Minor League Discussion & Boxes 9-3-2007

[Outshined_One]

Box Scores

 

Iowa lost their season finale 5-4 Box Score

 

CF C. Walker 0/4, 2 K

DH K. Hill 0/2, 2 BB, R, K

RF J. Fox 0/4, 2 K, Assist (3B)

3B M. Craig 1/3, BB, RBI, 2B (7)

LF J. Kroeger 0/4

SS J. Simokaitis 0/4, K

SP J. Santo 7.2 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 5/0 K/BB, 2 HR, 7-11 GO-FO

RP C. Redmond .1 scoreless, 1 H, 0-1 GO-FO

 

Tennessee lost their season finale 4-3 Box Score

 

RF S. Fuld 1/4, BB, K, E (3, fielding), Assist (Home)

CF T. Colvin 2/5, 2 R, 2 SB (7)

1B K. Reynolds 1/4, R, RBI, 2B (9), K

SP J. Samardzija 4 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 2/1 K/BB, HR, 4-5 GO-FO

RP M. Atkins 3 scoreless, 1 H, 3/0 K/BB, 4-2 GO-FO

RP J. Estrada 1 scoreless, 1 H, 1/0 K/BB, 0-1 GO-FO

 

Peoria won their season finale 5-2 Box Score

 

CF L. Johnson 2/5, R, 2 RBI, 2B (3), SB (10)

SS D. Barney 2/5, R, 2 RBI, HR (2), K

DH R. Canzler 1/3, RBI

PH/DH W. Castillo 1/1, 2B (11)

LF T. Wright 2/2

3B M. Smith 2/4, R, 2B (3), E (5, throw)

2B N. Samson 0/2, K

SP R. Hernandez 5.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 6/0 K/BB, 2-9 GO-FO

RP J. Ceda 2.1 hitless/scoreless, 6/1 K/BB, 0-1 GO-FO

RP A. Maestri 1 scoreless, 1 H, 3/0 K/BB, WP

 

Boise won 5-3 Box Score

 

2B T. Thomas 2/4, R, 2 RBI, HR (5), 2 K, SB (26)

CF J. Wyatt 1/4, R, 2B (17)

LF B. Guyer 1/4, R, RBI

C J. Donaldson 1/3, BB, R, RBI, HR (9), K, PB (11)

RF K. Burke 1/4, RBI

3B J. Vitters 1/3, CS (1)

DH D. Johnston 0/3, 2 K

SP Z. Ashwood 8 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 8/0 K/BB, HBP, 3-3 GO-FO

RP HW Chen 3 scoreless, 1 H, 0/1 K/BB, HBP, 6-3 GO-FO

RP S. Vento 1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 2/0 K/BB, HR, 1-0 GO-FO

 

OVERALL: 2-2

Edited September 4, 2007 by Outshined_One

[Jon]

Probable Starters:

 

Iowa: LHP Les Walrond (11-5, 4.77 ERA, 137.2 IP, 93 K/48 BB, .308 BAA)

Tennessee: RHP Jeff Samardzija (Tenn & Daytona: 6-10, 4.45 ERA, 137.2 IP, 63 K/43 BB, .303 BAA)

Peoria: RHP Robert Hernandez (7-9, 4.50 ERA, 98 IP, 65 K/28 BB, .272 BAA)

Boise: LHP Zack Ashwood (4-3, 3.25 ERA, 52.2 IP, 41 K/21 BB, .269 BAA)

[NCCubFan]

Tennessee is in the playoffs as a wild card.

 

Peoria can only make the playoffs if they beat Cedar Rapids by 19 or more runs. If Peoria wins they will tie Cedar Rapids in the standings, and they will be tied in head-to-head play, so the second tie-breaker is run differential.

 

Boise trails Tri-City by 1 game. If Boise sweeps the series they win the division for the second half. If they win 2 of 3 Boise and Tri-City will tie for the championship (with a losing record); I'm not sure where they stand with respect to the tie-breaker.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Alright, one more outing for Samardzija and Hernandez.

