Minor League Discussion & Boxes 7-26-2007

[rabidawg900]

Wood's pitches that I caught

 

83 mph

94

94

78, K

 

Single to CF

 

93 upstairs ball

popped foul

in the dirt (batter went around)

strikeout looking inside (ball bounces off catcher's glove)

Edited July 27, 2007 by rabidawg900

[Flames24Rulz]

Tennessee wins the nightcap 3-0. Good start for O'Malley: 6 IP, 3 hits, 0 runs, 4 K's/0 BB's. Henderson got the save with a scoreless 7th. Robinson Chirinos hit his 1st HR with Tennessee, a 2-run shot and Fuld had the other RBI. Colvin was 1/3 with a K.

[Flames24Rulz]

12 pitches and 9 strikes for Wood. 1 IP, 1 hit, 2 K's/0 BB's :D

[rabidawg900]

Matt Craig just made his debut for Iowa pinch-hitting for Pie...he grounded out to 1B

[Flames24Rulz]

Matt Craig just made his debut for Iowa pinch-hitting for Pie...he grounded out to 1B

 

Hmm, he was PH for in the 4th inning. Is it ok to be hopeful that he's being called up?

[rabidawg900]

Matt Craig just made his debut for Iowa pinch-hitting for Pie...he grounded out to 1B

 

Hmm, he was PH for in the 4th inning. Is it ok to be hopeful that he's being called up?

 

Thats what I was thinking

 

EDIT: Simokaitis shows up Craig with his own Iowa debut pinch hitting for Kroeger and hitting a GR double in the 5th.

 

Maybe these guys just need some rest...

 

 

BTW, Peoria Chiefs win 4-1

Edited July 27, 2007 by rabidawg900

[the splendid splinter]

11 K's by the Peoria pitchers and another great night by Renshaw vs a very good Dayton team. Hempy 6 punchouts in 4 innings so far.

[E.J.]

Jones traded to Rangers for Mark Teixeira.

[TruffleShuffle]

Soto has singled and walked twice... keep him in the minors plz, he's doing great there

[rabidawg900]

Not a good debut for now 1B Matt Craig... GIDP and a ground-out that makes 3 groundouts for the game. Not what you want to do in Colorado. Edited July 27, 2007 by rabidawg900

[rabidawg900]

Boise Hawks win 7-4

 

Boise is fun to listen to and follow. Their lineup is STACKED top to bottom with great Cubs prospects (offensively at least). The only player who didn't get a hit on the Hawks walked 3 times! They are in a crappy division and should run away with it. It sounds like their crowd really gets in to the games as well.

 

RHP Al Alburquerque - 8 K in 3 IP!

 

3B Marquez Smith - 1 for 1, 3 BB (what is this lol)

2B Tony Thomas - 2 for 4, RBI, 2 R, SB, SO (7th SB in 10 G)

DH Kyler Burke - 2 for 4, HR, 3 RBI, R, SO (4th HR in 24 G, .902 OPS)

C Josh Donaldson - 2 for 4, HR, RBI, R, 2 SO (6th HR in 18 G, 1.086 OPS)

 

Other than Boise here are some notable performances:

 

Tenn

CF-RF Tyler Colvin - Game 1: 2 for 2, 2B, BB

Game 2: 1 for 3, SB, SO (2nd SB in 32 G)

RHP Mark Holliman - 7 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO

 

Iowa

LF-CF Buck Coats - 1 for 5, HR, RBI, 2 R (11th HR in 98 G)

C Geovany Soto - 2 for 3, 2 BB, 3 R, 1 SO

Edited July 27, 2007 by rabidawg900

[Keener98]

CALL UP DONALDSON!.....

[the splendid splinter]

Boise Hawks win 7-4

 

Boise is fun to listen to and follow. Their lineup is STACKED top to bottom with great Cubs prospects (offensively at least). The only player who didn't get a hit on the Hawks walked 3 times! They are in a crappy division and should run away with it. It sounds like their crowd really gets in to the games as well.

 

RHP Al Alburquerque - 8 K in 3 IP!

