Cubs Minor League Wrap: July 4

by Josh Timmers on Jul 4, 2010 11:40 PM CDT in Minor Leagues

Happy Independence Day. Luckily, the news on the farm is a lot better than the news in Chicago, so you can come here when you get too depressed.

I'm going to make another plug for the Road to Wrigley game between the Peoria Chiefs and the Kane County Cougars. Besides seeing the Cubs of tomorrow and being able to crack jokes about how they're better than the Cubs of today, you'll be able to get into Wrigley Field for between five and seventeen dollars. I'm also hearing about reduced beer prices for the bleachers as well. There will be all the goofy mascots and games that they have at minor league games. The game will be this Wednesday, July 7.

Your number thirteen prospect is the hard-throwing righty Rafael Dolis. Dolis is having a great season so far this year and just got promoted to AA. His heavy fastball also gets a lot of groundball outs as well as strikeouts. The only thing holding him back right now is his control, as he does need to work on cutting down on the walks.

So replacing him in the vote is Aaron Shafer. Shafer was a pitcher who many thought would be a top-ten pick in the draft two years ago based on his talent, but he couldn't stay healthy. Although he avoided Tommy John surgery, his velocity dropped and he fell to the Cubs in the second round. He struggled as a starter last season, but this season he was moved to the pen in Daytona and he took off. He still throws hard enough (low 90s) and has a nasty 12-6 curve. The Cubs recently promoted him to AA. He did have a bad night in relief in Tennessee tonight, though, giving up three runs on four hits in two innings.

Iowa Cubs

Rained out. Double header and fireworks tomorrow.

Tennessee Smokies

The Smokies set off the fireworks against the Huntsville Stars, 6-3 when catcher Robinson Chirinos hit a three-run walk off home run.

Starter Austin Bibens-Dirkx threw five shutout innings, giving up only three hits and two walks. Bibens-Dirkx struck out six.

Ryan Buchter pitched the ninth and got the win. He didn't allow a run, but did gave up one hit and one walk. Buchter struck out one.

Chirinos ended the game by clubbing his ninth home run of the year with two on and two out in the ninth. Chirinos was 1 for 3 with two walks.

Second baseman Tony Thomas also homered in the seventh inning.. Thomas went 2 for 4 with a double, a walk and his sixth homer. Thomas scored twice and stole his tenth base on the season.

Outfielder Brandon Guyer went 2 for 4 with a double.

The Smokies had a record crowd of 7,728 for the game and fireworks tonight.

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs landed the Clearwater Threshers, 5-1.

Starter Trey McNutt picked up his first FSL win tonight by allowing only one run over 5.2 innings. McNutt allowed four hits. He walked one and struck out six.

David Patton got his first save by pitching the ninth. He entered the game with two on and no out in the ninth, but didn't allow anyone to scored. He did walk the bases loaded with one out, but then got a double play to end the game.

Third baseman Junior Lake was 3 for 4 with two doubles. He scored once and batted one in. He also stole his ninth base of the year.

First baseman Rebel Ridling was 3 for 4 with a run scored and an RBI. Center fielder David Macias was 2 for 5 and scored a run.

Catcher Michael Brenly was 2 for 3 with two RBI and a run scored. Brenly has been so hot lately he batted cleanup tonight. As I've said about Brenly before, he's been a pleasant surprise. If he makes the majors, do you think his dad will be at the game?

Peoria Chiefs

The Peoria Chiefs gave up four runs in the top of the ninth inning and were sawed in two by the Clinton LumberKings, 5-3.

Nick Struck started and went six innings, giving up only one run on a solo home run. He allowed four hits total. Struck walked one and struck out five.

Frank Batista took the loss when he allowed the first four batters in the ninth to reach base. All four eventually came around to score. Batista pitched 2+ innings and surrendered four hits and a walk. He struck out two.

Left fielder Greg Rohan was 2 for 3 with a double and a walk. He scored twice. Right fielder Nelson Perez went 3 for 4 with a triple.

First baseman Justin Bour hit his ninth home run of the year with a man on in the second inning. Bour was 1 for 3 with a walk.

Boise Hawks

The Boise Hawks were beaten by the Spokane Indians, 6-2.

Starting pitcher Juan Yasser Serrano went five innings and gave up two runs on three hits. He walked one and struck out one.

Carlos E. Rojas took the loss in relief. He gave up two runs on four hits in the two innings he pitched. Rojas didn't walk a batter and struck out one.

The Hawks had four hits tonight and second baseman Pierre LePage had two of them. LePage was 2 for 4 with an RBI triple. He then scored in the two-run sixth inning.

AZL Cubs

Shut out the Indians, 2-0.

Poll

Who is the Cubs #14 prospect?

Matt Cerda

18 votes

Robinson Chirinos

44 votes

Thomas Diamond

88 votes

Chris Rusin

29 votes

Aaron Shafer

11 votes

190 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Why

did BJack only have one AB? Was that a PH or was he taken out because of an injury?

by Ryno G on Jul 4, 2010 11:59 PM CDT reply actions

He entered the game in the 8th as a defensive replacement

Nothing to worry about. He was going to get the holiday off, but then called him in the game in the 8th.

by Josh Timmers on Jul 5, 2010 12:05 AM CDT up reply actions

Rusin

I simply can’t vote for Diamond here over Rusin. If this was the Diamond of pre-injury, then yes, I could do it, despite the age. But this Diamond, while very good, has solid, but not great, velo for a righty, is still inconsistent with his breaking ball at times, and has some control issues to work on. When you add in his age, it’s just too much, and Rusin is a kid that should be in AA soon.

