Cubs Minor League Wrap: August 16

by Josh Timmers on Aug 17, 2011 12:14 AM CDT in Minor Leagues

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs gassed the Salt Lake Bees, 7-3.

Jay Jackson got the win with a quality start of 6.2 innings, allowing three runs on eight hits. Jackson walked one and struck out one.

Blake Parker did not allow a run or a hit over the last 2.1 innings to collect his third save. Parker walked one and struck out three.

First baseman Bryan LaHair got the I-Cubs off to a good start with a two-run home run in the top of the first inning. It was LaHair's 33rd home run this season. LaHair was 2 for 4.

Center fielder Brett Jackson was 2 for 5. He scored once and had two RBI.

Shortstop Marwin Gonzalez went 2 for 3 with a run scored and an RBI. Second baseman Ryan Flaherty was 2 for 4 and scored twice.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies outranked the Jackson Generals, 11-6.

Brooks Raley started and got the win. He allowed four runs on nine hits over five innings. One of the four runs was unearned. Raley walked one and struck out five.

Rafael Dolis got save number 14 with 1.1 innings of scoreless relief. He allowed one hit and neither walked nor struck anyone out.

Shortstop Junior Lake hit a solo home run in the second inning; his fourth of the season for the Smokies. Lake was 2 for 5 and scored twice.

Third baseman Josh Vitters was 2 for 3 with a walk and a sac fly. He had two total RBI and scored twice. Catcher Steve Clevenger had two doubles in a 2 for 4 game. He scored once and had three RBI.

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs capsized against the Brevard County Manatees, 6-3.

Angel Guzman started and got the loss, although both of the runs he allowed in his two innings were unearned. Guzman allowed two hits and one walk. He did not record a strikeout.

Center fielder Matthew Szczur was 3 for 5 with a double. Right fielder Michael Burgess was 2 for 4 with two RBI. He also stole his first base of the season.

Peoria Chiefs

Day off.

Boise Hawks

The Hawks were plucked by the Tri-City Dust Devils, 4-1.

Starter Austin Reed got the loss after allowing two runs on five hits over four innings. He struck out one and walked one.

Left fielder Pin-Chieh Chenand shortstop Wes Darvill both went 2 for 4.

AZL Cubs

Lost to the Reds, 9-1.

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Comments

Let's go LaHair

Nice week!

Do not fault the successful participant in a flawed system; try instead to discern and rebuke that aspect of its organization which allows or encourages the behavior that has provoked your displeasure - source urban dictionary

by Don't hate the player.. Hate the game! on Aug 17, 2011 12:37 AM CDT reply actions

Wild pitch on Burgess' steal?

Just a guess.

I'm a Cubs fan. The Jaded Bitterness comes as a Standard Feature.

by timh815 on Aug 17, 2011 12:40 AM CDT reply actions

Seriously.. When was the last time you've seen a guy fight so hard with these numbers for another shot?

Give real examples.. name athletes. Raul Ibanez, Josh Hamilton, Bautista, Bagwell, A. Gonzalex, Torres?

by Don't hate the player.. Hate the game! on Aug 17, 2011 12:54 AM CDT reply actions

He's having a

very good season in AAA. No question.

That having been said, there are two months of numbers that can be very deceiving…. April and September.

If LeHair crushes the league in September, do you feel comfy in having him at 1B instead of ‘someone else’ if we’re trying to be competetive.

Conversely, if Gillick is in charge, and says “Call him up!”, I’m with you.

I'm a Cubs fan. The Jaded Bitterness comes as a Standard Feature.

by timh815 on Aug 17, 2011 1:03 AM CDT up reply actions

He has had GREAT AAA season's ever since he had his taste in 08

09 AAA All-Star and ZERO error’s at 1st place (Seattle)

10 AAA – Cubs Organizational All-Star (Cubs)

11 AAA – All-Star and best year of his career

by Don't hate the player.. Hate the game! on Aug 17, 2011 1:09 AM CDT up reply actions

He'll outplay Pujols

Fielder, Belt, Freeman, Howard, and Ike Davis?

Pass me some of what you’re using.

I'm a Cubs fan. The Jaded Bitterness comes as a Standard Feature.

by timh815 on Aug 17, 2011 1:12 AM CDT up reply actions

Come Septemer I’m pretty confident Cubs will give him a call.. But there are many “Sept Calls.”

Is it a curtsy call to rward him for the year he is having? (That being mentioned, where was that last year?)

Or, is it an actual audition? We know Quade will not play him ever day over Pena.

LaHair needs AB’s regardless regularly regardless

by Don't hate the player.. Hate the game! on Aug 17, 2011 1:15 AM CDT up reply actions

needs?

He’s a good AAA player.

I doubt a team giving him 400 AB at 1B will be a playoff team.

I'm a Cubs fan. The Jaded Bitterness comes as a Standard Feature.

by timh815 on Aug 17, 2011 1:17 AM CDT up reply actions

SG is kidding.

He doesn’t even like LaHair. He wants Fielder, as do I.

by Ryno G on Aug 17, 2011 1:11 AM CDT up reply actions

I've been on that bandwagon all season as well.

I would like to see the number of years though.

John Grabow: $4.8 million in 2011.

by rlpete on Aug 17, 2011 6:27 AM CDT up reply actions

Seems as if Pena will be here for a few more seasons

There have been a couple reports recently that report Pena is in talks with the club currently about an extension. This wouldn’t be horrible, but I’m on the Fielder bandwagon as well.

by renocubfan on Aug 17, 2011 10:17 AM CDT up reply actions

Agreed. I'm ok with Pena comign back,

but only if they make a run at Fielder and fail. an extension right now would be disappointing.

