Minor League Wrap - July 1st - Bleed Cubbie Blue

Minor League Wrap - July 1st

by Unique on Jul 2, 2008 2:39 PM CDT

Happy, joyful, enjoyable day today for me. Me and my wife got accepted for our first house together -- and it's a beautiful home. We went to one of our (birthing) classes today, and I went to work and everything seems to be going our way lately. Now, only if Rich Hill could say the same.

AZL Cubs will go first, due to Rich Hill making the start.

AZL Cubs

As bergs55 stated in his diary, Rich Hill continues to be one of the biggest disappoinments in a long time. It's beyond sad on what's happened to him. He's actually older than C.C Sabathia (28), so Hill should be nearing his peak sometime soon. Unfortunately, he's on the downfall, at the very least with the Cubs organization.

Hill's line against rookie ball hitters was 1/3 IP, one hit, five runs (three earned). Hill walked five and struck out no one. Hill eventually took the loss as the AZL Cubs lost to the AZL Padres, 9 to 2.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs beat the Omaha Royals, 10 to 4.

Kevin Hart started the game, pitching 3.2 innings of 2-hit shutout ball. Hart struck out four, but walked two. Mike Burns got the win in relief, lasting 4.1 innings and allowing four runs on seven hits. Burns didn't walk a batter and struck out five.

Felix Pie is back in AAA, and is seriously starting to hit like we all thought he would. Pie went 2 for 4 overall, hitting his fifth home run of the year. Pie scored twice and drove in two. He walked once, and didn't strike out at all. I guess he's the anti-Rich Hill.

Casey McGehee had three hits on the day, raising his average to .282 for the year. McGehee drove in two.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies beat the Huntsville Stars, 6 to 4.

Mitch Atkins started and picked up the win, lasting 7 innings while giving up four runs (three earned) on eight hits. Atkins didn't walk a soul and struck out eight.

Jose Ceda is starting to get used to this closer thing. Ceda pitched the last 4 outs of the game, didn't allow a hit and struck out two. Since being promoted to AA, Ceda has pitched 10 innings of relief for Tennessee, allowing one run on seven hits, striking out 17 and only walking 2. His ERA right now is 0.90.

Catcher Mark Reed had the only notable line of the night, going 3 for 4 with two runs scored and 3 RBI.

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs squeak by the St. Lucie Mets, winning 7 to 6 (10 innings).

Hung-Wen Chen started and pitched six innings, allowing three runs on six hits. Chen struck out nine and didn't walk anyone. Blake Parker who has been reassigned to Daytona from Iowa (he was orginally in Peoria), picked up the win striking out the only two batters he faced.

Tony Thomas was 1 for 6 but his lone hit drove in the game-winning run in 10th inning. Robinson Chirinos, Steve Clevenger and Jonathan Mota all hit home runs in the game.

Ryan Harvey was 3 for 4 with a run scored and a RBI.

Peoria Chiefs

The Peoria Chiefs beat the Wisconsin Rattlers, 5 to 1.

Kevin Kreier started the game, pitching 3.2 shutout innings, allowing one hit. Kreier walked three and struck out two. Zachary Ashwood picked up the win in relief, pitching 3 innings, allowing one run on four hits and no walks. Ashwood struck out two.

Shortstop Nate Samson went 2 for 4 on the day, scoring once. Jovan Rosa went 1 for 4 with a double and 2 RBI.

Boise Hawks

The Boise Hawks beat the Tri-City Dust Devils, 5 to 3.

Mike Perconte started and lasted 3.2 innings, giving up two runs on five hits and two walks. Perconte struck out five. Casey Coleman picked up the win in relief, pitching 3 innings while allowing one run on five hits and one walk. Coleman struck out seven.

John Muller pitched the final 2 innings, resulting in a save. Muller struck out all six batters he faced.

Ryan Flaherty was 2 for 5 tonight with a triple and two RBI. Kurt Calvert was 3 for 3 with a run scored and a walk.

Josh Vitters did not play. Hopefully Josh gets to see him play.

Goodnight all. I'm going to get some much needed rest. If you have any questions or concerns, you leave them here and I will be sure to respond once I get the chance!

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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Comments

Good to see Felix cranking it up.

"I've always felt that starting pitching is the most important part of the rotation." - Joe Morgan, Sunday Night Baseball 8-12-07

by gary varsho on Jul 2, 2008 7:02 AM CDT 0 recs

word

"We expect to win. We go out to win. So we're just living up to our own expectations." Derrek Lee, 5/29/08

by drewishdrewid on Jul 2, 2008 11:04 AM CDT up 0 recs

agreed

A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings. ~Earl Wilson

by halfblindcubbiegirl on Jul 2, 2008 7:22 PM CDT up 0 recs

Thanks for doing the fill-in post.

by DGU on Jul 2, 2008 8:24 AM CDT 0 recs

Good for Pie, bad for Hill...

It really is too bad what is happening to Hill. He seems to be letting his head get in the way of his talent. Hopefully he can get it together before it’s too late.

Pie seems to be getting comfortable again. After that horrendous 3-40 start, he’s put up a .292/.333/.525 line in his last 99 AB in AAA. Hopefully he can keep it going, get his confidence back, and be ready to take over the CF job in spring next year.

by SouthernCub on Jul 2, 2008 9:42 AM CDT 0 recs

Can Jose Ceda help us in August?

