Peoria's Austin Kirk throws a no-hitter vs Clinton Lumberkings

First no-hitter for Peoria since 1988. This kid has been fantastic this year. He struck out ten Lumberkings, he only walked two.

11 months ago Unique 55 comments 0 recs |

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First no-hitter for Peoria since 1988

Here’s hoping he gets his promotion to Daytona soon. He’s earned it!

by Outshined_One on Jul 4, 2011 8:43 PM CDT reply actions

Check that

First complete game no-hitter for Peoria since 1988.

by Outshined_One on Jul 4, 2011 8:51 PM CDT up reply actions

10ks is very impressive

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Cubs win....what a lucky break!!" ---Harry

by Hammer on Jul 4, 2011 8:51 PM CDT reply actions

I too thought/think

That’s the best part in this whole thing. It’s one thing to no hit a team in the minors. It’s another thing to pile up K’s doing it.

by SenorGato on Jul 5, 2011 9:02 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions

Right it is more common to see outs

made early in the count etc. Its too bad during Wood’s 20K game that little roller went as a hit because that is pretty much why it is not recognized as the best performance ever. Or at least seriously considered.

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Cubs win....what a lucky break!!" ---Harry

by Hammer on Jul 5, 2011 1:33 PM CDT up reply actions

Actually, that Wood game IS widely considered the best performance ever.

It has the highest game score (105) of any game in history.

Only two other games — Nolan Ryan’s last no-hitter, when he walked two and struck out 16, and Sandy Koufax’s perfect game, when he struck out 14, have game scores over 100 (101).

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by Al Yellon on Jul 5, 2011 2:48 PM CDT up reply actions

Take away that hit and the walk

and he is 7Ks away from Brendan Fraser’s character in The Scout.

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Cubs win....what a lucky break!!" ---Harry

by Hammer on Jul 5, 2011 3:00 PM CDT up reply actions

Wood didn't walk anyone in the 20K game.

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by Al Yellon on Jul 5, 2011 3:24 PM CDT up reply actions

Whoops - damn

and I even have the DVD in front of me.

Still one of the best pitches I have ever seen. “Here comes the hook!!”

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Cubs win....what a lucky break!!" ---Harry

by Hammer on Jul 5, 2011 3:51 PM CDT up reply actions

You ever seen this movie??

You gotta see it

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0041514/usercomments

It Happens Every Spring

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Cubs win....what a lucky break!!" ---Harry

by Hammer on Jul 5, 2011 3:56 PM CDT up reply actions

Stupid Cubs still won't promote him

Wouldn’t want to give Daytona any legit pitching prospects!…or Szczur for that matter.

by Ryno G on Jul 4, 2011 9:38 PM CDT reply actions

BTW

I did hear that Starlin Peralta was called up to take Hayden’s spot in the rotation. Good news for him. He pitched pretty well in Rookie Ball.

by Ryno G on Jul 4, 2011 9:38 PM CDT reply actions

Peralta and Pete Levitt were promoted to Peoria

Larry Suarez to Daytona
Marcus Hatley to Tennessee
Nick Struck to Iowa

by Outshined_One on Jul 4, 2011 10:09 PM CDT up reply actions

Yeah

Tons of moves made lately. Signing Zeke, Hayden demotion, all the promotions today. It’ll be interesting to see who takes over Strucks spot in Tennessee’s rotation. No one really in line to take his spot. No prospects really ready, or set up with the schedule. I’m guessing someone will get demoted from Iowa. Hopefully Easterling gets playing soon. Struck’s promotion came out of nowhere for me. Cubs must be a huge fan. Still in need of a promotion.:
Tennessee- Matt Spencer, I suppose. Need to make room for..
Daytona- Evan Crawford..don’t really care about these as much because they aren’t key. Bour could probably use one but no room.
Peoria- Kirk and Szczur..obvious..and these two I care about
Boise- Lopez and Chen
Rookie- Del Valle and Geiger. Geiger probably needs another week or two but then stay with Boise for the rest of the year with Golden and Easterling

by Ryno G on Jul 4, 2011 10:27 PM CDT up reply actions

Agreed on all counts there

Especially Spencer/ Crawford or Bour. All of them should be moved up and are more than ready for the next level. Obviously Szczur and Kirk too.

by Mulhollandmania on Jul 4, 2011 10:35 PM CDT up reply actions

Hopefully Szczur will stay in Peoria until Friday,

we are heading to Peoria to see the Chiefs. My son is going to shag fly balls and hopefully will get his picture with him.

by jpeters407 on Jul 4, 2011 11:03 PM CDT up reply actions

Make it another month

I still want to see him play a couple more times before he moves on up! But yeah he’s pretty much proven his point in the Midwest League.

by cubfanandy on Jul 6, 2011 12:45 AM CDT up reply actions

Jumping the gun on tonight's update, but Peralta had an impressive start for Peoria tonight

5 innings, 2 hits, 1 BB, 1 run with 6 Ks.

by Bradsbeard on Jul 5, 2011 9:52 PM CDT up reply actions

Yep

Very, Very impressive first start.

by Ryno G on Jul 5, 2011 10:45 PM CDT up reply actions

Congrats to Kirk.