I wasn’t huge on Rusin entering the year, but he’s performed. He’s given up 8 walks in the last 55.3 innings, while striking out 47, while only giving up 46 hits. Both Rusin and Diamond, IMO, deserve to make the list before Shafer (looks like a middle relief/borderline setup type in the pen, some rumors that the Cubs may ponder him starting again, but he’s been so good out of the pen that I have my doubts on that), Chirinos (intrigued to see if he’s a late bloomer, but let’s see how the bat does at AAA. That said, intangibles are reportedly great.), and Cerda (so far away and has to work on improving at 2nd).

by toonsterwu on Jul 5, 2010 6:51 AM CDT reply actions

Rusin

He got off to a slow start here in Daytona, but has come back from the disabled list after an ankle sprain and looked phenomenal. He is the definition of a polished pitcher as evidenced by his incredible K:BB ratio. He got my vote.

Chirinos was great here last year and it’s becoming clear that last year was not a fluke. He does have all the intangibles and I think that’s why he has been so effective behind the plate.

I haven’t yet had the opportunity to see Cerda or Diamond.

Shafer took the move to the bullpen in stride. He’s got five pitches that he is effective with and I think that’s why he may move back to the starting rotation soon. He isn’t going to wow you with his velocity, but he gets outs and that’s the name of the game. It will be really interesting to see what the Cubs do with him in the near future. I think he should be a starter.

by CBruey on Jul 5, 2010 9:43 AM CDT up reply actions

Great points

I might have to go with Coleman over Diamond and Shafer, as well.

Somebody take Aramis' bat off the restricted list, please.

by cubzfan on Jul 5, 2010 10:04 AM CDT up reply actions

there's actually a couple more guys off the top

that I would put ahead of Shafer. David Cales arguably has better bullpen stuff and has succeeded at a higher level. I would put Coleman ahead as well, due to starting value vs. middle relief value. I’d probably consider putting Brian Schlitter over him.

by toonsterwu on Jul 5, 2010 12:09 PM CDT up reply actions

I strongly considered putting Coleman on the list

instead of Shafer, as well as the “disappointments” of Watkins and Burke. I honestly didn’t want to put Schlitter on because I thought he’d win simply on the basis of being in the majors. I really didn’t consider Cales, although perhaps I should have. He had essentially the same season in Daytona last season that Shafer had this year and he’s a year younger. I considered Austin Kirk as well, but he’s only pitched 10 professional games in two years. (Yeah, I know I put Simpson on the list.)

But I don’t obsess about it too much because if people don’t like the choices, they can ignore them and vote for other guys. I would have ranked Chris Rusin ahead of a lot of guys who have won the daily vote already. I can put Cales and Coleman on in the next day or two and people can vote for them over Shafer if they want.

by Josh Timmers on Jul 5, 2010 1:39 PM CDT up reply actions

isn't Dolis LH?

Your number thirteen prospect is the hard-throwing righty Rafael Dolis

follow me on twitter for fantasy sports analysis @http://twitter.com/DrewDinkmeyer or get the full analysis at www.fantistics.com

by DartmouthCubsFan on Jul 5, 2010 11:07 AM CDT reply actions

No

He’s right-handed.

by Josh Timmers on Jul 5, 2010 11:24 AM CDT up reply actions

huh

for some reason all this time i envisioned him as LH… shucks

follow me on twitter for fantasy sports analysis @http://twitter.com/DrewDinkmeyer or get the full analysis at www.fantistics.com

by DartmouthCubsFan on Jul 5, 2010 2:00 PM CDT up reply actions

Tony Campana

I have followed this young man for the past two years and he seems to get no respect. What is the reason he is not being considered a higher prospect? He seems to have great speed, hits for average. Is his defense suspect? Is it because he is too small? Just wondering.

If wishes were horses then beggers would ride.

by rogerdl on Jul 5, 2010 1:40 PM CDT reply actions

Some of it

is just there are better choices out there than Campana, which is a testament to the improved Cubs farm system rather than an indictment of Campana. I think two years ago someone like him might be on the list right now.

Some of it is just the lack of upside. Some of that is his height and some of it is that he’s 24 already. (Not old, but not young either.) He’s an outfielder with no power, and that’s a bit limiting.

The other issue I have with Campana right now is that this season is the first year that he’s been getting on base at the clip you need to be a leadoff hitter. I like this year’s .379 OBP in AA, last season’s .335 in Daytona didn’t impress me. I’d like to see him demonstrate that this improved hitting for average is for real before I start considering him a top 20 prospect.

by Josh Timmers on Jul 5, 2010 1:50 PM CDT up reply actions

No Power

Yes, I knew his No Power would be an issue, especially with Brett Jackson moving fast up the ladder. Too bad 24 is old now, but you are right, if he gets to AAA next year he would be 25 and then maybe a shot at 26 or 27, so by then Jackson, and probably others will have already made the majors. It is really a testament to how really good a player has to be to get to the majors, and then to stay there.

If wishes were horses then beggers would ride.

by rogerdl on Jul 5, 2010 3:10 PM CDT up reply actions