Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: August 29

by Josh Timmers on Aug 29, 2011 10:41 PM CDT in Minor Leagues

Just to answer a question that's been floating around since draft day, Trevor Gretzky's Twitter picture has him holding up a Cubs jersey with "GRETZKY" and the number "9" on it. So it seems like he's not going with number 99, at least not yet.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs silenced the Nashville Suns (Brewers), 8-5.

Chris Rusin started and went 5.2 innings. He allowed five runs on nine hits, including two home runs. Rusin walked one and struck out three.

Hung-Wen Chen relieved Rusin, faced one batter and struck him out. He got the win when Iowa scored five runs in the bottom of the seventh.

Blake Parker pitched the final two innings without allowing a run to get his fourth save. Parker gave up two hits. He walked one and struck out three.

First baseman Bryan LaHair hit his 37th home run in the seventh inning with a man on. He leads all the minor leagues. LaHair was 2 for 4 with three RBI.

Left fielder Lou Montanez was 3 for 4 with a triple and three RBI. He scored once. Center fielder Brett Jackson was 1 for 3 with a double and two walks. Jackson scored three runs.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies went supernova on the Jacksonville Suns (Marlins), 7-2.

Andrew Cashner made a rehab start and struck out all three batters he faced.

Trey McNutt took over for Cashner to start the second inning and got the win after allowing only one run over six innings. McNutt was touched for six hits. He walked three and struck out five. He also hit a solo home run in the fourth inning. Not only was it his first home run, it was his first hit as a professional.

Third baseman Josh Vitters was 2 for 4 with his 13th home run of the year. He hit it with a man on in the fourth inning. He scored twice and had the two RBI.

Left fielder Nate Samson hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning which was his fifth home run this year. Samson was 1 for 3 with a walk.

First baseman Rebel Ridling went 2 for 4 with a run scored and an RBI. Second baseman Jonathan Mota doubled in a 2 for 4 night. Mota had one RBI.

The win moved the Smokies into a first place tie with Chattanooga for the second-half title. They are trying to become the first team in Southern League history to win five straight half-season titles. They're already the first team to ever win four straight half-season titles.

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs cranked out 18 hits and caged the Dunedin Blue Jays, 9-6.

Matt Loosen pitched the first five innings and got the win. He allowed three runs on four hits, although one of the four runs was unearned. Loosen struck out six and only walked one.

Fireman Frank Batista retired all four batters he faced to get his 26th save. Batista fanned three.

Third baseman Jake Opitz had a huge night. He went 4 for 4 with two home runs. Both home runs were hit with a man on. The first was in the second inning and the final one was an insurance blast in the ninth. Opitz now has eight home runs this season. Opitz had six total RBI. He even walked once.

Second baseman Logan Watkins was 2 for 5 with a run scored and a stolen base. Right fielder Abner Abreu was 2 for 5 and scored twice. Center fielder Matt Szczur was 2 for 6.

First baseman Justin Bour went 2 for 5 with an RBI. He scored twice. Shortstop Elliot Soto was 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored. Catcher Chad Noble was 2 for 5 with an RBI.

Peoria Chiefs

The Peoria Chiefs were bitten by the Kane County Cougars (Royals), 5-4.

Patrick Francescon started and lasted four innings, surrendering one run on three hits. He walked three and struck out five.

Ramon Garcia got hammered in the eighth inning for four runs to get the loss. Garcia pitched just the one inning and surrendered two hits and two walks. One of the four runs was unearned. Garcia struck out one.

Shortstop Rafael Valdes was 2 for 4 with a double and a run scored. Right fielder Anthony Giansanti was 2 for 3 with a walk and stolen base. He scored once and had one RBI.

Boise Hawks

Coming home for the final big series against the Vancouver Canadians

AZL Cubs

Season ended yesterday. They finished with a 28-28 record.

