Minor League Discussion & Boxes 5-10-2007

[Guest]

Iowa now up 10-3, Tony Richie has a HR too.

 

Tennessee still up 3-2. Veal: 6 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 6 K/1 BB, 1 HR.

 

Peoria wins 2-1. Rocky Roquet gets the save, he's up to 16.2 scoreless to start the season.

[jersey cubs fan]

Iowa now up 6-0 after two as Fontenot hits a 2-run HR. Fontenot is 2/2 with a triple and a HR.

Veal gave up a HR in the second. :| Tennessee up 2-1: 2 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 3 K/0 BB, 1 HR.

 

and he's been playing ss too! the cubs really need to launch izzy and add fontenot to the 40 man and bring him up to the majors.

 

Fontenot is sensing a roster spot opening up on the big club.

[Guest]

Iowa wins it 11-5...Hoffpauir, Fontenot and Richie with HRs.

 

Jason Pridie hit a HR for Montgomery to tie the Tennessee game at 3. Veal's final line: 6 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 6 K/1 BB, 1 HR.

[Guest]

Tennessee loses it in 9, 4-3.

[sporrer17]

If Fontenot keeps this up, he's gonna have a shot at making the club...another versatile IF who is fairly patient, only he's not as fast as Theriot but he does have more pop in the bat.

 

Only problem is who we would move to get him here. We need a decent backup CF (Pagan) and Izturis is our only true SS (I don't think Theriot can be considered a true SS and I don't think Fontenot is capable of handling SS full-time if Theriot goes down).

[Guest]

IowaCubs.com[/url]"]Cubs Win Seventh Straight

Iowa alone in first place

By Toby Hyde / http://www.iowacubs.com

 

The Iowa Cubs run continued Thursday night with an 11-3 thumping of the Fresno Grizzlies at Principal Park. The win extended Iowa's winning streak to seven and coupled with Nashville's loss to Colorado Springs gave Iowa sole possession of first place for the first time all year.

The Cubs, as they have done in every game on their winning streak, struck early, scoring four times in the bottom of the first. With one out, Felix Pie, who returned from Chicago today, singled to left. Mike Fontenot followed with a triple to center. Fontenot scored on a home run to right on an 0-2 count from Micah Hoffpauir. Later, Geovany Soto drove home Scott Moore.

 

In the second inning, Iowa extended its lead to 6-0 when Mike Fontenot followed an Eric Patterson double with a two-run homerun to left field.

 

Iowa starter Les Walrond retired 11 of 12 hitters through the end of the fourth inning, but ran into trouble in the fifth when the Grizzlies sliced Iowa's lead in half. The Grizzlies used three doubles in the inning to close within 6-3.

 

The Cubs picked up a run back in the bottom of the frame when Geovany Soto doubled home Scott Moore who had doubled.

 

Iowa put the game away with a four run bottom of the sixth. Tony Richie, who recently joined Iowa from AA Tennessee, pinch-hitting for Walrond, led off with his first AAA home run. Later in the inning, Mike Fontenot tripled home two more Cubs runs. Fontenot, who has now hit in seven straight games, was 3-4, with two triples and a home run, three runs scored, and five RBI.

 

SmokiesBaseball.com[/url]"]Biscuits Win 4-3 Thursday Night over Smokies

 

Montgomery, AL- Tennessee shortstop Carlos Rojas struggled in his Smokies debut striking out twice with runners in scoring position early and committing an error in the ninth with two outs that allowed the winning run to score in a 4-3 Biscuits come from behind win.

 

Jorge Cortes connected for a second inning two-run homerun to give Tennessee the early lead.

 

Even Longoria smacked a solo shot in the bottom of the second making the score 2-1.

 

Chris Robinson dropped a bases loaded flair to right that scored one while Jake Fox was cut down at home trying for a second run giving the Smokies a 3-1 lead.

 

Jason Pridie tripled with one out in the bottom of the third and scored on a groundout.

 

The score remained 3-2 until the bottom of the eighth. Pridie cracked his second homerun of the season to right which tied the game at 3-3.

 

Donnie Veal was impressive on the mound for a three straight start yielding only two runs on three hits with just one walk. Veal fanned six and left the game for the third start in a row with the Smokies ahead.

 

DaytonaCubs.com[/url]"]Cubs Take First Place in Victory Over Flying Tigers

Daytona on a Four Game Win Streak

Jeanine Jiannetti

 

[DAYTONA BEACH, FL] Daytona (19-14) took game two from Lakeland (12-22) 9-4, adding a fourth game to their longest win streak of the season. Jeff Samardzija (0-1) took the mound for another start and received yet another no decision for the Cubs, his no sixth decision in seven starts.

 

Samardzija looked strong during the first two innings shutting down six of the first seven batters he faced, permitting only one hit while striking out two. However, Samardzija began to fall out of his rhythm in the third inning allowing three runs on two more hits and two walks. Only one of the runs was earned as there was also an error committed behind the starter.

