Cubs Minor League Wrap: August 4
by Josh Timmers on Aug 4, 2011 11:30 PM CDT
in Minor Leagues
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PrintSpecial message for Jessica. Get over to the McCovey Chronicles quick to ask them how in the world the Giants have 41 men on their 40-man roster.
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs declawed the Fresno Grizzlies (Giants), 5-2.
Nick Struck had a strong start tonight to get his second win for Iowa. He pitched six innings and allowed one run on five hits. Struck did not walk a batter and he struck out seven.
John Gaub threw two scoreless innings to get his sixth save. Gaub surrendered two hits but didn't walk anyone. He struck out two.
The calls to promote center fielder Brett Jackson are just going to get louder after tonight. Jackson was 3 for 4 with his fifth home run in the past 11 games. Jackson hit the home run with the bases empty in the third inning.
Left fielder Brad Snyder also hit a solo home run in the fourth inning. Snyder went 2 for 4 with his tenth home run this season. He scored twice.
Tennessee Smokies
The Tennessee Smokies finished off a five-game sweep of the Birmingham Barons (White Sox), 4-3.
Brooks Raley pitched five plus innings and allowed three runs on ten hits. He walked three and struck out five.
Raley loaded the bases with no one out when he was relieved by Kevin Rhoderick, who got out of the inning with no runs scoring. Rhoderick got the win after pitching two scoreless innings without allowing a hit, although he did have to pitch out of another jam in the seventh inning. He had runners on second and third with one out after an error, a hit batsman and a wild pitch. Rhoderick struck out one.
Jeff Beliveau collected his second save with two scoreless innings. He surrendered one hit and issued two walks. He struck out two.
Center fielder Jae-Hoon Ha went 2 for 4. He scored once and had one RBI.
Shortstop Junior Lake went 2 for 3 with a double and a walk. Lake stole two bases and scored twice.
Third baseman Josh Vitters went 2 for 4 with an RBI.
Daytona Cubs
The Daytona Cubs were shot down by the Lakeland Flying Tigers, 8-4.
Angel Guzman pitched his normal two innings and was not scored upon. He allowed one hit. He walked no one and struck out two.
Jeff Lorick got hit hard for the loss in 4.1 innings of relief. He gave up seven runs on nine hits but hey, only six of the runs were earned. He walked three and struck out five.
Right fielder Michael Burgess was 3 for 4 with a solo home run in the ninth inning. He scored twice. Burgess now has 16 home runs this year.
Bob Brenly will be in a good mood tomorrow. Catcher Michael Brenly hit his first home run of the year tonight. It was a solo home run in the seventh inning. Brenly was 1 for 3 with a walk.
Peoria Chiefs
The Peoria Chiefs got stung by the Burlington Bees (Athletics), 8-2.
Brett Wallach started and took the loss. He allowed six runs on four hits over only 2.2 innings, although only two of the six runs were considered earned. He walked three and struck out two.
Shortstop Arismendy Alcantara was 2 for 4 with a double and a run scored. He also made his 35th error on the season.
Center fielder Rubi Silva was 2 for 4. Catcher Micah Gibbs went 2 for 4 with a run scored.
Boise Hawks
The Boise Hawks beat the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes (Giants), 9-5.
Starter Yao-Lin Wang pitched 5.1 innings and allowed three runs on nine hits. He did not walk anyone and struck out three.
Jean Sandoval got his first Boise win in relief of Wang. Sandoval pitched 1.2 perfect innings, although he did allow a sacrifice fly scoring an inherited runner. Sandoval fanned one batter.
Joe Zeller got his first Boise save. Zeller allowed a run on two hits over 1.2 innings. He did not walk anyone and struck out two.
Right fielder Reggie Golden went 3 for 4 with a triple. He scored twice and had two RBI.
Shortstop Brad Zapenas was 2 for 5 with a triple and a stolen base. He scored two runs and batted one run in.
