Cubs Minor League Wrap: June 27

by Josh Timmers on Jun 28, 2010 12:34 AM CDT in Minor Leagues

In case you missed this fanpost, the Cubs made a few moves today, sending Trey McNutt from Peoria to Daytona, Brett Jackson and Rafael Dolis from Daytona to Tennessee and Ty Wright from Tennessee to Iowa. All four of them are having great seasons, so congratulations to them all.

Chris Carpenter was your choice to be the Cubs Number Six prospect. Carpenter's having a solid season with the first half champion Smokies, going 5-3 with a 3.43 ERA. He's got 48 strikeouts and 25 walks in 63 innings.

I was having trouble deciding who was going to replace Carpenter on the list, but since the Cubs decided to promote Rafael Dolis, I decided to put him on the list. Dolis went 4-5 with a 2.92 ERA. Dolis throws a mid-90s fastball, but so far he's been getting more groundouts than strikeouts. Not that that is really a bad thing.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs blew away the New Orleans Zephyrs, 9-2.

Starter Jay Jackson hadn't won a game in over a month, but he solved that today by giving up only two runs, both on a two-run homer, over six innings. Jackson gave up six hits. He walked two and struck out five.

First baseman Micah Hoffpauir was a perfect 4 for 4 with a walk. Two of Hoffpauir's four hits were doubles. He scored once and had four RBI.

Right fielder Brad Snyder went 3 for 5 with a double and three runs scored. Shortstop Darwin Barney was 2 for 6 with two runs. Third baseman Marquez Smith had a double and a walk in a 2 for 4 day. Smith had one RBI and one run scored.

Catcher Welington Castillo hit a solo home run in the fifth inning. It was his ninth homer of the year. Castillo was 1 for 5.

Iowa's record is 42-35, which puts them in a tie for first place in their division. However, all four teams in the PCL American North Division are within a game of each other.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies were stuck in the mud against the Carolina Mudcats, 10-3.

Alberto Cabrera got knocked around for five runs on seven hits over only four innings. Cabrera walked three and struck out four as his record drops to 0-4.

Center fielder Brett Jackson picked up in Tennessee where he left off in Daytona, hitting a solo home run in the fourth inning. Jackson was 2 for 5.

Shortstop Marwin Gonzalez was 2 for 4 with two doubles.

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs didn't miss Jackson or Dolis at all, as they clubbed the Brevard County Manatees, 15-7.

Starter Chris Archer improved his record to 7-1 by allowing only one unearned run over six innings. Archer allowed five hits and walked two. He struck out five.

Second baseman DJ LeMahieu led the hit parade by going 3 for 4 with a double and a three-run home run, his first of the year. (Good idea to do that on the day I criticized him for not having any power.) LeMahieu had five RBI total and scored twice. He also walked once.

Catcher Michael Brenly was 3 for 5 with a double. He scored twice and had three RBI. Center fielder Jose Valdez also was 3 for 5 with a walk. Valdez scored twice, batted one in and stole a base.

Right fielder Kyler Burke was 2 for 5 with two runs scored and one RBI. First baseman Rebel Ridling was 2 for 4 with a double. He scored three times and had one RBI.

Peoria Chiefs

The Chiefs fell to the Cedar Rapids Kernels, 5-4.

Starter Robert Whitenack took the loss. Whitenack lasted five innings and allowed five runs on seven hits. One of the runs was unearned. Whitenack struck out three and didn't walk anyone.

Catcher Mario Mercedes was 4 for 4 with a run scored. Left fielder Greg Rohan went 2 for 4 with a triple and three RBI. He also walked once. Second baseman Matt Cerda also tripled in a 2 for 5 day. Cerda scored once.

Shortstop Hak-Ju Lee was 2 for 3 with a double and a walk. Lee scored once and stole his 18th base of the season. Center fielder Jae-Hoon Ha was 2 for 4 with a run scored and his sixth steal.

Boise Hawks

The Boise Hawks cut the Eugene Emeralds, 5-1.

