Cubs Minor League Wrap -- April 29

by Josh Timmers on Apr 29, 2009 9:54 PM CDT in Minor Leagues

Let's just go straight to the action tonight.

Iowa Cubs

Do you really need an off-day to travel from Nashville to Memphis? Apparently you do.

Tennessee Smokies

The Smokies burned the Carolina Mudcats, 8-4.

Jay Jackson got back on track this season in a big way tonight. Jackson got his first win in AA by allowing only one run over seven innings. He allowed four hits and three walks while striking out four. But he personally got that run back by hitting a solo home run in the fifth. At the plate, Jackson was 2 for 2.

Vince Perkins threw another scoreless inning of relief. He allowed one hit and struck out one Mudcat. Perkins has now gone 10.1 innings to start the season without allowing a run. Before you ask--he's right-handed.

Shortstop Darwin Barney was 3 for 5 with two RBI. However, he does seem to be in a fielding slump as he made another error today. Center fielder Brandon Guyer went 2 for 4 with a double and two runs scored.

Left fielder Ty Wright's solo home run in the sixth inning was his second of the year and his second in two games. Wright was 1 for 4 with a walk.

Daytona Cubs

They got some hits tonight, but the Daytona Cubs were still sunk by the Brevard County Manatees, 5-2.

The good news on starter Rafael Dolis is that he only allowed one hit in 3.2 innings. The bad news was that it was a solo home run. The worse news was that he walked six Manatees, which led to three total earned runs allowed. Dolis struck out two. Dolis' record fell to 0-3.

Henry Williamson had 2.1 innings of scoreless relief. He gave up two hits, didn't walk anyone and struck out two.

Center fielder Marwin Gonzalez hit his first home run of the year. He had a 2 for 4 evening with two RBI. Left fielder Jonathan Wyatt was 2 for 3 with a walk and a run scored.

Peoria Chiefs

The Chiefs pitching staff threw its third straight shutout tonight with a 9-0 shellacking of the Burlington Bees.

Alberto Cabrera picked up his first win of the year with a six-inning start. He gave up four hits, walked two and fanned two. Mike Perconte got a three-inning save, which was his first of the year. He allowed two hits, walked two and didn't strike out a batter.

Left fielder Kyler Burke had a big night, going 2 for 5 with a double and his second home run of the season. Burke scored once and had two RBI. Mario Mercedes hit a pinch-hit two-run homer in the ninth.

Center fielder Tony Campana reached base every time up, going 3 for 3 with two walks. He also stole two bases, giving him ten steals on the season already. Third baseman Josh Harrison was 2 for 3 with a double and a walk. Harrison scored once and batted one in. Harrison only stole one base tonight and now has five on the season.

Josh Vitters was the DH tonight and he went 2 for 5 with a double and a run scored.

Tweet Comment 19 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Thanks!

Good job once again. Nice to see Vitters getting some hits.

by bikemonkey on Apr 29, 2009 11:26 PM CDT reply actions

Three straight shutouts?

Must be something in the Gatorade.

How long should we give sig lines at the bottom of the comments?
Bradley watch -- out 7 games of 20

by znohitter on Apr 30, 2009 12:09 AM CDT reply actions

well, two of them

were of the seven-inning variety. Still impressive.

by Josh Timmers on Apr 30, 2009 11:10 AM CDT up reply actions

Love to see Jackson

pitch well. Hope this is his turning point.

Tamia Lynn Davis:
Born: August 18, 2008

by Unique on Apr 30, 2009 2:57 AM CDT reply actions

Agreed.

Jackson is, IMO, a major talent. If he keeps this up, he might find himself in Iowa soon.

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

by Al Yellon on Apr 30, 2009 8:18 AM CDT up reply actions

Let's not get ahead of ourselves here

He finally pitched one good game after 3 mediocre to poor ones. Of course I would like to see him get on a run. But remember this level is a big jump for him already considering he moved 3 levels last season and is only in his 2nd year of pro ball.

by CA Cub Fan on Apr 30, 2009 10:16 AM CDT up reply actions

At the same time...

… the Cub organization has a history of holding talent back at levels they have dominated. You’re right to say that we have to see more results. But if he has a good first half, why keep him at Double-A?

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

by Al Yellon on Apr 30, 2009 11:05 AM CDT up reply actions

Who do you think they held back in the last 2 or 3 years?

I can’t really come up with anyone.

by CA Cub Fan on Apr 30, 2009 1:58 PM CDT up reply actions

Maybe not in the last 2-3 years.

But before that, it was a hallmark of the Cub organization — going back far before Corey Patterson, even.

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

by Al Yellon on Apr 30, 2009 1:59 PM CDT up reply actions

Fair enough.

I will say if anything they have swung the other way and have been really aggressive of late:
S Castro completely skipping two levels to Hi A ball
Lake skipping low A to go to Peoria
Jackson and C Coleman starting in AA in their first full year of pro ball
Shark the last couple years
Castillo getting to AA already
Tony Thomas getting bumped to AA after a fairly poor year at Hi A last year

About the only guy who seems to be held back thus far is Vitters. But he is so young I can’t blame them.

by CA Cub Fan on Apr 30, 2009 2:40 PM CDT up reply actions

+1

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 30, 2009 3:18 PM CDT up reply actions

The Chiefs

I’m glad I’m going to see them in Cedar Rapids instead of Burlington this year. The Bees look awful.

"I don't think anybody's paying attention to the Cubs." - Prince Fielder

by jasoniniowa on Apr 30, 2009 8:56 AM CDT reply actions

what happened to toonsteru?

josh does a great job, but it was always interesting to hear toonsteru’s insight.

by amory blaine on Apr 30, 2009 12:29 PM CDT reply actions

Good question.

I haven’t heard from him in a while and he hasn’t posted here since April 16. He HAS posted at Minor League Ball, though.

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

by Al Yellon on Apr 30, 2009 1:44 PM CDT up reply actions

Redbirds Needed Off Day More Than I-Cubs

The Memphis Redbirds are coming back from Round Rock. Of course, the I-Cubs only have to travel 200 miles to get to Memphis from Nashville. The I-Cubs are in first place by 1.5 games over the Redbirds and Omaha. This is a big four-game series coming up at AutoZone Park.

"The big possums walk late." - Harry Caray

by memphiscub on Apr 30, 2009 1:55 PM CDT reply actions

Bobby Scales dream come true?

Cubs.com is reporting that if Ramirez can’t go today and needs to be DL’d, Bobby Scales will finally, at age 31, get the call to the major leagues.

Obviously none of us wants to see Aramis hurt, but it’s a beautiful story if Scales finally gets to play in the majors. What was the story? That said he had told himself that he’d give himself until he was 30 to make the majors and then had to add “I guess I’ll give it until I’m 31”?

by Josh Timmers on Apr 30, 2009 2:27 PM CDT reply actions