Cubs Minor League Wrap -- April 23

by Josh Timmers on Apr 24, 2009 12:08 AM CDT in Minor Leagues

Just to remind everyone that the "Border Battle" between the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers and the Peoria Chiefs at Miller Park is tomorrow night. Let's make Miller Park O'Brien Field North!

Iowa Cubs

The I-Cubs nullified the Albuquerque Isotopes, 6-0.

Starter J. R. Mathes was moved into the rotation with Samardjiza's promotion, and he made his first start count. Mathes pitched six innings and allowed only a mere two singles. He didn't walk anyone and he struck out one. Mathes improved his record to 3-1.

The I-Cubs bullpen finished off the shutout. Jason Waddell, Jeff Stevens and Kevin Hart each threw a shutout inning.

Third baseman Bobby Scales hit his second home run of the year tonight. Scales was 1 for 3 with a walk and two RBI. Shortstop Andres Blanco was 2 for 4 with a double and a run scored.

Catcher Chris Robinson was 2 for 4 with a triple, two RBI and a stolen base. Center fielder Sam Fuld was 2 for 4 with an RBI and a stolen base.

Tennessee Smokies

The Smokies defeated the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx, 6-2.

Starter Casey Coleman's good start to the season continued tonight as he improved his record to 3-0. Coleman tossed six innings and allowed two runs on six hits. He struck out five and walked three.

Relievers Vince Perkins and Blake Parker each threw another shutout inning tonight. Both struck out two Diamond Jaxx. Perkins allowed two hits, but Parker was perfect. Neither one has allowed a run yet this season--Perkins in 7.1 innings and Parker in 5.1.

The big story in Tennessee so far this season has been second baseman Tony Thomas, and tonight was no exception. Thomas hit his fourth home run of the year tonight in a 3 for 5 performance. Thomas scored three times, had two RBI on the home run, and stole his third base of the season. Thomas is now hitting .375 on the year.

Daytona Cubs

Did whatever young men in Daytona Beach do when they're not playing baseball. A scheduled off-day.

The report on Dan McDaniel's injury yesterday is that he felt "tightness" in his back during warmups. That's all I have so far.

Peoria Chiefs

The Chiefs dropped a double-header to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, 7-6 and 8-7.

In the first game, starting pitcher Chris Archer had some troubles finding the plate. Archer lasted four innings and allowed two runs on three hits and four walks. He failed to strike out a batter.

But he had a good day compared to Jose Piña, who allowed two earned runs on a walk and a hit without managing to record an out. The loss went to Josh Whitlock, who allowed three runs, two of them earned, in only two innings. He also allowed one runner inherited from Piña to score.

First baseman Rebel Ridling hit his first home run on the year in the first game. Ridling was 2 for 4 with three RBI in game one. He was 1 for 3 with an RBI double in the second game, making him 3 for 7 on the day.

Left fielder Josh Harrison was 2 for 3 with a triple. He scored once and batted one in. Center fielder David Macias went 2 for 4 with two RBI and a run scored.

DH Kyler Burke was 2 for 2 with two doubles. Burke scored once.

In the second game, Wisconsin jumped all over starter Alberto Cabrera. Cabrera allowed four runs on five hits and four walks. He struck out one.

But he didn't get the loss, which went to reliever Mike Perconte, who allowed two runs on a two-run home run to elite Brewer prospect Brett Lawrie. Perconte allowed four hits total over two innings. He struck out one and walked nobody.

Left fielder Cliff Andersen was 1 for 2 with a walk and a triple with the bases loaded.

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Comments

I wonder

if Thomas continues this hot start if he will get a call-up. There’s really not much depth at his position.

Tamia Lynn Davis:
Born: August 18, 2008

by Unique on Apr 24, 2009 2:23 AM CDT reply actions

There's no room for him right now

since Fontenot and Miles aren’t going anywhere. He needs to play every day, and he wouldn’t do that in Chicago.

He could get called up in case of an injury. But more likely, we’ll see him in a September call-up. The rest of this season will determine that and whether he’ll challenge Fontenot for his job next spring.

But I should caution that Thomas was a very streaky hitter last season. He got out to a hot start last year, spent about three months being mediocre, and then tore it up again at the last month of the season. It’s possible this is just another one of his hot streaks.

by Josh Timmers on Apr 24, 2009 2:30 AM CDT up reply actions

True.

I remember that. How are the reports on his defense? I know that’s his biggest weakness.

Tamia Lynn Davis:
Born: August 18, 2008

by Unique on Apr 24, 2009 2:38 AM CDT up reply actions

From what i've heard

He is below average, but not a butcher. Decent enough to stick at 2nd.

churchofbaseball.com

by MJMars on Apr 24, 2009 8:15 AM CDT up reply actions

I'm hoping

to get some reports. What Baseball America said was that he was improved last season, although they noted that was up from terrible. Some seem to think he’s maybe even a little better than average now while others think he’s just not terrible now.

by Josh Timmers on Apr 24, 2009 10:37 AM CDT up reply actions

Anyone know

Whats up with Castro? He had 2 errors last night, giving him 6 on the year. Is it the position change or just dumb mistakes? I’ve heard he is supposed to be outstanding with the glove.

churchofbaseball.com

by MJMars on Apr 24, 2009 8:16 AM CDT reply actions

You mean Junior Lake, right?

