2013 Minor Leagues/Prospect Discussion Thread

[Graham's Cracker]

If Gustavo Pierre could take an occasional (and I mean occasional) walk and play better D we might have something there. He's batting 270 with a slg of 467 but he has a K:BB of the 0:39 and 14 errors in 31 games with an .811 fielding pct.

I don't know, we have a catcher with two walks for the season and a K:BB almost as bad, with a .240 OBP and he hit cleanup yesterday for the Jays. The errors are another matter.

Touche.

[dagger]

I'll stick this here, don't want to make a separate thread

kyle drabek ‏@kyledrabek4
Good first live bullpen today... First time seeing someone in the box since June haha can't wait to be 100%

[chhoon]

when can we expect stroman to be ready for the big leagues?? i can't wait to see this guy develop either a starter or closer

[dagger]

when can we expect stroman to be ready for the big leagues?? i can't wait to see this guy develop either a starter or closer

My guess is that depends on the ML roster. Josh Johnson had a rehab start today in Dunedin, 3 innings, 1 run earned (single/SB/single), 0 walks, 5 ks. Happ is about a month away. Drabek and Hutchinson are starting to throw more than long toss. Drabek threw off the mound today. And Stroman needs innings. They are starting him in part to get him guaranteed innings, and to see how he handles starting. So he needs at the very least a few minor league starts, and probably more. Stroman could move to Buffalo first, where the starting pitching staff is rather weak and needs bolstering. There is no need to rush him. At the latest, we're probably seeing him as a September callup, or a candidate for the 25-man roster next spring. They don't want to do what they are doing to Chad Jenkins, who hasn't pitched for 10 days and really needs starts and innings himself.

Now, if the Jays aren't somehow in playoff contention before the trade deadline, a pitcher like Johnson could be dealt, maybe Dickey, too, and that would open up starter spots. The other issue with Stroman is competition from Jenkins and Sean Nolin. AA is talking up Nolin as if he is the next prospect call up.

[Schad]

If Gustavo Pierre could take an occasional (and I mean occasional) walk and play better D we might have something there. He's batting 270 with a slg of 467 but he has a K:BB of the 0:39 and 14 errors in 31 games with an .811 fielding pct.

I've pretty much given up on Pierre. He's a hot mess defensively at either SS or 3B, which means that a corner OF position is a likely destination. Or would be, if his hitting merited it.

[dagger]

If I had to pick a highlight of the night, it would be the Lansing offence. None of the organization's best pitching prospects were up tonight, but let's cite some guys who contributed to a 13-hit Lansing attack in a 4-3 win.

Christian Lopes, 4-5, with a triple and a homer and 1RBI. (avg to .319)
Dwight Smith Jr, 2-5 with a run scored (avg. to .301)

And for Schad

Gustavo Pierre, 2-4, 1 run scored, and 0 errors! (avg. to .277)

[chairon]

I am really starting to believe in Lopes down in Lansing. 4/5 tonight with a HR. Only 20 years old and plays a premium position. Also looks like Dwight Smith Jr is turning some corners this year in Lansing. You guys have any input on either of these guys?

[dagger]

I am really starting to believe in Lopes down in Lansing. 4/5 tonight with a HR. Only 20 years old and plays a premium position. Also looks like Dwight Smith Jr is turning some corners this year in Lansing. You guys have any input on either of these guys?

Pretty much as you describe it, nothing more from the organization to suggest anything differently. Don't think Lopes is a premium defensive player or baserunner, adequate to be sure, but a plus bat with some power.

Tonight's game wrap.

http://www.lansinglugnuts.com/PRESS/REL ... 52013.html

Yum yum, dollar day at Lansing tomorrow. Imagine if the Rogers Center ever had $1 hot dogs and 16-ounce pop. The bean counters would suicidal.

[Garmfay]

If anyone is noticing, Aaron Sanchez hit the 7 day DL. Not looking good. Osuna already had elbow problems..

[dagger]

If anyone is noticing, Aaron Sanchez hit the 7 day DL. Not looking good. Osuna already had elbow problems..

So what is Sanchez's issue. Do you know it's his arm?

[Garmfay]

If anyone is noticing, Aaron Sanchez hit the 7 day DL. Not looking good. Osuna already had elbow problems..

So what is Sanchez's issue. Do you know it's his arm?

Per Gerry from Battersbox. Apparently due to "low velocity" Screams arm/shoulder problem to me..

[Schad]

I am really starting to believe in Lopes down in Lansing. 4/5 tonight with a HR. Only 20 years old and plays a premium position. Also looks like Dwight Smith Jr is turning some corners this year in Lansing. You guys have any input on either of these guys?

Like practically everyone else in the organization, he needs to learn how to take a walk, but there's considerable promise there. He put up an iso power of .184 last year in short-season, which is very healthy for a 19 year old, and suggests that he may develop a fair bit of pop down the road.

Smith is the opposite; he can work a walk, and he makes good contact, but he wasn't especially powerful as a high school kiddie and has been much the same as a pro. Doesn't need to be a 20 HR guy, but doubles power is a bare minimum as a corner outfielder.

Worth noting that Ryan Schimpf also him a couple more home runs...he's now carrying a .219/.360/.521 line as he tries to become the world's shortest Adam Dunn impersonator. Have to think that, given his age, he'll be in Buffalo before too long; still not convinced that it's much more than an overage guy mashing against pitchers four years younger, but the organization will probably try to find out soon enough.

And with Sanchez, you hope it's the elbow, not the shoulder. Elbows can be rebuilt, if it comes to it...shoulders sometimes never recover.