I'm not going to even bother trying to update this sig everyday anymore... that's what the standings column on ESPN is for.
Updated on May 25, 2008

by SackMan on Jul 2, 2008 10:51 AM CDT 0 recs

I doubt August,

but he has a chance to be one of the September call-ups. While he is dominating at AA right now, he has dominated at a small sample size. He has great stuff, but his control has always been the problem. So far though, control has not been a problem. So yeah, if he keeps that up, he could be a potential call-up.

My new life, my new world, and my beautiful daughter:
Tamia London Davis: Due date (8-11-08)!

by Unique on Jul 2, 2008 1:54 PM CDT up 0 recs

While I haven't seen him pitch

I wonder if Ceda’s upside is somewhere along the lines of Zumaya of the Tigers.

"Enough foreplay- let's get crackin'"- Fred Garvin

by davidalanu on Jul 2, 2008 5:26 PM CDT up 0 recs

I saw Ceda pitch in spring training.

As noted above, he throws really hard but has trouble with command. If he’s licked that problem, sure, he could be Zumaya, or something similar.

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

by Al on Jul 2, 2008 6:54 PM CDT up 0 recs

Rich Hill aside...

...lots of positives in today’s edition. Felix, Hart and Ceda all look to be on a roll toward the bigs. I’m not particularly familiar with Mitch Atkins, but that’s an impressive line.

Thanks for filling in, Unique. (Minor spelling note: You may want to edit the word “Unfortunately” in the last sentence of the third paragraph.)

Nanika Ga Okoru!

by dat cubfan daver on Jul 2, 2008 11:00 AM CDT 0 recs

Thank you.

Long night last night. I fixed it.

My new life, my new world, and my beautiful daughter:
Tamia London Davis: Due date (8-11-08)!

by Unique on Jul 2, 2008 1:55 PM CDT up 0 recs

That's 8 straight for Ryno's squad...

after dropping their first 5 of the second half.

by Trey2317 on Jul 2, 2008 12:31 PM CDT 0 recs

Felix Pie has always hit Triple A pitching

The question is whether his hitting approach is flashing improvement to the point where he can once again compete for a major league roster spot in 2009.

Pitching is KING. We don't add a frontline starting pitcher and a quality bullpen arm then this season will have yet another sad conclusion.

by MDBNIU on Jul 2, 2008 5:15 PM CDT 0 recs

Obviously...

but the fact that he is now hitting AAA pitching again is a better sign than when he WASN’T hitting AAA pitching. Next step is, as you said, proving he can do it in the MLB.

by SouthernCub on Jul 2, 2008 5:22 PM CDT up 0 recs

I know there's been a lot of discussion re: Hill

and Piniella and Rothschild trying to rework him, but I really like what they’re trying to do with Pie. Piniella seems to think that his approach won’t work for him longterm in the majors, and is trying to make the most of his talents. He may have been able to stick as a fourth or fifth outfielder the way he was going, simply based on his speed and defensive abilities. If he really wants to excel at the ML level though, he needed to change his approach, and I think that Piniella has the ability to not only explain to the player what they need to do, but also the pull within the organization to get the minor league folks on board to help make the changes.

It’s one of the reasons that I admire what Colvin is trying to do in AA. He recognized that while his approach may “play in Peoria” it might not get him to the Cubs. He’s suffering while he adjusts, but it’s his best way to get to Chicago.

"Enough foreplay- let's get crackin'"- Fred Garvin

by davidalanu on Jul 2, 2008 5:34 PM CDT up 0 recs

We'll never know for sure...

whether Pie’s approach would have worked for him in MLB. We’ll only know that Piniella didn’t think it would work. If it is true that Pie would never have succeeded with his approach, then I agree that sending him down was the best idea. If not, then it’s a dangerous game the Cubs have played with their most prized prospect.

But the “if” is irrelevant at this point. All that matters is what happens moving forward. Hopefully Pie succeeds in his next trip to the bigs. And hopefully Colvin manages to make the adjustments and eventually become a major leaguer. Both have looked better lately (Pie over the past month and Colvin over the past week). Let’s hope they keep it going.

by SouthernCub on Jul 2, 2008 5:42 PM CDT up 0 recs

Yes we did know his old approach wasn't going to work

It didn’t take a genius to see the huge holes in his swing. National League pitchers were salivating at the chance to pitch to Pie. Lou Piniella and the Cubs did Felix Pie a great favor. The ball is now in Pie’s court to mold his swing and adapt his overall hitting approach. Surely he must understand what he has to do. I’m assuming his 200 or so major league at bats left quite an impression on the young man. Sorry to say I still am not bullish on his major league future.

Pitching is KING. We don't add a frontline starting pitcher and a quality bullpen arm then this season will have yet another sad conclusion.

by MDBNIU on Jul 2, 2008 6:01 PM CDT up 0 recs

Not bullish? You're kidding! Do tell!

Nanika Ga Okoru!

by dat cubfan daver on Jul 2, 2008 9:19 PM CDT up 0 recs

Sorry to say...

but I don’t value your scouting opinion all that much. But thank you for continuing to voice your opinion.

by SouthernCub on Jul 3, 2008 1:05 AM CDT up 0 recs

yeah, you're right

it’s a big risk, but I think it’s one worth taking. I don’t think you often find a player making changes at the ML level. One of the obvious exception is Sammy Sosa, who learned to draw walks in his late 20’s, after years of major league service, and a big-time contract. That’s pretty unheard of. Like you, I hope that Piniella is right, but on this sort of thing, I will give him the benefit of the doubt.

"Enough foreplay- let's get crackin'"- Fred Garvin

by davidalanu on Jul 2, 2008 6:11 PM CDT up 0 recs