Minor League Wrap--August 8

by Josh Timmers on Aug 9, 2008 12:25 AM CDT

Iowa Cubs

The I-Cubs were derailed by the Round Rock Express, 7-4.

Starter J.R. Mathes was rocked for seven runs on seven hits and a walk over three innings. He struck out four.

What would an I-Cubs game be without Micah Hoffpauir going 3 for 5 with a double? That's what he did tonight again. He scored twice and had one RBI.

Shortstop Andres Blanco was 3 for 4 with and RBI.

Tennessee Smokies

The Smokies narrowly avoided being the second Cub farm team to be no-hit in as many days, but still lost to the Chattanooga Lookouts, 4-0.

Starter Grant Johnson allowed three runs over five innings. He gave up seven hits, walked one and struck out five.

Jake Fox broke up the no-hitter with a single to lead off the eighth inning. Wellington Castillo also singled later in the inning.

Daytona Cubs

Daytona beat the Brevard County Manatees, 7-3.

Hung-Wen Chen started and pitched 4.1 innings and allowed three runs on seven hits. He didn't walk a batter and struck out two.

Brian Schlitter made his Cub system debut. Schlitter pitched the final two innings without allowing a run in a non-save situation. He allowed two hits. He didn't walk a batter and struck out one Manatee.

Center fielder Jim Adduci was 3 for 5 with a double. He scored once, knocked one in and stole his 23rd base of the season. Adduci's double was the only extra base hit the D-Cubs had tonight.

Catcher Steve Clevenger was 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored. First baseman Russ Canzler was 2 for 4 with two RBI and a run scored. Second baseman Robinson Chirinos went 2 for 3 with a walk and two RBI.

Peoria Chiefs

The Chiefs got their revenge for last night's no-hitter by thumping the Burlington Bees, 10-2.

Casey Coleman started and picked up the win by allowing only one run over six innings. Coleman gave up four hits and three walks. He struck out four.

Left fielder Brandon Guyer was 2 for 3 with his eleventh home run. Guyer scored three times and batted three in. He also walked once and stole two bases.

Third baseman Jovan Rosa was 2 for 4 with a run scored.

Boise Hawks

The Hawks lost to the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, 9-6.

Bad outings tonight for a couple of high draft picks. Starter Chris Carpenter lasted 3.1 innings and allowed four runs on four hits and three walks. One of the runs was unearned. Carpenter struck out one.

Andrew Cashner was even worse tonight. Casher took the loss by allowing four runs on six hits and three walks in three innings. Cashner struck out three.

Shortstop Ryan Flaherty had a 2 for 5 night with a double and his fifth home run of the year. Flaherty scored twice. He did make his 12th error on the season.

Third baseman Marwin Gonzalez was 2 for 4 with a run scored.

If you watched the Cub broadcast today, you know Bob Brenly took the game off to go to Boise to see his son. Michael Brenly didn't disappoint either, as he went 2 for 4 with a walk and a run scored tonight.

AZL Cubs

Beat the AZL Royals, 7-4.

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

Kinda interesting that they would let Cashner get rocked for 3 innings when he had his success in college as a short reliever.

by Donbedouin on Aug 9, 2008 1:39 AM CDT reply actions

They want to

try and stretch out his arms. It’s not unusual for pen arms to go extended innings anyways, to work on their stuff. With the depth of pen arms in our system, they might want to see if Cashner can start, although I have my doubts. Cashner’s “readiness” was, IMO, always a bit overhyped. Good arm, if we had to force him could he be passable? Probably. That said, he’s essentially Jose Ceda of last year, and some feel his stuff isn’t as good.

by toonsterwu on Aug 9, 2008 3:48 AM CDT up reply actions

Curious

in the TN game you have the starter giving up 3 runds, but the final being 2-0. (Didn’t want to be “that guy” but figured you should be told)

Thanks for the updates, Josh. :-)

I think it’s just his face. - dat cubfan daver

by halfblindcubbiegirl on Aug 9, 2008 2:15 AM CDT reply actions

Just a typo

I was harried tonight. It was 4-0. I’ll correct it.

