Cubs Minor League Wrap -- May 17

by Josh Timmers on May 17, 2009 7:44 PM CDT in Minor Leagues

Tonight's wrap may not be up to its usual standards. When it's over 100 degrees outside and inside (my body), it's a little hard to concentrate. I'm so hopped up on medicine that I'm seeing three keyboards but I'll just type on the one in the middle and see if that works.

I do have a superstition question though. I wore my Derrek Lee jersey today to get him out of his slump and of course, it worked. But the Cubs lost. So should I keep wearing it figuring that it will get Lee going, or stop wearing it, blaming it for breaking the Cubs five game winning streak?

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs lost their nectar to the Salt Lake Bees, 7-4.

Esmailin Caridad got pounded for seven runs on six hits in 4.2 innings. Two of the runs were unearned. He had some control problems as he walked five, but struck out six. Two of the hits were home runs.

Third baseman Matt Matulia, right fielder Brad Snyder and shortsop Andres Blanco provided all the offense for the I-Cubs by each going 1 for 4 with a home run. Blanco's homer was with a man on.

Tennessee Smokies

The Smokies didn't see the Chattanooga Lookouts coming, 7-2.

Hung-Wen Chen got hit hard for five runs in only 1.2 innings. Chen gave up seven hits, walked one and struck out three.

Alex Maestri struck out four in 3.1 innings of scoreless relief. Maestri allowed two hits and two walks.

First baseman Russ Canzler and second baseman Tony Thomas each hit solo home runs in 1 for 4 afternoons. It was Thomas' seventh home run on the year and it was Canzler's first in AA and third overall.

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs were shut out by the Dunedin Blue Jays, 6-0.

Al already handled Carlos Zambrano's appearance, so I won't repeat him. Thanks Al!

Shortstop Starlin Castro batted in the #2 hole for what I believe is the first time this season. Castro went 2 for 4. Right fielder Dylan Johnston was 2 for 3.

Peoria Chiefs

The Chiefs completed the Cubs' (and my) miserable day by losing to the Beloit Snappers, 9-6.

Aaron Shafer's record fell to 4-2 as he got hammered for seven runs in only 2.1 innings. Shafer allowed seven hits, walked one and struck out two.

Third baseman Josh Vitters hit his fifth home run and his second in as many days in the first inning. Vitters had a big day as he was 3 for 5 with two doubles and the home run. Vitters scored twice and he had two RBI.

Center fielder Kyler Burke was 3 for 4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored. Burke also stole a base. Second baseman David Macias went 2 for 5 with a run scored.

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Comments

100 degrees outside?

In Sacramento in May?

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

by Al Yellon on May 17, 2009 7:47 PM CDT reply actions

Yup

103 today and yesterday. Not supposed to cool off until Tuesday.

by Josh Timmers on May 17, 2009 7:54 PM CDT up reply actions

Wow.

I could have stood it a little warmer at Wrigley today… it was only in the low 50s.

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

by Al Yellon on May 17, 2009 7:57 PM CDT up reply actions

I know

I was telling Brenly to shut up about how cold it is.

by Josh Timmers on May 17, 2009 8:35 PM CDT up reply actions

What does the time table on Thomas look like?

Right now all that is keep him from playing 2B for the Iowa Cubs is Nate Spears who’s OPS is something like Thomas’ SLG percentage.

Obviously you have to wonder when Bobby Scales will get sent down and create a IF logjam in Iowa if you have Thomas and Scales there, but I don’t see Scales being sent down while A-Ram is out.

by FanBall on May 17, 2009 8:23 PM CDT reply actions

There's no need

to promote Thomas to Iowa. The Cubs, as do a lot of other teams, promote directly from AA to the majors. If Fontenot gets hurt, Thomas would almost certainly get the call before Nate Spears. (Of course, with three second baseman on the roster presently, they might not call up a second baseman at all in the case of an injury to Fonty.)

The Cubs also want to keep Thomas and Darwin Barney together, trying to build a rapport between them like Theriot and Fontenot have. Now I suppose they could promote Barney too since he’s hitting .324, but then that really creates a logjam in Iowa and I don’t think they want to just release Andres Blanco.

