Minor League Discussion & Boxes 8-22-2007

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Box Scores:

 

Iowa lost 4-3 in 10 innings, box:

 

CF E. Patterson 1/4, R, 2B (24), RBI, K, SB (18)

SS R. Cedeño 0/3, BB

RF B. Coats 1/4, R, 2B (21), RBI, K

C G. Soto 1/4, RBI, K, 2 PB (6) - game-tying RBI single in the 9th to force extra innings

LF J. Kroeger 0/4, 2 K

1B M. Craig 1/4, K

SP JR Mathes 6 IP, 3 ER, 7 H, 5 K/3 BB, HR, 10 GO-3 FO, 107 pitches (65 strikes); hitting: 0/2, 2 K

RP C. Rapada 0.1 IP, 1 ER, 1 H, 0 K/3 BB, 1 GO-0 FO, 23 pitches (7 strikes)

 

Tennessee lost 3-1, box:

 

RF S. Fuld 1/5, 2B (20), RBI

CF T. Colvin 0/4, K

C C. Robinson 1/4, K

1B K. Reynolds 1/4

SS R. Chirinos 1/2, K, 2 E (9, fielding, throw)

SP D. Veal 5 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 4 H, 5 K/1 BB, 5 GO-5 FO, hitting: 0/1

RP M. Avery 2 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 0 K/2 BB, 3 GO-2 FO, E (1, throw)

 

Daytona lost 6-5, box:

 

SS J. Mota 1/4, R, K

DH S. Clevenger 4/5, 2 R, 2 2B (5)

1B B. Dopirak 3/5, R, 2B (21), 3 RBI, SB (1)

RF R. Harvey 2/4, RBI, 2 K

SP A. Mendez 6 IP, 4 ER, 7 H, 4 K/5 BB, HBP, WP, 2 HR, 3 GO-10 FO

RP T. Layden 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 K/0 BB, 3 GO-0 FO

 

Peoria won 8-0, box:

 

SS D. Barney 2/5, 2 K

RF J. Adduci 2/4, 3 R, RBI, K, 2 SB (17)

DH B. Lalli 3/5, R, RBI, SB (3)

LF R. Canzler 2/4, R, 2B (23), 2 RBI, BB

3B M. Smith 2/4, 2B (1), 2 RBI, HBP

C W. Castillo 1/3, R, BB, 2 K

SP J. Papelbon 7 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 6 K/3 BB, 8 GO-5 FO

RP J. Ceda 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 4 K/1 BB, WP, 1 GO-1 FO - don't ask me why MiLB.com insists he gave up a run

 

Boise lost 6-4, box:

 

2B T. Thomas 0/4, BB, PO

LF B. Guyer 2/4, 2 R, BB

C J. Donaldson 1/1, 2B RBI, 2 BB - left game in 6th inning for a defensive replacement

1B M. Sawyer 0/2, R, 3 BB, E (8, fielding)

3B J. Rosa 2/4, RBI, K

RF D. Rundle 1/4, K

PH-DH K. Burke 1/1, RBI

SP M. Bunton 3.1 IP, 4 ER, 4 H, 4 K/3 BB, 3 HBP, balk, 5 GO-0 FO

RP A. Santana 1.1 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 3 K/0 BB, 0 GO-1 FO

 

Mesa loses 8-5, box:

 

LF C. Walker 1/4, K - rehab

RF C. Andersen 2/4, 2 2B (10), RBI, K

DH J. Vitters 0/4

CF C. Hardman 1/4, R

3B M. Gonzalez 1/4, R, 2B (1), RBI, K

C C. Perez 2/4, R, K, E (2, pickoff)

SS G. Guzman 1/4, R

SP L. Suarez 3 IP, 4 ER, 5 H, 2 K/3 BB, HBP, 2 HR, 4 GO-3 FO

RP C. Muschko 3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 3 K/0 BB, HBP, 4 GO-2 FO

 

DSL Cubs won 2-1, box:

 

2B J. Lake 2/4, RBI, SB (9)

DH H. Magallanes 1/4, R, 2B (7), K

3B J. Contreras 2/4, 2 2B (12), RBI

CF A. Quezada 0/4, K

LF A. Soto 1/2, 2 CS (9)

SP J. Pena 6 IP, 1 ER, 7 H, 0 K/1 BB, WP, 10 GO-8 FO

RP M. de Leon 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 K/0 BB, 3 GO-1 FO

 

Overall: 2-5

Edited August 23, 2007 by CaliforniaRaisin

[Guest]

Probable Starters:

 

Iowa: LHP JR Mathes (10-7, 5.19 ERA, 135.1 IP, 74 K/32 BB, .322 BAA)

Tennessee: LHP Donnie Veal (6-9, 5.42 ERA, 113 IP, 113 K/66 BB, .264 BAA)