Marcos Perez picked up his second win with 4.2 innings of scoreless relief. Perez allowed four hits and walked one while striking out four.

Arismendy Alcantara (and I can already tell I'm going to hate this guy) hit his first home run of the year tonight. Alcantara was 1 for 5 with the one RBI. Third baseman Brandon May had a double in a 2 for 4 game. May scored once and had one RBI.

AZL Cubs

Beat the Athletics, 5-1.

Poll

Who is the Cubs Number Seven Prospect?

Chris Archer

118 votes

Rafael Dolis

29 votes

Ryan Flaherty

46 votes

Trey McNutt

112 votes

Hayden Simpson

54 votes

359 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 40 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

When do you expect Simpson and Gibbs to start playing?

by Ryno G on Jun 28, 2010 12:43 AM CDT reply actions

According to Jeff Fassero

who’s the pitching coach for Boise, the answer is “We have no idea.”

According to the Hawks, it could be tomorrow or it could be in ten days. I’m guessing they’ll give Simpson one start in Arizona though. Gibbs they might start right out in Boise.

by Josh Timmers on Jun 28, 2010 1:09 AM CDT up reply actions

Fassero is a pitching coach???

I actually liked him as a player, but he wasn’t exactly the most mechanically sound.

by fsuapollo on Jun 28, 2010 1:37 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions

soon for Gibbs

I’d guess sometime within 2 weeks.

Simpson might be a tad longer, but that’s okay considering his workload this past year.

by toonsterwu on Jun 28, 2010 5:21 AM CDT up reply actions

I noticed that

Jackson is hitting #2 behind Campana, same as Castro. I hope that doesn’t preclude him from leading off when he gets to Wrigley.

If a quality pitching start is 3 runs and 6 innings, then a quality hitting day is 1 for 4.

by tharr on Jun 28, 2010 4:41 AM CDT reply actions

i still have my doubts that the Cubs

will keep him as a leadoff guy, particularly if he continues to show good power. He’d be more valuable in the middle of the order if he does continue to show good power.

by toonsterwu on Jun 28, 2010 5:20 AM CDT up reply actions

The Cubs have a terrible

problem at the top of the order. Someone has to be there every day. Jackson obviously has had great success there and I’d much rather have him there, even with his adequate power, than the platoon system we’re using the past number of years. Henderson had good power but he was a great leadoff man.

If a quality pitching start is 3 runs and 6 innings, then a quality hitting day is 1 for 4.

by tharr on Jun 28, 2010 2:32 PM CDT up reply actions

I don't disagree

if you even add a quality top of the order bat to this mess right now, I think we’d be in the thick of things. That said, for his skillset, and for his limitations, I still believe Brett is better suited to help the club in the middle of the lineup, if he develops as hoped. As I noted to someone in another thread, his high K rate doesn’t preclude him from leading off, but it is certainly far from ideal. Furthermore, considering the high probability that our middle of the order cogs of this run, Lee and Ramirez, may be gone after this year, hoping for a middle of the order bat carries greater value, imo, due to the market costs of the two types of offensive players that you are looking for.

by toonsterwu on Jun 28, 2010 6:11 PM CDT up reply actions

Flaherty

I guess I’m perplexed as to why he’s on the list now and why ppl are voting for him. Josh I understand wanting a hitter on the list but the Cubs have far more pitching depth w/ more potential then any hitter not already on the list.

Flaherty is about to be 24, a college bat from a good confrence who struggled at AA mightily. Yes he’s ripping in High A but he’s pretty old for the league and competition. IMHO at the very least I would replace him w/ LeMaheiu who has really impressed me this year and is a full2 years younger at the same level and is hitting very well in his own right. This sin’t a complaint just my thoughts on the list. Thanks for doing this list/vote Josh it is a lot of fun. Keep up the good work bud.

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

by cubsfan1 on Jun 28, 2010 6:39 AM CDT reply actions

I guess

I’m saying why throw a hitter a bone to be on the list when I think every pitcher on the list is a far better prospect w/ more potential.

