Cubs Minor League Wrap: August 12

by Josh Timmers on Aug 13, 2010 1:58 AM CDT in Minor Leagues

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Photo by Roger C. Hoover of http://smokiesonradio.com/

Iowa Cubs

Going to California.

Tennessee Smokies

The Smokies couldn't hide from the Chattanooga Lookouts, 5-3.

Starter Chris Carpenter took the loss. He pitched 5.2 innings and allowed all five runs, although one
run was unearned. He gave up six hits and walked four. On the plus side, he did fan seven batters.

Left fielder Brandon Guyer hit two home runs, a solo homer in the second inning and a two-run shot in the fourth. Guyer now has 11 home runs this year. Guyer was 2 for 4. The photo of Guyer on the left is not from tonight's game.

Center fielder Tony Campana went 2 for 4 and stole his 41st base.

Daytona Cubs

The D-Cubs scored three in the seventh and one in the eighth to beat the Dunedin Blue Jays, 8-7.

Trey McNutt has been so good lately, but he had a rough night tonight. McNutt gave up six runs in only three innings. Sure, only three of the runs he allowed were earned, but that was because of his own fielding error. McNutt gave up seven hits and walked two. If you're looking for good news, he did strike out six in only the three innings.

Alex Maestri pitched three innings and got the win in relief. Maestri allowed only one hit, although it was a solo home run. Maestri walked one and struck out three.

James Leverton got his fifth save. Leverton pitched one inning and allowed one hit but no runs. He did not have a strikeout or issue a walk.

First baseman Rebel Ridling hit his 12th homer of the year, a three-run homer in the third inning. Ridling was 2 for 3 with a double and a home run. He also walked once. Ridling scored twice and had the three RBI. Third baseman DJ LeMahieu was 2 for 4 with two runs scored and an RBI.

Shortstop Junior Lake went 2 for 4 and scored once. OK, maybe I need to start reconsidering Lake as a top prospect. He's hit .322/.393/.556 since the All-Star Break. (Before the All-Star break, .212/.290/.234. Can you blame me for writing him off after that and a bad year at Peoria last season?)

Catcher Michael Brenly was 3 for 4.

Peoria Chiefs

The Chiefs were shut out by the Beloit Snappers, 2-0.

Brett Wallach had his first good start for the Cubs organization tonight. He pitched six shutout innings and allowed only two singles. He walked two and struck out six.

Ronny Moria pitched one inning of relief and took the loss. He gave up both runs on three hits and a walk. Moria did strike out two.

The Chiefs only managed four hits tonight.

Boise Hawks

The Boise Hawks exorcised the Tri-City Dust Devils, 6-3.

Eduardo Figueroa started and allowed all three run on seven hits over 4.1 innings. Figueroa walked two and struck out three.

Matthew Loosen was brilliant in relief and got the win. He went 3.2 innings and allowed only one hit. He didn't walk anyone (although he did hit a batter) and he struck out five.

Andres Quezada pitched the ninth and allowed only one baserunner via an error. He did not strike anyone out as he got his first save of the season.

Right fielder Alvaro Ramirez and second baseman Pierre LePage both went 2 for 4. Ramirez had an RBI and LePage stole a base and scored a run.

AZL Cubs

Beat the Rangers, 7-6 in 12 innings.

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Comments

Lake

Kid has been insane the last 2 1/2 months. K rate is still high at 29% ( for the year) but is a little better post AS break at 22.2%. He will need to continue to improve in that area when making the jump to AA next year. The walk rate really gives me hope.

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

by cubsfan1 on Aug 13, 2010 6:44 AM CDT reply actions

They should probably move him to RF though

He has a ton of errors this season and last. He has a cannon arm though- supposedly one of the best in the minors…

by CA Cub Fan on Aug 13, 2010 9:54 AM CDT up reply actions

What is Lake’s profile on defense anyway? If he stayed at short how much worse would his defense be compared to Castro?

Low Minors errors seem to be a common issue for upcoming middle-infielders, so that doesn’t bother me much.

by MadHatterBlues on Aug 13, 2010 10:35 AM CDT up reply actions

What about 3B?

