Minor League Discussion & Boxes 8-20-2008

[Outshined_One]

Box Scores

 

Iowa lost 8-5 Box Score

 

CF F. Pie 1/5, R, K, E (7, fielding), Assist (2B)

1B M. Hoffpauir 3/5, R, 2B (32), 2 K

3B C. McGehee 2/5, RBI, K

RF J. Kroeger 2/5, R, 2 RBI, HR (14), 2 K, SB (10)

SP M. Burns 5 IP, 10 H, 7 ER, 5/1 K/BB, 2 HR, 5-4 GO-FO

RP J. Berg 2 scoreless, 2 H, 2/0 K/BB, 3-1 GO-FO

RP M. Wuertz 1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 3/3 K/BB

 

Tennessee lost 6-4 Box Score

 

CF S. Fuld 2/4, BB, K

2B N. Spears 0/5

RF D. Deeds 3/5, 2 R, RBI, HR (11), K

1B J. Fox 0/4, BB, R, 2 K

LF T. Colvin 2/5, R, 2 RBI, HR (14)

C M. Reed 2/5, 3B (1), K, PO (1B)

SS M. Camp 1/3, HBP

SP G. Johnson 3.2 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 2/4 K/BB, WP, 3-6 GO-FO

 

Daytona PPD: Wet grounds.

 

Peoria with an off day.

 

Boise won 3-2 in the 11th inning Box Score

 

LF D. Macias 2/4

CF D. Rundle 0/5, RBI, 2 K

3B J. Vitters 0/5, RBI, 2 K, E (9, fielding)

1B R. Keedy 0/5, 2 K

SS R. Flaherty 2/5, 2 2B (15)

RF K. Burke 2/4, BB, R, RBI, 2B (14), HR (6), K, Assist (2B)

C M. Brenly 2/4, 2B (9)

2B M. Gonzalez 0/2, 2 BB, R, K, HBP

SP J. Beliveau 3.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 6/2 K/BB, HR, 1-4 GO-FO

RP D. Cales 3 scoreless, 1 H, 4/1 K/BB, WP, 3-2 GO

RP B. O'Donnell 1 perfect, 1/0 K/BB, 1-1 GO-FO

 

AZL Cubs lost 8-1 Box Score

 

3B G. Matheus 0/4, E (3, throw)

2B V. Watkins 1/3, BB, 2 K, E (3, throw)

SS S. Castro 1/4, 2B (8), 2 K

RF Not Jacque Jones 0/3, K

PH J. Lake 0/1, K

DH M. Cerda 0/1, 2 BB, R, K

LF K. Soto 0/2, BB, K

LF B. Jost 0/0, BB

1B J. Contreras 1/4, RBI

C A. Sosa 0/3, 2 K

CF T. Campana 1/3, K

SP D. Nunez 3 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 2 ER, 3/0 K/BB, 2 HBP, 2-4 GO-FO

RP C. Huseby 3 scoreless, 2 H, 1/4 K/BB, 3-4 GO-FO

RP T. Matchulat 2 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 3/3 K/BB, 2-1 GO-FO

RP T. Mitchell 1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 3/2 K/BB

 

DSL Cubs 1 won 6-1 Box Score

 

DSL Cubs 2 won 7-3 Box Score

[Guest]

Probable Starters:

 

Iowa: RHP Mike Burns (8-10, 4.38 ERA, 117 IP, 91 K/20 BB)

Tennessee: RHP Grant Johnson (2-6, 5.82 ERA, 65 IP, 36 K/24 BB)

Daytona: RHP Marcos Mateo (5-3, 3.02 ERA, 95.1 IP, 80 K/34 BB)

Boise: LHP Jeff Beliveau (2-1, 3.65 ERA, 24.2 IP, 33 K/20 BB)

Mesa: RHP Chris Huseby (1-1, 81.00 ERA, 10 IP, 7 K/11 BB)

DSL Cubs 1: RHP Hector Mayora (3-2, 1.61 ERA, 50.1 IP, 59 K/17 BB)

DSL Cubs 2: RHP Ramon Reyes (2-3, 1.57 ERA, 63 IP, 74 K/15 BB)

[Rob]

Isn't Vitters chasing the NWL hit-streak record?

