Cubs Minor League Wrap--April 15

by Josh Timmers on Apr 15, 2010 11:54 PM CDT in Minor Leagues

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs painted the Memphis Redbirds blue, 7-5.

Thomas Diamond started and got his first win of the season. Diamond went five and allowed two runs on two hits. He walked three and struck out five.

John Gaub pitched the ninth and got the save. He gave up one hit but no walks or runs. He fanned one.

Catcher Welington Castillo made his first two hits of the season count. He had a home run and a double in three at bats. Castillo had two RBI.

Left fielder Jason Dubois hit his third home run of the season in a 1 for 4 game, a two-run home run in the first inning. It was also Dubois 71st career home run for Iowa, putting him just 19 home runs short of the Iowa Cubs/Oaks career record.

Shortstop Darwin Barney was 2 for 4 with a walk. Barney scored twice and stole his first base of the season.

Tennessee Smokies

The Smokies got in the eyes of the Chattanooga Lookouts, 8-4. The Smokies improved their record to 6-1.

Jeremy Papelbon had a short but strong night tonight. Papelbon gave up eight hits but only one run in 4.1 innings. A big reason for the success was that Papelbon struck out seven and walked nobody.

Alex Maestri got the win because Papelbon didn't go five. He pitched 1.2 innings and allowed one unearned run. He gave up two hits and didn't walk anyone. Maestri struck out one.

Like his counterpart in Iowa, catcher Robinson Chirinos also had a double and a home run tonight. It was his second home run of the year though. Chirinos was 3 for 4 with two RBI and the one run scored.

Third baseman Nate Samson went 2 for 3 with a walk tonight. Samson scored once and knocked two in.

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs pinstriped the Tampa Yankees, 2-1.

Alberto Cabrera had a great start for his first win of the year. Cabrera went 6.1 innings and allowed only one run on six hits. He struck out seven and didn't walk anyone.

Oswaldo Martinez pitched a perfect ninth for his first save on the season. He didn't record a strikeout.

Left fielder Nelson Perez's two-out, two-run single in the fourth provided all the D-Cub scoring. Perez was 1 for 3.

Right fielder Kyler Burke was 2 for 5 with a double and a run scored.

Peoria Chiefs

The Peoria Chiefs were wished into the cornfield by the Cedar Rapids Kernels, 8-6.

Starter Jonathan Nagel went four innings, allowing two runs on three hits. One of the runs was unearned. Nagel walked three and struck out one.

Tim Clubb relieved Nagel and got the loss after he allowed three runs in his one inning.

Shortstop Hak-Ju Lee was 2 for 5 with a run scored. DH Greg Rohan had two doubles in a 2 for 4 effort. Rohan scored once and had three RBI. First baseman Justin Bour went 2 for 4 with a double. He had two RBI.

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Comments

I'm a bit surprised

that you didn’t mention Castro. He only went 1-5 but he had two RBI and another stolen base. If that’s his version of an “off” day, we’re in for some good days ahead.

by Dr. Jay on Apr 16, 2010 12:00 AM CDT reply actions

One fer five

usually doesn’t get a a mention. I don’t see where Castro had a steal though. If Castro’s single was a crucial hit in the game, I might have mentioned it (like I mentioned Perez’s hit for Daytona) but it just turned a three run lead to a five run lead.

It was also a goofy hit, at least according to the PBP. It was an infield single that scored two—not sure how you get two RBI on an infield single. Must have been some goofy pinball bounces. The second baseman also got charged with an error putting a runner on third and Castro to second. I wonder if the second RBI was a gift.

What I should have mentioned is that Papelbon did hit two batters. I forgot to check for that. It makes his “Seven strikeouts, no walks” line a little less impressive since HBP are essentially walks.

I never travel far without a little Big Star. R.I.P Alex

by Josh Timmers on Apr 16, 2010 12:17 AM CDT up reply actions

My Bad

I had been told by a friend that Castro had a stolen base. Thanks for clearing that up for me. I knew you were a good dude when I read your comment sig.

by Dr. Jay on Apr 16, 2010 1:38 AM CDT up reply actions

"HBP are essentially walks"

tell that to the players who got plunked. Heck if they were the same , there would probably be ambulances lined up at Wrigley when Shark, Caridad , Z and others pitch. ( Just giving you hard time Josh).

"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim

by Doggie Stalker on Apr 16, 2010 1:16 AM CDT reply actions

I remember the story

that Walter O’Malley promised Don Drysdale a bonus one year if he kept his walk numbers below a certain number. So every time he had a 3-0 count, he just hit the guy, since hit batters didn’t count. Don’t know if I believe the story though—Drysdale never really needed a financial incentive to hit a batter.

Mike Shannon’s quote on Drysdale “Don Drysdale would consider an intentional walk a waste of three pitches” kind of got me thinking. Isn’t hitting a batter rather than intentionally walking someone a waste of one pitch? When is a smart manager going to tell his pitcher, instead of throwing four balls wide, to just go to his mouth on the mound four times? Why risk the even tiny chance of something going wrong on the pitch to the plate?

I never travel far without a little Big Star. R.I.P Alex

by Josh Timmers on Apr 16, 2010 3:17 AM CDT up reply actions

Looking at...

… Drysdale’s career stats, he led the NL in HBP four straight years, from 1958-1961, and went from 10 HBP in 1960 to 20 in 1961.

When Drysdale hit 20 batters in 1961, it was the most any pitcher had hit since 1915. So I have no problem believing the story Josh tells above.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Apr 16, 2010 6:47 AM CDT up reply actions

Wondering who has the record for most Iowa Cubs/Oaks HR

Or maybe a top 3 list would be interesting. Got that info Josh or lmgtfy.com?

Fukudometer: Created 3/31/08 Wrigley Debut 4/5/08 WGN and Japan TV Debut 4/6/08 Sun Times Debut: 4/20/08 Coffee Table Debut: 7/17/08 (http://www.wearecubsfans.com)

by Fukudometer on Apr 16, 2010 10:33 AM CDT reply actions