Cubs Minor League Wrap -- April 27

by Josh Timmers on Apr 28, 2009 12:00 AM CDT in Minor Leagues

I'm sure most of us around here can remember Sammy Sosa and June of 1998. I'm beginning to get a bizarre sense of déjà vu with Jake Fox this April.

Iowa Cubs

Jake Fox hit another two home runs tonight to lead the Iowa Cubs to a 7-3 victory over the Nashville Sounds.

Starting pitcher Randy Wells improved his record to 3-0 with a definition quality start:
three earned runs over six innings. Wells allowed seven hits, walked two and struck out seven.

Jason Waddell didn't allow a hit in an inning of work. He walked one and struck out nobody. Greg Reinhard allowed a hit and a walk but no runs over 1.1 innings. Reinhard struck out one as well. Reinhard has now not given up a run in 12.1 innings of relief so far this season.

Both of Jake Fox's home runs tonight were solo shots off of Sounds pitcher Nick Green. Fox was 2 for 3 with a walk, the two RBI and three runs scored. And just to prove he's not a one-dimensional slugger (even if he sort of is), Fox stole a base tonight.

Left fielder Doug Deeds also homered tonight in a 2 for 4 evening. Deeds had two RBI and scored twice. Right fielder Brad Snyder put the game out of reach with a three-run home run in the eighth inning. Snyder was 3 for 4 with three RBI.

Shorstop Andres Blanco was 2 for 4 with a double.

Tennessee Smokies

The Smokies got burned by the Carolina Mudcats, 6-4.

Hung-Wen Chen started and allowed four runs on eight hits over five innings. Chen struck out two and didn't walk a batter.

Closer Brian Schlitter entered the game in the ninth with the score tied and got tagged with the loss. Schlitter allowed two runs on two hits and a walk over one inning. One of the runs was unearned and the walk was intentional.

Catcher Steve Clevenger was 3 for 4 with a double and a triple. Clevenger had two RBI. Second baseman Tony Thomas was 2 for 5 with a run scored. Left fielder Ty Wright was 2 for 4 with a run scored, an RBI and a stolen base.

The Smokies made four errors tonight, including two by shortstop Darwin Barney.

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs shipwrecked the Brevard County Manatees, 4-2.

Ryan Searle had his third straight good start tonight after a rough game to start the season. Searle didn't allow a run over five innings. The Manatees only allowed two hits and a walk off of the Aussie pitcher. Searle struck out two.

David Cales notched his second save on the year. Cales threw a shutout ninth. He didn't allow a hit, walked one and struck out one.

It must be the night for catchers to come a home run short of hitting for the cycle. Catcher Robinson Chirinos was also 3 for 4 with a double and a triple. Chirinos scored once.

Second baseman Nate Samson had a 2 for 4 night. Samson walked once, scored once, had one RBI and stole a base.

Peoria Chiefs

Couldn't get a dome built over O'Brien Field before the rain started.

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Comments

Good to see Fox with the BB.

And the second HR was on the 7th pitch of the AB, which is uncharacteristically patient for him. The first pitch HR in the 2nd is a little more normal.

How long should we give sig lines at the bottom of the comments?
Bradley watch -- out 7 games of 18

by znohitter on Apr 28, 2009 12:14 AM CDT reply actions

Colvin

He’s been MIA for the last couple of games. My googling skills must be lacking because i haven’t been able to find whether he’s been injured or possibly promoted. He was hit by a pitch in his last game but proceeded to steal second and third so I doubt it is related to that.

by uwbadger on Apr 28, 2009 1:21 AM CDT reply actions

He hasn't been promoted

and he’s not on the DL. (Dan McDaniel is on the DL for Daytona.) There’s no mention of anything in the Daytona Beach paper.

Best guess is that it’s something minor and they just aren’t taking any chances with him coming off of surgery.

by Josh Timmers on Apr 28, 2009 1:47 AM CDT up reply actions

That gives Fox what, 11 HR now?

There has to be an AL team that could use him.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Apr 28, 2009 4:37 AM CDT reply actions

DH's don't get much in return

Look at someone like Jack Cust who can somewhat play the field. He’s twice been traded from the NL to the AL for Chris Richard the first time and then PTBNL. He’s also been released.