Borowy . . .Sutcliffe . . .Harden?

by Josh Timmers on Aug 9, 2008 2:37 AM CDT up reply actions

Schlitter wasn't on the Manatees

Brevard County is Milwaukee’s High A squad. Clearwater is Philadelphia’s.

by toonsterwu on Aug 9, 2008 3:49 AM CDT reply actions

Ah crap

Can anyone tell I just wasn’t into this tonight?

Jeez, how in the world could I have ever gotten a Manatee and a Thresher confused?

I’m not editing that out. I’m just leaving it as a monument to my tiredness.

Borowy . . .Sutcliffe . . .Harden?

by Josh Timmers on Aug 9, 2008 4:42 AM CDT up reply actions

There

it’s been changed.

Borowy . . .Sutcliffe . . .Harden?

by Josh Timmers on Aug 9, 2008 12:41 PM CDT up reply actions

X-posted over on cubs.com forums, my nightly thoughts

Player of the Night: Brandon Guyer

No real standout tonight, as a lot of teams struggled. Hoffpauir and Flaherty were considered, as was Cerda/Jones/Ruiz. That said, Guyer looks to be continuing his success since late June. He know has a very impressive .279/.349/.526 line (that’s superb for MWL – if he qualified, he would have the 3rd highest active OPS in the MWL.) Perhaps more impressive is that, in his 93 pre-ASB AB’s, he had a .226/.277/.462 line. In his 154 AB’s since then? .312/.390/.565.

Thoughts:

DSL is hard to read on, for a variety of factors, ranging from the strike zone to the ages, and so forth. That said, you can still get a feel, and Adner Ruiz feels good. 3-2, 1.89 ERA, 21 hits, 17 walks, and 39 K’s in 38 innings, and only 1 HR given up.

Jeffry Antigua is a young arm people say to watch out for. The control is a work in progress. Redmond looks real good and has a really live arm that can hit the mid-90’s. I like Gonzalez’s frame. Jericho Jones/Nelson Perez/John Contreras really should move up as there’s no point for them to be in AZL. I like that Cerda’s bat is holding his own, which is a positive sign this early.

Carpenter/Cashner each have some more work to do. I still think Carpenter could see Peoria late this year. Some of these smallish OF/leadoff types need to get it going. Flaherty’s bat is fine, but it should be at Boise. Another error? Ugh. 2nd base coming it seems, as the bat lacks the desirable raw power for 3rd, although it might work there if you can compensate elsewhere.

Nice showing by Coleman. Muyco/Vento have stepped up with Latham/Parker and others moving on. Vento’s got some late inning potential, so worth following, and he’s had a strong summer. Rosa’s got a good bat … but first base is coming it seems.

Feels like Marquez Smith is settling in at High A. Good outing by Schlitter is a nice start, although he is still in the same league. But he could be in AA as a power arm next year, with perhaps a 2010 ETA in a good scenario for Wrigley. Sasser’s a nice lefty.

Scary thought that Sam Lecure is rounding into form for Cincinnati. Add Lecure to a potential young rotation of Volquez/Cueto/Bailey/Thompson, and that’s a nasty 5 some IF they develop. Obviously, someone will likely miss, but you’ll have other guys, veterans, anyways.

Good to see Pie back. Hoffpauir should be the favorite to take Ward’s role next year. Estrada doesn’t get a lot of consistent movement, but I can see him having a couple solid years in the bigs as a middle relief arm, and perhaps struggling some other years.

by toonsterwu on Aug 9, 2008 3:49 AM CDT reply actions

Schlitter is already 22, right?

Not that I was expecting to get a stud for Eyre, but meh.

And obviously I’ve been out of the loop – is Vitters hurt again?

Chicago Cubs Humor and Parody at The Cubs Brickyard

by Brett Taylor on Aug 9, 2008 10:21 AM CDT reply actions

"Already" 22?

That’s still young enough to make it, likely as a middle reliever. He’ll be 23, pitching in Double-A next year (most likely). He could be added to the 40-man roster or invited to spring training. He could be in the majors by September 2010 at age 24, if he has any real talent.

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

by Al Yellon on Aug 9, 2008 11:11 AM CDT up reply actions

Vitters was given a day off

Jeez, people jump to conclusions.

And I agree with Al. “Already 22”? Umm, that’s normal for someone in High A.

Borowy . . .Sutcliffe . . .Harden?

by Josh Timmers on Aug 9, 2008 11:51 AM CDT up reply actions

Uh oh, now I'm on the defensive...