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

by cubsfan1 on Jun 28, 2010 6:43 AM CDT up reply actions

I seem to be the Flaherty apologist on here

Yes, he struggled for a couple weeks in AA, but that was after skipping high-A. Now that he has a half-season of high-A behind him, with good results, I expect he’ll do just fine at AA. He is a decent defender, who can even backup shortstop, and hits lefthanded. His splits show that he would be a good platoon player. In other words, a possible starter at second or third in his peak year, but more likely a very good backup infielder who can play all around the diamond and hit. I see him with a probable .800 OPS against righties in the majors as soon as 2012.

Unless a pitcher is a #4 starter or late-innings, lights-out guy, it’s hard to create more value than a position player, even if he’s just the strong side of a platoon. Plus, if Flaherty gets a boo-boo, it might slow him down for a couple months. If one of the pitchers gets hurt, and pitchers do get hurt, he could lose a year or more. That’s why I’ve been voting for Flaherty over any pitcher who is not at least in AA. There’s just too much time for something to go wrong for a pitcher in three levels.

That’s my reasoning. You’re welcome to your own.

Fontenot (fon-te-no): Cajun for "scrappy"

by cubzfan on Jun 28, 2010 8:15 AM CDT up reply actions

Excellent points

by both cubfan1 and zambranofan. That’s exactly the type of debate I’d hoped I’d get.

by Josh Timmers on Jun 28, 2010 8:52 AM CDT up reply actions

Well

IMHO every pitcher on the list left at the least profile as a shut down late inning reliever w/ all still having the potential to be above average starters. So I guess even if Flaherty is a valuable platoon player (fringe to average starter) I’d still take all of the pitchers on the list at this point based on ceiling potential and reasonable floor potential.

I guess my side is even if Flaherty is a good platoon player or even an average starter I’d take a shut down late inning reliever like say Cashner (in his current role), Marmol, or we can extend this to say a Kevin Jepsen type over say a Mike Fontenot/Jeff Baker type. i know I really simplified this down but I hope you can see my point. Zambranofan I respect your view and you may be right but this is just my take. Good points though bud.

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

by cubsfan1 on Jun 28, 2010 5:48 PM CDT up reply actions

I'll be honest Dan

I’ve got Flaherty far ahead of LeMahieu. While ARL matters, I just don’t see that much with DJ’s bat right now, whereas Flaherty at least looks like a possible bench guy that can play multiple positions and offer some pop.

by toonsterwu on Jun 28, 2010 10:54 AM CDT up reply actions

Toons

Just an idea, how baout a prospect smack down between Flahrety and Dj each of taking our own side. Could be somwhat intersting to the community. I respect your point of view and might be fun. Just a thought let me know.

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

by cubsfan1 on Jun 28, 2010 5:34 PM CDT up reply actions

Who Knows.....

If i got tme tomarrow I might do my own in the morning and you can just add your thoughts.

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

by cubsfan1 on Jun 28, 2010 5:37 PM CDT up reply actions

Spelling

Sorry guys trying to hurry LOL. Please forgive me.

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

by cubsfan1 on Jun 28, 2010 5:38 PM CDT up reply actions

I don't know if I have much of a time to write a good thorough post

beyond which, I also want to make it clear that I’m not exactly pumping Flaherty up right now either. I think he’s borderline starting potential, more likely bench type, if he makes the bigs, and I think LeMahieu is likely similar in that regards. Um … let me get back to you on that, or if you want to post something, I’ll try to post something at some point.

by toonsterwu on Jun 28, 2010 6:13 PM CDT up reply actions

Went McNutt but....

I’m thinking I should change to Archer. IMO McNutt might have the edge in pure stuff but Archer has been dominating and has showed imroved control while McNutt still has some work to do on his command. If posswible Josh you could change my vote to Archer. No big deal.

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

by cubsfan1 on Jun 28, 2010 6:42 AM CDT reply actions

Don't know that it's possible

but I haven’t voted so I’ll vote Archer for you.

by Josh Timmers on Jun 28, 2010 8:53 AM CDT up reply actions

Did I miss a day?

