DePaula wild in second start with River Dogs

April 11, 2013 by Mike Axisa 67 Comments

This is a few weeks old, but I’ve had it open in a tab and didn’t get around to reading it until today. Josh Norris spoke to SS Cito Culver, who confirmed he stopped switch-hitting in favor of batting right-handed exclusively right after being cut from big league camp in March. It was his idea and he took it to the brass. So there, confirmation.

Also, apparently LHP Matt Tracy is working on a cutter according to Mike Ashmore. He’s primarily a fastball/changeup guy with some curveballs mixed in.

Triple-A Scranton was rained out for the second day in a row. No word when they’ll make this one up.

Double-A Trenton (6-5 win over Richmond in 11 innings, walk-off style)

CF Slade Heathcott: 3-5, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 3B, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 SB — tripled with one out in the 11th to setup the winning run
LF Ramon Flores: 2-6, 1 RBI, 1 K — walk-off sac fly
RF Tyler Austin: 0-5, 1 K — stuck in an 0-for-14 slump
C J.R. Murphy: 1-5, 1 K, 1 E (catcher interference)
DH Neil Medchill: 2-4, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 BB, 2 K
RHP Zach Nuding: 6 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 K, 6/2 GB/FB — 56 of 90 pitches were strikes (62%)
RHP Branden Pinder: 2 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 2/1 GB/FB — 26 of 35 pitches were strikes (74%) … eight runs allowed in his last 2.1 innings

High-A Tampa (3-2 loss to Dunedin in 11 innings, walk-off style)

CF Mason Williams: 1-4, 1 2B, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 CS — six walks and seven strikeouts through seven games
2B Angelo Gumbs: 0-5, 2 K – stuck in an 0-for-20 rut at the moment
LF Ben Gamel: 0-4, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 K — first hitless game of the year
DH Gary Sanchez: 1-5, 1 R, 1 2B — three straight games with a double
RHP Corey Black: 6 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 5 K, 6/3 GB/FB — Kiley McDaniel had him sitting 92-94 and touching 96
RHP Zach Arneson: 1.1 IP, zeroes, 2 K, 1/0 GB/FB — he was sitting 93-95 with what McDaniel called “the worst arm action I’ve seen this year … Maybe ever”

Low-A Charleston (3-0 loss to Augusta)

SS Cito Culver: 1-3, 1 2B, 1 BB, 2 K — six extra-base hits in eight games this year after 22 in 122 last year
1B Greg Bird: 1-4, 1 K
3B Dante Bichette Jr.: 0-4, 1 K
C Peter O’Brien: 2-4, 1 2B, 1 K
RHP Rafael DePaula: 2 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 5 K, 1 WP, 2 HB, 1/0 GB/FB — only 24 of 55 pitches were strikes (44%), and he threw 11 straight balls to open the game … the kid lost a lot of development time these last few years and has a lot of catching up to do
RHP Phil Wetherell: 5 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, 1 WP, 7/1 GB/FB — 48 of 60 pitches were strikes (80%) … pretty awesome job in relief

forensic

RF Tyler Austin: 0-5, 1 K — stuck in an 0-for-14 slump

Curse of the prospect watch!

I think we should’ve picked some nobody in Low-A or something to keep all the possibly real players safe…
- Pseudoyanks
  
  Carmen Angelini for teh prospect watch!
  - Havok9120
    
    ….
    
    You’re a genius.
    - Pseudoyanks
      
      I’m here all week….
- trr
  
  Patience.
  Patience and Forbearance.
Pseudoyanks

Stay healthy Slade!
Richard Leo

any report on Rafael DePaula’s stuff?
- Pseudoyanks
  
  He did get 5 out of 6 outs by strikeout…
  - Richard Leo
    
    i mean something like his fastball velocity
    - Andy
      
      Nothing from this start but in the DSL last year he was reported to have a fastball that sat 93-96 and would scrape 98-99. Judging by his strikeout rates so far his stuff is just as electric.
YankeesJunkie

The last couple years are tough to make up, however he will make up a lot of ground and set himself by make 25 to 30 starts this year.
Kramerica Industries

This is a few weeks old, but I’ve had it open in a tab and didn’t get around to reading it until today.

In other words, you’ve had the same web browser open for weeks on end?

Well, we’re one in the same on that front.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
  
  I have my browser set up so that every time I open it, it opens with the tabs it had when I last closed. I only have about three extra tabs open with stuff I need to find time to read, usually longer stuff, but that one hung around a while.
  - Kramerica Industries
    
    I have the same set-up, it’s just that turning off a notebook computer isn’t nearly as necessary as it is with a desktop computer (though I don’t know which one you’re using, if not something else altogether).
    
    Furthermore, I’m one of those people who could literally be up to 25-30 open tabs within the space of 30 minutes. Tons of reading material that I never actually get around to reading. Thus, loading up those tabs would just be a pain in the ass to deal with.
    - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
      
      I’ve gotten better at reading stuff right away in Google Reader. My days of 25+ tabs are over, thankfully.
    - Bob Buttons
      
      I actually got a folder in my favorites titled “temp”.
      
