Cubs Minor League Wrap: June 23

by Josh Timmers on Jun 24, 2010 12:18 AM CDT in Minor Leagues

It was a landslide and Brett Jackson is your choice as the Cubs' #2 prospect. Jackson has been turning in a solid season for Daytona. Leading off most of the campaign for Dayona, he's been reaching base at better than a .400 clip and since the calendar turned to June, he's shown good power. He's also a power/speed threat with 12 SB so far this year. The strikeouts that were the big knock on him in college? Not a problem so far. Yes, he strikes out a lot, but that doesn't keep him from getting on base. He was named to the US Squad for the annual All-Star Futures Game (along with Hak-Ju Lee.)

So Jackson drops off the list and is replaced with Hayden Simpson, this year's #1 pick. Simpson hasn't played a game yet.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs fell to the Omaha Royals, 6-4.

Jeff Samardzija started and gave up two runs on six hits over 4.1 innings. Samardzija walked three and struck out four.

Blake Parker, however, got torched trying to get the save. Parker only lasted two-third of an inning, but he managed to surrender four runs, mostly on two home runs. Parker gave up three hits total and two walks. He fanned one.

Jason Dubois got one home run closer to the Iowa record with a two-run blast in the bottom of the first inning to give the Cubs a 3-1 lead.

Center fielder Sam Fuld was 2 for 5 with a double and a run scored. First baseman Micah Hoffpauir went 2 for 4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored.

Tennessee Smokies

The Smokies filleted the Carolina Mudcats, 6-5

Starter Craig Muschko went six innings and gave up two runs on five hits. He walked one and struck out seven.

Jeremy Papelbon got the win in relief, going two innings and allowing one run. Papelbon allowed two hits, walked one and struck out one.Luke Sommer entered the game with one out and the tying run on second base in the ninth. After a single put runners on first and third, he got a flyout to left fielder Ty Wright, who gunned down the runner on third trying to score for an game-ending double play.

Wright had a good game at the plate too, going 2 for 5 with a double. Wright scored twice and batted one in.

Center fielder Tony Campana hit two doubles in a 3 for 5 game. He scored once and had one RBI. He also stole his 23rd base on the year. Shortstop Nate Samson was 3 for 4 with a double and a run scored.

Second baseman Tony Thomas went 2 for 4 with a walk, an RBI and a run scored. First baseman Russ Canzler was also 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored, but was hit by a pitch rather than walked.

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs were shot down by the Lakeland Flying Tigers, 7-4.

Starter Rafael Dolis took the loss. He gave up four runs on six hits over five innings. One of the runs was unearned. Dolis had control problems as he walked five and struck out three.

Center fielder Brett Jackson hit his fifth home run of the year tonight in a 2 for 5 effort. It was a two-run home run in the third inning.

Shortstop Junior Lake was 2 for 4 and scored once.

Peoria Chiefs

Finished up the all-star break.

Boise Hawks

The Boise Hawks were incinerated by the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, 11-0.

The Hawks gave up eleven runs and had two hits. Do you really need to know any more?

AZL Cubs

Lost to the Angels, 5-3.

Poll

Who is the Cubs' Number Three Prospect?

Chris Archer

12 votes

Jay Jackson

76 votes

Hak-Ju Lee

80 votes

Hayden Simpson

5 votes

Josh Vitters

181 votes

354 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 26 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

I'll go Jay Jackson here

Josh Vitters definitely has the better upside, but Jay Jackson, while he hasn’t had the greatest year (and has struggled a bit since the the shifting around occurred), is a ready arm who has improved his control greatly this year. Look at it another way – Josh Vitters has made big improvements in his discipline, and yet, is still a fairly risky proposition. Yes, there’s a measure of bad luck with his numbers in AA. Yes, Jay Jackson looks like he won’t reach the ceiling of a possible “2” type. But for me, Vitters upside does not outweigh Jackson’s floor at this point in time. Jay looks like a solid mid-rotation arm or a possible late inning pen guy. Arm action is clean, delivery is improved. Fastball is once again comfortably in the low-mid 90’s range, with the occasional capability to reach back and gun one a tad higher. Slider still shows plus potential at times but it isn’t always consistent. Curveball is decent-solid, and changeup is decent-solid.

by toonsterwu on Jun 24, 2010 12:31 AM CDT reply actions

Vitters

As always Toons has great well thought out points on Jackson and Vitters and I can definatley see the case for J.Jackson as the #3 ‘spec but I’m gonna stick w/ my gut and go Vitters. He has the most potential for an impact A.S. player in the system and yes also a high bust chance. The thing is this kid is in AA at 20 probably a little bit rushed and still has improved his PD to some extent. As I pointed this kid always has stuggled initially at each stop in his pro career and come back and made adjustments and hit.

http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/chicago-cubs-wrigley-bound/

by cubsfan1 on Jun 24, 2010 6:33 AM CDT up reply actions

As things seem to pan out Cubs could turn this franchise around rather quickly

Jay Jackson is scheduled to make his debut sometime after August. You have to figure that Lilly will be traded, maybe the Cubs could fleece the Mets getting either their SS Flores or OF’er Martinez (although their SS could be moved to 3B) and Vitters either moved to 1B or LF.

