TheCrew07

Wonderful start for Peralta... Gameday still has his velocity in the mid 90s as well, makes me happy.

The 100 game suspension has been the target since this story first broke which I think is a crock. They've been looking to double up the entire time for "lying". Not that I condone lying by any stretch but come on do we seriously expect the guilty to just say they are guilty? That's why there is supposedly a process in place to establish innocence or guilt. MLB would look much better if they were just going for the standard 50 game first time offender penalty instead of 100. For whatever reason MLB likes to back itself into these lose/lose corners. Even if they have legit evidence and the players are in fact guilty the situation looks bad because of the extreme stance and tactics being brought to bear by MLB.

I remember, I was looking at it from a best case prospect standpoint, not a realistic trade standpoint or I wouldn't have said anything about Seattle or TB. Just more of a, "these are the guys I like" type scenario.

MiLB's take on the deadline. The Untouchables: Prospects staying put come July 31

I think it was Nate who suggested it but I kind of like the Boston idea best, too bad they haven't been tied to us. I was also hoping Jack Z would go into buyer mode since he's on the hot seat in Seattle and dangle Hultzen/Walker. I was pretty high on Skaggs for a long time, but the more I read about him over the last week, the more I think he's a #3. I have no problem believing Bradley is untouchable, he's younger, much bigger arm, arguably better secondary stuff, but still needs control work. I wouldn't trade him for Gallardo if I was on the other side of the deal. The worst part about this whole thing is that the pitchers I covet the most are actually all in the division or play for Tampa, who has no need for short term pitching. Trevor Bauer interests me some but his control has a long way to go and I don't think Cleveland has done him any favors, the fact that's he's already on a MLB deal stinks as well because he needs more development time but like with Weeks players on that kind of deal don't spend much time in the minors. If ever learns to command the strike zone he'll be a force, but I'd rather be taking that risk with a player in A ball rather than a player still struggling with control in AAA. Bauer is only in his 2nd full season, but he's not anywhere near as polished as his draft position would have suggested. By the time a player is in AAA he'd better be throwing strikes. Maybe the Mets would be a good off-season target for pitching, they have a ton of young pitching but no hitting. I find myself getting a tad depressed because it doesn't look like there is a strong enough market for our 2 best pitchers who also happen to be expendable. I've been questing for young front line pitching for a long time to slot with Gallardo, and now to replace Gallardo. Of the teams whom would be buyers, I'd really like the Red Sox to get involved but there's been no reported movement between the 2 teams. That doesn't mean there haven't been talks, just that nothing has been leaked. Looking at BA's midseason 50 I'd be interested in #6 (who's not going anywhere), #7, #23, #26, #27, #29, #33, and #37 to headline a deal. Everyone after Walker who's #7 has their warts. There are a bunch of pitchers in the lower minors or lesser rated prospects whom I'd take for any of our relievers, Jeff Ames from the Rays is the kind of under the radar prospect that I would find intriguing in that context. We really won't be able to move Gallardo for a position player, who's going to pitch? Unless we moved Gomez for a pitcher but what are the odds of that? I had high hopes for Thornburg but all he's done is continually leave fat pitches belt high over the plate, he'd be great if he had better command, but his command is actually getting worse, he's regressing, which I didn't see coming at all. Hellweg, Jungmann, and Bradley have awful secondary numbers which I've covered in detail on the minor league forum. Pena is Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde... he has no in between. Scarpetta was never a strike thrower and is coming off TJ surgery, Bucci is just coming back from surgery as well, he's at least 2 years away and not a top of the rotation guy. I like Gagnon but he's a mid to back of the rotation guy, I don't think Goforth is more that either, nor is Hall. Magnifico has 1 pitch and doesn't maintain his velocity, Burgos, Fiers, and Narveson are fine back of the rotation candidates. Jimmy Nelson has been great but is a 2 pitch guy and scouts universally think he's a #3. There enough hope in that bunch that we could field an in house rotation, maybe league average, but we have no one whom would legitimately profile as a #2 or better today. Not that Gallardo is still an upper level #2, but if we don't do better than average talent all the way around we're going to have the 4th best rotation in our division, we won't be competing for anything: Pittsburgh has Taillon, Kingham, and Glasnow coming yet in addition to Cole. The Cards have so much pitching that they'll be able to use young impact starting pitching in the bullpen like Rosenthal, take whomever you want from Rosenthal, Miller, Wacha, Martinez to fill their holes down the road. The Reds have Latos, Leake, Bailey, and Cueto whom are all 27 or younger in their rotation plus Cingrani and Stephenson on the way. If Corcino ever turns it back around they have depth or another great bullpen option. Our rotations aren't as good today as those 3 teams and Nelson just doesn't stack up to prospects like Cole/Taillon/Miller/Wacha/Stephenson or even Cingrani. It doesn't take a genius to see where this is heading...

