might have a higher value ceiling than both of them.

Avenger · Post #38 » by **Avenger** » Sun Apr 18, 2010 4:58 pm

Hendrix wrote:Tin Collins had another good outing with 4 so's in 2 innings, and 0 hits, 0 walks.

His stats so far this year ,4.2 inning, 9 K's, 2 BB and 1 Hit. 4 of those innings are against righties and he's only allowed 1 hit, no other baserunners.

WpgPage · Post #39 » by **WpgPage** » Sun Apr 18, 2010 6:14 pm

I was just about to post that this guy is got closer stuff if he can stay healthy and keep up this performance.

Schad · Post #40 » by **Schad** » Sun Apr 18, 2010 7:34 pm

WpgPage wrote:I was just about to post that this guy is got closer stuff if he can stay healthy and keep up this performance.

Tiny Tim will likely never be a closer, as he's a flyball pitcher with a fairly high walk rate. He's making the case that he could be a full-inning pitcher rather than a LOOGY, though...SSW and all that, but righties are 1-13 against him thus far.