Cubs Minor League Wrap -- April 30

by Josh Timmers on Apr 30, 2009 11:19 PM CDT in Minor Leagues

I'm not in the mood for a snappy introduction and I doubt you are either. There were some promotions today, although Bobby Scales is still on the Iowa roster despite physically being in Chicago.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs were caught hibernating by the Memphis Redbirds, 4-3.

Starter Mitch Atkins took the loss, dropping his record to 1-2. He didn't pitch that badly, however. Although he allowed four runs over six innings, two of the runs were unearned. Atkins gave up five hits, walked one and struck out five.

Reliever Jeff Stevens pitched two shutout innings and didn't allow a hit. He walked one and struck out two.

Third baseman Matt Camp got promoted from AA today and promptly went 2 for 5 with a stolen base and a run scored. Catcher Chris Robinson had a 2 for 4 evening with a double, a run scored and an RBI. Shortstop Andres Blanco was 2 for 4, but also made the error that led to the two unearned runs.

Tennessee Smokies

Huntsville had a six-run fourth inning, but that wasn't enough as the Tennessee Smokies eclipsed the Huntsville Stars, 7-6.

Starting pitcher Casey Lambert only lasted 3.2 innings tonight and exited after allowing the six runs in the fourth inning. Lambert gave up six hits, walked one and struck out two. Three of the six runs he surrendered were unearned after a Tony Thomas error in the fourth.

Alex Maestri got the win in relief. He threw 1.1 innings without allowing a run. He did load the bases in the fifth inning on two singles and a walk before retiring the final two batters and stranding the three base runners.

Jeremy Papelbon and Blake Parker each threw two shutout innings. Papelbon allowed two hits. Parker allowed one hit, one walk and struck out one en route to his third save of the season.

Right fielder James Adducci went 2 for 3 with a double and two walks. Adducci scored twice and had one RBI.

Second baseman Tony Thomas was 2 for 5 with a run scored.

Third baseman Marquez Smith was promoted from Daytona and was 1 for 5, but had two RBI.

Daytona Cubs

Daytona lost their third in a row to the Brevard County Manatees, 7-3.

Starter James Leverton had a rough evening. He allowed six runs on eight hits over 4.2 innings. In the bright side, he struck out three and didn't walk anyone.

Alberto Alburquerque pitched two shutout innings in relief. He gave up one hit, walked one and struck out three.

Second baseman Nate Samson went 1 for 3 with a walk and a run scored, but also committed two errors in the field.

Peoria Chiefs

It's six wins in a row for the Chiefs as they hid their nectar from the Burlington Bees, 10-6.

Aaron Shafer didn't have the best of starts, but it was good enough to get the win and improve his record to 3-1. Shafer allowed three runs on five hits and four walks over five innings. He struck out two.

Chris Huseby is finally starting to show some promise this season. Tonight he threw two shutout innings. He allowed one hit, walked nobody and struck out three. Over eight innings of relief this April, Huseby has struck out ten batters and walked none.

In my pre-season preview, I said that left fielder Kyler Burke had failed the last two seasons in the Midwest League and that this was his last chance. The good news is that so far, he's not blowing it. Burke was 3 for 3 with two doubles and two walks tonight. He had one RBI and scored twice. Burke's final line for April this year is .327/.403/.600. He's still only 21, so he may be on his way to restoring his status as a top prospect.

Right fielder Nelson Perez is also 21, but he's been struggling so far this year. But tonight he busted out with his third home run of the year. Cruz went 2 for 5 with a double and the home run. Perez had three RBI.

Second baseman Josh Harrison was 2 for 3 with a walk, a run scored and two RBI. First baseman Rebel Ridling was 2 for 5 with two runs scored. Catcher Luis Flores had a 2 for 4 night with two doubles and a walk. Flores scored one run.

