Midseason Top 10 update?
Behind McKenzie and Mejia as joint No. 1 prospects, Bradley must fit at as No. 3. Then what? Of the rest of the preseason Top 10, Zimmer and Gonzalez have graduated. Aiken is terrible. Chang has his pluses and his minuses. Jones and Benson have hardly played and Allen had a fine start but has been out for more than a month. The next four in the BA list were Yandy and Ice and Mathias and Hillman who haven't lifted their ratings. The rest of their top 20 include a few who are ready to bump up: Castro, Morimando, Civale, followed by Bieber, Merritt, Merryweather and your follower Oscar. Esparza and Pannone are more of our new standard strike-throwing moderately hard-throwing pitchers.
Not sure if any of the ceiling ratings for the pitchers are more than "45's" i.e. potential back of the rotation inning eaters. Which are very useful add-ons to a staff anchored by stars like Kluber and hopefully McKenzie.
Re: Minor Matters
7172Well gee, Civ, doesn't sound nearly as fun when you put it like that. What are you saying, I'm some kind of late night creepy uncle? Why'd you have to pee in my Cheerios this morning?civ ollilavad wrote:You have an 18-year-old kid following you??
I prefer to look at it as a young fella looking for a very insightful intelligent Indians fan to follow and learn from. When he couldn't find one he settled on me.
Re: Minor Matters
7173As far as your top prospect list ... in my worthless opinion you mentioned Pannone too late, and criminal you didn't mention Yandy or Allen at all.
My updated top prospect list would look something like ... Tully 1 and Gantt 2 ... Go Buckeyes!
But seriously ...
1. F.Mejia
2. McKenzie
3. Yandy
4. Allen
5. Bradley
6. Pannone
7. Bieber
8. Civale
9. Morimando
10. Merritt
11. Tully
12. Castro
13. Krauth
14. Merryweather
15. Esparza
16. Chiang
My updated top prospect list would look something like ... Tully 1 and Gantt 2 ... Go Buckeyes!
But seriously ...
1. F.Mejia
2. McKenzie
3. Yandy
4. Allen
5. Bradley
6. Pannone
7. Bieber
8. Civale
9. Morimando
10. Merritt
11. Tully
12. Castro
13. Krauth
14. Merryweather
15. Esparza
16. Chiang
Re: Minor Matters
7174Tribeinsider @tribeinsider 1 hour ago
System moves today
Tribeinsider @tribeinsider 1 hour ago
The # Indians have signed 5 additional draft selections from the 2017 MLB draft, bringing the current total to 26
System moves today
The # Indians have signed 5 additional draft selections from the 2017 MLB draft, bringing the current total to 26
Re: Minor Matters
7176I think Bradley's walks and his improvement over the course of the season keep him at No. 3. There's always the risk that a power hitting 1B will flame out, but he's not being slowed down yet as he moves into higher levels, including the "pitching friendly Eastern League"
I have no strong arguments for anyone else although I'd probably rate some position players higher than you have. Willi Castro would probably make my top 10. So would Chang, although not sure what to do with a power hitting low-average SS. One short season and one week doesn't prove much but I'd find room for Oscar in there ahead of a couple of your pitchers, Tully and Krauth.
I suppose I'd rank the top something like [but could switch anyone from 4-20]:
McKenzie
Mejia
Bradley
Bieber
Allen
Morimando
Castro
Chang
Merryweather
Civale
Gonzalez
Merritt
Esparza
Benson
Diaz
Ice
Jones
Cantu
the top couple
picks in this year's draft
I have no strong arguments for anyone else although I'd probably rate some position players higher than you have. Willi Castro would probably make my top 10. So would Chang, although not sure what to do with a power hitting low-average SS. One short season and one week doesn't prove much but I'd find room for Oscar in there ahead of a couple of your pitchers, Tully and Krauth.
I suppose I'd rank the top something like [but could switch anyone from 4-20]:
McKenzie
Mejia
Bradley
Bieber
Allen
Morimando
Castro
Chang
Merryweather
Civale
Gonzalez
Merritt
Esparza
Benson
Diaz
Ice
Jones
Cantu
the top couple
picks in this year's draft
Re: Minor Matters
7177Well, just remember my list is always who I think has the best chance at being a good every day player in MLB. It is really hard to project the really lower level guys so even though I like some of them, like Oscar, I tend to steer clear of them for a bit. But look at my list as a Vegas odds sheet. I think Frankie has a 7 to 5 chance at being a good every day MLB player. Triston Mc-K 2 to 1. Yandy 3-1. Allen 4-1, and so on... So the difference in some of these guys in my mind isn't much.
