Minor League Discussion & Boxes 4-11-2009

[Outshined_One]

Box Scores

 

Iowa won 6-1 Box Score

 

CF S. Fuld 1/3, 2 BB, 2 R, K

1B J. Fox 3/5, R, 3 RBI, 3B (1)

RF B. Snyder 0/4, K

PH N. Spears 0/1

SP E. Caridad 5 scoreless, 5 H, 6/1 K/BB, 2-7 GO-FO

RP J. Berg 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0/1 K/BB, 4-2 GO-FO

 

Tennessee won 6-2 Box Score

 

2B T. Thomas 0/2, 2 BB, R, RBI, SB (1)

LF T. Wright 1/4, RBI, K, Assist (2B)

C W. Castillo 1/4, RBI, K

SS D. Barney 1/3, R, 2B (1), E (1, fielding)

CF B. Guyer 0/0, BB

SP C. Coleman 5 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 6/1 K/BB, 4-4 GO-FO

RP J. Papelbon 2.2 scoreless, 3 H, 3/0 K/BB, 2-3 GO-FO

RP B. Schlitter 1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1/0 K/BB, HR, 0-2 GO-FO

 

Daytona won 4-0 Box Score

 

2B N. Samson 1/3, BB, R, RBI

DH T. Colvin 0/4, 2 K

3B J. Rosa 1/1, R

3B M. Smith 1/2, K, CS (1)

LF M. Gonzalez 1/3, K

RF D. Rundle 0/3, 2 K

SS S. Castro 0/2, BB, R

SP D. McDaniel 6 scoreless, 1 H, 3/1 K/BB, 10-5 GO-FO

RP J. Muyco 1 perfect, 1/0 K/BB, 1-1 GO-FO

 

Peoria lost 3-2 in the 10th inning Box Score

 

2B J. Harrison 1/5, K, CS (2), 2 E (2, throw x 2)

SS J. Lake 1/3, 2 BB, 2B (2), 2 K

3B R. Flaherty 2/4, BB, R

DH N. Perez 0/5

1B R. Ridling 1/2, 2 BB, 2 RBI, 2B (2)

RF K. Burke 0/5, K

SP C. Archer 3 scoreless, 0 H, 5/4 K/BB, WP, 2-2 GO-FO

RP A. Cabrera 3.1 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 3/1 K/BB, 2-3 GO-FO

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

 

OVERALL: 3-1

[Guest]

Probable Starters

 

Iowa: RHP Esmailin Caridad (2008 at Daytona & Tenn: 13-7, 3.73 ERA, 152 IP, 88 K/38 BB)

Tennessee: RHP Casey Coleman (2008 at Boise, Peoria & Daytona: 4-3, 3.11 ERA, 55 IP, 44 K/13 BB)

Daytona: RHP Dan McDaniel (2008 at Mesa & Boise: 2-0, 1.56 ERA, 34.2 IP, 48 K/18 BB)

Peoria: RHP Chris Archer (2008 at Lake County: 4-8, 4.29 ERA, 115.1 IP, 106 K/84 BB)

[Guest]

Really seems like a very good day for pitching.

[CubColtPacer]

Really seems like a very good day for pitching.

 

That's just what I was thinking. None of the 4 have really gotten a lot of headlines, but they are intriguing prospects who could move up very quickly with good seasons. McDaniel especially is a guy that if he shows something in the rotation could with his stuff be one of the Cubs best pitching prospects. Archer could as well, but he would have to cut down that absurd number of walks from last season. Coleman and Caridad seem to have lesser upsides but if they could repeat what they have done recently at their new levels they could be just fine as cheap options in the majors for awhile.

[craig]

...None of the 4 have really gotten a lot of headlines, but they are intriguing prospects who could move up very quickly with good seasons. ....

