Cubs Minor League Wrap: May 30
by Josh Timmers on May 30, 2011 10:32 PM CDT
in Minor Leagues
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The Iowa Cubs derailed the Round Rock Express (Rangers), 8-6
Ramon Ortiz started and picked up the win with eight solid innings. He allowed three runs on six hits. Ortiz walked three and struck out three.
Esmailin Caridad collected his third save after Blake Parker failed to retire anyone in the ninth inning. Caridad pitched an inning and allowed no runs on one hit. He did allow one runner inherited from Parker to score. Caridad did not walk anyone and struck out two.
Catcher Welington Castillo hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning. It was his third home run this year. Castillo was 1 for 5 and scored twice.
Second baseman Marquez Smith had two doubles in a 2 for 4 game. Smith scored twice and had one RBI.
Third baseman Scott Moore went 2 for 4 with a double. He scored once. Center fielder Matt Camp was 2 for 4 with an RBI and a stolen base.
Tennessee Smokies
The Tennessee Smokies were extinguished by the Huntsville Stars, 4-3.
Brooks Raley was let down by his defense as he allowed three runs, all unearned, over six innings. Raley surrendered six hits. He walked one and struck out one as his record dropped to 2-4.
Catcher Blake Lalli hit two solo home runs today, the first in the seventh and the second in the ninth. He now has six home runs this year. Lalli was 2 for 4.
Right fielder Nelson Perez was 2 for 4 with a double and a run scored.
Center fielder Brett Jackson returned to the lineup tonight. He was 0 for 4 with three strikeouts.
Daytona Cubs
Took the day off, basking in the idea that a team named "Cubs" could actually win twelve games in a row.
Peoria Chiefs
The Peoria Chiefs were creamed by the Cedar Rapids Kernels, 7-5.
Cam Greathouse started and he only allowed one hit and no runs over the 2.2 innings he pitched. He also struck out six. That would be a great day except for the six walks he issued. Greathouse has held opposing hitters to a .195 batting average this season. He has struck out a batter an inning. (43 in 43.1 innings) He's also walking 7.9 batters per nine innings.
Robinson Lopez took the mound in the bottom of the eighth inning with the Chiefs leading 5-4. He gave up three runs in the one inning he pitched to take the loss. Lopez allowed the three runs on three hits and two walks. He did not record a strike out.
Center fielder Matt Szczur hit his second home run in as many days with a solo shot in the sixth inning. Szczur was 2 for 4 with a double and a walk. He had two RBI.
DH Ryan Cuneo went 4 for 5 with two doubles. Cuneo had one RBI.
First baseman Richard Jones was 2 for 5 and scored once. Shorstop Arismendy Alcantara had a double and a triple in a 2 for 5 game. He scored twice and had one RBI.
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Every day
Szczur is going something like 2-4. I can’t wait for his promotion to AA. You would think might happen relatively soon since he has to be added to the 40 man in December anyways, no?
Come on Lisa, I'm trying to impress people here. You don't win friends with salad. ~ Homer J. Simpson
by TheBeerBaron on May 30, 2011 11:26 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
And the thing is...
the 2-4s lately have been doubles and even a couple of HRs. Times are good for Szczur, and I can’t wait to see what he does in AA.
I think he’ll be in AA in August at the latest.
Well I don't know if he's going to skip Daytona or not..
but if he keeps it up, who knows?
"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"
This
Given the OF depth we have, I think Daytona is probably as far as he goes. And given that this is the first year he has concentrated solely on baseball, I think it’s probably smart. If he keeps killing in upon the promotion to Daytona, start him in AA next year. Absolutely no need to rush him.
This is the case.
You’ve already got OFers at Daytona ready to move up to Tennessee, no point in having someone skip Daytona entirely to get the promotion to AA. Someone like Ha will move up permanently first before Szczur. I expect Ha to move to Tennessee in June/July, Szczur to move to Daytona in July/August and BJax up to man CF in September.
If Szczur does well in Daytona to end 2011, he could start 2012 in Tennessee in center and push Ha over to a corner spot.
I'd be surprised if they push him.
It’s his first year focusing only on baseball.
I don't see that
as pushing him at all. Tennessee at any point is this season would definitely be pushing it. Whenever he gets sent to Daytona, he should spend the rest of the season there, IMO.
There will probably be a chain reaction of promotions
Since Brett Jackson is first in line to make it to Wrigley. Ha will be re-promoted to replace Jackson, and Szczur will be promoted to replace Ha.
"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)
Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)
2002
Call me crazy, but I can see that kid starting a World Series game one day.
by Josh Timmers on May 31, 2011 3:00 AM CDT up reply actions
So, is Doctor Emmitt Brown's prediction
of a 2015 World Series win going to actually happen?
Come on Lisa, I'm trying to impress people here. You don't win friends with salad. ~ Homer J. Simpson
Only if the Marlins move to the AL.
Because that’s who the Cubs were supposed to beat, “Miami”.
Join us for complete MLB coverage at SB Nation's Baseball Nation
Isn't there talk about realignment?
