Batter's Box Interactive Magazine - Bichette Back To .400 As The Farm Bats 1.000

Bichette Back To .400 As The Farm Bats 1.000

The affiliates were undefeated Monday night by winning all five of their games. Buffalo, New Hampshire and Vancouver had the night off.

Dunedin Blue Jays

After going 0-for-6 Sunday, Bo Bichette responded with a perfect day at the dish by going 4-for-4 with a double, a walk, two stolen bases and four runs scored to bring his average back to .400. Max Pentecost was 2-for-5 with a triple and five runs batted in. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had two hits and a walk and drove home three. Reese McGuire had a double, a single and a run batted in. Jake Thomas was 1-for-2 with two walks and three runs scored. Christian Lopes singled, walked and stole a base.

Conor Fisk surrendered a leadoff homer but lasted seven innings and scattered five hits and a hit by pitch. He struck out three and collected 12 groundball outs for the win. Philip Walby gave up an unearned run in the eighth. Alonzo Gonazalez tossed a scoreless ninth.

Lansing Lugnuts

Mattingly Romanin had a double, two singles and two RBI to lead Lansing's 13-hit attack. Josh Palacios, Edward Olivares, Mitch Nay and Yeltsin Gudino all finished one back of Romanin in the hit column.

Yennsy Diaz yielded four runs over five innings but still got the win. Geno Encina gave up three more in 2-2/3 innings but Nick Hartman stranded two runners and got the final four outs without anyone else scoring.

Bluefield Blue Jays

Yorman Rodriguez and Antony Fuentes both went 2-for-3 with two RBI with Rodriguez taking one for the team. Ryan Noda also reached three times with two hits and a walk.

Randy Pondler allowed just three hits and struck out four over five shutout innings for the victory. Tyler Olander surrendered a couple of runs (one earned) over two innings but Mitch McKown put up a zero in the eighth and Miguel Burgos struck out the side in a one-hit ninth.

GCL Blue Jays

Dominic Abbadessa went 3-for-3 with a walk, two stolen bases and two runs scored. Hagen Danner hit one out for the second time this season as he had two hits and four runs batted in.

Travis Bergen walked just one hitter in his two-inning start. Elieser Medrano was mauled for three runs (two earned) over 3-2/3 innings but struck out four. Connor Law earned the win with a spotless 2-1/3 innings while stranding a runner. Justin Watts gave up a run in the ninth but still got the save.

DSL Blue Jays

Andres Martinez had the walk-off single and three walks while Steward Berroa and Leonicio Ventura had two hits apiece. Berroa stole a base but was also caught stealing to make him 12-for-21.

Juan Diaz was dinged for two runs on one hit and four walks over three innings, striking out three. Luis Pena allowed just one run over four innings on four hits while also whiffing three. Jeison Contreras had the blown save and victory as he gave up a run over two innings.

*** 3 Stars!!! ***

3. Conor Fisk, Dunedin

2. Max Pentecost, Dunedin

1. Bo Bichette, Dunedin

Linescores

Posted by #2JBrumfield on Tuesday, August 01 2017 @ 01:02 AM EDT.

Bichette Back To .400 As The Farm Bats 1.000 | 26 comments | Create New Account

The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.

China fan - Tuesday, August 01 2017 @ 05:10 AM EDT (#346354) #

Shi Davidi reports that the Jays are considering Luis Santos and Mike Bolsinger as rotation options to replace Liriano. We all know Bolsinger, but does anyone have any thoughts on Santos? He's been in the Jays system for two years (after being dropped by Kansas City) and he has decent numbers for Buffalo this year. I can't remember ever reading any analysis of him here. He's been very much under-the-radar. Obviously, at age 26, and already released by another organization, he doesn't seem like a prospect at all. But players sometimes come out of nowhere to become useful players. Has anyone seen his stuff or have any insights on why the Jays might want to give him a try? Or is he purely an organizational soldier, in a year when the Jays have had a revolving door of 6th and 7th starters?

