Cubs Minor League Wrap: May 8

by Josh Timmers on May 8, 2011 7:30 PM CDT in Minor Leagues

Happy Mother's day to every mother out there, but especially to my darling wife and my wonderful mother. A mention in the Minor League Wrap is a lot better than a card, isn't it?

The Tennessee Smokies and Daytona Cubs took the day off to spend with their mothers. No, I am not implying that the Iowa Cubs and the Peoria Chiefs hate their mothers.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs were blown away by the New Orleans Zephyrs (Marlins), 11-8.

The wind was ~~howling out~~ swirling in Des Moines today, but starter J.R. Mathes managed to only surrender one home run. Unfortunately, he had trouble throwing strikes and that home run was a grand slam. Mathes got the loss by allowing eight runs on seven hits over five innings. He walked five and struck out only one. He also hit two batters.

The I-Cubs lost today despite out-homering the Zephyrs five to one. The big bat belonged to first baseman Bryan LaHair, who went deep twice with a pair of two-run home runs in the second and fourth innings. LaHair was 2 for 3 with a walk and now has six home runs this season.

Center fielder Fernando Perez was 2 for 5 with his first home run this season. It was with the bases empty in the third inning. Catcher Welington Castillo hit his solo home run in the fourth inning in his 1 for 3 afternoon. He also walked once. Castillo now has two homers this season.

Finally, right fielder Brad Snyder ended the home run barrage with a solo home run in the seventh. Snyder was 1 for 4.

Third baseman Marquez Smith was 2 for 3 with a walk. He scored twice and had one RBI.

Peoria Chiefs

The Peoria Chiefs trapped the Kane County Cougars, 4-1.

Su-Ming Jung got his first win of the year in his second start with 6.1 strong innings. He allowed only one run after scattering seven hits. He didn't walk anyone and struck out two.

Marcus Hatley collected his first save with a perfect ninth inning. Hatley struck out one.

Second baseman Pierre LePage was 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored. He also stole his third base of the year.

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Comments

I attended the ICubs game today

and got to see about 4 plays – my wife and I went with our 15 month old son who lasted 2 2/3rd with 1 tantrum and no pd allowed (poopy diapers) – the wind wasnt blowing out as it was blowing from about 100 degrees (with E being 90 and S being 180) so a tad out to left which definately aided Perez’s homer that landed in the 2nd row of the suite seats. I did get a chance to watch a couple of his plays in the field and he looks 100 times better than what I saw on TV.

Beef did get a CS in the 4th-ish, runner got a decent jump but the throw was a bullet and placed so the 2bman didnt have to move his glove much to tag the runner out.

by hansman1982 on May 8, 2011 9:11 PM CDT reply actions

You're right

I misread the weather directions. So it wasn’t just the wind.

by Josh Timmers on May 9, 2011 1:05 AM CDT up reply actions

Josh, if Mathes and Diamond don't make significant improvements

or have some as yet unknown injury would one or both not be a candidate for release at the end of the first half of the season if not before? I get that the Cubs stock up career minor leaguers in Iowa, especially it seems starting pitching, but at some point don’t you give up on guys with ERA’s closer to double digits then league average? It is not like either would be sent to TN to get better.

"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either

by Doggie Stalker on May 8, 2011 11:46 PM CDT reply actions

Mathes and Diamond are there for one thing

To make starts for the Iowa Cubs. Someone has to do it. When the have someone else that they want to make starts for Iowa, they will release them. Actually, they’d probably move Mathes to the bullpen first. But it’s not going to have anything to do with how well or how poorly they pitch. It will have to do with if and when they want someone else to pitch in Triple-A.

by Josh Timmers on May 9, 2011 1:14 AM CDT up reply actions

I get why they are there

but can they really stay with ERAs in the range of 9? Presumably the Cubs would look around from some other career minor leaguer that can at least give the paying fans a chance to see a win,

"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either

by Doggie Stalker on May 9, 2011 1:31 AM CDT up reply actions

Why not?

Do the Cubs really care if the Iowa Cubs win or lose? They’d rather they win than lose, I guess, but it’s about #8 on their list of concerns.

Heck, I’d bet 90% of the fans in the stands at an Iowa Cubs game don’t care if the team wins or loses.

