Minor League Games - Tuesday, April 11, 2017

[Squire]

Reading Lineup tonight with some changes against the LHP

2B Scott Kingery
LF Andrew Pullin
CF Carlos Tocci
1B Harold Martinez
3B Mitch Walding
RF Jiandido Tromp
DH Angelo Mora
SS Malquin Canelo
C Joel Fisher

LHP Brandon Liebrandt

[tom81]

Eflin activated off the DL and optioned to LHV. Since he pitched Thursday at CLW, he'd be in line to start tonight for the IronPigs.

It would make sense to have Eflin start tonight, lining him up with Bucholtz's starts. With Thompson struggling I'd want Eflin replacing Bucholtz as soon as he is ready.

[Squire]

Lakewood lineup tonight

2B Daniel Brito
SS Arquimedes Gamboa
CF Mickey Moniak
1B Alex Wojciechowski
DH Cord Sandberg
3B Danny Zardon
LF David Martinelli
C Edgar Cabral
RF Carlos Duran

SP LHP Bailey Falter

[Squire]

Clearwater Lineup

CF Zach Coppola
DH Cornelius Randolph
LF Herlis Rodriguez
RF Jose Pujols
1B Wilson Garcia
C Deivi Gruillon
3B Jan Hernandez
2B Drew Stankiewicz
SS Grenny Cumana

SP RHP Blake Quinn

[California_Dreamin]

IMHO, a guy to keep an eye on this year is 23 year old Jiandido Tromp, I have a feeling he may have a quite impressive season if he remains healthy.

Almost unnoticed last year, Tromp quietly hit 20 home runs in dual stops at Lakewood and Clearwater and was promoted to Reading this season despite a fairly deep upper level outfield pool.

He has always had great tools and I would not be surprised if he emerges this year as one of the better outfield prospects in the system. I find it interesting that they are playing him in right field, which indicates to me they like his arm, which I believe is very strong.

Tromp has always been an intriguing prospect to me and my guess is that in an inviting stadium liker Readings he might have a very good power year.

Where this leads? Who knows? But keep an eye on him this year, I expect a big year from him.

[Squire]

Crawford 0-3,3ks

[andyb]

Nice start by Falter. I guess he was not sent back to Extended like the transaction implied. I think they have introduced expanded rosters in A ball this year so he was probably always on the Lakewood roster even if he was not active till today.

Brito continues to hit. Moniak with better plate discipline so far.

[phillychuck]

Crawford 0-3,3ks

Keep doing this. Singled next AB, plus RBI.

[Squire]

Also not Moniak's night....

[phillychuck]

He got on on a K-passed ball. THAT takes talent.

Quick question--somebody (Squire?) posted a list of the "loaded" minor league rosters according to BA. Any idea where that post is? I can't seem to find it.

[Squire]

Please end the Lakewood game before Moniak forgets how to play baseball

[Squire]

Lehigh Valley somehow won a game 6-0 despite striking out 14 times...so that's cool, Reading really banging the ball on the road

[andyb]

Lehigh Valley somehow won a game 6-0 despite striking out 14 times...so that's cool

3 hits each from Quinn and Alfaro. Alfaro off to a nice start.

[Squire]

Please please please end the Lakewood game. Moniak 0-7, 4ks

[xogfog]

Please please please end the Lakewood game. Moniak 0-7, 4ks

At least he drove in a run.

[schooldoc]

Lakewood goes down in the 15th, 4-3. Claws now 4-2 on the season.

Not sure I saw this mentioned yet, but Gamboa was replaced defensively in the 7th inning after he had grounded out in the top half of the inning. I would imagine that's injury related, but we'll see.

[donaldorc]

I'd want Eflin replacing Bucholtz as soon as he is ready.

Me too.

[donaldorc]

I'm just disappointed that Nick Williams (who seemed to hit really really well in the Spring games and had a bunch of new maturity articles) and JP Crawford (who had a ton of "I just trying to do too much but now I understand that " articles) have started the season a combined 4-33 with 1BB and 12Ks

I sure hope I'm wrong, but I've had the sense all along that Crawford is over-rated as a prospect. Most people who know better than I project him as the heir-apparent to replace Galvis. I know, SSS, lousy weather, he's still young, etc. Just hoping begins to live up to the hype.

[xogfog]

Crawford has two solid skills, glove and plate discipline. You would think with plate discipline or pitch recognition, the hit tool should improve.

[andyb]

Crawford gets underrated because he does not have loud tools. He generally is good but not great at most things. Fans have not seen the defense and that really is hard to measure anyway for the lay person. Crawford has great range and probably will make an above average number of errors. Fans often like the shortstop with less range but fewer errors (like Galvis or Bowa or even Rollins). Drawing walks also does not put fans in the seats and that is Crawford's other strength.

The Crawford I envision can be a 4-5 WAR player hitting .270 because that might have an OBP of 370. Even if his OPS is barely 750 that is still potentially a 5 WAR player.

Publications like Baseball America see this. Yes they all made a mistake with Domonic Brown, though I do recall there were always criticisms about his defense and the length of his swing. Crawford clearly hit a development bump last year but fundamentally the reasons he is a top prospect (strong defense, plate discipline) were still there. If he stumbles for a half season more there are reasons for concern, but as of now I am not concerned.