Minor League Discussion & Boxes 5-06-2009

[Outshined_One]

Box Score

 

Iowa won 7-4 Box Score

 

CF S. Fuld 0/4

3B M. Camp 3/4, R, 2 RBI

LF J. Dubois 1/4, R, 3 RBI, HR (4)

RF B. Snyder 0/4, K

1B D. Deeds 1/3, BB, 2 R

PH J. Fox 0/0, HBP

SP J. Ascanio 5 scoreless, 3 H, 9/0 K/BB, 1-5 GO-FO

RP J. Stevens 2 scoreless, 1 H, 1/0 K/BB, 1-4 GO-FO

RP K. Hart 1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2-1 GO-FO

 

Tennessee PPD: Rain

 

Daytona lost 3-1 Box Score

 

CF T. Campana 1/3, BB, K

3B J. Opitz 0/4

LF T. Colvin 1/3, BB, R, K

1B R. Canzler 0/4, K

DH M. Gonzalez 1/4, 2B (4), K

RF D. Johnston 1/3, BB, RBI, 2B (2), CS (2), PO (1B)

2B N. Samson 2/4, K

SS S. Castro 0/2, BB, K

SP A. Cashner 3 scoreless, 1 H, 2/2 K/BB, 4-2 GO-FO

RP A. Alburquerque 1.2 scoreless, 0 H, 0/2 K/BB, 3-2 GO-FO

Weird Note: Catcher Mark Reed had an unassisted double play. :-s

 

Peoria won 8-6 Box Score

 

LF J. Harrison 3/5, R, 2B (8), CS (6)

2B R. Flaherty 2/5, 2 R, RBI, 2 2B (6), SB (3)

1B R. Ridling 2/4, BB, R, RBI, K

CF K. Burke 2/4, R, RBI, 2B (11)

3B J. Vitters 3/5, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2B (4), HR (3)

RF N. Perez 0/4, RBI, K, E (4, fielding)

SS J. Lake 1/4, R, RBI, HR (1)

SP M. Hatley 3 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 5/1 K/BB, 2 HR, 3-1 GO-FO

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

RP C. Huseby 2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 3/1 K/BB, 0-3 GO-FO

RP R. Buchter 3 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 4/0 K/BB, 3-2 GO-FO

 

OVERALL: 2-1

[Outshined_One]

Yeesh, another slate of annoyingly early games.

[Guest]

Probable Starters

 

Iowa: RHP Jose Ascanio (0-1, 1.25 ERA, 21.2 IP, 17 K/7 BB)

Tennessee: RHP Casey Coleman (3-1, 2.74 ERA, 23 IP, 18 K/7 BB)

Daytona: RHP Andrew Cashner (0-0, 1.50 ERA, 6 IP, 4 K/3 BB)

Peoria: RHP Marcus Hatley (1-1, 4.24 ERA, 17 IP, 9 K/6 BB)

[Ryno is God 23]

How many will they let Cashner throw today?

[Guest]

How many will they let Cashner throw today?

 

Probably about 60 pitches. His final line: 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K, 4 GO-2 FO.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Ascanio, Coleman, and Cashner, fun pitching day.

 

They let Cashner go 3 innings, he gave up a single, 2 walks, and struck out 2, with a 4-2 GO-FO.

 

Coleman and Tennessee are rain delayed.

 

And Peoria is having a nice offensive day, with 7 runs thru 4. Vitters is 2 for 3 with a double(he's now slugging .470), Burke is 2 for 2 with a double and a walk, Flaherty is 2 for 3 with a pair of doubles, and Junior Lake is 1 for 2 with his first home run.

[Guest]

Junior Lake hit his first full-season HR today. He's up to .294/.294/.471 in his last 10 games (including today's so far). Josh Vitters is 2/3 with a double. After struggling for a little while, it looks like Ryan Flaherty is getting going again. He's 2/3 with 2 doubles. This is all through 4 in the Peoria game.

 

Hatley got beat up in the 3rd inning, giving up 4 runs - all runs on 2-run HRs. He did look good outside the 3rd and racked up the Ks: 3 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 2 HR.

[CubColtPacer]

Vitters has really got the power going now. Another home run to add to his total, making him 3 for 4 for the day with a home run, a double, and a single.

[Guest]

Huseby finally walked someone in 2009. Not a bad walk-free streak (8.2 innings to start the season) after his bout of Rich Hill disease last summer.

 

Vitters!!

[Guest]

Nathan described Vitters' home run as a "monster shot."

[Guest]

Another rain out for the Smokies.

[Guest]

Tyler Colvin: .274/.367/.381/.748, 12 BB, 17 K.

 

The power isn't good but the patience continues to surprise (even if it's only high-A).

[Little Slide Rooter]

Is The Creature any better of a fielder than Fox, because hes on a bit of a tear himself. his avg. is up to .400

[Guest]

Wow, Ascanio is dealing. 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K on 58 pitches.

[CubColtPacer]

Ascanio gives up a single in the 5th but also strikes out the side. 9 K's on 76 pitches through 5.

 

I have to keep reminding myself that he only just turned 24 and that he very well could be developing right now. The years he has controlled the walks he has been very good (especially at 22 in AA although that was as a reliever).

[Guest]

You know, I thought the whole stretching Ascanio out as a starter was just to get him extra work (a la Maestri, Lambert and Papelbon this season and last) but his success at AAA has me thinking he might be a viable big league starter. I mean, at AA or AAA, you really can't get away with being a starter if you only have 1 pitch working.