 

Right-hander Jon Mueller (4-1) came in to relieve Samardzija. Mueller shut down the side in the fourth, and allowed only two runners to reach base in the fifth inning with only one hit, one walk and one strike out.

 

In the top of the sixth, Mueller out ran Lakeland’s Mark Haske (0-4) for the put out at first base to lead off the inning. Mueller tolerated just one more hit and did not let a single runner cross the plate as he recorded his fourth win of the season.

 

Scott Koerber and Matt Avery both came out of the bullpen to do some work for the Cubs and preserve the lead.

 

Daytona had 17 runners reach base on only nine hits. Three batters, Robinson Chirinos (0-2), Chris Amador (0-4) and Jesus Valdez (1-2) were all hit by a pitch, while two of them were able to score. Tyler Colvin (2-5) and Nate Spears (1-4) both recorded extra base hits and Valdez, Chirinos, Garcia, Ryan Norwood (1-3) and Mark Reed (1-3) all drove in runs.

 

The Cubs officially put themselves on top of the leader board with the win over Lakeland as Palm Beach (18-15) dropped one to Dunedin (16-18).

 

PeoriaChiefs.com[/url]"]Chiefs Hold off Dragons 2-1

 

Dayton, OH – For the second time in three days the Peoria Chiefs knocked off the team with the best record in the MWL holding off the Dayton Dragons 2-1 Thursday night.

 

For the second time in the series the Chiefs took an early lead against Dayton . With one out in the third, Yusuf Carter collected his second single of the night off Dragons starter Travis Webb. Carter moved to second on a balk and came home on a RBI single off the bat of Alfred Joseph for a 1-0 Chiefs lead.

 

Peoria added an insurance run in the seventh inning against reliever Pedro Viola. DJ Lewis led off with a single up the middle and moved to third on a basehit by Wellington Castillo. Viola struck out Dylan Johnston but Matt Canepa doubled the Chiefs lead with a sac fly to right-center scoring Lewis.

 

Dayton was kept off the board until the seventh inning. With two outs in the frame, Eddy Rodriguez reached on a ground rule double that one-hopped the fence into the first base berm. Chris Heisey cut the lead to 2-1 with a double off the left field wall. Drew Stubbs walked but Alex Maestri got Justin Turner to bounce into a fielders choice to end the inning.

 

With two outs in the ninth, Heisey doubled to right against Chiefs closer Rocky Roquet. But the Chiefs reliever rebounded to get Stubbs on a grounder to short ending the game. The result gives Roquet seven saves in as many chances this season.

 

Chiefs’ starter Jose Ceda allowed just two hits, both to leadoff hitter Drew Stubbs, in four shutout innings. The righty struck out four and walked two. Alex Maestri came on in the fifth inning and allowed one run on three hits over three innings. He also issued his first walk of the season in 19 2/3 innings and struck out four. Jeremy Papelbon struck out three batters in the eighth inning including two in a row after an error allowed Juan Francisco to reach as the tying run.

 

Gorman’s Pub Players of the game: Alex Maestri, Jeremy Papelbon & Rocky Roquet (P) – Three members of the Chiefs bullpen buckled down to get the Chiefs out of jams in the latter part of the game. The trio allowed one run on four hits while striking out eight Dragons hitters.

 

Notes… Yusuf Carter singled in the first to extend his hit streak to eight games…

[E.J.]

THE DON!!! It's good to see he's settled down after his rough start to the season.

[jersey cubs fan]

If Fontenot keeps this up, he's gonna have a shot at making the club...another versatile IF who is fairly patient, only he's not as fast as Theriot but he does have more pop in the bat.

 

Only problem is who we would move to get him here. We need a decent backup CF (Pagan) and Izturis is our only true SS (I don't think Theriot can be considered a true SS and I don't think Fontenot is capable of handling SS full-time if Theriot goes down).

 

You move a reliever, going with 11 pitchers.

[mg420]

If Fontenot keeps this up, he's gonna have a shot at making the club...another versatile IF who is fairly patient, only he's not as fast as Theriot but he does have more pop in the bat.

 

Only problem is who we would move to get him here. We need a decent backup CF (Pagan) and Izturis is our only true SS (I don't think Theriot can be considered a true SS and I don't think Fontenot is capable of handling SS full-time if Theriot goes down).

 

actually theriot said that he feels more comfortable at ss than at 2b. i dont see why he and fontenot couldn't do well at ss & 2b full time.

[Guest]

Daytona News-Journal[/url]"]For a little while Thursday night it looked as though it was going to be Jeff Samardzija's night.

 

Unfortunately for the Chicago Cubs' pitching prospect, because of command issues and a fielding miscue behind him in the third inning, what could have been his first win of the season turned into his shortest outing of the season.