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Soggy Game in Memphis

It rained from the third inning to the seventh inning. In the fourth inning, Mitch Adkins was called for a balk when the wet ball slipped out of his hand attempting to make a pitch. Sam Fuld nearly made a great diving catch on Joe Mather’s drive in the fourth inning. It looked like Fuld had the ball but ended up kicking it out of his glove after he hit the ground. Mather got a triple out of it and might have had an inside the park home run, if he had hustled around the bases. He “only” got to third on the play.

Mitch Adkins batted for himself in the top of the seventh, but Jeff Stevens started the bottom of the seventh on the mound for Iowa. That was strange.

I ended up listening to part of that disastrous top of the tenth on WGN radio through the static on the way back from AutoZone Park. That didn’t make me feel any better.

"The big possums walk late." - Harry Caray

by memphiscub on May 1, 2009 7:36 AM CDT reply actions

Adkins = Atkins

I was thinking about a local preacher in town at Greater Imani Church called Bill Adkins.

"The big possums walk late." - Harry Caray

by memphiscub on May 1, 2009 7:51 AM CDT up reply actions

So let me be the first to ask:

Can we safely assume Matt Camp’s promotion is related to the big league club’s glaring lack of a backup third baseman? Do you have any background on Camp’s defensive reputation?

Nice to see some decent pitching sprinkled throughout the Cubs system – Atkins, Stevens and Maestri, specifically. Oh, and A. Alburquerque, of course.

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by daver on May 1, 2009 9:08 AM CDT reply actions

Camp was brought up b/c they flew Scales to Chicago.

Camp is a player who has played in numerous defensive positions in the minors with the Cubs. But from what I recall he has actually played very little 3rd. Primarily he has played SS/2B and has also roamed the OF some. That said supposedly he does a decent job defensively wherever he is at. He has a decent bat but very little power. He does have good speed though. I would be shocked if he saw Chicago any time soon. It would take Aramis and others going on the DL for that to happen.

by CA Cub Fan on May 1, 2009 10:26 AM CDT reply actions

Ah, OK - thanks.

Sometimes it seems like the entire Cubs system is composed of second basemen and mid-level pitching prospects.

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by daver on May 1, 2009 11:21 AM CDT up reply actions

don't forget sluggers who can't field.

I love to play baseball. I'm a baseball player. I've always been a baseball player. I'm still a baseball player. That's who I am. - Ryne Sandberg

by Bill Potter on May 1, 2009 11:46 AM CDT up reply actions

and by middle infielders

you mean guys who play second base and mebbe a little sumfin else

by tim815 on May 2, 2009 5:53 PM CDT up reply actions

Partially

He was also brought up to Iowa because Luis Rivas is on the DL. Between Scales’ trip to Iowa and Rivas’ trip to the DL, Iowa needed another body.

Camp is a little utility guy with great speed and no power. His scrappiness goes to 11. He is the type of guy that Lou would want on his bench, except that it’s not clear that he can hit on the major league level yet.

Camp got promoted instead of say, Tony Thomas, because the promotion was temporary because of Rivas’ injury. They didn’t want to jerk around Tony Thomas by sending him to Iowa and then back to Tennessee. They’re less worried about jerking Camp around. (and I’m sure there’s some double entendre in there somewhere.)

by Josh Timmers on May 1, 2009 11:57 AM CDT up reply actions

Hm, well, again...

…he doesn’t sound like he’d be all that much of a defensive upgrade at third base over Mike Fontenot.

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by daver on May 1, 2009 12:27 PM CDT up reply actions

Not really

in fact, he’s kind of a Fontenot clone, without the Little Babe Ruth power.

by Josh Timmers on May 1, 2009 12:29 PM CDT up reply actions

You know

Fontenot doesn’t have Camp’s speed either. Really, the only thing the two have in common is that they’re scrappy white guys who play second base, part-time in Camp’s case.

So just ignore that last comment.

by Josh Timmers on May 1, 2009 6:26 PM CDT up reply actions