It's the "EVERYBODY WINS" edition!  And more good news from the Shark!

Thanks again to Unique for filling in through my troubles.  I've got to say, it's been a pretty tough summer.

On my way home, I stopped for lunch at an Applebee's in Sparks, NV.  Right by the bathroom, they had this big shrine to former Cub (and local boy) Shawn Boskie.  Too bad the uniform, hat and pictures were all from his Angels days.

I think I've earned the right here to offer my (yet another) opinion on the Harden trade.  This trade was a great one for both clubs, really, although you have to wonder if Oakland couldn't have held out for a little more.  I knew the Cubs wouldn't offer Josh Vitters for Rich Harden, but I thought for sure that Jose Ceda or Wellington Castillo would go in such a trade.  In fact, when I heard the rumors of Harden to the Cubs, the trade I put together in my head was Gallagher, Murton, Castillo and Kevin Hart.  We did a lot better than that, and got a quality swingman in Chad Gaudin in the process.

As far as the prospects that we gave up, I think most of you know that I've been pretty high on Eric Patterson, even starting a "Free Eric Patterson" campaign.  That campaign has been successful and he has been freed.  In my post-season rankings of prospects last October, I said the Cubs needed to either play Patterson or trade him.  They traded him, and it was the right call as he wasn't going to play in Chicago.  I believe that Patterson will likely have a good career, but his defense and lack of a real position may keep him from being a regular more than a season or two.  Someone called him "85% of Ray Durham" and that might be about right.

Most of you already have an opinion on Matt Murton and Sean Gallagher, so I won't say much.  Gallagher's upside is probably a #3 starter, which is a good thing to be but hardly something that's going to make us gnash our teeth in a few years wondering how he got away.

Josh Donaldson was a guy I really liked last season, but he's been terrible this year.  People speculate that the demands of learning to catch are taking a toll on his bat, and that may be true.  He was hitting better in June, so maybe he's finally getting more comfortable behind the plate.  But his defensive skills have always been questionable and he may not be able to stay behind the plate.  He might hit enough to play an infield corner, but his bat is a lot less valuable there.  Wellington Castillo had passed him as the #1 catching prospect in the organization and Steve Clevenger wasn't far behind.  Donaldson is someone who has a good upside, but isn't showing any signs of fulfilling it right now.

I know, I know.  On to the games already.  We're already sick of Harden, Josh.  But the Harden/Gaudin trade did cause some ripples in the minor leagues, and I'll try to mention as many of the player moves as I can.

One note:  Donnie Veal, Mitch Atkins and Nate Spears were all chosen to play in the Southern League All-Star Game.  Congratulations to those three.

Iowa Cubs

The I-Cubs split a double header with the Round Rock Express, losing the first game 3-2 in eight innings and winning the second, 5-2 behind three Jason Dubois home runs.

In the first game, J. R. Mathes started and allowed two runs on eight hits and a walk in 5.2 innings.  Mathes struck out three.  Hector Carrasco took the loss in relief when he allowed a home run to Express first baseman Mark Saccomanno.

Felix Pie hit his sixth PCL home run in a 1 for 4 night.  It was a solo shot in the sixth inning.

In the nightcap, Jeff Samardzija pitched what was probably his best game of the year; maybe of his career.  Samardzija threw a seven-inning complete game and allowed two runs on two solo home runs.  He allowed seven hits total.  He walked nobody and struck out seven.

If someone can tell me why the Shark continues to pitch better every time he gets promoted, please explain it to me.  At this rate, I'm thinking if he gets promoted to the majors this month, he's going to take the Rookie of the Year award away from Soto.  (No, I'm not being serious.  But Samardzija's career is seriously weird.)

As mentioned earlier, Jason Dubois gave the I-Cubs all the offense they needed, as he went 3 for 3 with three home runs.  Dubois had four RBI total.  Felix Pie went 2 for 4 in the night cap and third baseman Matt Craig celebrated being promoted to AAA by hitting a home run in a 1 for 3 effort.

Shortstop Andres Blanco was 2 for 3.

Tennessee Smokies

The Smokies whacked the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx, 9-3.

Esmailin Caridad picked up the win, allowing two runs in 5.1 innings.  The Diamond Jaxx got six hits off Caridad and two of those left the building.  Caridad struck out six and walked only one.

Greg Reinhard picked up his fourth save with 2.1 innings of perfect relief.  Reinhard struck out two.

Second baseman Nate Spears was 2 for 4 with his second home run of the year, a two-run blast in the third inning.  Spears had three RBI total.  Center fielder Sam Fuld also hit his second home run in a 2 for 3 night that included two walks.  Finally, first baseman Kyle Reynolds hit a solo home run in a 1 for 4 effort. It was Reynolds's seventh homer.

Left fielder Tyler Colvin was 2 for 5 with a triple and three runs scored and right fielder Doug Deeds was 2 for 4 with a double, two RBI and a run scored.

Daytona Cubs

Daytona dumped the Dunedin Blue Jays, 6-2.

Starter Marcos Mateo pitched five innings and allowed two runs on four hits and three walks.  Mateo struck out seven.  Todd Blackford picked up the win with three shutout innings of relief.  Blackford allowed two hits and a walk. He didn't strike out a batter.

Center fielder Jim Adducci's grand slam in the seventh inning was the big blow.  It was Adducci's first home run of the season and his only hit in four at-bats.

Right fielder Yusuf Carter was 3 for 4 with his tenth home run, which was a solo shot  in the fifth.  Carter scored twice and had only the one RBI.   Shortstop Darwin Barney was 3 for 3 with a run scored.

Peoria Chiefs

The Chiefs caged the Kane County Cougars, 5-1.

Starter Kevin Kreier got the win with five innings of work, allowing only one run on five hits and two walks.  Kreier struck out four.  Steve Vento got his tenth save of the year with two innings of shutout relief.

First baseman Luis Bautista continues to impress with a 4 for 5 night with a double and a run scored.  Catcher Luis Flores, just promoted from Boise, was 3 for 5 in his Midwest League debut.  Flores had two RBI and scored once.  Center fielder Jonathan Wyatt was 2 for 3 with two walks and three stolen bases.  Wyatt scored once and had an RBI.

DH Rebel Ridling was 1 for 4 with a double in his MWL debut and Jake Opitz, who was also promoted from Boise, went 0 for 3 with two walks.

Boise Hawks

The Hawks topped the Eugene Emeralds, 7-3.

Josh Whitlock started and had some control problems.  While he only allowed one run and one hit in four innings, he walked five Emeralds and only struck out two.  Jeffrey Beliveau threw struck out five in two shutout innings of relief while allowing three hits, but the official scorer gave the win to John Muller, who allowed only one hit in two innings of relief.  Muller did not record a strikeout or a walk.

Josh Vitters hit his second home run of the year in a 2 for 5 night.  Vitters had three RBI and scored twice.  First baseman Ryan Keedy was 2 for 5 with a double and his first professional home run. 

Shortstop Ryan Flaherty was 2 for 5 with a run scored and second baseman Josh Harrison was 1 for 2 with three walks.  Harrison scored twice.

AZL Cubs

Beat the AZL Athletics, 8-7.

Chris Carpenter made his professional debut and allowed two runs in one inning of work.