[the splendid splinter]

Alright, one more outing for Samardzija and Hernandez.

Tennessee/Listach could hold Sammy back for the playoffs?

[chattbaseball]

Tennessee is in the playoffs as a wild card.

 

Peoria can only make the playoffs if they beat Cedar Rapids by 19 or more runs. If Peoria wins they will tie Cedar Rapids in the standings, and they will be tied in head-to-head play, so the second tie-breaker is run differential.

 

Boise trails Tri-City by 1 game. If Boise sweeps the series they win the division for the second half. If they win 2 of 3 Boise and Tri-City will tie for the championship (with a losing record); I'm not sure where they stand with respect to the tie-breaker.

 

Spoke with one of their players today and he said they MUST sweep in order to make the championship series. He didn't know what the tie-breaker was...he just said they HAD to sweep in order to win the division!

[Guest]

Iowa lost their season finale 5-4. Joel Santo came up from Daytona for the spot start and gave up 4 ER in 7.2 IP.

 

Samardzija had only his second non-quality start for Tennessee - 4 IP, 4 ER, 8 H, 2 K/1 BB and another HR surrendered. Colvin went 2/5 with 2 singles.

 

18-year old Robert Hernandez finished his season strong - 5.2 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 3 H, 6 K and no walks. Jose Ceda finished his season without a hit from the pen (2.1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 6 K, 1 BB). Oh, and Maestri with another scoreless inning of relief and he racked up 3 Ks.

 

Hernandez' last 5 starts: 28.2 IP, 1.88 ERA, 23 K/5 BB, ~.170 BAA.

Ceda in the pen: 23.1 IP, 4 ER, 0 H, 1.54 ERA, 42 K/16 BB

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

So with Iowa done, will Piggy and Fox be joining the others in Chicago?

[Skyballer]

Why isn't Raisin starting these threads any more?

[Guest]

Why isn't Raisin starting these threads any more?

 

Outshined is actually the normal thread starter (after he stole the job from T2E a few years ago). I took over during the summer when Outshined was in Europe with a sporadic Internet connection; he's got his job back now that he's in the U.S. again.

 

Nothing like starting these threads to make you realize how much work Outshined actually puts in...kudos (even if he's getting the 1-out save this season).

[TruffleShuffle]

that is unbelievable what ceda did the second half of the year... i'm surprised this hasn't gotten more press

[Guest]

Robert Hernandez at age 18 in low-A ball compares favorably to his fellow countryman Carlos Zambrano in his age 18 season at low-A (who was the last pitcher to spend a full season at low-A at age 18 in the Cubs system, I believe):

 

Zambrano - 153.1 IP, 4.17 ERA, 150 H, 98 K, 62 BB, 8.80 H/9, 3.64 BB/9, 5.75 K/9, 0.53 HR/9

Hernandez - 103.2 IP, 4.34 ERA, 106 H, 71 K, 28 BB, 9.20 H/9, 2.43 BB/9, 6.16 K/9, 0.96 HR/9

 

Yeah, Z did throw about 50 more innings than Hernandez but still, Robert is a significant prospect doing some great things in the MWL at age 18.

[Brian]

The more than half the amount of BB in 50 less innings is nice.

[Outshined_One]

that is unbelievable what ceda did the second half of the year... i'm surprised this hasn't gotten more press

 

He'll definitely get a starting rotation spot next season. I'm hoping Daytona.

 

Also, I'm disappointed Rafael Dolis never returned. He looked so promising at the beginning of the season.

[Guest]

Also, I'm disappointed Rafael Dolis never returned. He looked so promising at the beginning of the season.

 

Yes, I'm very much so disappointed - doesn't sound like he even had surgery. Hope he's back in Peoria's rotation next April.

 

I should try to project where everyone goes next year, that'd be fun.

[ChiefsVoice]

that is unbelievable what ceda did the second half of the year... i'm surprised this hasn't gotten more press

 

He'll definitely get a starting rotation spot next season. I'm hoping Daytona.