One would guess that if Diamond or Mathes keep getting shelled, they might themselves decide to hang it up like Wellemeyer did. (Although I suspect Wellemeyer was hurt.) It’s possible that the Cubs might encourage them to do so. But they aren’t going to promote Trey McNutt or Robert Whitenack to Iowa to make a start just because Diamond and Mathes are losing ballgames right and left. When they think someone is ready to pitch for Iowa, they’ll make a roster decision about who to cut loose then and not before.

by Josh Timmers on May 9, 2011 1:46 AM CDT up reply actions

agree

here in Des Moines we dont care much if they win or lose – it seems to me that most people (myself included) go for 2 reasons – the weather and big names coming through. Whenever a big leaguer comes to town on a rehab start the stands are packed, when Prior came through the stands were packed and Sec Taylor Field at Principal Park was buzzing.

Even at the tail end of last year with the playoffs in reach the stands werent packed on a regular occasion. I think even if Brett Jackson were to come up it wouldnt be as big of a deal. The I-Cubs are more something to do in Des Moines than a team to follow. Baseball just isnt that big in this area, hell the Hawkeyes are in the post-season hunt and are the only other big-time baseball team in Iowa and you dont hear much about them. For us it goes Football, MLB, basketball, wrestling, Drake Relays, non-MLB Baseball.

by hansman1982 on May 9, 2011 7:58 AM CDT up reply actions

Don't be hard on Des Moines

Minor League baseball everywhere is like that. People go to cheer, but they don’t really care if they win or lose. Most people are in the stands for the promotions, the camaraderie, the food, and other stuff like that. It’s cheaper to take the family to a minor league baseball game than a movie these days.

People would rather they win than lose, but few people live and die with the team record. I bet pretty much no one could name the only title Iowa won. (The American Association title in 1993.)

This does not extend to the players, however. They want to win. They do understand that concessions are made for development, but they still want to win.

by Josh Timmers on May 9, 2011 11:09 AM CDT up reply actions

Im not trying to be hard on them

hell, I dont care about the record and only go for those reasons…just the way it is.

Factoid of the day – their 93 title was the last professional title won in Iowa before the Energy (NBA D-League team) won their’s last week.

by hansman1982 on May 9, 2011 2:48 PM CDT up reply actions

I know they would not promote guys who are not ready

I just though they might scrounge around for some warm bodies they could have an ERA closer to say 6 but if the fans don’t care if they get shelled I guess there is little point. However it seems bad for a team to have guys who are that terrible starting regularly. It can’t exactly help the position players or even the rest of the pitching staff.

"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either

by Doggie Stalker on May 9, 2011 8:20 AM CDT up reply actions

My guess is that once draft season comes along...

we’ll see some moves be made in the minors to purge out some of the riff raff/garbage.

But my guess is really bad, because really I have no idea…it’s more of a hope.

by SenorGato on May 9, 2011 1:23 AM CDT up reply actions

Yep

Happens every year. This is assuming we draft some collegiate guys that sign right away.

by RynoRooter on May 9, 2011 9:29 AM CDT up reply actions

A lot of mediocre pitchers will go

bye-bye before November. Szczur, Flaherty, and some others will see to that.

by timh815 on May 9, 2011 2:18 AM CDT up reply actions

Szczur had another SB last night, BTW

Giving him 8 in his last 8 games. He hasn’t been caught yet, either. Now if only he could hit for a little more power…….

by RynoRooter on May 9, 2011 9:31 AM CDT reply actions

Early game already for Peoria

Chiefs won 4-0

Szczur another 2-4 day (both singles, unfortunately) and another SB. Perfect 10 for 10 on the year and 9 in his last 9 games.

by RynoRooter on May 9, 2011 2:40 PM CDT up reply actions

I know Tenn didnt play today

But does Flaherty see any time at 1B? with no true prospect at the position that could be a spot to plug him in no? hes got decent size at 6’3" 220

by MDavis on May 9, 2011 10:54 AM CDT reply actions

Minor league note.

Just tweeted by Carrie: Doug Davis will start for Iowa tomorrow. I assume that if they kept him on a low pitch count, he could start Saturday in Chicago.

Check out Chicago sports coverage at SB Nation Chicago

by Al Yellon on May 9, 2011 11:27 AM CDT reply actions