Cubs Minor League Wrap -- May 3

by Josh Timmers on May 3, 2009 7:48 PM CDT in Minor Leagues

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs were leading 2-0 in the fourth inning when the game was suspended due to rain. The game with Memphis will be finished on May 31.

Tennessee Smokies

God does not want the Smokies to play Huntsville. Yet another rain out.

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs scored five runs in the top of the ninth inning to harpoon the Clearwater Threshers, 7-4.

Starter Ryan Searle was impressive once again. Searle allowed one unearned run during his five inning start. Searle allowed only two singles, walked one and struck out five. Searle has now not given up an earned run in his last three starts. His last earned run was allowed on April 16.

Searle didn't get the win, however, because Jose Piña has been struggling since his promotion to Daytona. Piña allowed three runs on five hits and a walk over two innings pitched. He struck out one.

Alberto Alburquerque got the win with a scoreless inning in relief. He gave up one hit, walked no one and struck out two. David Cales recorded his third save with a perfect ninth. He did not record a strike out.

Shortstop Starlin Castro hit a two-run home run in that five-run ninth inning. Castro was 2 for 3 and stole a base. It was Castro's first home run of the year. Catcher Robinson Chirinos had a big day with a 3 for 4 afternoon with his first home run of the year. Chirinos scored twice and had three RBI.

Right fielder Jonathan Wyatt was 2 for 4 and scored twice.

Peoria Chiefs

The Chiefs and Kernels couldn't scored through nine innings, but the Chiefs couldn't hold a 1-0 lead in the tenth inning and fell to the Cedar Rapids Kernels, 2-1.

Chris Carpenter is off to an impressive start to the season. Carpenter allowed only one hit over six innings of shutout baseball. Carpenter walked three and struck out eight. Carpenter is walking a few too many hitters, but through five starts, opposing hitters are batting .125 against him and he's striking out over a batter an inning.

Chris Huseby took the loss in the 11th inning. Huseby allowed one run on two hits over a third of an inning.

Josh Vitters was 2 for 5 with a run scored. Left fielder Josh Harrison had a 2 for 4 afternoon with a double.

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Comments

God was trying to tell Ryno

to come to Wrigley today to for the number retirement of Fergie and Maddux.

Hey, it's a new century!

by cowsarecool220 on May 3, 2009 9:43 PM CDT reply actions

so Josh in your opinion

who is are best option at AAA to take big Zs spot for a couple starts?

Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living."

by DC Cubbie on May 3, 2009 10:42 PM CDT reply actions

Best option

would probably be to let Samardzija start and call someone up for the bullpen. There you could go with Ascanio or Wells, who have been starting in Iowa, or a pure reliever in Jason Waddell, Chad Fox or Kevin Hart.

by Josh Timmers on May 3, 2009 10:46 PM CDT up reply actions

But if Z has to miss only 2 starts...

… would you DL him? That might force him to miss 3 starts (15 days).

The other thing is, Samardzija hasn’t started in almost two weeks since he was called up. Is he stretched out to start?

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

by Al Yellon on May 4, 2009 3:24 AM CDT up reply actions

He seemed to be OK

in his first start in Iowa. This is why, though, I didn’t like us calling the Shark up a couple weeks ago.

by Josh Timmers on May 4, 2009 11:50 AM CDT up reply actions

Should add

that they could go with Mitch Atkins if they want to leave the Shark in the pen, but he’s off to a shaky start this season. But one of those bad games was in Albuquerque and he’s been solid in two of the past three starts.

by Josh Timmers on May 3, 2009 10:49 PM CDT up reply actions

At the risk

of having a conversation with myself, Dave van Dyck says that Zambrano’s next start will likely be by Wells, Atkins or Ascanio. That sounds like just speculation to me, but if that’s actually true, I’d probably go with Atkins, even though he’s having the worst season so far of the three. Ascanio is just learning to start and hasn’t gone beyond five innings this season, so he’s probably out. Atkins probably has better stuff and better upside than Wells. But Wells would probably walk fewer batters and he’s been up with the Cubs already last season, so Lou might feel a little more comfortable with Wells.

Either one could do it, but a successful start by Atkins would make him better trade bait later on in the season than a successful one by Wells.

by Josh Timmers on May 3, 2009 11:01 PM CDT reply actions

I'd guess they will go with a right hander since the start will be against the Brewers.

With the only big left handed bat being Prince Fielder, I would think a right hander would make sense.

Atkins is left-handed, and Wells and Ascanio are right-handed, correct?

Hey, it's a new century!

by cowsarecool220 on May 4, 2009 12:01 AM CDT up reply actions

Incorrect

All three are right-handed.

by Josh Timmers on May 4, 2009 2:37 AM CDT up reply actions

Ok, thanks.

Hey, it's a new century!

by cowsarecool220 on May 4, 2009 9:03 AM CDT up reply actions

Bruce Miles says it will be Wells

Hadn’t realized he’d been pitching that well. At least he wouldn’t have the “first time up” jitters as much as Atkins.

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

by cubzfan on May 4, 2009 7:52 AM CDT up reply actions

That's the hot hand

And seriously, Randy Wells has a no-hitter going through his first 5.1 innings in the majors.

by Josh Timmers on May 4, 2009 11:51 AM CDT up reply actions

I-Cubs and AAA Redbirds (May 29 - June 1)

Because of the rain that caused the Memphis in May Beale Street Music Festival to be dubbed “Memphis in Mud” that led to problems at AutoZone Park, there will be a pair of 7-inning games that will be played on May 30 with a start time of 4 PM. The game that was suspended yesterday will pick up at 1:35 PM on May 31 with a 7-inning game to be played after that. Weather permitting, the I-Cubs and AAA Redbirds are going to play at least 44 innings in that 4-day period from May 29 – June 1.

Also, on May 29, it will be Nostalgia Night #1 with the AAA Redbirds honoring the Memphis Chicks and Tim McCarver Stadium.

"The big possums walk late." - Harry Caray

by memphiscub on May 4, 2009 7:39 AM CDT reply actions