Cubs Minor League Wrap -- May 4

by Josh Timmers on May 4, 2009 11:34 PM CDT in Minor Leagues

It was actually nice listening to Giants announcers Duane Kuiper and Mike Krukow call the Cubs game tonight. Unlike announcers of other teams I won't mention, Kuiper and Krukow actually like the Cubs. Krukow, of course, was a rookie for the '77 Cubs, the team in whose honor I added the "77" to my name. Krukow told a few stories about the Cubs of the seventies and actually had a lot of nice things to say about Dave Kingman--like how he provided freshly caught fish to anyone on the team who wanted one. Of course, I'm not sure Kingman showing up in the clubhouse on game day with a bucket full of freshly caught fish portrays Kingman in the most positive light, but Krukow seemed to appreciate the free food.

Krukow also talked about how Giant fans were generally welcomed at Wrigley and that there wasn't a big rivalry between the teams. Yeah, I guess Giant fans aren't staying up nights anymore complaining about Johnny Evers and insisting that Fred Merkle should have been called safe.

I cut myself making dinner tonight and there's a big bandage on my left index finger. I'll play through the pain but if I start to see blood on my keyboard, I'm going to call someone up from the minors to finish.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs were silenced by the Nashville Sounds, 5-1.

Randy Wells got his final tune-up before his expected entry to the Cubs rotation and he made it a good one. Wells didn't allow a hit over three innings. (Something tells me he didn't complain about being removed in the middle of a no-hitter though.) Wells walked one and struck out two. He threw 39 pitches, 25 of which were for strikes.

J.R. Mathes is not getting called up to Wrigley despite being left-handed, and tonight was probably why. Taking over for Wells, Mathes threw one inning and allowed two runs on three hits. He didn't walk or strike out a batter. The loss dropped his record to 3-3.

Greg Reinhard is off to a great start to the season. Tonight he allowed only one hit over three shutout innings of relief. Reinhard walked one and struck out four.

Kevin Hart struggled in a non-save situation. In the inning he pitched, he got rocked for three runs on four hits, including a two-run home run.

Right fielder Brad Snyder was pretty much the entire offense for the I-Cubs tonight. He was 2 for 4 with a triple and a solo home run that accounted for Iowa's lone run.

Tennessee Smokies

They managed to get in one short game in Huntsville today, and the Smokies eclipsed the Huntsville Stars, 3-2 in a scheduled seven-inning game.

Marcos Mateo showed some wildness as he allowed four hits and issued three walks in his four-inning start. That led to two runs, one of which was unearned. Mateo only struck out one Star.

James Russell got the win in relief. Russell pitched two shutout innings. He was touched for two hits. He didn't walk anyone and struck out one. Vince Perkins got his second save of the year with a scoreless seventh. Perkins didn't allow a hit, walked one and struck out one.

Second baseman Tony Thomas hit his fifth home run of the season tonight in a 1 for 4 night. It was a solo home run that tied the game in the fifth inning. First baseman Blake Lalli also hit a solo home run in a 1 for 2 effort. It was Lalli's second home run.

Left fielder Ty Wright went 2 for 4 with two doubles and the game winning RBI in the sixth inning.

This game was supposed to be the first game of a double-header, but the skies opened up before the second game could get played.

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs shut out the Tampa Yankees, 6-0.

Rafael Dolis pitched five innings and allowed only two singles. He walked three and struck out four Yankees.

Both Dustin Sasser and Henry Williamson threw two innings of relief. Sasser gave up three hits and struck out two, while Williamson allowed two hits and struck out four. Neither pitcher walked a batter either.

The top four hitters in the Daytona lineup had ten hits between them. Left fielder Tyler Colvin (and it's good to see him playing left field) was 4 for 5 with two doubles. Colvin scored twice and batted one D-Cub in.

DH Russ Canzler hit his second home run of the year in the fifth inning with two men on. Canzler went 2 for 4 with four RBI and walk.

Center fielder Tony Campana was 2 for 5 with a double and a run scored. Third baseman Jake Opitz had a 2 for 5 effort with two runs scored.

Peoria Chiefs

The Chiefs de-tasseled the Cedar Rapids Kernels, 4-3.

Starter Chris Archer only pitched two innings. He allowed one unearned run on one hit and two walks. Archer struck out three. Alberto Cabrera was impressive in four innings of scoreless relief. Cabrera allowed three hits. He walked one and struck out three.

Josh Whitlock vultured the win by allowing two runs in two innings of relief. Kevin Kreier got his second save with a perfect ninth. Kreier struck out one Kernel.

Right fielder Nelson Perez hit his fifth home run of the year and his third in five games tonight. Perez was 2 for 4 with the one RBI.

Second baseman Junior Lake was 3 for 4 with an RBI. Right fielder Kyler Burke had a 2 for 5 evening with a double and an RBI. First baseman Rebel Ridling went 2 for 5 with a double. Ridling scored twice.

Third baseman Josh Vitters and manager Marty Pevey were both ejected in the fourth inning. Vitters struck out his only time up.

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Comments

I'm excited for Campana.

I know, because of small sample size/playing in low minors/lack of power, that I’m overdoing it by suggesting this, but I like to compare him Juan Pierre (the Colorado/early Florida version). (note: I haven’t seen him play, so this is all based on these reviews). What is his ceiling, realistically?

by Pat19 on May 4, 2009 11:47 PM CDT reply actions

I think you're close

I’d say the upside is closer to Scott Posednik. The thing is, Campana is already 23 years old. When Pierre was 23 years old, he was hitting .327 with 46 steals for Colorado, not playing in the Florida State League. Pierre never hit below .320 in the minors. Campana’s lifetime minor league average is .272 (admittedly in not a lot of at bats).

He’s got the speed though.

by Josh Timmers on May 5, 2009 12:54 AM CDT up reply actions

Any word on Caridad?

Haven’t seen his name show up in your wraps since 4/26. Is he missing starts?

"I owe [Dunston] a lot. Nobody would know how good I was at digging balls out of the dirt if it wasn't for him..." -Mark Grace
"If [Ruth] had [called his shot], I would have knocked him down with the next pitch." -Charlie Root

by Clutch16 on May 5, 2009 12:37 AM CDT reply actions

Just because of the rain

His turn to start got rained out over the weekend, as did Wells’ start. Wells needed to go tonight because he’s pitching for the Cubs on Friday and he hadn’t pitched since the 27th—and he couldn’t go tomorrow and then pitch at Miller Park on two days rest.

I don’t know whether Caridad is going to pitch tomorrow or whether they’ll have him pitch in the bullpen and keep the other guys on track. But it’s all weather-related, as far as I know.

by Josh Timmers on May 5, 2009 1:04 AM CDT up reply actions

Kuiper & Krukow are always fun to listen to.

I have heard them say many times that Chicago is their favorite road trip. Krukow’s humor is stand up funny.

by Employee22 on May 5, 2009 5:15 AM CDT reply actions

I remember Krukow

as a Cub in 1978, I think, got hit in the head with a line drive back up the middle. It was a scary thing, of course, and Krukow got taken to the hospital, although I believe he walked off the field on his own.

The next day he’s released and back at the park, so WGN interviews him on the Lead-off Man show. Krukow shows up on the field with a glove taped to his head, insisting that he’s ready to pitch that day. Lou Bourdreau just had this look on his face the whole time he was interviewing him like “You kid, are crazy.”

by Josh Timmers on May 5, 2009 11:32 AM CDT up reply actions