      Unfortunately it grew to 6 sub-folders and 2 sub-levels.
      
      (Yes, I’m a major pack-rat, even when it comes to random internet articles)
      - Kramerica Industries
        
        Oh yes. Join the club on that one. I have to imagine I have a couple hundred bookmarks scattered across the internet by this point. And this is from someone who, at times, might not do anything other than visit the same dozen or so sites on a given day.
        
        Kramerica Industries
        
        Kinda makes you think back with amazement to the days of IE and Netscape, when tabs didn’t exist, and opening up a new page with any kind of medium-sized bandwidth would take five minutes.
        
        Not quite sure how we all managed back then, knowing what we can do now.
        
        Bob Buttons
        
        Pretty sure I just got games from my friends who had the disc.
        
        Also pretty sure to pass time I was counting how many sounds the modem made.
        
        And pretty sure I’d never come up calling myself Bob Buttons.
    - hogsmog
      
      Ugh… currently at 75 tabs, dating back to July.
      - Kramerica Industries
        
        Back into RISPFAIL season.
        
        I’m impressed.
- Get Phelps Up
  
  Wow and I thought my 15-20 open tabs at a time were a lot…
Cool Lester Smooth

Here’s hoping Cito can turn it around. He seems like a good kid.
- http://www.itsaboutthemoney.net Mike Eder
  
  Even if he can’t hit for contact, a short stop that can hit for power, with speed, with a glove, that can take walks, would be incredible. He’s made real changes at the plate as well, and I’m starting to get excited. I know it’s only 8 games, but he’s already close to 1/3rd of the extra base hits he had in 2012.
  - Bob Buttons
    
    a short stop that can hit for power, with speed, with a glove, that can take walks
    
    JJ Hardy or Alex Gonzalez (the more recent one)?
    - Cool Lester Smooth
      
      Alex Gonzalez doesn’t walk. Ever.
    - Jim Is Bored
      
      I would be ecstatic if Cito Culver became JJ Hardy.
  - Tremont
    
    He doesn’t have power or speed.
    - Cool Lester Smooth
      
      He absolutely does have speed. He just has never gotten on base often enough to use it.
      - Tremont
        
        Speed is pretty average. Maybe a smidge above. It’s not a weapon.
Voice of Reason

Wild as he was today, with 16 Ks through 6.1, I’m gonna go ahead and say De Paula is overqualified for low A
- Laz
  
  Might help him to face a bit more talented hitters. Right now he is simply striking out opposing hitters with overwhelming velocity, instead of actually having good command, and making smart pitcher.
Richard Leo

hit for power is too much fo culver i think
Deathstroke Heathcott

:)
And in merrie olde England

Not sure which is the open thread but has anyone got the Dodgers/Pad’s game/riot on…!
- forensic
  
  From the box score, looks like Quentin got cranky after a HBP and started some trouble with 3 players being ejected? And then right after that Grienke was taken out with a left shoulder injury, possibly from the fracas?
  
  That about sum it up?
  - Bob Buttons
    
    Box score doesn’t do the 10 minute video justice.
    
    Quick summary:
    
    on a 0-2 pitch from Marquis the ball went inches over Kemp’s head.
    Later on Quentin gets hit. He’s fucking pissed because he already got hit by LAD on Tuesday and sat out Wednesday.
    Yaddi yadda, brawl between Ellis (catcher, not 2B), Greinkpunk, and Quentin. When the fight gets broken up, Kemp is seen mouthing “don’t fucking touch me” repeatedly at Bud Black.
    
    A bit later some people popped onto the field and started arguing again. After some walking around, Kemp mouthes “that’s fucking bullshit!” repeated to the umps. He seems to get thrown out. Capuano comes in and replaces Greinke, who is “out with injury”. The whole stadium is chanting “fuck the Dodgers”. Vin Scully mentions that they got another series in LA between the two teams this coming Monday.
    
    And obviously I think Greinke is the fucking retard here. For starters a 100M+ pitcher don’t retaliate. Injuries ain’t fun. Also, even IF that pitch at Kemp was on purpose (I think not), don’t hit Quentin, a guy who already sat out last game from getting hit. Kemp is also being a retard. Why the fuck would they try to hit a guy on 0-2 count? And I don’t recall Marquis having a rep as head hunter.
  - Bob Buttons
    
    Greinke shoulder-blocked with his left shoulder and was on the ground for a while.
    - forensic
      
      That was brilliant of him…
      - Now Batting
        
        I hope every pitch Quentin sees from now on is at his head. Total asshole.
        
        vicki
        
        yep. the guy has more hbp than homeruns. shut up and take your base like a man. dirty bitch.
        
        ps i LOVE pissed off donny.
      - Cool Lester Smooth
        
        He’s a righty. He’ll be fine.
        
        forensic
        
        He can still miss time with an injury to his left shoulder though. See: Jered Weaver
        
        vicki
        
        he’s got a broken collar bone. he won’t be back soon.
        
