Cubs Minor League Wrap: July 10

by Josh Timmers on Jul 11, 2010 1:50 AM CDT in Minor Leagues

A reminder: Today (Sunday) at 5pm Central on ESPN2 is the Annual Futures Game. Brett Jackson is going to be starting and batting seventh for the US team and Hak-Ju Lee is a reserve for the World team. You really think the Cubs/Dodgers game is going to be more interesting than this? Didn't think so. Netherlands/Spain will be over by then. Ga Oranje!

Your choice for the Cubs #19 prospect is center fielder Jae-Hoon Ha. The 19 year-old Korean is now hitting .300 on the nose for the Peoria Chiefs, which is pretty good in any league, but especially good for someone so young in the Midwest League. He hasn't drawn a lot of walks or shown much power yet, but perhaps his blast at Wrigley last week convinced you that the power might come one day. His defense is generally considered to be very good to excellent.

Taking his place in the vote is a favorite of mine, but one who I admit is having a rough season: second baseman Logan Watkins. The Cubs gave the athletic Kansan $600,000 out of high school to skip college and for the first two seasons, it looked like a good investment. Last season in Boise he hit .326 and had a .389 OBP and stole 14 bases. That got him ranked as the #7 prospect in the Cubs system by Baseball America this past off-season.

But Watkins has had a pretty miserable season in Peoria this year, hitting only .248 with an OBP of .328. He has stolen 12 bases. He has been battling a wrist injury for part of the season, however. Also, he's still only 20 years old, so he still has time to turn it around. I don't think a bad half a season should drop a top ten prospect completely off a prospect list, so I'm putting him in here.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs zapped the New Orleans Zephyrs, 4-2.

Starter Jay Jackson picked up his fifth with six shutout innings tonight. Jackson allowed four hits. He walked one and struck out five.

Scott Maine got his second save. Maine entered the game with one out in the ninth and the bases loaded. He walked in a run with the first batter, but then got a fly out and a strikeout to end the game.

Shortstop Darwin Barney was 2 for 3 with a double. Barney scored twice. First baseman Micah Hoffpauir went 2 for 4. Hoffpauir scored once and batted one in. Center fielder James Adduci went 2 for 4.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies eclipsed the Jacksonville Suns, 11-3.

Chris Carpenter started and got the win, giving up three runs over five innings. One of the three runs was unearned. Carpenter allowed six hits. He walked two and struck out eight. Carpenter was 2 for 2 with a bases-loaded triple at the plate. He also scored after the triple.

Craig Muschko got the big four-inning save tonight. He gave up three hits but no runs. Muschko didn't walk anyone and struck out four.

Center fielder Brandon Guyer had two doubles in a 4 for 5 game. Guyer scored twice

Second baseman Tony Thomas was 2 for 6 with a double. He scored once and had two RBI. Left fielder Tony Campana went 3 for 5 with a walk and two runs scored. Catcher Steve Clevenger went 3 for 6 and scored once.

Shortstop Marwin Gonzalez and first baseman Blake Lalli both homered in the eight-run fifth inning. Lalli was 1 for 5 with a walk and three RBI. Gonzalez was 1 for 4 with a walk and the one RBI. He scored twice.

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs drowned versus the Clearwater Threshers, 5-0.

Starter Brooks Raley went six innings and surrendered four runs on seven hits. He walked one and struck out three.

Greg Rohan was promoted from Peoria today and got a pinch-hit single.

Peoria Chiefs

The Peoria Chiefs were lost in a maze against the Cedar Rapids Kernels, 6-5.

Ryan Searle gave up five runs over five innings. He allowed six hits, including two home runs. Searle walked one and fanned two.

Second baseman Matt Cerda hit two doubles in a 3 for 5 game. He had one RBI. Right fielder Jae-Hoon Ha went 2 for 5 with a run scored and an RBI. Catcher Mario Mercedes was 2 for 4 with a double and two RBI.

Boise Hawks

The Boise Hawks topped the Eugene Emeralds, 6-5 in ten innings.

Starter Juan Yasser Serrano pitched five innings and gave up two runs on six hits. He walked one and struck out five.

Aaron Kurcz pitched a perfect top of the tenth inning to get the win. He struck out two.

Shortstop Elliot Soto went 2 for 5, including the game-ending RBI single in the tenth inning.

DH Matt Szczur was 2 for 4 with a double and a hit-by-pitch. He had one RBI and scored once. Third baseman George Mattheus went 3 for 4 and scored once. First baseman Richard Jones was 2 for 5. Center fielder Kyung-Min Na was 2 for 4 with a steal.

AZL Cubs

Lost to the Giants, 9-0.

Poll

Who is the Cubs Number 20 prospect?

David Cales

16 votes

Matt Cerda

38 votes

Jin-Yeong Kim

38 votes

Aaron Shafer

30 votes

Logan Watkins

47 votes

169 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Watkins and Gibbs

I’m lukewarm on Watkins, but I think he made the MWL All Star Team. Kinda rugged calling it a bad year when you are selected by the coaches for the honor. He’s hurt, and slumping.