 

Also, I'm disappointed Rafael Dolis never returned. He looked so promising at the beginning of the season.

 

I bet Ceda is still in the pen...and he goes to AA tomorrow for the playoffs.

[Outshined_One]

I bet Ceda is still in the pen...and he goes to AA tomorrow for the playoffs.

 

Nifty! Best of luck to the guy.

[Guest]

I'd like to see him get another chance at the rotation next season before he becomes the next Lee Smith.

[Guest]

Boise keeps their playoff hopes alive with a huge 5-3 win. They broke a 2-2 tie in the 8th inning with 3 runs, a 2-run HR by Tony Thomas and a solo HR by Josh Donaldson.

 

Zack Ashwood put together a strong outing - 5 IP, 2 ER, 8 K. I haven't been paying much attention to him but he's put together a pretty good season at Boise. Josh Vitters went 1/3 with a single and has his BA at Boise over the Mendoza line.

[Outshined_One]

Josh Donaldson

[Brian]

Tony Thomas

 

I'm definitely behind TT in the love for Thomas, but I like him.

[Guest]

IowaCubs.com[/url]"]Cubs Drop Finale, 5-4

Royals defeat Cubs in Ninth

By Andrea Breen / Iowa Cubs

 

The Omaha Royals beat the Iowa Cubs 5-4 in the final game of the season Monday afternoon at Principal Park.

 

John Nelson led the Iowa offense, hitting two solo home runs. Iowa trailed Omaha 3-0 until Nelson homered in the fifth inning. The Cubs took a brief 4-3 lead in the seventh inning when Nelson hit his second home run of the day and Tony Richie scored on a double by Carlos Rojas.

 

Omaha's Chris Lubanski hit a solo home run in the eighth to tie the game 4-4. Paul Phillips' ninth inning double drove in the winning run for the Royals.

 

Ben Howard took the loss for Iowa while Thad Markray picked up the win for Omaha.

 

SmokiesBaseball.com[/url]"]Smokies end regular season with 4-3 loss

 

ZEBULON, N.C. – The last regular season contest of the year for the Tennessee Smokies was a quick one, as Monday afternoon's 4-3 defeat at the hands of the Carolina Mudcats took only two hours and 18 minutes to complete. The Smokies accomplished though what they set out to do in the series, gaining a berth in the Southern League playoffs.

 

The Smokies jumped on the board early with two runs in the first. Kyle Reynolds and Jemel Spearman had RBI hits for the road team, giving the Smokies an early 2-0 lead.

 

The lead would not last long though, as Carolina answered in the bottom of the first. The Mudcats' Eric Riggs knocked in one run, and a fielding error by Smokies outfielder Sam Fuld allowed the tying run to score at two.

 

The Mudcats would then take the lead in the bottom of the third inning. Chase Lambin cracked a solo home run, followed by doubles by both Grant Psomas and Jai Miller that gave Carolina a 4-2 lead.

 

The Smokies closed the gap to 4-3 in the fifth inning. Smokies outfielder Tyler Colvin reached on a throwing error to start the inning. Colvin then stole both second and third base, scoring on an Alan Rick groundout.

 

The Southern League playoffs are set to start Thursday night at Huntsville’s Joe Davis Stadium, with Games 1 & 2 in Huntsville. Tennessee will host Game 3 this Saturday, September 8. Tickets will be available starting this Tuesday by calling the Smokies ticket office at (865) 286-2300 or online at http://www.smokiesbaseball.com.

 

PeoriaChiefs.com[/url]"] Chiefs Win Season Finale 5-2

 

Peoria, IL- The Peoria Chiefs finished their season off with a 5-2 win over the visiting Cedar Rapids Kernels at O’Brien Field on Monday afternoon. The win gives the Chiefs a 71-68 record overall and 40-30 in the second half. The win also gives the Chiefs a share of the Western Division crown with Quad Cities and Cedar Rapids.

 

Peoria jumped out to a first inning lead for the second time in the series. Leon Johnson doubled off the glove of the left fielder and quickly stole third base. Darwin Barney grounded out to third and Johnson scored to make it 1-0.