Just kidding. But I do want to respond:

1.) I wasn’t jumping to any conclusions. I really have been out of the loop on the minors for several days, so I was wondering. It was a reasonable question, and I appreciate the answer.

2.) He’s pitched very well in high A this year, but he’s “already 22.” I’m not saying it excludes future contributions at the ML level – heck, I’m the one who keeps asking about 45-year-old Papelbon. I’m just saying I’m not going to get excited about his numbers until he’s at a more advanced level for his age.

Chicago Cubs Humor and Parody at The Cubs Brickyard

by Brett Taylor on Aug 9, 2008 1:40 PM CDT reply actions

I just think that...

... given that the Cubs were probably ready to just release Eyre, to get a warm body and the Phillies to take the entire remainder of the contract—that’s a good deal.

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

by Al Yellon on Aug 9, 2008 8:43 PM CDT up reply actions

Actually

While I’d hardly say that Schlitter is a great prospect, the point is that he is a prospect—a guy who is still young enough and has enough talent to actually be a major leaguer. His upside might be Michael Wuertz (maybe a little higher than that) but the point is that this is a guy who actually has a chance to contribute at the major league level: unlike, say Doug Deeds, whom we got for Craig Monroe.

The miracle is that for a guy we DFA’d, we actually got a prospect, not an organization soldier.

Borowy . . .Sutcliffe . . .Harden?

by Josh Timmers on Aug 9, 2008 9:06 PM CDT up reply actions

Re:

Wouldn’t be so quick to rule out Doug Deeds yet. He was in an odd situation in Minnesota – offensively ready for AAA in 2006, but held back in AA. His 235 AB’s in the IL of .243/.306/.404 isn’t great, but considering it’s the IL, a .710 OPS isn’t a deathknell. I mean, Micah’s first 392 AB’s in Iowa netted a lower OPS in the hitter friendly PCL. Not saying Deeds will make it or he won’t, but I wouldn’t write him off. I actually think he could be a solid bench type player in the bigs. He’s in a tough situation here because in AAA, we have Dubois/Hoffpauir, guys that fill a similar role, along with a Matt Craig and Josh Kroeger, thus no real opportunity for him.

In terms of role, I’d say Michael Wuertz would be awful good for hi if he could develop in that. He doesn’t have the secondary pitch consistency yet, but there’s time.

by toonsterwu on Aug 9, 2008 9:29 PM CDT up reply actions

I never

rule someone out completely. I’m aware of his history with the Twins, but Deeds is 27 years old and in AA. He’s already past his playing prime. He was terrible last season in AAA. He’s having a good year, but the odds that he has any sort of significant career in the major leagues are very, very long.

I’d bet on Jake Fox and Josh Kroeger before I bet on Deeds.

Borowy . . .Sutcliffe . . .Harden?

by Josh Timmers on Aug 9, 2008 11:16 PM CDT up reply actions

If I was betting on those three

I’d go

a) Kroeger – He’s hot now. Even when he wasn’t, he wasn’t exactly cold. Warm maybe. A bit more athletic than Deeds.

b) Deeds – I like the swing. It doesn’t get loopy. Nice and compact, able to generate pop. He’s got some athleticism, but because of our OF’s at Tennessee, he plays some first as well.

I agree, the odds are probably long, but well, the same thought existed for Hoffpauir a few years back, and now he’s got a decent chance to make the bigs in a bench role. Of the three, the only one with a good shot to have a decent career in the bigs, IMO, is Kroeger.

c) Fox – I’d bet on Lalli before I bet on Fox. I think both are similar (Lalli and Fox), but I just don’t know if I buy Jake Fox’s swing working at higher levels.

by toonsterwu on Aug 11, 2008 1:18 AM CDT up reply actions

Oh and I apologize

if I made you feel defensive. But you got to look at it from my point of view. There’s been a lot of dramatics around here surrounding Vitters and every little hangnail he gets. Some Cub fans are convinced, since Wood and Prior had their troubles, that every single injury leads to catastrophe and that every time a guy gets a rest, the organization is actually lying and that he’s actually got a season-ending injury.

I’m a little gun-shy too.

Borowy . . .Sutcliffe . . .Harden?

by Josh Timmers on Aug 9, 2008 11:19 PM CDT up reply actions