Minor League Wrap--May 15

by Josh Timmers on May 16, 2008 2:08 AM CDT

Iowa Cubs

The I-Cubs road trip got off on the wrong foot with a 3-1 loss to the Round Rock Express.

Randy Wells got the loss despite a solid start. Wells went five innings and gave up two runs on four hits. He struck out two and walked nobody. J. R. Mathes threw two shutout innings of relief and Andy Cavazos gave up a run in the one inning he pitched.

Micah Hoffpauir continues to be the offense for the I-Cubs. Hoffpauir hit a home run in his third straight game in a 1 for 4 night. Knowing his luck, he'll probably break his wrist tomorrow before Ward gets put on the DL. Shortstop Luis Figueroa went 2 for 3.

Tennessee Smokies

The Smokies big comeback from a 5-0 deficit was wasted when the bullpen couldn't hold the lead and the Smokies lost to the Montgomery Biscuits, 8-7.

Jeff Samardzija had his second straight terrible start. The Shark allowed six runs on ten hits and five walks in only four innings. He only struck out one.

Reliever Gregory Reinhard walked two Biscuits, but was otherwise perfect in three innings after taking over for Samardzija. Grant Johnson also threw a scoreless inning.

Michael Cooper, however, blew the save and got tattooed for two runs in a third of an inning.

Shortstop Robinson Chirinos went 3 for 4 with three triples. Chirinos scored twice and had one RBI. Right fielder Matt Camp also tripled, but he did it with the bases loaded and had 2 RBI. Camp was 1 for 5 on the night.

Left fielder Jake Fox hit a two-run homer in a 1 for 4 night.

Daytona Cubs

The D-Cubs beat the hapless St. Lucie Mets, 5-2.

Alex Maestri improved his record to 4-1 and actually pitched into the seventh inning. Maestri was credited with six innings pitched and two runs on six hits and three walks. Maestri struck out four. Casey Lambert pitched the final three innings without allowing a run for his seventh save of the season.

Right fielder Ryan Harvey got demoted to Daytona and "celebrated" by hitting his first home run of the year in the FSL and fourth overall. Harvey was 1 for 4 with 2 RBI. Left fielder Jonathan Mota went 1 for 4 with a triple and 2 RBI.

Peoria Chiefs

Chiefs pitchers allowed only two hits, but still managed to lose to the Quad City River Bandits, 3-1.

Hung-Wen Chen pitched five innings and allowed only one hit and three walks. Unfortunately, all the baserunners came in the three-run fourth inning. Chen struck out five.

Center fielder Cliff Andersen was pretty much all of Peoria's offense. Andersen went 2 for 3 with a walk and his third home run of the season.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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Comments

Cliff Andersen

He’s put together a rather nice last 10 games: .368 average with 6 walks and only 9 strike outs (that’s a low K number for him). He and Rosa have been nice offensively as of late, whereas most of the rest of the hitters have been sucking it up. (OK, Elvis Lara has a great average, but outside of that….)

Since we’re (I’m) talking Peoria, does anybody know what happened to Leon Johnson?

by kranskie on May 16, 2008 8:36 AM CDT reply actions

Hasn't played

since May 8th. Still on the roster. I suspect he’s dealing with a minor day-to-day injury. Might be combined with “Not hitting-itis,” but that would only explain being out of the starting lineup, not a week’s absence from games.

It's a girl! Born 1-18-08. 2246 PST. 8 lbs. 1 oz.

by Josh Timmers on May 16, 2008 10:52 AM CDT up reply actions

Does this officially bury Harvey?

I realize the luster has long worn off of Harvey’s star as a prospect, but does the demotion to A+ ball at the age of 24 spell the end of him as a prospect?

by SouthernCub on May 16, 2008 8:41 AM CDT reply actions

I suspect that the Cubs may hang on to him thiis year

but he’ll be gone next season. He’ll be just another player who played in the minor leagues but never made it.

by rlpete on May 16, 2008 9:34 AM CDT up reply actions

Harvey

Harvey was through being a prospect three years ago. He’s been postponing a career selling Lady Kenmores and Sears for several years now.

Mr. Towers, tear down this wall (er, I mean give us back Greg Maddux) !

by MDBNIU on May 16, 2008 9:51 AM CDT up reply actions

Not accurate, but not surprising from you...

by SouthernCub on May 16, 2008 9:58 AM CDT up reply actions

and no, I don't think he's a prospect anymore

but three years ago? that’s a foolish thing to say.

by SouthernCub on May 16, 2008 9:59 AM CDT up reply actions

three years ago...