 

The Kernels tied the game in the third inning after Anderson Rosario reached on throwing error by Marquez Smith at third base. Rosario ended up on second base after the error and stole third. Stantrel Smith flew out to center field to score Rosario and tie the game 1-1.

 

The Chiefs took the lead back in the fifth inning thanks to the long ball. Barney homered to left on a 3-0 pitch off Amalio Diaz to give the Chiefs a 2-1 lead. The offense continued to surge with two outs. Jim Adduci and Blake Lalli picked up back-to-back singles and Russ Canzler drove in a run with a single to center to extend the Chiefs lead to 3-1.

 

Cedar Rapids got a run closer in the sixth inning against Hernandez. P.J. Phillips tripled to the gap in right center to start the inning. Peter Bourjos followed two batters later with a double that scored Phillips to make it 3-2. After Wil Ortiz flew out to right, Jose Ceda relieved Hernandez and struck out Tyler Johnson looking to end the frame and leave the tying run at second base.

 

Peoria answered the run in the top of the inning with two of their own in the bottom half. Matt Canepa got things started with a base hit and Marquez Smith got the second straight hit off Diaz to put two on with no outs. Leon Johnson lined a single into center field to score Canepa and Smith and make it a 5-2 game and end the day for Diaz.

 

Hernandez picked up his eighth win of the season with 5 2/3 innings of work. He allowed two runs on three hits while striking out six and he did not walk a batter. Jose Ceda pitched 2 1/3 innings and struck out six of the seven batters he faced while walking one. Alex Maestri worked the ninth inning and allowed a double but struck out the next three batters for his 12th save of the season.

 

Gorman’s Pub Player of the Game: Darwin Barney (SS)- Barney finished the game 2-for-4 with a run scored. He also drove in a pair of runs and hit his second professional home run.

 

Notes… The attendance of 3,800 helped the Chiefs set a franchise record for attendance in a season with 259,784 fans at O’Brien Field….Adduci extended his hitting streak to a season high ten games…The 40 wins was the seventh time the Chiefs have had a 40 win half in franchise history…The division title is the fifth time Peoria has won or shared a divisional championship…Maestri finished the season with a team high 12 saves… Ceda did not allow a hit in his final 25 innings pitched this season between Peoria and Mesa

 

BoiseHawks.com[/url]"] Hawks Tie For First With Two to go

 

The Boise Hawks beat the Tri-City Dust Devils Monday night and pulled in to a first place tie with a 5-3 win. Tony Thomas followed a lead off double in the eighth inning by Jose Made with a towering home run to left field to break a 2-2 tie. It was Thomas' s fifth home run of the season and provided the margin of victory for Hung-Wen Chen who picked up the win with three innings one-hit relief.

 

Josh Donaldson hit his ninth home run of the season later in the inning and the Hawks turned the game over to Steve Vento who gave up a home run in the ninth inning but retired the next three batters for his third save of the season.

 

Brandon Guyer and Kyler Burke had RBI singles in the first inning to give the Hawks an initial 2-0 lead. Tri City tied it with single runs in the second and fourth innings. Zach Ashwood started for the Hawks and pitched five innings, allowing the two runs on four hits while not allowing a walk and striking out a season-high eight.

 

The Hawks are now tied with Tri City for first place with two games left in the regular season.

[Guest]

Iowa season awards: Cory Bailey (pitcher of the year), Geovany Soto (MVP).

 

"From the beginning of the year to the end of the year, he [soto] improved the whole year," said Cory Bailey, Iowa's pitcher of the year. "Just to watch his approach to hitting and to make adjustments like he made, you can see why he was the MVP of the league. He never quit. He never gave away any at-bats."

 

Fleita said Soto has "a real bright future ahead of him."

 

"He's not far from contributing and contributing in a big manner," Fleita said. "The numbers he put up as a catcher is amazing. He's going to be the MVP of our organization. No doubt."

