Quote from WindsorUK on April 9, 2024, 12:30 pm

Any update on Patino, Marcano, or Wolf?

Good to have another castoff farmhand return to the farm. I assume Wolf is working in as a starter?

Any updates on Ruiz in Sacramento, er......I mean Oakland? Another ex farmhand I'd like to see return.

Quote from WindsorUK on April 9, 2024, 12:34 pm

Quote from Randy Manese on April 8, 2024, 8:33 am

Lesko and Montgomery had command issues but also flashed some exciting stuff - at this point in the season, most pitchers still trying to work out the kinks in their delivery and also deal with the weather.  Bergert was very good while Vasquez is likely being affected by the altitude, as reported by MadFriars; another guy who relies on movement has also been hit hard - RP Alek Jacob, but he still should be one of our top guys in the minors.

After the opening weekend, San Antonio looks to be one of the strongest and well-rounded teams in the minors - I hope they just leave them alone for a couple of months.  Ft. Wayne has some promise but needs some of those break out players to show their potential; Salas looking very good so far.  Lake Elsinore started surprisingly strong offensively, but it will be their pitching that will keep them in games until guys from the ACL augment that roster.  Dillon Head off to a slow start offensive but is easily the best CF in the entire organization with his speed, range and instincts - a beautiful defensive player.

Does Head have any hitting skills, at all?

Obviously with his speed and D, and CF up for the taking, if he can hit AT ALL, he's got a chance, right? To end up in SD someday?

Or does Bush have a better hit skill set?

Quote from fenn68 on April 9, 2024, 1:33 pm

Quote from WindsorUK on April 9, 2024, 12:34 pm

Quote from Randy Manese on April 8, 2024, 8:33 am

Lesko and Montgomery had command issues but also flashed some exciting stuff - at this point in the season, most pitchers still trying to work out the kinks in their delivery and also deal with the weather.  Bergert was very good while Vasquez is likely being affected by the altitude, as reported by MadFriars; another guy who relies on movement has also been hit hard - RP Alek Jacob, but he still should be one of our top guys in the minors.

After the opening weekend, San Antonio looks to be one of the strongest and well-rounded teams in the minors - I hope they just leave them alone for a couple of months.  Ft. Wayne has some promise but needs some of those break out players to show their potential; Salas looking very good so far.  Lake Elsinore started surprisingly strong offensively, but it will be their pitching that will keep them in games until guys from the ACL augment that roster.  Dillon Head off to a slow start offensive but is easily the best CF in the entire organization with his speed, range and instincts - a beautiful defensive player.

Does Head have any hitting skills, at all?

Obviously with his speed and D, and CF up for the taking, if he can hit AT ALL, he's got a chance, right? To end up in SD someday?

Or does Bush have a better hit skill set?

At least from a scouting perspective of them as amateurs … Head (19) was projected as the better hitter (a bit above average) but  Bush (22) was still projected as average. Neither have power projection. Both have speed and play defense so hitting even at average could get them to the ML.

Bush may be an interesting development story. Basically a marginal baseball player … little action / success until his last season in college then took off. Either it all came together and he has become a real prospect or just a short term aberration and we have the next Buddy Reed … no idea at this point.

Given the shortage of elite OF prospects in system … if Head or Bush play at all well … could see them shooting up the system quickly to augment Tatis and Merrill (if not returned to SS). Really only Marsee is ahead of them.

Quote from Randy Manese on April 9, 2024, 4:38 pm

Enmanuel Pinales looked very good today although he did give up a HR for the only run allowed.  Decent FB (maybe low to mid 90's) but got a lot of swing and miss with sweepers and changeups; very poised on the mound and excellent command.  Another RHP who could move up fast.  Salas barreled the ball well but only got one hit to show for it.  Very impressive behind the plate.

 

Today, another of the Lake Elsinore promoters, Jagger Haynes, goes on the mound.  If healthy, should turn in just as an impressive performance as Pinales.

Quote from Randy Manese on April 10, 2024, 7:38 am

With Pinales, Haynes and Nett all moved up to Ft. Wayne, LE is a little short of SP's.  Nett could be sent down, but also could see Martinez, Kemp or Burkett move up from the Arizona Complex League roster.  We're less than a month away from the ACL begins its season, so there could be some other changes in the LE roster before the 4 May opening day.  INF's Hoffman and Aquino are not prospects and neither is OF Wilson; C Vincent is old for the league as our some of the RPs.  This roster will be in flux much of the season.

Perez Jr. has looked awful in the San Antonio OF so far, which could have a ripple effect on OF's moving up a notch.  I can see Vogt going to Ft. Wayne and moving Dunn up to SA even though he hasn't done much (no pun intended) so far in Ft. Wayne.  He's one of the older guys in the system and is kind of a glue guy that the SA team may need after losing Merrill and Pauley from last year's roster.

Quote from WindsorUK on April 10, 2024, 9:25 am

Yes or no:

Salas starting catcher in SD in 2026 with Campusano starting 45-50 behind the dish, the rest at DH?

Quote from fenn68 on April 10, 2024, 9:36 am

Quote from WindsorUK on April 10, 2024, 9:25 am

Yes or no:

Salas starting catcher in SD in 2026 with Campusano starting 45-50 behind the dish, the rest at DH?

NO … 81/81 IF Salas actually makes it in 2026.

Quote from Randy Manese on April 10, 2024, 9:16 pm

In case you haven't been watching the San Antonio games, Jacob Marsee is off to a horrible start at the plate.  Still drawing some walks but late on FB's, chasing badly on breaking stuff and just not making contact much less hard contact.  He was so frustrated today that he slammed his bat down, smashing it into several pieces, after striking out (he's struck out 10 times in 28 plate appearances (35.7%), more than double of what his K rate was at Ft. Wayne last year).  Still playing great defense and running the bases well, but this slump has really got him down.  Hopefully, he'll make the adjustments soon and start looking like the hitter he was last year.

Quote from Randy Manese on April 11, 2024, 7:30 am

Surprised the Murillo was released since his numbers in the ACL were good.  Earlier this year, Padres released Oliver Cedeno who got half a million dollar bonus to sign.  Just shows natural talent will only get you so far - it is the intangibles you have to possess to move up in a very competitive game.