Cubs Minor League Wrap -- July 21

by Josh77 on Jul 22, 2009 12:08 AM CDT in Minor Leagues Comment 26 comments

There was a fanshot on this, but Kevin Goldstein over at Baseball Prospectus wrote an article on the sorry state of the Cubs farm system (sub. req.) which he sees as keeping the Cubs out of the Halladay sweepstakes. He criticizes the Cubs for some bad drafts and a failure to develop any plate discipline in the minor leagues. He also criticizes the Jeff Samardzija signing, believing the money could have been better spent elsewhere. One thing he doesn't mention, but he could have, is that the Cubs compounded their bad drafts with some bad free agent signings that cost the team draft picks that would have given them more margin for error. But if you want the good news, he does see a light at the end of the tunnel for the Cubs farm system and that they've made some great international signings, especially in Asia. I'd also add the past couple of drafts have been much better, as Josh Vitters and Andrew Cashner are both doing quite well in the minors.

So the system is down but not out.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs deposed the Omaha Royals, 4-3.

Esmailin Caridad started and got his fifth win today by allowing only two unearned runs in six innings. He gave up five hits and issued two walks while striking out seven.

Vince Perkins 24.1 inning scoreless streak came to an end today, but he was still good enough to pick up his first save. Perkins allowed one run on three hits over two innings. He didn't walk a batter and struck out one.

Catcher Chris Robinson was 2 for 4 with a double and two runs scored. Shortstop Darwin Barney was 2 for 4. Right fielder (really utility guy) Matt Camp was 2 for 3 with a walk. Camp scored once and had one RBI.

Tennessee Smokies

The Smokies counted coup against the Mississippi Braves, 3-2 in ten innings.

Andrew Cashner threw six brilliant innings tonight, allowing only one single; the only baserunner he allowed. Cashner struck out five. He was also 1 for 1 at the plate, meaning he had as many hits as he allowed.

Alex Maestri pitched the top of the tenth inning and got the win when James Adduci scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the inning. Maestri walked one but his inning was otherwise without incident.

Shortstop Jonathan Mota was 2 for 5 with a triple, an RBI and a run scored. Right fielder Tyler Colvin went 2 for 5.

Daytona Cubs

The D-Cubs were pounded by the St. Lucie Mets, 8-2.

Starter Henry Williamson went three innings and gave up a run on two hits. He walked three and struck out three.

Dan McDaniel pitched out of the bullpen tonight and took the loss. He gave up two runs, one of which was unearned, on three hits over two innings. McDaniel walked two and struck out three.

Mike Perconte allowed three runs and Jose Piña gave up two.

Right fielder Brandon Guyer was 3 for 4 with a stolen base. Center fielder Tony Campana was 2 for 5 with an RBI. Left fielder Josh Harrison was 2 for 3 with a double and a walk. Harrison scored once.

Peoria Chiefs

Good looking young men with a day off in Peoria. Need I say more?

Boise Hawks

The Hawks were beaten by the Salem-Keizer Volanoes, 8-6.

Let's see. . . Josh Lansford pitches well in relief, throwing two shutout innings, allowing only one hit. He didn't walk anyone and struck out two.

Every other pitcher? Bad.

Center fielder Brett Jackson went 3 for 5 with a double and two runs scored. Right fielder Jae-Hoon Ha was 2 for 5 with a run scored and an RBI. He also stole a base. Left fielder Jose Valdez was 3 for 4.

AZL Cubs

Beat the Angels, 2-1 in 11 innings.

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Comments

To go with that Baseball Prospectus article they mentioned the lack of plate discipline and then we use our top pick on the strike out king that is Brett Jackson. Interesting stuff.

Draft guru in training.

by tj.hendricks on Jul 22, 2009 1:16 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Yet Jackson has

walked more than he’s struck out in Boise so far. Small sample size so far for sure, but he’s striking out in less than 20% of his plate appearances, which is really pretty good.

I’m a lot more concerned that Jackson is showing very little power so far. His .479 OBP doesn’t worry me at all (small sample caveats apply in both cases.)

by Josh77 on Jul 22, 2009 2:07 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Can't read too much into anything Jackson does

Until Daytona. At least, not much (in regards to positive statistics). The competition isn’t up to snuff. Now, if he struggles, that’d be a bad sign.

I’d look for Jackson to be in Daytona early in 2010. I expect him to get pushed.

by toonsterwu on Jul 22, 2009 5:30 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Exactly...

guys with three years of college experience should do well in short-season ball. Hopefully he keeps up the positive stats, but I have trouble believing that the K rate problems were resolved in such a short period of time.

by SouthernCub on Jul 22, 2009 5:49 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

No, we can't

although because plate discipline was a big question mark on Jackson coming into pro ball, I think his showing so far in Boise is quite encouraging, although he hasn’t had enough plate appearances to rule out the possibility of it just being a fluke.

by Josh77 on Jul 22, 2009 1:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

jackson again

Yet Jacksons home run was at Vancouver which is the hardest place in minor league baseball to hit a home run, so he’s got plenty of distance in his swing, its a matter of him finding the swing to be more consistent. Also extra base hits are a part of power. Lets play this thing out, as Josh mentioned its only a small sample size, he’s got at least 3 yrs before we talk about him Major League wise.

by Slamdog on Jul 22, 2009 10:38 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Cashner

might be the best prospect in the system. From what I’ve heard is that he has ace-type stuff.