[Guest]

Isn't Vitters chasing the NWL hit-streak record?

 

Yes. If he gets a hit today, he ties the record of 26 games.

[Rob]

Navin (Pasadena, CA): Cubs 9th rounder Jay Jackson has 70 strikeouts and 13 walks in 45 innings at 3 levels (the highest being the FSL). What type of prospect is he and how excited should I be?

 

Kevin Goldstein: In all seriousness, get a little excited. He's showing above average velocity, breaking stuff and command, and people are wondering how he lasted until the 9th round. Total stud? No. But a way better prospect than where he was drafted.

 

Good work.

[Guest]

Navin (Pasadena, CA): Cubs 9th rounder Jay Jackson has 70 strikeouts and 13 walks in 45 innings at 3 levels (the highest being the FSL). What type of prospect is he and how excited should I be?

 

Kevin Goldstein: In all seriousness, get a little excited. He's showing above average velocity, breaking stuff and command, and people are wondering how he lasted until the 9th round. Total stud? No. But a way better prospect than where he was drafted.

 

Good work.

 

Thanks.

[RammyFanny]

About time they said something about Jay.

[Guest]

GLaDOS (Aperture Science): This cake is great. It's so delicious and moist... by the way, Josh Vitters is attempting to tie the NWL record with a 26 game hitting streak today. How is he not getting talked about?

 

Kevin Goldstein: He's a stud, he can really hit. There, how's that? Seriously though, and I said this before he was drafted. You know who Vitters kind of reminds me of? Howie Kendrick with a little more pop.

[Rob]

I had to work a little harder and drop a Portal reference to get that one in.

[Guest]

I thought that might have been you.

[Rob]

I have no scruples. I steal your research without thinking twice about it, and I impersonate a malevolent AI talking about cake to coerce Goldstein into talking about Vitters.

 

And I have no qualms with any of this.

[CubinNY]

GLaDOS (Aperture Science): This cake is great. It's so delicious and moist... by the way, Josh Vitters is attempting to tie the NWL record with a 26 game hitting streak today. How is he not getting talked about?

 

Kevin Goldstein: He's a stud, he can really hit. There, how's that? Seriously though, and I said this before he was drafted. You know who Vitters kind of reminds me of? Howie Kendrick with a little more pop.

 

Is that good?

[Rob]

GLaDOS (Aperture Science): This cake is great. It's so delicious and moist... by the way, Josh Vitters is attempting to tie the NWL record with a 26 game hitting streak today. How is he not getting talked about?

 

Kevin Goldstein: He's a stud, he can really hit. There, how's that? Seriously though, and I said this before he was drafted. You know who Vitters kind of reminds me of? Howie Kendrick with a little more pop.

 

Is that good?

 

Yes... just so long as Vitters doesn't have the same injury problems.

 

Remember, Aramis Ramirez has essentially been Howie Kenrick with more pop.

[CubinNY]

GLaDOS (Aperture Science): This cake is great. It's so delicious and moist... by the way, Josh Vitters is attempting to tie the NWL record with a 26 game hitting streak today. How is he not getting talked about?

 

Kevin Goldstein: He's a stud, he can really hit. There, how's that? Seriously though, and I said this before he was drafted. You know who Vitters kind of reminds me of? Howie Kendrick with a little more pop.

 

Is that good?

 

Yes... just so long as Vitters doesn't have the same injury problems.

 

Remember, Aramis Ramirez has essentially been Howie Kenrick with more pop.

I think O_O compared Vitters to Aramis. I'd love that. I worry about his defense though.

