2018 Minor League Thread

[AZ_]

Triston McKenzie starting the season on the DL because of his “forearm.”

No inside info, but that’s not good.

 

[BMAN]

God dammit

 

[sportscoach]

Triston McKenzie starting the season on the DL because of his “forearm.”

No inside info, but that’s not good.

He is still really, really young so I don't expect to see him for a few more seasons either way, but I don't like major injuries to our young guys since that could really derail their careers. Hopefully it is just a muscle pull or something small that he can recover from in due time.

 

[sportscoach]

Watch out for Merryweather

https://247sports.com/mlb/indians/A...ndergo-Tommy-John-surgery-on-Friday-116009217

We won't see Merryweather til 19 at earliest now, but likely won't be on the team til 2020.

Honestly this season at AAA I am waiting to see how Morimando and Plutko develop since we have to replace a bunch of guys next season on the roster and both guys will be out of options I am pretty sure next season with young risers like Bieber coming through the system as well.

Also I am wondering how Krieger and Aiken do this year as well since Krieger disappointed somewhat at AA last season and Aiken will be another year removed from TJ. Does anyone know how Aiken is looking this spring?

 

[Derek]

He is still really, really young so I don't expect to see him for a few more seasons either way, but I don't like major injuries to our young guys since that could really derail their careers. Hopefully it is just a muscle pull or something small that he can recover from in due time.

A few more seasons?

Obviously things change if he’s hurt, but he’s a candidate to be in the rotation next year.

 

[sportscoach]

A few more seasons?

Obviously things change if he’s hurt, but he’s a candidate to be in the rotation next year.

That is way too early for him I feel either way. He is only 20 years old and he isn't physically developed all the way yet. I think with who we have the projection would be September of 19 or sometime in 2020 since that would give him a full season at AA (18) and a full season at AAA (19). I am not saying he doesn't have the stuff, but we shouldn't rush him too quickly either. A season at both AA and AAA should be in the cards before we bring him to the pros at least as a full time rotation member which would make it 2020.

Also that would be the year (2020) if we are going to trade Kluber, Carrasco and Bauer so we need to replace a fair amount of the rotation. 19 we need to replace the bullpen and Tomlin, but we could possibly trade a Carrasco, EE, Kipnis etc and keep building long term since that is what we kind of have to do to stay in contention as a small market team.

This is at least what I am seeing we should do going forward. I think Kipnis will get traded next season to help find players to help build the farm and replace the fact we are losing 8 of the guys who are likely on our playoff roster in free agency. So its possible we have 10 players gone from our current projected playoff roster when 19 starts. We will still likely be competitive and in the race, but it will be a bigger change than people would like.

 

[macbdog]

Triston McKenzie starting the season on the DL because of his “forearm.”

No inside info, but that’s not good.

Top 3 picks of that draft:

• Brady Aiken- probable bust
• Triston McKenzie- probable TJ
• Juan Hillman- 6.08 ERA in A ball

Wow what a rough draft.

 

[sportscoach]

Top 3 picks of that draft:

• [parsehtml][/parsehtml]0

Huh? What did ya mean by this?

 

[Derek]

That is way too early for him I feel either way. He is only 20 years old and he isn't physically developed all the way yet. I think with who we have the projection would be September of 19 or sometime in 2020 since that would give him a full season at AA (18) and a full season at AAA (19). I am not saying he doesn't have the stuff, but we shouldn't rush him too quickly either. A season at both AA and AAA should be in the cards before we bring him to the pros at least as a full time rotation member which would make it 2020.

Also that would be the year (2020) if we are going to trade Kluber, Carrasco and Bauer so we need to replace a fair amount of the rotation. 19 we need to replace the bullpen and Tomlin, but we could possibly trade a Carrasco, EE, Kipnis etc and keep building long term since that is what we kind of have to do to stay in contention as a small market team.

This is at least what I am seeing we should do going forward. I think Kipnis will get traded next season to help find players to help build the farm and replace the fact we are losing 8 of the guys who are likely on our playoff roster in free agency. So its possible we have 10 players gone from our current projected playoff roster when 19 starts. We will still likely be competitive and in the race, but it will be a bigger change than people would like.

Who cares how old he is? His stage of development is all that matters.

He’s in Double-A. Wouldn’t be all that surprising if we saw him this year.

 

[Derek]

Huh? What did ya mean by this?

He likes to do subtle trolls from time to time

 

[sportscoach]

Who cares how old he is? His stage of development is all that matters.

He’s in Double-A. Wouldn’t be all that surprising if we saw him this year.

I still believe its a year early for him since I would like him to get through 18 at AA then in 19 we can add him as a September call up with a good AAA season. Also with the fact he should be in Cleveland long term and we have a ton of starting pitching, I would rather not start his MLB clock too early as well if our starting pitching staff is fully loaded like it is now.

 

[CavsFanJapan]

Triston McKenzie starting the season on the DL because of his “forearm.”

No inside info, but that’s not good.

They also said “precautionary” but also did not say the severity. Hoping for the best but Salazar situation comes to mind as far as a nagging lingering injury starting.

 

[sportscoach]

They also said “precautionary” but also did not say the severity. Hoping for the best but Salazar situation comes to mind as far as a nagging lingering injury starting.

Salazar never pitched 100 innings honestly til he got to the pros. I am not opposed to McKenzie being in the pros whenever they feel like he is ready, but we have to make sure with the fact the MLB team has a really good pitching staff that we don't rush him either to the pros.

Even though McKenzie is our best pitching prospect there is a lot of guys trying to make the rotation for the Indians when 19 rolls around as well. You have Morimando, Plutko, Merritt (if we keep him) Salazar, Anderson (since he should be healthy in 19), then AA pitchers McKenzie, Bieber, Civale, Kaminsky, Peoples etc. I mean I doubt the last three will be 100% ready for the team, but with at least 5 (maybe 6 if we trade Carrasco) openings between the rotation (1-2) and the bullpen (4) that the camp will be very interesting and guys have a chance to earn a spot on the roster. Guys like Morimando, Plutko, Merritt will all be out of options and need to make the roster or be cut/outrighted to the minors so 19 will be an interesting year at the end of the day.

 

[Derek]

Pitchers have a limited number of innings in their arms, you don’t want to have them in the minors any longer than you have to. That’s why you never hear anything about service clock regarding pitchers.

 

[AZ_]

Shane Bieber tonight in Altoona

6.0 IP, 2H, 0 BB, 9 K

72 pitches


Carving.