• Changing RCF's index page, please click on "Forums" to access the forums.

2019 Minor League Thread

Do Not Sell My Personal Information

Seems like the Indians have signed pretty much everyone from the draft!
 
To be fair, the guy we want Bradley to replace (Bauers) is striking out 26.3% of the time, which is up from like 20% in AAA. Bradley's 32% in the minors, is significantly worse, but Bradley's power is much more attractive.

You also have to remember how young Bauers is. Bradley and he are the same age.

I'm honestly not sure there's much of a difference between the two of them at this point. But if you hold a gun to my head right now and ask which guy do you want DH'ing for your team in 2020 and 2021, I'm taking Bradley just because of how valuable power is right now.

I have no problem using either as a trade chip to get a real piece as well.
 
To be fair, the guy we want Bradley to replace (Bauers) is striking out 26.3% of the time, which is up from like 20% in AAA. Bradley's 32% in the minors, is significantly worse, but Bradley's power is much more attractive.

You also have to remember how young Bauers is. Bradley and he are the same age.

I'm honestly not sure there's much of a difference between the two of them at this point. But if you hold a gun to my head right now and ask which guy do you want DH'ing for your team in 2020 and 2021, I'm taking Bradley just because of how valuable power is right now.

I have no problem using either as a trade chip to get a real piece as well.

My ideal scenario is trading Leonys Martin for whatever you can and then making Mercado the everyday CF, Bauers your LF and then calling up Bradley to DH.
 
My ideal scenario is trading Leonys Martin for whatever you can and then making Mercado the everyday CF, Bauers your LF and then calling up Bradley to DH.

This is the scenario I would subscribe to as well.

Martin’s story is awesome, and I think his defense is meaningful.

But you cannot justify that offensive performance.

.280 wOBA, 70 OPS+
 
@Kevalier @AZ_ in your scenario, is Daniel Johnson not being called up, or is he your RF option every day?

Because, for me, he's the #1 priority to bring up to the big show. It's time to call him up, and I am reasonably confident he'll be successful at the major league level. Bradley is #2 for me. I'm not sure he'll be successful, but I want to find out.

I want Mercado in CF, Johnson in one of the corner OF spots, and the last corner OF spot to be a Luplow/? platoon. If Bauers is that question mark, that's fine by me.

Maybe let Zimmer spend the year in AAA to fully recover, and then your last OF spot is either Naquin or Allen?
 
@Kevalier @AZ_ in your scenario, is Daniel Johnson not being called up, or is he your RF option every day?

Because, for me, he's the #1 priority to bring up to the big show. It's time to call him up, and I am reasonably confident he'll be successful at the major league level. Bradley is #2 for me. I'm not sure he'll be successful, but I want to find out.

I want Mercado in CF, Johnson in one of the corner OF spots, and the last corner OF spot to be a Luplow/? platoon. If Bauers is that question mark, that's fine by me.

Maybe let Zimmer spend the year in AAA to fully recover, and then your last OF spot is either Naquin or Allen?

Naquin is what’s standing in the way of Johnson being called up. Bradley is a three outcome guy, similar to Joey Gallo.

More like Gallo of the last two years. Where he’s likely to hit about .220 with power and walks.

Johnson is more of a corner guy for me, who could take over Naquin’s slot in the platoon RF scenario with Luplow.
 
Naquin is what’s standing in the way of Johnson being called up. Bradley is a three outcome guy, similar to Joey Gallo.

More like Gallo of the last two years. Where he’s likely to hit about .220 with power and walks.

Johnson is more of a corner guy for me, who could take over Naquin’s slot in the platoon RF scenario with Luplow.

If Bradley can be 2017-2018 Gallo, I think that's incredible. I'll take it immediately. I'm more worried about him striking out at a 40% clip, or looking like 2015-2016 Gallo.

Johnson's been pretty solid against both lefties and righties, so I'd want him playing every day. Plus, while Bauers is a guy who looks like he has all the tools, Johnson has actually produced more at the plate at every level of the minors so far than Bauers had.

