Cubs Minor League Wrap: July 27
by Josh Timmers on Jul 28, 2011 12:10 AM CDT
in Minor Leagues
Email
Print
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs were tied to the railroad tracks by the New Orleans Zephyrs, 7-3.
Dave Bush started and pitched four shutout innings. Those innings were the first, second, fourth and fifth. Unfortunately he pitched the third inning too and and he allowed seven runs in the third inning. His final line for the night was five innings pitched and seven runs on eight hits, including two home runs. He walked two and struck out two.
First baseman Bryan LaHair hit his 29th home run this season with the bases empty in the sixth inning. LaHair was 1 for 4.
Third baseman DJ LeMahieu was 2 for 4 with an RBI. Catcher Chris Robinson went 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI. Left fielder Brad Snyder was 2 for 4 with a double and a run scored.
Tennessee Smokies
The Smokies were shut out by the Montgomery Biscuits, 4-0.
Starter Marco Carrillo took his first loss of the year in Double-A. He allowed three runs on five hits over four innings. He walked two and struck out three.
The Smokies were shut down for seven innings by former Smokies pitcher Chris Archer. Shortstop Junior Lake was 2 for 4 with two steals.
Daytona Cubs
The Daytona Cubs lost to the St. Lucie Mets, 7-2.
Dae-Eun Rhee started and took the loss. He lasted 5.2 innings and allowed six runs on nine hits. One of the six runs was unearned. Rhee walked one and struck out five.
Third baseman Greg Rohan hit his second home run in as many nights. It was a solo home run in the sixth inning. Rohan was 1 for 2 with a walk and an hit-by-pitch. He scored twice.
Second baseman David Macias was 2 for 4. Shortstop Logan Watkins was 0 for 4, which ended his on-base streak at 36 games.
Peoria Chiefs
The Peoria Chiefs misery continues as they were robbed by the Quad City River Bandits, 6-2.
Starting pitcher Starling Peralta had control problems tonight. He pitched four innings and allowed four runs on five hits. Peralta walked five and had one wild pitch. He struck out one.
Center fielder Taiwan Easterling was 2 for 4 and scored once. Third baseman Dustin Geiger was 2 for 4 with a double.
Boise Hawks
The Boise Hawks washed and dried the Everett AquaSox, 8-6.
Starting pitcher Willengton Cruz pitched 4.2 innings and allowed four runs on four hits. He walked four and struck out seven.
Joe Zeller got his first win of the season with 1.1 innings of relief. He allowed one run on two hits. He did not walk or strike out anyone.
Bryce Shafer entered the game with two on and two out in the bottom of the ninth and got a pop out to end the game. It was his seventh save.
Right fielder Jesus Morelli hit a three-run home run in the top of the third inning. It was his first this season. Morelli went 2 for 5.
DH Rafael Lopez and first baseman Paul Hoilman hit back-to-back home runs in the seventh inning. Both were solo home runs. Lopez was 3 for 5 tonight and scored twice. Hoilman was 3 for 5 with a double and two RBI. He also scored twice. Lopez now has three home runs this season and Hoilman has ten.
Center fielder Pin-Chieh Chen was 2 for 5 with a run scored. Catcher Yaniel Cabezas went 3 for 5 with a double and two RBI. He scored once.
AZL Cubs
140 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Good to see...
Cruz rack up K’s.
Geiger and Easterling have good nights.
The Smokies used to be fun…Lake with a night.
This trade deadline should be interesting. I want to see Lemahieu up again.
by SenorGato on Jul 28, 2011 12:25 AM CDT via mobile reply actions
Yeah, aside from Fukudome and (maybe) Byrd...
there isn’t really a guy who we are likely to move that will make a big roster impact (I don’t see Zambrano, Ramirez, or Pena being traded). And with Jackson and Colvin struggling in AAA, the rush to clear an OF roster spot seems reduced.
