Minor League Wrap--May 16

by Josh77 on May 16, 2008 11:58 PM CDT

Hey, for all you guys who wanted the Cubs to sign Jim Edmonds: Your wishes do indeed have consequences. Because Edmonds got signed, Felix Pie got sent down to Iowa. To make room for Felix Pie in Iowa, BCB favorite scrappy/hunky/Jewish (whichever you prefer) center fielder Sam Fuld got sent down to Tennessee.

I hope you're all happy.

By the way, Kyler Burke got returned to extended spring training. Maybe the Padres knew something when they gave up on him

Iowa Cubs

The I-Cubs fell to the Round Rock Express, 5-4.

Rich Hill did exactly what we didn't want to see out of him and gave up walks and home runs. Hill lasted only 2.2 innings and allowed three runs on three walks and two hits, one of which was a solo home run. Hill struck out two.

[Edit: cwyers is reporting that Hill was pulled with an injury. I suspected that from the box score.]

It is now Day 40 of the hostage crisis where crazed Brewer fans have taken Neal Cotts and Jose Ascanio hostage and forced them to pitch for the I-Cubs. There hasn't been any news coverage of it, but it's the only reason I can figure that the two of them are in Des Moines and not in Wrigley. Cotts struck out two and allowed one hit in a scoreless inning and Ascanio struck out two and walked one in two scoreless innings.

Shortstop Luis Figueroa went 3 for 4 with an RBI. Micah Hoffpauir didn't hit a home run, breaking his three game streak, but went 1 for 3 with a walk and an RBI. Just don't get injured before Sunday, Micah.

Tennessee Smokies

The Smokies were baked by the Montgomery Biscuits, 5-1.

Donnie Veal was cruising along until he hit the sixth inning, when gave up two hits and two walks. This led to a five-run inning in which four of the runs were charged to Veal. Veal's final line was 5.1 innings pitched with five hits and three walks. Veal struck out four.

Second baseman Nate Spears went 2 for 3 with a walk and a run scored.

Daytona Cubs

Daytona beat the St. Lucie Mets, 3-2.

Esmailin Caridad was the starter and got a no-decision to show for his seven innings of work. Caridad allowed two runs on five hits and a walk. He struck out two.

Darin Downs got the win with 1.1 innings of scoreless relief, allowing only one hit. Dumas Garcia picked up his fourth save of the year.

Third baseman Josh Lansford had a huge night at the plate, going 4 for 4 with his first home run of the season.

Peoria Chiefs

The Chiefs lost to the Beloit Snappers, 6-3.

Billy Muldowney started and was impressive over five innings, allowing no runs on two hits and two walks. He struck out three Snappers. Audy Santana relived Muldowney and was not impressive. Santana allowed five runs in 1.1 innings and took the loss tonight.

Right fielder Dylan Johnston went 3 for 4 with his fifth home run of the year. He even threw out a runner at third base, although it was doubling off a runner. I may have dismissed his prospect status too quickly as Johnston has been on a tear in the month of May, hitting .356 with 3 HRs.

Left fielder Elvis Lara went 2 for 4. First baseman Luis Bautista made his first appearance of the year and went 2 for 4.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation, Bleed Cubbie Blue, or Al Yellon, editor-in-chief. FanPost opinions are, however, valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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Sam Fuld's stock has sure dropped in a hurry.

Not that I thought he was particularly good or anything, but wow. I understand the politics behind it (Fuld is still relatively young, compared to guys like Kroeger and Blanco) but how’s it have to feel to be at AA while guys like that play in AAA?

[For that matter, I’m sure there are plenty of AAA players who look at marginal major leaguers and think to themselves that they could probably do just as well. And they’re probably right.]

I has a blog.

by cwyers on May 17, 2008 12:28 AM CDT 0 recs

Part of it

is going to be where can he play? Pie and Murton are going to play in Iowa and that leaves Fuld fighting it out with Torres and Kroeger for playing time in the outfield. (This assumes that Hoffpauir gets called up after Sunday’s game as per the plan. Micah was in right field tonight.)

As long as I’ve been following the minors, the Cubs have filled Iowa up with veterans and journeymen. They rarely keep a top prospect there for very long. I once read (and this was about three or four GMs ago, so it may no longer be true) that the Cubs don’t like their top prospects to spend a lot of time in AAA because there are too many minor league veterans there who have attitude problems. Either the attitude problem is the reason they’re in AAA and not in the majors (no one wants them around the clubhouse) or they’ve developed an attitude because they’re stuck in the minors when worse guys are playing up in the majors. These guys can play, so they keep them around just in case of an emergency at the major league level. But they don’t want their top prospects hanging around them.

“Corey! If you keep hanging around with delinquents like Julio Zuleta and Roosevelt Brown, you’re going to come to no good!”