 

26.2 IP, 18 H, 7 BB, 26 K, 1.01 ERA. Let's see if he can keep this up as he gets stretched out closer to 100 pitches.

[Keener98]

You know, I thought the whole stretching Ascanio out as a starter was just to get him extra work (a la Maestri, Lambert and Papelbon this season and last) but his success at AAA has me thinking he might be a viable big league starter. I mean, at AA or AAA, you really can't get away with being a starter if you only have 1 pitch working.

 

26.2 IP, 18 H, 7 BB, 26 K, 1.01 ERA. Let's see if he can keep this up as he gets stretched out closer to 100 pitches.

 

 

I understand the excitement of Ascanio as a starter, but I really wish hed get the callup to the bullpen and send Shark down.

[YearofDaCubs]

You know, I thought the whole stretching Ascanio out as a starter was just to get him extra work (a la Maestri, Lambert and Papelbon this season and last) but his success at AAA has me thinking he might be a viable big league starter. I mean, at AA or AAA, you really can't get away with being a starter if you only have 1 pitch working.

 

26.2 IP, 18 H, 7 BB, 26 K, 1.01 ERA. Let's see if he can keep this up as he gets stretched out closer to 100 pitches.

 

 

I understand the excitement of Ascanio as a starter, but I really wish hed get the callup to the bullpen and send Shark down.

I was thinking the same thing.

[Guest]

That I agree with.

 

Samardzija needs as many AAA innings as possible.

[craig]

I agree that Samardz should go down and learn how to pitch. Last year he put together 3-6 good weeks before his recall, and then stayed effective for a couple of weeks before struggling in September. This year he was lousy in spring, lousy his first Iowa start, then after only two good outings he was up and now he's struggling again. I'd like to see him go back and put together months of success if possible.

 

I admit I'd like to see Ascanio get several months to lock in that it's not just a sample-size fluke, but that he is really a good pitcher. I think it's possible; he just turned 24 on Saturday, and after some injuries and pitching relief he really hasn't thrown all that many pro innings. I wouldn't mind letting him lock into his success for 3 months and 100 innings instead of a few weeks and 25 innings.

 

That's probably unrealistic and I suppose one of them needs to be up. To some degree I'd rather have Ascanio stay down; I think he'll be out of options after this season, so I want him to be able to lock in and show enough at Iowa so that when he comes up, he doesn't lose it all with one bad game or one week in which he doesn't get used. I want him to show so much at Iowa so that it will be hard to give him away.

 

Again, maybe it is too hard to have them both down at Iowa. Some possibles: bring up Waddel or Stevens or Fox instead. Chad Fox has done pretty well, actually. And/or if Z can come back after only a few weeks, and if Wells does well in his window of opportunity, perhaps Wells could just stay.

[Little Slide Rooter]

You know, I thought the whole stretching Ascanio out as a starter was just to get him extra work (a la Maestri, Lambert and Papelbon this season and last) but his success at AAA has me thinking he might be a viable big league starter. I mean, at AA or AAA, you really can't get away with being a starter if you only have 1 pitch working.

 

26.2 IP, 18 H, 7 BB, 26 K, 1.01 ERA. Let's see if he can keep this up as he gets stretched out closer to 100 pitches.

 

 

I understand the excitement of Ascanio as a starter, but I really wish hed get the callup to the bullpen and send Shark down.

 

Even if they want to keep Ascanio as a starter in Iowa, Id be just as happy with Fox or Stevens replacing Shark.

[Guest]

Down in Mesa, RHP Su-Min Jung looked good in his start at extended:

 

Arizona Phil @ TCR[/url]"]19-year old Korean RHP Su-Min Jung got the start for the Cubs and worked three strong innings, mixing a plus-fastball with an advanced curve and change. He got a lot of swings & misses.

 

Here is the abridged box score (Cubs players only):

 

LINEUP:

1. Francisco Guzman, CF: 1-4 (6-3, 1B, FC, K- 1 R)

2. Logan Watkins, SS: 2-4 (1B, 5-3, 1B, E-4 - 1 R, 1 PO)

3. Jae-Hoon Ha, LF: 2-4 (1B, 3-U, 4-3, 1B - 1 R)

4. John Contreras, 3B: 2-4 (1B, L-8, K, 1B - 1 R, 1 RBI)

5. Jericho Jones, DH: 0-3 (K, BB, K, P-3)

6. Dwayne Kemp, 2B: 1-4 (5-3, F-9, F-9 1B - 1 R)

7. Chris Weimer, 1B: 2-4 (F-8, K, 2B, 3B - 1 R, 3 RBI)

8. Jesus Morelli, RF: 0-4 (4-3, L-4, 4-3, K+WP - 1 SB)

9. Jose Guevara, C: 1-4 (4-3, 2B, K, K)

 

PITCHERS:

1. Su-Min Jung - 3.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 3 K, 4/2 GO/FO

2. Toby Matchulat - 2.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 3 K, 1 HR, 1 WP, 2/1 GO/FO

3. Cody Hams - 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 0 K, 1 WP, 2/2 GO/FO

4. Marcos Perez: 1.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 2 K, 1 WP, 2/0 GO/FO

[Outshined_One]

That I agree with.

 

Samardzija needs as many AAA innings as possible.

 

Looks like you got your wish today.

[Outshined_One]

Also, Vince Perkins got booted upstairs to AAA from AA. He's 27 years old, but apparently his velocity has looked very good down in AA. If he can string together some strong outings, he'll join the list of "intriguing bullpen guys who may or may not end up in Lou's doghouse some day because of control issues" in Iowa.

[Guest]

Also, Vince Perkins got booted upstairs to AAA from AA. He's 27 years old, but apparently his velocity has looked very good down in AA. If he can string together some strong outings, he'll join the list of "intriguing bullpen guys who may or may not end up in Lou's doghouse some day because of control issues" in Iowa.

 

Good.

 

I was surprised to read how hard he throws.