I'm back. (No thanks to AT&T) Did anyone miss me?

I'm not going to bore you with the details. . .oh what the heck, I am.  My DSL modem/router decided to blow up on its one month birthday on Monday. After a long call to AT&T and tech support telling me to balance it on my knee and bark like a seal while rubbing my tummy and patting my head to see if that would make it work, it was concluded that the thing truly melted down and that it was bad and had to be replaced. We were told that we would have a new one by Wednesday, Thursday by the latest. By the time we actually got a hold of someone on Friday, it became very clear that not only was a modem not coming, no one had even bothered to record that there was even a problem.  And of course, because I live on the West Coast, everyone who could help us had already gone home for the Labor Day Weekend. They told us to go to an AT&T wireless store in my area and they could help me. They laughed in our faces and told me they didn't do that kind of stuff.  (So clearly some CSR had just made something up to get us off the phone)  Finally around 7pm tonight, I found someone who could help us--Best Buy.  Of course, because I live out in the boonies now, the nearest Best Buy is a half hour away and they could only help us after we gave them $110.

So yes, I am going to start looking for alternatives to AT&T. Unfortunately, because of my current rural life, my options may be limited or even non-existent.

Let's be honest--without the internet, following the minor leagues on a daily basis is impossible. Oh, I know how the River Cats and the Grizzlies have been doing because that's in the local news, but I've had no idea what's been going on in the Cubs minors this week. So I'm going to try to get up to speed this weekend as the playoffs start this week.

I'm sorry for my absence during this critical week.  But living in Hooterville along with caring for an 18 month old girl made it nearly impossible to go out and do the MLW, and beside, AT&T lied to me about how quickly this would all be taken care of.

Good news out of AA after the jump.

Iowa Cubs (71-71)

I see the I-Cubs playoff hopes went down the toilet while I was away. Tonight they lost their sixth straight game as they were atomized by the Albuquerque Isotopes, 8-3.

Ezequiel Astacio started and . . .hey, when the heck did we get him?  Man, you miss a lot.  Anyway, Astacio started and got the loss, giving up two runs in four innings. He surrendered six hits. Astacio walked one and struck out three.

Shortstop Darwin Barney went 2 for 3 with a double. He scored twice and had one RBI.

Tennessee Smokies (37-31)

The magic number is now one for the Smokies playoff birth as they caved in the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx, 3-1.

Last time we saw Andrew Cashner, he had been struggling. Not tonight as he threw seven shutout innings, allowing only two hits and one walk. He only struck out two, however.

Brian Schlitter collected his 22nd save with a perfect ninth inning. He struck out one.

The Smokies only had four hits tonight and were greatly aided by five Diamond Jaxx errors. Catcher Welington Castillo went 1 for 4 with a double.

I notice Brandon Guyer got promoted back to AA while I was "away." He was 1 for 4 tonight with a run scored and an outfield assist.

Daytona Cubs (30-37)

The Daytona Cubs are finishing this season out on a high note, winning their third in a row 4-1 over the Clearwater Threshers.

Craig Muschko improved his record to 7-3 with 5.2 shutout innings tonight. He gave up only one lone single. Muschko walked three and struck out nine.

I see right fielder Kevin Soto has joined the D-Cubs with the end of the rookie league team's season. Tonight Soto went 2 for 4 with a stolen base. Soto scored twice and had one RBI.

Center fielder Tony Campana was 2 for 5 with a double. Catcher Luis Flores went 2 for 4 with an RBI.

Peoria Chiefs (42-25)

The Chiefs clinched a while ago, but they haven't eased up at all. Tonight they committed regicide against the Clinton LumberKings, 8-3.

Jeffry Antigua started and got the win with five shutout innings. He gave up three hits and walked three. He also struck out three as his record in the Midwest League improved to 4-0.

Center fielder Jose Valdez hasn't had a problem with the Midwest League at all. Today we was 3 for 4 with a triple and three stolen bases. That's some impressive speed stats there--although he was caught stealing once. Valdez scored twice.

Second baseman Ryan Flaherty went 2 for 4 with a walk and a run scored.

Left fielder Nelson Perez hit his 11th home run tonight with a two-run homer in the sixth inning. Perez was 1 for 5.

Boise Hawks (33-42)

The Hawks were left in the dirt by the Tri-City Dust Devils, 3-2.

Starter Dae-Eun Rhee had gopheritis tonight, allowing two home runs in the two innings he pitched.  He gave up all three runs on four hits. He walked one and didn't strike out a batter.

Robert Whitenack had three shutout innings of relief and Josh Lansford and Corey Martin each had two scoreless innings.

Second basema Logan Watkins was 2 for 4 with an RBI.