Minor League Wrap--September 7

by Josh Timmers on Sep 7, 2008 11:10 PM CDT

Did Santo say "NOOOOOOOOOO!" today? I did.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs season ended today with a 16-5 loss to the Oklahoma RedHawks. Oklahoma takes the playoff series, three games to two.

The Chicago Cubs pitching woes filtered down to the I-Cubs today, because of injuries and call-up, Randy Wells had to start today on only three days rest. Wells got knocked around for five runs over five innings, including two home runs. Wells gave up three hits and three walks while striking out five.

The bullpen was just bad, as anyone could tell by looking at the final score. Justin Berg got hammered for three runs in an inning, Ed Campusano gave up four runs (two earned) in two-thirds of an inning and Jesse Estrada topped things off by getting slammed by the RedHawks for four runs in the one inning he pitched.

The I-Cubs were down 12-1 and 16-2 in this game before plating three garbage runs in the ninth inning. Left fielder Andres Torres bookended two home runs today, hitting a solo home run in the first inning and a three-run blast in the ninth to account for four of Iowa's five runs. He was 2 for 4 on the afternoon.

Right fielder Sam Fuld was 2 for 5 with two doubles and a run scored. Bobby Scales went 2 for 4 with a double and a walk.

Center fielder Felix Pie was 2 for 4 with a triple and a stolen base.

Daytona Cubs

So only the D-Cubs are left standing and they took a commanding two games to none lead in the best-of-five FSL playoffs with a 9-1 thumping of the Fort Myers Miracle.

Jay Jackson pitched the Cubs to within one game of their first solo championship since 2000. (The 2004 FSL title was split between Daytona and Tampa after Hurricane Ivan cancelled the championship series.) Jackson threw 5.2 shutout innings and allowed only four hits. Jackson struck out five and didn't walk a batter in what was probably his last appearance in his first professional season.

Every Cub in the starting lineup had at least one hit.

DH Blake Lalli blew the game open in the third with a two-run home run that capped off a five-run inning. Lalli was 2 for 3 before being removed in the seventh inning.

The other big bat of the night belonged to right fielder Ryan Harvey. Harvey went 2 for 4 with a double and a triple. Harvey scored twice and was also hit by a pitch.

Second baseman Tony Thomas went 2 for 4 with a walk, a run scored and two RBI. His double-play partner, shortstop Darwin Barney, went 2 for 5 with a double and a run scored.

Catcher Steve Clevenger was 2 for 5. He did have two passed balls, however.

Jody Davis' boys now return to Daytona Beach needing to win only one more game to take the Florida State League Championship. They will play game three tomorrow night at Jackie Robinson Stadium at 7:05. Games four and five, if necessary, will also be home games for Daytona.

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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Jay Jackson

Video interiew with Jay Jackson/Lisa Winston on milb.com which is free. Go watch it, it sounds great and Jackson seems to have a good personality.

by Slamdog on Sep 8, 2008 6:41 AM CDT reply actions

Congrats to I-Cubs

They won their first division title since 2004. I know the people in Des Moines got a lot of enjoyment going to Principal Park this season.

"The big possum walks late." - Harry Caray

by memphiscub on Sep 8, 2008 8:24 AM CDT reply actions

Iowa had a good year

but Texas could afford to keep players down in AAA a few more days for the playoffs and we couldn’t. Having to start Wells on three days rest pretty much sealed it. Of course, Mike Burns getting hurt didn’t help things either.

Borowy . . .Sutcliffe . . .Harden?

by Josh Timmers on Sep 8, 2008 9:06 AM CDT up reply actions

Congrats and condolences to the I-Cubs.

They were a lot of fun to follow this year. Is it safe to assume Felix will be brought up now?

"I see the playoff schedule posted in the paper, and that stuff makes me nervous because you can't take anything for granted. We have a great team. We have a really good team. We're playing well, but we haven't won yet." - Jim Edmonds, 8/31/08

by daver on Sep 8, 2008 9:30 AM CDT reply actions

OT: West Tenn With Seattle Through 2010

The Diamond Jaxx have extended their agreement with the Mariners through 2010. They are in the same Northern Division of the Southern League with the Tennessee Smokies.

"The big possum walks late." - Harry Caray

by memphiscub on Sep 8, 2008 10:10 AM CDT reply actions

Interesting

I’ve been reading up on the possible franchise shifts in the Southern League and elsewhere. While attendance in West Tenn is atrocious, at least they have a nice ballpark there. Apparently the stadium in Huntsville is the pits, and no one wants to get stuck there. The Dodgers are also trying to get out of Jacksonville, but with the Texas League filled up (which is where they wanted to go) they might have been looking at a different SL city. Chattanooga has had it with the Reds for some reason, and I think there is going to be a scramble to get the Lookouts, with the Brewers apparently having the inside track.