Nada, but the Mariners had a nice a Monday. Prospect Notebook: Asher Wojciechowski Fires One-Hitter At Triple-A

Midseason Prospect Update: How The Top 100 Graduates Have Fared

Subscribers can get info on all of the teams here. Midseason Prospect Update: Best Players, Biggest Leap Forward And Biggest Disappointments

Subscriber content so I won't post the whole thing, I actually feel guilty posting as much I have. Tyrone Taylor should have been the biggest leap forward, but Wagner was also a good choice. Midseason Prospect Update: Jimmy Nelson’s Sinker Stifles Southern League Hitters Bad news at the bottom:

Chris had internet issue on the bus last night, here's the post game with the usual assortment of goodies covering the HRs, Taylor Mangum, Jorge Lopez, and some defensive gems. In our power – Postgame post for July 8, 2013

Final: Albuquerque 6, Nashville 5 (5 innings) Sounds Lose Rain-Shortened Series Opener In Albuquerque Nashville Blasts Three Homers In Defeat http://www.milb.com/assets/images/0/0/2/52838002/cuts/statia_red_g09pei14_atckd457.jpg (Mike Strasinger / Nashville Sounds) ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - The Nashville Sounds suffered a rain-shortened one-run loss to Albuquerque on Monday evening, falling 6-5 in five innings at Isotopes Park in the opener of a three-game series. AUDIO: Hainley Statia Go-Ahead Two-Run HR AUDIO: Caleb Gindl Goes Back-To-Back AUDIO: Josh Prince Solo HR AUDIO: Caleb Gindl Game-Tying RBI Single The defeat, Nashville's fourth in a row, was the Sounds' league-leading 18th one-run loss of the year. The Sounds swatted a trio of home runs in the top of the third inning against Jonathan Sanchez to take an early 4-0 lead. After pitcher Jimmy Nelson led off by drawing a four-pitch walk from his counterpart before scoring on Hainley Statia's one-out homer to left, the utilityman's third longball in the last four games following a stretch of 600+ homerless at-bats. Caleb Gindl (2-for-3) went back-to-back with Statia by drilling a solo shot to left, his 10th big fly of the year and Nashville's fourth set of consecutive roundtrippers. Later in the frame, Josh Prince (2-for-2) got into the act by mashing a 400-foot solo shot to left-center. The outfielder's eighth homer of the year upped the Sounds' advantage to 4-0. Albuquerque responded immediately against Nelson, batting around and plating five runs in the home half of the third to pull ahead, 5-4. With the bases jammed following two singles and walk, Nelson hit Ian Stewart with a pitch to force home John Baker. The right-hander then issued a run-scoring walk to Alex Castellanos to reduce the lead to 4-2. Nick Buss followed with a game-tying bloop single to center that evened the score at 4-4. Brian Barden followed with a grounder that plated Castellanos with the go-ahead run. Scooter Gennett extended his season-best hitting streak to 13 games with a leadoff double in the fifth. He is batting .388 (19-for-49) since rejoining the Sounds from Milwaukee. After advancing to third on a groundout, he tied the game at 5-5 when he scored on Gindl's RBI single to right that came on a 3-2 offering from Sanchez. For the second time on the night, Albuquerque answered a Sounds rally with one of its own in the bottom of an inning, pulling back ahead with a run against Nelson in the home half of the sixth. With runners on the corners with one out following a pair of walks followed by a flyout, Buss shot an RBI single to right to give the 'Topes a 6-5 lead. Immediately following the conclusion of the fifth inning, which was played in the rain, the tarp was placed onto the field and the game was called following a 58-minute delay. Nelson (1-3) took the loss for the Sounds after allowing six runs in his five innings of work. He was credited with a complete game in the rain-shortened affair. Sanchez (2-0) got the win for Albuquerque. The teams continue the series with another 8:05 p.m. CT contest on Tuesday. Left-hander Chris Narveson (2-4, 5.35), who twirled eight scoreless frames in his last outing, will man the bump for the Sounds to face Albuquerque right-hander Matt Palmer (4-3, 4.10). Nashville Boxscore Jimmy Nelson didn't have it today, but a what an offensive performance, and without Hunter Morris who has been so-so from an BA standpoint since his insane hot streak earlier this summer. I admit I have a hard time taking Josh Prince seriously as a prospect, but hit relative power surge late in his MiLB career is at least encouraging, he could maybe make a good utility guy. Nashville Recap Very busy if you are so inclined, only 3 1-2-3 half innings in the contest. Nashville Gameday