Maybe Marlins and Rays become one team and renamed to Gators! Make it happen Bud!
by ubercubsfan on May 31, 2011 10:36 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Going to see the Smokies for my birthday in July
It would be a lot of fun to see Jackson, Vitters, LeMahieu, et all, play together. I’ve never really seen a prospect at the minor league level who developed into something in the majors.
I would bet LeMahieu never sees AA again
He likely goes down to AAA when Baker is off the DL.
Apparently he's was heading to Iowa
when Baker got hurt. Oneir Fleita called him and told him that there was a “change of plans” which made LeMahieu think he got traded.
by Josh Timmers on May 31, 2011 10:56 AM CDT up reply actions
I saw Frank Thomas play for Sarasota when I was a kid
He was HUGE. By far the biggest person on the field, or in the park for that matter.
"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)
Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)
I saw Magglio Ordonez in Nashville a couple of months before his promotion
I had no idea who he was. But he was a monster compared to the rest of the players on either team. Nobody else was even close.
It's a simple question, Doctor: would you eat the moon if it were made of ribs??
by Invalid User on May 31, 2011 1:22 PM CDT up reply actions
Hayden Simpson
I hope Hayden can recover from whatever it is causing him trouble this season. His velocity is supposed to be down to the mid-80’s most of this season. I know he was recovering from mono at one point. Supposedly his control is looking great, but an 85 mph fastball won’t play in Wrigley.
No concrete proof, so take with a grain of salt
But a guy I occasionally talk to that has “connections” to someone in the scouting/minor league scene for the Cubs says Simpson was hand-clocked at 94 in his last start. He obviously wasn’t sitting there yet, but he at least touched 94.
If true, it would be a welcome relief. The closer he gets to his pre-mono weight and strength, the better results we should be seeing.
Very glad to hear that, I had heard he was "touching" low 90s, but couldn't find a single report on the start.
94 is better than low 90s and if he’s getting back there, that means there is potential for him reaching his potential. Good deal!
Dominican League Notes
Once again, just the bonus babies and any interesting performances:
-Carlos Penalver, SS – 1 for 3, BB,SB
-Jeimer Candelerio, 3B – 1 for 3 (Fun fact about him. He was signed out of the Dominican for several hundred thousand, but was actually born in NYC)
-Antonio Gonzalez, 2B/SS – 2 for 2, BB, SB, CS
- Francisco (Daniel) Sanchez, SS – 1 for 4, BB, K
- Jeffrey Baez, OF – 2 for 4, HR, BB, K
- Gilberto Abreu, RHP – 3 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 Ks
Baez is a 17 year old OFer we signed from Venezuela last year for $350K (3rd roundish money) who was supposed to have every tool but HR power. Seeing him hit a HR already is nice.
I was going to ask about Baez...
It’s like you read my mind man when you explained who he was.
I hope he becomes interesting.
Obviously I haven't seen him in person
I am just regurgitating what BA had to say about him. But he sounds like a very interesting guy to follow. Just given the amount of 6 figure bonuses given out to guys currently in the DSL this year, those 2 teams down there will be fun to monitor.
Oh, almost forgot
The DSL Cubs 1 took 11 team walks in an 8 inning game yesterday. That is unheard of for (a) A Cubs affiliate to take that many walks, and (b) Young Dominicans to take that many walks. That might sound racist, but there is a saying down there that “You don’t walk your way off the island.”
How big of a player d'you think the Cubs will be
in the IFA market this year?
Also, are there any other young interesting IFA signings we've made?
What happened to the one kid…the pitcher…I’m guessing the name was Heredia, but I’m not actually sure.
We haven't made any 2011 international signings
But that is because you can’t until the first part of July. Our 6 figure bonuses last year were to the aforementioned:
Candelrio
Panalver
Sanchez
Abreu
Baez
Gonzalez
along with:
Jin-Yeong Kim, RHP
Angel Mejias, LHP
Alberto Mineo, C – In European Baseball Academy
Alexander Santana, RHP
Rubi Silva, OF
Yaniel Cabeza, C
Maybe someone else knows more than I do
because I have no idea. I would guess that it would depend upon our draft spending. If we spend $10 million on the draft, our international budget probably takes a huge hit.
Hopefully, but not necessarily
I still think Bubba signs for $6 million, leaving $4 million left. While I would hate to see it, Wilken could go slot the rest of the way and not come close to $4 million.
In the last few mocks that I've seen
he’s been taken before #9. I did see some talk of him going #1 overall.
by jerry morales rules on May 31, 2011 11:49 AM CDT up reply actions
The most recent mock on The Bleacher Report
has Bubba going to the Cubs at #9 actually. Much of the reasoning is because they will have the money to pony up to get him to give up his commitment to Nebraska.
Come on Lisa, I'm trying to impress people here. You don't win friends with salad. ~ Homer J. Simpson
by TheBeerBaron on May 31, 2011 12:06 PM CDT up reply actions
I hope that's the way it works out
but it does seem that other teams are really kicking the tires on him too. Dbacks, Royals, Nats.
