Cubs Minor League Wrap -- August 9

by Josh77 on Aug 10, 2009 12:06 AM CDT in Minor Leagues Comment 8 comments

The big news tonight was the "Road to Wrigley" with the Iowa Cubs, but there also was a Josh Vitters sighting in Florida today.

Iowa Cubs

Al covered this one today. Thanks Al!

Tennessee Smokies

The Smokies lost to the Birmingham Barons, 3-2.

Starter Hung-Wen Chen saw his record fall to 6-9 with the loss today. He gave up three runs in six innings, although only one of the runs was earned. Chen surrendered seven hits, he walked two and struck out four.

First baseman Blake Lalli was 2 for 4.

Daytona Cubs

The D-Cubs were tarred and feathered by the Dunedin Blue Jays, 7-1.

James Leverton started and took the loss. He got rocked for five runs in only four innings. He gave up five hits and even worse, he walked five too. Leverton struck out two.

Third baseman Josh VItters played two innings today. He had doubled and scored the only D-Cub run in his only at bat.

Right fielder Jonathan Wyatt was 2 for 4.

Peoria Chiefs

The Chiefs are before the fold today, and they responded with an 8-3 thumping of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.

Chris Archer evened his record at 4-4 with five innings tonight, allowing two runs on only three hits. One of the two runs allowed was unearned. Archer walked three and struck out five.

Chris Huseby recorded his fifteenth save. Huseby pitched 1.1 innings and allowed one hit and one walk while striking out two.

Second baseman Ryan Flaherty bashed his 16th home run today. Flaherty was 3 for 5 with two RBI and three runs scored.

Third baseman Jovan Rosa was 3 for 3 with two doubles. Rosa also walked once and he had three RBI. First baseman Rebel Ridling had a double in a 2 for 5 game. He scored once and had two RBI.

Wisconsin finally figured out a way to keep right fielder Kyler Burke from having four hits. They walked him twice, so he was "only" 2 for 3 with one run scored.

Boise Hawks

The Hawks caught the Yakima Bears hibernating, 9-5.

Kenneth McNutt got the win with 2.1 innings of scoreless relief. McNutt allowed only one hit. He walked two and struck out one.

Left fielder Robert Wagner had a double and his second home run in a 2 for 5 game. He had three RBI total. Additionally, he hadn't even been born yet when Hart to Hart went off the air, but is old enough to remember the Austin Powers movies.

Catcher Jose Guevara went 2 for 3 with two doubles and a walk. He scored once and had two RBI.

AZL Cubs

Enjoyed the heat on their off-day.

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Curious Josh,

is Flaherty any type of prospect.? He seems to be big for 2B, has a low OBP, with some pop. Just wondering.

"Have You heard of the Boom on Mizar 5?"

by Grockcubs on Aug 10, 2009 6:30 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

this isn't josh, but i figure there are at least two ways to answer that question.

The absolutist says, he was a supplemental first rounder in 2008, so he’d better be good.
The realist says, with Flaherty, Lee, Castro, LeMahieu, and a few others, we have hedged our bets nicely in the middle infield. Hopefully one or two of them are really good for us, and a couple others serve as quality trade bait for teams soft in the middle.

by tim815 on Aug 10, 2009 7:35 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes, he's a prospect.

I’ve been trying to come up with a comp for Flaherty, and the guy I keep coming back to is Dan Uggla. I think Flaherty’s upside might be a little higher than that, but let’s call that a more realistic expectation, should Flaherty make it.

Flaherty’s OBP is low because his batting average has been low this season. He actually draws a fair number of walks and has been showing some really good power. He makes more contact than Uggla (he strikes out a lot less) which is why I think Flaherty’s upside is a bit higher than Uggla. I’m wishing I knew more about why his batting average has been so low this season.

by Josh77 on Aug 10, 2009 12:19 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I want to say that i read somewhere recently that his

BABIP percentage was unusually low (well below average- I want to say it was 0.060 lower than average which may not seem like much but is a lot). Not sure if someone posted this info from a pay service as it is not a stat I can find anywhere. That said, if you buy into the theory that he has been “unlucky” with where his balls got hit then maybe that explains the low BA. Although his 0.194 avg against lefties certainly is not helping…

by CA Cub Fan on Aug 10, 2009 3:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Fangraphs

has his BABIP at .276. Not terrible, but below league average. If you neutralize luck ( http://minorleaguesplits.com/cgi-bin/pl.cgi ), his numbers look much better. .300 AVG, .360 OBP and .860 OPS. His K% is down a bit, but his ISO has also taken somewhat of a hit.

At this point, I’m not sure what to do with him. He was drafted as an advanced hitter, so he shouldn’t be in low-A, but he also shouldn’t be called up if he hasn’t proven to be better than the level he’s at. I think, if all goes well, a comp for him would be a poor man’s Chase Utley.

I am like your Dan Aykroyd and biglow would be Jane, the ignorant slut. -Chad

Good ol' KO

by thecoolest on Aug 10, 2009 3:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks everyone

He is from Portland Maine or born there, Maine is really my second home, just one of those things.
It does seem we do have some middle infield prospects that have some promise.

"Have You heard of the Boom on Mizar 5?"

by Grockcubs on Aug 10, 2009 8:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

His dad

is the head coach at Southern Maine and is a legendary Division III baseball coach. So on top of going to a top program at Vanderbilt, he’s been well-coached throughout his life.

That’s both good news and bad news though. Good news in that he knows what he needs to do. Bad news in that better coaching isn’t likely to make him any better because he’s already gotten some of the best coaching around.

by Josh77 on Aug 10, 2009 11:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thoughts

1st of all, some of the same questions were asked over in Northside Baseball and the voice of the Chiefs answered back. He said its very difficult to hit in the Midwest League and explained that the MGR Marty Pevey was moving Flaherty all around the batting order and Flaherty didnt have one consistent spot in thee order until the 2nd half, where Pevey basically inserted him into the 2nd spot where Flaherty has kind of took off. Also you have to remember that Josh Donaldson was there last year and stuggled to 220 and went to the Cal league and hit 340 and is now hitting around 265/270 in 2A. Its like the Cubs said when they signed Flaherty that a position will come later, its just great to have options with all these middle infielders and the real fun will start in the next couple of years 2010/2011

by Slamdog on Aug 10, 2009 12:34 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs