Cubs Minor League Wrap: May 26
by Josh Timmers on May 26, 2011 11:43 PM CDT
in Minor Leagues
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The Iowa Cubs were abducted by the Las Vegas 51s (Blue Jays), 6-3
Starter J.R. Mathes took the loss as he gave up five runs on eight hits over five innings. Mathes walked three and struck out one.
Right fielder Brad Snyder was 2 for 4 and scored once. Catcher Steve Clevenger was 2 for 3 with a walk.
Tennessee Smokies
The Smokies game was postponed because of weather. They'll try to win their tenth and eleventh game in a row tomorrow. They'll have Geovany Soto on a rehab assignment to help them do it.
Daytona Cubs
The Daytona Cubs won their ninth game in a row, 6-4 over the Bradenton Marauders (Pirates). The win gets Daytona to the magic .750 mark as their record now stands at 36-12.
Starting pitcher Dae-Eun Rhee allowed two runs on two solo home runs, but was otherwise unscored upon over five innings. Rhee gave up five hits. Most remarkably, he walked one and struck out ten.
Brett Ebinger blew the lead but got the win when Daytona came back. Ebinger pitched two innings and allowed two runs on three hits. He did not issue a walk and he struck out one.
Frank Batista has been a big reason for the D-Cubs success this season and he collected his 13th save tonight. Batista entered the game with the bases loaded and two out in the eighth and got a strike out to escape the jam. He was perfect over 1.1 innings and he struck out three.
First baseman Justin Bour went deep again, the 13th time he's left the yard this season. It was a two-run homer in the fourth inning. Bour was 1 for 4.
Third baseman Matt Cerda went 2 for 4. He scored once and batted one in. Left fielder Evan Crawford had a double and a stolen base in a 2 for 3 game. Crawford scored twice. Catcher Michael Brenly went 2 for 2 with a run scored.
Peoria Chiefs
The Chiefs swept a double-header against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Brewers), winning the suspended game 6-4 and winning the regularly scheduled game 4-1.
Graham Hicks started this game yesterday and pitched three innings before the rains came. He gave up one run on three hits. He did not walk anyone and struck out two.
Cam Greathouse picked up the game today and got the win because Hicks didn't pitch five innings. Greathouse pitched two innings and allowed two runs on four hits. He walked three and struck out two.
Robinson Lopez pitched the final two innings and got his first save. Lopez allowed one run on three hits. He did not walk anyone and struck out two.
Second baseman Pierre LePage hit his second home run this year yesterday in the second inning. It was a two-run home run. LePage was 3 for 4 and scored twice.
Right fielder Anthony Giansanti was 2 for 3 with a double in game one.
In the second game, starter Hayden Simpson got his first win as a professional. He allowed only one unearned run on two hits over five innings. He only walked one and struck out seven.
Eric Jokisch pitched the final two innings without allowing a run and got the save. He gave up just two hits and two walks. Jokisch fanned two.
Right fielder Anthony Giansanti hit a homered with a man on in the fifth inning of the second game. It was his fifth home run this year. Giansanti went 1 for 2 in he second game for a 3 for 5 day.
Third baseman Greg Rohan went 2 for 3 with a double in game two.
Center fielder Matt Szczur doubled in both games to give him an 11 game hitting streak. Szczur was 2 for 7 on the day.
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What kind of stuff does
Dae-Eun Rhee have? Good start for him.
Good to see Simpson have a strong night.
Graham Hicks continues to climb towards being a real prospect.
Szczur’s up to 8 doubles I think…that’s good.
Before he was hurt
he had an awesome changeup and threw in the low 90s. Then he missed most of 2008 and 2009 with TJ surgery and last year most of his stuff was gone.
I don’t have a report on him this year. Last year he was throwing 88-90 and he’d lost the feel for his changeup. If he gets back to where he was in 2008, he’s a good prospect. Otherwise, not so much.
by Josh Timmers on May 27, 2011 12:52 AM CDT up reply actions
I had heard he wasn't even throwing the split-change last year
Leading some to question whether or not it was the culprit behind the arm injuries. Without that pitch, he isn’t even a prospect. I haven’t heard if he is throwing the pitch yet this year or not, but with 10 Ks in only 5 IP yesterday, I would venture to guess that it has found its way back into his arsenal.
I just found out he's left handed.
That’s always good to hear. That’s an advantage for him.
So he doesn't lose the
WHOLE advantage.
by SenorGato on May 27, 2011 12:40 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Dae-Eun Rhee
He was very highly touted before he got hurt and it seems like he’s returning to form. Let’s hope he can continue to turn it around.
I got a report that says that Simpson’s velocity has increased but still not quite up to the mid-90s yet.
