yarnivek1972

Hey, I get it. By the same token, it would be pretty rare for a guy who played 3 years in college to be in AA by the time he was 22, because he was probably close to 21 when he was drafted. There was a different individual partaking in this conversation that didn't accept that fact.

Just saw that Adalberto Mejia left the game after 3 innings. He had only thrown 33 pitches and allowed 1 hit. Any news?

IMO if it is valid for you to say that Tonkin did well at AA at age 22 it is valid for me to say that Melotakis reached AA in his 3rd pro season whereas it took Tonkin 5.

I get that Escobar is hitting LHP well. But I don't think I am out of line saying that one's utility infielder should never be the starting DH. Also, Max Kepler is never going to improve vs LHP if he never sees them.

Dude, that's EVERY night. Even when he was good he induced a lot of contact.

Belisle has performed poorly. Yeah, I've heard the couple bad outings excuse. 11 BB in 14 IP is not acceptable for a MLB pitcher. Under any circumstances. Breslow is smoke and mirrors IMO. He's allowed only 2 hits in 17 or so at bats to lefties. But he's walked 3 and only struck out 2. That's not what I would call terribly effective.

I'd say a doubleheader Thursday is more likely. They usually give the visitor the option. The Rockies head to Cincinnatti this weekend and that's only a 2 hour flight or so. My guess is that they would rather not come back because they likely would be flying long distances in a handful of days if they looked for a day off.

Of course KC sacrificed some minor leaguers to go all in a couple years ago. Can't really fault that.

Because comparing the age a high school draftee makes it to AA with college draftees is a fair comparison? JT Chargois didn't even pitch at AA until he was 25. He was in the majors the next year. Bard and Melotakis can't control where they pitch. All they can control is getting hitters out.

Don't know how you can look at the numbers and say that Melotakis and Bard aren't dominating AA. Melotakis has an opponent's avg of .135 and while his strikeout pitch has been inconsistent at times, he does have strikeout ability. He's struck out 3 in 1 IP twice this year. Bard has been a little homer happy, which explains a relatively high 3.86 ERA. But a .225 opp BA and and a K per 9 of almost 15. Bard has been a ground ball type, but he also hasn't shown this K rate before. Could be something about his delivery has changed. Regardless, it's still pretty dominant. Maybe not Burdi dominant, but still real, real good. The reason they are old for their levels is because they both missed a full season. Doesn't mean they still can't someday help at the MLB level.

My guess is that Wilk starts Saturday.

I have never heard of such a thing. Perhaps if it is a new rule.

A postponement in the Rockie series would likely mean a double header this week. They won't bring Colorado back unless they have no choice. Tonight should be okay. Tomorrow looks iffy. Could mean a double header Thursday. The Rockies go to Cincy next, so an evening game departure would be okay.

Short answer IMO is because Vielma is considered closer to MLB ready. Vielma likely ceilings as a utility infielder. His glove is considered pretty much ready now. His bat, if in fact he would be a utility infielder, is somewhat irrelevant. Also, Vielma was in AA most of last year. By starting there this year, he got roughly a full season at AA. Gordon only has 6 weeks at AA. If he still has an .850 ish OPS mid July, he might get bumped up too. But if he does not, we are still talking about a guy who turns 22 in October.

Pretty sure neither are starting Saturday.

Just thought I would post this here in this thread because I happened to be skimming through minor league boxes as it happened and "watched" it unfold on milb gameday. After 3 scoreless innings, Kyle Gibson gave up a lead off HR to start the 4th. Another hit and a walk in the inning, but escaped without further damage. Next inning, allowed a single, double and a walk. In between those, Pedro Florimon (yes, there has been a sighting) flew out. So, bases loaded, 1 out is where I flipped on gameday and see Lehigh's # 3 hitter up. I think we all know how this would play out with the Kyle Gibson of this year and last at the MLB level. At the AAA level, it was consecutive strikeouts, one swinging, one looking. He ended up striking out 10 in 6 IP. But, watching gameday for pitch location, the swinging strikes against the 3 and 4 hitters in that situation were mostly (according to gameday) almost dead center of the zone. Now, I know one criticism of Gibson is nibbling and not attacking the zone. It's a valid point. But, IMO there is a big difference between attacking the strike zone and throwing it right down the pipe. That doesn't seem to me to be a strategy that is indicative to success at the MLB level unless he has added about 5-10 MPH to his fastball. Granted, gameday isn't video. It's quite possible, very likely in fact, that these pitches had significant movement. That's Gibson's game. If that was the case, great. He got in a jam and pitched himself out of it, TWICE. I'd call that significant. Getting out of trouble has long been a problem for him. But I would be concerned if he is just blowing it past AAA hitters with a 92 MPH fastball right down the middle. That won't work. MLB hitters will hit that. Kyle Gibson can certainly testify to that. Looking forward to seeing a report from actual eyes from the game.