Any link for these reports?

by MDavis on Aug 17, 2011 10:41 AM CDT up reply actions

Pena is a typical Cubby mistake

Guy on a 2 year decline. Cubs pick him off the scrap heap and he over achieves the modest expectations. Then they give the guy a 2 year deal and regret in almost instantly.

See: Perez, Neifi and Rusch, Glendon

" Tell me something Steve, How does a guy from Puerto Rico loose a ball in the Sun? "

by aaronb on Aug 17, 2011 10:51 AM CDT up reply actions

Agreed. $10M is already too much for his production level.

Any extension, regardless of years, would likely be for more… at declining production.

I have this recurring nightmare of the 2012 Cubs looking an awful lot like the 2011 Cubs.

"Stuff like this is why they should shut off the internet."

by Orval Overall on Dec 17, 2010 1:19 PM CST

by fsuapollo on Aug 17, 2011 11:37 AM CDT up reply actions

And FWIW

I’m not anti-Pena altogether. I think he’s a good guy to have around and a guy who could help you win, if he’s your 5 or 6 hitter.

"Stuff like this is why they should shut off the internet."

by Orval Overall on Dec 17, 2010 1:19 PM CST

by fsuapollo on Aug 17, 2011 11:38 AM CDT up reply actions

I'm not anti-Pena either

I just think a smarter approach is to uncover other “buy low” candidates. It doesn’t really jive with the “buy low” strategy, when you turn around and overpay the buy low guy the following year.

" Tell me something Steve, How does a guy from Puerto Rico loose a ball in the Sun? "

by aaronb on Aug 17, 2011 5:21 PM CDT up reply actions

...but what if he comes as reasonably priced as he did this year?

The deferred money made his contract a "bargain for 2011. I don’t believe he can actually charge more for his performance in 2012, coming off a second-straight year where he didn’t exactly match his value.

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

by jameslcrockett on Aug 17, 2011 7:33 PM CDT up reply actions

My opinion is that if we aren't going to upgrade

Then we might as well go cheap and see if we can bargain hunt. Fielder, Morneau, Kubel, Logan Morrison, Kendry Morales needs to be about the order in which we look to fill first base. If we can’t land one of those guys I say give the gig to Bryan LaHair.

" Tell me something Steve, How does a guy from Puerto Rico loose a ball in the Sun? "

by aaronb on Aug 17, 2011 9:19 PM CDT up reply actions

List in order of who I'd like at first next year

1. Pujols
2. Fielder
3. Kubel
4. Logan Morrison
5. Justin Morneau
6. Lance Berkman
7. Bryan LaHair

" Tell me something Steve, How does a guy from Puerto Rico loose a ball in the Sun? "

by aaronb on Aug 17, 2011 9:22 PM CDT up reply actions

You didn't even come close to responding to what I said.

No shock there. And then you mentioned four guys who will cost more than Carlos Pena will next year, one guy who can’t play first place, your only reasonable option has been an outfielder and finally a AAAA player… and don’t even list Carlos Pena, which invalidates your opinions completely. How can you possibly claim you’re not “anti-Pena” when you do that?

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

by jameslcrockett on Aug 18, 2011 12:39 PM CDT up reply actions

That would be the most depressing move ever.

It’s already giving up on the next season..

by Ryno G on Aug 17, 2011 2:14 PM CDT up reply actions

Solid day

for Jackson, Flaherty, Vitters, Lake, Clevenger, Szczur, and Chen.

by Ryno G on Aug 17, 2011 1:12 AM CDT reply actions

Not saying 400 AB’s didn’t think that was possible in a month?!

We can still get Fielder.. Not sure he’ll want to come to a losing franchise but probably will take the bate once we offer it.

He can be our back up if he’s earned it

by Don't hate the player.. Hate the game! on Aug 17, 2011 1:19 AM CDT reply actions

He shouldn't be a backup.

In days of 12 man pitching staffs, you only have 5 extra hitters. One will be a catcher. The other four have to be able to give you coverage at all other positions on the diamond. Two will be infielders (2B/3B/SS) Two will be outfielders. Unless you want LeHair covering LF and RF on occasion, there’s no room for him as a sub.

Maybe back in the 70’s when 10 man pitching staffs were standard. Not now.

I'm a Cubs fan. The Jaded Bitterness comes as a Standard Feature.

by timh815 on Aug 17, 2011 1:36 AM CDT up reply actions

Pena will be signed

to an extension after the season for 2 years and close to 20M. Book it.

by Grockcubs on Aug 17, 2011 7:16 AM CDT up reply actions

Gillick signed LaHair

As an Outfielder

by Don't hate the player.. Hate the game! on Aug 17, 2011 1:40 AM CDT reply actions

7 games in LF this year

48 in LF, 2 in RF last year
66 in LF, 21 in RF in 2009

I’m not sure if the declining amount of time in the OF speaks more to his D there or our lack of corner infield prospects in the system.

by madcow256 on Aug 17, 2011 7:56 AM CDT up reply actions

Brett Jackson had his 6th outfield assist since being called up to AAA. I don’t know if that’s just guys being overly aggressive in the minors, but still impressive

by Donbedouin on Aug 17, 2011 9:33 AM CDT reply actions