 

Peoria season awards: Jake Renshaw (pitcher of the year), Josh Lansford (defensive player of the year), Jim Adduci (MVP).

 

Chiefs starter Robert Hernandez continued his strong finish. In his last five starts, Hernandez lowered his earned-run average by almost a full run and went 4-1.

 

"He's come a long way this year," Sandberg said. "He's a guy that rose to the occasion before for us in certain situations. To finish on that note, it's a good finish for him."

 

Hernandez went 51/3 innings and allowed just three hits and two runs, but only one was earned.

 

"All I was interested in was the club winning the last game of the year," Hernandez said through hitting coach Julio Garcia's translation. "I was thinking about that (Sunday) when I was keeping the pitching chart."

 

http://pjstar.mycapture.com/PHOTOS/PJST/324818/15996562E.jpg

http://pjstar.mycapture.com/PHOTOS/PJST/312424/15751607E.jpg

[craig]

Robert Hernandez at age 18 in low-A ball compares favorably to his fellow countryman Carlos Zambrano in his age 18 season at low-A (who was the last pitcher to spend a full season at low-A at age 18 in the Cubs system, I believe):

 

Zambrano - 153.1 IP, 4.17 ERA, 150 H, 98 K, 62 BB, 8.80 H/9, 3.64 BB/9, 5.75 K/9, 0.53 HR/9

Hernandez - 103.2 IP, 4.34 ERA, 106 H, 71 K, 28 BB, 9.20 H/9, 2.43 BB/9, 6.16 K/9, 0.96 HR/9

 

Yeah, Z did throw about 50 more innings than Hernandez but still, Robert is a significant prospect doing some great things in the MWL at age 18.

 

I think this is a helpful perspective. I think it's clear that hernandez has a chance to be a very, very substantial prospect.

 

Not to be negative, but there are several obvious distinctions between hernandez and Carlos's Class A seasons.

1. Z did *not* spend a full season in full-A. He listed at only *17* for much of that year. According to his list birthday, he didn't turn 18 until June of his Peoria-equivalent season.

2. I have always suspected that the Cubs didn't really think Carlos was only 17. I've always tended to assume they figured his age was somewhat falsified. That was pre-age-gate. So while Z may have listed younger, it's possible that Hernandez actually is younger than was Carlos. Not that looks tell all, but from his face nothing to make you question that Hernandez really is 18, he looks quite young.

3. By late that season, I recall a report on Z throwing 98 in the 9th inning of a complete game. The scouting on him clearly showed a monster power pitcher. Hernandez scouts really really well, but not that well.

4. Z was an extreme groundball guy in those days, which goes with the low K's. hernandez is a definite fly-ball guy at this point.

5. Carlos in A- was one thing; but he jumped straight up to AA the next spring, at age 18, and dominated his way up to Iowa, shortly after his 19th birthday if not before. Doing well as Hernandez has done at age 18 in A- is one thing; to carry a 1.34 ERA in AA at age 18 as Z did in spring of 2000, that's another.

 

Not dissing Hernandez, I'm really interested in him. And I believe when Tim had people rank prospects last winter, I think I was one of if not the only contributor who included him in my top-40. But Z's production-per-age pre-Iowa was really remarkable. Even if he didn't have much of a breaking ball or much control then, such that there were doubts whether he was strictly relief or could make it as a rotation guy. And even if Juan Cruz's breaking ball and thus overall package often got even more enthusiastic evals.

 

Ceda, that guy's been pretty incredible. Will be interesting to see how his control improves in future, and if his arm can hold together. But his combo of fastball (velocity and movement) and breaking ball is obviously pretty dominant relative to A-. he walks a guy most innings, will be interesting to see how that goes in future. If he can get even respectable control, he could be a pretty scary relief pitcher.

[Outshined_One]

The other key distinction between Hernandez and Zambrano is that Hernandez is nowhere near the height and size of Z. I don't know what Zambrano was listed at when he was Hernandez's age, but Hernandez is listed at 6'2, 165 pounds. That's noticeably shorter and lighter than Z is now.