"It's easy to do what's ordinary, it's difficult to do what's deemed impossible -- I guess that explains why my life is so hard, because nothing is impossible for me"
Rhee
Josh 77 your scouting reports are pretty pedestrian. He threw a 12-6 curveball that has been affected by the TJ surgery same as Kerry Wood. You’re great at reading box scores but can we actually get some informed analysis.
by joeby231 on May 27, 2011 4:07 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs
This is a joke, right?
Seriously, somebody asked about Rhee and Josh gave a pretty good and concise answer. Hell, he even mentioned that he didn’t have a report on Rhee this year yet. And you’re gonna jump on his case? You could should have removed the first and last sentences in your post.
If you know something that isn’t mentioned add to it. Get your knowledge out there to help others.
They have two liter bottles now? To think I spent all that time demanding a liter!
While I agree with your point.
I don’t see how calling this guy “stupid” is worth it. Really, he isn’t worth arguing with.
"It's easy to do what's ordinary, it's difficult to do what's deemed impossible -- I guess that explains why my life is so hard, because nothing is impossible for me"
by Unique on May 27, 2011 7:59 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Basically
I just like Futurama a lot (too much) and I giggle a little whenever I see that picture. Not trying to call the other guy stupid per se… Just totally disagree with what he was getting at.
They have two liter bottles now? To think I spent all that time demanding a liter!
joe by 2 3 1
how about hanging around for a while to actually see that Josh is the resident expert on our minor leagues before you say that all he is doing is reporting on the box score
Sure
If you want to all chip in for me to tour the minor leagues, I’ll get you great scouting reports. Otherwise, I’m limited to what people send me.
by Josh Timmers on May 27, 2011 11:59 AM CDT up reply actions
Campana
In John Perotto’s BP notes column today, he quotes an unnamed scout as saying Campana timed 3.8 getting down the line . He went on to say if he can start putting the ball in play more, he could be dangerous with that type of insane speed. Josh, where does he profile, realistically, on defense? I wonder if the scout was talking about his utility being a speed guy off the bench or as an everyday leadoff hitter.
by Mmurton on May 27, 2011 7:57 AM CDT via mobile reply actions
I am probably wrong with what I am writing...
as I am just looking at stats on this one and have no scouting reports to look at…
The problem with Tony (and I think its been said here before as well) is he doesnt walk much – his career in the minors has him with 98 walks and 203 K’s in 1178 career PA’s (not quite 2 MLB seasons) – this would put him around 45-50 walks to 100 K’s – he was doing worse than that in a SSS visit in AAA but about that in AA last year. As a comparison Brett Jackson has 128 BB to 212 K’s in about 350 fewer AB’s – which would probably put him around 70-80 walks and 130ish K’s so a similar BB/K ratio but a better OBP.
Career wise he has 144 steals against 42 CS – that puts him at 77% which is a positive – I think John was correct that he needs to keep putting the ball in play and work on making contact when he swings (again solely based on the stats) in order to be a somewhat effective MLB leadoff guy but with Brett Jackson (who has an OBP that is roughly 50 points higher than Campana’s career OBP) coming up as the leadoff hitter of the future Campana may be relegated to defensive replacement for Soriano and PR for a couple of years.
Personally I would love to see the Cubs stick Campana in CF full time while Byrd is out and hit Campana, Barney, Castro at the top of the lineup until Campana fails (hopefully never) or until Byrd is traded (thereby allowing Jackson to be called up).
FWIW – Jackson is on pace right now to hit about 20 homers in the PCL – if he can translate that into 15 dingers in the majors and increase that as he gets older to 25-30 he may be a good #3 hitter – provided we dont get Fielder/Pujols.
Yes the first thing I noticed about Campana was his low walk rate
which is not good for a guy without power. However since he has been brought up he likely would have lost his plate discpline and joined the rest of the team in that. For now he absolutly should start against lefties and platoon with Johnson. I have no clue why Quade did not start doing that as soon as Byrd went down.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either
by Doggie Stalker on May 27, 2011 8:53 AM CDT up reply actions
You mean Campana vs. RHP and Johnson vs. LHP, right?
Join us for complete MLB coverage at SB Nation's Baseball Nation
um yes
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either
by Doggie Stalker on May 27, 2011 9:23 AM CDT up reply actions
hopefully yesterday
was a sign of things to come – Campana starting that is – it would be a nice thing to have a true speed threat on the team – seems like when pitchers become distracted by the guy on base good things tend to happen…
by hansman1982 on May 27, 2011 10:00 AM CDT up reply actions
But in terms of lineup construction
speed always trumps high OBP in the leadoff spot. I’d rather have Campana leading off over BJax, but only if he could sustain a 330-340ish OBP. With that type of speed, he’ll turn a lot of ground outs into singles and a lot of those singles (or walks) will turn into doubles basically. In that sense, maybe down the road if everything breaks right, you could have Campana/BJax/Castro be the future 1-3 in the lineup, maybe Fielder batting cleanup……
In comes the old adage......
