Cubs Minor League Wrap -- May 30

by Josh Timmers on May 31, 2009 12:15 AM CDT in Minor Leagues

I know it's been rough the past two days, but yes, there is Josh Vitters news tonight. I'm sure some of you were screaming "Bust" after he went 1 for 9 the past two nights.

Oh, and if someone has a spare relief pitcher, Ryne Sandberg could use one.

The Cubs recently signed outfielder John-Ford Griffin and infielder Anderson Machado and assigned them to Iowa, which has been depleted by injuries and callups.

Iowa Cubs

The I-Cubs split a double-header with the Memphis Redbirds, winning the first 5-2 and dropping the second one 3-2 in nine innings.

The first game was all Jeff Samardzija. The Shark allowed two runs in the first inning and then shut the Redbirds down the rest of the way for a seven-inning complete game victory. On top of that, he hit a solo home run. Samardzija allowed six hits and three walks while collecting three strikeouts.

Catcher Chris Robinson was also 3 for 4 with two RBI.

In the second game, Greg Reinhard started and had a good three-inning start. Reinhard allowed one run on only two hits. He didn't walk a batter and struck out five.

Jeff Stevens allowed the winning run in extra innings. Stevens allowed one run on two hits in 2.1 innings. Stevens walked two and struck out two.

Right fielder Doug Deeds was 3 for 5 with a double and a stolen base. Shortstop Nate Spears went 2 for 4 plus a walk. Third baseman Kyle Reynolds had a 2 for 4 game.

Tennessee Smokies

The Smokies have now lost seven in a row, all to the Huntsville Stars, as the Stars blasted the Smokies, 10-7.

Starting pitcher Casey Lambert got blasted for six runs on nine hits in only four plus innings. He allowed three batters in the fifth inning to reach before getting pulled. Lambert walked two and struck out one.

The loss went to Todd Blackford, who allowed two of Lambert's inherited runners to score and two runs of his own in 1.1 innings of work. The good news is that he didn't allow a hit. The bad news was that he walked three, had a wild pitch and didn't strike out anyone.

At least the offense produced tonight. Catcher Welington Castillo has been struggling with the bat most of this season, but tonight he broke out by going 3 for 4 with a home run. Castillo scored twice and had two RBI. The home run was Castillo's fifth of the season, so actually he hasn't been struggling in the power department, just in reaching base.

Center fielder Brandon Guyer has also struggled, but he went 2 for 5 tonight with a double and a stolen base. Guyer had one RBI and scored twice. James Adduci went 2 for 4 with a walk and a stolen base. He also scored once.

Left fielder Ty Wright was 2 for 4 with a run scored and an RBI. Third baseman Marquez Smith had a double and two RBI in a 2 for 5 effort.

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs subpoenaed the Sarasota Reds, 3-2.

Rafael Dolis got the start and pitched five innings, allowing only two runs, one of which was unearned. He surrendered four hits, didn't walk a batter and fanned three.

Dustin Sasser got the win in relief. He pitched two shutout innings and allowed three hits. He didn't walk a batter and struck out three.

Alberto Alburquerque was impressive in collecting his first save of the year. He allowed only one hit over two innings while striking out five. He also didn't walk a Red batter. After today, Jim Hendry should immediately promote Alburquerque to the majors so that Al has to type his name all the time instead of me.

DH Jake Opitz was 2 for 4 with a double and a run scored. Third baseman Marwin Gonzalez went 2 for 4 with a run scored.

Catcher Luis Flores was recently promoted from Peoria and tonight he went 2 for 3 with an RBI.

Peoria Chiefs

It took fourteen innings and a Josh Vitters home run, but the Peoria Chiefs institutionalized the Great Lakes Loons, 7-5.

Starter Chris Carpenter, who seems to be shadowing his namesake in the majors who also started today, had a rough outing as he got blasted for five runs in five innings. Carpenter gave up six hits and has some major control problems as he walked five. One of the runs allowed was unearned. Carpenter struck out two.