It would be nice if Mitch Haniger would get hot.

Rattlers come back to bite Bees Wisconsin spots Burlington a 6-2 lead, rallies for 8-6 victory Wisconsin Timber Rattlers BURLINGTON, IA - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers fell behind the Burlington Bees early on Monday night at Community Field. But, the Rattlers used three home runs and perfect relief from Taylor Mangum to rally for an 8-6 victory. Burlington (31-52 overall, 5-13 second half) scored three runs on four hits in the first inning to grab the lead. Kevin Moesquit and Anthony Bemboom both singled to start the inning. Andrew Ray followed with a double to left to score Moesquit and put Bemboom on third. Wade Hinkle was next. His grounder to second drove in Bemboom and sent Ray to third. Rattlers starting pitcher Jorge Lopez got a strikeout for the second out, but a single by Chance Ross with two outs scored Ray for a 3-0 lead. The Bees tacked on a run in the bottom of the second inning. Garrett Cannizaro doubled to start the inning, but he was still at second with two outs. However, Moesquit singled to left with two outs and Cannizaro scored for a 4-0 Burlington lead. Wisconsin (36-47, 7-11) took advantage of an error in the top of the third inning to get on the scoreboard in the top of the third. Michael Reed reached on the two-out miscue to get on base and Tyrone Taylor was next. The Rattlers centerfielder lined a homer to deep left. The two-run shot was the eighth of the season for Taylor and cut the Bees lead to two runs. But, Burlington responded with two runs in the bottom of the third. Lopez walked the first two batters, but made a nice play on an attempted sacrifice bunt to get the force play at third. But, Lopez would throw a wild pitch with Ross at the plate to move both runners into scoring position. Ross singled in both runners on the next pitch and the Bees were back up by four runs. The Rattlers had several answers for those runs by the Bees. Mike Garza led off the top of the fourth with a single. Parker Berberet smashed the next pitch over the wall in left for a two-run home run. In the fifth, Victor Roache stepped to the plate with one out and an 0-2 pitch due. Roache sent a towering drive to left for his eighth home run of the season to pull the Rattlers to within a run. Wisconsin took the lead in the top of the sixth. Chris McFarland doubled to start the frame. Adam Giacalone pulled a grounder to the right side of the infield to move McFarland to third. There were two outs with McFarland still on third when Alfredo Rodriguez took his turn. Rodriguez sent a grounder to deep short. The ball was bobbled and McFarland scored on the error to tie the game as Rodriguez wound up on first base. Reed was next and he ran the count to 3-1. Rodriguez took off on the next pitch to Reed, who lined the ball to the gap in left-center. Rodriguez scored easily as Reed dove into third ahead of the throw for his ninth triple of the season. That hit gave the Rattlers a 7-6 lead. Wisconsin picked up a little insurance in the top of the eighth. Adrian Williams singled and was sacrificed to second by Rodriguez. Reed's bloop single to right got Williams to third. Taylor surprised the Bees by pushing a bunt single up the first base line to get Williams home for an 8-6 lead. Not that Taylor Mangum needed any insurance. The Timber Rattlers reliever took over for Lopez in the bottom of the fifth inning and proceeded to retire all fifteen batters he faced in the game. Mangum earned his second win of the season and struck out five. The Timber Rattlers are off on Tuesday. They return to