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Re: Minor Matters
Posted: Sun May 29, 2022 8:14 am
by buck84
#74 RHP – Xzavion Curry – Guardians – Double A Akron – 5’11” – 23
Execution: Curry’s 69% strike rate is top-shelf efficiency. It stems from a high fastball offering. Command of the secondaries isn’t quite as elite, particularly the offspeed stuff. Curry could really stay on the edges and wasn’t afraid to throw the same pitch twice in a row to the same impossible spot for hitters (like the back-to-back breaking balls below).
Development: It feels like the only major box to check is how the stuff plays against better hitters, and maybe get that changeup we saw a few times polished up to at least show-me pitch level.
Stuff: Curry’s mid-90s fastball sets up a slider and curveball capable of swing and miss. There’s also an immature changeup to be spotted occasionally, but Curry doesn’t have the greatest feel for this pitch.
Fantasy Thoughts: Curry does a lot of things I want in a pitcher very well, yet the idea of him starting against major league hitters brings skepticism. Perhaps the small stature gets to me too much or the arguably sophomoric attack? There is plenty of competition within the organization as well. Even so, Curry still has the ability to get hitters out at a high clip because of the fastball. I’m clearly conflicted here, experiencing some rule #4 stuff.
Re: Minor Matters
Posted: Sun May 29, 2022 8:17 am
by buck84
#53 RHP – Peyton Battenfield – Guardians – Double A Akron – 6’4″ – 24
Execution: Battenfield’s 67.5% strike rate impressed while showing a knack for the “good miss”. Battenfield might have a handful of pitches, but for all intents and purposes, it’s a two-pitch attack.
Development: Battenfield might be the #1 pitching spec on a “grinder” list. In what feels like the birth of a true major league innings eater, Battenfield finding MLB success wouldn’t surprise, yet he could be around 26-years-old when debuting, if that matters to you. The strikeout upside feels very debatable.
Stuff: Battenfield’s fastball can hit mid-90s, and although it looks fairly flat to the eye, it’s not, and it’s getting swings and misses at this level consistently. Battenfield’s traditionally shaped curveball that he can land for strikes when he wants is no slouch either. There is also an unremarkable changeup from time to time and Battenfield might be playing with some cut on his fastball.
Fantasy Thoughts: Sometimes the excitement just doesn’t hit you. If there was a bit more in the tool belt, I’d be more excited, but cashing in a share might be the play. Battenfield is the type my newfound take should push up, but I just can’t bring myself to fall too much for the whole package. Out of all the young Cleveland arms, I’m not sold Battenfield is the guy winning out, but he’s too good to write off. In other organizations, I’d give him more fantasy value.
Re: Minor Matters
Posted: Sun May 29, 2022 8:19 am
by buck84
#16 LHP – Logan Allen – Guardians – Double A Akron – 6′ – 23
Execution: Allan displayed some of the best pitch execution of anyone viewed. Changing speeds, mixing location, deception and intestinal fortitude is his game. All three offerings seemingly come out of the same low slot. The 64% strike rate doesn’t tell the command story well as Allen stays on the fringes of the plate…maybe even too much.
Development: One can always get better, but Allen improving command could put him in a different stratosphere. Allan’s velocity has already ticked up as a pro, but the further sharpening of his secondaries offers the real room to grow. The breaking ball made strides as a putout pitch. Despite being undersized, Allan and the Guardians have added some spice to an already capable arm.
Stuff: Allan’s fastball sits about 92 mph, with a great changeup coming in over 10 mph difference. Allan’s also able to get swing and miss from the breaking ball.
Fantasy Thoughts: Questioning strikeout upside is fine, but Allen fits the mold of the crafter improving stuff we may have undervalued for too long. Chips are in.
Re: Minor Matters
Posted: Sun May 29, 2022 8:20 am
by buck84
#6 RHP – Cody Morris – Guardians – Triple A Columbus – 6’5″ – 25
Execution: Morris could stand more polish, but a 64% strike rate, given his four-pitch mix seeking chase, is nothing to shake a stick at. Morris can mix up the attack with the best of them, sometimes lulling you (and hitters) to sleep on a fastball with more punch than advertised.