Daytona: RHP Adalberto Mendez (Daytona & Tenn: 3-5, 4.92 ERA, 75 IP, 58 K/39 BB, .243 BAA)

Peoria: LHP Jeremy Papelbon (6-6, 3.49 ERA, 87.2 IP, 80 K/24 BB, .237 BAA)

Boise: LHP Michael Bunton (Mesa: 4-3, 2.79 ERA, 42 IP, 21 K/15 BB, .280 BAA)

Mesa: RHP Larry Suarez (0-3, 5.35 ERA, 33.2 IP, 31 K/21 BB, .252 BAA)

 

Playoff Races:

 

Tennessee (13 games remaining) can make the playoffs either by winning the SL North second half or winning the SL North overall wild card:

 

SL North - Second Half
Club 	      W 	L 	PCT 	 GB
Huntsville*	33	24	.579	 -
Tennessee	  32	25	.561	1.0
Chattanooga	29	28	.509	4.0
Carolina	   28	29	.491	5.0
West Tenn	  24	33	.421	9.0

 

SL North Wild Card
Club 	    W 	L 	PCT 	GB
Tennessee	68	57	.544	-
Chattanooga 58	69	.457	11.0
Carolina	 56	71	.441	13.0
West Tenn	55	72	.433	14.0

 

Peoria (13 games remaining) can enter the playoffs as the second half champ or the second half wild card (which they're tied with Cedar Rapids for). Beloit and Clinton are already in the playoffs.

 

MWL West - Second Half
Club 	      W 	L 	PCT 	GB
Quad Cities	35	21	.625	-
Beloit*	    30	25	.545	4.5
Cedar Rapids  31	26	.544	4.5
Peoria	     31	26	.544	4.5
Kane County	28	27	.509	6.5
Burlington	 27	29	.482	8.0
Clinton^	   25	32	.439	10.5
Wisconsin	  23	33	.411	12.0

 

Boise (15 games remaining) has to win the NWL East to make the playoffs:

 

NWL East
Club 	   W 	L 	PCT 	GB
Spokane    29	31	.483	-
Boise	   28	33	.459	1.5
Tri-City	27	34	.443	2.5
Yakima	  26	35	.426	3.5

[rabidawg900]

Vitters!

[Guest]

Ask BA[/url]"]BA doesn't seem to give Geovany Soto much love, and I was wondering why. He not only did not make your Cubs Top 10 Prospects list, and he also was beaten out by Jeff Clement at catcher on your midseason minor league all-star team. His numbers seem staggering. What am I missing? And how do you currently rate the top catching prospects in the game?

 

Dave Porges

Pittsburgh

 

It's not that we don't consider Soto a prospect, because we do. And he's tearing up Triple-A this year, batting .359/.429/.641 with 21 homers and 95 RBIs in 100 games. But we also factor in that it's his third year at Iowa and that he entered 2007 with career .262/.344/.371 averages in six pro seasons.

 

Soto is a solid catching prospect, but he's not the elite hitter that his stats this season might suggest. That said, he's better offensively and defensively than regular Cubs catcher Jason Kendall, and Chicago's playoff chances would be enhanced if it put Soto in its lineup.

 

As for the best catching prospects in baseball, I'd rank the top five in this order: Matt Wieters (Orioles), Jeff Clement (Mariners), Hank Conger (Angels), J.R. Towles (Astros) and Bryan Anderson (Cardinals).

[Athletics36]

Not that it matters but "Iowa" is playing New Orleans and get to face Pelfry and Humber back to back.

[Guest]

Not that it matters but "Iowa" is playing New Orleans and get to face Pelfry and Humber back to back.

 

Whoops, thanks!!

[imb]

Hey, Hank Conger hit 700 home runs for me in Baseball Mogul

[Electron Blue]

Hey, Hank Conger hit 700 home runs for me in Baseball Mogul

 

My experience with Baseball Mogul is that, eventually, anybody who's anybody hits 700 HRs :)

 

OOTP is where it's it.

[ChiefsVoice]

Hey, Hank Conger hit 700 home runs for me in Baseball Mogul

 

He is a STUD. Even though he has been banged up all year. He flat out killed us in May and it isnt a coincidence that since he came off the DL the 2nd time (hamstring) that Cedar Rapids has won 6 straight to catch us in the Wild Card. I think he is in the top 5 hitters I have seen this season with Gorkys Hernandez (DET), Gerardo Parra (ARI), Chris Valaika (CIN), and Travis Snider (TOR).

 

Drew Stubbs (CIN), James Skelon (DET), Danny Perales (ARI), John Whittleman (TEX) and Steve Hill (STL) are probably in my next five...

[Guest]

No Chiefs. :(

[Guest]

Ceda now has 17 hitless innings of relief work...30 K/13 BB during that time too.

