Pelicans Fit to Be Tied with Giants at Riverview

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Fri, 03/23/2018 - 10:06pm

Jhonny Bethencourt went 3-3 (two singles and a double), stole two bases, and scored two runs, and RHP Keegan Thompson (Cubs 2017 3rd round pick - Auburn) hurled four innings of shutout ball for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Cubs Hi-A affliliate), and Wander Franco drilled an RBI double and Ryan Kirby followed with a two-run HR to spark a three-run 4th for the Giants San Jose Hi-A affiliate, as the two teams battled to a 3-3 tie on Field #6, and RHSP Jose Marte hurled three innings of shutout ball to lead the Augusta Greenjackets (Giants Lo-A affiliate) to a 4-2 victory over the Cubs Lo-A South Bend affiliate on Field #5, in Cactus League Minor League Camp doubleheader game action Friday afternoon on John Arguello Way at the Riverview Baseball Complex in Mesa, AZ.     

Kwangmin Kwon belted a solo HR and Austin Filiere collected three hits (two singles and an RBI double) for the South Bend Cubs in a losing cause.

RHP Tyson Miler (Cubs 2016 4th round draft pick - California Baptist) got the start for Myrtle Beach and retired nine of the first ten men he faced (including five on strikeouts) before allowing back-to-back doubles and a two-run HR to the first three batters he faced in the top of the 4th (he then retired the side in order).  

RHP Bailey Clark (Cubs 2016 5th round draft pick - Duke) piggy-backed with South Bend SP Rollie Lacy (Cubs 2017 11th round draft pick - Creighton), and while Clark's FB velo was an impressive 96-97 and his SL had good break, he had terrible command (he needed 57 pitches to get eight outs, he couldn't finish his third inning, he committed a throwing error on a pick-off attempt at 2nd base, and he threw only 47% strikes).

Here are the abridged box scores from the two games (Cubs players only):

FIELD #5:

SOUTH BEND LINEUP:
1a. Rafael Narea, 2B: 1-3 (1B, P-4, 6-3)
1b. Chris Singleton, RF: 0-2 (F-7, P-6)
2. Yeiler Peguero, SS: 2-5 (6-3, 1B, 1B, K, P-5, PO)
3. Christopher Morel, 3B: 1-3 (1B, 5-U FC, BB, K, CS)
4a. Kevonte Mitchell, RF: 0-3 (F-7, F-8, K)
4b. Delvin Zinn, 2B: 0-1 (K)
5a. Chris Carrier, LF: 0-2 (3-U, K)
5b. Kwangmin Kwon, LF: 1-2 (HR, K, R, RBI)
6a. Will Remillard, C: 1-2 (F-7, 2B, R)
6b. Henderson Perez, C:  0-2 (P-6, K)
7. Austin Filiere, 1B: 3-4 (1-3, 2B, 1B, 1B, RBI)
8. Connor Myers, CF: 1-4 (5-3, 4-3, 2B, 5-3)
9. Tyler Alamo, DH: 0-3 (E-6, K, P-3, BB)

SOUTH BEND PITCHERS:
1. Rollie Lacy: 3.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 2 K, 3/3 GO/AO, 59 pitches (43 strikes)
2. Mark Malave: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 2/0 GO/AO, 14 pitches (8 strikes)
3. Bailey Clark: 2.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R (0 ER), 3 BB, 1 K, 5/2 GO/AO, 57 pitches (27 strikes)
4. Jhon Romero: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 1 K, 2/0 GO/AO, 43 pitches (22 strikes)

SOUTH BEND ERRORS: 3
1. CF Connor Myers: E-8 (overthrow to 3rd base after single to CF allowed runner to score)
2. P Bailey Clark: E-1 (errant pick-off attempt at 2nd base allowed runner to advance to 3rd)
3. 3B Christopher Morel: E-5 (throwing error allowed batter to reach base safely)

SOUTH BEND CATCHERS DEFENSE:
1. Will Remillard: 1-2 CS
2. Henderson Perez: 1-3 CS

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

FIELD #6:

MYRTLE BEACH LINEUP:
1a. Jhonny Bethencourt, SS: 3-3 (1B, 2B, 1B, 2 R, 2 SB)
1b. Luis Vazquez, SS: 0-1 (K)
2. Robert Garcia, RF: 0-2 (BB, 5-3 SH, K, 4-3)
3a. Austin Upshaw, 2B: 1-2: 1B, F-8 SF, K, RBI)
3b. Ramsey Romano, 3B: 0-1 (P-6)
4. Wladimir Galindo, 3B: 0-4 (5-3 DP, K, 6-3, K)
5. Miguel Amaya, C-1B: 1-3 (F-7, 2B, BB, L-4, R)
6. Brandon Hughes, CF: 1-4 (2B, F-8, F-7, 4-3)
7a. Gustavo Polanco, 1B: 1-3 (3-U, 3B, 5-4-3 DP, RBI)
7b. Jonathan Sierra, LF: 0-1 (F-7)
8. Daniel Spingola, LF-DH: 0-3 (K, K, L-7)
9. Jhonny Pereda, DH-C: 0-3 (F-7, 6-3, K)