Seems like he has the size (6’2) to eventually grow into a 3B. I think we should leave him at SS right now to enhance his value, but I would try 3B before RF.

by JSB on Aug 13, 2010 10:37 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions

He had another error last night and that puts him up to 37 on the year.

That is quite a high number but not completely unheard of. I think they need to decide if they think he will improve enough to stay in the infield otherwise get him to the OF and start learning to track balls there. As for position he has actually moved back and forth between SS and 3rd a lot this season- I think he has played more at 3B but I don’t know for sure.

by CA Cub Fan on Aug 13, 2010 2:25 PM CDT up reply actions

Interesting

I wasn’t aware of that. Good to hear. Considering how far away from the Majors he is right now, I hope he stays in the infield.

by JSB on Aug 13, 2010 2:46 PM CDT up reply actions

Tenn-Chatt game Thursday

A few of us took the short drive to see this one. Strange game. The Smokies couldn’t string anything together offensively. Guyer has been terrific. All 5 runs given up came with 2 outs and on balls the Smokies probably should have made plays on. Runners on 2nd and 3rd with 2 gone in the 2nd, a chopper hit to our 3rd baseman that came up some on him, went off the shoulder and into shallow left and both runs scored, ruled a hit but should have been played. Same scene in the 6th, 2 outs men on 2nd and 3rd, number 8 hitter is being intentionally walked and Carpetner threw a wild one (slipped ?), close play at the play, could have went either way, called safe. The walk completed, their pitcher up and hits a slow roller to short and the SS can’t get it out of the glove cleanly and he beats the throw to first, another run in and man on 3rd, ruled a hit. Carpenter removed and the next hitter rolls a slow grounder to first who tosses to the pitcher covering who whiffs the catch, another run in ruled a single and an error. That ended the scoring.

Missed chances on both offense and defense in this one. We moved behind home plate for the 5th and 6th innings. Carpenter was throwing hard as we saw some 98’s and 99’s on some guns by scouts sitting in front of us. The Smokies have a streaky defense and coming off a home series where it was very good, but cost them tonight. in my opinion. Overall, they have played and pitched well the last month of this half of the season.

by skeezer on Aug 13, 2010 6:56 AM CDT reply actions

Thank you for the report

Sounds like Carpenter really didn’t pitch as poorly as his linescore indicates.

by Josh Timmers on Aug 13, 2010 8:59 AM CDT up reply actions

Next 2 games in Chatt.

Josh,
Definately not a bad start at all and the bullpen was good as well. The Lookouts hit 3 balls hard all night long, a legit double and hard ground single off Carpenter and a shot double off of Shafer and that was it. Another double was a bloop and most the most damaging “hits” never left the infield. I will see the next 2 games in this series before heading back to K-ville. I heard that Carpenter got spiked on the ankle pretty good at the play at the plate but did not hear if any stitches or other problems because of it. I will write more reports on this series as I have seen most home games this year and this is the first “road trip”.

by skeezer on Aug 13, 2010 9:45 AM CDT up reply actions

Thanks for both notes skeezer

Once again it shows that the box score does not always tell the whole story.

I think Carpenter should be brought up Sept 1st. Even if he does not start he needs the experience of being in the bigs. He could be a really good bullpen guy and with his health history that may be the proper role for him (ala Guzman- although that didn’t work out so great…).

by CA Cub Fan on Aug 13, 2010 10:00 AM CDT up reply actions

You are welcome

CA,

It’s amazing that many people put there whole opinion of a performance on a line score. It can be useful but there’s nothing like being there to see what really took place. I’ve seen many a great line in person the result of some great defensive plays or hitters hitting everything on the button but right at people and many a poor one that was caused by seeing eye hits, and just bad luck. Take a look at what % of runs given up over the course of a season are unearned for a pitcher. All that equates to extra losses and extended pitch counts every bit as much as walks do. I obviously do not know the Cubs plans but I would venture a guess that he sees some time in AAA before the season ends. The Cubs do some strange things with call-ups and I certainly don’t have inside info.

by skeezer on Aug 13, 2010 5:33 PM CDT up reply actions

Reassuring about Carpenter

The thing that stuck out about him was his GB ratio. Sounds like his IF just didn’t convert them for him last night. It happens.