DH Rafael Lopez went 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored. Left fielder Blair Springfield went 2 for 4 with an RBI an a run scored. Third baseman Willson Contreras was 2 for 4 with two RBI.
AZL Cubs
Took the day off.
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Comments
Guzman
They’re taking baby steps with him. I wonder how far they plan to stretch him before the end of the season and if they plan on having him play winter ball.
If it wasn't for the injuries, we'd be printing WS tickets right now.
Not sure about winter ball
They may want him to rest and also I also think they want to control his usage which they can’t do in winter ball. I know he may not be ready to face ML hitters, but I do hope they bring him up for one game in September and let him get a standing ovation. The guy deserves it for his perseverance. Still keeping my fingers crossed that he can help the bullpen next year.
by MVZ on Aug 5, 2011 5:26 AM CDT up reply actions
Can't think of anyone I'm rooting more for than Angel.
Hopefully, we’ll get to see him again soon at Wrigley.
Every day is a beautiful day for baseball!!
by cowsarecool220 on Aug 5, 2011 9:42 AM CDT up reply actions
With you MVZ
The guy has tremendous drive to get back into the league with all of the aliments.
Bring him up and let him throw a couple innings here and there.
He is not on the 40 man roster
I seriously doubt you’ll see him in Chicago this fall, although I’d assume that he’ll be at ST with a chance to get a bullpen role.
It's a simple question, Doctor: would you eat the moon if it were made of ribs??
by Invalid User on Aug 5, 2011 12:13 PM CDT up reply actions
Got to start wondering how long they will give Colvin a chance
before Jackson comes up.
Great game from Golden. He might end up a top 5 prospect in the system by years end. The system is wide open for that to happen.
'Never look down on anybody unless you're helping him up.'
Until September
4 more weeks until Jackson is summoned and if he hasn’t hit enough to justify playing time over Byrd or Sori by then you right it off as a lost season and tell him get his head right in the offseason and come back ready to compete in the spring.
I don’t like anointing anyone as a top 5 until they reach full season ball. The play in AZL and NWL is far to uneven, espesially right now before all the top picks are signed. And even after, a lot of the top guys can be rusty thanks to the long layoff courtesy of Bud.
by MVZ on Aug 5, 2011 5:35 AM CDT up reply actions
Unless they move Marlon Byrd
at which point I’d give Colvin the rest of the year.
im a byrd fan, but we need to try and move him.
get bjax up here, play colvin in right and let these kids grow for the last month, month and a half.
Yeah, it's a tricky situation there...
Byrd is a fairly reasonable bet to be okay next year, and at a somewhat reasonable price. If he’s still here and Colvin isn’t going to make it (and I think there’s a decent chance this is the case) then I wouldn’t mind having Byrd in RF for a year.
However, if we don’t trade Byrd, I see no way Quade sits him often enough to give Colvin and Jackson sufficient looks this year.
So the approach I’d go for would be to trade Byrd (if possible), call up Jackson, and play both Colvin and Jackson everyday. If Colvin doesn’t pan out, then we can get a bargain-basement RF option for next year. It’s not like Byrd is the key to a playoff run (since I he’s never been on a playoff team before and we’re probably a year or so away from serious contention anyway).
Byrd stays
No chance they deal Byrd. They need somebody to play OF next year and Byrd can play all three spots, he is the hardest worker on the team, and a good veteran example for all of the young guys to learn from. They will also need the RH bat if they are considering keeping both Jackson and Colvin. And frankly, counting on Colvin for anything (besides Ks) is foolish. There is no reason Colvin shouldn’t be given a chance to compete for a backup spot next year, but he should not be counted on as a potential starter. Best case scenario for Colvin is he regains his stroke from last year and then you have a platoon player. but you still need a RH side of the platoon.
by MVZ on Aug 5, 2011 9:31 AM CDT up reply actions
Why is he a platoon player?
his splits are pretty equal. just because he is young and a lefty doesnt automatically make him a platoon guy.