Keith Law was the one who said that the Pirates haven’t ruled him out at #1.
by jerry morales rules on May 31, 2011 12:18 PM CDT up reply actions
Predicting this draft
Is very difficult since no one seems to know who the Pirates are going to take. Latest I’ve heard is Hultzen.
As far as Bleacher Report goes, my opinion of them is probably less than Al’s. If I wrote up a mock draft, it would probably have more value.
My personal opinion (and that’s all it is) is that if the Nats pass on Starling, he falls to us.
by Josh Timmers on May 31, 2011 12:26 PM CDT up reply actions
The real wild card in this draft is the Royals.
The top 4, pretty much regardless of who drafts them, are Rendon, Cole, Hultzen and Bundy. The Royals at 5 have a TON of options that will determine the way the rest of the draft turns out.
I hear they're determined
to take a college pitcher. And I’m not convinced that Cole goes before Bauer anymore. The Royals will probably take whichever one of those two UCLA pitchers who falls to them.
by Josh Timmers on May 31, 2011 12:37 PM CDT up reply actions
With all the uncertainty...
it seems to me this is a great draft to pick where the Cubs pick and not higher up. It’s a deep draft, but the top seems full of guys who could be huge mistakes. Seems like every week, last week’s #1 is falling big for one reason or another.
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by jameslcrockett on May 31, 2011 1:42 PM CDT up reply actions
This is the most excited i have been about a MLB draft ever i think.
Starling would be a huge boost to this organization i feel, but if he’s not there, i wouldnt opposed to Springer. They need a power hitter in the system, a legit guy.
Springer would be fine
if we spend 6 mil-ish in bonuses.
If ownership is waiting for fans to arrive be4 spending on Draft bonuses…….
Do you know much about him?
My knowledge is limited, you know height weight tools etc.? the most ive heard i think is that he is a college version of Starling.
He has a very similar story to Starling
Springer could have made a lot of money out of high school, but Boras has a hardon for sending his kids to colleges, and he’s usually been right.
Check out yahoo’s MLB page. It’s a good jumping off point for stories about the players, and Baseball America obviously
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Just North of Wrigley Field
by jameslcrockett on May 31, 2011 2:29 PM CDT up reply actions
He's good, yeah.
But in a historically good draft, I don’t want Springer being the best guy we’re willing to afford.
I think you're selling Springer short.
He’s a top 12-13 talent in this draft. 9 isn’t a reach at all.
If there are 4 better players,
take one of them.
I'm not really all that concerned...
with taking a guy (like Bell) who we might not be able to sign, since there’s still the rule that awards a team a comparable 1st rd pick to a team that doesn’t sign theirs. It would be worth the risk if Starling is there. Given who I’ve seen will be available at #9, Springer would be a pick I’d be satisfied with and be pretty upset about passing him over for this high school RHP that’s jumping up the boards.
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Just North of Wrigley Field
by jameslcrockett on Jun 1, 2011 3:26 AM CDT up reply actions
You mean Starling?
I wouldn’t think it would take the same to sign Springer… but god help us if the Cubs start passing up on guys with the 9th pick because they “can’t afford them.”
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by jameslcrockett on May 31, 2011 2:27 PM CDT up reply actions
That's my concern
Springer, fine. As long as it isn’t “Springer because Archie Bradley and Bubba Starling want to get paid.”
Oh i agree
If Starling is there, you run to the podium. If Rendon somehow falls, ya take him. But I’m saying if teams don’t shy away and snatch these guys, then I’d like to Springer.
My eight would be
Rendon, Cole, Bauer, Starling, Hultzen, Bundy, Archie Bradley, Jed Bradley.
If those 8 are gone, Springer or Guerreri would be fine. Lindor, I roll my eyes.
Anything other than that, I’ll need to up the meds.
We really need to get solid talent after round one. No skimping due to low attendance numbers. Why blame me for staying away when the Buccos school us in Wrigley?
No Barnes?
I dont want Guerreiri at 9, I don’t want Jed Bradley at all, I don’t want Gray at 9.
Not sure if you've seen it
as I haven’t seen you around in awhile, but Bradley’s velocity took a nosedive at the end of the year. He was 86-88 in his last couple starts. He could push himself back into the top 10 with a great postseason, but he definately has fallen a ways.
My Iowa source
hasn’t mentioned him. I’ll ask next time I talk to him.
He’s still walking a ton. He’s gotten better results the last four times he pitched. Before that, it was ugly like the rest of Iowa.
by Josh Timmers on May 31, 2011 12:29 PM CDT up reply actions
How's this pitcher for Houston tonight?
Minor league pitcher of the year in 2010? Yikes! Any insight?
by bleedinblue76 on May 31, 2011 3:09 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
More of a #3 type, IMO
Average fastball (89-92) but good breaking ball and changeup. Good command.
Oh great..maybe I shouldn’t start Z vs him..Big Z dominates the Stros though! Sigh
by bleedinblue76 on May 31, 2011 3:24 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
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