 

3B Marquez Smith - 1 for 1, 3 BB (what is this lol)

2B Tony Thomas - 2 for 4, RBI, 2 R, SB, SO (7th SB in 10 G)

DH Kyler Burke - 2 for 4, HR, 3 RBI, R, SO (4th HR in 24 G, .902 OPS)

C Josh Donaldson - 2 for 4, HR, RBI, R, 2 SO (6th HR in 18 G, 1.086 OPS)

 

Other than Boise here are some notable performances:

 

Tenn

CF-RF Tyler Colvin - Game 1: 2 for 2, 2B, BB

Game 2: 1 for 3, SB, SO (2nd SB in 32 G)

RHP Mark Holliman - 7 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO

 

Iowa

LF-CF Buck Coats - 1 for 5, HR, RBI, 2 R (11th HR in 98 G)

C Geovany Soto - 2 for 3, 2 BB, 3 R, 1 SO

Plus Boise lost their best hitter in Clevenger and could have shortstops Samson and Barney playing there as well! Both are playing at 1st place Peoria in the Midwest league.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Boise is now my favorite affiliate to follow. Aside from Iowa, there's no level that has the potential hitting prospects that Boise has, between Thomas, Donaldson, Burke, Rundle, Smith, and Wright.

[the splendid splinter]

Boise is now my favorite affiliate to follow. Aside from Iowa, there's no level that has the potential hitting prospects that Boise has, between Thomas, Donaldson, Burke, Rundle, Smith, and Wright.

Not bad and you forgot Wyatt, dont underate Peoria which could be as good or better.

[TruffleShuffle]

Boise is now my favorite affiliate to follow. Aside from Iowa, there's no level that has the potential hitting prospects that Boise has, between Thomas, Donaldson, Burke, Rundle, Smith, and Wright.

Not bad and you forgot Wyatt, dont underrate Peoria which could be as good or better.

 

Peoria? Isn't virtually that entire team devoid of prospects?

 

Anyway, I'm glad to see that Burke is not being overmatched like he had been for the rest of his minor league career. I'm actually glad the Cubs picked up a high-ceiling offensive prospect, because they really don't have any outside of Vitters.

 

(i'm assuming Dopirak and Harvey are busts)

[TruffleShuffle]

oh and for the love of God, Free Geovany Soto. He has a 1.254 OPS this month with Iowa and and a 35% line drive rate. He's seeing the ball great.

[the splendid splinter]

Boise is now my favorite affiliate to follow. Aside from Iowa, there's no level that has the potential hitting prospects that Boise has, between Thomas, Donaldson, Burke, Rundle, Smith, and Wright.

Not bad and you forgot Wyatt, dont underrate Peoria which could be as good or better.

 

Peoria? Isn't virtually that entire team devoid of prospects?

 

Anyway, I'm glad to see that Burke is not being overmatched like he had been for the rest of his minor league career. I'm actually glad the Cubs picked up a high-ceiling offensive prospect, because they really don't have any outside of Vitters.

 

(i'm assuming Dopirak and Harvey are busts)

Wrong again on Peoria, after thee aforementioned Samson and Barney you have pitchers Pino, Ceda, Lambert and Renshaw and you have everyday players in Lansford, Leon Johnson, and wait till Hardman gets some at bats. My next question is what makes Burke a " high-ceiling" player? Would that be his baseball america ranking in high school?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Boise is now my favorite affiliate to follow. Aside from Iowa, there's no level that has the potential hitting prospects that Boise has, between Thomas, Donaldson, Burke, Rundle, Smith, and Wright.

Not bad and you forgot Wyatt, dont underrate Peoria which could be as good or better.

 

Peoria? Isn't virtually that entire team devoid of prospects?

 

Anyway, I'm glad to see that Burke is not being overmatched like he had been for the rest of his minor league career. I'm actually glad the Cubs picked up a high-ceiling offensive prospect, because they really don't have any outside of Vitters.

 

(i'm assuming Dopirak and Harvey are busts)

Wrong again on Peoria, after thee aforementioned Samson and Barney you have pitchers Pino, Ceda, Lambert and Renshaw and you have everyday players in Lansford, Leon Johnson, and wait till Hardman gets some at bats. My next question is what makes Burke a " high-ceiling" player? Would that be his baseball america ranking in high school?

 

Pina, Ceda, and to a lesser extent Renshaw(all pitchers) are the only real prospects at Peoria, they are completely devoid of potential major league hitters.

[rabidawg900]

Pina, Ceda, and to a lesser extent Renshaw(all pitchers) are the only real prospects at Peoria, they are completely devoid of potential major league hitters.

 

And CF Leon Johnson & SS Darwin Barney aren't real prospects? Then why did the Cubs draft them in the top 10 rounds a month ago? Johnson is 22 and Barney turns 22 in November.

 

Johnson through 8 games: .308/.419/.462

Barney through 7 games: .269/.387/.308 - Needs to work on his power

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Pina, Ceda, and to a lesser extent Renshaw(all pitchers) are the only real prospects at Peoria, they are completely devoid of potential major league hitters.