Not Starlin Castro, who didn’t play last night. (and who doesn’t have six errors, either.)

I don’t know what’s up with Junior Lake, although I wouldn’t put too much stock in error totals in the Midwest League in April. Cold, wet weather, bad fields.

Still, he’s struggling mightily so far this season. He may have been promoted too high—he might be better off going to EXST and then Boise in June. He may be taking his struggles at the plate into the field. But he’s really young, even for the Midwest League. Maybe he just needs to wait until Boise starts.

by Josh Timmers on Apr 24, 2009 10:46 AM CDT up reply actions

I did mean Lake

Ooops

churchofbaseball.com

by MJMars on Apr 24, 2009 2:41 PM CDT up reply actions

if only waddell were a lefty

what? he is? shouldn’t he get a shot?

by tim815 on Apr 24, 2009 8:37 AM CDT reply actions

I believe he will....

… and sooner, rather than later.

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

by Al Yellon on Apr 24, 2009 10:41 AM CDT up reply actions

Report from Sec Taylor

Great night for a ballgame last night. 70 at game time, winds out to LF gusting to 25-30, gradually dying throughout the game. 5831 attending, pretty good for a Thursday night. Was looking forward to seeing Shark, but these things happen….

The night started out looking like a LH pitchers’ duel. Estes (for the ‘Topes) gave up the first run in the 3rd, but had 9 Ks by the end of the 4th and was making the I-Cubs’ bats look a bit silly. However, he was run off the mound in the 6th after giving up 4 runs, 3 walks, and 2 big hits (the Scales HR and the Robinson triple).

Mathes is an interesting pitcher to watch. He’s a location lefty; I don’t think I saw more than 80 mph on the radar gun from him, but his off speed stuff drops down to below 60, and while he wasn’t dominant (only 2 Ks), he induced a lot of groundouts to short and managed to go six with only two hits. Next time he pitches here, I think I’ll spring for a box seat so I can get a better look at his stuff.

Jake Fox had another off night, going 0-for-3 with a walk and 3 Ks. On the other hand, he is a very amicable guy, as several of us were bantering with him from the RF railing for a fair portion of the game. When I asked what he had changed to come out this year and whack the crap out of the ball, he grinned real big and shrugged. Somebody suggested that he would get a trip up when Fukudome was sent down, to which he seemed indifferent, but when it was posited that a more likely scenario was Bradley blowing out a knee, he nodded and grinned. He is not the fastest guy on the team, but he does have enough speed to get into foul territory to make a catch when he needs to, as was demonstrated in the 8th. I still have not seen him make any poor defensive plays in person, which leads me to believe that the criticism of his fielding is exaggerated somewhat.

Once again, the bullpen came in and slammed the door, combining for 3 IP with 4Ks and 1 hit. Waddell went 1,2,3 with a K; Stevens did as well, and Hart got two K in the 9th while giving up a lone double.

The infield looked really good, particularly Blanco at SS. Bobby Scales caught a screamer at 3B during the 6th, and managed to get it over to 1B to double up the runner who was going. Dubois did a great job running down a ball up against the LF foul wall in the 4th, managing both catching the ball and avoiding a faceplant into the wall.

Don’t know when my next game will be, as I won’t be able to make the game tonight and the team leaves on a road trip until the 4th after that. However, I was able to snag a stack of free general admission ticket vouchers from a friend of mine who works at one of the sponsors, so if anybody in DSM wants to go for free on the 6th or 7th, let me know.

How long should we give sig lines at the bottom of the comments?
Bradley watch -- out 4 games of 13

by znohitter on Apr 24, 2009 9:06 AM CDT reply actions

Tony Thomas

for whatever reason he’s always (statistically) reminded me of Ian Kinsler. A guy that got a lot done offensively but was always considered just average with the glove.

Kinsler really broke out as a 22 yo at AA and high A, so maybe the same will happen with Thomas

The big discrepancy I see in their statistical profiles is Kinsler always made better contact and this was a big issue with Thomas last season.

While I’m not saying we should expect Tony Thomas to turn into Ian Kinsler. Kinsler made significant jumps at the AA level and then again at the major league level (partly aided by park effects), I think of Thomas in the same vein as an underrated 2B prospect in the minors who could surprise down the road

by DartmouthCubsFan on Apr 24, 2009 10:03 AM CDT reply actions

Why does Casey Coleman fly so far under the radar?

The guy put up some solid stats last year in 10 starts at 3 different levels (era around 3 with about a walk per inning and about .7 Ks/inning) and has started off really well pitching at AA at 21.
Is it just b/c he was a 15th rd pick or is he a junker baller so he sort of goes unnoticed? The guy had his 3rd excellent start last night and BA fails to even mention him in their e-mail of minor league stat review.
Just wondering if anyone knows any more about him? He certainly has the lineage for success.

by CA Cub Fan on Apr 24, 2009 10:14 AM CDT reply actions

duh- about 2 walks per 9 innings

not 1 per inning which would be really BAD

by CA Cub Fan on Apr 24, 2009 10:17 AM CDT reply actions

It's really hard to tell whether Waddell is for real.

At least as a LOOGY. According to his splits, he’s pitched 1.1 innings vs. lefties and struck out two but given up four hits. The sample size is still so small.

Glad to see Rebel got his first home run!

I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.

by daver on Apr 24, 2009 1:21 PM CDT reply actions