Development: With some injury history stuff in play, Morris never worked past 75 pitches in an outing, so proving he can handle a starter’s load is still there. Horsepower and getting more efficient pitch-wise might be the only thing holding back a big-time fantasy pitcher.
Stuff: Morris’ vulcan change is one of the best pitches on this list. The slow traditional curveball gets whiffs, the low 90s “slutter” gets whiffs, and the fastball sits about 96 when he decides to throw it in. Morris’ fastball might be a bit flat, but when it’s more of a mixed-in pitch, it devastated. Stuff isn’t a concern and it’s surprising folks who love stuff aren’t throwing Morris more value. The fastball/changeup combo is as effective a two-pitch game as anyone reviewed.
Fantasy Thoughts: I have to put a premium on this level of strikeout fuel paired with acumen, knocking on the big league door. In a nutshell, I want to value him more than his current owner and/or the rest of my league. Sometimes you just have to take a big swing, and I feel great about it here. I have no interest in running to the store for flour when I have cake in front of me. Now it’s time to take a job in the rotation.
2018 Draft – S. Carolina – 186K – 40 man
Re: Minor Matters
Posted: Sun May 29, 2022 8:20 am
by buck84
#4 RHP – Daniel Espino – Guardians – High A Lake County – 6’2″ – 21
Execution: Overall, he spots his pitches well, occasionally getting away from him for an inning here and there. At times the intent gets repetitive and predictable, but this is also when the strikeouts stack up, speaking to the quality of his stuff. Espino can be downright unhittable when he’s on, regularly flirting with immaculate innings at this level. Moving from low to high-A the strike percentage went from 61% to 67%.
Development: Being the athletic power guy he is (below an example of said athleticism) gathering a sense of his pitching acumen might slip by you. The stuff can overwhelm alone, but he can be absolutely lights out when the crafter in him comes out. He’s not all bully. Continued development of the secondary command, and continued adaptation of the Cleveland tricks of deception, and the dream gets nutso.
Stuff: A quintessential power pitcher, built like a linebacker, with a mid-90s fastball capable of triple digits. The fastball also shows late arm side run proving tough for righties in and away. Espino likes to start things off with an outside fastball that comes back over the plate. Espino also has two breaking balls, both playing well off the heater. The slider is basically untouchable at this level providing a fun scavenger hunt for archive divers. Has anyone seen good wood get put on the slider…other than Nick Yorke? Not sure I have. You will also spot a changeup from time to time, specifically to lefties, which flashes nasty as well.
Fantasy Thoughts: The 16.58 K/9 number tells more truth than lies. MLB strikeout upside feels very real. Espino’s trajectory holding leads to the top spot on this list in the not too far future. I’ve got the vice grips on any shares right now trusting this is headed in the right direction.
Re: Minor Matters
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2022 1:21 pm
by civ ollilavad
Well.....
Espino has been great, but now rehabbing a knee injury
Morris has been out all year
Allen looked very good at AA until his last couple starts
Battenfield has been fine in AAA
Curry OK at AA, too many homers
Cantillo even better at AA, lots of K, very few runs
Davenport, uninspiring in Low A
Myers, lousy at AAA
MEANWHILE:
Will Dion and Ray Boone and Jake Leftwich have been terrific for Lynchburg
Hunter Gaddis has been a bit erratic but looking really good for Akron
How he leave out Gavin Williams, last year No. 1 pick; terrific for Lake County, expected in Akron soon
Tanner Bibee No. 5 last year looking great in Lake County; while the No. 2 and 3 picks last year: Nikhazy and Mace have been less impressive
Re: Minor Matters
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2022 1:24 pm
by civ ollilavad
Dion made the Hot Prospect last week; he and Boone are among the Carolina league top guys in WHIP and avg against; Leftwich a bit behind
Gaddis made a Hot Prospect list a couple weeks ago
Williams earlier on.