“You can’t steal 1st base”
Obp>>>>>>>speed
That kind of thinking led to Juan pierre.
by SenorGato on May 27, 2011 12:42 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Also my dream lineup
For the future would not have campana in it at all, let alone first.
by SenorGato on May 27, 2011 12:43 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Where did I say my dream lineup would have Campana leading off?
My dream lineup would probably have a 25 year old Ricky Henderson leading off. I said “if everything breaks right” meaning players reaching their ceilings.
IF Campana gets close to his ceiling and IF he could maintain a 330-340 OBP, batting him leadoff would allow the Cubs to maximize his game changing speed.
Oh come on...
how cheap is that? OK, in an optimal future lineup using the guys we have now…Campana isn’t even starting, let alone leading off. Was that more clear?
A .330-.340 OBP from the leadoff hitter would absolutely suck.
not always necessarily, you want high OBP throughout your lineup
but Campana type speed changes things. There are not a lot of guys in the majors that move as fast as Campana. He’s got Vince Coleman type of quickness. He could be a consistent 50+ basestealer per season and with a 340ish OBP, that would be excellent production. BJax looks like he’s going to have 20+ HR power that is probably better suited for the middle of the lineup where he can drive in more runs. I’m not opposed to BJax leading off, but it would really be a waste of his power potential…..
BJax leading off makes more sense than Campana for two reasons:
1 – He’s a better hitter.
2- He gets on base more.
There’s no point in having “game changing speed” if you HOPE his OBP is .340…As recently as 2 seasons ago the league OBP was .33something…it’s lower nowadays, but even then…meh.
Now if he were to go Brett Gardner...
and post some OBPs in the .380 range with more walks and less Ks…then sure. But nothing in his track record says that’s happening.
Campana appears to be the new shiny toy.
I agree with you that he isn’t a leadoff hitter or even a major league regular.
In comparison with Gardner, Gardner had a much higher OBP in the minors and obviously more power.
John Grabow: $4.8 million in 2011.
Simpson
That’s a very good start by him. Does anybody have any reports as to how hard he was throwing?
Someone said his velocity was up
Not to where it was last season, but above the 88 he was throwing a few weeks ago.
by Josh Timmers on May 27, 2011 12:03 PM CDT up reply actions
Well that's a start
I’m not expecting 97 out of him yet. But some consistent low 90’s would at least be encouraging.
Very very happy
to see Hayden pitch well yesterday, hopefully he’s near full strength. Bour keeps hitting as well, now eclipsing his HR total from last season.
Exciting times
I have lurked on this board for many years, finally decided to start posting. Great to see some positive performances from Simpson and Rhee. I think the farm is under-sold a bit these days. So much talk about “ceiling”. What was Youkilis’ or Pedroa’s ceiling in the minors? Sometimes guys exceed their ceilings and it seems to happen more with the guys who know how to play and love the game (B-Jax, Barney, etc.)
by Shakedown Street on May 27, 2011 10:20 AM CDT reply actions
Oops
Also meant to say great job to Josh! I rely on these updates to get me through awful seasons like this. More people than you know read the Minor League Report.
by Shakedown Street on May 27, 2011 10:41 AM CDT up reply actions
At what point do they move Szcur up to Daytona?
Don’t want him moved too fast, but it would be nice to see him get closer to Chicago.
Baseball America
has a story up today about Simpson. It’s behind the pay wall, but I’ll quickly summarize. It talks about three myths about Simpson. First is that he went to Southern Arkansas because no one else wanted him, but he said that most Big 12 and a few SEC schools recruited him. But the Southern Arkansas coach was a neighbor who had been following him since long before the other schools showed up.
The second is the whole 6-10th round pick thing. He said that several teams had told him they were interested in him in the second or third round and that the Angels and Rays were interested in the first round in addition to the Cubs. (We’ve heard of the Angels interest before, but this is the first I’ve heard of the Rays interest. They had the pick directly after the Cubs. They also had two comp picks.)
The third is that he wasn’t that sick. He was really, really sick. He didn’t eat solid food until September. He got sick at his first trip to Wrigley after signing. He couldn’t pick up a baseball until late November. He obviously lost a lot of weight and his velocity still isn’t back to where it was.
Finally, Micah Gibbs says some nice things about him.
Yep
I didn’t realize he couldn’t eat solid food for so long, but I had heard he reported to spring camp weighing 140 lbs, about 35 lbs off his playing weight of 175 as a senior. That’s a 20% loss in body weight.
As I’ve been saying since the beginning of the season, I just want him to stay healthy during the season. Maybe I’ll put a bit more stock in his late August starts, but to take much away from his performance right now would be worthless.
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