I actually agree with you about Castro. I had a really hard time in that 10 through 13 area. I could have interchanged the 4 in any order really. But I gave the nod to Merritt for the reasons I stated above. His last couple starts in the big leagues, which includes a stressful start in ALCS on the road, has proved he can pitch in big leagues, so I gave him the nod. Had Krauth at the bottom of those 4 guys for reasons I mentioned above too. He's still just in low A and harder to project, even though he looks very dominating and I think he can be at least a very good reliever for a long time.
But I like Castro, every bit as much as Merritt and Tully, which says something.
I have warmed up to Bradley quite a bit the last several weeks. The last time I did a list I think I had him 6th or 7th, so he's moving up. Love the work he's put in this year getting control of that strikeout problem. He could pass up Allen in my mind before seasons end. And that's saying something cause I have always really liked Allen.
I actually agree with you about Castro. I had a really hard time in that 10 through 13 area. I could have interchanged the 4 in any order really. But I gave the nod to Merritt for the reasons I stated above. His last couple starts in the big leagues, which includes a stressful start in ALCS on the road, has proved he can pitch in big leagues, so I gave him the nod. Had Krauth at the bottom of those 4 guys for reasons I mentioned above too. He's still just in low A and harder to project, even though he looks very dominating and I think he can be at least a very good reliever for a long time.
But I like Castro, every bit as much as Merritt and Tully, which says something.
I have warmed up to Bradley quite a bit the last several weeks. The last time I did a list I think I had him 6th or 7th, so he's moving up. Love the work he's put in this year getting control of that strikeout problem. He could pass up Allen in my mind before seasons end. And that's saying something cause I have always really liked Allen.
Re: Minor Matters
7178Akron with 4 players named to Eastern League All-Star team.
(C) Francisco Mejia
(SS) Yu-Cheng Chang
LHP Thomas Pannone
RHP Cameron Hill
By the way, Captains played early today. And Juan Hillman was sensational. Best start of his pro career. I'll give full run down later of course.
(C) Francisco Mejia
(SS) Yu-Cheng Chang
LHP Thomas Pannone
RHP Cameron Hill
By the way, Captains played early today. And Juan Hillman was sensational. Best start of his pro career. I'll give full run down later of course.
Re: Minor Matters
7179Indians Prospective @indiansPro
DSL #Indians transactions RHP Kery Adoni assigned to Arizona Rookie League
#Indians 2017 2nd Round Pick Quentin Holmes of Monsignor McClancy Memorial HS, NY has signed & will report to the Arizona Rookie League.
Tyler Freeman @tyler_freeman34 3 hours ago
Very blessed to have signed my first official pro contract with the @Indians. Thank you @ParagonSportInt for everything. All glory to god!
DSL #Indians transactions RHP Kery Adoni assigned to Arizona Rookie League
#Indians 2017 2nd Round Pick Quentin Holmes of Monsignor McClancy Memorial HS, NY has signed & will report to the Arizona Rookie League.
Very blessed to have signed my first official pro contract with the @Indians. Thank you @ParagonSportInt for everything. All glory to god!
Re: Minor Matters
7180Improving Hillman flirts with no-hitter
Indians No. 11 prospect takes feat into seventh for Lake County
By Sam Dykstra / MiLB.com | June 28, 2017 6:50 PM ET
Juan Hillman swears he felt better than his 6.22 ERA indicated entering Class A Lake County's Wednesday matinee. That number had been on a steady decline since a rough April in which he gave up 20 earned runs in 17 innings, and he could feel the confidence rising ever slightly.
"I won't say it was sky high before today, but it was pretty high," the Indians' No. 11 prospect said. "These last couple outings, I kept getting one step closer, one mistake closer to being where I need to be. Maybe in my last start, I made three mistakes and give up some runs here and there. But that was better than earlier when I'd make five mistakes or something. I just had to keep that mentality and trust that process that a great day would come."