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Comments

Maybe Gretzky gets the other 9

when he makes the majors. Or when a bell rings or something.

by Bradsbeard on Aug 29, 2011 10:52 PM CDT reply actions

he's going to be the best ever

then he’ll be traded the Blue Jays to promote the game north of the border.

by pb5689 on Aug 29, 2011 11:51 PM CDT up reply actions

He'll automatically be the best Cub ever to wear 99 if he does.

Considering the only Cub who has done so is Todd Hundley, that bar is set pretty low.

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by Al Yellon on Aug 30, 2011 9:22 AM CDT up reply actions

I was gonna go there

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

by timh815 on Aug 30, 2011 12:20 PM CDT up reply actions

It would be asinine...

for him to wear any other jersey number than 99… and that was before I remembered Hundley wore it. It’s just simple marketing. He’d have to absolutely hate the idea for it to not be a slam dunk.

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Just North of Wrigley Field

by jameslcrockett on Aug 30, 2011 4:25 PM CDT up reply actions

Yeah...

… that makes sense; to have a Cubs jersey reading “GRETZKY 99” for him would be a huge seller. Like you said, unless he is against it, I think it’ll happen, presuming he makes the big club.

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by Al Yellon on Aug 30, 2011 7:31 PM CDT up reply actions

Just before

“Chelsea Dagger” starts playing.

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

by timh815 on Aug 29, 2011 10:56 PM CDT reply actions

Wiil the Cubs

add a Red Light above the scoreboard for Home Runs by Gretzky??

"Just shut up and play" - Matt Garza

by RiskyBusiness on Aug 30, 2011 2:43 PM CDT up reply actions

That HR by Gretzky

was assisted by a hanging slider by the pitcher…

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

by timh815 on Aug 30, 2011 3:04 PM CDT up reply actions

Don't lots of hockey goals get two assists?

So you could give the catcher who ‘hung’ the signals an assist, too.

"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 30, 2011 3:20 PM CDT up reply actions

OMG...

best idea I’ve ever seen. They at least need a big horn to sound after it. I wonder if they’d let fans bring their own alarm lights into the stadium and horns. That would be an awesome giveaway night to have every year (cost depending).

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Just North of Wrigley Field

by jameslcrockett on Aug 30, 2011 4:27 PM CDT up reply actions

First 10,000 kids 13 and under

get an air horn.

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

by timh815 on Aug 30, 2011 4:44 PM CDT up reply actions

God. No.

Weekend contributor and official editorial lackey/waitstaff at Windy City Gridiron
If a people-avoiding gaming hermit is on Twitter, I should be too. Follow me!

by Steven Schweickert on Aug 30, 2011 4:52 PM CDT up reply actions

Would that be Crane Kenney's call?

#HadTo

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

by timh815 on Aug 30, 2011 4:57 PM CDT up reply actions

All I know is, 10,000 kids with an air horn?

Yeah. Enjoy that.

Weekend contributor and official editorial lackey/waitstaff at Windy City Gridiron
If a people-avoiding gaming hermit is on Twitter, I should be too. Follow me!

by Steven Schweickert on Aug 30, 2011 5:13 PM CDT up reply actions

That's as bad a adults at soccer games

Can’t a guy sit down around here!

"Just shut up and play" - Matt Garza

by RiskyBusiness on Aug 30, 2011 6:04 PM CDT up reply actions

Vuvuzela night

at Wrigley

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

by timh815 on Aug 30, 2011 6:07 PM CDT up reply actions

aw f^ck!

"Just shut up and play" - Matt Garza

by RiskyBusiness on Aug 30, 2011 7:33 PM CDT up reply actions

Ouch.

I think that’s a winner.

Weekend contributor and official editorial lackey/waitstaff at Windy City Gridiron
If a people-avoiding gaming hermit is on Twitter, I should be too. Follow me!

by Steven Schweickert on Aug 30, 2011 10:55 PM CDT up reply actions

Hat Trick?