[dagger]

Shi Davidi ‏@ShiDavidi 14m
#BlueJays release Miguel Batista, promote Ricardo Nanita from AA New Hamp to AAA Buffalo. #Bisons also add Thad Weber, put Chad Beck on DL

[dagger]

A meh report of John Johnson;s rehab start yesterday

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/blog/danny ... -impressed

Then again, there was a different take out of the executive suite

JOHNSON MAKES GAINS: Right-hander Josh Johnson (triceps) allowed one run over three innings in his first rehab start for single-A Dunedin on Monday night, striking out five and throwing 48 pitches.

“I heard he threw really well and the most important thing is that his arm felt fine,” Gibbons said. “So he’ll throw again Saturday. He looked good.”

He’s been on the DL since May 2 and is expected to need at least one more rehab outing before he rejoins the Blue Jays.

“At this point, personally, I think he probably needs three,” Gibbons said. “But, you know, we’ve been known to make some adjustments.”

[dagger]

Ricky giveth and Ricky taketh away.

Romero was pretty good through five innings, one run-earned, four hits, just a couple of walks, a lot of ground outs. But typically Ricky, got to the sixth and issued FOUR straight walks, and was hooked with none out. And thus a 7-1 lead became a 7-4 lead after six, once Juan Perez closed out the inning.

But I guess it was baby steps forward for Ricky. Each of his four hits, by the way, was with two outs, none on, perhaps another sign of lack of focus. Then Dustin McGowan came in and blew the lead with a terrible inning, game now tied 7-7 in extra innings.

[Graham's Cracker]

Ricky giveth and Ricky taketh away.

Romero was pretty good through five innings, one run-earned, four hits, just a couple of walks, a lot of ground outs. But typically Ricky, got to the sixth and issued FOUR straight walks, and was hooked with none out. And thus a 7-1 lead became a 7-4 lead after six, once Juan Perez closed out the inning.

But I guess it was baby steps forward for Ricky. Each of his four hits, by the way, was with two outs, none on, perhaps another sign of lack of focus. Then Dustin McGowan came in and blew the lead with a terrible inning, game now tied 7-7 in extra innings.

I see McGowan got the quick hook after getting just one out and the staff managed to blow a 7-2 lead

[Lateral Quicks]

Nice to see Negrych break out of his mini-slump with 3 hits so far tonight, bumping his average back up to .394.

#FreeNegrych
#FreeThole && #JettisonJP

[dagger]

Nice to see Negrych break out of his mini-slump with 3 hits so far tonight, bumping his average back up to .394.

#FreeNegrych
#FreeThole && #JettisonJP

Absolutely. Free Sierra, too. And if Santos is a long-term writeoff, how about a look at Neil Wagner who has been fantastic as Buffalo's closer. Brought his ERA under 1.0 tonight. Got the win in the 10th, and showed some good inner strength. Leadoff batter tried to bunt, missed, ump claimed batter was hit and awarded him first. Marty Brown went berserk, did his Billy Martin imitation kicking dirt on the plate, got tossed. But no matter, Wagner mowed down the next batter on three swinging strikes, and then got two more outs while freezing the base runner at first. One indicator he may come up is that Marty Brown will use him in two-inning stints because he won't close in Toronto

http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ym ... p&sid=t422

Not only has Wagner gotten off to a fast start on the mound statistically, teams have witnessed that he can throw the ball pretty fast, too. Just over one week ago, Wagner threw a 101 mph fastball against Louisville on his way to his 10th save of the season.

In another notable achievement, Lansing scored four in the bottom of the ninth to win 8-5 over Lake County. Let's salute Gustavo Pierre who was 3-4 with a pair of doubles and five RBIs, but alas, his 15th error as well.

As for JPA

Dustin Parkes ‏@dustinparkes 9m
Since 2012, 26 catchers have made at least 400 plate appearances. J.P. Arencibia ranks 21st in wRC+ and 22nd in fielding runs.

Dustin Parkes ‏@dustinparkes 7m
@DannyNovaScotia It means he's monumentally bad.

Dustin Parkes ‏@dustinparkes 9m
However, among the 26 catchers who have made 400 PAs since 2012, Arencibia ranks first in clubhouse interviews while holding a hockey stick.

Dustin Parkes ‏@dustinparkes 6m
@jonahkeri People see the power, but not the gazillion outs.

[dagger]

Josh Johnson to make rehab start Sat for BUF

[dagger]

Just a few notes about tonight's minor league scores. BUF was idle. NH lost in 10 and there is really little to say prospect wise. Not a night when Stroman/Nolin pitched.

Dunedin and Lansing were winners. Of note, Andy Burns was 3-4 with a homer, double and pair of RBIs for Dunedin in its 5-3 win. Raised his average to .333. Of note, Noah Syndergaard started for St. Lucie and went 5.2, giving up seven hits, two walks, four runs (three earned) while striking out four. His ERA is now 2.86. Blake McFarland got his 10th save for the Jays with a scoreless ninth.

In Lansing, where the Lugnuts survived a five-run ninth by Lake County, Christian Lopes was 1-3, raising his average to .321. with an RBI and two Ks. Emilio Guerrero continues to raise his average, adding a pair of hits. He's hitting .288. Guerrero was one of the Jays' International free agent signings in 2011. He's 20. (Dwight Smith didn't play today for Lansing.)

With Lopes, Guerrero at Lansing and Burns at Dunedin, the Jays have some interesting infield prospects.