Exactly...
people (including Quade) always seem to make the assumption that a young player should be platooned. Until a guy shows evidence that he should be a platoon player, it doesn’t make sense to platoon him. Not every player has Jeff Baker-like platoon splits.
Byrd should stay
Colvin is pretty much worthless or at best a 4th or 5th OF type of player and I don’t need to see anymore from him to believe that he’ll be anything more than a guy who will post a sub 300 OBP on a regular basis.
And regarding Colvin’s splits, he doesn’t have splits because he is equally terrible against both LHP and RHP. That’s not a good thing. Our OF next season should be Byrd in RF, Soriano in LF (with Colvin backing up) and BJax in CF (with Colvin backing up).
The reference was to Colvin's splits LAST year...
when he was pretty solid against both RHP and LHP. This year, yes, he’s been terrible against both. Which was what I said below. If he doesn’t rebound, he shouldn’t play. If he rebounds to last year’s form, he doesn’t need a platoon partner.
Colvin isn't a platoon player...
Look at his splits last year. He’s either suited to be a full-time starter (if he rebounds) or he’s not suited for MLB (if he doesn’t).
Also, the RH side of a platoon gets about 1/3 of the playing time. That would make Byrd a very expensive backup. If you’re looking for a platoon partner, Reed Johnson (at a savings of $3-4 million) makes more sense.
Byrd is a good guy and a good clubhouse presence. But he’s going to be gone after 2012 at the latest. I agree that Colvin likely won’t pan out. But at this point, I think it makes more sense to give him a chance to do what he did last year again.
Note to Jessica
The Giants designated Alex Hinshaw for assignment. They’re back to 40 players.
The Giants might be able to win a World Series, but they can’t do a long roster nightmare like we can.
damn I was all excited to
fly to SF and begin reporting…I heard the Stay-Puff Man was going to come out of retirement for this one.
Is it just me or has this been a standout week
for names on the farm?
I always forget that Junior Lake is actually loaded with upside.
Jackson playing like this is just awesome, and makes the farm look alot more appealing up top.
by SenorGato on Aug 5, 2011 12:27 AM CDT via mobile reply actions
Lake seems to be getting his bearings of late in AA
he’s quietly raised his BB rate from where it was in Daytona (2 more walks in 50 fewer PAs) and continues to swipe bases at a high success rate. He had a really high BABIP in Daytona (.384) and so far has a fairly low BABIP in Tennessee (.260 before tonight’s game). The average should come up as the luck evens out. If he can get his walk rate back to the 7.8% he showed in Peoria and find a position he can actually field, he should start drawing more attention again.
I'm a big fan of tools prospects/players who are....
efficient base stealers. I feel like it’s a good sign, though there’s no research behind that that I’ve read. It comes from Bill James’ talk of intelligent baseball skills in the ’ol Almanac maybe.
Of course, his K:BB isn’t very efficient so there’s balance that leaves him as what he is, a moderately intriguing, high upside prospect.
I think "tools" and "intelligent skills" are fairly different things...
Tools players/prospects are guys who have great physical gifts (speed/power/arm) but maybe lack the refined baseball skills (high AVG, good BB rate, low K rate). So I think Lake absolutely fits the “toolsy” label.
I’d imagine an “intelligent skills” guy to be a high BB/low K guy, whereas I see a toolsy guy to be a guy like Abner Abreu (or anyone along the Abreu/Soriano spectrum).
That said, I agree that Lake is a a moderately intriguing, high upside prospect. He’s young and fast with decent pop. The question with him appears to be the low AVG, the low BB and high K rate, and debatable defense.
My point was that it's good to have a
tools guy have a strong showing in a savvy area like base stealing, where efficiency is key.
by SenorGato on Aug 5, 2011 12:33 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Got it
Yeah, I agree, it’s nice to see at least one of his tools be somewhat refined. I’m not so optimistic about his BB rate getting better, but at least he’s doing one of those baseball skills pretty efficiently.