 

I don't know why MiLB.com says he gave up a run seeing as the Chiefs threw a shutout.

[Guest]

Iowa was being no-hit through 8.1 IP before they broke through with 3 to send the game into extras.

[Guest]

Josh Vitters with four groundouts today and he's now 0 for 7.

[Guest]

All boxes posted!!

 

IowaCubs.com[/url]"]Cubs Avoid No-No, Fall 4-3 in 10 innings

Iowa Rallies for three runs in the ninth

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

 

Phillip Humber no-hit Iowa for eight and one-third innings, but the Cubs rallied to tie the game in the ninth, only to lose 4-3 in ten innings to the Zephyrs in New Orleans Wednesday night.

Pinch-hitter John Nelson broke up Humber's no-hit bid with a single. Humber, with his pitch count at 122, was lifted in favor of Ambiorix Burgos, who gave up an RBI double to Eric Patterson, followed by a two out RBI double by Buck Coats and a bloop single to Geovany Soto to tie the game.

 

The Zephyrs won the game in the tenth when losing pitcher Clay Rapada (6-2) issued a bases loaded walk to Andy Tracy. With the loss, Nashville's magic number to clinch the American South Division dropped to four. The Cubs remain eight and a half games behind the Sounds with twelve games to play.

 

Zephyr pitcher Humber had lost his last three starts and said he needed this type of outing, "I've been scuffling, and as a team, we needed a win tonight. It was nice to come out and pitch well." Humber said he had his best stuff, "We've been working on things all year and tonight it came together. I probably had the best breaking ball I've had all year and was able to move my fastball around the strike zone and keep them honest with a changeup once in awhile." Before Nelson's hit, Humber had issued just a walk to Ronnie Cedeno in the first and Eric Patterson reached on an error in the fourth. After Patterson reached, Humber retired sixteen straight before Nelson's hit.

 

Ronnie Cedeno returned to Iowa's lineup while Sam Fuld headed back to double-A Tennessee.

 

SmokiesBaseball.com[/url]"]Smokies Dropped 3-1 by Mobile

 

MOBILE, Ala. – Smokies errors aid BayBears to 3-1 win Wednesday night at Hank Aaron Stadium but team doesn’t lose ground in Southern League North standings.

 

Mobile scored the games first run in the bottom of the first. Emilio Bonifacio walked off Smokies starter Donnie Veal. After one batter was retired Carlos Gonzalez blooped single to left. Javier Brito grounded out scoring Bonifacio making it 1-0 Bears.

 

The BayBears would add to the lead in the third inning. Wilkin Castillo reached on an error and after a single by Gonzalez scored on a second error giving the Bears a 2-0 advantage.

 

Tennessee scored their only run in the fifth inning. Nate Spears singled to start the frame and Sam Fuld doubled to center bringing him in. Mobile added another unearned run in the eighth. After two were retired Bonifacio bunted back to pitcher Matt Avery who hurried his throw allowing the runner to reach and take second. The next batter Castillo singled to right scoring Bonifacio.

 

Max Scherzer was the winning pitcher going five and two-thirds innings yielding five hits and one run. He had six strikeouts and only one walk. Reid Mahon pitched a scoreless ninth to record his first Southern League save. Donnie Veal was tabbed with the loss but pitched well enough to grab the win. He went five innings only giving up four hits and one earned run.

 

DaytonaCubs.com[/url]"]Hammerheads Edge Cubs, 6-5

Long Ball Keys Jupiter Victory

 

By: Dan Watson

 

[JUPITER, FL] Despite a surge in the middle innings, the Daytona Cubs fell to the Jupiter Hammerheads, 6-5, Wednesday at Roger Dean Stadium. Jupiter scored five of its six runs via home runs.

 

The loss ruined a terrific night for Steve Clevenger, who went 4-for-5 with two doubles and two runs scored. Brian Dopirak had three hits, drove in three runs and stole a base.

 

It took a two-run shot by J.T. Restko in the bottom of the seventh to give Jupiter the eventual winning runs.

 

The Hammerheads plated a pair of runs in the bottom of the second when Jonathan Fulton blasted a two-run homer. Fulton hadn't homered in his first 84 games of the year, but has now homered on back-to-back nights.

 

The Cubs cut the deficit in half with a two-out rally in the fourth. Brian Dopirak banged a single up the middle, and after a Jeffrey Rea single, scored on Ryan Harvey's RBI base hit.

 

Jupiter got the run back in the bottom of the frame. Fulton was hit by a pitch, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, and scored on a single by Lorenzo Scott to make it 3-1.

 

Kevin Randel's solo homer in the bottom of the fifth gave Jupiter a 4-1 advantage, but Daytona tied the game in the next half-inning. Jonathan Mota singled to center and went to third when Steve Clevenger doubled. Dopirak followed with a two-run double to cut the deficit to 4-3. Three batters later, Dopirak scored on a groundout by Alfred Joseph to tie the game at 4-4.