 

Great point. In the BA book, Caridad is the only one of the four listed, in the 20's, but the other 3 are talented and interesting enough to be listed but outside the top 30's. (Archer was the 1st RHP behind the listed ones on BA's chart.) These are all the kinds of guys who are on the radar, and who could indeed elevate their status and the system's status with good results. Especially with the kinds of jumps several have had (Caridad opened in Daytona; Coleman was in Boise; McD Boise also). Any of these could be serious fast-risers. And each seems to have enough fastball to be serious major leaguers and well-regarded prospects.

 

I've been really happy with many of the early returns on the B/C prospects. Ascanio was not on BA's top 30; but he looked great at times in camp, and obviously had things working yesterday. If he can show consistency, I see no reason why he can't become a very effective major leaguer. Possibly even as a starter someday, if opportunity worked that way.

 

Chen did not make top-30. But he's in AA now, throws strikes, and gets groundouts. He's a guy who could become a major league prospect if he can show some consistency and if he has enough fastball. (I'm not sure whether he does or doesn't.)

 

Thomas is a fringy 20's-ish guy. If he hits, and reestablishes that his defense is actually good, he could rise. castro obviously vaulting to A+, and in two games looking like he can hit. BA projected him only for Boise. So if he can hit in A+ at 19, he could rise in status. And if Barney can show some hitting and OBP, with his defense he could look like a player. Spears could establish himself as a player.

 

Carpenter and Shafer are obviously really volatile prospects, could get some solid respect or could fall off the map. Both started well.

 

Mateo could become more serious. Two shutout innings are a nice start.

 

Leverton and Searle both could rise a lot and become respected prospects. Searle had the groundball stuff going, then gave up a flurry of hits. Hopefully he'll show that as 19-year-old in A+, that he's a groundball and strike machine. Leverton allowed one hit and had 4 K's; he had the one three-walk inning, but hopefully will show that his arm is big-league and that his command and consistency will end up pretty interesting.

 

I guess it's always that way, but it seems we've got so many guys who are on the bubble. And these last 5 or 7 days, finding out who goes where, and getting preliminary feedback on who can handle their promotions, it's really fun.

 

I know that Truffle doesn't care about hardly anybody, but i've got dozens of guys I'm very interested in and think might become useful major leaguers or useful trade chips.

[Vanilla Ice]

Going to watch the Bulls game tonight. Price and Wieters.

[TruffleShuffle]

Going to watch the Bulls game tonight. Price and Wieters.

 

i'm jealous

[craig]

All games in progress. Iowa 0-0 after 2, Tenn up 3-1 after 5, Daytona up 1-0 in 6th, Peoria 0-0 in 1st.

 

Early results on the pitchers:

*Caridad 3 K's and a single in the first 2 innings.

*Coleman 6K/1BB 1 run in five. Not overmatched tonight!

*McDaniel has allowed a single and a walk in his 6 shutout, GB-heavy innings. Not overmatched tonight!

-I've gotta figure McDaniel and Coleman must have been throwing strikes to get that many innings in under their 85-pitch pitch counts.

*Archer with some classic Archer through 3. He's got a no-hit shutout going. He walked the first three guys in the 3rd, then K'd the next couple and got a flyout. His pitch count will be exhausted soon if not already.

[Guest]

Coleman was solid for Tennessee - 5 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K.

 

McDaniel is at 5 scoreless with just 1 hit surrendered. He's out there for the 6th inning. Drew Rundle is still hitless for Daytona. Jovan Rosa was pulled after singling and scoring in the third inning (injured?).

 

Archer threw 3 scoreless and hitless innings with 5 Ks for Peoria. His control issues continue though with 4 BBs. Josh Vitters did not start.

[TruffleShuffle]

Really seems like a very good day for pitching.

 

That's just what I was thinking. None of the 4 have really gotten a lot of headlines, but they are intriguing prospects who could move up very quickly with good seasons. McDaniel especially is a guy that if he shows something in the rotation could with his stuff be one of the Cubs best pitching prospects. Archer could as well, but he would have to cut down that absurd number of walks from last season. Coleman and Caridad seem to have lesser upsides but if they could repeat what they have done recently at their new levels they could be just fine as cheap options in the majors for awhile.