Davidi says Santos has a blister issue (yet another pitcher with blisters) and might not be ready immediately. But with only three reliable pitchers in the rotation (Stroman, Happ, Estrada), we might see Santos at some point. It sounds like the Jays want to keep Biagini in the bullpen, and they don't think Rowley is ready yet.

scottt - Tuesday, August 01 2017 @ 06:24 AM EDT (#346355) #

The Buffalo regular starters are House, Oberholtzer, Grube and Santos.
Santos has the best peripherals of this bunch, ERA under 4, WHIP under 1.2.
That's similar to Cesar Valdez. Santos has made 16 start, Chris Rowley only 5, so they might want to take is slow with him.
I think it's just normal to reward good AAA performance with a bit of major league play.
That means a lot to those guys who are borderline.

PeterG - Tuesday, August 01 2017 @ 10:07 AM EDT (#346359) #

Dominic Abbadessa is now hitting .390, playing regularly in the GCL.

Santos is just a stop gap imo as they don't think others are ready. Valdez likely gets another opportunity. Taylor Cole is doing very well in his rehab with 2 scoreless appearances so far in Buffalo after doing equally well further down the ladder.

hypobole - Tuesday, August 01 2017 @ 10:15 AM EDT (#346360) #

Anyone know anything about Randy Pondler?

Mike Green - Tuesday, August 01 2017 @ 10:31 AM EDT (#346361) #

Just what you can find on the interwebs- here's video from a couple of years ago. He is a 20 year old long and lean lefty from Nicaragua with at least a decent fastball. His control has been better this year. I have no idea about his secondary offerings.

Marc Hulet - Tuesday, August 01 2017 @ 11:01 AM EDT (#346363) #

T.J. Zeuch is on the GCL Jays roster today... looks like he'll be pitching.

hypobole - Tuesday, August 01 2017 @ 11:16 AM EDT (#346364) #

Thanks, Mike.

cybercavalier - Tuesday, August 01 2017 @ 11:55 AM EDT (#346369) #

Santos has the best peripherals of this bunch, ERA under 4, WHIP under 1.2. That's similar to Cesar Valdez. Santos has made 16 start. I think it's just normal to reward good AAA performance with a bit of major league play. That means a lot to those guys who are borderline.

Three ideas to take away.
1) If pitchers who are regarded as borderline are rewarded with a bit of major league play for their good AAA performance, hitters who perform similarly shall be so. What offense and/or defense statistics shall be used for decision then? So far the comparison of two pitchers who have been performing well in AAA means Santos who still plays in Triple-A is going to perform as well or not well as Valdez who already plays in Toronto.
2) Is there an assumed reservation for promotion for Toronto to good AAA performance by Toronto's triple-A players? As the price to get triple-A players is much less in trade than major league ones, the management may get other players who are overlooked in other Triple-A teams.
3) Do past early round draftees usually become borderline player? If so, shall the management trade for them and promote them in September...

jerjapan - Tuesday, August 01 2017 @ 03:15 PM EDT (#346378) #

Jay blue had pondler's velocity in the high 80s as of 2015.

Grube is no longer in Buffalo, he was traded to Columbus in June. Poor guy, the transaction page has him traded to Columbus, not Cleveland. He's pitching much better for them though - at 35, with 2/3 of an inning in his big league career, I hope he gets a september call up.

Hernandez was a great return for Liriano, but no way he's out fifth best prospect, as MLB has him ranked. Our minor league OF depth is certainly looking good right now.

GabrielSyme - Tuesday, August 01 2017 @ 03:43 PM EDT (#346379) #

Jer, maybe you're just evaluating Hernandez a little more sceptically than I, but I don't think 5th is that far out there. The Jays have three clearly better prospects in Alford, Guerrero and Bichette; and then a slew of guys who strike me as being in the same area as Teoscar. You can make a good case for Reid-Foley, Jansen, Zeuch and maybe Gurriel and Urena to rank ahead of Hernandez, but none of them are obviously better, imho.

Pondler has the least latin american name of a latin american player I can think of - I assumed he was some late-round college guy. We seem to have quite a lot of interesting guys in Bluefield this year, and to a lesser extent in Vancouver and the GCL: Chavez Young, Ryan Noda, Ryan Gold, Maximo Castillo, Pondler, etc, etc.