action on Wednesday with game one of a six-game homestand at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium. The opponents on Wednesday are the Fort Wayne TinCaps, Wisconsin's foe from the 2012 Midwest League Championship Series. Preston Gainey (3-5, 6.46) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Fort Wayne will send Zach Eflin (4-5, 3.30) to the mound. Game time on Wednesday is 7:05pm. Wednesday is a Bang for Your Buck Night with WIXX. That means $1 Cher-Make hot dogs, $1 Pepsi Products, and $1 Miller Beers! It's Red Smith Night, too. Come out to see the scholarship winners from the Red Smith Banquet in a pregame presentation. Plus, the first 500 fans to attend the game will receive BamBams from Cars.com. If you can't make it out to the game on Wednesday, Time Warner Cable SportsChannel will have the television broadcast beginning at 7:00pm. You may also tune in for the radio broadcast on AM1280, WNAM on timberrattlers.com, or through IHeartRadio starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:45pm. Subscribers to MiLB.TV may catch the action, too. HOME RUNS: WIS: Tyrone Taylor (8th, 1 on in 3rd inning off Ryan Crowley, 2 out) Parker Berberet (4th, 1 on in 4th inning off Ryan Crowley, 0 out) Victor Roache (8th, 0 on in 5th inning off Ryan Crowley, 1 out) WP: Taylor Mangum (2-4) LP: Alex Blackford (0-1) TIME: 2:35 ATTN: 872 Wisconsin Boxscore Taylor Mangum was fantastic, in case you missed it above his final line was 5IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, and 5K, yes he was perfect. Orlando Arcia has begun taking batting practice, he is not taking ground balls yet, expect to see him on the upcoming homestand if he progresses as he should. Tyrone Taylor was 0 for his last 9 coming into the AB with the HR, he's been up and down on the road trip but comes back home with a .300 AVE. His OPS of .822 coming into today's game wasn't exceedingly impressive but considering where he was coming into June it actually is, his OPS jumped 180 points in month. Even though Victor Roache has hit in 7 of his last 10 games his BA still isn't all that impressive, it's just above .200 during that stretch with only 2 XBH. However he certainly has the ability to crush the ball, he doesn't hit majestic shots, they are line drive bombs that go forever. Michael Reed, Taylor, Parker Berberet, Chris McFarland, and Adrian Williams all had multi-hit games. Wisconsin Recap Mangum's night, just awesome! Burlington Bottom of the 5th Pitching Change: Taylor Mangum replaces Jorge Lopez. Andrew Ray grounds out, third baseman Alfredo Rodriguez to first baseman Adam Giacalone. Wade Hinkle grounds out, second baseman Christopher McFarland to first baseman Adam Giacalone. Exicardo Cayones strikes out swinging. Burlington Bottom of the 6th Chance Ross grounds out, shortstop Adrian Williams to first baseman Adam Giacalone. Garrett Cannizaro pops out to shortstop Adrian Williams. Chevy Clarke grounds out, second baseman Christopher McFarland to first baseman Adam Giacalone. Burlington Bottom of the 7th Wendell Soto pops out to shortstop Adrian Williams in foul territory. Kevin Moesquit strikes out swinging. Anthony Bemboom flies out to center fielder Tyrone Taylor. Burlington Bottom of the 8th Andrew Ray strikes out swinging. Wade Hinkle strikes out swinging. Exicardo Cayones grounds out, shortstop Adrian Williams to first baseman Adam Giacalone. Burlington Bottom of the 9th Chance Ross flies out to center fielder Tyrone Taylor. Garrett Cannizaro grounds out, shortstop Adrian Williams to first baseman Adam Giacalone. Chevy Clarke strikes out swinging.