Espino is generally rated as No. 1 or No. 2 minor league pitching prospect on most lists
Re: Minor Matters
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2022 1:32 pm
by civ ollilavad
BA updates its Top 100 for June:
Espino up to No. 17
Tools: Fastball: 70 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50
Skinny: Espino showcased elite bat-missing stuff in his full-season debut at the Class A levels in 2021. He strikes hitters out in bunches with his powerful four-seam fastball that sits at 97 mph and a high-spin slider in the mid 80s.
Gavin Williams up to No 71 from No. 98 in May and not on the list preseason
Tools: Fastball: 70 | Curveball: 60 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50
Skinny: Cleveland drafted Williams with its first-round pick (No. 23 overall) in 2021 out of East Carolina. The early returns have been outstanding, with Williams pumping the strike zone full of fastballs that sit in the mid 90s and can touch triple digits, along with an assortment of secondary pitches that project average to plus.
George Valera drops to 73 from 63; has a good week last week, overall not too exciting
Tyler Freeman falls to 76 from 59; finally back in action, Not up to his full speed
Brayan Rocchio lalls to 77 from 60; nothing much shown to date as a very young AA SS
Gabriel Arias up to 80 from 89 although he's on IL for a few weeks longer
Steven Kwan now listed at 97, drop from 92, but he'll not qualify as a "prospect" any day now with nearly 60 days in the majors
Bo Naylor rejoins the list at 98 after a down year, hitting far better in his second go round at Akron
Tools: Hit: 45 | Power: 50 | Run: 50 | Fielding: 55 | Arm: 60
Skinny: After an underwhelming year at Double-A, albeit as one of the league’s youngest players, Naylor returned to the level and has shown markedly improved plate discipline while still maintaining his defensive chops behind the plate
Re: Minor Matters
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2022 1:57 pm
by civ ollilavad
I was away about a week, so you missed these informative lists of daily lines; now you can be happy again
CLE AAA #1 Tyler Freeman, SS 5 1 1 0 .222
CLE MAJ #13 Richard Palacios, 2B 3 1 2 1 .283 2B (9),
CLE AAA #16 Bryan Lavastida, C 5 2 2 0 .208 2B (3), E (1),
CLE HiA #18 Gabriel Rodriguez,3B 4 0 2 0 .252
CLE HiA #20 Jhonkensy Noel, 3B 3 0 0 0 .214 BB (13),
CLE HiA #22 Petey Halpin, OF 4 0 0 0 .201
CLE HiA #25 Aaron Bracho, 2B 2 0 1 0 .160 BB (4), SB (1),
CLE MAJ #27 Steven Kwan, OF 4 0 2 0 .252 BB (19),
CLE LoA #32 Isaiah Greene, OF 3 0 0 0 .233 BB (32), SB (8), [all those walks lead to a 759 OPS; and rising--keep an eye on him]
CLE LoA #33 Milan Tolentino, 2B 3 0 1 0 .356 BB (28),
CLE LoA #37 Luis Durango, OF 3 0 0 0 .188
CLE LoA #38 Yordys Valdes, SS 4 1 1 0 .252
CLE AAA #39 Will Brennan, OF 5 0 2 0 .294 2B (14), promoted to AA last week; big improvement at bat this year
CLE LoA #40 Jake Fox, SS 3 2 1 0 .245
CLE MAJ #30 Konnor Pilkington, LHP 5.0 5 0 0 2 8 3.77 W (1-0)
Re: Minor Matters
Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2022 11:41 am
by civ ollilavad
Thursday