Harvey was in the midst of hitting 24 hrs and knocking in 100 in only 117 games, as a 20 yr old in Peoria, so he was definitely not “through.” granted he had a 24/137 K/BB and hit like 250, but the power was there. it was really near the end of 06 and then last year when he totally fell apart. he’s only 23, and the tools are there, so there’s still hope, but I’ll be surprised if he develops into a major league hitter at this point. pitcher is possible (hey, it might work for Matt Bush…)

by PrincetonCubs on May 16, 2008 10:24 PM CDT up reply actions

Agreed.

It was a foolish thing for MDBNIU to say (but again, that’s not an uncommon phrase). Unless they lose a limb or something, 20-year-old first round picks are never through as prospects.

That said, I’d say clinging to hope that Harvey (who’s basically 24 now) is going to figure it out as an offensive player. He’s shown no signs of progress in figuring it out, which doesn’t bode well. His best hope appears to be converting to pitcher, and that’s a long shot.

by SouthernCub on May 17, 2008 9:02 AM CDT up reply actions

How's Harvey's arm?

Is conversion to catchera possibility?

by John Q Freejazz on May 16, 2008 10:24 AM CDT up reply actions

No

but pitcher is a possibility.

It's a girl! Born 1-18-08. 2246 PST. 8 lbs. 1 oz.

by Josh Timmers on May 16, 2008 10:54 AM CDT up reply actions

I actually think

he may be on the mound by August. The Cubs have talked about converting him.

It's a girl! Born 1-18-08. 2246 PST. 8 lbs. 1 oz.

by Josh Timmers on May 16, 2008 10:54 AM CDT up reply actions

It would seem to make sense

If he’s got a big arm, give it a shot. It doesn’t appear that he’s ever going to develop the plate discipline to succeed as a position player.

by SouthernCub on May 16, 2008 11:30 AM CDT up reply actions

Samardzija

Last year, it seemed that they let Jeff pitch with what he wanted for a month before imposing on him some expectations that he throw a certain number secondary pitches, which he needs to work on if he’s going to be a big league starter. Has the same thing happened this year? Is the month up and we’re now watching the secondary pitches get knocked around and all over the place?

by DGU on May 16, 2008 10:18 AM CDT reply actions

Possible

but the Cubs and the Smokies don’t announce that sort of thing, generally. I’d have to have someone on the ground in Kodak.

It's a girl! Born 1-18-08. 2246 PST. 8 lbs. 1 oz.

by Josh Timmers on May 16, 2008 10:56 AM CDT up reply actions

How about some love

for my man Alex Maestri? The guy got moved into the starter’s role and he’s 4-1. His peripheral stats are down, but that’s mostly him getting knocked around as he goes deeper into games. Yesterday he actually worked into the seventh inning for the first time this season, although he didn’t retire anyone so he only gets credit for 6 IP.

I still believe he’s a major league reliever, but he’s just handling every challenge the Cubs throw at him. I now really do believe he’s going to be the first player signed out of Italy to make the majors. (There have been about six or seven Italian-born major leaguers, but they were all guys who emigrated to the US as kids.)

It's a girl! Born 1-18-08. 2246 PST. 8 lbs. 1 oz.

by Josh Timmers on May 16, 2008 11:27 AM CDT reply actions

Robinson Chirinos

Who is this guy and how do you hit three triples!!? Were they playing on a tball field? Lucky night or is this guy someone to watch?

by gx4 on May 16, 2008 12:29 PM CDT reply actions

Lucky night

I have no idea what the park is like or how they were playing him, but he had four triples all of last season and hadn’t hit one this year before last night. Apparently one triple went to each field. It had been 22 years since someone hit three triples in a game in the Southern League.

It was a cool fluke game. He’s been in the Cub organization since 2000 and really isn’t a prospect anymore.

It's a girl! Born 1-18-08. 2246 PST. 8 lbs. 1 oz.

by Josh Timmers on May 16, 2008 12:43 PM CDT up reply actions

Grant Johnson?

He’s still with the Cub’s? Is he still considered a prospect or has he fallen to Ryan Harvey status?

I am like your Dan Aykroyd and biglow would be Jane, the ignorant slut. -Chad

by thecoolest on May 16, 2008 4:54 PM CDT reply actions

Yes, he's still with the Cubs

He’s had some problems but he hasn’t fallen as far as Harvey. He’s now strictly a reliever which hurts his status and he’s had arm problems. I guess I’d say he’s still on the radar, but not a top 30 prospect anymore.

It's a girl! Born 1-18-08. 2246 PST. 8 lbs. 1 oz.

by Josh Timmers on May 16, 2008 6:27 PM CDT up reply actions