 

But a trio of Daytona relievers pitched in for six strong innings, allowing just one run, and the Cubs went on to a 9-4 win over the Lakeland Flying Tigers (12-22) before a Jackie Robinson Ballpark crowd of 2,869. It was Daytona's fourth straight win and seventh in its last 11 games.

 

The Cubs (19-14) jumped out to a 4-0 lead after Samardzija -- the former Notre Dame All-America wide receiver -- had a 1-2-3 first inning and faced just four batters in the second.

 

However, with the help of three walks and a fielding error, the Tigers sent nine batters to the plate while scoring three runs in the third. With the Cubs ahead 4-3 going into the bottom of the third and Samardzija's pitch count high, manager Jody Davis made the decision to change pitchers to start the fourth inning.

 

"The first inning he went out there and I thought I saw a different guy," Davis said. "It looked like he was more focused. But when we scored the (four) runs it was almost like he let up a little and just tried to get through instead of trying to go right at guys. His pitch count was way high and I didn't see any way he could get through five innings (with his pitch limit)."

 

...

 

Samardzija said he felt fine physically after the game. He appeared frustrated over the walks when he was on the mound and several borderline pitches were called balls.

 

"Overall you want to go out there and make quick innings to get your hitters back up there," Samardzija said. "When that's not happening you have to figure something else out, so I was a little frustrated with myself. I just have things I have to improve on."

 

Davis said it's a learning process for Samardzija, whose time playing baseball was limited because of his success in football.

 

"You can see how good his stuff is when you get his good stuff," Davis said. "He's just wild enough that when he does throw a borderline pitch the umpire doesn't give it to him. He hasn't shown that he can stay right there and get those pitches, so everything's kind of magnified. There were a bunch of pitches in that (third) inning that were close."

 

Des Moines Register[/url]"]"I asked Lou (Piniella) if Iowa had a game and told him that I wanted to get back in time to start," said Pie, who had three hits Thursday.

 

No problem, Iowa manager Buddy Bailey said.

 

"I commend Felix," Bailey said. "As soon as he found out he was being sent down, he got his stuff packed and got himself here.

 

"He didn't fuss or moan or gripe. It's very rare when a guy gets sent down and on the same day, he's trying like crazy to get to the minor league city to play right away."

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Strong outing for Veal.

 

And I've been on the Fontenot bandwagon for quite a while. It's really a mystery that he's never been given even as much as a September callup.

[sporrer17]

If Fontenot keeps this up, he's gonna have a shot at making the club...another versatile IF who is fairly patient, only he's not as fast as Theriot but he does have more pop in the bat.

 

Only problem is who we would move to get him here. We need a decent backup CF (Pagan) and Izturis is our only true SS (I don't think Theriot can be considered a true SS and I don't think Fontenot is capable of handling SS full-time if Theriot goes down).

 

You move a reliever, going with 11 pitchers.

 

That's the logical move, but Lou seems dead set on going with 12 pitchers, especially the way he's been using the pen lately.

[jersey cubs fan]

If Fontenot keeps this up, he's gonna have a shot at making the club...another versatile IF who is fairly patient, only he's not as fast as Theriot but he does have more pop in the bat.

 

Only problem is who we would move to get him here. We need a decent backup CF (Pagan) and Izturis is our only true SS (I don't think Theriot can be considered a true SS and I don't think Fontenot is capable of handling SS full-time if Theriot goes down).

 

You move a reliever, going with 11 pitchers.

 

That's the logical move, but Lou seems dead set on going with 12 pitchers, especially the way he's been using the pen lately.

 

A few more 1-run outputs by this lineup might change his mind, especially if the pitching holds up.

[sporrer17]

A few more 1-run outputs by this lineup might change his mind, especially if the pitching holds up.

 

 

I'm certainly in favor of dropping a pitcher, I want a little more versatility on the bench. If we have no backup IF on the bench come the 9th inning, it definitely limits what we can do as far as lineup shuffling.

[cubweiser03]

Strong outing for Veal.

 

And I've been on the Fontenot bandwagon for quite a while. It's really a mystery that he's never been given even as much as a September callup.

 

If the Cubs are going to go to a 11 man rotation he BETTER be put on the 40 man and called up. Or if they can godwilling somehow trade Izturis. Izturis will not be on this team next year. Fontenot is a perfect replacement. Guys like Fontenot are the perfect 25th man, not 1 year FA guys.

[YearofDaCubs]

Strong outing for Veal.

 

And I've been on the Fontenot bandwagon for quite a while. It's really a mystery that he's never been given even as much as a September callup.

 

If the Cubs are going to go to a 11 man rotation he BETTER be put on the 40 man and called up. Or if they can godwilling somehow trade Izturis. Izturis will not be on this team next year. Fontenot is a perfect replacement. Guys like Fontenot are the perfect 25th man, not 1 year FA guys.

I agree with you and I'm all for Fontenot taking Izturcrap's spot.