Minor League Discussion & Boxes 4-18-2007

[Guest]

Samardzija 5.0IP, 5H, 1ER, 2BB, 1K

 

Jeff still not missing any bats.

Or allowing runs.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Samardzija 5.0IP, 5H, 1ER, 2BB, 1K

 

Jeff still not missing any bats.

Or allowing runs.

 

He's been getting a lot of 2-strike counts, though. Gotta improve the out pitch.

 

Daytona loses 6-4.

[Guest]

Samardzija 5.0IP, 5H, 1ER, 2BB, 1K

 

Jeff still not missing any bats.

Or allowing runs.

 

He's been getting a lot of 2-strike counts, though. Gotta improve the out pitch.

 

Daytona loses 6-4.

Yep, gotta get more consistent with that slider. No question.

[texascub]

I may be wrong, but hasn't Samardzija always been pretty much a sinker/slider guy that pitches towards contact?

[Flames24Rulz]

Iowa won 8-0. Walrond only allowed 4 hits in 6 and struck out 4 while walking none. John Webb picked up the 3 inning save, allowing only 2 hits and striking out 1.

 

Every position player except Soto had a hit. Fontenot had 3, including two doubles and three RBIs, and Pagan and Moore had 2. We sure could use Fontenot on the big league team..

[CUBZ99]

Samardzija 5.0IP, 5H, 1ER, 2BB, 1K

 

Jeff still not missing any bats.

Or allowing runs.

 

He's been getting a lot of 2-strike counts, though. Gotta improve the out pitch.

 

Daytona loses 6-4.

Yep, gotta get more consistent with that slider. No question.

 

Everytime he pitches his line looks nearly identical 5IP 1K 1ER......he must be doing something right.

[Flames24Rulz]

I may be wrong, but hasn't Samardzija always been pretty much a sinker/slider guy that pitches towards contact?

 

Yeah, that's what I've heard as well.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

I may be wrong, but hasn't Samardzija always been pretty much a sinker/slider guy that pitches towards contact?

 

He threw the slider his junior year but before that he threw a curve. He's still learning that slider (and his change came his junior year too). While he does have a sinker, Jeff has gotten ahead of his share of batters but has not finished them off, so I do hope he's trying to get his Ks too.

[UBlink]

Musical chairs in the Smokies' defense?

 

Chattanooga Bottom 8th

 

Defensive switch from second base to shortstop for Gary Cates.

Defensive switch from first base to left field for Jake Fox.

Defensive switch from third base to first base for Matt Craig.

Defensive switch from left field to second base for Jemel Spearman.

Defensive switch from shortstop to third base for Joseph Simokaitis.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Anyone have any input on how well Fox is adjusting to new positions?

[CaliforniaRaisin]

http://mvn.com/milb-cubs/2007/04/18/fitch-park-update-from-az-phil-2/#more-67

 

Huseby–the Cubs 11th round pick in last June’s draft, who got big money to dissuade him from going to Auburn–pitched only 0.2 IP, as he struggled with his command, allowing two runs (both earned) on one hit, two walks, and two WP, to go along with one K. He topped out at 89 MPH, and had zero command, throwing eight consecutive balls to end his outing. leaving the bases loaded with two outs. A bad outing for Huseby.

 

...

 

18-year old Venezuelan RHP Robert Hernandez had another fine outing, going 2.0 IP, consistently throwing strikes, and allowing just one hit, to go along with two K. He was removed after two innings after he was struck on the back of his left (non-throwing) shoulder by a line drive.

 

...

 

Three of the Cubs minor league players on DL rehab at EXST played in today’s game, and all three (Fuld, Harvey, and Kinkade) appear just about resdy to join a full-season team. Fuld (strained oblique) will likely soon be going to AA Tennessee where he will play CF, Harvey (hamstring) will probably go to Daytona where he can DH until the Cubs are sure his hamstring is 100%, and Kinkade (broken hand) may have received a reprieve when Felix Pie got recalled by the Cubs today, because now there is an open spot for a position player at AAA Iowa. (Prior to Pie’s recall, it was looking like Kinkade would–like Val Pascucci at the end of ST–get released, or–like Tomas Perez at the end of ST–get traded, simply because there was no room for him at Iowa).

 

Also, RHP Michael Cooper (last year’s closer at Boise) has been sent back to EXST from Daytona, as LHP Geoff Jones (a 27-year old minor league FA signed by the Cubs during the off season) completed his DL rehab at EXST and was activated by Tennessee, with RHP Jon Mueller going from Tennessee to Daytona.

 

And Peoria LHP Mark Pawelek (Cubs #1 draft pick in 2005) has been sent back to EXST to work on his mechanics, with RHP Jake Renshaw (who pitched well in both ST and EXST and who should have been on the Peoria pitching staff from the git-go) getting promoted from EXST to Peoria.

 

I got a chance to watch LHP Luke Hagerty throw a 25-pitch “live” BP session yesterday, and he still can’t hit the broad side of a barn. I felt bad for the kids who had to bat against him, because Hagerty has no idea where his pitches are going.

 

Hagerty was a supplemental 1st round (”sandwich? pick out of Ball State in 2002, and was one of the Cubs Top Ten prospects before suffering a torn elbow ligament and undergoing TJ surgery three years ago. There is nothing wrong with Hagerty’s arm now (he has good velocity and bite on his slider), but he has “Steve Blass Disease” (can’t throw strikes when a hitter is standing in front of him, and so he is just plain dangerous). I don’t know how much longer the Cubs will wait, but at 25 he’s too old to pitch in a short-season league (where the age limit is 24), and I can’t see him getting a slot at Peoria or Daytona, either. I guess the Cubs see his arm and are hoping he can somehow get over his mental block.

[Athletics36]

FYI.... Sean took a line drive off his right wrist in the 4th inn of last nights game. I spoke with him after the game and it was a little sore but he was in the trainers room getting treatment and hopefully no major swelling overnight..... Edited April 19, 2007 by Athletics36

[Laura]

Ouch on both accounts.