I guess, ideally, I want Mercado in CF, Johnson in one corner, and a Bauers/Luplow platoon in the other... but perhaps giving one of Bauers/Luplow everyday at bats at AAA, while Naquin is in the platoon would be better for their growth? I honestly don't know.
 
Bradley is not a "three outcome guy". He's a two outcome guy. What is missing in his profile is the walks. And if you think that a 32% K/8% BB guy is going to translate well to the majors I've got a bridge to sell you. I haven't watched him play but he's obviously chasing some junk and in the big leagues that will be exploited.

A huge difference between AAA and MLB is that in AAA pitchers aren't worried about exploiting the hitters on an individual level like they are at the MLB level, instead working on how to pitch and using it to further their development.

Until those walks start showing up and maybe his K rate takes a little dive, Bradley should stay in AAA. Yes we could be looking at >40% K numbers which is just bad. Also he'd be hurting the team hitting vs. lefties so we'd be halting his development in a platoon role. There's just not a need to make this move.
 
Bradley is not a "three outcome guy". He's a two outcome guy. What is missing in his profile is the walks. And if you think that a 32% K/8% BB guy is going to translate well to the majors I've got a bridge to sell you. I haven't watched him play but he's obviously chasing some junk and in the big leagues that will be exploited.

A huge difference between AAA and MLB is that in AAA pitchers aren't worried about exploiting the hitters on an individual level like they are at the MLB level, instead working on how to pitch and using it to further their development.

Until those walks start showing up and maybe his K rate takes a little dive, Bradley should stay in AAA. Yes we could be looking at >40% K numbers which is just bad. Also he'd be hurting the team hitting vs. lefties so we'd be halting his development in a platoon role. There's just not a need to make this move.

His numbers vs LHP this season are absurdly good.

But I do understand the third outcome not quite showing up quite yet. I think that’s fair.
 
His numbers vs LHP this season are absurdly good.

But I do understand the third outcome not quite showing up quite yet. I think that’s fair.

Yeah, isn't he actually mashing lefties better than righties? Now, that's only 87 PA's this year, but I'm not sure he's that weak against lefties.

I feel like Bradley is in a similar spot to Chang last year. I wanted him called up or traded because I felt it was towards the end of his time holding value as a prospect without seeing a major league call-up.

Would any other organization value Chang now? Would anyone be willing to trade for Bradley next year?
 
@Kevalier @AZ_ in your scenario, is Daniel Johnson not being called up, or is he your RF option every day?

Because, for me, he's the #1 priority to bring up to the big show. It's time to call him up, and I am reasonably confident he'll be successful at the major league level. Bradley is #2 for me. I'm not sure he'll be successful, but I want to find out.

I want Mercado in CF, Johnson in one of the corner OF spots, and the last corner OF spot to be a Luplow/? platoon. If Bauers is that question mark, that's fine by me.

Maybe let Zimmer spend the year in AAA to fully recover, and then your last OF spot is either Naquin or Allen?

I’m giddy about Johnson’s profile, as his production has met his potential this season. He was injured much of 2018, which contributed to a lackluster performance in AA, but thankfully for the Indians, Mike Rizzo gave up on him. With his cannon of an arm, he’s ideal in RF, and his power also suits well in a corner outfield spot. As @AZ alluded to, Naquin is currently blocking him, but I expect/demand that Johnson is at the very least platooning in RF next season with Luplow. Even though both Naquin and Zimmer were first round picks, the Indians are better off with two guys they traded for in Johnson and Mercado going forward.
 
His numbers vs LHP this season are absurdly good.

But I do understand the third outcome not quite showing up quite yet. I think that’s fair.
31 K's versus 2 BB's against LHP. His outcomes have been great but nothing hints at them being sustainable or transferable to the MLB.
 
Don't look now but Bo Naylor is heating up at Lake County. Hit another HR tonight and is hitting about .320 with an OPS north of 1.000 last 10 games. Turned 19 in February.

I was just about to post this....

Very encouraging but not surprising. It was an aggressive assignment to begin with so it's natural for him to take some time before he got rolling
 

Rubber Rim Job Podcast Video

Episode 3-13: "Backup Bash Brothers"

Rubber Rim Job Podcast Spotify

Episode 3:11: "Clipping Bucks."
Top