Cubs Minor League Wrap: August 7

by Josh Timmers on Aug 8, 2010 4:18 AM CDT in Minor Leagues

They don't have a top of the line grounds crew like this one in Everett, Washington. But the league, the home team and the commissioner felt the field was playable. Jody Davis disagreed.

This is a new one for me, and apparently a new one by Northwest League Commissioner Bob Richmond. The Boise Hawks forfeited tonight's game at the Everett Aqua Sox. Manager Jody Davis felt the playing field was unsafe after an 80 minute rain delay and a Hawk player slipping in the outfield. After a thirty-minute discussion, the umpires and the league commissioner disagreed, and ordered the Hawks to take the field. When Davis ordered his team to stay in the dugout, the game was ruled a forfeit.

I think that the Hawks should have realized there was going to be a problem. The name "Aqua Sox" is a dead giveaway.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs nailed down their fourth win in a row, beating the Tacoma Raniers, 7-3.

Austin Bibens-Dirkx improved his record in the PCL to 4-0, pitching six innings and allowing three runs. He gave up five hits, including two solo home runs. Bibens-Dirkx walked one and fanned five.

Tonight's match-up between Austin Bibens-Dirkx and Ryan Rowland-Smith was the matchup with the two longest hyphenated names in PCL history. OK, I'm just guessing. I really have no idea.

Shortstop Darwin Barney was 3 for 5 with a triple. He scored once and had two RBI. Third baseman Matt Camp was 3 for 3 with an RBI and two runs scored.

Center fielder Sam Fuld was 2 for 4 with a walk. He scored twice and stole his 17th base of the year.

Tennessee Smokies

The Smokies scored six runs in the first and then coasted to a 9-2 win over the Huntsville Stars.

Chris Carpenter threw six shutout innings tonight. He gave up only three hits. Carpenter walked two and struck out eight on his way to his eighth win of the year. He also helped his own cause by going 2 for 3 with 2 RBI.

Center fielder Brett Jackson was 2 for 4 with a double and a walk. Jackson scored once and had one RBI. Third baseman Russell Canzler was also 2 for 4 with a double and a walk. Canzler also scored once (no RBI though.)

Second baseman Tony Thomas went 2 for 3 with a double. He scored twice and knocked two in. Catcher Robinson Chirinos was 2 for 3 with a double and a walk. Chirinos crossed the plate once.

Left fielder Tony Campana was 2 for 5 with a stolen base. He scored once and had one ribbie.

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs lost to the Jupiter Hammerheads, 4-2.

Brooks Raley had a strong start tonight, giving up only one run over 6.2 innings. He allowed five hits. He walked one and struck out six.

Reliever Oswaldo Martinez allowed a two-run homer in the eighth inning to take the loss. Martinez pitched two-thirds of an inning. The homer was the only hit Martinez allowed, but he did walk two. One of the two runs he allowed was unearned.

Catcher Mark Reed hit a two-run home run of his own in the seventh inning. It was his second of the year. Reed was 2 for 4.

Second baseman DJ LeMahieu went 2 for 4.

Peoria Chiefs

The Peoria Chiefs were robbed by the Quad City River Bandits, 9-8.

Brett Wallach is not off to a good start with the Cubs. Tonight he only lasted 3.1 innings and allowed seven runs. He gave up only three hits, but one of them was a two-run home run. The big problem was that Wallach walked four River Bandits. He struck out three, and even one of those guys reached base on a wild pitch. Only four of the seven runs he allowed were earned.

Here's where I tell everyone not to overreact to two starts. Heck, don't overreact to the whole rest of the season on Wallach. He's a long-term project.

Yohan Gonzalez got the loss in relief by allowing the other two runs. He pitched 2.1 innings and allowed the two runs on five hits. He did not record a walk or a strikeout.

Right fielder Jae-Hoon Ha was 2 for 4 with a walk. He scored two runs and batted two in. Catcher Mario Mercedes was also 2 for 4 with a walk. Mercedes had two RBI as well.

Second baseman Logan Watkins was 2 for 4 with a run scored and a stolen base, his 18th of the season.

AZL Cubs

Are currently losing in a suspended game to the Brewers 2-1. There are two outs in the ninth inning and the Cubs have a man on third. As far as I know, no one has threatened to forfeit this one.

Reggie Golden is 0 for 3 with three strikeouts.

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Comments

Sammy Fuld rocks!!

He’s the type of high energy speed guy the Cubs need on bench. Am sure he’d be more productive than Nady or Kouske. Bring him up soon please.

Hope we can convince that Szcuzr (splg?) to choose baseball he sounds like a winner!!

by QuincyCub on Aug 8, 2010 9:46 AM CDT reply actions

First, No I did not add another ID.

Sadly Fuld’s chance with the Cubs is likely gone. He will be 29 and out of options. Hardly a secret that I felt from the start of the season that he should be on the team over Nady ( and that was only meant for a few weeks until Nady was “healthy”). It did not happen and to literaly add insult to injury, Fuld got injured within the first week of the season in Iowa and then had a very slow start.

I would love to bring Fuld up now but it likely won’t happen till Sept. I wish the Cubs had released him or traded him for a bag of balls to a team where he could have found a bench spot. If the Cubs can in fact move Dome there is some chance Fuld can make the bench since he will be a cheap and useful part and they clearly will have a least one OF spot to fill besides that and I am guessing FA signings will be targeted on the highest need.