 

And CF Leon Johnson & SS Darwin Barney aren't real prospects? Then why did the Cubs draft them in the top 10 rounds a month ago? Johnson is 22 and Barney turns 22 in November.

 

Johnson through 8 games: .308/.419/.462

Barney through 7 games: .269/.387/.308 - Needs to work on his power

 

I don't know why they drafted them, they were incredible reaches. Barney looks like a slightly better version of Joe Simokaitis, and Johnson is Sam Fuld reincarnated.

[the splendid splinter]

Pina, Ceda, and to a lesser extent Renshaw(all pitchers) are the only real prospects at Peoria, they are completely devoid of potential major league hitters.

 

And CF Leon Johnson & SS Darwin Barney aren't real prospects? Then why did the Cubs draft them in the top 10 rounds a month ago? Johnson is 22 and Barney turns 22 in November.

 

Johnson through 8 games: .308/.419/.462

Barney through 7 games: .269/.387/.308 - Needs to work on his power

 

I don't know why they drafted them, they were incredible reaches. Barney looks like a slightly better version of Joe Simokaitis, and Johnson is Sam Fuld reincarnated.

I dont believe that the Cubs drafted Barney because they were thinking of Simokaitis and Sam Fuld is a pretty good player who'll have a chance to play in the big leagues, thou he cant come close to running with Johnson. My next question is, do they check birth certificates in the major leagues?

[Slugger_16]

IowaCubs.com[/url]"]Sky Sox Homer Past Cubs 12-8

By Deene Ehlis / http://www.iowacubs.com

 

Colorado Springs ended their 7 game losing streak with a 12-8 win over Iowa, stopping the Cubs winning streak at 4. THe Sky Sox hit 7 homeruns, including 4 in a 7 run second inning. Ian Stewart and Joe Gaetti, Gary's son, each hit 2 homers while Edwin Bellorin, Seth Smith and Clint Barmes had one each. The only Cubs homer came from Buck Coats, his 11th.

 

John Nelson finished 3 for 3 with 4 rbi for Iowa. Felix Pie and Josh Kroeger both left the game easly, Pie with a quad injury and Kroeger with oblique trouble. Both players are listed as day to day.

 

The Cubs now trail Nashville by 5 1/2 games in the American North as the Sounds beat Fresno 6-1 behind Algona's Brad Nelson, who finished with 3 hits, including a homer and 5 rbi.

 

Buddy Bailey had this comment on the 7 homers in the thin air of Colorado Springs, "This is not much bigger than Williamsport playing here tonight. There were 3 or 4 balls that go out of the ballpark that were just routine flyballs."

 

The Cubs added 2 new players from Tennessee...Joe Simokaitis and Matt Craig. Jorge Cortes was sent back to Tennessee and Scott Moore went on the disabled list with an injury to the arch of his right foot.

 

SmokiesBaseball.com[/url]"]Smokies deliver a sweep over Carolina

 

SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. – Two back-to-back strong pitching displays by Mark Holliman and Ryan O’Malley guided the Tennessee Smokies to a sweep of Thursday night’s doubleheader at Smokies Park over the Carolina Mudcats. The Smokies came from behind in the seventh inning to take Game One by a score of 3-2, and then shut out the Mudcats in Game Two by the score of 3-0. Tennessee improved to 16-18 for the second half of the season with the two wins.

 

In Game One Thursday, Holliman (8-8) was sharp once again as he pitched the complete seven innings, giving up just two runs on four hits while striking out five Mudcat batters. Holliman’s last outing in the first game of a double header at Smokies Park was on June 21st, when he tossed a no-hitter against the Huntsville Stars. Mark was equally as effective tonight in leading the Smokies to a 3-2 victory.

 

It looked as if Holliman’s effort would go to waste however until the bottom of the seventh inning. The Smokies took the early lead thanks to a solo home run off the bat of newly acquired Smokies first baseman Alan Rick, his first at Smokies Park. Tennessee held the lead until the top of the fifth inning, when Carolina touched up Holliman for two runs on two RBI singles by Brett Hayes and Jonny Raburn.

 

With the score 2-1 in the bottom of the seventh, pinch hitter Issmael Salas ripped a single to left off Mudcats reliever Chris Mobley (6-1). Sam Fuld followed with a key double down the right field line to move Salas to third. That brought the hot-hitting Jemel Spearman to the plate, who proceeded to crush a double down the left field line off Mobley. Salas and Fuld came around to score, and the Smokies had a 3-2 victory.