Gaub and Beliveau
I really wonder where each is next year. I think both can help out a pen. Power lefties aren’t a common sight.
by SenorGato on Aug 5, 2011 12:29 AM CDT via mobile reply actions
MY OFFCIAL FIRST POST
I’ve been reading along for about 2 years now, finally stepped up and made an account. Welcome back to life josh vitters and bjax is screaming to be called up.
Michael Burgess OPS is almost .900 since the All-Star break.
I’d rather see him out there playing everyday above Abreu.
'Never look down on anybody unless you're helping him up.'
Yep, and it's great to see.
Don’t both he and Abreu start?
Also, anyone know why Graham Hicks hasn’t pitched in a month? He was intriguing as a big lefty with an ability to hit 90 and spin a baseball.
No, Crawford, Szczur and Burgess usually play the outfield.
Burgess has been the odd man out when Abreu plays.
'Never look down on anybody unless you're helping him up.'
Oh...that's kind of what I'd expect?
I don’t think they’d have much urge to sit Crawford while he’s hot, and there’s even less reason to sit Szczur.
Abreu’s new and interesting enough for them to want to play. I think it’s a good thing to get him into the lineup too.
BTW: All this excess...
I smell trade this offseason. I can’t say for who or even what position, but I can definitely see a trade.
It makes too much sense
considering our organizational OF depth and C depth. So that means it won’t be done.
Burgess, IMO -- has more upside than Abreu.
I can see Burgess being a ML player before Abreu.
'Never look down on anybody unless you're helping him up.'
I could see Burgess being an ML player quicker too,
but mostly because he’s older.
Otherwise I think they’re different kinds of players, both of which are long shots/lottery tickets. Abreu offers more defensive upside, probably has a slightly better hit tool, and more raw athleticism. Burgess offers more patience, power, and pedigree.
Both are intriguing in a futue backup OF/bench bat kind of way.
It's technically his 4th...
he played 19 games at A+ in 2008 and has spent almost all of his time in A+ ball in 2009-2011. At 22 and in his 4th trip through A+, he’s sounding like the A+ version of Bryan LaHair (minus the consistent production).
He has good power and OBP skills, which I like. But when you’re in your third full year(and fourth appearance) in A+ and you’re hitting under .230 (never having topped .265 at that level), the prospect label probably shouldn’t be there.
I’d be very surprised if either Abreu or Burgess made the majors.
Agreed.
The Cubs have a lot of interesting prospects but due to the bad major league team a lot of people are getting carried away. Many of the current prospects will never amount to anything.
John Grabow: $4.8 million in 2011.
Not a prospect
Abreu is fringy. Burgess at this point though doesn’t even register anymore. If you can’t hit A+ pitching your 3rd full go around (at age 22) at better than a .230 clip, you shouldn’t even be talked about.
by MVZ on Aug 5, 2011 9:24 AM CDT up reply actions
That's true of any team though...
and precisely why the “do teams overvalue prospects?” question can be interesting (and circular).
by SenorGato on Aug 5, 2011 12:36 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
And minus 2 levels
and minus the production.
For a reference point, here is LaHair’s A+ statline at the same age (22) and in his only year there (as opposed to his third full year there): .310/.373/.503.
It’s hard to have any excitement about a guy who has had basically one good month in his third try at a lowish level of the minors.
While all good points...
6-7 years is a loooooong time. If LaHair still has a hope of seeing the show at his age I wouldnt count Burgess out. He’s got a skill (power) that is a pretty hot commodity nowadays.
Also don’t ignore pedigree…Burgess was a supp. First who was considered a big time talent in his draft year. That will help him get some looks along the way…I still think he’s entirely capable of a Marcus Thames type career.
by SenorGato on Aug 5, 2011 2:24 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Re: Hicks
He left a game I was at about a month ago with an injury. Never did hear what it was. He was not obviously favoring any part of his body during the start or pointing to anything when the trainer came out. I assumed it was nothing serious but it has been a while since he has pitched. He was awful in the game though. Lasted like 2+ innings and never topped 85 mph, breaking ball was also weak. I chalked it up to the injury though.
by MVZ on Aug 5, 2011 9:21 AM CDT up reply actions
Another good night
Jackson is hotttttttttttttt. Struck with a good start. Ha, Vitters, and Lake good games for Tenn. Golden a good game.