I don't think I'd make book on that. It's just as likely to be Kyle Gibson who is pitching tonight. 6 K through 3 IP, btw.

I could post the entire write up about the legal definition, but the crux is that it is libel if a jury says it is.

For Vielma? It was on the Red Wings twitter page. Someone posted a screen shot in the Gordon/Vielma platoon thread. I'm not on twitter, so I can't do the same. Vielma is definitely on Rochester's roster though. Red Wings roster

I suspect if anyone was definitely out for the year, we would have heard about it. The best thing to look under is at milb.com. Go to the home page for a specific league (like the Southern League for example). Under the stats tab is a "League Transactions" listed by month. Just do a ctrl-F for whoever you are looking for. It likely won't be nearly as detailed as we fans would like, but it is slightly better than nothing.

The Twins are certainly stockpiling arms in AAA. I mentioned this in a different thread, but the Red Wings currently have 15 active pitchers (sort of). Mejia and Nik Turley are both technically assigned to "extended spring training" right now. Mejia is scheduled to start Wednesday. So, he'll be back and someone else will "go" to EST. I also think that Turley is a guy that the player development staff will want to see pitch. Beyond those two, are DJ Baxendale, Buddy Boshers, Alan Busenitz, Kevin Chapman, Trevor Hildenberger, Drew Rucinski, Michael Tonkin and Alex Wimmers as relievers. As starters, the Red Wings also have Kyle Gibson, David Hurlbut, Aaron Slegers, Nick Tepesch and Jason Wheeler. And that's not even mentioning Mason Melotakis and Nick Burdi blowing guys away in AA or JT Chargois and Jake Reed on the DL for Rochester plus Tyler Jay and Stephen Gonsalves on the DL in AA. It would certainly lead one to the conclusion that permanent changes at the MLB level could be coming as well.

That would also be libel. What Parker did could be construed that way too. In this age of electronic, instant media, the line between journalist and "internet wannabe" can be blurry. The difference with Reusse and Souhan of course is that they are employed by huge media conglomerates. Point being in civil law you go after someone who has deep pockets.

Even without Mejia, Rochester is carrying 13 pitchers. And that doesn't even include Nik Turley who is in roster limbo as well. And they still haven't removed anyone to make room for Engelb Vielma. Even if they shuffle Mejia and someone else in and out, someone will need to be taken off the active roster. Wouldn't logically think the Red Wings need 9 relievers (Baxendale, Boshers, Busenitz, Chapman, Hildenberger, Rucinski, Tonkin, Turley and Wimmers) plus 6 starters (Gibson, Hurlbut, Mejia, Slegers, Tonkin, Wheeler). And that isn't even mentioning that there are at least two guys chomping at the bit in AA plus Chargois and Reed on the DL at AAA - Greenwood and Pino too, but they have been out all season. Point number one is that it seems apparent that there could be a pitcher or two permanently removed from the MLB roster as there are plenty to take roster spots. Point number two is that this could be the day that Alex Wimmers is asked to come to the manager's office. He's pitched much better since allowing 3 HR in his first game, but at some point I think bait has to be cut. With the glut of pitchers, many of which the development staff want and need to see pitch, someone is going to be caught in a numbers game.

He's a movin' on up. To the IL. To a deluxe appt in Rochester. No one has been taken off the active roster yet for the Red Wings. They currently stand at 26, if I counted correctly. So, someone will have to go. One would assume as infielder, but the Red Wings are carrying 13 pitchers, even with Mejia listed as "Temporary Inactive". There will probably be a transaction later this week involving a pitcher, but if (just for the sake of simplicity) Gibson is called up to start Saturday, someone would have to get sent down from the MLB level - or out. The only reliever candidate to be optioned is Pressly. Rogers would be the only other one even eligible right now.

Tepesch will not have been down in AAA long enough by Saturday to be eligible for recall, unless a pitcher is put on the DL. Gibson is slated to pitch tonight, so he would certainly be available Saturday. Mejia is listed as "temporary inactive". No idea what that means. So, that is two that are definite no.