If he has a 3 homer game, do we toss our Cubs hats on the field?

by toppsmike on Aug 30, 2011 9:06 PM CDT up reply actions

Oh no

The Cubs will start selling octopus to throw out. That coulds get messy.

"Just shut up and play" - Matt Garza

by RiskyBusiness on Aug 31, 2011 12:18 PM CDT up reply actions

Frank "The Beast" Batista

Doin’ work as always. Is he even a worthwhile prospect?

by Mulhollandmania on Aug 29, 2011 11:37 PM CDT reply actions

I think he'll get a legit look

in AA Tennessee next year. I think any pitcher that looks good in AA has a chance at being of value if they clean up on their weaknesses. I’ll use Casey Coleman as an example.

There were divergent opinions on him coming up. Some said he would never be of any value. Some saw him as a 4/5 type. What went as assumed was ‘if he cleans up his command’. There have been quite a few pitchers that have been worthwhile arms in the bigs with what would probably be considered sub-standard velo and no serious trick pitches. Joe Borowski and Doug Jones come to mind.

The joy of having systemic pitching depth (which we have) is that you have a number of guys who ‘might figure it out’ and be usable pieces, either in the pen, BOR types, or trade bait.

If Batista is ‘effective’ in AA ball next year, he’ll have a legit chance in 2013 to make a big league bullpen. From there, it will be up to him to produce.

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

by timh815 on Aug 30, 2011 12:48 AM CDT up reply actions

Borowski and Jones aren't great examples

Borowski threw in the mid 90s as he was coming up and still did when he started to make an impact in the majors with the Cubs. He didn’t lose it until he started having the shoulder injuries. He also had a very good slider that he was especially good at backdooring to left handed hitters.

Jones if I am remembering correctly also threw fairly hard when he first came up and had an excellent split finger.

Now both of these guys hung around long after they lost their stuff and still had some relatively effective seasons, but veterans with a track record of success will always be given a chance to repeat it regardless of their present stuff. Pitching prospects only get multiple chances if they throw hard, or a team is desperate (like the Cubs and Casey Coleman). I know little about Batista but he will need to continue to excel at every level in order to get a legit chance because there will always be guys with better stuff the team will want to take a look at.

by MVZ on Aug 30, 2011 7:43 AM CDT up reply actions

A key is doing well at every level

I don’t think he has mid-90’s gas. If he pitches well in AA, he’ll be a threat. He’s already considered a High A closer, so he has something going on. He isn’t a 47th Round Pick. He’s age appropriate.

He’s 22 with a WHIP under 1.1.If he’s under 1.2 in Tennessee as a 23 year old over a full season, he’ll be in play.

If he had crazy gas (he might, I’m not sure), he may earn a pass if he has a clunker of a season along the way. But then, if (pick a guy in AZ Summer League this year) has an WHIP under 1.3 in Boise in 2012, he’ll go to Peoria by 2013. Quality advances from one affiliate to the next. It’s how things work.

FB’s WHIPs

2009 DSL 1.2
2010 Peoria 1.3
2011 Daytona 1.1

Coming up, productivity trumps hype, all things being equal.

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

by timh815 on Aug 30, 2011 12:36 PM CDT up reply actions

Cashner @ McNutt

Should be interesting watching how they perform in the AFL. With all the questions about having some upper echelon arms in the high minors, I hope these two take the next step.

by joeby231 on Aug 30, 2011 1:36 AM CDT reply actions

Agreed.

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

by Unique on Aug 30, 2011 3:38 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions

To add onto that...

Could you imagine having Cashner and McNutt reaching their potential? Could go a long way for this franchise.

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

by Unique on Aug 30, 2011 5:42 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions

Sure

But it involves us trading them for a washed-up outfielder.