I’m really excited about him and Jackson.

Tamia Lynn Davis:
Born: August 18, 2008

by Unique on Jul 22, 2009 2:40 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Jay Jackson

that is.

Tamia Lynn Davis:
Born: August 18, 2008

by Unique on Jul 22, 2009 2:40 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Cashner

He has continued to impress me since his promotion and I’m starting to think if he keeps it up he sees the majors this year, if nothing else as a Sept call-up

by CHCOWNTHECENTRAL on Jul 22, 2009 3:40 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'd say

that Cashner’s fast/slide combination is slightly better than Jackson’s based off the reports and what I’ve seen, but it’s not by much, and Jackson probably has more room for growth than Cashner. I also think Jackson’s curve-change is better than anything Cashner has right now as a 3rd pitch, and hence why I think Jackson is the better prospect, but both are exciting, and I’ll be the first to say I never expected Cashner to do this well as a starter.

by toonsterwu on Jul 22, 2009 5:32 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Cashner

Lot of bloggers were killing him this time last year. What a difference a year makes. Let it play out this isnt football or basketball, its baseball!!!

by Slamdog on Jul 22, 2009 10:39 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I raise my hand

I didn’t like the pick. It wasn’t anything against Cashner particularly but rather that they drafted a reliever in the first round. If he stays as a starter, I’ll admit I was wrong.

by rlpete on Jul 22, 2009 12:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

as an aside

awhile back, Goldstein had a chat where he said the Cubs system was improving.

To be honest, I still believe the bigger reason why the Cubs wouldn’t get in on Halladay is financially related. The rumored package from Philly is something that we could compete with if we wanted to (and same with the best possible non-Kershaw possibilities from the Dodgers, along with the best non-current MLB pitcher possibilities from the Angels, the rumored three teams with a shot). The Phillies are largely suspected to be in the lead, and they are holding firm on Kyle Drabek (who I believe is a tad overrated … he’s good though). It sounds like they want an Erik Bedard like deal structure (top OF talent in the upper levels, top young arm (which was Chris Tillman at the time), another intriguing young arm in Tony Butler, and a big leaguer), which to me, suggests, assuming no Drabek, a top OF (Michael Taylor or Dominic Brown – both are top 25 prospects probably), probably Jason Knapp, and perhaps guys like Jason Donald and JA Happ in the mix. Not a package that is unbeatable, that’s for sure.

As an aside, one of the more intriguing things to me is that the Mets might be in the seller’s category come deadline time. From David Lennon:

The Mets believe they are more than one player away from jumping back into contention this season and also are reluctant to part with the best of the prospects they have in their farm system.

Now, I’m not sure they have a ton that would be sold (a couple pen arms, an end of the rotation guy, situational bat). It’s just … for all the folks giddy over them entering the year, it’s such a surprising comment to be made on the Mets. And for all the talks about injuries, they are a part of the game, but the bad rotation (santana/pelfrey … and ?) certainly is a factor.

by toonsterwu on Jul 22, 2009 5:38 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, the Mets are a huge disappointment...

Their story is pretty similar to ours – high payroll team done in (to this point) by injuries to star players and by ineffectiveness of some key guys.

They’ve lost Reyes, Delgado, and Beltran for long periods. They’ve probably had worse fortune than us in terms of injuries to key bats.

But in addition to those injuries, Pelfrey, Maine, and Perez have been much worse this year than expected/hoped, and Putz has been a big disappointment as the setup man.

The difference between the Mets and Cubs this year is that we’re sort of getting healthy, and our most disappointing players (Bradley and Soriano) should rebound and play much better. The Mets aren’t going to get healthy, and aside from Putz their disappointing players weren’t very proven anyway.

by SouthernCub on Jul 22, 2009 6:00 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

as an aside

Pelfrey hasn’t been as bad as his ERA. I know some people don’t buy FIP, but there is reasoning behind it, and his FIP has been far lower than his ERA, hovering around 4 for most of the year. In saying that, I’d be very troubled on Pelfrey’s future as a Mets fan, as the guy is a 4 K rate guy that still hasn’t developed his off-speed stuff enough.

by toonsterwu on Jul 22, 2009 6:14 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The other point to make about the Mets

is that this is a team that went through the rebuild and built on their young guys to an extent – Wright-Reyes-Pelfrey-Parnell-Murphy – but even then they are struggling. What’s my point? So many people are bashing the Cubs this season as if Jim Hendry’s overall organizational philosophy is obviously to blame for how bad things are. Well, the Mets have a philosophy very close to the one so many people want and they’re worse off than we are.