After that, the bullpen settled down and pitched nine shutout innings, allowing only three hits and three walks total the rest of the way. Chris Siegfried threw two innings, followed by Erik Hamren, who fanned five in his three innings. Manolin De Leon walked two and struck out four in his three innings and collected the win. Mike Perconte got his second save of the season by pitching the bottom of the fourteenth.

Josh Vitters hit the eventual game-winning home run in the top of the fourteenth inning with a man on. It was Vitters' twelfth homer of the season and eleventh of the month of May. What's going to make some people around here even happier is that he also walked tonight. Overall, Vitters went 2 for 5 with a double, the home run, a walk and a hit by pitch. He had four RBI.

Shortstop Junior Lake went 3 for 7 with a run scored. Left fielder Drew Rundle was 2 for 5 with two walks, a run scored and an RBI.

That Michael Brenly kid was 2 for 7.

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Ladies and gentlemen, rob.net is permanently offline.

I was perusing TCR yesterday and noticed that the Cubs have released Richie Robnett. The Iowa Cubs roster confirms it. I figure this is the last time I’ll be able to use this Al-created image, so there ya have it.

This adds a little more sting to the Michael Wuertz deal. Wuertz is now up to 23.1 IP with the A’s with a .900 WHIP and 3.33 K:BB.

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 May 31, 2009 10:30 AM CDT reply actions

Tennessee Smokies

Went to the game last night and had a great time, leisurely drive over from the the hinterlands of WNC, spent a hundred bucks or so at Bass Pro Shop right across the street from the park.Nice place to play ball, right off the interstate and near all the tourist stuff.

Lambert got hit hard in the first but settled down till he gave up three weak hits in the 5th. Then Blackford,s first pitch in relief went for a wild pitch. Thatset the tone for the rest of the inning.

Canzler looked bad at the plate his first 2 at bats-weak strikouts that looked like Soriano on a really bad day.

Castillo looks strange behind the plate. He sets up off balance with his right leg in closer and the knee higher than his left. he rests his throwing hand behind the knee and can’t move right as quickly as he can left. Even though Blackfords pitch was low and outside I think if Castillo was better balanced he would have had a good chance at blocking it.

Wright almost made a couple spectacular plays in center- but as they say almost isn’t quite good enough.

The Smokies do it right- nice comfortable park- lots of stuff for the kids and alot of interaction with the fans.

One other thing- They have Old Style on tap- first one of those I’ve had in a long time- it’s still swill but I enjoyed the moment.

If the world didn't suck we would all fall off.

by carolinacub on May 31, 2009 10:38 AM CDT reply actions

Thanks for the report!

The stuff on Castillo is great. There’s been a big question as to why his results don’t measure up with his tools.

I love Bass Pro Shop and I don’t even camp, hunt or fish. Mostly I just look there, but I have bought some clothes and grilling equipment there.

by Josh Timmers on May 31, 2009 5:58 PM CDT up reply actions

Nice to see Sharks good start

However there seems to be a bit of a trend with the rough starts and then settling down. I wonder if it is pure coincidence or if there is something to it. Does anybody know if he is being forced to throw certain pitches again. I know last year they made him throw a certain number of breaking pitches each game to get him to develop another pitch.

by CHCOWNTHECENTRAL on May 31, 2009 11:49 AM CDT reply actions

DSL Cubs

Hey Josh, the DSL Cubs teams started their season yesterday.

DSL Cubs 1 won 7-3

DSL Cubs 2 lost 9-8

Anyone know much about the prospects on either team? The only guys I know about are bonus babies 3B Joel Altagracia, SS Carlos Henry, and C Ricardo Parra, who all play for DSL Cubs 2. I’d really appreciate any information people could dig up on guys on either team.

by Outshined_One on May 31, 2009 3:46 PM CDT reply actions

I've always

just ignored the DSL teams. Honestly, I know nothing about them and I have enough work to do as it is. It wasn’t until last season that their scores were included in MiLB.com. But I have absolutely no way of evaluating the stats down there. I figure if they’re good, I’ll hear about them once they get to Arizona.

I’d love to know too what is going on there, but I have enough to do dealing with the teams on the mainland. Thanks for providing the links, though.

by Josh Timmers on May 31, 2009 5:53 PM CDT up reply actions