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by Al Yellon on Jul 4, 2011 10:35 PM CDT reply actions

And now maybe you will remember who he is?

Sorry Al I have to tweak you for posting " Who is Kirk" when I mentioned him in a post in mid June
re a mock trade.

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

by Doggie Stalker on Jul 5, 2011 9:01 AM CDT up reply actions

LOL.

R.I.P. to my grandfather, Andrew Wiley
The reason I am a Cub fan forever

by Unique on Jul 5, 2011 9:28 AM CDT up reply actions

Congratulations, Austin!

Save one or two for when you make your way into a Cubs uniform.

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

by jameslcrockett on Jul 4, 2011 11:54 PM CDT reply actions

Moves 7/5

Matt Loosen to Tennessee
Frank Del Valle to Peoria

by Ryno G on Jul 5, 2011 1:11 PM CDT reply actions

Kirk needs to be moved to high-A ASAP.

He has nothing left to prove here.

R.I.P. to my grandfather, Andrew Wiley
The reason I am a Cub fan forever

by Unique on Jul 5, 2011 1:56 PM CDT up reply actions

It should have happened after the break along with Szczur

but I don’t see it happening now. They just moved up Loosen to take Struck’s spot (both VERY aggressive moves, especially Loosen) and Del Valle is taking Loosen’s spot. If they were to move Kirk up to Daytona, I don’t know who would take his spot. Hayden and Ackerman are staying in Rookie ball (as it should be, I don’t even know who their other starter is now) and I don’t think they will send anyone from Boise up to Peoria. He’s got the same problem as Szczur: stuck. They could easily make room for them, but they obviously have no desire.

by Ryno G on Jul 5, 2011 2:05 PM CDT up reply actions

The thing with not promoting some guys before the deadline is that

their trade value might go down. It should be firmly kept in mind that the ML team is what the minor leagues are here for. Not all these guys will be future Cubs, but they can make their own little contribution.

by SenorGato on Jul 5, 2011 4:23 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

Also these guys are getting more than just

game experience. Body and other coaching also goes on…especially at the lower levels I would think.

by SenorGato on Jul 5, 2011 4:28 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

?

Except we aren’t buying at the deadline?

by Ryno G on Jul 5, 2011 6:57 PM CDT up reply actions

As with many things in life it's not that simple.

If Justin Upton or Felix Hernandez were to hit the July market, should we not try to win it? While that’s an extreme example as those are potentially elite talents, there are still quite a few players in baseball who might be useful to the cubs here and in the future where now is when we have to move or we miss them.

Anything that makes the big league clubs future a little easier to build should be done. Whether that’s bringing in prospects…trading prospects for young pros…both…

by SenorGato on Jul 5, 2011 9:10 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

Those guys won't be avaliable.

Maybe in the offseason but not now.

R.I.P. to my grandfather, Andrew Wiley
The reason I am a Cub fan forever

by Unique on Jul 5, 2011 10:09 PM CDT up reply actions

That's acknowledged in the post.

by SenorGato on Jul 5, 2011 10:21 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

Kinda.

by SenorGato on Jul 5, 2011 10:23 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

Moving the prospects who should be moved up helps

It’s dumb, and I’m tired of trying to make excuses for why they won’t move them up. They just don’t want to.

by Ryno G on Jul 5, 2011 10:44 PM CDT up reply actions

They just don't want to do it..,

could be the short of it. I doubt they’re unaware of the fact that Kirk and Szczur has gone unnoticed.

by SenorGato on Jul 6, 2011 1:25 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions

Jim Callis of BA

wasn’t very big on Kirk. He said his stuff was fringy to average at best and profiled as a reliever

by Ryno G on Jul 5, 2011 6:57 PM CDT reply actions

BP's writeup

A third-round pick in 2009, Kirk played his high school ball at Owasso High in Oklahoma, which also produced the Cardinals’ first-rounder from 2007, Peter Kozma, and more famously, this year’s top high school pitcher in the draft, the Orioles’ Dylan Bundy. While Kirk has been good all year, he made headlines on Monday by firing Peoria’s first nine-inning no-hitter since 1988 while walking two and striking out 10. Though his fastball is just an average pitch, he has the ability to spin a breaking ball and combine it with above-average command and control, which has led to his 2.60 ERA in 17 games while limiting the league to a .189 batting average. His ceiling is a fourth or fifth starter, but on Monday, Kirk was the best pitcher in the minors.

by Outshined_One on Jul 5, 2011 8:25 PM CDT up reply actions

Ah.

