Minor League Discussion & Boxes 6-17-2006

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Yay Jaxx!

[Chris]

PUT IT IN THE W COLUMN!!!!!!!!!!!

 

ha ha, Ron is fired up!

[Chris]

If the Smokies beat the Lookouts tomorrow the first half division title will be decided on the 4th of July when the Lookouts come to Jackson before a sellout crowd! Wow!

 

Go Smokies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Laura]

AWESOME!!!

 

And it's now 8-4 Peoria!

[Chris]

The game between the Lookouts and Smokies will start at 5:00 p.m. ET tomorrow.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Yes. But disappointed with his SLG so far.

 

I think it'll come around. If his plate discipline really has improved this much, he will eventually start getting those XBHs we've come to know and love from him. :D

 

I hope so. It is still very early in the season for him.

 

Leadoff single for Dope!

 

On a side note, has anyone else been pleasantly surprised by his OBP this season?

 

Seems to be a trend among Cub propects. Pie, Patterson, and Dope have improve their OBP-BA spread this year. Perhaps Cubs management understands the issue but is unwilling to acknowledge their (subtle) shift in public.

 

That BA-OBP spread is known as IsoD.

[CubsWin]

SCOTT MOORE GOES YARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

6-4 JAXX!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow...

[Outshined_One]

Yes. But disappointed with his SLG so far.

 

I think it'll come around. If his plate discipline really has improved this much, he will eventually start getting those XBHs we've come to know and love from him. :D

 

I hope so. It is still very early in the season for him.

 

He's coming back from a serious leg injury. What matters most while he makes his recovery is that he shows good command of the strike zone and puts the bat on the ball. Eventually his power will return.

[Chris]

In regards to Dopirak, Ron has mentioned that you can still notice a slight limp when Dope moves. I wouldn't put too much emphasis on the numbers until he is closer to or at 100%.

[Laura]

Peoria wins 8-5 and clinches a tie for the division at the minimum.

 

They can win the division outright with a win tomorrow!

[Chris]

Peoria wins 8-5 and clinches a tie for the division at the minimum.

 

They can win the division outright with a win tomorrow!

 

=D>

[BeerHere]

I was at the Chiefs/Cougars game tonight. Here are my BeerNotes:

 

Taylor was very wild in the first giving up 4 total. He settled down in the second and was sold from there on. His fastball was 90-91 and he kept the hitters off balance with his breaking stuff. I was sitting on the firstbase side so I cant say for sure but it looked more like a slider than a curve. There were plenty of gripes at the home plate ump so I think he was inconsistent and he may have been squeezing Taylor in the first.

 

Three guys stuck out in my mind:

 

Reed has a clean swing with a quick bat. He DH'd tonight and had 3 hits and his 11th stolen base. He looks for pitches to drive and doesn't chase up in the zone. Excellent approach IMO.

 

Norwood looks like a ballplayer. Similar approach as Reed but he'll go after pitches up. He's a big kid and has a pretty good glove at first.

 

The guy that impressed me the most was Yusef Carter. He needs to work on his patience as he's definitely a free swinger, but he's a big strong looking kid. He takes a very aggressive swing and drives the ball. He had just one hit tonight but it was on a rope to center. Defensively he made two nice grabs in right. If he can learn to look for his pitches he can make himself into a solid outfielder and he appears to have plenty of arm for the position.

 

Campusano has a funky delivery (ala Wagner from the left side) that makes him tough. He was hitting 89-90 with his fastball but he has good control. He K'd the side to end it. Overall the Chiefs struck out 11 but control was an issue for everyone except Campusano.

 

Reynolds hit a bomb but his actions at third need some work. He has plenty of arm for the position IMO, but he takes odd angles and appears a little tentative. I think he was given an error on a line shot that he tried to backhand, that was clearly a hit in my mind.

 

There was a 1 hour rain delay that forced the Cougars to cancel the fireworks scheduled for after the game. But they are giving free tickets to the next fireworks night over labor day to anyone with a ticket stub to tonights game. Nasty storm blew through but after that it was a perfect night for baseball.

 

I didnt get a chance to talk to the guy but I think there was a scout behind home. He was charting Taylor closely and didnt return after the rain. He had his own gun that clocked two 93 heaters when the stadium gun hit 91.

[karenmac]

my husband and I were also there for the game tonight and it was a thrill to watch the Chiefs play. They gave up 4 early, and we thought we were in for a long night, but the Chiefs came right back

 

While I know it's not considered "stylish" or that somehow winning doesn't matter at this level, but I can tell you that winning meant a whole bunch to the group of guys out there tonight.

 

They actually clinched tonight - as we're in Kane County and that put us up 2 games ahead of them with just one to play tomorrow.

 

It's my opinion that, somewhere in the Cubs organization, we need to get used to winning a bit - perhaps it will be contagious and catch on as these guys move up.

 

Keep up the good work, Chiefs - I'd love to see the sweep tomorrow!

[Flames24Rulz]

Iowa also won today, 3-2. Walrond had 7 good innings only allowing a run, Ligtenberg picked up his 7th save, and McGehee homered for the I-Cubs.

 

Another perfect day in the minors while yet another perfectly bad day in the majors.

 

Go Jaxx and Chiefs!!!

[NCCubFan]

Another perfect day in the minors while yet another perfectly bad day in the majors.

At least three days in a row it's worked out that way.

