Cubs Minor League Wrap: April 18

by Josh Timmers on Apr 18, 2011 10:32 PM CDT in Minor Leagues

The attendance at the Iowa Cubs game this afternoon was 4,277. I assume the Chicago Cubs beat that, but by how much?

The Chiefs game in Davenport was played under completely horrendous conditions. You can see pictures of the ballpark here. One report said there were 53 people in the stands at the start of the game.

Jay Jackson is supposed to be activated off the DL and pitch for Iowa sometime next week. Welington Castillo is also supposed to end his assignment in Dayona by then as well.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs grounded the Memphis Redbirds, 5-2.

Thomas Diamond rebounded with a strong start this afternoon, going six innings and allowing the two runs. Diamond gave up six hits and walked two. He struck out seven.

John Gaub relieved Diamond and collected the win with two shutout innings of relief. He gave up one hit and walked two. Gaub struck out three.

Scott Maine pitched the ninth inning and notched his third save. Maine allowed a one-out single, but nothing else. He struck out the final batter of the game.

The I-Cubs did most of their damage in a four-run seventh inning, where left fielder Lou Montanez cracked a two-run double. Montanez was 1 for 2 with a walk and a hit by pitch.

Infielder Scott Moore was 2 for 3 with a walk.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies lost to the Carolina Mudcats, 5-4 in ten innings.

Starter Chris Rusin pitched five innings and allowed two runs on six hits. Rusin only walked one and he struck out four.

David Cales has been very good in relief this season, but he made one mistake tonight and it cost him. He gave up a one-out walkoff home run in the bottom of the tenth to take the loss. He's credited with pitching a third of an inning.

The Smokies only managed three hits tonight, and Brett Jackson's hitting streak came to an end. The Smokies made it close because one of those three hits was a three-run home run by Ryan Flaherty. The sixth-inning blast was his fourth of the season. Flaherty was 1 for 3 with a walk.

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs were capsized by the Clearwater Threshers, 7-4,

Nick Struck had a rough start tonight as his record fell to 1-1. Struck lasted four innings and allowed six runs on seven hits. One of the six runs was unearned. Struck walked two and struck out two.

Center fielder Jae-Hoon Ha hit his first home run of the season, an eighth inning shot with two men on. Ha was 1 for 4.

Third baseman Matt Cerda was 3 for 4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored. Cerda is now hitting .405 on the young season.

Peoria Chiefs

The Peoria Chiefs were robbed by the Quad City River Bandits (Cardinals), 4-2.

I'm tempted to not write this game up under the assumption that no game played under these conditions should count. But Hayden Simpson started and allowed four runs over four innings. Two of the four runs were unearned. Simpson surrendered six hits. He walked two and struck out three.

Right fielder Rubi Silva was 2 for 5.

Tweet Comment 35 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

So Josh

What was wrong with Jay Jackson?
Elbow tendinitis. Got shut down in spring training. Had no velocity.
Good to know. So today was a bad day, huh?
Well, the results were bad, but you got to like what Ha and Cerda did down in Daytona.
Where have I heard about Cerda before?
I wrote about him for the MSP annual. But it was kind of a last second thing to replace the Castillo/Archer articles. Had to throw it together quickly.
So is he a prospect?
I think so. I know what the scouts say—he’s a little guy without a position. But the kid has at least a 70 makeup and he can hit. Even as short as he is, he’s got doubles power. Guys like that find a way to the major leagues.
Can he play third for us next season?
Get real. He’s not there yet.
What about Josh Vitters? Can he play third next year? How’d he do tonight?
1 for 3 with an RBI single. Got double-switched out. As far as playing next season, it’s too soon to tell. I’d say the odds are against it for next season, but it’s possible. We might need a stopgap guy there.
Anyone else in the system? What about Marquez Smith?
Sure, if he learns to hit a curveball between now and then. Why he’d wait until he was 26 to learn to do that, I don’t know.
Ryan Flaherty?
Now there’s an interesting name. He could be the left-handed power hitter we’re looking for. Had 20 HRs in 2009 for Peoria. Had a bad season last year (he was promoted too aggressively) but he’s already hit four homers so far this season in only 35 ABs. He can take a walk too.
Wow. Who needs Vitters? Why not pencil him in there next season.
Because defensively he’d probably be an adventure there. I’d say he’d be a threat to the fans up and down the first base side, but I don’t think he could throw the ball that far.
Doesn’t he play second base too?
Well, he stands in the general area where a second baseman stands. You just have to ask yourself, “Is he going to hit enough that you can live with the glove?”
Will he?
Ask me again in August.
So we’re screwed?
I wouldn’t say that. I’d say we have a lot of options. Maybe one of them will step forward this season. That’s why we need to keep an eye on the minors.
Well, I’ll do that. Thanks for doing this!
Oh yeah, no problem. Can’t do much else while my daughter is watching cartoons.

by Josh Timmers on Apr 19, 2011 2:06 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs

I see Ramirez for one more year

With the way he’s hitting so far this year, they can keep him for 2012. Then, the battle for the 3B position could potentially include Vitters, LeMahieu, Flaherty, Lake, DeWitt, Baker, and Smith. Now, by the end of next season, at least a few of these guys will be out of the picture. But I’m pretty confident at least two of them will be in contention.