MYRTLE BEACH PITCHERS:
1. Tyson Miller: 4.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R (3 ER), 0 BB, 6 K, 1 HR, 1 WP, 3/3 GO/AO, 63 pitches (42 strikes)
2. Keegan Thompson: 4.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 1 GIDP, 2/7 GO/AO, 39 pitches (28 strikes)
3. Elvis Diaz: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 0/1 GO/AO, 11 pitches (7 strikes)

MYRTLE BEACH ERRORS: 1
C Miguel Amaya: E-2 (errant pick-off attempt at 2nd base allowed runner to advance to 3rd)

MYRTLE BEACH CATCHERS DEFENSE:
1. Miguel Amaya: 0-1 CS, 1 E (see above)
2. Jhonny Pereda: 1-1 CS

ATTENDANCE: 28

WEATHER: Mostly sunny with temperatures in the 80's

Arizona
Scoring
Service

"Just because it isn't official doesn't mean it didn't happen" 

Tags: 
Cubs Minor League Spring Training Game Recap
Jhonny Bethencourt
Keegan Thompson
Tyson Miller
Kwangmin Kwon
Austin Filiere

Comments

Submitted by Hagsag  on Sat, 03/24/2018 - 5:23am  

Phil, what are your thoughts on Austin Upshaw?

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Sat, 03/24/2018 - 11:08am  
HAGSAG: Austin Upshaw is a left-handed hitter who plays 1B-2B-3B. He is an advanced college bat with some HR power who should move quickly through the system. (He will almost certainly begin the 2018 season at Myrtle Beach). He is a legit prospect.

Submitted by tim815  on Sat, 03/24/2018 - 5:46pm  
Joining David Bote, PJ Higgins, Jason Vosler, Chesny Young, and others as third day selections the Cubs find that are getting it done in the pipeline.

Submitted by Cubster  on Sat, 03/24/2018 - 9:39am  

Roto says Straily and Realmuto will start the year on the DL. Means they should miss the Cub series.

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Sat, 03/24/2018 - 11:14am  
Among ex-Cubs and ex-Cub minor leaguers playing in the Mexican League this season are C-1B Sergio Burruel, OF Tony Campana, RHP Sergio Mitre, OF Felix Pie, INF Elliot Soto, and INF Jemile Weeks.

Submitted by tim815  on Sat, 03/24/2018 - 3:00pm  
I wonder if the Cubs loan a few to the Mexican League.

Submitted by crunch  on Sat, 03/24/2018 - 9:18pm  

v.caratini makes the roster.

gimenez going to iowa.  slight shocker there.

Submitted by cubbies.4ever  on Sat, 03/24/2018 - 10:48pm  

I'm surprised that they haven't given Giminez a MLB contract yet given as they have 2 open or are they waiting for a waiver wire or is Taylor Davis making a run for #3???

Submitted by Dolorous Jon Lester  on Sun, 03/25/2018 - 6:47am  
They don’t need to give him MLB deal; he can go to Iowa. Plus, they can’t give him an MLB contract and send him to Iowa; he’s out of options.

Submitted by crunch  on Sat, 03/24/2018 - 11:24pm  

after seeing a slew of heyward ABs this spring, it's ugly, but he's at least seeing the ball.

he's standing in the back of the box and deep in the box, which looks like he's giving away the outside part of the plate, but he's got the reach to get to it if needed.  his back foot is practically a pivot and he steps toward where the pitch is going.  he's seems to be doing a lot of his targeting work with his legs and his upper body seems to be in tune with it. his timing on his swing is rather decent, rarely too late or way too eary.

that said, he's not doing much with this setup.  also, this might be him trying something new this spring and not what he's going to go with as a permanent approach...or whatever...don't know...

meh.  goundout, K, popout tonight...none of the contact impressive.

Submitted by Charlie  on Sun, 03/25/2018 - 10:12am  
Solid contact in the air is all I'm looking for from him at this point. As long as he keeps pounding the ball into the ground, there's little else to say about him. I was thinking about the optimal places to bat him and Almora in this lineup. Almora's not showing any signs of taking walks, so he's not going to be a top of the order hitter. He also doesn't have great power and hits the ball on the ground a lot, so I'm not sure I want him batting 5th or 6th. Heyward is a similar deal except he's an even more extreme groundball hitter and has less power at this point. If you bat them 7th and 8th, the guy batting 8th probably grounds into extra double plays. 7th and 9th maybe? Javy probably won't beat either of them in OBP, but he's got power and both strikes out and flies out enough to limit his GDPs. He's probably the 5th or 6th hitter on the days he plays. Ultimately, none of these choices are difference makers. But an optimal batting order for these two isn't clear to me. That gets even more complicated if Happ continues last year's strikeout rates without last year's BABIP or HR/FB.

Submitted by chitownmvp01  on Sun, 03/25/2018 - 1:38pm  
I agree with the decision to keep Caratini over Gimenez. Caratini is better offensively and can play 1B to rest Rizzo in addition to playing C a bit to give Contreras some rest. Better to not have an offensive liability in the lineup when giving people rest. Switch hitter also helps in pinch hit situations as well. Caratini also doesn't have much to prove in the minors. I think it's worth trying to see how he'll fit in the rotation, but I agree with Joe about reconsidering if he struggles to get playing time. Having an experienced catcher like Gimenez in AAA to help out the young pitchers can also be very beneficial as well. He has much more MLB experience than Davis. What do you all think of the decision?