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

by tharr on Aug 13, 2010 1:52 PM CDT up reply actions

Reassuring...

It certainly does happens. Something to ponder on GO/FO as another stat that has to be weighed buy seeing the game live or on tape. Pop-ups to 1st count the same as fly balls caught against the fence at the 385 sign, and broken bat weak liners are counted the same as screamers. Same for GB’s, nubbers the same as smashes. Overall, I’d look at HR totals for bad news a little more so that just FO’s that may have went 40 feet. GB ratio is very useful though as a tool to see if pitchers are keeping the ball down in the zone or at least having good enough movement to make hitters hit the top half more ofter that the bottom half of the ball

by skeezer on Aug 13, 2010 5:42 PM CDT up reply actions

I'm guessing

Archer over McNutt so far for Minor League Pitcher of the Year. Trey is still undefeated, but Chris is at a higher level. What say ye?

by timh815 on Aug 13, 2010 7:19 AM CDT reply actions

I would

but that award isn’t based on your prospect status (Casey Coleman won it last season) so I’m not sure being at a higher level makes a difference. But Trey did have that blister problem that caused him to miss a few starts, so Archer has more inning in.

Both are having fantastic seasons. Both should be top ten prospects in the system this off season. Archer should be top five. You could make a case he’s #1, although I’d still take Brett Jackson at this point.

by Josh Timmers on Aug 13, 2010 9:05 AM CDT up reply actions

August 12

Not July 12

Junior Lake related to Cub legend Steve Lake? RETIRE 16!

Steve Swisher - 1976 NL All-Star Catcher

by Dan Serafini on Aug 13, 2010 8:19 AM CDT reply actions

Thank you

It’s been corrected.

by Josh Timmers on Aug 13, 2010 8:57 AM CDT up reply actions

Josh - Future Utilityman for the Cubs

Barney or Camp?

Camp can play CF as well as infield. Is Camp a future backup, or a career minor leaguer?

by Don't Fear the Reaper on Aug 13, 2010 10:59 AM CDT reply actions

Barney

is the guy you want. He’s the much better fielder. If Starlin Castro hit the DL, Barney is the guy I’d want filling in for him. I’m actually a big Barney fan—probably more than I should be, although Jim Callis of Baseball America yesterday wrote that Barney would play in the majors for a decade (although that was in the context of “But you do not want him as your starting second baseman.”)

Camp is a little David Eckstein clone. I know that comp is overused, but dammit, he even looks like David Eckstein. I don’t believe he’s the six foot even that he’s listed at either, although he’s not a David Eckstein 5’7". He’s probably 5’10". The problem is while Camp’s walk numbers are good, you’ve got to be better than just good at getting on base if you want to succeed as a David Eckstein type player.

I don’t want to write off Camp’s major league chances because if he could get his walk numbers up, he could be a useful spare part. But I’ve got Barney as one of the Cubs top 15 prospects and I don’t have Camp in the top 30, so that kind of answers your question.

by Josh Timmers on Aug 13, 2010 12:10 PM CDT up reply actions

What is Barney's ceiling w/ the bat?

Can he be around a .330 wOBA? If his defense is as good as advertised, that would be a very useful part. Also, can Barney hack it at 3rd if necessary?

by JSB on Aug 13, 2010 12:16 PM CDT up reply actions

I compare him

to Jack Wilson a lot. He might not be quite as good a glove, but he’s close. And with the bat, he’s going to be a lot like Jack Wilson with a few more steals. You’ll take that at SS, you don’t want him at 2B.

by Josh Timmers on Aug 13, 2010 1:14 PM CDT up reply actions

That's a nice comp

DeWitt would really have to fall on his face for Barney to be the starting 2B next year. I shuddered yesterday when I saw Sullivan tweet that he wants DeWitt, Castro and Barney to gel for next year.

by JSB on Aug 13, 2010 1:33 PM CDT up reply actions

Anyone else wonder why Diamond hasn't been given another shot at starting?