Oh and obligatory
Woooooooeeee be the Archer loss.
by SenorGato on Jul 28, 2011 12:44 AM CDT via mobile reply actions
I just don't buy the guy as a SP in the majors.
They are a pretty boring offensive team at this point. The LeMahieu/Jackson led days are gone. Vitters and Ha won’t break out until next year at the earliest, but they’re really the only interesting bats on the team.
Count me as a fool and check back in one to two years from now.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either
by Doggie Stalker on Jul 28, 2011 8:17 AM CDT up reply actions
The irony is that the "short-sighted" side of the trade would theoretically be the Garza side...
since almost all the value of what we traded away was (and still is) 2-3 years away from MLB ready.
Note that this wasn't an assessment of the trade...
just that the Garza side of the trade is the more immediate side, and thus short-sighted decisions (right or wrong) would be those focusing on what value Garza brings.
And since our club is so ready to win now, we didn't need them now did we?
I don’t care that Garza has been decent this year. It was still a dumb trade.
Assuming that Garza can perform like this for the next 3-4 years ( and assuming we contend by then)
It’s not a dumb trade. The Rays are also assuming that the prospects they got in return will produce in the bigs. It’s a gamble for both teams, and so far the gamble is paying off for the Cubs. People who bitch about this trade don’t really understand the dynamics of it too well. It’s not just about THIS year.
He's only under Cub control for 2 more years.
If he’s good in 3-4 years for the Cubs, it will be because we’re paying free agency freight.
Nothing is “paying off” for the Cubs this year. They are putrid.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
My mistake
Thought we had him for 3 years. Either way, you have to pay up for quality pitching, and if we have to extend him to contend in 3-4 years then so be it. Depending how much that will cost, we don’t know how much it would cost to get a similar talent on the market, if there is any of quality at that time.
And Garza IS paying off. It’s not his fault this team blows, that would be Hendry’s fault. When you look solely at the trade, our side of it is paying off. Better than most of us expected, in fact.
With that being said, yes this team is putrid and needs an overhaul. At least we have a useful pitcher going forward, whether we may have to extend him in the future or not.
by renocubfan on Jul 28, 2011 10:21 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
He did have him under control 3 years
2011,2012,2013
Worst case is he leaves as a type A free agent. Then we get 2 picks.
" Tell me something Steve, How does a guy from Puerto Rico loose a ball in the Sun? "
Better than most expected?
Now you’re talking crazy.
Rec’d.
If you're paying market rates anyway, you don't have to trade prospects.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
Why would we be paying market rates?
They didn’t do it with either Ramirez or Lee, two other studs they traded for.
This is Garza’s 3rd team before he’s 28 too….I’m sure he’d give up a little money for some long term security. Especially if the Cubs can show him they want to win….
Both of those players made eight figures.
There was some element of hometown discount, but Lee got 5 years and $65MM in April 2006, including ripping up the last year of his previous deal.
That’s pretty much market rates for a 30 year old player who had demonstrated that he was a high-800’s OPS 1B, coming off an elite year.
His contemporaries who signed free agent deals during that timeframe were making similar money (Berkman $14MM/year, Sexson $12.5MM/year, Delgado $13MM/year.) It’s a huge reach to say that Derrek Lee never received market rates.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
No
They’d be paying alot more for either if they hit the open market. Lee easily could have landed 15+ on the market.
Berkman was a steal at that price. Delgado was 35 when he got his contract from the Mets, and he still got 13 Sexon made 15 million in 07 and 08. He made as much as 16 million in a single season under that contract. Lee was a flat 13.25 each year…that’s also a steal considering those would include some of his best years.
by SenorGato on Jul 28, 2011 11:50 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
But we could have gotten a Garza-like pitcher in a year or two as well...
There was not a rush to trade for a guy like Garza last offseason given where we were as a team (likely to a .500/sub-.500 team).
Garza will be a free agent by the time period you’re talking about, so we’d be paying him big money to stay or we’d be paying some other free agent big money to come here anyway.