[Chris]

Another perfect day in the minors while yet another perfectly bad day in the majors.

At least three days in a row it's worked out that way.

 

Consistency, dude.

[Chris]

Thanks, Nathan!

 

Chiefs Win First Half Division Title!

Peoria Rallies From 4-0 Deficit to Win 8-5

 

Geneva, IL – The Peoria Chiefs fell behind 4-0 but rallied to win 8-5 Saturday night to capture the First Half Western Division Title over the Kane County Cougars at Elfstrom Stadium. With a record of 41-27 the Chiefs head into the final game of the half with their first title since 2002 all wrapped up.

 

Kane County jumped all over Chiefs starter Scott Taylor in the bottom of the first. Nick Blasi drew a leadoff walk and Wes Long followed with a double before Jose Pineda delivered a sac fly for a 1-0 Cougars lead. Jeff Baisley stepped in and crushed his 13th homer of the season to center for a 3-0 lead. After a groundout, Steve Kleen doubled and scored on a Frank Martinez single. Kane County loaded the bases as they batted around by Taylor pitched out of it trailing 4-0 after one inning.

 

The Chiefs chipped away in the second inning when Kyle Reynolds led off with a homer against Ron Madej. Alberto Garcia followed with a single to left and advanced to second on a groundout. After a walk, Mark Reed made it 4-2 with a single before Madej got out of the inning.

 

In the third the Chiefs took their first lead of the game by knocking Madej out of the game. The entire rally came with two outs as Reynolds walked, Garcia singled and Jake Muyco walked to load the bases. Brad Kilby relieved Madej and gave up a two-run single to Jonathon Mota to tie the game 4-4. Robinson Chirinos singled home Muyco for the Chiefs first lead and Mota scored on a wild pitch. Reed added another single as Chirinos scored and the Chiefs capped a five-run inning for a 7-4 lead.

 

Scott Taylor went three innings and allowed five hits and four runs in a no-decision. He did not come back after the 40 minute rain delay in the fourth inning. Justin Rayborn tossed three shutout innings to pick up the win. Rayborn allowed three hits while striking out four to improve to 4-1. Matt Avery entered in the seventh inning and allowed one run on three hits and a walk in 1 2/3 innings of work. Ed Campusano came in with the tying run at the plate and two out in the eighth and struck out pinch hitter Raul Padron to end the threat. Campusano completed save number 21 by striking out all three batters he faced in the ninth.

 

Pepsi Player of the Game

 

Mark Reed (DH) – Reed picked up three hits and two RBI for the second straight night. The DH also laid down a sacrifice bunt and stole a base while raising his MWL leading batting average to .339.

Notes… Mark Reed and Ryan Norwood each collected three hits for the second straight day…Campusano is tied with three others for the most saves in all of MILB…Peoria has 18 runs and 32 hits over the last two days…Sunday marks the final game of the first half…RH Todd Blackford (6-2) faces RH Jeff Gray (2-5) Sunday at 2:00 PM…The broadcast begins with the pre-game show on http://www.peoriachiefs.com at 1:45 PM.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

While I know it's not considered "stylish" or that somehow winning doesn't matter at this level, but I can tell you that winning meant a whole bunch to the group of guys out there tonight.

 

They actually clinched tonight - as we're in Kane County and that put us up 2 games ahead of them with just one to play tomorrow.

 

It's my opinion that, somewhere in the Cubs organization, we need to get used to winning a bit - perhaps it will be contagious and catch on as these guys move up.

 

Keep up the good work, Chiefs - I'd love to see the sweep tomorrow!

 

I don't think anyone would say winning isn't important in the minors, just that the development of the players to become solid big leaguers should be the first priority.

 

Hopefully the Jaxx win (and Chatanooga loses) tomorrow so they have a shot at a first half berth just like the Chiefs.

[Laura]

I'm an idiot!!! I checked the standings and thought they just clinched the tie.

 

It's freaking AWESOME that the clinched the division! Good for Jody Davis, good for the Chiefs, they stayed focused and got the job done. Wowzers.

[Laura]

While I know it's not considered "stylish" or that somehow winning doesn't matter at this level, but I can tell you that winning meant a whole bunch to the group of guys out there tonight.

 

...It's my opinion that, somewhere in the Cubs organization, we need to get used to winning a bit - perhaps it will be contagious and catch on as these guys move up.

 

Keep up the good work, Chiefs - I'd love to see the sweep tomorrow!

 

Winning does matter; I'm psyched they got the job done. It would have been easy to not care given than they already clinched the wild card. Very cool.

[NCCubFan]

Hopefully the Jaxx win (and Chatanooga loses) tomorrow so they have a shot at a first half berth just like the Chiefs.

The Jaxx are off tomorrow. It's all up to Tennessee vs. Chattanooga. If Tennessee wins, Chattanooga and the Jaxx tie, with their game on July 4 deciding it.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

The Chiefs celebrating:

 

http://peoriachiefs.com.ismmedia.com/ISM2/NewsManager/1069.jpeg.300.jpeg

[Chris]

I believe Negron is 2-4 with a pair of doubles. If so, his average is around .400.

 

Negron's current line:

 

.400 AVG (24-75), .447 OBP, .613, slg, 1.060 OPS

[Chris]

Scott Moore's HR last night puts him in a tie for 2nd in HRs with 11. He is 6th in the league in RBI with 39.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Is Moore's power something that projects well to the majors?