Cubs Minor League Wrap -- May 9

by Josh Timmers on May 9, 2009 11:44 PM CDT in Minor Leagues

Well, I guess I've got some good news out of Tennessee, if that makes anyone feel any better.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs laid an egg against the Memphis Redbirds, 5-4 in ten innings.

Jeff Samardzija went back to starting and wasn't terrible, but wasn't great either. Samardzija allowed two runs on three hits over three innings. Both runs scored on a two-run home run. Samardzija didn't walk anyone and struck out one.

Greg Reinhard continues to pitch well this year. Tonight, Reinhard had two scoreless innings of relief. He gave up two hits, walked no one and struck out two. Reinhard's ERA on the season is now 0.49 in 18.1 innings.

Kevin Hart took the loss after blowing his second save in the ninth inning. Hart allowed two runs over two innings, but the tying run in the ninth inning was unearned. He gave up two hits, one of which was the game-winning home run in the tenth inning. Hart did strike out five and walk no one in the two innings he pitched.

Shortstop Andres Blanco hit a grand slam in the seventh inning to give the I-Cubs a 4-3 lead. Blanco was 1 for 4 on the night, but it was his error that led to the tying run in the ninth.

Left fielder Jason Dubois was 3 for 4 with a double and a run scored. Catcher Chris Robinson went 2 for 3 with a run scored and two walks.

Tennessee Smokies

The Smokies beat the Mississippi Braves 5-2.

Marcos Mateo got his first win of the year in AA as he allowed two runs on eight hits over 5.2 innings. Mateo struck out four and walked only one.

Brian Schlitter got his third save with a perfect ninth inning. Schlitter struck out two Braves.

Manager Ryne Sandberg moved struggling center fielder Brandon Guyer into the leadoff spot tonight and he responded with three hits, including a triple, in five at bats. Guyer scored three times.

Shortstop Darwin Barney isn't struggling, and he kept it up tonight by also rapping out three hits, including a double. Barney had two RBI and scored once. Barney is now hitting .349 with a OBP of .400.

That was good enough for Barney to get his batting average (but not OBP) ahead of second baseman Tony Thomas, who "only" went 2 for 5 tonight with a double. Thomas scored once.

Catcher Steve Clevenger went 2 for 4 with a triple. He's "only" hitting .356. Third baseman Marquez Smith was 2 for 4.

Daytona Cubs

The D-Cubs were devoured by the Clearwater Threshers, 11-6.

Starter Rafael Dolis was actually very good. Dolis pitched four innings and didn't allow a run. He got touched for only two hits and two walks while fanning six.

The D-Cub bullpen was a disaster. Henry Williamson allowed five runs, four earned, in two-thirds of an inning. Craig Muschko allowed two runs in and inning and Jake Muyco allowed four runs in two.

Catcher Robinson Chirinos was 2 for 4 with his third home run of the year. Chirinos scored three times and had the one RBI. DH Dylan Johnston hit his third home run of the season with a man on in the second inning. Johnston was 1 for 3 with a walk and two runs scored.

Peoria Chiefs

The Chiefs stoned the Ft. Wayne ~~Potheads~~ TinCaps, 7-1.

Starter Chris Archer was impressive in four shutout innings. Archer allowed only two hits while striking out seven and walking only two.

Archer didn't get the win because he didn't go five, but this time Alberto Cabrera was worthy of the win in relief. Cabrera also threw four shutout innings and allowed only one hit. He did have some control problems as he walked four and struck out only two. Cabrera's record improved to 2-1.

Catcher Michael Brenly rapped out three hits in five at bats tonight. Brenly scored once and had one RBI. How come we never hear about this guy?

Four Chiefs were 2 for 5, including third baseman Josh Vitters, left fielder Josh Harrison, first baseman Rebel Ridling and center fielder David Macias. Harrison had a triple, a run scored and three RBI. Vitters scored once. Macias scored once and had an RBI.

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Comments

We don't hear about Baby Brenly

Because his dad is too busy describing the latest Cubs injury.

Great recap today, Josh. Thanks :-)

by lswaidz on May 10, 2009 12:16 AM CDT reply actions

Thomas

I’m trying to figure him out.

Right now he is mashing lefties. It’s absurd. Last year he really struggled against lefties. Is he picking up their pitches better or is it just luck?

For reference, here are his numbers this year: 2009

Here are his 2008 numbers: 2008 (or at least kind of you have to enter his name.

Check out the splits for lefty/righty on both pages and you’ll see what I mean. Any thoughts on the splits?

Also, is anyone seeing his ABs? What has change from last year where he was a K machine in Single-A to being a dominant force in Double-A?

by FanBall on May 10, 2009 2:37 AM CDT reply actions

you've obviously never heard of steroids

by Danny Satan on May 10, 2009 8:44 AM CDT up reply actions

A ridiculous and likely false accusation.