I’d bet that Thomas spends most of the season in AA. He might get promoted at the all-star break, but I’d bet that barring a major injury at either Chicago or Iowa, he’ll stay in Tennessee until August. They might give him a short taste of AAA but if he keeps playing like he does now, he’s almost certain to see Wrigley in September.

by Josh Timmers on May 17, 2009 8:43 PM CDT up reply actions

Thomas' progress

Also, let’s be clear that Thomas still has things to work on. He has struck out 23 times in 92 plate appearances vs. righties this year. He’s stolen only 3 bases in 8 attempts.

He turns 23 in July. For a college player, he has moved along fine. He could conceivably be used in a platoon with Fontenot as early as next season. I think leaving him in AA to work on hitting the righties and his baserunning is a good idea.

Fontenot (fon-te-no): Cajun for "scrappy"

by cubzfan on May 18, 2009 10:33 AM CDT up reply actions

Thomas

is always going to strike out a lot. He’s just that type of hitter. The good news is that his walk rate has almost doubled so far this season, although it’s still a small sample.

by Josh Timmers on May 18, 2009 12:57 PM CDT up reply actions

Thomas also has 7 errors...

"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)

Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)
.

by SackMan on May 18, 2009 6:17 PM CDT up reply actions

Josh

Your minor league stuff is one of the reasons I’ve been reading BCB everyday for quite a long time. I’d honestly be here everyday anyway, but these are always a good read, and warrant my consistent checking in the evening as opposed to simply during the day.

I’ve been trying to follow the progress of Kyler Burke (pretty much via these wraps). Do you have any insight as to whether or not there is any reason to get excited at the possibility of him ‘figuring it out’ at this point? Or do you feel that he is very much a long shot to pan out?

Also, I think you obviously adorn the Lee jersey whenever he is at the plate, and then quickly take it off afterward.

by WittyUserName on May 17, 2009 8:55 PM CDT reply actions

Burke

From what I understand, the Cubs felt that Burke had struggled in the Padres system because there was something wrong with his swing. Whether it was a hitch, a loop, an uppercut or whatever, I don’t remember right now. So the Cubs sent him to Boise and tried to straighten out his swing. When I saw him there last summer, he was a complete mess.

After that time, again from what I understand, the Cubs told him that whatever they were telling him to do wasn’t working and he should just go back to his old swing. Since then, he’s shown great improvement.

If one of our Peoria scouts could give us a report on Burke’s swing, that would be great.

It’s not quite enough of a sample size yet to get real excited about Burke yet, but he’s headed in the right direction. The other thing to remember is that he just turned 21 less than a month ago. He’s still young and if he had actually gone to Vanderbilt, he would just be entering the draft in June. So it’s not like he’s behind and has to catch up. He’s right on track for a college player. And there’s always the option of making a pitcher out of him.

And thank you for the kind words on the wrap.

by Josh Timmers on May 17, 2009 10:01 PM CDT up reply actions

the padres gave up on him

and he just turned 21.

was he a guy we picked up in trade, or does san diego have no patience?

by tim815 on May 18, 2009 7:13 AM CDT up reply actions

Thanks

I seem to recall reading that they had him revamp his swing, and subsequently had him change it back.

I also looked and saw that is indeed still very much young. But I was a bit concerned that 21 at Low-A is pushing it.

I just didn’t know whether or not he had popped back up on scouts radars as a legitimate prospect, or if he’s looked at as an afterthought in the Cubs system.

tim815 – Burke was picked up along with Bowen for Barret in ’07.

by WittyUserName on May 18, 2009 7:16 AM CDT up reply actions

I don't think

21 is pushing it in the MWL for someone who was a first-round pick like Burke. Actually, anyone who is a real prospect should have made it to low A at least in his fourth professional season. He’s actually a bit behind for a top prospect, which is why he should be at the bottom of the prospect lists for now. But my point is that he’s still young enough to have a long career, but he can’t have anymore setbacks now.

I wrote back in April that Burke had failed twice in the Midwest League and he wouldn’t be given a fourth chance. So far, he hasn’t needed one. I’d expect a promotion to Dayona sometime around the All-Star break.

by Josh Timmers on May 18, 2009 1:12 PM CDT up reply actions

Superstion Answer

It’s obvious that your Lee jersey worked as it was meant to, as a slump-buster for Lee. Since it worked, you can hang it up until Derrek goes ofer a couple of games in a row, and then break it out again. Repeat as necessary.