Glevin - Tuesday, August 01 2017 @ 04:22 PM EDT (#346383) #

"Hernandez was a great return for Liriano, but no way he's out fifth best prospect, as MLB has him ranked. Our minor league OF depth is certainly looking good right now."

Proximity to the majors is a very important part of prospect rankings. Does Hernandez have the theoretical upside of some of the other prospects below him? No but theoretical upside is overrated and he has a very high floor and the chances of him playing in the majors and giving some value are very high. He can be in the majors tomorrow and probably hold his own. Most of the guys below him will not make it to the Majors.

Mike Green - Tuesday, August 01 2017 @ 04:37 PM EDT (#346384) #

It's all very subjective. Hernandez runs well, can play centerfield but would probably be better in a corner, has some power, and will take an occasional walk. The most worrisome thing is that he is 24 years old in triple A and is striking out in 20% of his PAs. He'll probably struggle to hit .250, and to get his OBP over .300, in the Show. Pannone has pitched at 4 levels in the last 2 years with ERAs of 3.02, 1.65, 0.00 and 2.62 with K rates over 9 in high A and 8.85 in double A and pretty good control. He is a converted outfielder without much mileage on the arm, who threw a total of 133 innings last year and has 110 so far this year with perhaps 5-6 starts left. Many scouts don't love him because he doesn't throw 93 and his curve isn't sharp.

Personally, I like Pannone better but that aint worth that much. Joel Collins always reminds me of that.

jerjapan - Tuesday, August 01 2017 @ 05:09 PM EDT (#346386) #

I don't agree with the ranking, but you guys are right ... higher floor, closer to the majors is of real value with Hernandez... he already had a decent run for a rookie with Houston. Nigel was talking about a 'path to the majors' the other day, and Hernandez's path is clear, and frankly likely to happen, but it's quality 4th OF to me. Agreed with Mike that the K% is worrisome.

SRF, Pearson and Zeuch all have mid rotation potential, and Pentacost and Urena both have solid regular in their profile. And Dan Jansen is underrated - I see Hernandez as 10th / 11th or so? Gurriel seems comparable in that he's close to providing value soon, but I don't see him as a clear starter anywhere. I'd love a Ben Zobrist type and if he pulls that off, that's top 5 prospect value to me.

Still, great move, and the system is looking good.

GabrielSyme - Tuesday, August 01 2017 @ 05:34 PM EDT (#346394) #

I instinctively like the Pannone types, but there aren't many who actually do well. Sean Nolin, Justin Nicolino, Brad Mills...

Dallas Keuchel and Rich Hill are probably currently the most successful lefties who only have moderate fastballs. The era of the finesse lefty has largely faded away.

hypobole - Tuesday, August 01 2017 @ 05:52 PM EDT (#346395) #

Pentecost is the one guy I don't see making it. 24 in A ball. He's caught all of 29 games since he was drafted - 10 in 2014, 19 this year.

aarne13 - Tuesday, August 01 2017 @ 05:53 PM EDT (#346396) #

Rough debut for Brennan Price :o
DJ Neal came to play today 4-4. HR(2)

Shoeless Joe - Tuesday, August 01 2017 @ 06:04 PM EDT (#346399) #

I think Teoscar Hernandez's K% is being a little exaggerated.

I think 20.7% is closer to average than poor and it was 15.6% in his first 39 games at the level last season, after being at 17.1% in 69 games at AA.

His improvements in K% from age 22 in A+ ball to 23 in AA are very comparable to Anthony Alford's improvement this season.

ramone - Tuesday, August 01 2017 @ 08:12 PM EDT (#346402) #

Watching the Fisher Cats game, Alford had a play at the plate and was removed from the game after, broadcast was guessing he may have re-injured his wrist again.

Marc Hulet - Tuesday, August 01 2017 @ 08:29 PM EDT (#346403) #

It's impossible to reinjure a hamate bone injury since they remove it... he came out a couple of innings later so hopefully it's not serious, like a reoccurance of a concussion.