[Guest]

So far this season, his defense hasn't been nearly the problem the preseason and draft day scouting reports made it sound. He's committed 8 errors thus far in short season ball (yes, that's not the best way to judge defense but we don't have much to go off of when they're in the minors). In the videos I've seen, his glove has looked ok and his arm is strong. He does make mental mistakes and overthrows his share but nothing inordinate.

[roadster]

So far this season, his defense hasn't been nearly the problem the preseason and draft day scouting reports made it sound. He's committed 8 errors thus far in short season ball (yes, that's not the best way to judge defense but we don't have much to go off of when they're in the minors). In the videos I've seen, his glove has looked ok and his arm is strong. He does make mental mistakes and overthrows his share but nothing inordinate.

 

IIRC, coming up through the minors and early in his career with the Pirates, they considered Aram to be suspect at defense. Look where he is at now - some are already talking about a possible Gold Glove. Hopefully, Vitters will turn around his defense like he has his offense this year.

[Guest]

AZL Cubs outfielder Nelson Perez - who hasn't played since August 13 - is out with a hamstring injury.

[sneakypower]

Kendrick hit .360 in over 1500 minor league ABs

 

i still can't get over that

[Outshined_One]

GLaDOS (Aperture Science): This cake is great. It's so delicious and moist... by the way, Josh Vitters is attempting to tie the NWL record with a 26 game hitting streak today. How is he not getting talked about?

 

Kevin Goldstein: He's a stud, he can really hit. There, how's that? Seriously though, and I said this before he was drafted. You know who Vitters kind of reminds me of? Howie Kendrick with a little more pop.

 

Is that good?

 

Yes... just so long as Vitters doesn't have the same injury problems.

 

Remember, Aramis Ramirez has essentially been Howie Kenrick with more pop.

I think O_O compared Vitters to Aramis. I'd love that. I worry about his defense though.

 

I said Aramis Ramirez was Vitters' ceiling. Ramirez coming up through the Pirates' system was fairly comparable to Vitters (Link for Ramirez's minors numbers), although I think Ramirez has a smidge more power and Vitters might be a bit faster on the bases.

 

I don't know if Vitters will ever reach that ceiling (or if he'll surpass it), but the comp seems to work.

[Vanilla Ice]

Daytona: RHP Marcos Mateo (5-3, 3.02 ERA, 95.1 IP, 80 K/34 BB)

 

What is the scouting report on him? Those stats look pretty good. Any potential

[Guest]

Guy (Chicago): Ryan "Flash" Flaherty's position if/when he ultimately makes it to the Show?

 

Jim Callis: (3:07 PM ET ) Third base.

[Guest]

Daytona: RHP Marcos Mateo (5-3, 3.02 ERA, 95.1 IP, 80 K/34 BB)

 

What is the scouting report on him? Those stats look pretty good. Any potential

 

When the Cubs acquired him for Buck Coats, Tim Wilken said he had two average to plus pitches - a low 90s fastball and a slider. He comes at a 3/4 arm angle. His older cousin is former Cub Juan Mateo.

[Guest]

Daytona's game in Vero Beach was postponed due to wet grounds from Tropical Storm Fay. They'll have a doubleheader tomorrow evening at 5 pm EDT in Vero.

[imb]

Guy (Chicago): Ryan "Flash" Flaherty's position if/when he ultimately makes it to the Show?

 

Jim Callis: (3:07 PM ET ) Third base.

 

i really hoped that was gonna say second base

[Guest]

Guy (Chicago): Ryan "Flash" Flaherty's position if/when he ultimately makes it to the Show?

 

Jim Callis: (3:07 PM ET ) Third base.

 

i really hoped that was gonna say second base

 

Let's hope Goldstein is right. This was from last week:

 

Rob (Bloomington, IL): Ryan Flaherty already has 14 errors at SS. Is he a 2B or a 3B down the line?

 

Kevin Goldstein: I like Ryan Flaherty quite a bit, but if he had two errors I'd still tell you he's a second baseman in the end.