I think the goal of the Garza trade was to get a “young ace” to sell more tickets this year.
by SouthernCub on Jul 28, 2011 10:14 AM CDT up reply actions
Yes, but there would be other pitchers available...
that’s my point. It wouldn’t necessarily be Garza that we got next year or the year after, but there would be someone of his quality on the market. And heck, we could have gotten Garza as a free agent after the 2013 season and saved those guys for another trade.
Archer’s value has taken a hit this year, but he’s still only 22. A rebound second half or a good year next year and his value would bounce back up. And at the same time that Archer has struggled this year, the other big piece in the deal (Lee) has probably improved his stock with a strong year in A+ ball.
by SouthernCub on Jul 28, 2011 10:58 AM CDT up reply actions
Then we'd have even worse pitching this year.
Can you imagine this rotation WITHOUT Garza this year? They tried to improve this year as well as the next two…that’s what trades are about doing.
Yeah, we'd stink even more this year...
Trades to take a really bad team to just a less really bad team don’t make a ton of sense.
by SouthernCub on Jul 28, 2011 11:34 AM CDT up reply actions
Unless the trade extends and deals with more than
one season, leaving room for team growth with that player.
by SenorGato on Jul 28, 2011 11:52 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
But then we get back to my point...
that we could have waited and gotten a similar quality player this offseason instead. And perhaps done so by trading with a team that’s less smart than the Rays.
by SouthernCub on Jul 28, 2011 12:19 PM CDT up reply actions
Who's the similar quality guy this offseason?
Who’s the trade going to ask for less for him?
That is something we can't really say, huh?
But there’s at least one out there every year, whether it’s through trade or free agency… there were multiple out there last year. There’s no reason you can point to why Garza is special vs any other pitcher of his value. It would be the only way for you to make your point that the Cubs had to acquire him last offseason.
--------------------------------
Just North of Wrigley Field
by jameslcrockett on Jul 28, 2011 1:17 PM CDT up reply actions
We're not out of the FA guys...
The Cubs are perfectly capable of landing a FA pitcher, even after the Garza trade.
Again I ask for a specific name.
Don't know yet...
but there almost always is one. Garza was and is a very good pitcher. But there are almost always guys like that available via the right trade.
Really?
Then why is it so hard to name one? Are they as good? Will they really be cheaper?
What’s the difference between landing him this year and landing him last year?
Because we don't know yet who will be available
I’m not going to go back and find examples from previous years because I’m lazy.
And the difference between landing Garza this year as opposed to last year is because you’d be trading for one less cost-controlled year (meaning lower cost in terms of prospects). Since we were going to be bad this year anyway, the value of this year in terms of cost control was low.
We’d have been better off trading for the equivalent of Garza this offseason (when we could better maximize the value of his cost-controlledness) when we will theoretically be in better position to compete next year and beyond.
So you cant give past examples and...
you have no names for who might work this coming offseason.
I’m legitimately not trying to be condescending here because I think you’re a boon to the blog, but your stance here makes no sense to me. They got Garza because he was there, he’s cost controlled for THREE years (2 after this), and oh yeah he was there.
Other things to consider:
- Just because they traded for Garza doesn’t mean they can’t trade for someone else, or won’t.
- Just because they traded for Garza doesn’t mean they won’t pursue FA pitching talent.
- Just because Garza became available last year doesn’t mean an equivalent (a young upper half of the rotation talent who is cost controlled for 3 years, has WS and playoff experience, and has thrown 200+ innings 3 years in a row including playoffs since ’08 was only 184)….is going to be available this year. And who knows how that situation might work out.
- They have Garza for next year and beyond anyway.
- This isn’t you but many of the same people who complain about the timing of the trade have also written off 2012, so they’d find a reason to call a 2012 trade bad.
Since I'm admittedly too lazy to go back, we'll have to agree to disagree on this...
I think you’re overstating the uniqueness of Garza’s availability. Thus, I don’t think last offseason was the offseason to go big for a guy like Garza (who is very good).