I think the Cubs will go after a FA first baseman this year, and will exercise Aramis’ option first as a signal to the desired players that they are trying to win now.

No one should be untouchable on this roster unless his name is Eliot Ness...or Starlin Castro.

by cubzfan on Apr 19, 2011 8:00 AM CDT up reply actions

I wouldn't rebel too much

if that first baseman is the one I want, and the deal isn’t too silly.

by timh815 on Apr 19, 2011 8:09 AM CDT up reply actions

Aramis' option

is for $16 million with a $2 million buyout. I think the Cubs would like to decline it, but it would be tough to find someone to fill in for a year without a multi-year deal.

He might end up being back next season, but he’s going to have to stay healthy. Do you realize Chipper Jones has played more games the past two seasons than Aramis?

by Josh Timmers on Apr 19, 2011 11:46 AM CDT up reply actions

Ouch

There are 3 things that are assured in life: Death; paying taxes; and Aramis Ramirez missing 20 games of the baseball season

by RynoRooter on Apr 19, 2011 12:39 PM CDT up reply actions

I just don't see them declining it unless he's hurt again this year

It would be hard to convince a Fielder or Pujols to come when the next most established power hitter is Soriano. With all the other money coming off the payroll, they can afford the extra $14 M.

No one should be untouchable on this roster unless his name is Eliot Ness...or Starlin Castro.

by cubzfan on Apr 19, 2011 4:09 PM CDT up reply actions

What I forgot

Is that Aramis can decline the option if he wants. If he has a halfway decent season, he’s going to decline since he’ll get at least three years on the open market if he has a good year.

by Josh Timmers on Apr 20, 2011 12:02 AM CDT up reply actions

Where have I seen Cerda before?

Wasn’t he the last guy Danny Almonte struck out in his ill-fated LLWS?

Also, what does Scott Moore have to do to get Blake DeWitt’s job?

MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown

by D98 on Apr 19, 2011 9:05 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions

Yep that's Cerda

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=cerda

by Dcr18 on Apr 19, 2011 10:37 AM CDT up reply actions

ESPN loved

contrasting Almonte, who was this huge guy (because he was 14) with 11 year old Cerda, who was the smallest guy in the LLWS. Plus Tony Gwynn was raving about how Cerda had the sweetest stroke he’d ever seen out of an 11 year old, which was quite a thing to stick on a San Diego kid—to have Tony Gwynn raving about your hitting.

It was a good story ten years ago. I’m sure if he makes the majors, they’ll bring it up again.

by Josh Timmers on Apr 19, 2011 11:51 AM CDT up reply actions

nice

by John T. Unger on Apr 19, 2011 10:31 AM CDT up reply actions

Nice interview!

by MadHatterBlues on Apr 19, 2011 2:54 AM CDT reply actions

A couple observations.

Many of the hits off of Simpson were of the cheap variety. Infield choppers. Bloops. Outfield misreads.

Cerda is probably our most professional hitter. If you would drag him out of bed in January, blindfold him, drive him to an airport, fly him to somplace he’s never been with blaring noises in the plane, drop him off at a ballfield that is so unkempt that it hardly qualifies, and send him up against a quality pitcher in the middle of throwing a shutout, Cerda would still give a quality AB. He’d probably take the first two pitches. He strikes me as the type of guy that, if things play out properly, could channel Lenny Harris for a decade.

by timh815 on Apr 19, 2011 7:16 AM CDT reply actions

Yep...

keep an eye on Cerda…reason #24089324u03258320523485342 the Traded Four will become a mere memory.

by SenorGato on Apr 19, 2011 8:49 AM CDT up reply actions

Yes

the field conditions were poor. I don’t want to read much into anything in that game.

I think Cerda has more power than Harris (Harris had 21 HRs in 18 years), but otherwise you’re right. Cerda is just a pure hitter.

by Josh Timmers on Apr 19, 2011 11:58 AM CDT up reply actions

Since you sort of answer my question,

I will ask, is Jae-Hoon-Ha a legit prospect?

by Grockcubs on Apr 19, 2011 7:43 AM CDT reply actions

Could be.

