Cubs Minor League Wrap -- May 16

by Josh77 on May 16, 2009 11:44 PM CDT in Minor Leagues Comment 8 comments

Is there anything worse than having a cold when it's 103º out? OK, there's what happened to Michael Barrett a couple years ago. But besides that, not much.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs got swarmed by the Salt Lake Bees, 16-7.

Starter Greg Reinhard got smacked around for pretty much the first time all season. Reinhard gave up five runs on six hits over three innings. Two of the hits left the yard. Reinhard walked three and struck out two.

Jesse Estrada was even worse, giving up five runs in only two-thirds of an inning. It went downhill from there, and reserve infielder Matt Matulia pitched the eigth inning, surrendering a run on a solo home run.

The Cubs were outhomered five to zero in this game. Still, first baseman Jake Fox was 3 for 4 with a double and two runs scored. Fox was back at first base tonight.

Tennessee Smokies

See, here's what I like and dislike about Twitter. Normally when a team gets rained out, I make up some goofy thing that the team did to kill the time. But thanks to Twitter, I know that Tony Thomas went to his room and read Angels and Demons after the game got called. Sure, it's nice to know, but wouldn't it be more fun to say he went spelunking?

Daytona Cubs

The D-Cubs were chomped on by the Clearwater Threshers, 6-3.

Starter James Leverton faced the minimum over his first three innings. It was that second time through the order that was a problem. Leverton's final line had him giving up four runs on six hits, two of which were home runs, in his six-inning start. Leverton walked two and struck out four.

Shortstop Starlin Castro was 4 for 4 with two doubles. After a long slump, Castro now has his batting average up to .292.

Right fielder Jonathan Wyatt was 2 for 4 with an RBI.

Peoria Chiefs

The Chiefs were behind 5-0 after six tonight, but they came from behind to turn the Beloit Snappers over onto their backs, 6-5.

Chris Archer put the Chiefs in a hole by allowing two runs over two innings. Archer surrendered five hits and three walks. He did strike out four in the two innings.

Alberto Cabrera got the win in relief, although he didn't pitch that well either. Cabrera threw five innings and gave up three runs on five hits and a walk. He struck out four as well.

Ryan Buchter got his fourth save of the season by pitching the final two innings without allowing a baserunner. Buchter struck out three.

Third baseman Josh Vitters hit his fourth home run of the year. It was a solo shot in the seventh inning. Vitters was 3 for 4 overall with the one RBI and two runs scored.

DH Josh Harrison had a 2 for 5 night with a double and two RBI.

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Josh I saw the Iowa Box

and noticed that Stevens gave up 3 runs in one inning. Well he had to give up runs some time.

"I daydream just like everybody else, I just do it with my body facing the field, so everybody thinks I'm paying attention."- Greg Maddux

by Doggie Stalker on May 17, 2009 12:04 AM CDT reply actions

Yes

with so many crummy pitching performances, I just didn’t feel like mentioning them all. :-)

by Josh77 on May 17, 2009 12:52 AM CDT up reply actions

Those Bees...

…solid team. The Halos have some talent there they can deal away….saw them lose to Portland in a TV game last week, but they are darn good.

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on May 17, 2009 1:43 AM CDT reply actions

I wonder when/if

Vitters gets called up to Daytona.

Tamia Lynn Davis:
Born: August 18, 2008

by Unique on May 17, 2009 9:15 AM CDT reply actions

Here's a Look at Daytona

Got to see the Daytona Cubs last night against the Clearwater Threshers. Weather was an adventure on the way to the game, during the game, and on the way back home but it was worth the trip.
First of all, Starlin Castro — he really had a great game. At the plate, four hits in four ABs. All well stroked — a single to right, a single to center, a double to right (had some help from the constantly changing wind), and a line double to left in the 9th. He also made a really nice play on a slow hopper that he had to charge and made a nice strong throw to first to nip the runner. All in all a very impressive performance.
From some of the comments that I’ve read early on, Castro has struggled in the field. Tonight I saw none of that. Sometimes I wonder about field conditions at some of the lower level parks. The field in Clearwater — which is the spring home of the Phillies — is really nice. The park is only a couple of years old and is a really nice place to see a game.
Other observations — the starting pitcher for the Cubs — James Leverton — 23 yr. old lefty. He looked solid for 5 of the 6 innings that he threw. Good fastball; fair breaking stuff.
Early on he was wild at times — high out of the zone. But with the exception of the fourth inning, he looked okay. A wind blown HR hurt him in that inning. Then a monster shot by the Threshers’ version of Ryan Howard (Michael Durant) put Leverton in a bigger hole.
The pitcher that followed Leverton — Craig Muschko — struggled and was not impressive at all.
The only position player that looked decent besides Castro was the RF Johnathan Wyatt. He had a couple of hits and one really nice catch.
The other position players were forgetable.
From the current stats at Peoria, three guys on the Daytona team should be looking over their shoulders — 3B Jovan Rosa, 2B Nathan Samson, and 1B Jake Opitz. Their replacements are coming from Peoria — 3B Vitters, 2B Harrison, and 1B Ridding.
I hope to see Daytona again somewhere in Florida and will let you know anything new.
It was fun

by ceegeewow on May 17, 2009 11:18 AM CDT reply actions

Thanks for the report

Castro has a good defensive rep—it’s good to see him live up to it. He has been making a lot of errors and you are right, sometimes errors in the minors are the result of poorly-kept fields. However, since most FSL teams play in major league spring training parks, that’s usually not a problem there. But since I’ve never even been to Florida, I can’t vouch for the condition of the fields after the major league teams head north.

by Josh77 on May 17, 2009 12:24 PM CDT up reply actions

Castro

Hey Jeter made close to 60 errors his 1st full season in pro ball and he cut that down quite a bit. So lets not worry about Castro, that will get better. Thank you!

by Slamdog on May 17, 2009 1:13 PM CDT reply actions