If Hillman made any mistakes Wednesday, they didn't appear in the box score. He carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning and completed seven frames for his first scoreless outing since July 10, 2016, but the Captains fell to the Great Lakes Loons, 4-0, at Classic Park. He matched a career high with eight strikeouts while allowing just one hit and two walks.
Gameday box score »
"My fastball location took a big step forward today and that was very exciting," said Hillman, whose ERA dropped to 5.60. "I was able to put it and in out, keep hitters off balance and it helped my off-speed play as well. It came down to repeating my delivery more and staying better on my back leg, so that I was getting on the front with more authority. I have to focus more on throwing through the catcher, and that happened pretty well today."
The 20-year-old southpaw retired the first 17 Loons he faced before a walk to Gersel Pitre. One frame later Cody Thomas struck a one-out double to right field. Hillman walked cleanup hitter Keibert Ruiz, a .313 switch-hitter this season, on a 3-2 curveball to put two on with one out. That prompted a mound visit from Captains pitching coach Jason Blanton.
"I didn't have a problem with the walk because I knew that hitter could be really aggressive to drive in the run, but he came out asking, 'What're you thinking?'" Hillman said. "I knew how my fastball was feeling, so I wanted to come in on the next guy and try to get a ground ball. When I said that, he said, 'Right on,' and I went back to attacking hitters again."
The 2015 second-rounder got Oneil Cruz to bounce into a 6-4 forceout and ended the threat by striking out Mitchell Hansen. His day was officially done after 90 pitches, 57 of them strikes.
Hillman said the key to his first spectacular outing of 2017 was an ability to find his form early on. The left-hander entered the day with a 7.62 ERA and six homers allowed in the first inning, but once his delivery locked in, he knew it could be a special outing. That didn't keep Blanton off his case, though.
"I'm trying not to let my lower half flop out because that's when I get into trouble," Hillman said. "When that happens, [Blanton] will yell at me from the dugout. 'Hey, Juan.' I'll just give him that nod that I know exactly what he's talking about and try to tighten things up again. For the most part, I was good about that today, but it's good to have that reminder."
He'll likely end June with a 2.89 ERA over five starts this month, down from 10.59 in April and 5.26 in May. About halfway through his first campaign with a full-season club, the Winter Haven, Florida native feels like a much different pitcher than the one that left Spring Training almost three months ago.
"It's night and day," Hillman said. "My teammates can vouch for me on that. All the work I've been putting in is slowly paying off. It's not as fast as I'd like obviously, and I won't tell you I'm enjoying the ups and downs. But I'm just trusting the process, and I know the whole experience is going to make me a better pitcher."
Great Lakes eventually came away with the win after Ruiz smacked a grand slam in the ninth off reliever Ryder Ryan. Jacob Lee (0-1) suffered with the loss after loading the bases.
Loons starter A.J. Alexy allowed two hits and three walks while striking out six in five frames.
Indians No. 11 prospect takes feat into seventh for Lake County
By Sam Dykstra / MiLB.com | June 28, 2017 6:50 PM ET
Juan Hillman swears he felt better than his 6.22 ERA indicated entering Class A Lake County's Wednesday matinee. That number had been on a steady decline since a rough April in which he gave up 20 earned runs in 17 innings, and he could feel the confidence rising ever slightly.
"I won't say it was sky high before today, but it was pretty high," the Indians' No. 11 prospect said. "These last couple outings, I kept getting one step closer, one mistake closer to being where I need to be. Maybe in my last start, I made three mistakes and give up some runs here and there. But that was better than earlier when I'd make five mistakes or something. I just had to keep that mentality and trust that process that a great day would come."
If Hillman made any mistakes Wednesday, they didn't appear in the box score. He carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning and completed seven frames for his first scoreless outing since July 10, 2016, but the Captains fell to the Great Lakes Loons, 4-0, at Classic Park. He matched a career high with eight strikeouts while allowing just one hit and two walks.
Gameday box score »
"My fastball location took a big step forward today and that was very exciting," said Hillman, whose ERA dropped to 5.60. "I was able to put it and in out, keep hitters off balance and it helped my off-speed play as well. It came down to repeating my delivery more and staying better on my back leg, so that I was getting on the front with more authority. I have to focus more on throwing through the catcher, and that happened pretty well today."