I’m thinking the Mariners were afraid they’d get stuck with Huntsville if they didn’t re-up with West Tenn.

I’d be surprised, but not shocked, if a team re-located to Richmond. It sounds like the Eastern League has that market.

The PCL has got some interesting machinations going on too. The Dodgers want out of Las Vegas because Cashman Field is old and because, for some reason, the Dodgers don’t think it’s a good idea to have their players playing in the Las Vegas summer heat in an outdoor stadium with little shade. They want to get back to Albuquerque (or Fresno after 2010 when the Giants contract runs out.) The Giants would like that new Reno franchise when Arizona’s contract with it runs out. The Mets want back into the IL and are courting Syracuse, which is very torn between loyalty to the Blue Jays and the chance to get the Mets. If the Mets leave the PCL, the Marlins would jump on New Orleans, opening up Albuquerque for the Dodgers.

And there is an empty stadium in Tuscon if cities don’t do what the franchises want.

Borowy . . .Sutcliffe . . .Harden?

by Josh Timmers on Sep 8, 2008 11:37 AM CDT up reply actions

I'm surprised that West Tenn hasn't moved.

That market is way too small for the Southern League. You’re right that they have a good ballpark there, but no one goes — the city has a population of only a little over 50,000, and is too far from Memphis or Nashville for anyone to drive from there, and besides, those cities have AAA teams.

Not sure where else the Southern League could go, though.

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

by Al Yellon on Sep 9, 2008 4:27 AM CDT up reply actions

Richmond??

How about Richmond or Greenville/Columbia South Carolina would be better than W.Tenn.

by Slamdog on Sep 9, 2008 7:21 AM CDT up reply actions

Richmond might be an option.

It’s kind of far from the rest of the Southern League, but they’re looking for a team now that the AAA team is moving to suburban Atlanta.

BTW, anyone else think that having the AAA team in Atlanta’s suburbs is seriously going to cut into Braves attendance? Why go downtown and pay $50 for a ticket when you can see minor league ball in your own suburb or nearby for 1/3 of the price?

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

by Al Yellon on Sep 9, 2008 7:47 AM CDT up reply actions

Don't Forget the Traffic Woes

I HATE Atlanta traffic! I’ve been to Atlanta once and don’t want to go there again. If I could see a AAA game about 40 miles outside of town without having to be stalled in traffic, I would sure do it. I don’t know how it would affect the MLB Braves attendance.

I know that the Rangers have their AA club in Frisco, which is in the northern suburbs of Dallas. I haven’t looked into how that has affected the Rangers attendance.

"The big possum walks late." - Harry Caray

by memphiscub on Sep 9, 2008 8:43 AM CDT up reply actions

Richmond would be a good option

except that it’s sounding like the Eastern League is going to take it.

Borowy . . .Sutcliffe . . .Harden?

by Josh Timmers on Sep 9, 2008 9:40 AM CDT up reply actions

Really?

Kind of far from the rest of the league, isn’t it?

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

by Al Yellon on Sep 9, 2008 10:20 AM CDT up reply actions

It's actually closer

than the Southern League. Bowie is a short drive away and the Pennsylvania teams in the Eastern League are closer than all the Tennessee teams in the Southern League. (Erie would be the team to move, I’m hearing, so they wouldn’t be a problem.) Sure, Portland, New Hampshire and the other New England teams are a ways away, but so is Jacksonville, Mobile and Jackson MS in the Southern League. The only team near Richmond in the Southern League is Carolina.

Borowy . . .Sutcliffe . . .Harden?

by Josh Timmers on Sep 9, 2008 11:01 AM CDT up reply actions

Class A Size Market

Jackson, TN is a class A size market. It’s too far west for the South Atlantic League and Carolina League. It’s too far south to be in the Midwest League. It’s too far south to be in the independent Frontier League. There are only 95,000 people who live in Madison County, TN. The surrounding counties are just plain cotton pickin’ rural. In Tennessee, we have four “major” cities. They are Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville, and Chattanooga. Places like Clarksville, Johnson City, and Jackson, don’t count.

BTW, I’ve seen two Univ. of Memphis “neutral site” games against UT-Martin and Vanderbilt there this season and five Diamond Jaxx games. It’s about 75 minutes away from midtown Memphis. Jackson is a hub city for those people in rural west Tennessee, who want to live in a big town, but don’t want to live in a “big” city like Memphis.

"The big possum walks late." - Harry Caray

by memphiscub on Sep 9, 2008 7:22 AM CDT up reply actions