not on the top 40 but: Will Benson 3 1 1 0 244 2 walks steal #12 CS #2 BB #33 OPS 834
CLE AAA #1 Tyler Freeman, SS 3 2 1 3 .225 HR (3), 2 BB (9),
CLE AA #3 Brayan Rocchio, SS 3 0 0 1 .221 E (7),
CLE AA #4 George Valera, SS 3 0 0 0 .261 BB (27),
CLE HiA #10 Angel Martinez, SS 3 0 1 2 .272
CLE AA #11 Jose Tena, SS 3 1 1 0 .277
CLE AAA #16 Bryan Lavastida, C 4 1 1 0 .210 BB (16),
CLE HiA #18 Gabriel Rodriguez, 3B 4 0 0 0 .243
CLE HiA #20 Jhonkensy Noel, 3B 4 2 2 4 .222 HR (11), E (7),
CLE HiA #22 Petey Halpin, OF 5 1 2 0 .209 CS (3),
CLE LoA #32 Isaiah Greene, OF 3 1 1 0 .235 3B (5),
CLE LoA #37 Luis Durango, OF 1 0 0 0 .186 BB (20), CS (7),
CLE LoA #38 Yordys Valdes, SS 3 0 1 0 .254 BB (13), CS (4),
CLE AAA #39 Will Brennan, OF 4 1 1 3 .293 2B (15), BB (19),
CLE LoA #40 Jake Fox, SS 3 1 1 1 .247 3B (1),
CLE AA #34 Joey Cantillo, LHP 4.0 4 2 2 2 5 2.19
Re: Minor Matters
Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2022 1:25 pm
by civ ollilavad
some notes on Isaiah Greene:
5 triples;
8 for 8 in stolen bases
32 walks
Re: Minor Matters
Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2022 3:35 pm
by civ ollilavad
today
UNK for Lynchburg
Gavin Willaims for Lake County 1.40 ERA 59K in 39 innings 0.85 WHIP. Will be in Akron pretty soon
Akron plays 2: Logan Allen now 4.18 after 3 stinkers in a row. He's beginning to pitch like the other Logan Allen
In last 3: 15 innings 15 runs 26 hits 5 homers 4 walks 22 K
in previous 32 innings 7 runs 23 hits 1 homer 12 walks 43 K
in game 2: Luis Oviedo since Cle got hm back: 11 1/3 IP 3 runs 7 hits 9 walks 12 K
Columbus: OSU lefty Tanner Tully 3.57 and he got his lucky 2 innings with CLE during Covid crisis
Re: Minor Matters
Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2022 9:20 pm
by civ ollilavad
Besides Bieber it was a great night for other aces:
Logan Allen back in gear:6 2/3 2 hits 1 run 1 walk 8 K.
[and Valera a 3 run homer plus a walk; Naylor single and walk]
[2 more hits by Valera in game 2; Tena with one in the opener, 2 in the nightcap]
Gavin Williams 6 1/3 5 hits 1 run 1 walk 8 K
Noel with his 12th homer
Rodney Boone 6 shutout innings 4 hits no walks 6 K.
Isaiah Greene homered; Y Valdes 2 singles; Jake Fox triple and walk; Tolentino 2 hits, 2 rbi
Logic suggests all 3 of those starters will be moving up a level soon
Boone like Allen is a lefty, 8th round pick, 6-1 195; age 22 he's maybe a little old for Lynchburg; Here's a typical Cleveland stat: 63 stikeouts, 8 walks, 48 2/3innings
Re: Minor Matters
Posted: Sat Jun 04, 2022 3:52 pm
by civ ollilavad
Good to see Tanner Burns is back in action for Akron after missing a couple starts; He has a 1.69 ERA with 27K in 21 IP. Post 1st round pick in 2021.
Lefty Doug Nikhazy, 2nd round pick in 2021 for Lake County; great strike out total with 39 in 26 innings, but ERA 4.15 and WHIP 1.7 and an alarming 23 walks.
Peyton Battenfield today for Columbus, 2.78 ERA,he is NOT a striekout pitcher: 34 in 55 IP, 18 walks, 4 home runs.
no name listed for the Lynchburg starter.
Re: Minor Matters
Posted: Sat Jun 04, 2022 3:59 pm
by civ ollilavad
Battenfiield is sturndy if not flashy, 3rd in the IL in IP, 7th in WHIP, 10th in average against