I never said getting Garza would prevent us from making future trades (though it did strip us of a lot of the prospects to make such a deal). And I never said it would keep us from going after a FA.
I think you underestimate how easy
it is to land quality pitching, so yeah agree to disagree is probably the best we’ve got here.
There aren’t many pitchers like Garza who hit the market. Even then, we actually have Garza, while future guy with no name is still available to anyone and everyone who wants him.
Do you understand how hard it
is to get top prospects? You are already writing off Archer to pump up your bogus argument. I particularly love how you decide that it is a win even if Garza does not help the Cubs get to a post season and Lee becomes a star. That is not how it works. The Cub traded top prospects and 3 useful players for Garza. Next year or the year after we can assess this trade but it was not some slam dunk work of genius that works even if it fails to help the Cubs get to the post season.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either
by Doggie Stalker on Jul 28, 2011 4:23 PM CDT up reply actions
Yeah that's probably your problem....
You’re looking for top prospects. The goal of a top prospect is to become quality MLB talent, which Lee and Archer have done for us in becoming Garza.
Oh, and Archer is the one walking 5+ per 9 again and predictably struggling in the upper levels of the minors. I’m just the guy who called it and then took notice when it happened. If “written off” means what I’ve always said…that he’s got a better shot to be shut down as a reliever rather than a starter….then he’s pretty damn well off. I’d like to be written off so well by someone.
I think by next year and the year after Garza looks even better here, so I welcome those years.
Oh and I forgot...
There’s absolutely no reason to assume an equivalent talent would be cheaper.
And to a point your right,
but assuming that one of these quality guys will be up for grabs each off-season is really taking a gamble. For instance, you can’t name one right now, although I do understand that circumstances in the market change, and can change very rapidly. I also understand that the market shifts and their may be somebody similar by season’s end but either way it’s taking a gamble. A Garza like pitcher may be available this off-season, but what guarantees that he will have a team friendly contract or is under control for more than a year? The Garza trade has turned out excellent for us so far, and although I agree the timing of the trade wasn’t perfect…it wasn’t a bad move on Hendry’s part either. Let’s just take this trade for what it’s worth and enjoy Garza while we have him. He may contribute on our next winning team, or may be a piece to a trade that further improves the team. Who knows, but he is performing better than advertised and that’s all we can ask for at this point.
But Lee's stock is way up, yes?
and you can’t say that Garza’s stock is up accordingly, especially considering the arbitration salaries he’s going to start commanding. There are never any guarantees, but show me there has been many years where there wasn’t a Garza-type pitcher out there.
--------------------------------
Just North of Wrigley Field
by jameslcrockett on Jul 28, 2011 1:14 PM CDT up reply actions
Congratulations...
what a great year it’s been.
--------------------------------
Just North of Wrigley Field
by jameslcrockett on Jul 28, 2011 1:18 PM CDT up reply actions
Yep, and we're set to imitate it for the next....
16 thousand years.
Seriously?
Garza was worthless this year but that is not his fault. The reason so many of us opposed this is that it was too much to give up for a guy who while good was not going to be a difference maker this year.
So again if Lee and or Archer become stars and under Tampa’s control for six years, you would still argue great deal?
Basically trade ANY prospect no matter how good for a decent current player and you win?
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either
by Doggie Stalker on Jul 28, 2011 4:27 PM CDT up reply actions
I just remembered that you argued that...
Sam Fuld is more valuable than Garza this year because his team wins more. I should have considered this in my above post, but I only remembered it now.
Your spin remains cute and naive.
1 – If Lee and Archer become stars, good for them. I’ve said this before when we’ve had our debates on this same topic.
2 – Your first paragraph, as usual, ignores that Garza was brought in as much for 2012 and 2013 as he was this year. This year is unsuccessful for the club. The trade didn’t hinge on this year’s success to anyone but those who decided that this was our year. I, fortunately, was not one of those people.