 

i don't know much about mcdaniel, except that he had nice numbers (K-rate especially, and low BAA) as a reliever with boise. i guess the cubs must feel pretty good about him if they jumped him to daytona and put him in the rotation. his numbers are good so far tonight - 5.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K.

[TruffleShuffle]

3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 5 K for archer. pretty much the same as last year - nice K rate, not a lot of hits allowed, but poor control. vitters isn't in the lineup; junior lake is 1-2 with a run scored and flaherty has a single and a walk.

 

caridad so far: 3 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K.

[craig]

Really seems like a very good day for pitching.

...

i don't know much about mcdaniel, except that he had nice numbers (K-rate especially, and low BAA) as a reliever with boise. i guess the cubs must feel pretty good about him if they jumped him to daytona and put him in the rotation. his numbers are good so far tonight - 5.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K.

 

Here's what I remember, Truff: he was supposedly a candidate to be a high-round pick entering last year, but he had a lousy season in JC as a result of some non-arm injury that he pitched through. Came on strong in the JC playoffs. Was committed to I believe Oklahoma State and was expected to attend; I never heard what he got paid, but I've always assumed we must have paid him superslot. He's only 20, 6'3", so he's got plenty of time to develop and at 20 is pretty young for A+.

 

My friend passed on a scouting report from his friend who is a longterm Baltimore scout. He said that McDaniel throws in 90's and has saw him at at least 94 this camp; but that his fastball has a sharp break in toward RH hitters, so that his fastball is better than you'd guess based on velocity alone. Said he has a hard excellent slider that breaks away, so it sounds like the movement on these two pitches might be complementary. Said his change is a work in progress.

[UK1679666180]

Big and strong with an electric arm and an aggressive demeanor, McDaniel had just a mediocre 2008 season. He pumped steady 92-93 mph fastballs but got hit hard as his secondary stuff is below average and he struggled to command all his pitches. McDaniel, an Oklahoma State recruit, was primarily a position player in high school and had little inclination to develop a breaking ball or change, and they remain at an elementary stage of development.—

 

June draft report.

[Guest]

Really seems like a very good day for pitching.

...

i don't know much about mcdaniel, except that he had nice numbers (K-rate especially, and low BAA) as a reliever with boise. i guess the cubs must feel pretty good about him if they jumped him to daytona and put him in the rotation. his numbers are good so far tonight - 5.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K.

 

Here's what I remember, Truff: he was supposedly a candidate to be a high-round pick entering last year, but he had a lousy season in JC as a result of some non-arm injury that he pitched through. Came on strong in the JC playoffs. Was committed to I believe Oklahoma State and was expected to attend; I never heard what he got paid, but I've always assumed we must have paid him superslot. He's only 20, 6'3", so he's got plenty of time to develop and at 20 is pretty young for A+.

 

My friend passed on a scouting report from his friend who is a longterm Baltimore scout. He said that McDaniel throws in 90's and has saw him at at least 94 this camp; but that his fastball has a sharp break in toward RH hitters, so that his fastball is better than you'd guess based on velocity alone. Said he has a hard excellent slider that breaks away, so it sounds like the movement on these two pitches might be complementary. Said his change is a work in progress.

 

You're right, McDaniel got a $100,000 bonus as a 14th rounder.

[TruffleShuffle]

thanks guys. he didn't make the top 30 BA prospects, but was mentioned as a sleeper - all they said was "used his plus fastball/curve combo to dominate in his pro debut." sickels ranked him 13th and said "Lots of strikeouts and grounders at Boise. Command an issue. Could rank as high as 10th."

 

anyway, if he has nice velocity and sink on his fastball and also a solid breaking pitch, i'm glad they've got him in the rotation and will hopefully have him working on his change. sounds like a good guy to throw a little extra money at. i'll keep an eye on him.

[ChiefsVoice]

Coleman was solid for Tennessee - 5 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K.