        Cool Lester Smooth
        
        Shit, I just saw the fight on SC. Greinke pretty much did what he was supposed to do, so this sucks.
  - And in merrie olde England
    
    I was watching it and couldn’t believe it.
    
    Matt Kemp had a pitch over his head early on, Greinke hit Quentin for the third time in his career and then started mouthing off at Quentin who charged the mound, Greinke took the charge, bounced off him and broke his left collarbone.
    
    Benches emptied, arms and legs everywhere, bullpens arrive. Matt Kemp losing his shit all over the place. All calms down then LA’s Hairston charges the Pad’s dugout and it starts going off again! Crowd were apparently brawling as well?
    
    Just read on twitter that Kemp and Quentin had to be pulled apart in the players car park! I thought war was being declared in Korea not CA?! Pad’s are going to the Dodgers next week as well..!
    - vicki
      
      and and and! juan uribe hit another homerun!
Joba’s ‘Stache

DePaula drilled one of the batters square in the forehead and the ball bounced behind the plate and rolled down the first base line. Fortunately there was a helmet between skin and bone but the batter was pretty shook up and after a check up, they sent him to the bench and brought out a pinch runner. He then almost nailed another guy but, upon review of the photos, it was a wide ball and the batter was just shook up and not taking chances…
- your mom
  
  How is it that the batter had a helmet between skin and bone? Is that the new surgically implanted baseball helmet?
  - forensic
    
    Hope it’s not the Gazoo size helmet…
  - Joba’s ‘stache
    
    I’m sorry that I was grammatically incorrect as I have newborn and usually operate on about 4-5 hours of sleep. You should get the gist of it though, Captain Obvious…
    - Rick
      
      You don’t have to defend yourself, nor take offense to it. Your sentence was hard to follow. Deep breath and everything will be ok.
    - https://twitter.com/AngeloInNY Angelo
      
      It was a joke. Breathe.
- YankeeGrunt
  
  Was this in the first inning, prior to his recording an out? Following on the Gamecast it looked like he had a hit and three walks before he retired a batter, then K’ed three in a row. Is that what happened?
Samuel

Well, it’s certainly not the worst arm action I have ever seen, but his elbow is way too far high up. This kid will likely have shoulder issues down the road.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApRGL59lgiw
- CS Yankee
  
  Thanks for the clip…
  
  Seems that he is one of those pitchers that pulls his throwing shoulder back to load and i’ve seen undersized (or thin) LL-HS kids use this as they think it increases velocity as it creates a longer whip. I believe it creates strain on the shoulder and also lets the batter see your grip (on certain pitches).
  
  He might be poised to be the next knuckle-dragger ROOGY as a lot of these unconventional guys experiment until they get results.
- Rick
  
  Enough with this crap. You’re not a pitching coach or a doctor. Even if you were, you couldn’t possibly make that BS assessment. Just stop it already.
  - Bob Buttons
    
    Read the game recap under Arneson.
  - Samuel
    
    How do you know I am not a pitching coach? How do you know I am not a scout?
Vespasian Clark

I was at the Thunder game last night, and Heathcott’s triple in the 11th might’ve been stretched into an inside-the-park homer had he been running full tilt all the way through. He’d already legged out an infield single in the first; he had slowed into second on his hit in the 11th. The center fielder dove for the ball, missed it, and the left fielder was fielding from off the wall. Even though he basically stood on second for two seconds, he slid in a moment before the throw reached third. He’s super fast, and I’m hoping he does leg one out during one of my package games. He reminds me of Gardner with more line drive power, homer potential.
- John C
  
  What did you think of Nuding? Didn’t get a chance to see him in ST. Any idea what his velocity is?
  - Vespasian Clark
    
    Nuding looked pretty good over the six, his only run came off a homer that just made it over the line in left (though they say the park depresses hitting with the river next to it & the wind coming off it). Their radar readings were basically non-existent; the scoreboard kept showing 3-8 mph when no one was on the field, but I think he hit 90-91, hanging around 88-89 on the fastball. He pounded the zone low, had a little bit of trouble getting strikes at the knees, but he only walked the 2 and the 6 hits were spread out so I don’t think he had more than 2 guys get past second base (other than the homer). But the way Richmond was hitting the bullpen, I think he’s got some decent stuff.
FLYER7

Has Culver moved back to prospect from suspect?
Wayne

What are the odds zach nuding gets called up this year?
Wayne

What age does cito culver turn this year? When does nik turley pitch again?
- https://twitter.com/AngeloInNY Angelo
  
  If you typed this into Google rather than RAB, you could get a quick answer.
Preston

Slade Heathcott finally doing Slade Heathcotty things!