Cubs Minor League Wrap--August 5

by Josh Timmers on Aug 6, 2009 12:25 AM CDT in Minor Leagues

I think Geovany Soto is fine.

Iowa Cubs

Starter Esmailin Caridad went six innings tonight, allowing only two runs on three hits, including a solo home run. Caridad walked two and struck out an eye-popping twelve Aces. I don't know for sure, but I'm betting that's a career high for Caridad. I've been doing these wraps since before Caridad entered the Cub system, and I can't remember him ever having that many strikeouts.

Blake Parker was perfect in two innings of relief for his second win of the year when So Taguchi singled home Nate Spears to win the game in the bottom of the ninth. Parker struck out one.

Second baseman Matt Camp was 2 for 5

Tennessee Smokies

The Smokies skinned the Carolina Mudcats, 8-6.

Casey Coleman improved his record to 11-5 tonight with three runs on five hits over 5.1 innings. Coleman gave up two home runs. He walked one and struck out three.

Alex Maestri entered the game with two one and one out in the ninth and nailed down his third save. He struck out the first batter, hit the second one and got the third one to ground out to the third baseman.

Catcher Geovany Soto homered again tonight in his rehab appearance. For the first time, he caught the entire game tonight and went 1 for 4 with a walk and two RBI.

Left fielder Ty Wright also homered for the eighth time tonight. Wright was 2 for 4 with a walk. He scored twice and had two RBI.

Shortstop Starlin Castro was 2 for 5 with a run scored. Center fielder James Adduci was 2 for 5 with a run scored and a stolen base. First baseman Blake Lalli went 3 for 4 with a double and an RBI.

Daytona Cubs

The D-Cubs topped their arch-rival Brevard County Manatees, 6-3.

Starter Jay Jackson got the win with six solid innings, giving up two runs, one earned, on five hits. Jackson walked one and struck out four.

Right fielder Brandon Guyer was 2 for 3 with a walk and two runs scored. Center fielder Tony Campana was 3 for 4 with, of course, a stolen base.

Peoria Chiefs

The Chiefs were demoted by the Beloit Snappers, 7-1.

Starter Aaron Shafer only went three innings tonight, giving up seven runs on six hits He walked three and struck out five.

The Chiefs didn't get their first hit until the sixth inning tonight when catcher Mario Mercedes broke up the no-hitter.

Boise Hawks

The Hawks were beaten by the Everett Aqua Sox, 7-5.

Let's see. . .Daniel Keefe threw a nice 1.1 innings of relief after the game was already 7-5. Keefe allowed two hits. He didn't walk a batter and struck out three.

Shortstop Hak-Ju Lee went 2 for 4 with a walk and a stolen base. Center fielder Jose Valdez had two stolen bases in a 1 for 4 night. Valdez also scored once. Third baseman George Matheus went 2 for 4 with two runs scored.

First baseman Justin Bour hit his second home run for Boise tonight. Bour went 2 for 4 with a walk and two runs scored.

AZL Cubs

Lost to the Mariners, 4-3.

Just noticed that Larry Suarez got demoted to rookie ball while I was moving last week. He pitched again tonight and allowed two runs on four hits over three innings. Not good for your third year in the Arizona League.

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Austin kirk

Made his debut with the azl cubs pitched 1 inning and struck out 3 to go along with 1 walk impressive debut

Life's a garden, dig it.

by easyaspie on Aug 6, 2009 12:38 AM CDT via mobile reply actions

another scoreless inning from Gaub

brought his ERA down to .61. Way too early to tell if he is the read deal but intriguing.

"I daydream just like everybody else, I just do it with my body facing the field, so everybody thinks I'm paying attention."- Greg Maddux

by Doggie Stalker on Aug 6, 2009 12:46 AM CDT reply actions

Any idea how long

Jay Jacksons disciplinary demotion will last? I really want to see what he’s capable of against better hitters. Also it’s nice to see Brad Snyder seems to be doing ok since returning from his injury

by CHCOWNTHECENTRAL on Aug 6, 2009 1:37 AM CDT reply actions

Today

was Snyder’s first game back off the DL, although he did have five rehab games in Arizona. For those who didn’t click on the link, he was 1 for 3 with a walk and two strikeouts.

As far as Jackson goes, I don’t even know of anyone who knows what he did, and I’m sure the Cubs aren’t releasing that information. All I know from his Twitter posts is that he was very upset about something in his personal life very shortly before the demotion.

The reason for his demotion can’t be too bad because they would have suspended him rather than demote him in that case. But I am thinking that they’re going to make him wait until there’s an opening in AA, and that might not come soon, and the end of the season is approaching.

by Josh Timmers on Aug 6, 2009 2:13 AM CDT up reply actions

where did you guys read..

Jay Jackson was sent down because of disciplinary reasons? I thought it was kinda odd he got sent down because he was pitching pretty decent, but now I know why.

by illini23 on Aug 6, 2009 5:18 PM CDT up reply actions

12 Ks?

You know what they call that, right?