I want to see what Kirk does in high A before I give him a ceiling.

R.I.P. to my grandfather, Andrew Wiley
The reason I am a Cub fan forever

by Unique on Jul 5, 2011 10:11 PM CDT up reply actions

I'll take a fourth starter

right about now.

by Josh Timmers on Jul 5, 2011 11:57 PM CDT up reply actions

Haha, no kidding....

by bdlugz on Jul 6, 2011 8:50 AM CDT up reply actions

I've only seen kirks draft video but I've said multiple times that...

he didn’t strike me as very athletic. I thought the delivery was a little stiff as was he.

It’s why I am the way I am with prospects. You pick the guys you really like and want to hold onto, the rest are half for sale half wait and see probably mostly bs anyway.

by SenorGato on Jul 5, 2011 9:17 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

While a no-no is certainly a wonderful accomplishment

It should be noted that Kirk no-hit Clinton, the worst offensive team in the Midwest League.

"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)

Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)

by SackMan on Jul 5, 2011 11:09 PM CDT reply actions

Also noted

For the other end of the spectrum. Greg Maddux never threw a no hitter.

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Cubs win....what a lucky break!!" ---Harry

by Hammer on Jul 5, 2011 11:14 PM CDT up reply actions

Quite the comedian.

The Clinton Lumberkings team batting average is a whopping .224! Worst in all of Minor League Baseball from class A – AAA (short season and rookie league’s not included).

They’ve been shutout 8 times this year
They’ve been held to only 1 run 14 times this year
They’ve struck out 678 times in 82 games (8.26 Ks per game)

So, Kirk’s outing was almost par for the course.

"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)

Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)

by SackMan on Jul 5, 2011 11:51 PM CDT up reply actions

Wow. Point made

Impressive futility.

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Cubs win....what a lucky break!!" ---Harry

by Hammer on Jul 6, 2011 1:31 AM CDT up reply actions

How many times have they been no hit?

by bdlugz on Jul 6, 2011 8:51 AM CDT up reply actions

Ok smart ass.

They were 1-hit earlier in the year by Peoria as well (Cam Greathouse). The Cubs were 9-1 against them before this weekend, and 10-3 overall on the year.

They were held to 2 hits twice this year, and they were held to 3 hits three times this year. Whether a team gets no-hit, or only manages 1 or two hits… it’s still absolutely pathetic. At this pace, the odds aren’t too shabby that they get no-hit again this season.

"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)

Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)

by SackMan on Jul 6, 2011 9:14 AM CDT up reply actions

So you're saying Kirk is the only pitcher in over 80 games to no hit them??

Okay, just checking. I don’t care that it’s a bad offense, it’s still a very rare feat, and I’d actually argue it ISN’T likely to happen again this year, based on odds and statistics.

by bdlugz on Jul 6, 2011 10:37 AM CDT up reply actions

Nothing good

Or worthwhile this year seems to be the BCB theme.

by SenorGato on Jul 6, 2011 1:14 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

I'm sorry, but I can't help shaking my head at that.

I don’t care who it’s against. I’m still excited for him. Finding fault with a no-hitter just seems sad to me.

Fasten those seat belts...

by katie casey on Jul 6, 2011 9:39 AM CDT up reply actions 3 recs

If you're going to use his no-hitter as a measure of his prospect status,

Then it absolutely should be taken into consideration that he accomplished this feat against the weakest hitting lineup in all of MiLB.

People comment on here all the time about our prospects facing good or bad competition, to measure their stats. This is no different. If he gets promoted to Daytona and continues to pitch well against better talent, then we’ll have something to elevate his status.

"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)

Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)

by SackMan on Jul 6, 2011 12:15 PM CDT up reply actions

What?

We aren’t basing it on one game. He’s been dominant all season for the most part.

by Ryno G on Jul 6, 2011 12:23 PM CDT up reply actions

Any time a guy throws a no hitter, it automatically draws attention, and rightfully so.

However, there are some more casual readers who don’t necessarily follow our farm teams that closely, nor would they know how bad Clinton is. The Peoria Cubs Cam Greathouse and Yohan Gonzalez combined for 9K, 1 hit shutout of Clinton earlier this year in May as well.

"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)

Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)

by SackMan on Jul 6, 2011 12:49 PM CDT up reply actions