Either way Lilly should gather a significant player prospect and fill in a hole. As for the selling any other broken parts from the MLB roster I just don’t see anything but a PTBNL for DLee’s very slow bat, or Theriot’s limited range or offense or Fukudome’s helicopter approach, (although LAD might garnish something in lower A).

As for what is in the pipeline I could see Cashner and Jackson in the rotation replacing Wells & Lilly next year joining Gorz, Dempster and the contracted Z. From there more turnover could happen with Carpenter and/Coleman. So Jackson is the next guy followed by Vitters.

What I am excited is Hak-Ju Lee is pushing the decision to be moved while Brett Jackson is doing the same. With Byrd signed through 2012 (correspondingly connected with NL going DH where Soriano is locked, we could see Brett Jackson up next year and starting in 2012 with Colvin. The same could be said for Hak-Ju Lee being brought up and either taking over SS or being the best defensive 2B. Could it be that in 2012 Cubs also have Vitters up as well either at 3B or 1B? Platoon or backup catcher will also undoubtedly be a younger player as the possibility of Barney as a utility IF’er and either Fuld or Aducci as a utility OF’er. And that is not including LaMathieu who also could offer promise.

Actually the question will be when to turn this over and could they do it on the fly next year with a young Sandburg at the helm? To me this is more exciting. This is why getting something of big value for Lilly like Flores or a Martinez.

And further the Cubs still have more pitching.

Piniella: "This is a tougher job than I thought it would be, I'm going to be honest with you."

by Ivy Walls on Jun 24, 2010 11:39 AM CDT up reply actions

That would be a Mets fleecing

but I don’t see the Cubs getting anyone that good for a rent-a-pitcher like Lilly.

by rlpete on Jun 24, 2010 12:18 PM CDT up reply actions

it IS the mets youre talking about...

by jesus christos on Jun 24, 2010 1:43 PM CDT up reply actions

agreed with ripete

i think it’s wishful thinking to hope for flores in a deal for lily, even if lily may offer 2 draft picks to another team.

by toonsterwu on Jun 24, 2010 12:49 PM CDT up reply actions

Simpson?

Why go with Simpson as a choice over a guy like McNutt? I’m not 100% certain of Simpson’s age but I believe he has to be around McNutt’s age of 20. McNutt is already tearing teams apart while Simpson has yet to throw a pitch. Yeah, I understand that it is possible for a new draft pick to be highly regarded, but since so very few of us on here know anything about him or have seen him play, it would seem like there would be better choices to appear in the poll. My suggestion would be McNutt.

by Crash1207 on Jun 24, 2010 7:28 AM CDT reply actions

I could have gone either way

McNutt will go on the list today, so I figured it didn’t make any difference. Simpson wasn’t going to win the vote today and if people want to vote McNutt over Simpson, then they can later.

by Josh Timmers on Jun 24, 2010 11:36 AM CDT up reply actions

Fuld also threw a runner out at the plate

Just thought I would mention it.

"Lou Piniella's been a great manager for a long time and I stand by him completely"

by Doggie Stalker on Jun 24, 2010 7:28 AM CDT reply actions

/golfclap

by Flatley on Jun 24, 2010 7:31 AM CDT up reply actions

But did it end the game

like Ty Wright’s did?

by Josh Timmers on Jun 24, 2010 11:36 AM CDT up reply actions

I am going in a different direction

and voted for Lee, just a hunch.

by Grockcubs on Jun 24, 2010 7:31 AM CDT reply actions

Tony Campana?

Has Tony Campana opened any eyes in Chicago? He has done really well in the first half of the season for Tennessee.
I fully understand the current outfield problem in the bigs. Too much money, hard to move contracts, and arguably the two best guys with a lock on playing — Byrd and Colvin.
But are the Cubs thinking that Campana is a legit prospect? Or would he be a throw-in for a possible trade?

by ceegeewow on Jun 24, 2010 9:23 AM CDT reply actions

my take

campana’s the minor league version of juan pierre. slap hitter that utilizes his speed. that might lead to some success once in awhile, but that could also lead to some bad years.

by toonsterwu on Jun 24, 2010 10:15 AM CDT up reply actions

I'm thinking more

Scott Posednik than Juan Pierre. Pierre had already won a World Series by the time he was Campana’s age. Posednik didn’t get established in the majors until he was 27.

by Josh Timmers on Jun 24, 2010 11:39 AM CDT up reply actions

Sam Fuld has been on a roll lately

Nice to see.