Mike Green - Tuesday, August 01 2017 @ 09:42 PM EDT (#346410) #

Bo Bichette doubled, singled and walked in 4 PAs tonight. He's hitting .410 in the FSL so far.

It's interesting that the club is having him hit leadoff there. He's cut his K rate in the FSL from previously, increased his W rate and given away some pop. I could easily see him starting out his major league career in the leadoff role and moving down a spot or two as he got a little older.

GabrielSyme - Tuesday, August 01 2017 @ 10:33 PM EDT (#346415) #

Bichette hasn't raised his BB rate as yet.

I have a hard time seeing Bichette as a leadoff hitter. Maybe 2nd hitter once he establishes himself, if he isn't in the middle of the lineup.

Glevin - Wednesday, August 02 2017 @ 04:07 AM EDT (#346424) #

"SRF, Pearson and Zeuch all have mid rotation potential, and Pentacost and Urena both have solid regular in their profile. And Dan Jansen is underrated - I see Hernandez as 10th / 11th or so?"

It's not an unreasonable assessment but SRF is struggling in AA and Pearson and Zeuch are both far from the majors. Pentacost is the same age as Hernandez but in A ball instead of AAA and probably needs to stick at catcher to make it. Urena is still very young but right now he profiles more like a utility guy than a regular. That's not to say these guys aren't good prospects, they all are pretty good, just that these are flawed prospects. As others have said, the Jays have Vlad, Bichette, and Alford as their elite prospects and I think Warmoth is probably #4 for most people and then have a few more players who are in the same range. People are enamored with theoretical upside but safe is good as well. If I had to bet on career WAR, I'd have Hernandez around 5th as well.

lexomatic - Wednesday, August 02 2017 @ 09:45 AM EDT (#346430) #

SRF has been good after a slow start. It's easily verifiable, and has been mentioned in a few updates I've seen about him. He has not continued his lower level dominance, but maybe a little adversity will have been good for his long term development.
This is a comment that appears based on a quick glance at overall numbers and basing assessment on that. It's add frustrating as some having a positive view of a bad season masked by a hot start.

Glevin - Wednesday, August 02 2017 @ 11:26 AM EDT (#346438) #

"SRF has been good after a slow start. It's easily verifiable, and has been mentioned in a few updates I've seen about him."

His last 2 starts he's given up 17 hits 11 R (7 ER) in 13 innings while only striking out 5. He's had some good stretches and was awful to start the year but he hasn't been all that good lately either. He had one amazing start in July where he struck out 12 but he has 12 Ks in total in other starts since the beginning of July. He's still young for AA and has tremendous stuff so he still had very good potential but there is no doubt that he has struggled this year and his stock is not where it was last season. (75th in BA pre-season prospect list, not on latest top-100)

ayjackson - Wednesday, August 02 2017 @ 11:48 AM EDT (#346439) #

I think SRF, Conner, and Pearson have top of rotation potential. They seem more like boom or bust starters than mid-rotation. They have electric stuff and need to harness it (I don't know much about Pearson besides 100mph FB). I think if Conner/SRF can build some command of their pitches over the next 30-40 starts, they can become elite young pitchers. If not, to me it's more likely that they'll have to adapt to the bullpen.

jerjapan - Wednesday, August 02 2017 @ 02:01 PM EDT (#346447) #

top of the rotation potential is pretty darn rare though, as much as I like all of those guys. It's easy to dream on velocity. Would anyone be averse to Pearson getting the Osuna treatment? the starter is always the ideal commodity, but if we are talking proximity to the majors, Pearson's goes way up coming out of the pen.

It's an interesting debate - tools vs. stats, proximity vs. upside. I can easily see the rationale for Hernandez at 5th, and agree that if we go by prospect tiers rather than rankings, we've got a clear top 3 and not a huge amount to differentiate between the guys in the 5th to 15th range.

I am optimistic that our prospect depth starts impacting the big league team within a season or so.

Bichette Back To .400 As The Farm Bats 1.000 | 26 comments | Create New Account

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