Fox is still only 26. The Cubs should give up on the versatility, stick him at 1st and see if he can be acceptable there.

by rlpete on Apr 28, 2009 5:54 AM CDT up reply actions

For what reason?

We have a first baseman.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Apr 28, 2009 8:20 AM CDT up reply actions

Injury and/or trade

I would suspect that he would be worth more in trade if he shows he can hit and play 1st.

by rlpete on Apr 28, 2009 8:42 AM CDT up reply actions

Maybe, but...

…. are you going to play him ahead of Hoffpauir?

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Apr 28, 2009 9:02 AM CDT up reply actions

No but I don't see many teams interested in a DH only

Sure the Cubs can try to trade him but I think he would be more valuable if they let him play 1st full-time this year. Let’s see if he can handle it at a passable level.

by rlpete on Apr 28, 2009 9:59 AM CDT up reply actions

I would

if Micah goes back to his hacktastic ways. The new Micah who takes pitches should keep getting time to prove his worth, but I’d take Fox over the old Micah.

Derrek Lee is good.

by DGU on Apr 28, 2009 12:27 PM CDT up reply actions

Fox has more upside than Micah

But Micah is left-handed and more likely to hit above .240.

As far as trading him to the AL, for what teams in the AL would Fox be an upgrade at DH? Seattle, but they’re not moving the golden kid Griffey for Jake Fox. Maybe KC who has Mike Jacobs there. The Angels maybe, but the Angels don’t use a regular DH, rather they just give their players off days.

The problem is that there isn’t a lot of room in baseball for a player like Fox anymore. But he can hit for power, and he could do so a the major league level.

by Josh Timmers on Apr 28, 2009 12:42 PM CDT up reply actions

It looks like the last few nights Waddell has struggled

But my question is, would he at the big league level be an improvement over Cotts realistically.

"That's what you live for. You live for the opportunity and when that day comes, you better be ready," Soto said. "I tried to make sure that whenever they gave me a chance, I was ready and I knew I had to take advantage of the opportunity."

by Madison Cub Fan on Apr 28, 2009 12:32 PM CDT reply actions

Not likely

but as bad as Cotts has been a lot of people would be willing to see if he might be.

by rlpete on Apr 28, 2009 12:38 PM CDT up reply actions

Is there any lefty in the farm system

that possibly could?

by Madison Cub Fan on Apr 28, 2009 4:57 PM CDT up reply actions

There are three lefties

on the I-Cubs. Waddell, J. R. Mathes and Jayson Ruhlman. Mathes has been used mostly as a starter. He could be moved to the pen, but I’m not sure he’d be a great option. He’s an extreme groundball pitcher who doesn’t strike many batters out. On the plus side, he does throw strikes.

Ruhlman just got promoted from TN where he was pretty good so far this year. He’s struggled in AAA, although in only two outings. He strikes out a lot more batters, but has more trouble with the bases on balls—essentially, I don’t see him as being any different than Cotts.

The Smokies have Jon Gaub, one of the arms we got for Mark DeRosa. He’s a good prospect, but he’s pitched 5.2 innings above High A. That would really be throwing him into the fire. The other lefty in the TN bullpen, Jeremy Papelbon (Jonathan’s brother), is not off to a good start. He also doesn’t have a lot in common with his brother, at least on the mound.

by Josh Timmers on Apr 28, 2009 5:38 PM CDT up reply actions

Fox isn't young for his level

and since he’s been in the minors since he was 20 (going on 7 years now), strikes out a ton, and isn’t exactly a big OBP guy. I can’t imagine teams giving up much for him.

That said, it’s premature to give him the AAAA label. But, I can’t imagine a scenario short of Lee being on the DL where the cubs can call him up (and then, only really to spell or platoon with the HoffMeister).

Next season, when he’s a 27 year old AAA first basement (if the cubs don’t trade him) . . . . He would be AAAA. Really, Hendry needs to look into moving him now, because his stock is going to go down quickly.

It’s a shame he’s really only 1b, as had he been able to stick around at catcher he would be intriguing.

by KillaAK on Apr 28, 2009 1:30 PM CDT reply actions