 

Game two featured more quality starting pitching by the Smokies, this time by Ryan O’Malley (1-0). In notching his first win in a Smokies uniform, O’Malley scattered three hits over six innings of scoreless work, while striking out four Mudcats batters. No Carolina batter reached past second base during O’Malley’s six innings.

 

Tennessee scored all the runs they would need to back up the strong pitching in the bottom of the fifth inning. After a Chris Robinson single, newly acquired Smokies infielder Robinson Chirinos smacked a home run off the Tennessee State Parks picnic deck to give the Smokies a 2-0 lead. Another new addition to the team, Kyle Reynolds, then singled. The speedy Reynolds then stole both second and third to move into scoring position, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Fuld to stake Tennessee to a 3-0 lead.

 

That would be all the offense they would need behind O’Malley’s pitching. Jim Henderson came on to pitch a scoreless ninth inning and notch his eighth save of the season.

 

The Smokies conclude their series with the Carolina Mudcats on Friday night at Smokies Park with game time at 7:15 pm. Tennessee will send right-hander Justin Berg (4-7, 5.35) to the mound to face Mudcats right-hander Jesus Silva (0-2, 7.98).

 

PeoriaChiefs.com[/url]"] Chiefs Win 4-1 Thursday Night

 

Peoria, IL- The Peoria Chiefs picked up their second win in a row with a 4-1 victory over the visiting Dayton Dragons on Thursday evening at O’Brien Field. Kerry Wood tossed his second scoreless inning of relief work during his rehab stint in Peoria. Peoria maintains a 2.5 game lead over Quad Cities in the divisional race.

 

The Chiefs broke the scoreless tie in the third inning after Brian Leclerc was hit by Dayton starter Alexander Smit to start the inning by. With two out, Darwin Barney drew a four pitch walk followed by a single back up the middle by Jim Adduci to score Leclerc for a 1-0 lead. The Chiefs loaded the bases with two outs after Henry Blanco was intentionally walked but Derek Schermerhorn flew out to end the inning.

 

Peoria took advantage of a lead off walk to Russ Canzler in the fourth inning. Wellington Castillo followed with a single to center to put two on with no outs. Castillo was nearly picked off first base but a throwing error by Dayton’s catcher allowed both runners to move up. Nate Samson picked up a sacrifice fly to score Canzler to make it 2-0. Leon Johnson delivered a two out opposite field double to drive in Castillo to put the Chiefs up 3-0. Barney continued the two out hitting with a single through the left side to score Johnson and extend the lead to 4-0.

 

Wood made his second rehab appearance of the week to start the seventh inning. Logan Parker flew out to center to start the inning before Wood struck out Carson Keiner swinging. Eddy Rodriguez reached on a bloop two-out single and moved to second on a wild pitch. Wood recovered to strike out Zack Cozart looking to end the frame. Overall, the Cubs right hander threw 12 pitches, nine for strikes with his fastball ranging from 93-94 miles per hour.

 

Jose Ceda issued a pair of walks to Denis Phipps and Logan Parker in the ninth inning to put runners on to start the inning. After the runners moved over on a wild pitch, Carson Kainer grounded out to short to score Phipps from third to end the shutout.

 

Jake Renshaw tossed six scoreless innings for the second straight start to pick up his league leading 11th win. He struck out seven which is one shy of his season best and walked just one. Ceda pitched two innings allowing just one run in the ninth while striking out three.

 

Gorman’s Pub Player of the Game: Jake Renshaw (SP) - Renshaw allowed no runs for the second straight start in six innings of work. He struck out seven batters and walked just one and now leads the league with 11 wins. Renshaw is 6-1 since the All-Star break and just the 25th pitcher in franchise history to win 11 games in a season.

 

Notes...Renshaw has not allowed a run over the last 12 innings…He has also only allowed five hits in his last two starts… Jake is 8-0 when pitching at least six innings…. Peoria has taken four of the five meetings between the two teams this season…Wood and Blanco are both expected to be with the Chiefs on Friday night…The Chiefs are 45-0 when leading after the seventh inning…The series continues on Friday evening at 6:30…Following the game will be a concert put on by Christian band Hawk Nelson…Due to the concert all tickets to Friday’s game will be $15 regardless of section… The Chiefs will send LH Jeremy Papelbon (5-2, 2.27) to the hill against Dayton RHP Anthony Gressick (3-6, 5.57)…The game can be heard live beginning with the pre-game show at 6:15 PM online at http://www.peoriachiefs.com or on WOAM 1350.

