Minor League Recap: Wilk strikes out six, Smyly strikes out ten, pitching reigns supreme

by David Tokarz on Jul 26, 2011 8:01 AM EDT in Detroit Tigers Minor League News

Adam Wilk gave up two runs (one earned) in 5.2 innings, striking out six batters but allowing a home run. Will Rhymes was 3-5, but was caught stealing once. Casper Wells tripled.

AA: Richmond 3, Erie 2

Jacob Turner gave up two home runs and three runs in eight innings. He struck out eight and walked one. The offense was pretty bad; Deik Scram was 2-3 with a double and Audy Ciriaco chipped in two hits.

A+: Lakeland 1, Palm Beach 0

Drew Smyly shut out Palm Beach for seven innings, striking out ten batters and walking two. His performance even drew comment from the Mothership (via their RSS feed). It's a very good thing that Smyly was on his game, since Wade Gaynor was the only Flying Tiger with more than one hit (he had two and a walk).

A: Clinton 4, West Michigan 3

Kevin Eichhorn is just fascinating to me. His K rate is near 20%, his walk rate has dropped since earlier this year and he was part of the return for Armando Galaragga. Anyway, Eichhorn continued his solid performance in West Michigan yesterday, giving up three earned runs in 6.2 innings, while striking out four. Clay Jones was 3-4 with a double, and Nick Castellanos also doubled.

SS: Williamsport 4, Connecticut 3

Thomas Collier struck out five and walked one over five shutout innings for Connecticut. Patrick Leyland chipped in three hits and a walk. There's also a pretty good interview with Leyland here.

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You have to wonder if/ when Wilk gets a shot at the rotation

I felt that he was a better starting option than Furbush, and that Charlie was better suited for long relief. Could be that DD gets another starting pitcher and we won’t find out, or that Below sticks in the rotation, as I think he’s earned another start if DD fails to get what is needed. I don’t think it’s a big deal, but I like guys that throw strikes and I think they’re sometimes under appreciated in this organization.

20% K rate for Eichorn? Wow!

I don't care what the Chinese say, 2011 is the Year of the Tiger!

by Tigerdog1 on Jul 26, 2011 11:50 AM EDT reply actions

I hope he doesn't

because if he does that means multiple things have gone wrong.

Bless You Boys.com

by Kurt Mensching on Jul 26, 2011 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions

That's almost certainly the case

Nobody has ever accused Adam Wilk of having tremendous upside. (Well, maybe one person has, but I’m not going to check). He’d be at the back end, if anything, but he might plug the fifth slot as well or better than what we’ve seen. But yeah, DD needs to treat this like his job is on the line, and get us a mid rotation starter.

I don't care what the Chinese say, 2011 is the Year of the Tiger!

by Tigerdog1 on Jul 26, 2011 1:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Well, maybe one person has, but I’m not going to check

Detroit4Lyfe

by Rob Rogacki on Jul 26, 2011 2:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Eichhorn's at like 19.6

So I rounded. But even if his future is in relief (which it probably is) that’s really interesting.

"Aside from the stuff I haven’t been diagnosed for yet, I don’t have a problem."- Phil Coke

Contributor, Bless You Boys

by David Tokarz on Jul 26, 2011 12:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Smyly is looking interesting this year

I think the scouting report was that he was more of a control guy than a strikeout guy. However, he’s at 23.8 K% and has had some pretty big strikeout games. His BB% is only 6.5%. He was hurt for a while, but could see 125 IP this year.

If he’s not part of a trade, he’s one to follow next year if he gets promoted to Erie or Toledo.

The other sports are just sports. Baseball is a love. ~Bryant Gumbel, 1981

by momotigers on Jul 26, 2011 1:10 PM EDT reply actions

I don't see him being traded

he’d be under valued at this point, IMO.

I don't care what the Chinese say, 2011 is the Year of the Tiger!

by Tigerdog1 on Jul 26, 2011 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions

He's the same pitcher he was when he was drafted

Very good feel for his pitches, well polished, low upside. The performance is good, but I wouldn’t give him much beyond a B.

"Aside from the stuff I haven’t been diagnosed for yet, I don’t have a problem."- Phil Coke

Contributor, Bless You Boys

by David Tokarz on Jul 26, 2011 2:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Erm, B-

"Aside from the stuff I haven’t been diagnosed for yet, I don’t have a problem."- Phil Coke

Contributor, Bless You Boys

by David Tokarz on Jul 26, 2011 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions

If I could be allowed to project out for the Tigers of 2012 thru 2015, isn't Smyly just what the Tigers need?

With Verlander, Scherzer, Turner, and Porcello holding down the #1 thru #4 spots for the forseable future, a lefty with control should fit into the back end of the rotation very nicely.

"All aboard! There is plenty of room."
Brennan Boesch Bandwagon Conductor

by trross1200 on Jul 26, 2011 3:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Still

That doesn’t change his upside.

And why the bloody hell is everybody forgetting about Andy Oliver?

"Aside from the stuff I haven’t been diagnosed for yet, I don’t have a problem."- Phil Coke

Contributor, Bless You Boys

by David Tokarz on Jul 26, 2011 8:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Those 2 starts for the Tigers this year are part of it

That 4.71 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in Toledo has a lot to do with it as well.

I’d love for Andy Oliver to develop into the pitcher we hope he can be, but it’s been a disappointing year, results-wise, to say the least. Perhaps his secondary stuff is improving, which should have been a major emphasis headed into 2011, but without the right scouting reports, most of us don’t know whether this is the case or not.

The other sports are just sports. Baseball is a love. ~Bryant Gumbel, 1981

by momotigers on Jul 27, 2011 12:57 AM EDT up reply actions

the kind of prospects that get traded for players with any value

Are “major league ready” or “near ready” prospects.

If you’re taking on a salary dump, the cost could be a mere token prospect or two in A ball.

But if you’re getting value, the sellers generally want a younger player(s) that is just about ready to play in the majors. That puts many of the players that we’ve seen in Detroit this year on the block, even if they have struggled early in their time in the majors.

I don't care what the Chinese say, 2011 is the Year of the Tiger!

by Tigerdog1 on Jul 26, 2011 3:55 PM EDT reply actions

I'm really starting to feel good about the future of the club at SP and OF

Now obviously you can’t plan for the unexpected, but we should be able to pour funds into strictly 2B, 3B, and SS next year (we could slide Peralta). Anybody want to gamble and spend a truckload of money on Reyes?

In the alternative, a 3-4 year deal for a Kelly Johnson or a Jimmy Rollins?

by The Nicker on Jul 26, 2011 4:39 PM EDT reply actions