 

Daytona pulled ahead for the first time in the top of the seventh against reliever Kurt Koehler. Clevenger riipped a two-out double down the right-field line. Dopirak followed with an RBI single up the middle to give the Cubs a 5-4 lead. Dopirak then stole second, his first swipe since 2005, but was stranded there.

 

Restko made sure the lead was short-lived. After a one-out single by Randel against reliever Donnie Walters, Restko blasted a 1-0 pitch over the wall in left to put the Hammerheads up, 6-5.

 

From there, the Hammerheads held the Cubs silent. Koehler worked a scoreless eighth with a pair of strikeouts. Koehler (2-1), who picked up the win, handed things over to Todd Doolittle. He pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to snag his 24th save of the season. The Hammerheads improved to 24-31.

 

Walters took the loss in his first appearance of the year for the Cubs. Daytona dropped to 22-37 with the loss.

 

PeoriaChiefs.com[/url]"]Papelbon Pitches Chiefs Into Wild Card Lead

 

Grand Chute, WI– The Peoria Chiefs scored eight times in the first four innings and cruised to an 8-0 win Wednesday night over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. The 32-26 Chiefs are now back in the Wild Card lead by a half game over Cedar Rapids who had their game rained out against Burlington .

 

For the second time in the series, the Chiefs scored in the first inning against Wisconsin . With two outs, Jim Adduci and Blake Lalli collected back to back singles off Rattlers starter Anthony Varvaro. With Russ Canzler at the plate, Varvaro threw a pitch in the dirt and Lalli broke for second. When catcher Jair Fernandez threw to second, Adduci broke for the plate and scored when Ron Garth’s throw sailed to the backstop. Russ Canzler followed with his 23rd double of the season as the Chiefs took a 2-0 lead.

 

After Jeremy Papelbon blanked the Rattlers through the first two innings, the Chiefs added to the lead in the third. Adduci led off with a single to left and moved to second on a wild pich with one out. As Canzler drew a walk from Varvaro, Adduci stole third base. Marquez Smith, who drove in three on Tuesday night, drove a single to rightfield as Adduci scored for a 3-0 Chiefs lead.

 

Peoria knocked Varvaro out of the game and broke the contest open in the fourth inning. Wellington Castillo started the frame with a walk and moved to second on a one-out walk to Ryne Malone. Darwin Barney singled to left as the Chiefs loaded the bases. Rollie Gibson relieved Varvaro and two runs scored on an error by second baseman Ron Garth on a grounder hit by Adduci. Lalli singled to left as Barney scored for a 6-0 lead. Lalli and Adduci pulled off a double steal and Canzler singled home Lalli for a 7-0 Chiefs lead. Smith followed with a RBI double to cap the five run frame and give the Chiefs an eight run lead.

 

Papelbon threw seven shutout innings to improve to 7-6 on the season and 3-3 as a starter. The lefty allowed just four hits and three walks while striking out six. Jose Ceda struck out four and walked one without allowing a hit in two innings of relief work.

 

Gorman’s Pub Player of the Game: Jeremy Papelbon (LHP) – Jeremy tied a career high in innings pitched and strikeouts on Wednesday night. He allowed just four hits and picked a runner off base.

 

Playoff Watch: The top two teams in the division excluding Beloit and Clinton will make the playoffs. With 12 games remaining, the Chiefs are in the Wild Card spot, 4 games behind Quad Cities who were rained out in Clinton and will play two on Thursday. The Chiefs are now 2/ game head of Cedar Rapids in the Wild Card race. Kane County is 2 ½ games back and Burlington 4. The Chiefs have two games (at home) left against Kane County, three games (at home) against Cedar Rapids and two at Quad Cities. The Wild Card team will play Beloit in the first round while the Second Half Champion will play Clinton.

 

BoiseHawks.com[/url]"]Canadians Beat Hawks, 6-4

 

VANCOUVER, B.C. -- The Vancouver Canadians beat the Boise Hawks Wednesday afternoon, 6-4. Danny Hamblin and Cory Brown had key hits for Vancouver in a four-run fourth inning to put the Canadians in front. The Hawks battled back with three runs in the eighth inning but could not come all the way back against Leonardo Espinal who saved his 11th game for Vancouver.

 

Left fielder Bandon Guyer had two hits for the Hawks, drew a walk and scored twice. Catcher Josh Donaldson had an RBI double and walked three times and Jovan Rosa had two hits.

[TruffleShuffle]

is it too late for a do-over on the vitters pick?

[rabidawg900]

is it too late for a do-over on the vitters pick?

 

TRADE HIM!

 

/sarcasm