Cubs Minor League Wrap--April 15

by Josh Timmers on Aug 16, 2009 2:26 AM CDT in Minor Leagues

It might have lacked the drama of the Big Z in Milwaukee last season, but the Cubs threw a no-hitter tonight!

Daytona Cubs (19-27)

When a team throws a no-hitter, even of the seven-inning variety, it gets the lead-off position. Tonight four Daytona Cubs pitchers combined to no-hit the Dunedin Blue Jays, 4-0 in the first game of a double-header. They lost 3-2 in the second game.

Craig Muschko started the game tonight and went the longest, going four innings. He walked one and struck out two.

Chris Siegfried pitched one inning and was awarded the win on the "Starter must go five" rule. Siegfried neither walked nor struck out anyone.

Oswaldo Martinez was just signed out of the Mexican League, and made his Cub debut part of a historic one. He pitched two-thirds of an inning and issued a walk and had a wild pitch. David Cales finished out the final 1.1 innings. He didn't walk or strike out anyone.

It was Daytona's first no-hitter in 13 years. Kerry Wood and two relievers threw that one.

Second baseman Nate Samson had a two-run home run and a two-run homer to provide all of the D-Cub offense. Samson also walked once.

In the second game, James Leverton started and took the loss, giving up three runs on three hits, including a two-run home run, over five innings. Leverton walked two and struck out three.

Nate Samson went 2 for 4 in the second game. First baseman Jake Opitz was 2 for 3 with a double and a run scored.

Iowa Cubs (61-59)

The Iowa Cubs summited the Tacoma Raniers, 7-4.

J.R. Mathes picked up the win to improve his record to 11-6. Mathes pitched five innings and allowed three runs on seven hits. One of the runs was unearned. Mathes walked one and struck out one.

Blake Parker got his 15th save, although he did allow a run on a solo home run. He pitched two innings, walked two and struck out three.

Second baseman Luis Rivas had three doubles in a 3 for 4 game. He scored twice. Catcher Steve Clevenger was 2 for 4 with a run scored and two RBI.

First baseman Micah Hoffpauir hit a solo home run in the ninth. Hoffpauir went 2 for 5.

Tennessee Smokies (25-25)

The Smokies eclipsed the Jacksonville Suns, 7-4.

Casey Coleman leads the organization in wins this season, and he picked up #13 tonight , although he really didn't pitch that well. Coleman went 5.1 innings and allowed four runs on four hits and four walks. He struck out four, of course.

Jayson Ruhlman was perfect over the final 1.2 innings for his fourth save.

Right fielder Tyler Colvin was 3 for 3 with a triple and a walk. He scored twice. Left fielder Ty Wright and third baseman Marquez Smith were both 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored. One of Smith's his was a double.

Peoria Chiefs (28-20)

The Chiefs were robbed by the Quad Cities River Badits, 3-2 in ten innings.

Starter Aaron Shafer allowed two runs on eight hits over 5.2 innings. He didn't walk anyone and struck out three.

Kevin Kreier took the loss. He gave up a run on two hits and two walks over 1.2 innings.

Third baseman Ryan Flaherty hit home run #17 tonight to tie up the game in the eighth inning. Flaherty was 2 for 4 with the one RBI. First baseman Rebel Ridling had a double in a 2 for 4 game.

Boise Hawks (25-30)

It took 12 innings, but the Hawks beat the Everett Aqua Sox, 4-3.

Starter Robert Whitenack allowed two unearned runs over five innings. He gave up six hits, walked once and struck out four.

Second baseman Logan Watkins went 4 for 6 and scored the winning run in the 12th inning on shortstop George Matheus's single. Matheus was 2 for 6 with the one RBI and one run scored.

DH Jae-Hoon Ha was 3 for with a double and a run scored.

AZL Cubs

Beat the Dodgers, 10-4.

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Comments

Congrats to the 4 pitchers

who combined on the No-Hitter, and I apologize to Craig Muschko for trying to trade him earlier this season.

Maybe that’s why the Cubs like the “Rainout League”, so they get more chances ay seven inning No-Nos.

by tim815 on Aug 16, 2009 9:22 AM CDT reply actions

Muschko

Folks at another site have said his recent scouting report is a 88-91 mph fastball, decent slider, and change, along with good control and an “attacking” mentality. This jibes with what I recall from him last year in Peoria and what I recall his college reports suggested.

Speaking in generalities, that also suggests to me that, considering there’s been little change in the report, what you see is what you probably have, which is probably a guy who might be able to sneak up on people statistically as an overachiever, but is more of a rubber arm type. Guys who can control and are willing to throw their pitches can often surprise a bit in the minors. Of course, if he tightens up a pitch or develops another offering, maybe he makes a Randy Wells type leap. He’s a good arm to have in the system, a guy who might be able to be Greg Reinhard-ish or Mitch Atkins-ish depending on what his career path is. He does get some groundballs, and he has been solid as a starter, where he has been striking out a few more guys while being less hittable. Sort of the pitching version of a Nate Samson type guy – a guy who has some positive attributes but doesn’t have exceptional top end attributes, so he needs the situation to be right, along with overachieving a bit.

That’s my take at least.

by toonsterwu on Aug 16, 2009 10:36 AM CDT up reply actions

Muschko

Have seen some other sites where it has him anywhere from 87 to 93 mostly 90/91 with a decent slider. Also read that he had a shoulder surgery the year before we drafted him. Also read where he was Qb for Lasalle his college team.

by Slamdog on Aug 16, 2009 3:01 PM CDT up reply actions

Point of order question

While researching current rosters in the system, two curios things came up.

David Patton is listed on Iowa roster on Rehab. Nothing essential, just that he’s ‘moved up’ from Tennessee since “hurting his hammy”.

Barrett Dail is listed as “Active” on the AZCubs, despite having his contract revoked.

by tim815 on Aug 16, 2009 12:41 PM CDT reply actions

I knew about

Patton, as you said, it really doesn’t make a lot of difference. They’re just trying to hide him until September.

Have no idea what is going on with Dail. They’re probably just behind in updating the rosters.

by Josh Timmers on Aug 16, 2009 12:45 PM CDT up reply actions

MiLB

has improved (the site that is), but it’s still bad at times, and the Dail situation falls under that, I think. They are just slow in adjusting/updating.

by toonsterwu on Aug 16, 2009 3:30 PM CDT up reply actions