Cubs Minor League Wrap: June 11
I wrote the draft recap this afternoon while listening to Pat and Keith call the Cub game over the internet. Since Saturday night is such a low traffic night, I'll post it tomorrow night after the recap. You can all have at it first thing Monday morning.
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs split a double-header with the Round Rock Express (Rangers). They lost the completion of Thursday's suspended game 11-2 and won the regularly scheduled game 3-2.
In the suspended game, Alberto Cabrera got hammered for eight runs on eight hits over 3.2 innings on Thursday. He walked four and struck out three.
DH Welington Castillo was 1 for 4 with an RBI double.
In the second game, Marco Carrillo started and went 4.2 innings and allowed two runs, both scoring on a home run by Chad Tracy. Carrillo allowed three total hits. He walked one and struck out three.
Esmailin Caridad got the win when Iowa broke the tie in the bottom of the seventh. Caridad did not allow a baserunner over two-thirds of an inning. He struck out one.
The I-Cubs won when Jeff Baker led off the bottom of the seventh with a double and went to third on a wild pitch. He scored after two intentional walks allowed Bobby Scales to single him home. Baker went 2 for 4 tonight.
Reed Johnson was hit in the head with a pitch in the fifth inning tonight. He was taken to the hospital in Des Moines. Iowa manager Bill Dancy said that "so far [he] looks good." He does have cuts on his face.
Tennessee Smokies
The Tennessee Smokies cooked the Carolina Mudcats (Reds), 5-2.
Chris Rusin started and collected his third win. He pitched five innings and allowed two runs on seven hits. Rusin walked one and struck out three.
Rafael Dolis got his sixth save. He pitched the ninth and allowed an infield single, but no other damage. He did not have a strikeout.
First baseman Josh Vitters was 3 for 4 with two doubles. Catcher Steve Clevenger was 2 for 4 with two doubles. Clevenger scored twice. Right fielder Matt Spencer went 2 for 4 with two doubles and two RBI. Spencer scored once.
The Smokies now have a four-game lead in the Southern League North Division with seven games to play. Their magic number to clinch their fourth straight half-division title is four.
Daytona Cubs
The Daytona Cubs trailed 6-0 after two and a half innings, but roared back to beat the Clearwater Threshers (Phillies), 9-6.
Jeffrey Lorick had a bad start tonight. He gave up six runs on eight hits and two walks over two innings. He faced the first five batters of the third inning and failed to retire any of them.
Juan Serrano got the win by pitching four shutout innings in relief of Lorick. Serrano gave up two hits and walked one while striking out three.
Marcus Hatley pitched the ninth and got his second save. He allowed a single and a walk, but escaped without allowing a run. Hatley did not have a strikeout.
DH Justin Bour hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning, his 16th jack on the season. Bour was 2 for 4 with three RBI.
Shorstop Logan Watkins started the comeback for Daytona with a two-run homer in the bottom of the third. It was his first home run this season. Watkins was 1 for 3. He was also hit by a pitch and stole a base.
Left fielder Evan Crawford was 2 for 4 with a walk. He knocked two in and scored twice. Third baseman Matt Cerda went 2 for 4 with a double and a walk. Cerda scored once and had one RBI.
Center fielder Jae-Hoon Ha was 3 for 4 with a double and a walk. He scored once and batted one in. Second baseman David Macias had a double in a 2 for 4 game. He scored twice.
Last but not least, catcher Michael Brenly was 2 for 4 with a double. He scored once.
The D-Cubs also reduced their magic number to clinch a first-half title to four.
Peoria Chiefs
The Peoria Chiefs stopped the South Bend Silver Hawks (Diamondbacks), 11-6.
Hayden Simpson had a rough start. He allowed five runs on seven hits over four innings. Simpson walked two and struck out one.
Robinson Lopez picked up the win with 2.2 innings of scoreless relief. He surrendered two hits but no walks. He did not record a strikeout.
Center fielder Matt Szczur hit home run number four tonight. It was a two-run blast in the fourth inning. Szczur was 2 for 5.
DH Richard Jones also hit a two-run home run in the second inning. It was his tenth home run this season. Jones went 1 for 3 with a walk. He scored twice.
Second baseman Pierre LePage was 3 for 5 with a stolen base. He scored once. Left fielder Greg Rohan went 3 for 4 with a walk. He scored twice.
Third baseman Brandon May had two doubles in a 3 for 5 game. May scored once and had two RBI. Shortstop Elliot Soto was 2 for 4 with a double. Soto scored twice.
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Vitters is definitely on a roll.
Hope he keeps this kind of hitting up, about to be over .300 again. Szczur still hitting with power, and hitting in general. But he was caught stealing again.. It seems like forever since he’s actually stolen a bag. Bour and Ha keep hitting, and should both in Tennessee before too long. Brett Jackson played tonight, but just one hit and it was a single. Lake was 1-5, I believe. Hope they both go on tears soon. Simpson continues to struggle, and as much as I’d like to seem him dominate consistently, I’m still chalking this up to the mono, but I really hope he gets it going sometime this season.