Yeah, loving what we're seeing out of Jackson right now...
After a rough first 10 games in AAA, he’s gotten his stat line up to .293/.400/.573. Small sample size of course, but those are really promising numbers.
just nice to see him
rebound after a few bad months after an injury…here is to hoping that he puts up that triple slash for a few years with the big Cubs…
Agreed completely
I think we can safely say the injury is behind him now.
Great seeing BJax doing well
But, man can we get another file photo of the dude? He looks like he is unhinging his jaw and preparing to eat a mouse (whilst hitting a homerun). OTOH, maybe he was making a visit to Jane Fonda’s book signing later that day.
"Ask Dad. He'll know. And on the off chance he doesn't, he'll make something up"
Josh I am confused I only count 39 on the Giants roster
http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/team/roster_40man.jsp?c_id=sf
They have 41 listed but 2 ( Sanchez & Posey) are noted as on the 60 day DL and not on the 40 man roster. I am miscounting?
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either
They released Jose Casilla late last night
I follow the Twitter feeds of a couple of Giant beat writers and when Mark DeRosa was activated off the 60 man, the Giants did not announce a corresponding move to the 40 man, and the Giants reporters were talking about it. So when I wrote this up last night, there were still 41 men listed on the roster. I counted them twice. They had 18 pitchers and 23 position players
The designated Alex Hinshaw for assignment and released Jose Casilla after I wrote this up last night to get down to 39.
by Josh Timmers on Aug 5, 2011 10:24 AM CDT up reply actions
Yes I saw the transactions, but as both were off the roster I did not even know if
they had been on the roster. Slight paperwork delay I get and the Kerry Wood thing happened over the Holidays, but it still remains a mystery to me how the Cubs could have had a 41 man roster for a week or more. Probably just slow times and a lot of folks on vacation. Not likely to happen during the season.
PS I am shocked, shocked that beat writers would question having a 41 man roster. I was told it was a total non issue that no sane person would care about.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either
by Doggie Stalker on Aug 5, 2011 10:31 AM CDT up reply actions
Hmm 39 man roster now
Soriano is still available if they want another power hitter.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either
by Doggie Stalker on Aug 5, 2011 10:32 AM CDT up reply actions
Matt Spencer sent to AAA?
News outlets in Tennessee reporting Smokies OF/1B Matt Spencer has been promoted to Iowa. We watch a lot of Smokies’ games. He can put a charge in the ball.
Wonder what the corresponding move is?
Someone hit the DL there?
Spencer
Wondered that myself. Smokies’ roster lists 5 outfielders, Iowa shows 3. Locals say Spencer played 1st base for 1 1/2 summers with A’s. He started at 1st Wed. for Tenn. Maybe an injury or release at Iowa?
by Denny Hittme on Aug 5, 2011 11:56 AM CDT up reply actions
No question about it
The premium prospect, Bryan LaHair, must have finally gotten the call to Chicago.
The Morristown Masher
in Iowa? He’ll have to change his name to the Marshalltown Masher now.
Iowa has 13 pitchers and only three outfielders. I wouldn’t be surprised if a pitcher went down to TN.
by Josh Timmers on Aug 5, 2011 12:11 PM CDT up reply actions
I am kind of hoping Coleman gets called up
and somebody gets released.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either
by Doggie Stalker on Aug 5, 2011 12:36 PM CDT up reply actions
He's been pitching well lately
And Ramon Ortiz has an ERA of almost 8.
by Josh Timmers on Aug 5, 2011 12:52 PM CDT up reply actions
Moves
Spencer to Iowa
Suarez to Tenn
Hatley to DL
Never thought I'd see Suarez in AA
Love it. Rooting for the kid.
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