Where was Lee placed? I voted for him for 3rd overall. I just like the kids potential a ton.

by Grockcubs on Jun 28, 2010 7:23 AM CDT reply actions

Number 5

by Josh Timmers on Jun 28, 2010 8:51 AM CDT up reply actions

Went with Archer.

One thing I was wondering though, does McNutt have any type of change-up?

by Dcr18 on Jun 28, 2010 7:40 AM CDT via mobile reply actions

According to BA

it’s “raw” and “a work in progress.”

Two-seamer, four-seamer, slurve and the aforementioned changeup, according to Baseball America.

by Josh Timmers on Jun 28, 2010 9:11 AM CDT up reply actions

not that good right now

he has one, doesn’t show it much. realistically, it’s unlikely it’ll be developed in season this year. More important to watch how instructs go.

by toonsterwu on Jun 28, 2010 10:55 AM CDT up reply actions

No love for McNutt?

Kid is a stud. I had him at 5 I believe.

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

by theGraceyslumpbuster on Jun 28, 2010 8:27 AM CDT reply actions

Sometimes you fell like a McNutt. Sometimes you don't.

"The ones who want to achieve and win championships motivate themselves." - Da Coach

by Sandberg's evil twin on Jun 28, 2010 8:29 AM CDT up reply actions

Zing!

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

by theGraceyslumpbuster on Jun 28, 2010 8:32 AM CDT up reply actions

It's interesting to see that the Chris Carpenter link

leads to the pitcher for the Cards. Is he related? His son perhaps? Can’t seem to find a bio for him in the minors.

"The ones who want to achieve and win championships motivate themselves." - Da Coach

by Sandberg's evil twin on Jun 28, 2010 9:59 AM CDT reply actions

Ah I see his stats from doing a little clicking. Doesn't look related. Guess that's just a coincidence.

"The ones who want to achieve and win championships motivate themselves." - Da Coach

by Sandberg's evil twin on Jun 28, 2010 10:04 AM CDT up reply actions

That's just an issue of the website

It does an automatic search for major league players’ names. There’s no way to change it. We could start using an alternative like “Christopher Carpenter” or “C. Carpenter” for the Cubs farmhand, and then it just wouldn’t link to anything.

I really don’t know why the site links to its own, limited player pages. I’d prefer it link to Yahoo’s page for each player, which has more stats and news.

Fontenot (fon-te-no): Cajun for "scrappy"

by cubzfan on Jun 28, 2010 10:05 AM CDT up reply actions

It's automated

I could do some tricks to get it not to do that, but 1) it would be more work on my part and 2) I like the idea of Cardinal fans clicking on Chris Carpenter’s link and them having to sort through a bunch of posts about a Cubs farm hand.

I was calling him Christopher for a while because MiLB.com started calling him that, but a relative of Chris’s told me he goes by Chris Carpenter and that he’ll worry about the confusion if and when he makes the majors.

by Josh Timmers on Jun 28, 2010 11:20 AM CDT up reply actions

golden?

is there any word on the club’s 2010 second round pick Golden? i heard he was debating a stint at Alabama, and haven’t heard anything since… thoughts?

by boomindanny on Jun 28, 2010 11:28 AM CDT reply actions

He'll sign

on August 16, which is my guess. He’s got options and is going to use them to his advantage.

by Josh Timmers on Jun 28, 2010 11:39 AM CDT up reply actions

+1

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

by cubsfan1 on Jun 28, 2010 5:35 PM CDT up reply actions

Moving day part II

More roster moves today…we’re getting pitchers Chris Archer & Aaron Shafer from A-Daytona; Alex Maestri & Alberto Cabrera head to Daytona.

source

"He put up Nintendo-type numbers." -Oneri Fleita [in regards to Kyler Burke's season]

by SydKyd on Jun 28, 2010 1:31 PM CDT reply actions

Makes sense

I was surprised that Dolis got the call instead of Archer, but it was just that he was scheduled to start yesterday. Maestri and Cabrera have struggled this season.

by Josh Timmers on Jun 28, 2010 1:50 PM CDT up reply actions