Submitted by Charlie  on Sun, 03/25/2018 - 1:59pm  
I think they treat this as a chance to get Caratini some more exposure to the big leagues (competition, coaches, and culture) and that Gimenez will be up some time in May barring some kind of breakout from Caratini. They'll send Caratini down after a while to get him more playing time and continued development, especially if he struggles *at all*. I think it's a smart move.

Submitted by crunch  on Sun, 03/25/2018 - 3:57pm  
my only concern is with darvish. it's not a lester situation where someone has to be A+++ great at making up for a shortcoming, but darvish throws a large variety of pitches with different break/movement/etc and whoever catches him needs to be ready for it. passed balls + wild pitches that would be stopped by a better catcher can pile up. he's not an easy guy to catch. that said, it's not a "lester situation" or even on the same level as having a knuckleball pitcher who needs a catcher with very specific high end skills. it's a rather minor concern, especially with "plan B" outside of contreras/caratini sitting around in iowa waiting for a possible callup.

Submitted by chitownmvp01  on Sun, 03/25/2018 - 3:00pm  

I can definitetly see that happening.

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  • crunch 7 hours 5 min ago (view)

    Dale Murphy @DaleMurphy3

    Last night, my son was shot in the eye with a rubber bullet while peacefully protesting for justice for George Floyd. His story is not unique. Countless others have also experienced this use of excessive police force while trying to have their voices heard.

    Dale Murphy @DaleMurphy3

     
  • BobbyD 8 hours 10 min ago (view)

    But he has vicious dogs ready to kill the nig***. Oh wait, thugs. He's a real man. 

     
  • Cubster 12 hours 28 min ago (view)

    "this idea isn't a proposal at all and may actually be a measure that is forced into action by the league if the two sides can't sort out the financial details for a longer season."

    MLBPA: Over our dead bodies. Followed by Trump sending in the military to force ballplayers and fans to perform like puppets on strings with fans to yell (and cough and sneezing) at the umpires. Ah, baseball before Jackie Robinson. The Trump Republican Party: Bring back the Cheating/Pandemic  1919 White only - White Sox. Say it ain't so, Joe.

     
  • Hagsag 12 hours 39 min ago (view)

    Trump waiving a bible in front of the church is a total disgrace.

     
  • crunch 22 hours 29 min ago (view)

    ...but now there's this...

    "According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, Major League Baseball views a season of around 50 games as a "last resort" option should there be no agreement with the MLBPA.

     
  • crunch 1 day 1 hour ago (view)

    Jeff Passan @JeffPassan
    Major League Baseball intends to propose a shorter season in which they would pay players a full prorated share of their salaries, sources told ESPN. The league believes the late March agreement allows it to set the schedule, and that this would fulfill players’ pro rata desire.

     
  • JustSayin' 1 day 1 hour ago (view)

    Minor League Baseball makes the cover of SI!  Two years ago, I would have been elated.  Today, it's depressing (like the article.)

     
  • BobbyD 1 day 4 hours ago (view)

    Crunch, thanks. I can be a jerk at times, but you bailed me out. Btw I'm the whitest white boy (who grew up next to Wrigley and also worked at my dad's warehouse next to Cabrini Green). I'm truly ashamed of this president. I don't believe anyone sane wants more of him. Go Cubs!! I miss Bobby Dernier's first home run against the Padres. 

     
  • Cubster 1 day 9 hours ago (view)

    MLBTR has an update on the latest owner's revision proposal. 

     
  • Cubster 1 day 11 hours ago (view)

    'we have a donald trump problem, but he may be a highly advanced and dangerous symptom rather than the actual disease.'

    Surely true, dear Crunch. Trump has emboldened the ugly fact that America's cruel underbelly is still racism and police brutality that forwards that original sin. 

    America NEEDS its HEROES.

     
  • Cubster 1 day 12 hours ago (view)

    if he does die by "suicide", I would blame Bill Barr and look into a real conspiracy.

     
  • Cubster 1 day 12 hours ago (view)

    welcome to an unwelcome June 1st.

     
  • Hagsag 1 day 12 hours ago (view)

    November 3, vote!

     
  • George Altman 1 day 20 hours ago (view)

    Yes, many players are millionaires too. However, a good percentage of MLB Owners are billionaires. If there's no MLB in 2020 that's on 30 owners, not the players no matter how the Press spins things. 

     
  • George Altman 1 day 20 hours ago (view)

    Well said, Crunch. #Resistance 

     
  • crunch 1 day 20 hours ago (view)

    i'm not a fan of this administration.  i'm not a fan of someone holding office who's rise to political prominence involved insisiting, with proof he clamed, that the current elected president at the time was not a citizen of the United States.

    we watched as state after state was slowly "won over" by promises of keeping out muslims and hispanics as the most important issue that could help elevate the state of our country.

     
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