Gibbs isn’t hitting anything in Boise yet. That being said, he’s doing a nice job with the pitchers. I remember last year the Hawks giving up runs by the boatload last year. Since Gibbs arrival (and he’s been DHing some of the time, the pitchers don’t seem to be giving up double digits very often.

A major part of catching is helping young pitchers through the rough patches. Austin Kirk, John Mincone, JY Serrano, and the relievers are doing better than their counterparts this year.

Nice to see Boise stepping it up this year.

If Spain wins, can they ‘Discover’ the Cup for Spain?

by timh815 on Jul 11, 2010 4:58 AM CDT reply actions

watkins

problem is, what is he? That was the issue last year, but there was willingness to overlook it a bit, since he was in shortseason and had good numbers. He’s a guy with minimal power (and isn’t really projected to add much) and has poor discipline. Not a good combination. Feels like, as of now, that his value might be as a utility player that can play IF/OF.

As for Gibbs, I do think he probably deserves to be considered in this range, but boy, that bat does seem like a big question.

Anyhow, voted Kim again.

by toonsterwu on Jul 11, 2010 6:39 AM CDT up reply actions

I wouldn't call Watkins

plate discipline as “poor.” He’s walked 30 times already in half a season, which is in line with what he did last season. The strikeouts are way up this season, which is in line with his struggles. Still only around 20% of plate appearances. He struck out in fewer than 10% of his ABs in Boise. I do agree that his power potential is very limited.

I’ve been strongly considering adding Gibbs to the list for the past few days, but I just can’t get past the .077 batting average he’s got right now. Yeah, it’s only ten games. That wouldn’t bother me if he didn’t come in with a lot of questions about his bat. But he did, and this just seems like confirmation that his bat is going to be an issue.

If Gibbs’ bat comes around to something respectable by season’s end, he should be somewhere in the 10-15 range.

by Josh Timmers on Jul 11, 2010 12:03 PM CDT up reply actions

i highly doubt

that I could consider a Gibbs ranking as a 10-15 guy by season’s end. The bat is too questionable, irrespective of what he does in Boise.

fair enough on watkins – what I should’ve said was that he had decent plate discipline but poor strike-zone judgment.

by toonsterwu on Jul 11, 2010 5:39 PM CDT up reply actions

bleh

not thinking correctly.

Let me just state what I’m saying on Watkins – I think any player with his minimal, fringy offensive skillset that strikes out at the rate he does has a lot of work to do with his plate discipline. While he has a decent grasp of the strike zone, his skillset and approach translated to a higher level of pitching right now would not work in regards to projecting him as a possible starter, imo. He needs to make big strides.

by toonsterwu on Jul 11, 2010 5:42 PM CDT up reply actions

What the heck is wrong with Vitters?

He went 0-6 yesterday, and he’s only batting .208.

"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)

Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)

by SackMan on Jul 11, 2010 8:22 AM CDT reply actions

0-6 on a day when the rest of the team cranked out 17 hits!

Again… what’s wrong with him?

"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)

Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)

by SackMan on Jul 11, 2010 8:28 AM CDT up reply actions

My thinking is that it's a confidence thing.

But clearly, he is overmatched and while I do think bad luck is involved, the light switch has not came on for Vitters, which is okay, because he is just 20. Now Vitters has the talent to turn that switch on at any point, but the more he struggles in AA the worse his confidence will be, even if they are batting him third now.

I’ve read reports of his batting approach being altered which in turn has made him ackward at the plate at times, sometimes being inconsistent with his discipline. I never agreed with promoting him so early because he needs a full year somewhere to dominate and regain his confidence.

Maybe next year is finally our year.

by Unique on Jul 11, 2010 8:56 AM CDT up reply actions

*awkward at the plate

Maybe next year is finally our year.

by Unique on Jul 11, 2010 8:58 AM CDT up reply actions

Went Kim

I’m gonna vote Kim based on Toons high praise.

We should have already added Kyung-Min Na already imo. He started slowly as 18 year old in SS-A but has heated up hitting 350 in his last 20 abs. Granted he has no current power but has blazing speed and already ML caliber defense. He draws walks and is probably a bit over his head in terms of the league he’s currently playing in. We gave him a $725K bonus and while bonus alone isn’t a reaosn it sure shows how highly the Cubs socuting department thinks of him.

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

by cubsfan1 on Jul 11, 2010 11:18 AM CDT reply actions

I'm nowhere near an expert

but why isn’t Jay Jackson in consideration for a call-up start?