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

by Al Yellon on May 10, 2009 3:41 PM CDT up reply actions

The splits

There aren’t many right-handed hitters who hit lefties as poorly at Thomas did in 2008, so I’m thinking we’re talking sample-size fluke there. He’s also just seemed to have made some adjustments, against both lefties and righties, starting in September and going through winter ball.

The best explanation that I’ve seen for Thomas’ 2008 is that he was spending so much time on defense that he had neglected his offense. He also got off to a good start in the FSL last season and might have gotten complacent for a while.

I do know he cares about his defense: His twitter handle is “GoldGlover2B”

by Josh Timmers on May 10, 2009 2:23 PM CDT up reply actions

Thomas again

Thomas was playing in his 1st full season and evidently hit the wall and also it looks like he put some hard effort into his defense where he made just 6 errors all last year. Then in the Florida State league he really came back winning MVP of the playoffs and along with Darwin Barney they sparked their Daytona to FSL championship

by Slamdog on May 10, 2009 4:14 PM CDT up reply actions

Tyler Colvin & Tony Campana

They had an ugly collision in the OF in the top of the 6th in the Daytona. Apparently both had to be carted off the field. Current reports are that Campana has been released from the hospital and Colvin is still in there, showing the effects of a possible concussion.

More news should be coming out about both soon.

by Outshined_One on May 10, 2009 3:19 AM CDT reply actions

ughhh!

that’s what the cubs organization needs….. more hurt guys. thanks for the update.

by tim815 on May 10, 2009 4:32 AM CDT up reply actions

Thanks

I didn’t catch that last night—it’s not readily apparent from the box score and recap.

Here’s the story from the Daytona News-Journal and here’s Scout.com on the story. (No subscription required on the Scout.com article.)

Sounds like both were hurt pretty badly, but Campana at least sounds like he’ll be OK soon.

by Josh Timmers on May 10, 2009 2:26 PM CDT up reply actions

when i check out minor league box scores,

other teams often send their starters six innings or so. ours usually seem to go 3 and two thirds, and the like. and not when getting shelled.

are we too ‘pitch count’ conscious’ or are other teams settled in on who will advance as a starter and we aren’t?

by tim815 on May 10, 2009 5:39 AM CDT reply actions

It depends on the starter

Some of our starters, like Marcos Mateo or Andrew Cashner, are guys who had been relievers who the Cubs are slowly building up arm strength to become starters. Sometimes we’re just trying to work in more pitchers into one game—the relievers need work too. In Archer’s case, I think they are trying to limit the workload. He throws hard and a lot of pitches with all the walks and strikeouts.

The Cubs are more aggressive in trying out pitchers in starting roles than most other clubs are, though.

by Josh Timmers on May 10, 2009 2:30 PM CDT up reply actions

Reinhard

In 18 innings he also has 26 strikeouts with 5 walks. Numbers are starting to look like whiffle ball stats.

by Slamdog on May 10, 2009 5:57 AM CDT reply actions

Get him on the 40-man roster and bring him up.

He couldn’t possibly be worse than what we have in the bullpen.

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

by Al Yellon on May 10, 2009 7:46 AM CDT up reply actions

who the hell has a 40-man roster?

by Danny Satan on May 10, 2009 8:46 AM CDT up reply actions

Well...

… you have to be placed on the 40-man roster before you can be recalled to the major leagues.

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

by Al Yellon on May 10, 2009 12:33 PM CDT up reply actions

Exactly!

I had that immediate thought when I saw his limited stats in the post.

Visit bloggingthebracket.com, SBNation's bracketology/hoops rambling site!

by Chris Dobbertean on May 10, 2009 10:02 AM CDT up reply actions

Reinhard

has been a great story so far. He hasn’t been on anyone’s prospect radar before now, having been pegged as just an organizational arm, although he was a sixth-round pick of the Rays in 2005. We got him for Jae-Kuk Ryu.

by Josh Timmers on May 10, 2009 2:33 PM CDT up reply actions

Jeff Stevens

Well, I just returned from a weekend in Des Moines and took in the I-Cubs game saturday night against Memphis. Smarge, I can’t figure out. It seems with some batters he is completly there and dominates them, then amazingly the next hitter he seems lost and his control is iffy at best. Anyways I got to see Jeff Steven’s pitch one inning and he truly deserves a shot in our pen. Steven’s pitched confidently moving the ball in and out, successfully tying up the three batters he did face and helped get the game into extra innings. Although I sat in the outfield, I figure his velocity was in the high 80’s low 90’s with decent movement. Kevin hart eventually ended the game the losing pitcher. I hope this helps a little Josh77, I would summerize his stuff as a young Mike Stanton? I will say though he seems very confident and has a great presence on the mound.

by Les Lancaster on May 10, 2009 6:40 PM CDT reply actions