 

BoiseHawks.com[/url]"] Hawks Beat Canadians, 7-4

 

Kyler Burke and Josh Donaldson hit home runs and Arik Hempy and Al Alburquerque combined to limit Vancouver to four runs over seven innings as the Boise Hawks beat the Canadians Thursday night, 7-4.

 

The Hawks scored three times in the 7th inning to break a 4-4 tie and Chris Siegfried pitched two scoreless innings to pick up his fourth save of the season. The left-hander from McMinnville, OR made it interesting, loading the bases in the ninth inning, but got the league's leading RBI man, Danny Hamblin, to hit into a 1-2-3 double play to end the game.

 

Alburquerque got the win. He struck out eight batters in three innings, but faltered in the 7th inning giving up three runs that tied the game. But the Hawks got three in the bottom of the 7th inning. Tony Thomas had a key RBI single, another run scored on an error and Burke brought in a run with a sacrifice bunt.

 

With the win the Hawks go a game over the .500 mark for the first time this season and remain in first place in the Eastern Division of the Northwest League.

 

The series continues Friday night as the Hawks send Dustin Sasser to the mound. He will be opposed by Vancouver's Leonardo Martinez. Game time at Memorial Stadium in Boise is 7:15 p.m.

 

Thursday night's game, and all Boise Hawks home games, are web cast by Fiberpipe and are archived on the Hawk's website at http://www.Boisehawks.com.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Pina, Ceda, and to a lesser extent Renshaw(all pitchers) are the only real prospects at Peoria, they are completely devoid of potential major league hitters.

 

And CF Leon Johnson & SS Darwin Barney aren't real prospects? Then why did the Cubs draft them in the top 10 rounds a month ago? Johnson is 22 and Barney turns 22 in November.

 

Johnson through 8 games: .308/.419/.462

Barney through 7 games: .269/.387/.308 - Needs to work on his power

 

I don't know why they drafted them, they were incredible reaches. Barney looks like a slightly better version of Joe Simokaitis, and Johnson is Sam Fuld reincarnated.

I dont believe that the Cubs drafted Barney because they were thinking of Simokaitis and Sam Fuld is a pretty good player who'll have a chance to play in the big leagues, thou he cant come close to running with Johnson. My next question is, do they check birth certificates in the major leagues?

 

Of course they had something better in mind when they drafted them, just like they had something better in mind when they drafted Montanez, or Harvey, or Dopirak, or Pawelek, or Colvin. It doesn't mean that's going to happen. Fuld will be a 5th outfielder if he makes the major leagues, and his ~.750 OPS in AA at age 25 doesn't exactly put him on track to make it there.

 

I don't really know what you're addressing with the birth certificate thing, but I suspect it has something to do with the fact that Johnson and Barney are both 22(EDIT: Barney isn't quite 22) and in Low A. I never said anything about it, and I'm not holding it against them right now, but age matters, and those two are going to have to move quickly through the system.

[TruffleShuffle]

Pina, Ceda, and to a lesser extent Renshaw(all pitchers) are the only real prospects at Peoria, they are completely devoid of potential major league hitters.

 

And CF Leon Johnson & SS Darwin Barney aren't real prospects? Then why did the Cubs draft them in the top 10 rounds a month ago? Johnson is 22 and Barney turns 22 in November.

 

Johnson through 8 games: .308/.419/.462

Barney through 7 games: .269/.387/.308 - Needs to work on his power

 

I don't know why they drafted them, they were incredible reaches. Barney looks like a slightly better version of Joe Simokaitis, and Johnson is Sam Fuld reincarnated.

I dont believe that the Cubs drafted Barney because they were thinking of Simokaitis and Sam Fuld is a pretty good player who'll have a chance to play in the big leagues, thou he cant come close to running with Johnson. My next question is, do they check birth certificates in the major leagues?

 

Of course they had something better in mind when they drafted them, just like they had something better in mind when they drafted Montanez, or Harvey, or Dopirak, or Pawelek, or Colvin. It doesn't mean that's going to happen. Fuld will be a 5th outfielder if he makes the major leagues, and his ~.750 OPS in AA at age 25 doesn't exactly put him on track to make it there.

 

I don't really know what you're addressing with the birth certificate thing, but I suspect it has something to do with the fact that Johnson and Barney are both 22(EDIT: Barney isn't quite 22) and in Low A. I never said anything about it, and I'm not holding it against them right now, but age matters, and those two are going to have to move quickly through the system.

 

Barney was a reach, but how can you call Leon Johnson an "incredible reach"? He was a 10th round pick.... unless you want the Cubs drafting high school guys and signing them above slot (which they didn't do much of this year), you can't call Johnson much of a reach.