Cubs Minor League Wrap: July 29

by Josh Timmers on Jul 29, 2011 11:25 PM CDT in Minor Leagues

Is it next year yet?

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs split a double-header with the New Orleans Zephyrs (Marlins) , losing game one 1-0 and taking the nightcap 5-1.

In the first game, starter Chris Rusin had allowed only one hit through the first five innings, but he allowed two singles and a run in the sixth to take the loss. His final line was one run on three hits over 5.2 innings. Rusin walked two and struck out five.

Alberto Cabrera was even better in game two. He pitched four shutout innings and allowed only one hit and one walk. He struck out three.

John Gaub got the win in game two because Cabrera didn't go five. He pitched two innings and allowed a run on two hits and one walk. Gaub struck out one.

Center fielder Brett Jackson led off the second game with his second home run for the I-Cubs. Jackson had a big game two as he went 3 for 4 with a double and the home run. He scored three times and had two RBI.

Tennessee Smokies

The Smokies were devoured by the Montgomery Biscuits (Rays), 7-4.

Austin Bibens-Dirkx took the loss after he was torched for six runs on six hits over 5.1 innings. He walked one and struck out one.

DH Josh Vitters hit his 11th home run of the season in the eighth inning with the bases empty. Vitters was 3 for 4 with a stolen base. He scored twice.

Left fielder Ty Wright went 2 for 4 with his fourth homer for the Smokies. The home run was a solo homer in the sixth.

First baseman Rebel Ridling went 2 for 2 with two doubles and two walks. He had one RBI.

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs were nailed by the Jupiter Hammerheads (Marlins), 8-4.

Starting pitcher Angel Guzman pitched his standard two innings. He allowed one run on two hits. He didn't walk anyone and struck out one.

Jeffrey Lorick took over for Guzman and took the loss after giving up seven runs over 5.2 innings. Only three of the seven runs were earned as the D-Cubs committed five errors tonight. Lorick was touched for nine hits. He walked one and struck out three.

Center fielder Evan Crawford was 2 for 4 with three stolen bases. He scored twice.

Third baseman Greg Rohan was 2 for 3 with his third home run in the past four games. It was a solo home run in the sixth. Rohan also walked and stole a base. He had two RBI, but he also made two errors.

Shortstop Rafael Valdes was 0 for 4 with three errors, including two on one play.

Peoria Chiefs

The Chiefs were hijacked by the Quad City River Bandits (Cardinals), 11-3.

Luis Liria started and took the loss after he was blasted for six runs in only two innings. Only three of the six runs were credited as earned runs, however. Liria allowed six hits. He walked two and struck out one.

Center fielder Rubi Silva went 2 for 3 with a walk. He scored once and batted one in. First baseman Richard Jones was also 2 for 3 with a walk and one RBI.

The Chiefs have now lost ten of their last eleven games.

Boise Hawks

The Boise Hawks were shut out by the Everett AquaSox (Mariners), 2-0.

Starter Yao-Lin Wang allowed two runs on seven hits over five innings. He walked two and struck out four.

The Hawks had three singles and no walks tonight. Center fielder Pin-Chieh Chen was 2 for 3 with two steals.

AZL ~~Bears~~ Cubs

Destroyed the ~~Bengals~~ Reds, 24-4.

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Comments

Always a good thing when Jackson or Vitters has a good night...

On the same night it’s some kind of treat.

Chen also solid.

I forgot ABD got DEMOTED rather than promoted this year. Dodged that bullet, amirite?

by SenorGato on Jul 29, 2011 11:37 PM CDT reply actions

Would he have been worse than Doug Davis?

Yeah, probably. But the L would have been the same.

by Josh Timmers on Jul 29, 2011 11:41 PM CDT up reply actions

It's only a matter of time before Jackson catches fire and gets his AVG above .300.

I hope the same happens for Flaherty. Good to see Vitters do well.

'Never look down on anybody unless you're helping him up.'

by Unique on Jul 29, 2011 11:41 PM CDT reply actions

Evan Crawford

is starting to make me take him seriously. He’s a shade old for High-A, but he’s really starting to dominate there.

by Josh Timmers on Jul 29, 2011 11:46 PM CDT reply actions

Now that you mention it...

Yeah some interesting numbers in his numbers this year. I like the success rate on the SBs….I’m guess he plays good D but correct me on that if I’m wrong…he’s hitting doubles and has 5 triples…Not sure the BA is sustainable with the 21 BB/71 K’s, but a .330 BA is a .330 BA in the end…Now I guess I’ll be paying a little more attention. I completely forgot he was the upside guy in the Fontenot trade, but I remember reading positive things about him at the time.

by SenorGato on Jul 29, 2011 11:59 PM CDT up reply actions

Some that follow the system closely,

Said they’d would of promoted Crawford over Ha when Jackson went to Iowa.

