Cubs Minor League Wrap--September 6, 2009

by Josh Timmers on Sep 7, 2009 12:41 AM CDT in Minor Leagues

For some teams, the season ended today. For others, the good stuff is just starting.

We're going to start with the good news today.

Tennessee Smokies (38-31)

Cover the furniture with plastic, Ryno, because you've just led the Tennessee Smokies to a second-half division title with a 7-0 shutout of the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx.

Starter Hung-Wen Chen has been much better in the second half than the first half, and his improvement has played a role in the Smokies turnaround. So it's only fitting today that he shut down the Diamond Jaxx for seven innings. He gave up only three hits and issued only two walks, although he plunked another two batters as well. Chen fanned six Diamond Jaxx.

Left fielder James Adduci broke the game open with a two-run home run in the sixth, which made the score 3-0 at the time. It was Adduci's fourth home run of the season. Adduci later added a two-run single. Adduci was 2 for 4 overall with four RBI and two runs scored.

Center fielder Brandon Guyer was 2 for 4 with a double. He had one RBI and scored twice. DH Blake Lalli and first baseman Russ Canzler were both 2 for 4 with a run scored. One of Canzler's two hits was a double.

The Smokies have one more game tomorrow and then will face first half champion Huntsville in a best of five series that will start in Alabama on Thursday.

Iowa Cubs (72-71)

The Iowa Cubs ionized the Albuquerque Isotopes, 3-1.

Well, Jay Jackson never got a chance to pitch again for Tennessee, but today he got his first start for AAA Iowa. He was pretty good as gave up only one run over six innings to get the win. Jackson gave up five hits, including a solo home run that accounted for all the Albuquerque scoring. Jackson walked three and struck out four.

Blake Parker pitched the ninth and got save number 22. He didn't allow any hits but he walked one and struck out one.

Third baseman Matt Camp went 2 for 3 with a walk and a run scored. Left fielder John-Ford Griffin went 2 for 4 with a run scored. Right fielder Brad Snyder was 2 for 4 with a run scored and an RBI.

Catcher Mark Johnson has been injured most of the season. The last time he made the Minor League Wrap was May 29. Today he makes it one more time before the season ends by going 2 for 4 with an RBI triple.

The I-Cubs will play their final game tomorrow. The only thing they have left to play for is to see if they can finish the season with a winning record.

Daytona Cubs (30-38, 64-71 overall)

The Daytona Cubs finished their season today with a 7-4 loss to the Clearwater Threshers.

Oswaldo Martinez started but only went two innings as the D-Cubs were giving several pitchers one last time on the mound. Martinez allowed one run on one hit, which was a triple. He didn't walk a batter and struck out three.

Ryan Searle got the loss in relief. Searle gave up three runs on two hits over 1.2 innings of work. He walked two and struck out one.

Shortstop Nate Samson went 3 for 4 with a double and two RBI. DH Jericho Jones was 2 for 3 with a double and two RBI.

Peoria Chiefs (42-26)

The Chiefs lost to the Clinton LumberKings, 5-4.

Starter Chris Archer was solid today, allowing only one run on four hits over five innings. Even better news is that he struck out six and only walked one.

Kevin Kreier took the loss with a rough inning of relief. Kreier allowed three runs, two earned, on three hits. He didn't walk anyone and struck out one.

Right fielder Kyler Burke hit home run number 15 today with a man on in the first inning. Burke was 2 for 4 with a walk.

DH Jovan Rosa was 2 for 5 with a double and a run scored. Left fielder Nelson Perez went 2 for 4 with two RBI.

Michael Brenly has had a nice season. Today he went 2 for 4 with a double.

The Chiefs finish their regular season tomorrow and play Cedar Rapids in a best-of-three series starting on Wednesday.

Boise Hawks (34-42)

The Hawks season ended today with a 7-6 win over the Tri-City Dust Devils.

Yohan Gonzalez got the win with three innings of relief. He gave up only one run on one hit. He walked one and struck out two.

Steven Grife got the save. He went one scoreless inning. He walked one and struck out one. He did not allow a hit.

Catcher Richard Jones was 2 for 3 with his second home run of he year. He scored twice and also walked once.

Left fielder Runey Davis was 2 for 3 with a triple. He scored once and had two RBI.

We'll see the Hawks again next June.

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Comments

Congrats to Ryne and the Smokies. Hopefully the I-Cubs can finish over .500, something the Chicago Cubs may struggle with.

"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money." --Ernie Banks

by dtpollitt on Sep 7, 2009 12:48 AM CDT reply actions

The odd Jay Jackson thing continues

but in a good way this time. Did he just really piss somebody off in Tennessee? Seems like they could use his arm in the playoffs. Great to see him have a good start in Iowa a day after Cashner was lights out. Good way to finish off the season.

Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.

by nji232 on Sep 7, 2009 12:55 AM CDT reply actions

It's possible

but more likely, after he was demoted for disciplinary reasons, there simply wasn’t an opening on the Smokies pitching staff after that. I’m guessing the Cubs (and Ryno, probably) wanted to go into the playoffs with the team that got them there. In fact, since Jackson was demoted, the Smokies rotation has been Cashner, Carpenter, Coleman, Chen and Papelbon. (One of these names is not like the other. . .) Since all of them had been pitching well, the Cubs weren’t about to demote one to the bullpen to return Jackson to the rotation in TN.

But to tell Jackson his punishment is up and to show him what he’s playing for next season, they told him to fly to Des Moines for one start before the season ends. There’s often a lot of shuffling in the final days so that top prospects can see what they’re playing for and managers can get a look at people they just might be managing next year.

Even if he doesn’t start there, the Cubs are expecting Jackson to pitch for Iowa next season. They’re just giving him a taste today.

by Josh Timmers on Sep 7, 2009 2:06 AM CDT up reply actions

Your guess

I’ll let more informed people comment on that, but every indication is that you are right. The idea that there wouldn’t be an opening for one of your top pitching prospects in AA while they are pushing for the playoffs is a bit flawed. After all, Papelbon/Chen aren’t blocking Jackson. Furthermore, they could’ve moved Jackson to the pen if they wanted.

It’s a shame he won’t be pitching in the playoffs for them. That said, he’ll probably get winter league action and probably be up at Iowa next year, particularly if the initial premise is correct. The disappointing thing, from a fan perspective, is that we never got to get a good grasp of whether or not his control problems in his last month were a serious issue. His stuff was just too good for A+, and the Iowa sample is too small to make a judgment with.

That said, considering the overall improvements, the improved velocity (on several occasions, he was able to reach back and hit upper 90’s, and in general, was sitting more in the low-mid 90’s), the improved curve/change, the dominant slider, I think when I do my final list for this year that Jackson will still be the top pitching prospect. For awhile, I just didn’t know what to read into the demotion from a character perspective, and hence, debated Cashner for awhile, but while Cashner has the higher upside, Jackson is closer to helping as Cashner needs to find the steadiness on the slider again, while developing the change.

by toonsterwu on Sep 7, 2009 9:16 AM CDT up reply actions

btw

according to an informed poster over nsbb, Jackson was scheduled to go back to Tennessee. From the little time I’ve been over at NSBB, the guy seems to be spot on with things and is down in Daytona.

The fascinating thing about the Jackson situation is how it’s been largely kept under wraps. Awhile back, tried talking to some very informed people on the minors, but their responsibilities didn’t cover the Cubs and they had no clue on what was going on.

by toonsterwu on Sep 7, 2009 9:33 AM CDT up reply actions