Wednesday 7/25/2012 Minor League Updates

[texasdave]

Brett Tomko made the start for Louisville with mixed results. He went three innings, giving up four hits, two walks and three runs. The Bats have been pretty much silent on offense so far. Costanzo with a single and a double. Gregorius, Valaika and Felix Perez with singles. Perez now hitting .280 on the season. Louisville trails 4 zip in the 8th.

[texasdave]

Top of the fifth and Hunstville leads Pensacola by a score of 5-1. Billy Hamilton walked, stole second and scored on a single by Bryson Smith in the first. Ryan LaMarre and David Vidal both have singled as well. Kyle Lotzkar was stung by the long ball tonight, giving up three of them. 4IP 6H 4R 3ER 3BB 5K. Wilkin De La Rosa has pitched and inning and has given up a tater too.

[texasdave]

Dayton and Great Lakes in a brouhaha, tied at 7 in the eight inning. Three Dragons have left the park, O'Shea, Waldrop and Buckley. Sammy Diaz, recently called up from Billings, is 1 for 2 with a walk. He replaced Jefry Sierra who was 1 for 1. Juan Perez is 2 for 4. Jacob Johnson with another rough start. He worked 5.2 innings but did not receive much help from his defense. He gave up 7 runs but only 4 were earned. He didn't walk a batter and struck out six. El'Hajj Muhammad pitched a scoreless 1 1/3 innings.

[texasdave]

Billings outlasted Grand Junction by a score of 12-11 in 10 innings. Maddox and Mejias-Brean left the stadium.

Beau Amaral three doubles and a walk, 2 runs scored and 2 driven in.
Jesse Winker 1 for 5 with a walk, 1 run scored and 1 driven in.
Mejias-Brean 3 for 5 with a walk, a double and a home run, 2 runs scored, 2 driven in. He is now hitting .406.
Maddox 2 for 6, 1 run scored, 3 driven in.
Zach Vincej 2 for 5, 1 run scored, 2 driven in.
Fray Sosa 1 for 3 with a walk, 3 runs scored.
Carlos Sanchez and Taylor Wrenn with singles.

[ucnum1]

I am not sure the why or hype about Lotkzar.I have yet to see this kid have his control under control this season.He generally gets behind in the count and throws his fastball high and gets hit.General rule of thumb for his season so far.

[dougdirt]

Originally Posted by ucnum1

I am not sure the why or hype about Lotkzar.I have yet to see this kid have his control under control this season.He generally gets behind in the count and throws his fastball high and gets hit.General rule of thumb for his season so far.

His stuff is very good. His control has seemingly gotten worse as the season has gone on. Still, patience needs to be preached with him. Coming into the season he had 180 innings pitched in 5 years since being drafted. He is incredibly young in terms of experience despite being 22. Toss in that he has completely overhauled his mechanics, he had 110 innings with those mechanics coming into the year. Still, above-average fastball velocity and a plus breaking ball.

[j_m_t_us]

Originally Posted by dougdirt

His stuff is very good. His control has seemingly gotten worse as the season has gone on. Still, patience needs to be preached with him. Coming into the season he had 180 innings pitched in 5 years since being drafted. He is incredibly young in terms of experience despite being 22. Toss in that he has completely overhauled his mechanics, he had 110 innings with those mechanics coming into the year. Still, above-average fastball velocity and a plus breaking ball.

I have seen him pitch a couple times and am not very impressed so far! Here is a guy who should have probably stayed in Bakersfield longer as he looks over matched in double-A. Not saying he wont be a good pitcher but he is really struggling right now!

[bellhead]

Originally Posted by ucnum1

I am not sure the why or hype about Lotkzar.I have yet to see this kid have his control under control this season.He generally gets behind in the count and throws his fastball high and gets hit.General rule of thumb for his season so far.

Don't look at his stats right now...

1.) He is at a career high in innings, so he is tired...
2.) 22 and at AA, most guys his age are now just graduating college and beginning Low A or Rookie ball...

[Blitz Dorsey]

Originally Posted by bellhead

Don't look at his stats right now...

1.) He is at a career high in innings, so he is tired...
2.) 22 and at AA, most guys his age are now just graduating college and beginning Low A or Rookie ball...

I'm going to look at his stats. Guy is not getting it done. We can make excuses all day as to why he's not getting it done. Baseball is a bottom-line business. He's not getting it done.

[bubbachunk]

Originally Posted by Blitz Dorsey

I'm going to look at his stats. Guy is not getting it done. We can make excuses all day as to why he's not getting it done. Baseball is a bottom-line business. He's not getting it done.

Minor league baseball is not a bottom line business, period.

[dougdirt]

Originally Posted by Blitz Dorsey

I'm going to look at his stats. Guy is not getting it done. We can make excuses all day as to why he's not getting it done. Baseball is a bottom-line business. He's not getting it done.

Major League Baseball is a bottom-line business. Minor League Baseball is a learning your skills business. There is a reason that these guys are in the minor leagues. They are still learning. They are still developing.

[bellhead]

Originally Posted by Blitz Dorsey

I'm going to look at his stats. Guy is not getting it done. We can make excuses all day as to why he's not getting it done. Baseball is a bottom-line business. He's not getting it done.

If he was 24 and not getting it done things would be different. He is 22, has had major injury problems during his career which has not let him build innings. Right not he is at his career high of innings pitched and is showing major fatigue.

Things which he has going for him..

1.) Mid 90's fast ball with movement late in the zone.
2.) Plus change up with excellent arm action.

He has the potential to be a 1 to 3 type pitcher in the rotation and is extremely raw despite being 22. I think next year is critical for him and we'll see if he progresses in May and June next year.

[dougdirt]

Josh Ravin showing off why he has one of the best arms in the system just now. Faced 4 batters, struck out three and walked one. Throwing up to 97 with that breaking ball.... just unfair when he can throw strikes.

[dougdirt]

And Didi Gregorius just hit a walk off solo home run, Bats win 5-4.

[batsfan]

Didi has shown suprising power, especially with the long right field at Louisville Slugger Field.