'Never look down on anybody unless you're helping him up.'

by Unique on Jul 30, 2011 12:11 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions

Ha would probably handle it better...

The K’s from a 22 year old in High A IMO hint towards him getting dissected pretty easily by upper level pitching. I think this strong season in High A is exactly what he needs.

by SenorGato on Jul 30, 2011 12:21 AM CDT up reply actions

He won't be crazy old for AA at 23 next year either.

Hell, Flaherty was 24 for the level.

by SenorGato on Jul 30, 2011 12:23 AM CDT up reply actions

It's nowhere near sustainable...

he has a .413 BABIP. Even if you give him extra credit for having a higher than average BABIP because of his speed, he’s lost even more power from last year which would cancel that out. There’s no evidence he’s made any improvement over A ball with the Giants last year besides cutting down on his Ks, but less walks came with that.

--------------------------------
Just North of Wrigley Field

by jameslcrockett on Jul 30, 2011 4:52 AM CDT up reply actions

Cabrera

Becoming interesting, I thought he was being pushed to fast but he has pitched well recently. Mesa has scored 39 runs in two games. The dominican group looks impressive as does our DSL team , this should be the template for our future. Minor league system should be sick heading into next year. MLB team is another story

by joeby231 on Jul 30, 2011 2:23 AM CDT reply actions

I think "sick" would be a correct adjective...

just old-school definition…

by hansman1982 on Jul 30, 2011 10:43 AM CDT up reply actions

Good game 2 from Jackson

Great, actually. Same for Vitters. Bad nights for Liria and Del Valle. Eh on Wang. Chen solid. Golden ugh. DeVoss back, now all we’re waiting for is Szczur.

by Ryno G on Jul 30, 2011 2:27 AM CDT reply actions

Baseball is a marathon.

The ups and downs of every single Minor league baseball game discussed here is comical. It is almost like a career hinges on every single game instead of the body of work that a year produces.

by Grockcubs on Jul 30, 2011 7:37 AM CDT reply actions

So what are you saying?

We shouldn’t check up on the minors daily? I don’t think anybody disagrees that it’s a marathon, but that doesn’t mean we can’t check in on them. Chill out.

We'll all miss you Ron.

by alkappy on Jul 30, 2011 7:47 AM CDT up reply actions

I check on the minors daily.

I check out what Josh has to say and go to MIB site daily. It can be the most enjoyable part of this horrible baseball season. That being said, some comments here on DAILY performance come off like the end of the world or end of a career if a certain player goes 0-4.
I am perfectly chilled. But I believe from now on I will stay clear of this page on BCB. I truly appreciate Josh’s work and effort. Obviously his work here is not in question.

by Grockcubs on Jul 30, 2011 7:56 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

agree

getting daily updates is fun, but, the minor leagues are about development, not stats, wins, or losses, the games are somewhat meaningless in those regards.

there are college hitters weaning themselves off metal bats, college pitchers learning to pitch to contact now that they are facing wood, infielders polishing up footwork and outfielders working on getting better reads and routes

player movement is based on what they see as far as tools, swing, arm, athleticism, etc. and not a daily boxscore

mainly it is based on maturity, handling failure, approach, and then execution

a power guy may have lesser than expected numbers because he was told to work on contact versus free swinging, and another hitter may be asked the opposite and may strike out more during the process, so posting that he took the collar assumes the player is a horrible hitter when in fact the bad day at the plate was expected by the organization

eventually, each player tries to develop consistency in being good everyday, and as far as hitting, good every day means quality at bats

by AlexWray on Jul 30, 2011 8:20 AM CDT up reply actions

Good points

from both of you. I look at the history of each level the player has been at. If each year there is steady progression as they move up the ladder, that to me is key. Correct, can not anote someone as a budding star by short solid sprint.

As always, time will tell.

Cubs 2011 59-103

by wild bill on Jul 30, 2011 8:42 AM CDT up reply actions

the big thing I have learned in the past 6 months

is to not get too caught up but the typings of a few posters…I try to look for the middle-ground guys and ignore the fringe lunatics

by hansman1982 on Jul 30, 2011 10:45 AM CDT up reply actions

and

I also understand the “biased” postings on bonus players as if they are going to be saviors?

I more admire the small, or non-bonus players who are a little older and are playing the game, chasing a dream, all the while knowing who and what they are competing against, i.e players, invested dollars, and long odds.

There is very little pressure on kids(drafted out of high school or foreign) that have been granted spending dollars. There is no rush to promote them mostly due to lacking maturity, not ability.

by AlexWray on Jul 30, 2011 10:53 AM CDT up reply actions