Again though, I read this around ten years ago. I don’t know of any attitude problems on the current I-Cubs.

Still though, the Cubs rarely have a top prospect at Iowa. Geo Soto was a rare exception, because he wasn’t supposed to be any better than Henry Blanco before last season.

None of this has anything to do with Sam Fuld though. I just think they wanted him to play. Harvey got sent down to Daytona so there was an opening for an outfielder in Tennessee. But he was never really the top prospect that people made him out to be.

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

by Josh77 on May 17, 2008 12:47 AM CDT up 0 recs

All of that's true...

...and frankly the talent difference between AA and AAA isn’t that big, but I suspect it’s hard to keep that in mind when you’re being sent down a level, especially for a guy that was told heading into spring training that he was competing for a spot on the big-league club.

Now, that was probably a convenient lie for the organization, but nonetheless it probably isn’t fun for him. Things were probably helped along by his .213/.294/.311 performance to date. (Sample size caveats of course apply.)

I has a blog.

by cwyers on May 17, 2008 1:11 AM CDT up 0 recs

That's right

I remember in Spring Training all the talk that Fuld was competing with Pie for the starting CF job.

However, I do wonder if Fuld might not go right back up when Hoffpauir gets promoted. Do you have to stay down ten days if you go from AAA to AA? I have no idea.

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

by Josh77 on May 17, 2008 1:15 AM CDT up 0 recs

I seriously doubt it.

Don’t they have player/coaches in the minors?

I has a blog.

by cwyers on May 17, 2008 1:18 AM CDT up 0 recs

Not that I know of anymore

They used to, but the minors have become so professionalized in recent years that the player/coach has gone the way of Pete Rose. Unless you’re talking about players serving as the first or third base coach during a game, which happens all the time because there is only a manager, a pitching coach and a hitting coach. I saw Pat Listach coaching third at the I-Cubs game, but if he couldn’t do it, I’d bet a player would be out there.

Sometimes a guy “unretires” but that’s increasingly rare. Gabe Kapler did, but he went back to the majors, not playing for the team he coached.

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

by Josh77 on May 17, 2008 1:28 AM CDT up 0 recs

Fuld's age

He is older than both Kroeger and Blanco.

If you like Selig's handling of the steroid issue, you'll love his choice for next Cub owner.

by tharr on May 17, 2008 12:59 AM CDT up 0 recs

I got my Andreses mixed up.

Meant Torres, not Blanco. As far as Kroeger, I never trust the age on the player card of any players from Davenport, Iowa. Too many shady characters from around there!

(That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.)

I has a blog.

by cwyers on May 17, 2008 1:03 AM CDT up 0 recs

In fairness...

Torres (who is older) and Kroeger (who is younger, not older) were both substantially outplaying Fuld. And Pie and Murton are clearly higher on the organizational pecking order than Fuld. Fuld was stinking it up in AAA, so I can’t imagine he has too much room to complain. Fuld now moves to AA, where he plays the same position as another currently scuffling OF prospect (Colvin).

I will agree that a 26 year old getting demoted to AA is probably discouraging (especially one who’s spent time in the majors and is on the 40-man roster). But a .222/.310/.317 line and four or five guys performing better on the team (or higher on the prospect ladder), the writing had to be on the wall.

by SouthernCub on May 17, 2008 8:56 AM CDT up 0 recs

Any more news?

on what the injury Rich suffered was? Significantly losses in command can often be a precursor to elbow problems… which is why i’m terrified right now

by DartmouthCubsFan on May 17, 2008 10:37 AM CDT 0 recs

Stiff back

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008805170342

According to this article, it’s a stiff back.

Hill, who served up a solo home run in the second inning, was relieved with stiffness in his back after walking three batters and allowing a two-run single in the third.
He will be re-evaluated today.

by John Q Freejazz on May 17, 2008 10:40 AM CDT up 0 recs

that's at least better news, i suppose

these first few months have been maddening as a fervent Rich Hill supporter

by DartmouthCubsFan on May 17, 2008 10:46 AM CDT up 0 recs

I wonder if the back has been bothering him all year. That also

would explain loss of control, if he has not been able to complete his proper follow through. His mechanics have changed this year. It’s obvious when you watch him pitch and the back could be the cause.

by cubswin on May 17, 2008 11:20 AM CDT up 0 recs

+1

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on May 17, 2008 4:02 PM CDT up 0 recs

Pie on the demotion

Felix Pie has a nice quote in this article from the Des Moines Register on his demotion to Iowa.

Felix Pie, in his first start with the I-Cubs after being sent down by Chicago, went 0-for-4 with two runs scored.
“It is good for me now that I am going to play everyday, get more at-bats,” said Pie, who reached on an error and was hit by a pitch. “I want to play hard, do my thing working on my hitting.”