Again, I wish the Cubs did make some of the changes people urge, especially in player development, but my point is that sometimes good teams fall apart because of injuries and there’s nothing management could have done to change it.

Randy Wells - You continue to astound me.

by DGU on Jul 22, 2009 7:20 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

they've had it far worse

they’ve lost 2 Aramis’ in terms of value (Reyes and Beltran) + a DLee (Delgado), and a top setup man (Putz) and the majority of their rotation (Oliver Perez, John Maine)

by DartmouthCubsFan on Jul 22, 2009 4:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

A positive note from AZL

in AZL’s come from behind victory, Su-min Jung pitched 1 inning before handing off to Chris Rusin. Certainly, he should dominate the lower levels, but it was nice to see Rusin go 3, giving up no runs, and only allowing 1 hit and 1 bb, while recording a K. I have to imagine that Rusin won’t be there for long.

Wes Darvill went 0/4. Nothing to worry about, it is a youngster in AZL. Wanted to sneak him in there again because I’m terribly fascinated with the kid. To me, he looks like he has the potential to be a better version of Ryan Flaherty, and I like Darvill’s chances of sticking at short. A lot of work to do until that point, but the foot speed, swing are things I really like, and his frame can probably put some on without losing much of his raw tools.

by toonsterwu on Jul 22, 2009 7:24 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

article

I know hind sight is 20-20, but the article saying we could’ve drafted Nick Markakis, A POWER HITTING LEFTY WHO DRIVES IN RUNS, who I think signed a fairly cheap extension deal in the offseason, is pretty much salt in the wound that is Milton Bradley.

Go Cubbies …

by gocubsgo2287 on Jul 22, 2009 10:13 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Lots of players we could have drafted

You have to look forward and not backwards. Yes you have to get better and its starting to come around, its just going to take time. 2003/2005 were killer years. One of those years we didnt even get a big leaguer with a cup of coffee and presently dont have a player in the org from that draft and that really hurts your minor and major leagues.

by Slamdog on Jul 22, 2009 10:44 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The problem is

that Ryan Harvey was supposed to be a power hitting outfielder who drives in runs, although from the right side. And as Goldstein admits, every scout in the game thought that Harvey was going to be a good one.

So the question then becomes, was Harvey a failure of scouting or a failure of development? I saw Harvey play his first season in Boise, and I’d say he was a failure of scouting, because I wasn’t impressed. He was completely clueless on any breaking pitch thrown his way—which has been true throughout his career.

Still, we don’t know if the Cubs knew about it beforehand and what the Cubs did to try to correct that flaw in his game. So it could have been both a failure of scouting and a failure of development.

The whole “Tyler Colvin was a third-round pick” thing is overstated because he was climbing up draft boards in the week before the draft. But it is fair to say that most teams had him as around a supplemental first round, early second round pick rather than a mid-first round pick. So the Cubs really did overdraft on Colvin. And it really didn’t make any sense when Travis Snider was there and most everyone would have had him as the best player available. Sure, Snider has struggled this season, but his star is a lot brighter than Colvin’s right now and he’s your left-handed outfielder who should hit for power. Kyle Drabek was also on the board too—although there were a lot of questions about Drabek’s at the time which hasn’t really shown up in his professional career, although he has been injured.

On top of the Colvin pick, the Cubs didn’t have a second, third or fourth round pick that year. Samardzija was the fifth round pick. A draft like that can drain a system real fast.

by Josh77 on Jul 22, 2009 1:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

day off in peoria?

club cabaret it is.

by John T. Unger on Jul 22, 2009 11:23 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Cashner again

I talked with my friend who was at the game last night in Knoxville and he said Cashner was 92-96 and totally dominated Hayward who he struck out twice and made Freddie Freeman look very foolish, breaking his bat in three pieces on a groundball. He said that Cashner used his changeup quite a bit and it looks to be a very good pitch that he’s developed, that he didnt have much of a one before. Said his slider at times was thrown real hard and nasty at 84-87. Also he had 11 ground ball outs with 4 broken bats.

by Slamdog on Jul 22, 2009 12:14 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

give the cubs scouts credit on that one

when he was drafted, they were always heavy on how they believed in his changeup developing, to probably most people’s surprise.

by toonsterwu on Jul 22, 2009 12:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Kevin Goldstein

on Cashner’s start last night

Andrew Cashner, RHP, Cubs (Double-A Tennessee)
Tuesday’s stats: 6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K
Cashner was the best college reliever in last year’s draft, but the Cubs saw a 6-foot-6 frame and three quality pitches, and decided to slowly convert him back to a starting role. They’ve done so incredibly cautiously, as even in late July, his pitch count is still at 80, but last night was the best start of his career The former Texas Christian star faced just 19 batters in six innings. While he’s not getting up to 98 mph as he did in shorter stints, he’s sitting at 92-94 and featuring a plus slider and solid change.

by Josh77 on Jul 22, 2009 1:49 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs