Cubs Minor League Wrap--June 4

by Josh Timmers on Jun 4, 2009 11:23 PM CDT in Minor Leagues

The minors all played tonight, although Tennessee probably wishes that they hadn't.

Daytona players Robinson Chirinos, Ryan Searle and Starlin Castro were all named to the FSL All-Star Game.

Iowa Cubs

The I-Cubs were muted by the Nashville Sounds, 5-2.

Jeff Samardzija took the loss tonight as he allowed four runs on nine hits over five innings. The bright spot on his night was that he struck out six and walked only two.

Neal Cotts had a shutout inning of relief, and he didn't walk a batter either. Cotts allowed one hit and struck out one.

Third baseman Kyle Reynolds had his first home run in AAA tonight. It was a fourth inning solo shot in a 1 for 3 effort.

Right fielder Doug Deeds went 2 for 4 with an RBI. Center fielder Sam Fuld was 2 for 4 with a run scored. Shortstop Anderson Machado went 2 for 4.

Tennessee Smokies

Do you know that if you buy a dozen, you get a ten percent discount off the whole purchase? That must be what's giving Ryne Sandberg solace tonight because his Smokies dropped their twelfth in a row, 12-3 in a game mercifully ended after eight innings because of rain.

Starter Casey Lambert surrendered six runs on nine hits in only three innings. Two of the hits were home runs. Lambert walked one and struck out one. Three of the runs Lambert gave up were unearned, but he can't blame the defense: It was his own error.

Alex Maestri couldn't find the plate tonight in relief. He pitched one inning and to three batters of a second inning, and issued five walks. Other than that, he was charged with three runs and one hit, while striking out one.

Shortstop Darwin Barney went 2 for 3 with a walk.

Daytona Cubs

The D-Cubs cracked open the Charlotte Stone Crabs, 6-3.

Rafael Dolis started and had some control problems, but only allowed one run over 3.1 innings. Dolis gave walked four and struck out two. He allowed two hits as well.

Craig Muschko got the win with 2.2 innings of shutout relief. He gave up one hit, walked one and struck out three.

The all-stars did all right tonight. Catcher Robinson Chirinos hit home run number eight tonight with a man on. Chirinos went 2 for 4 with a walk and the two RBI. Shortstop Starlin Castro went 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI.

Right fielder Dylan Johnston also homered, his fourth on the year. Johnston went 2 for 4 with a double and the home run. He scored twice.

Left fielder Jonathan Wyatt went 2 for 3 with an RBI and a run scored.

Peoria Chiefs

The Chiefs kicked the shell out of the Beloit Snappers, 4-1.

Justin Bristow got the win by throwing five innings and allowing only one run on three hits. Bristow walked three and struck out four.

Chris Siegfried picked up the save with two perfect innings of relief. He struck out two Snappers en route to his first save of the season.

First baseman Rebel Ridling stayed hot by going 3 for 4 with a double and his sixth home run of the year. Ridling scored twice.

Ryan Flaherty was 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored. Left fielder Cliff Andersen was 2 for 4.

Right fielder Nelson Perez had a double in a 2 for 4 evening.

Because some of you panic without an occasional Josh Vitters update, he was 1 for 3 with a run scored and a hit-by-pitch.

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Jeff Samardzija is looking more like the second coming of Kevin Hart with each passing week

That said, Josh I would be interested in assessment on Ryan Flaherty at Peoria. What’s the goods on Flaherty?

You mean, let me understand this cause, ya know maybe it's me, I'm a little messed up maybe, but I'm funny how, I mean funny like I'm a clown, I amuse you? I make you laugh, I'm here to amuse you? What do you mean funny, funny how? How am I funny?

by BLou on Jun 4, 2009 11:39 PM CDT reply actions

Flaherty

Is struggling with his batting average at Peoria this year, but I don’t think the assessment of him has changed. Good plate zone discipline and 15-20 HR power along with a dozen steals is his best case scenario. He’s the only one who thinks he can stick at shortstop, but second base is a possibility. Great baseball smarts as the son of a NCAA coaching legend. He will have to start for more average eventually or his stock will drop.

As far as his struggles at the plate goes, Josh Donaldson struggled last year too and he’s been good since leaving the organization. Peoria and the Midwest League are a tough places to hit.

by Josh Timmers on Jun 5, 2009 11:28 AM CDT up reply actions

I'd say they're tough places to hit during the cold Spring weather for sure.

But, when Vitters is tearing the league apart during the Spring at almost 20 years old (08/27/1989)…. it makes Flaherty look rather mediocre, considering he’s almost exactly 3 years older (07/27/1986).

"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 Jun 5, 2009 12:19 PM CDT up reply actions

Looking bad compared to Josh Vitters

is not a sin. Kind of like saying “That Rich Aurilia really isn’t hitting compared to Barry Bonds.”

Flaherty’s walk and power numbers are still good. The low batting average could just be random fluctuation at this point in the season.

by Josh Timmers on Jun 5, 2009 12:43 PM CDT up reply actions

Starlin Castro

He’s.. what 19? And just jumped two (3?) levels from Rookie League to Daytona? I was going to mentioned that he was a short stop too, but with 19 errors so far (ouch!!) that’s a stretch. But an allstar anyway, so I guess you get a lot of kudos for the hitting.. I’m wondering with the wonder hitters in Peoria and some good production out of Daytona, if they shouldn’t just send tennessee down and put some new guys in there. How about Castro, Chirinos, Campana, Searle, Dolis, Cashner, and Sassner from Daytona, and Vitters, Archer, Carpenter, and Huseby from Peoria? From TN, we can send down aor release Robnett, Guyer, Reed, Reynolds, Estrado, Muyco, Blackford, Chen, and Mateo.
The other possibility is that Ryno’s not a good manager, but I think I’m going to go the path of congntive dissonance on that one and blame the players.

Wow.. our farm system has some holes, eh? I wonder if we can make some moves to fix this.

by DisCUBbobulated on Jun 5, 2009 12:03 AM CDT reply actions

Robnett was already released

by CHCOWNTHECENTRAL on Jun 5, 2009 1:06 AM CDT up reply actions

beware talking about the holes in the system

you might get bashed as a hater. but you’re right.

we could use a solid draft, and some fandom realization that steps must be taken before we can be where we want to be.

we’re not pittsburgh, but we’re allegorically closer to pittsburgh than boston.

by tim815 on Jun 5, 2009 7:30 AM CDT up reply actions

We have a weak system

I don’t think there is any denying that. Why we have a weak system is a more contentious matter.

by Josh Timmers on Jun 5, 2009 11:16 AM CDT up reply actions

Tim Wilkens needs to stand up and deliver

I have been wholly unimpressed with his first three drafts. The only pick that can be looked on strongly is Josh Vitters, but even in that case he was operating from the advantage of having the #4 pick. And who know if Vitters will ultimately make it seeing that low A ball Peoria is a long ways off from the majors.

by BLou on Jun 5, 2009 7:35 AM CDT reply actions

a bit tongue in cheek

but i get the impression that of the six scouts on payroll,
two are watching lsu,
two are in south bend,
one is watching a high school pitcher throw 150 pitches on 2 days rest,
and the other has the day off.

are we settling for cash from oakland for roquet? if so, get the cash, and hire a seventh scout.

by tim815 on Jun 5, 2009 7:53 AM CDT up reply actions