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008805170342

by John Q Freejazz on May 17, 2008 10:39 AM CDT 0 recs

It's good that he's taking it well...

at least at face value he’s taking it well.

He’s still very young, so if he can turn this into a positive, it can go a long way towards his development. Glad to hear he’s handling it in a very mature fashion. Hopefully he can get some work against LHP and make himself fully ready to assume the everyday job in CF next year (no platoon).

by SouthernCub on May 17, 2008 10:52 AM CDT up 0 recs

and that's one of the big differences..

...b/w Felix and Corey, if you buy into the comp that’s frequently thrown around: attitude, attitude, attitude.

I buy that line from Felix, by all accounts he’s an enthusiastic worker. I hope another couple months AAA will help him institute the shorter swing fixes that they’ve been trying with him.

by PrincetonCubs on May 17, 2008 11:03 AM CDT up 0 recs

Hard work...

... is something Corey never understood, I think. It seems that Felix Pie does. Work hard and try to improve his craft, and maybe it’ll pay off later this year.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on May 17, 2008 4:03 PM CDT up 0 recs

I don't believe

Edmonds will stick. There’s plenty of season left and I can see Johnson playing his way back to the bench. He’s hitting .212 lately with 11 K’s in 33 AB.

If you like Selig's handling of the steroid issue, you'll love his choice for next Cub owner.

by tharr on May 17, 2008 5:15 PM CDT up 0 recs

I'd like to agree with you...

But Lou tends to have a blind spot for those who have a hot start. Johnson is riding that early hot streak (and the fact that Piniella gave up on letting Pie develop at the big league level, and the fact that Edmonds is at best a part-timer and very possibly done as a productive player).

I won’t be surprised to see the Cubs keep Pie down for the rest of this season (either sticking with Edmonds or bringing in another CF), and I won’t be surprised if they call Pie up. But if Pie doesn’t hit immediately, Piniella’s not likely to stick with him then either.

But I do agree with the idea that Pie’s attitude is a good sign for his future.

by SouthernCub on May 17, 2008 8:11 PM CDT up 0 recs

There is no way

Pie doesnt come back at some point during the season, unelss the miracle does happen and the cubs get lightning in a bottle.

My 08 Cubs record 4-0
My 08 W.Sox record 0-2 (I havent seen a sox win in 3 years)
Updated April 26th

by Rudey on May 17, 2008 10:01 PM CDT up 0 recs

I will be very surprised if Pie gets a shot this season

maybe if we’re up 8 games in the Central and Edmonds is still below the Mendoza line. I think if Edmonds flops, we’re looking at a trade.

by DGU on May 17, 2008 11:36 PM CDT up 0 recs

For whom?

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on May 18, 2008 4:15 AM CDT up 0 recs

I hear

Andruw Jones and Gary Matthews Jr. are available.

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

by Josh77 on May 18, 2008 5:11 AM CDT up 0 recs

Ugh to both.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on May 18, 2008 7:48 AM CDT up 0 recs

Clearly

n/t

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

by Josh77 on May 18, 2008 12:13 PM CDT up 0 recs

Probably a RF

with Dome being asked to move for just this season and just against RHP. I think the Cubs have stopped looking for a top of the order lefty and now want a middle of the order lefty. But if I’m wrong, or that changes, there were guys like David DeJesus, Coco Crisp, Randy Winn, and Scott Podsednik.

As for Middle of the Order bats, KC has too many left-handed OFs and a weak middle IF; before the season, there was a rumor that the Cubs had some interest in Teahen and I think the Royals would be very glad to get Ronny Cedeno. Teahen’s an interesting option in that he hit in 2006, but not really any other time. If the Cubs think they can fix his swing, he’s still young and he could conceivably play CF, maybe even better than Edmonds.

Chad Tracy is almost back and is blocked in AZ. He’s more of a 3B/1B, but he has played RF in the past. I think he’d be a disappointment away from AZ and with the injury concerns, but there are worse options.

Of course, there have been Griffey rumors, but we can hope Seattle is taking him.

TX might trade Milton Bradley and NY might end up trading one of Damon or Matsui (there’ve been rumblings about that since pre-season). Maybe the Dodgers could be convinced to trade Andre Ethier given their logjam.

A decent low cost option would be Luke Scott in Baltimore; a high-priced dream pick-up would be Jeremy Hermida, who is probably not available, but FL traded Miguel Cabrera, so maybe the right prospect package could bring him.

Most of these options are not better than I expect Pie would be over the course of a whole season when you factor in defense and especially when you take into account the trade cost involved. And the big “problem” here is that if you really think you have to break up the Cub right-handed sluggers, it’s hard to find a hitter who should justifiably hit above Soto and his 1.056 OPS.

At some point, you might as well just embrace being “too right-handed.” But we’re not doing that, so, we get to think trade.

by DGU on May 18, 2008 4:08 PM CDT up 0 recs