Up to .290/.329/.455
on the season.
He’s hitting .455 in his last ten games with an OPS over 1.100.
by SenorGato on Jun 12, 2011 1:04 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
When you say "blast" for Szczur, that is aptly put
He sent it over the berm on the fly, as per Nathan’s game call. There is accidental power, there is occasional power, and then there is the ability to mash the ball on occasion.
The pitcher sounded like he was out of gas, so it was probably a hanger or a BP fastball, but still…
I'm a Cubs fan. The Jaded Bitterness comes as a Standard Feature.
by timh815 on Jun 12, 2011 1:13 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs
drools.....
then rec’d….thanks for your eyes on that one
"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Cubs win....what a lucky break!!" ---Harry
Szczur.....
……….hope it is gonna be a good ride.
Love the make up
"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Cubs win....what a lucky break!!" ---Harry
I may get bashed for this..
But you know who Matt Szczur reminds me of? Mike Trout. Almost the same player to a T in my eyes. Trout may have a smidge more power, but they are so identical. Speed, high average, high high average. Both went Rk league to A ball in their first drafted season and the next season Trout went A to A+ which Szczur should also do. And if Szczur tears it up, I expect him to do what Trout did as well, start in AA and be considered a top tier prospect. Same player.
Mike Trout who played over the past 3 seasons??
…..what is the outcome for the Matt in your eyes??
"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Cubs win....what a lucky break!!" ---Harry
Yes Mike Trout.
The one everyone raves about. The #2 prospect in baseball. That Mike Trout.
2009- Mike Trout 44 G (only 5 at A ball) .352/.419/.486 7 2B 7 3B 1 HR 25 RBI 13 SB 2 CS 22 BB 34 K (Stuggled in his 5 games at A ball)
2010- Matt Szczur 25 G (majority at Boise) .347/.414/.465 10 2B 1 3B 0 HR 10 RBI 2 SB 0 CS 10 BB 16 K (hit .192 in his 6 games in A ball)
I don’t think it’s unreasonable to say Szczur ends up with close to the same numbers as Trout if he had as many games. So may say blah blah another Cubs fan being biased toward their prospects..no way he’s as good as the Mike Trout the #2 prospect in baseball, but really. Look at the similarities.
Also a look at how he stacks up so far with what Trout did in his second season
2010- Mike Trout A ball 81 G- .362/.454/.526 19 2B 7 3B 6 HR 39 RBI 45 SB 9 CS 46 BB 52 K
2011- Matt Szczur A ball 43 G- .337/.394/.462 11 2B 0 3B 4 HR 22 RBI 14 SB 4 CS 17 BB 18 K
Clearly Szczur isn’t touching 45 SB area code, but he certainly doesn’t lack the speed to do it, and it one point it seemed like he would. Other than that, he would certainly eclipse Trout in 2Bs and HRs, maybe not by many, but should. Doesn’t walk as much as Trout, but doesn’t strike out as much as Trout either.
I should add that
Szczur is definitely looking impressive. Not trying to downplay him just adding the added age difference with Trout.
John Grabow: $4.8 million in 2011.
I'm gonna bash you :-)
Trout is two years younger than Szczur. While their stats are similar, Trout’s performance has been better.
Not being Mike Trout is not an insult to Szczur though.
However, they are both South Jersey guys. Grew up about an hour from each other.
by Josh Timmers on Jun 12, 2011 10:03 AM CDT up reply actions
Wow
I didn’t even look at the age. I forgot that Trout was a high schooler. Still—very similar, and I agree Trout’s performance is better, but I’m just saying Szczur is up there.
As I said
Not being Mike Trout is not an insult. I’m very happy with what Szczur is doing.
by Josh Timmers on Jun 12, 2011 12:03 PM CDT up reply actions
Lake
What kind of prospect is Lake, is he legit. I saw he was 6’3", nice size. With Castro at short, will he be able to play 2nd, or is he a candidate to move to a corner of. Thanks for all the information about the farm kids, I don’t post often, but I read you guys everyday.
Yes and no
Lake has the best arm in the system, and can hit with the best of them. Protypical athlete build and has some serious speed…..problem is he doesn’t know how to take a walk and he strikes out a ton. You need one of those skillsets to play in the majors and he seriously lacks both. If he can’t improve on those in High A you can forget about him ever playing for the Cubs. I’m of the opinion that he should be converted to a pitcher.
by renocubfan on Jun 12, 2011 9:11 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
It's going to depend on if he can hit in AA
He’s kinda struggling right now, but he put together a couple multi hit games in a row recently. So we’ll see.
Lake to become a pitcher?
I’ve been throwing that idea around for awhile. Converting position players to pitchers is one thing the Cubs seem to be doing well. And, Lake is a good candidate. He just seems locked in at the lower levels.

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