It depends on your definition. Anyone that can represent .350 with speed and two defensive tools (at 20) at High-A is on the correct path.

He will play in the bigs if he continues to improve, but he probably won’t be a fifth hitter unless he starts to take walks.

My definition of Prospect involves a legit chance at 3000 big league AB or 1000 big league IP. Ha qualifies under my terms as probably a Top 5 or 6 hitter in the system. If your definition requires an All-Star start, probably not.

by timh815 on Apr 19, 2011 7:59 AM CDT up reply actions

What would a scout say about him...

What kind of upside does he have? I know he’s not some random dude…he’s part of our ventures into Korea….but beyond that shrugs. The strikeouts aren’t excessive but like you say he’s definitely got to learn to walk more.

by SenorGato on Apr 19, 2011 8:52 AM CDT up reply actions

He just doesn't go deep in counts

a lot of what people said about Vitters applies to Ha, but the difference is that everyone expected Vitters to be an all-star whereas there aren’t really many expectations for Ha yet.

Right now he’s not facing a pitcher with the stuff to fool him. The issue is when he moves up the ladder, is he going to lay off those nasty sliders or is he going to keep swinging and start making some weak outs.

But anyone who’s 20 years old and thrashing the Florida State League like this, well, you’ve got to take him seriously. If he keeps doing this through June, he’ll probably get promoted to Tennessee, and then we’ll get a real good idea of what kind of a prospect he is. Other than to the majors, there isn’t a tougher jump than from High-A to Double-A.

by Josh Timmers on Apr 19, 2011 12:08 PM CDT up reply actions

Regarding scouts

Players have rarely completed their skillsets by their late twenties.

Ha has helium going forward. I feel ridiculous talking about upside comps. I think he can do well enough to hit well in AA soon. For me, hitting in AA in a timely fashion is key. If you can do that (think Colvin), you can get a timely look at a shot in the bigs. Beyond that, it’s a question of holding your own against the best in the world (think Samardzija).

Sometimes you’re ready and you improve. Sometimes you’re not, and you don’t. Opportunity will present itself soon for Ha. I think he will take advantage of his chance.

by timh815 on Apr 19, 2011 2:04 PM CDT up reply actions

I wonder if Jackson pitches well

if he will be considered to start if Wells isn’t ready.

Tyler Andrew Davis - Born 4.5.11
A Cub fan forever more... just like his dad.

by Unique on Apr 19, 2011 8:13 AM CDT reply actions

If he were healthy

I think he would have gotten the call in place of the Russell starts. But to get him ready to pitch in the majors before Wells gets back might be asking too much.

by Josh Timmers on Apr 19, 2011 12:09 PM CDT up reply actions

Sorry if this has been asked, but what the heck are they doing with Castillo?

He’s been owning the minor’s for most of the last three years and yet they send him to High A ball after destroying spring training pitching? Are they trying to teach him how to handle pitchers and call games as a catcher? Is he trade bait?

At $300 million, I don't want Albert Pujols anywhere near the Cubs.

by DisCUBbobulated on Apr 19, 2011 9:09 AM CDT reply actions

Rehab assignment

He suffered an injury at the end of big league camp and was slowly getting into the groove of things in Daytona.

by RynoRooter on Apr 19, 2011 9:21 AM CDT up reply actions

OK.. thanks..

At $300 million, I don't want Albert Pujols anywhere near the Cubs.

by DisCUBbobulated on Apr 19, 2011 9:27 AM CDT up reply actions

Plus...

… the weather is better in Florida, they wanted to make sure he’d get playing time in good weather conditions instead of this awful cold, wet stuff he’d get if he were at Iowa.

Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago

by Al Yellon on Apr 19, 2011 9:49 AM CDT up reply actions

As Josh explained before

Daytona has the full-time DH, so Castillo could hit while his arm/finger/whatever healed. Now he can catch again, so he’ll be back in Iowa.

No one should be untouchable on this roster unless his name is Eliot Ness...or Starlin Castro.

by cubzfan on Apr 19, 2011 10:35 AM CDT up reply actions

by cubzfan on Apr 19, 2011 4:11 PM CDT up reply actions

When Hurricane season hits

the FSL can lose at least a week, yeah.

by Josh Timmers on Apr 19, 2011 6:24 PM CDT up reply actions

I-Cubs Rained Out for April 19

The Iowa Cubs game tonight (April 19) has already been rained out. The I-Cubs will play a doubleheader tomorrow (April 20) against Albuquerque starting at 12:05 PM central in Des Moines.

2011 - The 103rd time is the charm.

by memphiscub on Apr 19, 2011 10:22 AM CDT reply actions