Saw him for his first start, his stuff was electric. I’d love to see him compete for a roster spot next year

"Baseball is almost the only orderly thing in a very unorderly world. If you get three strikes, even the best lawyer in the world can't get you off." ~ Bill Veeck

by Musicdude10 on Aug 13, 2010 11:34 AM CDT reply actions

Isn't he starting tonight?

by shoemile on Aug 13, 2010 12:48 PM CDT up reply actions

Yes

And he started last Sunday and got shelled by the Reds. I also wouldn’t exactly call his stuff electric. His off-speed stuff is above average, but not spectacular.

by JSB on Aug 13, 2010 12:56 PM CDT up reply actions

Guyer

Josh, or anyone for that matter, what are your thoughts on Brandon Guyer? He struggled in AA last year after skipping A+ to the point he was sent down to A+, but he seems to have turned a corner since then. He’s hitting for some solid power, and can steal bases. Where do you see him on a prospects list? I would think he makes our organizational top 20. Thanks for the insight!

by Mulhollandmania on Aug 13, 2010 12:42 PM CDT reply actions

I talked to someone last week

who liked Guyer but thought he was the third best prospect in the Smokies outfield behind Jackson and Campana. I had him in my top 20 (Think he was 11 or 12) before the 2009 season, he obviously dropped out after a disappointing 2009.

He’s a good glove with a good arm. He’s potentially a 20/20 guy in the majors, but I’m pessimistic about him reaching that. He’s 24 already and he just doesn’t take a walk much. At least he isn’t striking out a lot, he is putting the ball in play.

I think he’s top 30. I think there are maybe too many younger, higher ceiling guys to put him in the top 20.

by Josh Timmers on Aug 13, 2010 1:25 PM CDT up reply actions

With the present OF in Wrigley

it seems Campana isn’t even a thought until Byrd is gone yet he seems to be our best prospect for leadoff man. How do you see this sorting out over the next few years?

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

by tharr on Aug 13, 2010 1:55 PM CDT up reply actions

If and when Campana gets called up

he’d be a fourth outfielder. It’s possible he has a Scott Posednik like career, but I don’t think anyone is going to clear out space for him. He might be a starter one day, but not day 1 in the majors.

How it’s going to play out, I don’t know. All I know is that Soriano is going to be in left for a while.

by Josh Timmers on Aug 13, 2010 2:14 PM CDT up reply actions

You mean DH?

When the DH comes to the NL in 2012, right.

by JSB on Aug 13, 2010 2:46 PM CDT up reply actions

That's what I meant

There simply isn’t a spot available for him, yet he seems to be the only true leadoff guy close to the majors. I know Colvin isn’t going to be there as soon as we get a manager who isn’t pig headed. Which begs the question, who leads off next year. I’m still voting for Castro. Barring any offseason signings or trades, what’s your guess?

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

by tharr on Aug 13, 2010 4:39 PM CDT up reply actions

At least Tennessee and Iowa

should have some solid starting pitching next season. Depending on who misses the pen, Diamond, Jackson, Carpenter, Cashner, Dolis, McNutt (I’d imagine Tennessee, though they tend to give him low pitch counts to now) and a few others should make AA and AAA fun.

by timh815 on Aug 13, 2010 1:31 PM CDT reply actions

Chris Carpenter

I was looking at his numbers today on Fangraphs and they are better than I was expecting. His K rate was higher than I had assumed it was and his BB rate isn’t terrible. Considering his age (turning 25 in the off-season) is he going to be promoted to AAA soon?

http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=sa389851&position=P

by JSB on Aug 13, 2010 3:04 PM CDT reply actions

The Cubs don't feel

they need to promote someone to AAA just for the sake of promoting someone. They are more than willing to promote from AA to the majors directly. So unless there is an opening in the I-Cubs rotation, he’s going to stay in TN. They’re not going to release Mathes to let Carpenter pitch in the PCL, for example.

He’ll likely start next season in Iowa, unless he somehow pitches his way on to the Cubs. (Unlikely, but not impossible.)

by Josh Timmers on Aug 13, 2010 3:26 PM CDT up reply actions

I agree

Possibly when the Cubs open the 40 man roster in Sept. , AAA is going to lose numerous more players and if DM is in the playoffs, he may go there. We’ll find out Sept 1. I also agree that AAA next season seems likely.

by skeezer on Aug 13, 2010 5:46 PM CDT up reply actions