 

McDaniel is at 5 scoreless with just 1 hit surrendered. He's out there for the 6th inning. Drew Rundle is still hitless for Daytona. Jovan Rosa was pulled after singling and scoring in the third inning (injured?).

 

Archer threw 3 scoreless and hitless innings with 5 Ks for Peoria. His control issues continue though with 4 BBs. Josh Vitters did not start.

 

Strained lower back for Vitters. Hopefully ready to go Monday (MWL off day Sunday) Happy Easter!!

[NCCubFan]

Going to watch the Bulls game tonight. Price and Wieters.

I went too. I was down the right field line past first base.

 

It's nice to have both AA and AAA baseball within an hour or less drive (especially when the AA team is in the same league as the Cubs' AA team).

[Little Slide Rooter]

-If Jake Fox keeps it up, he could earn himself a roster spot over the expendable Gathright. We already have an above average 4th outfielder in Johnson, so I wouldnt mind another righty bat on the bench.

 

-Papelbon has looked good the past few years. Im thinking its time to at least bump him up to Iowa and see what hes really made of, as the big league club could really use a solid loogy.

[Guest]

Coleman was solid for Tennessee - 5 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K.

 

McDaniel is at 5 scoreless with just 1 hit surrendered. He's out there for the 6th inning. Drew Rundle is still hitless for Daytona. Jovan Rosa was pulled after singling and scoring in the third inning (injured?).

 

Archer threw 3 scoreless and hitless innings with 5 Ks for Peoria. His control issues continue though with 4 BBs. Josh Vitters did not start.

 

Strained lower back for Vitters. Hopefully ready to go Monday (MWL off day Sunday) Happy Easter!!

 

I hope Vitters only misses one game, that sucks.

[Guest]

-Papelbon has looked good the past few years. Im thinking its time to at least bump him up to Iowa and see what hes really made of, as the big league club could really use a solid loogy.

 

I know you've been longing for Papelbon to get to AAA but the guy has thrown only 4 innings at AA in his career. Give him more than 2 appearances before he bumps up.

[Guest]

Daytona News-Journal[/url]"]"I just went with my sinker a lot of the times," McDaniel said. "My catcher, (Mark) Reed, was telling me that my sinker was working real well and sometimes I would shake (it off) and he would keep putting it down and going with it all night, and it got a lot of groundball outs."

 

...

 

A week shy of his 21st birthday, the 14th-round selection had good command and kept the Manatees' bats off balance.

 

"That's my first start ever in pro ball," McDaniel said. "My whole life I've always started so now I feel that I'm back to do what I always wanted to do."

 

...

 

With two outs and runners on first and third with Daytona (2-1) clinging to a 1-0 lead, Nathan Samson laid down a successful bunt, but a pair of throwing errors by the Manatees (1-2) allowed everyone to round the bases and give the hosts a 4-0 cushion.

 

"You saw one of the most bizarre plays you're ever going to see to bust the game open," Daytona Manager Buddy Bailey said. "People are going to remember that play for a long time. It's not too often that you're going to see three runs score on a bunt with two outs."

 

Peoria Journal-Star[/url]"]In his new role as the Cubs catching coordinator, Davis can focus almost exclusively on individual player development.

 

While Geovany Soto's injury has shown how thin the ranks are among players to step in behind the plate right away, at the lower levels the Cubs are stocked at catcher.

 

Former Chief Wellington Castillo is in Double-A Tennessee, but is still likely at least a season away from being ready to back up Soto. The Cubs also have Steve Clevenger in Tennessee and still down at extended spring training is Michael Brenly and Matt Cerda, two of last June's draft picks.

 

Brenly could join the Chiefs as early as this week. He was slated to be on the team coming out of spring training, but suffered a mild concussion when he was hit with a foul tip. Not taking any chances, the Cubs left him in extended for rehab.

 

"We've got some good young guys. They've got some work to do but there's potential there," Davis said. "That's the one thing that's really rewarding, is watching those guys progress."

 

That's Jody Davis, former Peoria manager.