Minor League Roundup

[Butcher]

<!--quoteo(post=68536:date=Nov 8 2009, 09:31 PM:name=Dingo)-->QUOTE (Dingo @ Nov 8 2009, 09:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Donnie Veal's AFL numbers:

3-0, 0.54 ERA, 16.2 IP, 9 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 17 SO

But hey, at least we got Patten! [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blink.gif[/img]<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Ouch.

[rok]

<!--quoteo(post=68549:date=Nov 9 2009, 10:45 AM:name=Butcher)-->QUOTE (Butcher @ Nov 9 2009, 10:45 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=68536:date=Nov 8 2009, 09:31 PM:name=Dingo)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dingo @ Nov 8 2009, 09:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Donnie Veal's AFL numbers:

3-0, 0.54 ERA, 16.2 IP, 9 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 17 SO

But hey, at least we got Patten! [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blink.gif[/img]<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Ouch.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Or he could turn into another Rich Hill.

[Andy]

I was under the belief, Rule 5 players must be on the roster the entire year (unless injured).

How did Veal pitch 7 games with the Pirates AA team and 9 with their AAA team? He's now pitching in the AFL.

Yes, he had a whopping 19 games for 16 innings on the Pirates where he had a 7.16 era.

I'm not exactly sure how it's possible he had nearly as many minor league games as major league games. Doesn't that circumvent the entire point of the Rule 5 draft?

[ColoradoCub]

<!--quoteo(post=68557:date=Nov 9 2009, 11:34 AM:name=Andy)-->QUOTE (Andy @ Nov 9 2009, 11:34 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I was under the belief, Rule 5 players must be on the roster the entire year (unless injured).

How did Veal pitch 7 games with the Pirates AA team and 9 with their AAA team? He's now pitching in the AFL.

Yes, he had a whopping 19 games for 16 innings on the Pirates where he had a 7.16 era.

I'm not exactly sure how it's possible he had nearly as many minor league games as major league games. Doesn't that circumvent the entire point of the Rule 5 draft?<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

He was on a rehab assignment.

[Andy]

Yeah, he was twice place on 15-day DL, both times being on it over a month. When he did pitch, it was only for clean up and blow out games.

So why didn't we do the same thing with Patten again?

[ruby23]

<!--quoteo(post=68560:date=Nov 9 2009, 12:40 PM:name=Andy)-->QUOTE (Andy @ Nov 9 2009, 12:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Yeah, he was twice place on 15-day DL, both times being on it over a month. When he did pitch, it was only for clean up and blow out games.

So why didn't we do the same thing with Patten again?<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
We basically did. He was up for the required amount of time that he had to be on the 25 man roster and then was immediately DL'd after that.

[ColoradoCub]

<!--quoteo(post=68568:date=Nov 9 2009, 11:51 AM:name=ruby23)-->QUOTE (ruby23 @ Nov 9 2009, 11:51 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=68560:date=Nov 9 2009, 12:40 PM:name=Andy)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Andy @ Nov 9 2009, 12:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Yeah, he was twice place on 15-day DL, both times being on it over a month. When he did pitch, it was only for clean up and blow out games.

So why didn't we do the same thing with Patten again?<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
We basically did. He was up for the required amount of time that he had to be on the 25 man roster and then was immediately DL'd after that.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Which I think is 90 games.

[Mikey]

<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->11/8 Rising Stars
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Yesterday at 9:59am

Starlin Castro had two hits in Saturday night's Arizona Fall League's Rising Stars game, played in Surprise. Castro's East team scored seven runs in the first inning, but lost the game, 8-7, to the West. Cubs prospect Blake Parker pitched one inning in relief for the East.

The Mesa Solar Sox have Sunday off and return to action Monday, playing host to the Scottsdale Scorpions at HoHoKam Park.

-- Carrie Muskat<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

[Coach]

Both of Castro's hits in the game were bloopers into RF. He did sharply line a ball to RF that was caught for the other AB.

I was greatly impressed with his baserunning skills. While on first, the catcher bobbled a ball in front of him. Castro aggressively realized this and took off to 2nd. The catcher rushed his throw, and it went into CF allowing Starlin to reach 3rd.

[funkster]

Finally got to see one of his at bats on that Rising Stars replay last night...I can't get over how young he looks. I know he's 19 but seeing him for the first time live as opposed to press photos really drove that home.

[ColoradoCub]

<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->Blue Jays purchased the contract of first baseman Brian Dopirak from Triple-A Las Vegas.
Toronto adds the 25-year-old first baseman to their 40-man roster on the heels of his .317/.371/.549 line with 27 home runs and 102 RBI between Double-A New Hampshire and Triple-A Las Vegas this season. Some thought the former top-prospect deserved a call to the big leagues, but Randy Ruiz got the assignment instead. At least he's protected from the Rule 5 draft, now<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

[Mikey]

<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->11/10 AFL update
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Today at 5:01pm

Michael Brenly had two hits in the Mesa Solar Sox's 6-4 win over Surprise on Tuesday. Starlin Castro was 0-for-5, and his average has dipped to .387. Castro was back at shortstop on Tuesday; he started at second base on Monday, and went 1-for-4 in a 3-2 win over Scottsdale. On Wednesday, the Solar Sox play host to Surprise at HoHoKam Park.

Cubs prospect Josh Vitters, who has been sidelined with a strained pectoral muscle suffered last Wednesday, was expected to resume playing with the Solar Sox this week.

-- Carrie Muskat<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

[Mikey]

<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->11/12 AFL & winter ball update
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Today at 8:29am

Josh Vitters returned to action in the Arizona Fall League on Wednesday. Vitters was the DH in the Mesa Solar Sox's 9-8 win over Surprise, and went 2-for-5 with a RBI. He had been sidelined with a strained pectoral muscle. Andrew Cashner, the Cubs' No. 1 Draft pick in 2008, started the game for the AFL team and gave up four runs on seven hits over three innings. He struck out five.

In Mexican League play, Thomas Diamond picked up his first win Wednesday in his second start. The right-hander threw five shutout innings, giving up four hits and striking out six in Mexicali's 3-1 win over Mochis.

-- Carrie Muskat<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

[Coach]

AFL article with Castro video
<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->Starlin Castro, Chicago Cubs: If there's only one name to highlight from the shortstop position, this is it. Just 19 years old, he already reached Double-A late this year. He's hit .301 in his three-year career in the minors, but remains under the radar to most because he's slugged just .393. I'm betting that's going to start to change. Castro has an advanced bat for his age and should start to add more pop as he physically matures, thanks to a smooth swing, good bat speed and a good approach. He's also a 60 defender on the 20-80 scouting scale with a 70 arm. We'll have to wait a bit for the full package to develop, but get in on the ground floor.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

[rok]

Am I nuts to believe that Diamond could turn into the Randy Wells (with an even higher ceiling) of 2010? This guy was highly touted for so long, and seems to have figured things out. Normally, I wouldn't give a shit about a journeyman prospect, but this guy intrigues me.