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

by timh815 on Aug 30, 2011 6:55 AM CDT up reply actions

The Cubs really, really need them both to come good

Or stocking a competitive pitching staff is going to be painfully expensive.

by ClarkFan on Aug 30, 2011 1:56 PM CDT up reply actions

LaHair has 10 games to hit one HR.

That would set the I cubs record held by Joe Hicks.

We'll miss you Big Boy. #10 for Hall of Fame.

by mrcubsfan on Aug 30, 2011 7:45 AM CDT via mobile reply actions

Maybe less than 10 games...

with Iowa out of the race and Quade’s suggestion that he’ll get a call-up, he might only have a few games left. Unless (a) Quade is wrong and they don’t call him up or (b) the Cubs decide to give him a chance to break the record.

by SouthernCub on Aug 30, 2011 8:55 AM CDT up reply actions

Who is going to play in the AFL for the Cubs?

Mike Quade is an idiot.

by qwerty123 on Aug 30, 2011 9:27 AM CDT reply actions

Should be announced this week.

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by Al Yellon on Aug 30, 2011 9:42 AM CDT up reply actions

Vitters keeps up the solid play.

Also Boise is supposed to announce “multiple roster moves in the next couple of hours including some new exciting players from Mesa!!”

by Ryno G on Aug 30, 2011 1:01 PM CDT reply actions

One is Pugliese

We may need a Hawks update sidebar by the weekend if they do well.

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

by timh815 on Aug 30, 2011 1:23 PM CDT up reply actions

Shoulders and Dunston are home

Probably DSL veterans, with a couple or three pitchers if a game goes 15 or gets one-sided.

Relly could use 4 of 5 wins in Boise.

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

by timh815 on Aug 30, 2011 2:01 PM CDT up reply actions

This pisses me off.

Nothing the Cubs did (this time)…. Retire, Bud.

If you’re going to cling to the notion that over-slots shouldn’t be announced until deadline, then move up the stupid deadline. Very lame that the Cubs otherwise likely could’ve had agreements with some of these guys weeks ago and given them six weeks (instead of two) to get acclimated to pro baseball.

"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 30, 2011 3:24 PM CDT up reply actions

Dunston

and others, will be back for Instructional Ball.

Which I still don’t grasp.

#PleaseRetireSoonBud

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

by timh815 on Aug 30, 2011 3:26 PM CDT up reply actions

and not just the Cubs

Bud fails to see (?) that underbudgeting for talent impairs your system, Go back to used cars.

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

by timh815 on Aug 30, 2011 3:28 PM CDT up reply actions

I-Cubs Bryan LaHair ties franchise single-season homerun record

Iowa Cubs first baseman Brian LaHair’s home run on Monday night, his 37th of this season, ties the franchise single-season homerun record. The record of 37 was set in 1984 by Joe Hicks. I believe LaHair will likely be called up to Chicago in September, to try him out to see what he might have to offer the team next year. But it would be nice if they could wait 6 days, until after the Iowa Cubs season ends on Sept 5th, to give him a chance to take sole possession of the record. I mean, it’s not like either team is doing anything THIS season, and 5 or 6 days isn’t going to make much difference, especially since Quade would likely have him riding the bench anyway.

A similar thing happened last season, when Iowa was in a tie with the Memphis Redbirds. Iowa played Memphis at home for the last 4 games of the season. A series split would give the Redbirds the title due to the tiebreaker, so Iowa really needed to win 3 of the 4 games. Chicago called up some players on Sept 1st, even though Chicago wasn’t going anywhere last year, either. Without some of their better players, Iowa split the series, and sat out the post season. If Chicago had been in a similar situation and needed thopse guys to earn a post-season berth, that would have been something different. But the players got called up, then sat on the bench. And had Iowa gone to the post-season, Ryne Sandberg’s resume might have looked a little better, and a different choice MIGHT have been made. And if so, how much different might THIS season have been? Guess we’ll never know.

by Ivan Martin on Aug 30, 2011 9:21 PM CDT reply actions