I am coming in for a series in 12 days but I don’t expect to see Fuld.

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

by Doggie Stalker on Aug 8, 2010 10:11 AM CDT up reply actions

Is there any chance we see Jackson by the end of the year?

"Get up or GET OUT THE WAY!"
~Stacy King

by wrigleyrocker12 on Aug 8, 2010 10:02 AM CDT reply actions

Sure

Drive down to Knoxville and catch a Smokies game. You won’t see him at Wrgiley, though.

by Josh Timmers on Aug 8, 2010 11:45 AM CDT up reply actions

Has Jody Davis been managing

the Hawks all season? I thought I remmber hearing that during the offseason he was moved to catching cordinator of the minor league system or something like that.

"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living." ~Alvin Dark

by DamonBerryhillsMitt on Aug 8, 2010 10:56 AM CDT reply actions

He's been in Boise since they started playing

That was last season he was the catching coordinator. Two years ago he managed Daytona.

by Josh Timmers on Aug 8, 2010 11:47 AM CDT up reply actions

I have a few questions

Is there a chance Chirinos is brought up this year to see if he’s a capable backup catcher? His offensive numbers are similar to those of Soto’s in his memorable year in Iowa.

I love the GO/AO ratio for Carpenter of the Smokies. It’s always been well over 1 and this year it’s 1.75. His problem seems to have been command, ie walks, And opposing hitters are .266 against him this year. But his recent outings have improved and the ratio would be a godsend in Wrigley. How good of a prospect is he considered?

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

by tharr on Aug 8, 2010 12:10 PM CDT reply actions

Answers

1) I doubt it on Chirinos, although I’d like to see it happen too. They’re much more likely to call up Welington Castillo, since he’s already on the 40 man, and I don’t think they’re be enough playing time for a fourth catcher to make it worth their while to add him. But they are going to have to add Chirinos to the 40 man if they don’t want to lose him in the Rule 5 draft. So a move is going to have to be made.

If it weren’t for Castillo, I think Chirinos would get a Sept. callup. But I can’t see them going with 4 catchers.

2) Carpenter was a top ten prospect in the system last off-season by pretty much everyone who compiles such a list, so he is considered a pretty good prospect. He hasn’t done anything to alter that ranking. He hasn’t had a breakout season where everyone says “Wow” but he’s simply made good, normal progress. I like that he’s been getting better as the season wears on. So I’d say that his projection remains the same as last year. a solid, mid-rotation starter, and that he’s more likely to reach that level after this season than he was after last year. Good progress.

by Josh Timmers on Aug 8, 2010 12:29 PM CDT up reply actions

Thanks greatly

As the season continues in Wrigley, I find myself looking more closely at the prospects. I love the direction both Archer and McNutt are headed but I do worry about Jay Jackson. His numbers have been very poor lately. I hope it’s just a tired arm late in the season.

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

by tharr on Aug 8, 2010 12:43 PM CDT up reply actions

Probably on Jackson

I don’t think that stint in the bullpen helped him either. Essentially, he’s been getting into trouble in the fifth, sixth or seventh inning. So I think the stuff is still there, but the stamina doesn’t seem to be.

by Josh Timmers on Aug 8, 2010 12:53 PM CDT up reply actions

I had forgotten about the switch

both he and Cashner had this year. I’m not sure that pitchers in general are effective when they get swapped around midseason. Marshall and Z had some serious problems adapting. I don’t know if it’s a physical or mental thing with the pitchers.

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

by tharr on Aug 8, 2010 1:36 PM CDT up reply actions

Doesn't really go here, but I doubt people are reading the August 6th one

I’m pleased enough with the direction of the system, but the general opinion is that the Cubs probably aren’t near a top 10 status. Actually, folks that follow the entire minors more than i have this year argue that the Cubs system is probably bottom third, from 20-30. I’m a touch more optimistic, but I think we’re probably in that 15-22 area for most lists, depending on how the season finishes.

Several guys have had solid 2nd halfs that struggled in the first half, guys like Brooks Raley, Junior Lake, and Robert Whitenack, amongst others. There haven’t been that many huge disappointments this year. That said, this is a system that still lacks top tier hitting, and the pitching really drops off in talent after the top few guys. While I am high enough on Simpson. really love Wells (assuming he signs), and like Reggie Golden’s upside, the consensus was that our draft didn’t do enough to change the ranking of the system.

Roughly speaking, we have 7-8 guys that would likely be considered B- or better players. We have one top fifty chip in Brett Jackson, probably 2-4 other guys that could make some top 100 lists (Lee/Archer/McNutt would be my guesses, but some folks will likely give Vitters a spot). 2 more guys will likely fit into top 200 lists (J. Jackson and C. Carpenter). That’s the makings of a decent-solid system, but probably not a top 10ish system.

Another way to say it is that we simply lack enough developed upside chips right now. Archer and McNutt are both borderline TOR type guys if their development goes well, but both need more work, and there simply aren’t enough impact bats. Lee’s a potential quality positional asset, but it won’t be because of the bat. Things could be different in a year, depending on how some arms, like Austin Kirk, Justin Bristow, Ben Wells, Austin Reed, Hayden Simpson, and others develop.

by toonsterwu on Aug 8, 2010 2:33 PM CDT reply actions