I am 100% sure that in the first few months after the 2010 draft (and into that Winter, I believe), he was considered one of the main frontrunners to be the first overall pick in the following year's draft. Obviously he didn't take that step forward, from a scouting perspective, but that was the analysis at the time. Do you remember where you read it? Someone like Mayo perhaps? Because I never read that at PG or BA, he was getting top 5 talk but I didn't find any #1 talk in BA's archive. BA as a whole was certainly higher on Jungmann than I ever was but that seemed to be mostly on intangibles. Feb 3rd, 2011. This Year’s Draft Is Loaded Rendon #1, Cole #2 Feb 3rd, 2011. Early Draft Preview: The Top 50 Jungmann #6: Big-game pitcher has gone 6-0 in two years of NCAA tournament play. Bradley #12: One AL scouting director says he’d take Bradley over any pitcher in this draft. Jan 3rd, 2011 2011 College Top 100 Draft Prospects Jungmann #4 Sep 17th, 2011 2011 Draft Chat: Sept. 17 One of the reasons I'm not big on Aaron Fitt's pitching assessments below.

I don't want to even debate the playoff hunt stuff again but you're on pretty thin ice if that's your main justification for playing an injured player in April and May. I can see at the end of the season or through the playoffs, because there is no more time, but it's a long season. This was a spring training injury, the organization had plenty of time to do it the right way. The situation was exasperated by playing 3 SS on the IF and having no offense out of big offensive positions, we've also beat this into the ground but the simple fact that 3 SS were playing on the IF with Weeks slumping badly was horrible roster construction. If you don't like the minor league options, go get someone other than retreads like Yuni B who already played his way out of town and Gonzalez who only had 1 year of above average offensive production in his career, which was was 2007 when he was 30 years old. I'm not a fan of baseball players trying to play hurt, there's too much twisting in baseball to have guys playing on bad ligaments, or trying to hit with finger and wrist problems when they can barely hang onto the bat. Baseball just doesn't lend itself to playing through injuries, production is going to suffer and risk of further injury is going to go up. Players will certainly have to play through owies, bruises, sore muscles, etc. but shouldn't play through legitimate injuries such as strains and pulls, the injuries won't heal if constantly aggravated.

Umm no. You may like the guy, but he was never the 1st overall in any projection from anyone that I saw. Not in 2010 as a college sophomore and not in 2011 as the draft was approaching. He never had the secondary stuff to be drafted that high. Draft report out of high school: Draft report out of college: This is how scouting reports for the #1 overall read, I blanked the pitcher's name because it doesn't matter:

Recent demoted Tyler Lyons of the Cards and as MH noted earlier our own Andy Moye. Pitchers of the Week

Cards' C prospect Audry Perez and SS prospect Cesar Valera the divisional mentions this week. Offensive Players of the Week

Pirates' relief prospect Vic Black. IL notes: Bullpen suits Indians' Black

Cubs' 2B Logan Watkins. PCL notes: Watkins quick to shed label

Cubs' RHP Matt Loosen D-Cubs' Loosen no-hits Blue Jays

Another subscriber article. Midseason Prospect Update: 10 Breakthrough Prospects For 2013

Subscriber Content, the Pirates and Cards make the list in a good way. Midseason Prospect Update: Picking Five Organizations On A Roll And Five That Have Struggled

Old article, I'm not sure if I linked it last year or not, but since the issue has been discussed around here I'm linking. Even if you read it when it was originally posted it's worth reading again. Has Limiting Innings Now Gone Too Far?

Midseason Prospect Update Chat With JJ Cooper