3 – I’m not even sure what point you think you’re making. Archer and Lee are decent, even quality prospects. Garza is better than a decent MLB pitcher. I’m happy they were able to be enough (with 3 throwaways) to land someone of his caliber.
I still consider Lake interesting
But I don’t expect him to start hitting AA well until next season. He’s usually a slow adjuster. At this time, I’m not dying to check that boxscore everyday for those guys. Whereas I’m always excited to see what Szczur, Jackson, LeMahieu, Colvin, Flaherty, Castillo, and the Boise guys do.
Yeah good call...
Lake’s another guy who could break out next year.
Interesting....
but do you expect him to do anything beyond what he does now? Dude’s going to get destroyed by big league pitching if he ever reached it. If he had any PD at all, he’d be real interesting. Combine that with his propensity to K at an enormous rate, I don’t see anything beyond a AA/AAA player. It’s sad to think that too, knowing how talented he is. Dude’s got some great tools.
Going for the
baked out of my mind look.
And he didn't even pitch well
4 BBs, 2 HBPs and only 2 Ks. To say the Smokies are currently a shell of what they were to start the season would be an understatement.
The thing is..
They’re a contending team. I don’t see any way Towers can get away with trading him this offseason. I’d be fine with giving them anyone but Szczur.
I'd give up Szczur for Upton without blinking.
I do think it’ll be a little harder to trade for him, but keep in mind that they might be losing both Johnson and Drew this offseason (I think).
Upton’s one of the most valuable talents in the game and he’s only now starting to scratch the surface. I can’t knock them if they choose to keep him, but if and when he becomes any kind of available…
I'd rather give up Jackson.
And it’s not really even close. But it’s a moot point anyway. We’re not getting him.
Never say never...
I really don’t care which one we’d give up. Neither is going to be in Upton’s class of player, but both should be solid.
I have to say that I’d rather pay for Upton via trade than any SP.
Eh. I'd still rather have Felix
But Upton is up there. I still think Matt Kemp is a more realistic trade target for us.
Not a big Kemp fan because I think he's a
COF pretending to be a CF right now.
Upton’s got superstar written all over him.
Felix is neck and neck to me...
I’d give up a wave of prospects to land either one.
Who cares?
His bat translates exceptionally well to anywhere on the field.
Agreed. Kemp is a special talent.
i don’t care where the hell he plays. you get him, he’s plugged in as the 3 hitter. done.
No, you'd be paying for his bat
How many 26 year old guys with lines of .300/.380/.530 with 30 HR and 30 SBs ever come available? He could put up that line, sans the SBs, for the next 6-7 years easily. That’s going to cost you a lot of money, but it’d be well worth it. He’s probably a plus defender in RF or LF. You’re looking at a younger Matt Holliday.
Agreed...
It appears that Kemp is actually on the market. It’s debatable whether Upton is.
If I could choose which guy to have, it’d probably be Upton (due to age and price). But I wouldn’t be offended by having Kemp in RF, and it seems like he’s a more realistic “get” considering the Dodgers’ financial woes.
by SouthernCub on Jul 28, 2011 10:53 AM CDT up reply actions
I don't think Kemp is actually on the market....
the rumors are alot like Upton’s last year. My guess is unless they’re blown out of the water by a deal he stays.
If is truly "available"...
This makes things interesting. Not so say that this will ever happen, but If I were GM I think that spending this off season to lure Fielder and give up the farm for Kemp/Upton would be a real start to bulding this team back to contender status. The leaves us with on problem though…..pitching. This team is such an absolute mess that everything would have to go right pitching wise next year to be a contender, even if by some miracle we were able to pull in Kemp AND Fielder. Hendry’s successor has some work ahead of him….
True....
And I don’t disagree….I’d just rather have Upton. Much rather have Upton, and pay the corresponding price for Upton…neither is officially available anyway, sadly.
Holliday comp....
Few things:
- Holliday has a career .317 BA. Kemp is at .289.