"I don't know what the big deal about Crackerjack is"

by theGraceyslumpbuster on Jun 24, 2010 9:40 AM CDT reply actions

Vitters

he’s in AA at 20. He’s shown a need for an adjustment period at every level. PD is better despite that, and the hit tools are undeniable. Wish his defense would be more consistent, but 3rd is a learnable position for an athlete of his caliber, we’re not talking about a bad body guy who doesn’t have range/arm tools. I like Jay Jackson at #4.

by PrincetonCubs on Jun 24, 2010 10:50 AM CDT reply actions

for all the talk about adjustment periods for vitters

he never consistently dominated the level for an extended period like, say, a moustakas did. he had a hot streak in A+ before being called up. If you go back and look at his 2008, he really only dominated for a month, being decent-solid in the other two.

by toonsterwu on Jun 24, 2010 12:50 PM CDT up reply actions

But

He hasn’t spent any amount of time at any 1 level. If given all year at A+ he may have really dominated the elague.

http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/chicago-cubs-wrigley-bound/

by cubsfan1 on Jun 24, 2010 6:36 PM CDT up reply actions

it's possible

it’s also possible that he repeats what he did in peoria – have a really hot stretch and cool off. my point isn’t really that – my point is that, all the talk about needing time to adjust to a level implies, to many casual followers, that Vitters has dominated at each level at some point in time, when in actuality, he’s been, at best, good at each level. That’s solid enough, but I think a point of contention that some of us have is that the Cubs seem to want to push him up, rather than letting him show that he deserves to go up. It’s possible that the Cubs prove to be right on him (and I should add, I still believe that Vitters will likely make the bigs in some fashion), as they seem to be showing so far with Colvin (although SSS).

Keep in mind that his hot run at Daytona this year was rather lucky and that, outside of last May in Peoria, he didn’t really tear the MWL up.

by toonsterwu on Jun 25, 2010 1:40 AM CDT up reply actions

OHH REEEAAALLLLYYY???

So what level did Moustakas “consistently dominate” the last three years (2007-2009)? Do you believe that 200 ABs is enough to show consistent dominance? Oh please, I lose a little bit more respect for you every time you bring up this completely made up argument. By this metric, the only prospect that ever came close was Strasburg.

You are so damn predictable. I knew you couldn’t but help yourself. Every time you discuss Vitters you regurgitate this claptrap.

I reject your reality and substitute my own.

by WayneCampbell08 on Jun 25, 2010 2:26 PM CDT up reply actions

Vitters has been a pro for four seasons

in each of the last three, he has dominated the level he started in and then struggled after promotion. I don’t think the length of time is super determinative, because that’s the nature of the minor leagues and player promotion…it’s not like Strasburg wasn’t dominant in the minors just because he only made a dozen or so starts, for example. You’re certainly right that the Cubs could have left Vitters longer in A+ this year to see if he kept it up, but they made the choice to challenge him, and hey, it worked for Castro…

Has Moustakas dominated for an extended period? I thought his last two seasons, despite good power #s, were generally considered disappointing. Obviously he’s been supernova hot so far this year, but things can change..

by PrincetonCubs on Jun 25, 2010 4:22 PM CDT up reply actions

I think after the top 2

the next 3 or 4 are bunched. Cashner and Jackson are B+ type guys, the rest are B/B-. Vitters has a lot of upside, but isn’t there yet, and I have a hard time rating a guy better than a B if they aren’t performing at a high level at the level they’re at.

DEJESUS!!!

by tomas21 on Jun 24, 2010 11:38 AM CDT reply actions

I maybe going to look at the Daytona Cubs

within the next couple weeks. If anyone wants a particular date for me to go to give a in-depth scouting report on any of the starters, just shoot me a reply.

I’m mainly going to get a good look at Brett Jackson, anyway.

Maybe next year is finally our year.

by Unique on Jun 24, 2010 4:02 PM CDT reply actions

I love....

…..in person accounts. Whoever is on the mound if possible the stadium radar readings would be nice. Hope you get to see a great game full of a lot of players/prospects!

http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/chicago-cubs-wrigley-bound/

by cubsfan1 on Jun 24, 2010 6:38 PM CDT up reply actions

You're likely to miss Jackson

unless you get there in the next few days. Rumor has him going to TN sooner than later. But we’d love a report on Chris Archer if you see him. Flahery and LeMaheiu are guys I’d like to hear about, especially on their defense, wherever they play.

by Josh Timmers on Jun 25, 2010 12:05 AM CDT up reply actions