"Who ever heard of the Cubs losing a game they had to have?" -Frank Chance
"If [Ruth] had [called his shot], I would have knocked him down with the next pitch." -Charlie Root

by Clutch16 on Aug 6, 2009 6:27 AM CDT reply actions

regarding caridad

there is no way i would see him strarting for the cubs in 2010, unless about four starters were missing time at the same time. that having been said,
has he been around long enough to need rule 5 protection?
is he worth it, as someone might just try <cough, pirates, padres, nats> off of wells’ success this year?
could he qualify as trade bait in the spring/summer if he keeps it up (not caridad and miles to toronto for LIND or halladay, but more like samson, caridad, and tony thomas for a cost-controlled outfielder, or sumfin like that)?

by tim815 on Aug 6, 2009 7:14 AM CDT up reply actions

No

Caridad will not need Rule 5 protection. This is only his second season in the minors, despite being 25.

Caridad was signed by the Hiroshima Carp out of their Dominican Baseball Academy. He actually pitched in two games for the Carp in Japan in 2007 before gaining free agency (I read he got out of his Carp contract on some technicality) and he came to America looking for a pitching job closer to home. The Cubs snapped him up.

So while does turn 26 in October, he’s nowhere near Rule 5 status.

by Josh Timmers on Aug 6, 2009 11:21 AM CDT up reply actions

Josh

what is his stuff like from reports? Could he be a dominant swing guy?

by socalbob on Aug 6, 2009 12:08 PM CDT up reply actions

No

which is why his 12ks last night was so surprising. Last year he only had 88 strikeouts in 152 innings for Daytona and Tennessee. His K ratio is up slightly this season.

His stuff is decent from what I hear, but he doesn’t have an overpowering fastball. In fact, the most common scouting report I hear is that he “pitches Japanese,” meaning he nibbles and throws breaking pitches in fastball counts. Maybe the Cubs have gotten some bad habits he learned over in Japan out of his system, and that’s what we’re seeing now. Or maybe last night was just a fluke.

by Josh Timmers on Aug 6, 2009 1:13 PM CDT up reply actions

based on what you are saying

I’ll go with fluke. Thanks for the reply.

by socalbob on Aug 6, 2009 2:13 PM CDT up reply actions

Any idea what Jason Waddell did to justify being released for breaking a team rule?

Seems pretty harsh for a guy who was pitching alright.

by thehat34 on Aug 6, 2009 8:56 AM CDT reply actions

Have no idea

although usually in these cases, it’s a “final straw” rule that was broken.

by Josh Timmers on Aug 6, 2009 11:40 AM CDT up reply actions

I saw on Dustin Sasser's facebook last night...

that he is getting promoted to double A. I dont have any kind of link for proof sorry.

by Glacier on Aug 6, 2009 10:19 AM CDT reply actions

He's listed

on the Smokies roster page, so that should be proof.

by Josh Timmers on Aug 6, 2009 11:56 AM CDT up reply actions

Suarez

It’s annoying that his control is so horrible at Boise and was so great in extended and is still good now in the AZL. I don’t mind the runs as much; I just wish he could control his pitches better.

Billy Muldowney made his 2009 debut in Mesa following Ausitn Kirk.

by Raisin on Aug 6, 2009 2:08 PM CDT reply actions

The thing with Suarez

is that I’m just not seeing him make a lot of progress. I realize he’s still only 19 and so it’s not like he’s behind, but you’d like to see some progress after three years in the minors. I saw him pitch in Boise and I can see his stuff is good, but he’s got absolutely no control or command. Everything was up in the zone (or out of the zone) and batters were hitting him hard.

At the rate he’s going, he’s going to be a Rule 5 player or even a minor league free agent before he makes it past Peoria, and that doesn’t do us any good. (Of course, the way he’s pitching, no one would take him in Rule 5.)

by Josh Timmers on Aug 6, 2009 3:28 PM CDT up reply actions

I'm more than willing to give him a little slack

due to last year’s TJS. But if he’s not making gains by next season, we have major issues.

by Raisin on Aug 6, 2009 4:43 PM CDT up reply actions

Josh,

What are your thoughts on Christopher Huesby? I went and seen him a couple of nights ago when they were playing Beliot and he looked pretty dominant.

by illini23 on Aug 6, 2009 5:20 PM CDT reply actions

also,

when are you planning on finishing up your prospect rankings? I was looking forward to those.

by illini23 on Aug 6, 2009 5:25 PM CDT up reply actions

First

this weekend on the prospect rankings. As I said, I moved into a new house last week and things are still chaos around here.

Second, I like Huseby well enough, as long as your expectations aren’t too high. Huseby was a 11th round pick a few years ago that the Cubs threw record mid-first round money at to keep him from going to college. He had already had TJ surgery in high school and then he had arm problems last season too. The Cubs have made some adjustments to his motion and moved him to the bullpen to try to keep him healthy. So far, it’s worked this season.

His future is probably in the pen. Someone asked Kevin Goldstein about him at Baseball Prospectus a few weeks ago and he said he didn’t have the stuff to be a closer, and maybe not even to be a setup man. He could end up as a pretty good right-handed middle reliever in the majors, but that’s got to be disappointing considering the bonus he got. Right now, if he turned into Todd Van Poppel (or at least the good years Van Poppel had with us), we’d be happy.

by Josh Timmers on Aug 6, 2009 5:54 PM CDT up reply actions