- Holliday never passed off as a CF to build CF value.
- .389 OBP for Holliday (career). .344 for Kemp.
- .933 OPS vs. .831 OPS.
I will say that Holliday broke out at 25, while Kemp is breaking out at 26. Maybe this is the bar he’ll be setting the rest of his career. He’s certainly got the talent to keep up what he’s doing.
Those numbers are pulled down drastically by a very bad 2010
Removing 2010 his career line is:
.305/.356/.504/.860 I’ll take that any day of the week for 22-26 seasons.
I would rather have Upton as well
I just don’t think Kemp should be dismissed. I don’t think we have the ammo to get either, but it sure would be fun.
I think the ammo is there.
But yeah the further back they’re available probably the better…let’s the system grow up a little.
by SenorGato on Jul 28, 2011 11:54 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
I guess if Castro is included
But a package headlined by BJax, Szczur and McNutt probably doesn’t get it done right now.
Are you performance art-ing again?
Because that’s all we’re saying about the Garza trade too… well, I’ll speak for myself.
--------------------------------
Just North of Wrigley Field
by jameslcrockett on Jul 28, 2011 1:20 PM CDT up reply actions
No right now isn't the time because...
neither is being actively shopped, unlike Garza, who was being actively shopped.
So yeah…back to wherever you were on that….square one I assume.
It's the time to trade if he's available
He may never be available again
This
--------------------------------
Just North of Wrigley Field
by jameslcrockett on Jul 28, 2011 1:24 PM CDT up reply actions
Yet you hold your stance on Garza...
Makes sense.
Yes, but if he was available there'd be
waaaaaaaaaaaaaay more noise. We’re are talking about a 26 year old guy getting MVP talk…
Well of course
This is all hypothetical. IF Kemp is available it would be the right time to go after him because he might not ever be available again. Technically the perfect time to trade for him would have been post-2010 when his value was lowest. But we know for a fact he wasn’t available then.
They both have superstar written all over them...
Both have .370+ OBP, .925+ OPS, and are young. I’d be happy with either one, though I think it’s a moot point as (1) I don’t think we’ll be in the market for Kemp, and (2) I’m unsure whether the D-Backs will actually trade Upton.
While true....
I think Upton is going to be the better player over the next 10 years or so.
Yeah, Upton is younger, which helps...
Both are budding superstars, but Upton is 3 years younger.
Again though, I think it’s a moot point for the time being. I don’t expect we’ll be in the Kemp market, and I’m not convinced that the currently-successful D-Backs will be looking to trade Upton anymore.
by SouthernCub on Jul 28, 2011 10:43 AM CDT up reply actions
I expect both would be of significant interest to the Cubs if they became available....
Much like Garza last year. I think we’d be in on the sweepstakes, though winning it might be a different story….
Having traded Lee & Archer
The Cubs no longer have any top prospects to land a front line player.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either
by Doggie Stalker on Jul 28, 2011 4:28 PM CDT up reply actions
Oh OK then.
They were the only two appealing players in our system. How dare I forget.
All is lost. Here I was hoping for an 18688 WS ring…now we’ve been set back at least another millennium….DAMN YOU HIAFI!!!!
What're you trying to say?
That Archer isn’t one half of the greatest duo since Tera Patrick’s boooooooooobs?
Heathen.
Next think you know you’ll be saying that Lee’s chances of being the next big thing at SS are not 100%….Yuch.
And then where are we going to play him?
Since our manager loves Soriano so much, we insist on playing Byrd every day and watching him swing at EVERYTHING (and usually tapping out in the infield), and then there’s Fukudome (who’ll hopefully be gone by the end of the day), batting lead-off each day as his batting average plummets close to the .250’s.
Our outfield has got to be the envy of the National League.
I think if Kemp is acquired one or both of Byrd and Fuku are gone.
i’d assume BJax would be included in the trade so wouldnt have to worry about a spot for him,.
BYRD'S HUSTLE OVERCOMES ALL OF HIS OFFENSIVE WOES
Blake "The Franchise" DeWitt will lead us to the promised land
by jesus christos on Jul 28, 2011 12:17 PM CDT up reply actions
I'll give the D'Backs
Szczur, Jackson, AND another prospect. Chances any of those guys can match Upton’s value is slim.
Completely agreed
You blow up the current farm to acquire a talent like Justin Upton who is under team control for quite some time.
Today was a super boring one for the minors
No Szczur(dislocated pinky…yayyyyy), DeVoss, or Golden.
Jackson more Ks.
LeMahieu doing what he does.
Lake, Easterling, Geiger solid games.
Peralta and Cruz struggled, even though he had 7 Ks.
Hoilman is the man haha.
He just drops bombs, walks and K’s. though he added some variety to his game tonight. i like it. from what i’ve heard hes pretty solid defensively…..second comign of Carlos Pena?
Golden and DeVoss haven't played in almost a week
Does anyone know the deal with them? Are they hurt?
Both hurt, but only day to day
Golden tweaked his ankle and DeVoss has a leg injury of some kind (haven’t heard) that he went to the doctor for, but the Hawks website made it sound pretty mild.
Thanks for the update
much appreciated. Sounds like nothing too serious, which is a relief.
Well, it IS the Cubs
so it could easily turn into torn ligaments in Golden’s ankle, needing surgery, and a complete muscle tear off the bone for DeVoss. I’m pretty pessimistic with Cubs injuries.
Ugghh, sadly true...
speaking of, any news on Cashner?
by SouthernCub on Jul 28, 2011 10:44 AM CDT up reply actions
Abner Abreu.
Initial thoughts?
(He’s rumored to be coming to Cubs in Fukudome deal.)
Baseball is pitching, hitting, baserunning and defense.
That's the general impression I'm getting already.
Baseball is pitching, hitting, baserunning and defense.
He has loads of potential, apparently
From a quick search on him, he has good raw power and is a great defensive COF. But, his plate discipline is awful. He’s Junior Lake as an OFer. I guess he is at least mildly interesting due to his potential, but the odds of him reaching anything near it are slim.
Yeah, obviously you can only learn so much from stats...
But the stats suggest he’s a “toolsy” guy. He seems to have decent power and can steal bases. But his K rate is way too high and he’s only posting a .723 OPS (.244/.294/.429) in his second year in A+ ball.
Maybe the scouts see him as “projectable,” but I do wonder if it’s just a “get a couple of guys to make the trade look respectable” type of trade. Of course, my expectations regarding the return for Fukudome were low to begin with.
by SouthernCub on Jul 28, 2011 10:51 AM CDT up reply actions
Looked pretty good through 2009
Appears to have stalled a bit in High A since then. Still young though. Maybe similar to Burgess in that there is talent but major holes exist. The odds in making it are slim.
John Grabow: $4.8 million in 2011.
I'd say "stalled a lot" in high A, but otherwise I agree...
there seems to be a lot of raw potential, with a pretty low likelihood of making it. Not a bad return for Fukudome, but not super exciting either (since it wasn’t like to be a super exciting return for Fukudome).
by SouthernCub on Jul 28, 2011 11:50 AM CDT up reply actions
His recent numbers have been more encouraging
He was hitting .221 with 4 homers before the allstar break however he has been hitting .302 with 8 homers since
by Ohio Cub Fan on Jul 28, 2011 1:49 PM CDT up reply actions
Yes, he had a terrific July after an awful April-May and awful 2010
Hopefully the July is a sign of things to come and not just a flash of hot stretch.
Stalled due to a shoulder injury.
I saw a comment about a shoulder injury in 2009. He was recovering in 2010.
Possible, but he is struggling again in 2011 at the same level
If he’s still being bothered by the shoulder injury 2 years after it happened, then that’s a problem.
