Cubs Minor League Wrap -- July 4

by Josh Timmers on Jul 5, 2009 12:09 AM CDT in Minor Leagues

You know, I thought that putrid odor in the air here in Boise was from all the fireworks going off. Nope, it's just the Hawks!

Good news is that the help for the Hawks arrived today with Brett Jackson's arrival from Arizona.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs blew past the New Orleans Zephyrs, 7-4.

Esmailin Caridad improved his record to 4-9 with 6.1 innings pitched, allowing four runs, all of which scored on a pair of home runs. Caridad allowed six hits and three walks total while striking out six.

Blake Parker pitched a scoreless ninth for his ninth save. Parker didn't allow a hit. He walked one and struck out two.

Nate Spears hit his first home run of the season tonight in a 2 for 4 game. It was a two-run home run in the fourth inning. Spears also walked once.

Right fielder So Taguchi went 2 for 4 with a walk and a stolen base. He scored twice. Catcher Chris Robinson was also 2 for 4. Robinson scored once and had one RBI.

Shortstop Darwin Barney and left fielder John-Ford Griffin were both 2 for 5 with a double and a run scored.

Tennessee Smokies

The Smokies cooked the Carolina Mudcats, 7-4.

Andrew Cashner's AA debut was quite a successful one tonight. He went five innings and allowed only one run on three hits. Cashner struck out six and didn't walk anyone. He went 1 for 2 with the bat as well. I'm assuming that's his first professional hit since the other leagues he's played in are DH-only leagues.

Jayson Ruhlman was called in to get the final out for his second save. He did hit a batter before ending the game.

Third baseman Marquez Smith had two doubles in a 3 for 5 evening. Smith scored three times.

Left fielder Ty Wright was 2 for 4 with two doubles and three RBI. Center fielder James Adduci was 2 for 5 with a double and one RBI. Shortstop Jonathan Mota was 2 for 4 with a double and a walk. He scored once and had one RBI.

Daytona Cubs

The D-Cubs harpooned the Brevard County Manatees, 4-1.

Dan McDaniel evened his record at 5-5 with five innings, allowing only one run on four hits. McDaniel walked two and struck out seven.

David Cales got his tenth save with 1.1 innings of relief. He allowed one hit and struck out one.

Center fielder Tony Campana went 3 for 4 with a walk and two runs scored.

Shortstop Starlin Castro went 2 for 4 with a double and a run scored. Center fielder Brandon Guyer went 2 for 5 with a stolen base and an RBI.

Peoria Chiefs

The Chiefs were bitten by the Beloit Snappers, 4-1.

Aaron Shafer took the loss, allowing four runs over his four inning start. Only one of the four runs was earned, however. Shafer surrendered six hits and one walk while striking out two.

Shortstop Junior Lake was 2 for 4.

Boise Hawks

The Hawks were shut out again, this time by the Eugene Emeralds, 8-0.

Jeffry Antigua had a good start tonight, throwing five shutout innings. He allowed only one hit while walking two and striking out four.

Josh Whitlock relieved him and unfortunately made a strong case for his release. Whitlock allowed eight runs on seven hits, two of which were home runs, in only 1.1 innings of work. Whitlock also walked two.

Center fielder Brett Jackson was 1 for 4 in his Boise debut.

AZL Cubs

Beat the Rangers, 7-5.

DH Justin Bour was 3 for 3 with two walks and a grand slam home run. He also stole a base.

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pictures from Peoria

Ramirez (best picture that came out on my crappy non dslr camera)

Johnson (his only at bat)

Kyler Burke (a half second later and you’d have seen him hitting the ball. into an out, but still, making contact)

It's not about money. It's about winning and getting over the hump. We've had the appetizer now, but we left the main course on the table.
-rod beck

by laidbackliam on Jul 5, 2009 1:17 AM CDT reply actions

wish i could say good things about aramis’ defense, but he was the DH today. Reed was announced as the center fielder, and even spent a good 10 minutes talking to the Peoria play by play guy. And although he was announced, he never played the field. Took an at bat in the first inning, and that was it, never stepped foot on the field.

all in all, great afternoon.

It's not about money. It's about winning and getting over the hump. We've had the appetizer now, but we left the main course on the table.
-rod beck

by laidbackliam on Jul 5, 2009 1:22 AM CDT up reply actions

in the box score

made (however that is pronounced, mah-day, maid, or sumfin else) led off, reed walked for him in the first, then someone else took over.

by tim815 on Jul 5, 2009 2:05 AM CDT up reply actions

that

is what happened.

Not sure if Reed had to leave early and do something, but he pinch hit in the first, and that was at. Aramis had 3 at bats.

It's not about money. It's about winning and getting over the hump. We've had the appetizer now, but we left the main course on the table.
-rod beck

by laidbackliam on Jul 5, 2009 2:37 AM CDT up reply actions

It's my understanding they didn't want Reed or ARam dealing w/ the soggy field

by lswaidz on Jul 5, 2009 9:50 AM CDT up reply actions

Nice seats!

"Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true!" -Homer J. Simpson

by Whitebacon on Jul 5, 2009 3:53 AM CDT up reply actions

those pics

are in digital zoom. we were in section 113, row 9, which was perfect to see 3rd base. but seeing as ramirez was dhing, sitting anywhere would have been fine.

It's not about money. It's about winning and getting over the hump. We've had the appetizer now, but we left the main course on the table.
-rod beck

by laidbackliam on Jul 5, 2009 3:58 AM CDT up reply actions

Looks like you had some good seats...

Last time I went we got front row… bought them walk-up too… O’Brien Field really is the best sub-AAA ballpark around. They put a great show on, don’t they?

by lswaidz on Jul 5, 2009 9:48 AM CDT up reply actions

yup. Tickets were great. and the fact that they only charged 5 bucks on the fourth of july makes me very happy. That stadium is great. Well worth the price of admission. Are you in the area? I’m near Champaign.

It's not about money. It's about winning and getting over the hump. We've had the appetizer now, but we left the main course on the table.
-rod beck

by laidbackliam on Jul 5, 2009 10:18 AM CDT up reply actions

Yeah, I live in Pekin with a bunch of other BCB'ers.

I try to get down to as many Chiefs games as possible… just had a run of bad weather lately and been too busy. I tried to put together a BCB night, but it didn’t work out. If anyone is interested, I know the Director of Guest Relations (also the guy who has been singing the national anthem lately, Howard Yates) and we might be able to get a good deal on a sky box for a game.

by lswaidz on Jul 5, 2009 11:06 AM CDT up reply actions

Burke's pitch

looks to me like Burke held up his swing. you can see the ball above his left ankle going into the catcher’s mitt.

by chattbaseball on Jul 5, 2009 6:30 PM CDT up reply actions

As a Fresnan...and an avid Fresno State fan.

Boise stinks all of the time. Not just when the Hawks are playing poorly.

"Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true!" -Homer J. Simpson

by Whitebacon on Jul 5, 2009 3:52 AM CDT reply actions

heh, heh

It’s so cute when people from Fresno talk trash about other cities.

by Josh Timmers on Jul 5, 2009 11:56 AM CDT up reply actions

What was the point...

… of having Brett Jackson play two or three days in the AZL and then send him to Boise? Why not just start him in Boise?

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

by Al Yellon on Jul 5, 2009 5:45 AM CDT reply actions

my guess,

the training facility is better in arizona for a guy who has been idle against live pitching for awhile. any time you start a new job, there are ‘organizational necessities’ to be taken care of. probably better done in azthan idaho. no rush in getting him there three or four days early. make sure he’s ready, then send him.

i imagine lemahieu will do the same.

btw, the cubs haven’t reloaded the site recently. have we signed any draft picks since 6-29?

by tim815 on Jul 5, 2009 9:23 AM CDT up reply actions

I think that's true

Plus, the whole Cubs minor league brain trust is located in Arizona and they probably alll wanted to see him play without taking a trip to Boise.

But yeah, he had to go to Arizona to get checked out by all the doctors and sign a bunch of paperwork. So have him play three games there and have the top Cub doctors check him out after he plays to make sure nothing is wrong . . .stuff like that. They did that with Josh Vitters two years ago too.

by Josh Timmers on Jul 5, 2009 11:54 AM CDT up reply actions

They lost him in Vegas for a few days.

Haven’t you seen The Hangover? ;-)

by lswaidz on Jul 5, 2009 9:49 AM CDT up reply actions

One positive sign

this year has been our minor league system. I don’t think we are at the bottom of the barrel anymore – at least the middle of the pack.

Cashner sounds like he’s gonna be a starter, which brings up the question… with Jay Jackson and Cashner in the rotation within the next year who goes in the Cubs rotation to make room?

Harden is pretty much a goner, but Dempster, Zambrano, Wells and Lilly are almost locks to stay.

Tamia Lynn Davis:
Born: August 18, 2008

by Unique on Jul 5, 2009 12:09 PM CDT reply actions

Don't know

But I doubt that both (or even either) Cashner or Jackson start the season in the rotation. You really need six starters because someone is going to get hurt. There’s also Marshall, who is more of a starter than a reliever too.

Wells could get traded, someone is going to get hurt. We’ll make room for Jackson and Cashner when they’re ready.

by Josh Timmers on Jul 5, 2009 12:56 PM CDT up reply actions

i don't think we should worry

about ‘creating’ roster spots until someone has owned AA or AAA for a few months. cashner will be a decent option in one fashion or another. let jackson get some innings in, then we’ll figure out what to do with him.

by tim815 on Jul 5, 2009 5:38 PM CDT up reply actions