The 20-year-old southpaw retired the first 17 Loons he faced before a walk to Gersel Pitre. One frame later Cody Thomas struck a one-out double to right field. Hillman walked cleanup hitter Keibert Ruiz, a .313 switch-hitter this season, on a 3-2 curveball to put two on with one out. That prompted a mound visit from Captains pitching coach Jason Blanton.
"I didn't have a problem with the walk because I knew that hitter could be really aggressive to drive in the run, but he came out asking, 'What're you thinking?'" Hillman said. "I knew how my fastball was feeling, so I wanted to come in on the next guy and try to get a ground ball. When I said that, he said, 'Right on,' and I went back to attacking hitters again."
The 2015 second-rounder got Oneil Cruz to bounce into a 6-4 forceout and ended the threat by striking out Mitchell Hansen. His day was officially done after 90 pitches, 57 of them strikes.
Hillman said the key to his first spectacular outing of 2017 was an ability to find his form early on. The left-hander entered the day with a 7.62 ERA and six homers allowed in the first inning, but once his delivery locked in, he knew it could be a special outing. That didn't keep Blanton off his case, though.
"I'm trying not to let my lower half flop out because that's when I get into trouble," Hillman said. "When that happens, [Blanton] will yell at me from the dugout. 'Hey, Juan.' I'll just give him that nod that I know exactly what he's talking about and try to tighten things up again. For the most part, I was good about that today, but it's good to have that reminder."
He'll likely end June with a 2.89 ERA over five starts this month, down from 10.59 in April and 5.26 in May. About halfway through his first campaign with a full-season club, the Winter Haven, Florida native feels like a much different pitcher than the one that left Spring Training almost three months ago.
"It's night and day," Hillman said. "My teammates can vouch for me on that. All the work I've been putting in is slowly paying off. It's not as fast as I'd like obviously, and I won't tell you I'm enjoying the ups and downs. But I'm just trusting the process, and I know the whole experience is going to make me a better pitcher."
Great Lakes eventually came away with the win after Ruiz smacked a grand slam in the ninth off reliever Ryder Ryan. Jacob Lee (0-1) suffered with the loss after loading the bases.
Loons starter A.J. Alexy allowed two hits and three walks while striking out six in five frames.
Re: Minor Matters
7181Freeman, our second draft pick this year, got to hang out with a pretty good middle infielder before tonights game.
Re: Minor Matters
7182Clippers lose to Charlotte 7-6. ... Clips score 3 in top of 9th to take lead 6-5. Then Knights comes back and score 2 in bottom for win. ... You missed a good one, UD!. ... Almonte 0-3 with walk. ... Naquin 3-4 with a triple. We need to bring him up! LOL ... Yandy 1-5 with RBI. ... Merritt starts tomorrow.
Akron beats SeaWolves 6-5. ... Papi 2-4 with a homer. ... Mejia 0-5. ... Bradley 2-3 with a walk. ... Esparza pitches tomorrow.
Lynchburg beats Salem 7-3. ... Civale was at it again. 5 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 K. He and Bieber continue to have great BB/K ratios. ... Marabell 2-4 with a walk. ... Willi Castro was 3-5 with a single, double, homer, and 4 RBI's. If it wasn't so hard to hit a single he would have had a cycle. Might bump him up to 10th on my list, at least till I see Merritt pitch tomorrow. ... Some guy named McKenzie pitches tomorrow.
Lake County loses to Great Lakes 4-0. But sure was not Juan Hillman's fault. He was fabulous. 7 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 8 K. ... He had a perfect game till a walk in the 5th, and a no hitter till 1 out in 6th. ... Chu 2-3 with a double. ... Collins 1-3 with walk. ... Jiminez starts tomorrow.
Scrappers lose 2-1 to the Black Bears of West By Golly. ... Vasquez was good. 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 5 K. ... Jones 2-4 with double. ... Benson 1-3 with double. ... Scolamiero 1-3. ... Plesac starts tomorrow.
AZL Mariners 8 #Indians 4
Tinsley 2-3 R HR 3RBI BB
Dominguez 2-4 2R 2B 3B RBI BB
Manzanillo 3(IP) 0H 0ER 1SO
DSL Indians 2 DSL Dodgers 4
Celesten 2-3 R, 2B, HR, RBI, BB
Lopez 1-5
Gonzalez 1-4 RBI, BB
DSL Rays 7 #Indians/Brewers 3
Kelkboom 1-3 R 2B BB SB
Perez 2-3 2B 2RBI BB SB
Akron beats SeaWolves 6-5. ... Papi 2-4 with a homer. ... Mejia 0-5. ... Bradley 2-3 with a walk. ... Esparza pitches tomorrow.
Lynchburg beats Salem 7-3. ... Civale was at it again. 5 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 K. He and Bieber continue to have great BB/K ratios. ... Marabell 2-4 with a walk. ... Willi Castro was 3-5 with a single, double, homer, and 4 RBI's. If it wasn't so hard to hit a single he would have had a cycle. Might bump him up to 10th on my list, at least till I see Merritt pitch tomorrow. ... Some guy named McKenzie pitches tomorrow.
Lake County loses to Great Lakes 4-0. But sure was not Juan Hillman's fault. He was fabulous. 7 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 8 K. ... He had a perfect game till a walk in the 5th, and a no hitter till 1 out in 6th. ... Chu 2-3 with a double. ... Collins 1-3 with walk. ... Jiminez starts tomorrow.
Scrappers lose 2-1 to the Black Bears of West By Golly. ... Vasquez was good. 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 5 K. ... Jones 2-4 with double. ... Benson 1-3 with double. ... Scolamiero 1-3. ... Plesac starts tomorrow.
AZL Mariners 8 #Indians 4
Tinsley 2-3 R HR 3RBI BB
Dominguez 2-4 2R 2B 3B RBI BB
Manzanillo 3(IP) 0H 0ER 1SO
DSL Indians 2 DSL Dodgers 4
Celesten 2-3 R, 2B, HR, RBI, BB
Lopez 1-5
Gonzalez 1-4 RBI, BB
DSL Rays 7 #Indians/Brewers 3
Kelkboom 1-3 R 2B BB SB
Perez 2-3 2B 2RBI BB SB
Re: Minor Matters
7183Bradley's K and BB pcts over his career:
Per Total At Bats:
Arizona League: K .205 BB .091 K/BB: 2.25
Midwest League: K .319 BB .120 K/BB: 2.64
Carolina League: K .297 BB .131 K/BB: 2.26
Eastern League: K .234 BB .121 K/BB: 1.94
Per Total At Bats:
Arizona League: K .205 BB .091 K/BB: 2.25
Midwest League: K .319 BB .120 K/BB: 2.64
Carolina League: K .297 BB .131 K/BB: 2.26
Eastern League: K .234 BB .121 K/BB: 1.94
Re: Minor Matters
7184Among the featured performers from Milb.com
• Indians' No. 11 prospect Juan Hillman allowed one hit as he completed a career-high seven scoreless innings in a no-decision for Class A Lake County. The 20-year-old southpaw struck out eight, matching his career high, and walked two in what was his first scoreless outing in 14 turns in the Midwest League.
• Indians' No. 12 prospect Willi Castro stayed hot for Class A Advanced Lynchburg as he extended his hitting streak to six games with a 3-for-5 effort at the plate. The 20-year-old shortstop ultimately fell a single short of hitting for the cycle after recording a double, a triple and a home run in each of his first three at-bats. He finished the game with a season-high four RBIs.
• Indians' No. 11 prospect Juan Hillman allowed one hit as he completed a career-high seven scoreless innings in a no-decision for Class A Lake County. The 20-year-old southpaw struck out eight, matching his career high, and walked two in what was his first scoreless outing in 14 turns in the Midwest League.
• Indians' No. 12 prospect Willi Castro stayed hot for Class A Advanced Lynchburg as he extended his hitting streak to six games with a 3-for-5 effort at the plate. The 20-year-old shortstop ultimately fell a single short of hitting for the cycle after recording a double, a triple and a home run in each of his first three at-bats. He finished the game with a season-high four RBIs.
Re: Minor Matters
7185Have we signed 6th round C Michael Rivera? He's the last remaining unsigned from the top 11 picks.