I think more likely the shoulder injury was fully resolved by 2010, given that the injury occurred in mid-2009. I think he’s just a raw hitter with tremendous power tools but not much in the way of refined hitting skills.
Anyone else catch this depressing news from AZPhil?
Apparently not only is Hayden Simpson struggling with stuff, but he’s losing it mentally as well. Team psychologist is on hand and Simpson is only allowed to throw fastballs because the team “feels he needs to get back to square one”. Uggh.
http://www.thecubreporter.com/2011/07/27/garcia-and-los-tres-amigos-deliver-message
What's wrong with going back to the basics?
Didn’t seem to hurt Greinke or Danny Duffy, and Simpson hasn’t gone so far as to retire from baseball.
The guy was sick last year, lost alot of strength, and this year is struggling. Maybe it’s a good idea he learns to pitch with his fastball better…
The fact that it is a mental thing is the worrisome part
Those can derail a career just as easily as a physical one. No matter how you try to spin it, there isn’t anything positive out of this.
It's got to be tough to be getting hit hard for the first time in your life.
It’s one of those things that if he gets through it, he could become a better pitcher because of it.
And I was wrong
There IS something positive to take from it. Of course it is all prefaced on his ability to bounce back. I still give him a pass for the whole season, and won’t fully judge him until 2012. But this stuff is not what you like to see.
Agreed...
this season appears to be a lost season for Simpson. But he’s still young and can hopefully rebound next year. It’s definitely not what you want to see/hear, though.
There isn't anything really scary negative either...
If anything it’s further evidence that 2011 is a different kind of developmental year for Simpson.
I'd say there's potentially a scary negative...
anytime you have a year this bad (for whatever reason), it’s a potentially scary negative. It’s not any sort of guarantee that he’s done as a prospect (still way too young for that kind of talk). But this year is definitely a concerning negative.
I'd strongly disagree
A mental block/issue should be treated like a physical surgery. Both need time to recover and neither come with guarantees that the player will return to his former self.
Agreed...
no guarantee that he won’t return to form, but definitely reason for concern that he won’t.
Sure it should....
But the fact that he’s still pitching and that he’s devastated to the point where he can only pitch with fastballs in RK ball or w/e he is doesn’t really bother me. Maybe if he ran off the field and was found in his locker crouched in the fetal position I’d be more worried about his mental health….Sounds like he’s healthy enough to both physically and mentally throw ball games…it’s just with one pitch…arguably the most important pitch anyway.
I would have trouble rooting for a team named after bakery goods.
by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Jul 28, 2011 12:31 PM CDT reply actions
I guess you won't be
behind home plate in Montgomery saying “Hey butter, butter, butter, butter, swing!” at the visitors.
Yes, they really do that.
by Josh Timmers on Jul 28, 2011 1:14 PM CDT up reply actions
Per Baseball America
We have signed yet another Cuban defector. A RHP named Yoanner Negrin.
ah, racism on BCB
Love it when the racism on this site can finally shine.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Bleed Cubbie Blue
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
FanShots
Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.
Recommended FanShots
Recent FanShots
Cubs By The Numbers
Cubs By The Numbers is a history of the ballclub by uniform number, but the biographies help trace the history of our beloved team in a new way. For everyone who's a Cubs fan, anyone who ever wore the uniform is like family. Cubs By The Numbers reintroduces readers to some of their long-lost ancestors, even ones they think they already know.
Click here to order your copy, available now!
Recent Stories in Chicago Cubs Game Threads
Recent Stories in Ticket Exchanges
Baseball Nation Recent Stories
In Association With
Big League Stew - MLB - Yahoo! Sports
- Eric Hosmer redefines the Baltimore chop with infield double (Video)
- College player makes impossible over the fence catch to save tournament game (Video)
- Security!: Camden Yards guard collides with Royals’ Mike Moustakas
- The Juice: Nelson Cruz matches career high eight RBIs, Pujols stays hot in Seattle
- Benches clear at Fenway as Red Sox-Rays rivalry heats up