"Aramis Ramirez, with the guys I've ever played with in my career, is as clutch a hitter as I've seen. He smells it." -Ryan Dempster
"If [Ruth] had [called his shot], I would have knocked him down with the next pitch." -Charlie Root

by Clutch16 on May 18, 2009 5:03 AM CDT reply actions

Not only that

If Lee gets 4 hits every game, the Cubs are going to win plenty of those games.

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on May 18, 2009 8:13 AM CDT up reply actions

I only glance at these things briefly, but it seems Vitters is off to a great start

Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.

by bren on May 18, 2009 9:10 AM CDT reply actions

Vitters should be at Daytona

Why is he still in Peoria? It makes no sense.

by BLou on May 18, 2009 11:03 AM CDT reply actions

I actually agree with you now

It is time to promote him to Daytona.

by Josh Timmers on May 18, 2009 1:12 PM CDT up reply actions

Nah

For much the same reason you have for keeping Thomas at AA.

I reject your reality and substitute my own.

by WayneCampbell08 on May 18, 2009 5:39 PM CDT up reply actions

I don't understand

My argument for leaving Thomas in AA is that they can promote him directly from the majors from AA, the Cubs desire to keep him together with Darwin Barney, certain realities of the roster situation in Iowa and the nature AAA baseball in general. None of those apply to Vitters going to Daytona. The Cubs aren’t going to bring him to Wrigley this season under any circumstances, the Cubs aren’t trying to pair Vitters with anyone and there isn’t anyone at Daytona who is good enough to block him—Jovan Rosa is hitting .211.

I’m completely confused how the situations are in any way comparable.

by Josh Timmers on May 18, 2009 6:29 PM CDT up reply actions

It could be money... as in gate receipts in Peoria

Vitters is the most exciting prospect in our system. And he plays everyday. Minor league affiliates want to have these players as long as they can…

"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)

Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)
.

by SackMan on May 18, 2009 6:41 PM CDT up reply actions

I'm sure Peoria wants Vitters

but they’ve had him for six weeks when a lot of people were thinking that he’s skip Peoria altogether. And Daytona would like to have him too. (and Peoria doesn’t really have a complaint after having Ryne Sandberg manage them for two seasons—Daytona got skipped there.)

Let me be clear though—I don’t think leaving him in Peoria is hurting his development right now—I just think he’s ready for the FSL. But should he continued to pound the Midwest League like he has been, he should be in Daytona in a month at the latest.

by Josh Timmers on May 18, 2009 6:47 PM CDT up reply actions

Sorry

For the confusion, my reply was poorly worded. And you are right, there are two different sets of circumstances surrounding Vitters & Thomas but I think both should stay put at their respective levels.

I don’t think 33 games is enough to prove to me that Vitters has mastered A ball. I don’t feel a prospect has mastered a level until every or most teams in that league has faced him a couple of times. That way you can see if he can adapt to the scouting reports making the rounds. There just hasn’t been enough games for that yet. You can say that I’m too conservative but I think that’s the best way. Believe me, I’d love to see him play in Wrigley sooner than later since I drafted him out of HS in my NL-only fantasy league. :) I just don’t want to rush him and he still has lots of learning to do and Lou isn’t the most patient manager with youngsters.

Well, hopefully this helps clear up my position a little. Now you know why I like to keep things short and sweet. ;)

I reject your reality and substitute my own.

by WayneCampbell08 on May 18, 2009 7:28 PM CDT up reply actions

That's a valid point of view

but I will point out that a lot of people think that Vitters should have skipped Peoria altogether. Starlin Castro is the same age as Vitters and skipped both Boise and Peoria and he’s hitting over .300 right now for Daytona.

One small nit—he wouldn’t be leaving A ball. He be going from low-A to high-A. Unless you go by minor league baseball’s new terminology in which the MWL is just “Class A ball” and Daytona is “Class A Advanced.” But it’s not just a semantic game here. It’s not like I’m advocating him going to AA, which really is a huge leap. The difference between Low-A and High-A is about the smallest difference between any two levels in the minors, IMO.

But yeah, you can argue that he hasn’t spent enough time there. Although Kevin Goldstein did call Vitters “the best young hitter in the Midwest League” today.

by Josh Timmers on May 18, 2009 7:44 PM CDT up reply actions