Jeff from Cleveland wrote- I've figured out the moral of the story: Stay in school. Wade: 3 years at Marquette, Bosh: 1 year at Georgia Tech,
the kid from Akron: no college. The most educated guy convinced his dumber friends to come play on his team for less money.

by propheteer on Jul 11, 2010 12:39 PM CDT reply actions

He probably is

but timing is a big issue on those things. If you were talking about today if Silva couldn’t go, it’s Thomas Diamond’s turn in the rotation today and Jackson went yesterday. So the timing would have just been better for Diamond.

by Josh Timmers on Jul 11, 2010 12:54 PM CDT up reply actions

Justin Bour soon

please.

by Ryno G on Jul 11, 2010 12:53 PM CDT reply actions

Shark

I was at the ICubs game last night and Jeff Samardzja was just awful he couldnt get out of the ninth. But on the bright side Jay Jackson was excellent.

"You know, we always called each other good fellas. Like you said to, uh, somebody, :You're gonna like this guy. He's all right. He's a good fella. He's one of us.: You understand? We were good fellas. Wiseguys."

by HawkCub on Jul 11, 2010 1:40 PM CDT reply actions

I thought Jeff was starting again

by AzCubfan24 on Jul 11, 2010 2:20 PM CDT up reply actions

no

at least, no indication of that yet. He started because of doubleheaders.

by toonsterwu on Jul 11, 2010 5:43 PM CDT up reply actions

Question

I’ve noticed that there has not been a single 1B in the top 20 prospects over the course of these polls. Is first really that weak organizationally? What position did Chirinos play before he switched to catcher? Could he play first?

Seems like a waste of his power considering how well Soto has been playing this season. With Derek Lee likely on his last legs, the void of 1B prospects is certainly a bit worrisome.

by tuff-gong on Jul 11, 2010 2:08 PM CDT reply actions

Cubs don't draft first basemen

very highly. The Cubs prefer to draft players at more demanding defensive positions. They always figure that they can move someone from third base or right field to first base if they have to. Many scouts think Josh Vitters will end up as a first baseman, for example.

Chirinos was a middle infielder before moving behind the plate.

by Josh Timmers on Jul 11, 2010 2:37 PM CDT up reply actions

Thanks!

Still seems a little worrisome, with Vitters still a few years away. But I guess I understand that philosophy.

by tuff-gong on Jul 11, 2010 3:05 PM CDT up reply actions

My quibble with Wilken

draft a middle of the order hitter on occasion. off soap box.

by timh815 on Jul 11, 2010 3:14 PM CDT up reply actions

yes

the organization is that weak, but as noted, some guys may move. Rebel Ridling is probably the top current first baseman, and he’s a borderline top 30 guy.

by toonsterwu on Jul 11, 2010 5:44 PM CDT up reply actions

Watkins should have been in the discussion before now. He’s a better prospect than 3 of the 4 of these guys, as Shafer and Cales are fungible relief guys, and Cerda’s a non-prospect (not gonna hit enough for a corner IF). Only the bonus baby Korean should challenge him in this poll, and frankly we don’t know anything about him.

by mikew on Jul 11, 2010 4:22 PM CDT reply actions

Cerda plays second mainly and is having a better season at the same level.

by Dcr18 on Jul 11, 2010 5:20 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

Cerda plays second mainly and is having a better season at the same level.

by Dcr18 on Jul 11, 2010 5:20 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

watkins

hasn’t had a good season. Cerda has a better approach at the plate and a bit more power potential. Watkins is smoother at 2nd, but Cerda has the ability to play that position if he gets work at it. Watkins entered the seaosn far higher than Cerda, but I’d take Cerda over him right now.

by toonsterwu on Jul 11, 2010 5:45 PM CDT up reply actions

Cerda

is only playing third base so that Watkins can play 2B. Both are second basemen. When Watkins sits (or plays SS), Cerda is at second. So it’s not fair to downgrade him on his bat because he’s willing to play 3B.

by Josh Timmers on Jul 11, 2010 6:06 PM CDT up reply actions

I've seen more Chiefs games than both of you guys this year..

So no offense, but Watkins is a lot better defensively than Cerda. His playing third so that Watkins can play 2nd should tell you all you need to know about what the Cubs think of where they fall on the prospect ladder.

Their batting lines really aren’t that far off.

by mikew on Jul 11, 2010 8:30 PM CDT up reply actions

I'm not arguing

that Cerda is as good defensively as Watkins. Watkins can play SS and has been moved to 2B because of Lee. But Cerda has played 30 games at 2B as opposed to 35 at third. So he is getting a chance at 2B.

But their batting lines really are far apart. Watkins OPS this year is .642. Cerda’s OPS is almost a hundred points higher at .736. On top of that, Cerda is a year younger than Watkins.

Now I still like Watkins. I’m really hoping he’s just having a rough first half. He is better defensively than Cerda. But Cerda is indeed outhitting him this summer by plenty.

by Josh Timmers on Jul 11, 2010 9:58 PM CDT up reply actions

fair enough. Agree to disagree. I just think when watching the 2 play all spring/summer – Watkins looks like he has a ton more potential at the dish and in the field than Cerda. Guess we’ll see.

by mikew on Jul 11, 2010 10:21 PM CDT up reply actions