Cubs Minor League Wrap: June 25

I’d love to report that help is on the way, but, it isn’t.
Barney exited after the 7th. He singled in his at bat, and made it as far as 3rd in the inning. Augie Ojeda came in for him, but no announcement was made. He ran fine, so, I am guessing they were just being cautious. It was a chilly 60 degrees by that point in the game. Probably didn’t want his knee to tighten up. Barney did look rusty. He almost misplayed one in the field where he jumped for a soft liner. Looked like he didn’t have good timing.
Talk about the Cubs season being played out on a smaller stage. After Wright’s double he got to third, and with one out he sat there. The I-Cubs couldn’t push him across. Robinson was playing catcher, and he dribbled one past the Isotopes pitcher, where it died before reaching the second baseman. I was surprised Wright didn’t break for home. For good measure Mota was picked off first later on.
Perez in CF baffles me. I assume he sits on the bench when Campana returns. I just didn’t see anything that he has to offer. Neither Castillo or Colvin started, though Colvin came in to PH in the bottom of the 8th.
Blake Parker had two solid innings of relief. Ortiz was okay. He did have quite a few SO’s, and he maintained his velocity around the 93 mph mark on the stadium radar. Minus two HR’s that were really stroked, he held the Isotopes scoreless. The first HR was by Jay Gibbons, and he hit it into the teeth of a stiff wind. He showed some lively movement, and he fielded his position well. One thing, the home plate ump was calling a tight zone. Ortiz was visibly upset and was staring at the ump a few times, then he’d look sharply away. It didn’t work, the ump kept calling it tight both ways. And, I can say I had a good seat. 15 rows directly behind home plate. There were a bunch of scouts in attendance tonight. No idea who they were looking at.
Not sure on Gaub, he came in throwing everything right at the 95-96 mark. Seemed to be throwing everything on the same plane. Finally after a sharp single he started mixing in a breaking ball. Dropping the speed down to 81 mph. He whiffed Gibbons on a 86 mph breaking ball after showing a 97 mph fastball earlier in the sequence.
Merkin Valdez bears watching for the Dodgers. He struck out Colvin, Moore, and Robinson in the 8th on 96, 97, and 97mph fastballs respectively.
Finally, the Iowa Dairy Council was having a bunch of promo’s. Free chocolate milk for all the kids, which my two little one’s appreciated. And, the Dairy Princess won two oil changes for some lucky winner by throwing a ball through a tractor tire.

Seems like most of the top prospects are struggling. Jackson hasn’t done much since his return and Ha and Szczur averages are dropping mightily. When the hell are we going to sign some draft picks. Besides Struck I don’t think we have any player that has exceeded expectations.

It’s getting very disconcerting that we’ll likely receive no rotation help from the minors next yr. At this point , you HOPE McNutt can contribute by mid-‘12. I hate to sound like a Cassandra but I’m very worried about the upper levels of our system.

I didn’t see anything last night that told me he’d ever be an effective player in the majors.
And, to bump in as other’s have. I am getting a little concerned about not signing any of the top 10 picks yet from the draft. I thought several of them (Gretzky for one), were picks that looked to be hard to sign.