Minor League Discussion & Boxes 6-21-2009

[Outshined_One]

Box Scores

 

Iowa won 7-0 Box Score

 

CF S. Fuld 2/5, R, RBI, SB (18)

SS M. Camp 1/4, BB, R

1B B. Scales 1/5, R, 2 K, SB (3)

LF J. Dubois 1/4, RBI, K, HBP

C S. Clevenger 2/3, BB, 3 RBI, K, SB (1), CS (1)

3B N. Spears 1/3, BB, R

PH C. Robinson 0/0, RBI

SP J. Russell 3 scoreless, 3 H, 1/0 K/BB, 4-4 GO-FO

RP J. Berg 2 scoreless, 0 H, 0/3 K/BB, WP, 4-2 GO-FO

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

RP N. Cotts 2 scoreless, 1 H, 2/0 K/BB, 1-3 GO-FO

 

Tennessee won 8-6 Box Score

 

2B T. Thomas 2/5, RBI, 3 K

SS J. Mota 2/5, 3 K

RF D. Deeds 1/3, 2B (3), K, HBP

CF/LF T. Colvin 1/4, R, 3B (1)

2B M. Smith 2/4, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 HR (5)

LF R. Canzler 1/2, BB, 2 R, RBI, HR (4)

PH D. Barney 0/0, RBI

C W. Castillo 1/3, BB, 2 R, 3 RBI, HR (6), K

SP C. Lambert 5 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 2/0 K/BB, WP, 3-10 GO-FO

 

Daytona with the day off

 

Peoria lost 7-1 Box Score

 

2B D. Macias 1/5, E (5, throw)

LF D. Rundle 0/2, BB, R, 2 K

3B J. Vitters 0/4

CF K. Burke 1/2, 2 BB

1B R. Ridling 0/3, BB, K

SS R. Flaherty 0/3, RBI

RF N. Perez 1/4, 2 K

C M. Brenly 3/4

SP A. Shafer 4.1 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 5/1 K/BB, HR, 4-4 GO-FO

RP J. Beliveau 4.2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 7/1 K/BB, 2-5 GO-FO

 

Boise lost 12-7 Box Score

 

SS HJ Lee 2/4, 2 R, 2B (1), RBI, BB, 2 K

2B L. Watkins 1/4, R, 3B (1), RBI, E (2, fielding)

RF JH Ha 2/5, R, RBI, CS (1), OF assist at third base

C M. Cerda 0/3, RBI, BB, PB (2)

LF C. Andersen 3/4, R, 2B (2), RBI, K

3B G. Matheus 3/4, R, RBI, K, CS (2)

CF J. Valdez 1/4, R, 2B (1), K, E (2, fielding)

SP R. Hernandez 5 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 5-5 GO-FO

RP J. Lansford 2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 3-1 GO-FO, E (1, throwing), balk - pro debut as a pitcher

RP Y. Gonzalez 1.1 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 1-0 GO-FO, WP

 

AZL Cubs score 3 in the 9th to win 6-5 Box Score

 

3B D. Kemp 2/5, 3B (1), 2 RBI - walk off RBI single

1B C. Weimer 2/3, HBP, CS (1), PO - pro debut

DH J. Bour 0/4, 3 K - pro debut

RF J. Morelli 2/3, HBP, CS (1), PO, OF assist at third base

2B D. Fitzgerald 4/4, 2 2B (2), SB (1) - pro debut

LF S. Williams 1/4, K - pro debut

SS R. Bautista 2/4, 2 R, 3 RBI, 3 SB (3), E (1, throw)

SP T. Matchulat 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K, 1 HBP, 7-1 GO-FO

RP C. Hams 2 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 2 HBP, 1-1 GO-FO, 2 balks, 2 E (pickoff x 2) - pro debut

 

Both DSL teams with the day off

 

OVERALL: 3-2

[Guest]

Probable Starters

 

Iowa: RHP Kevin Hart (3-3, 3.10 ERA, 52. IP, 57 K/20 BB)

Tennessee: LHP Casey Lambert (4-5, 3.65 ERA, 61.2 IP, 27 K/17 BB)

Peoria: RHP Aaron Shafer (5-3, 4.73 ERA, 45.2 IP, 28 K/14 BB)

Boise: RHP Robert Hernandez (2008 at Peoria: 2-4, 5.14 ERA, 77 IP, 60 K/27 BB)

Mesa: No idea

[Guest]

With Kevin Hart getting promoted, James Russell got the spot start and went 3 scoreless.

 

Peoria delayed by wet grounds.

[Guest]

8th rounder Robert Whitenack was placed on the Boise roster today.

 

10th rounder 3B Charles Thomas, 11th rounder LHP John Mincone, 17th rounder RHP Barrett Dail, 18th rounder C Matt Williams, 22nd rounder 2B Derrick Fitzgerald, 25th rounder 1B Justin Bour, 26th rounder RHP Steven Grife, 27th rounder RHP Corey Martin, 29th rounder RHP Tim Clubb and 41st rounder RHP Jacob Schmidt were all assigned to Mesa.

 

Ditto IF Dwayne Kemp.

[Guest]

Ryan Searle's "cockiness" hasn't helped him make too many friends in the Daytona clubhouse: http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/Sports/Headlines/sptCUBS01062009.htm

[TruffleShuffle]

i think the alien that possessed vitters' body in may has departed.

[Guest]

I'm going to assume the guy OPSing .500 for a month is the alien.

[TruffleShuffle]

I'm going to assume the guy OPSing .500 for a month is the alien.

 

they're both outliers.

[Cubswin11]

With the type of approach Vitters has I expect him to be extremely streaky at the plate. I am not to worried it comes with the territory of players who have approaches like Vitters. It's tough to stay consistently hot when you are talking literally zero BB and either always putting the ball in play or striking out.

[Guest]

Marquez Smith (4) and Welington Castillo (6) have hit HRs for Tennessee thus far in the 2nd. Castillo's HR gets him back over the Mendoza line.

[Tryptamine]

Marquez Smith (4) and Welington Castillo (6) have hit HRs for Tennessee thus far in the 2nd. Castillo's HR gets him back over the Mendoza line.

 

Smith goes yard again (5).

[Little Slide Rooter]

With Kevin Hart getting promoted, James Russell got the spot start and went 3 scoreless.

 

Peoria delayed by wet grounds.

 

A. Whose James Russell? 23 is way too young for an I Cub.

B. I had no idea Justin Berg was still with the organization.

[Guest]

With Kevin Hart getting promoted, James Russell got the spot start and went 3 scoreless.

 

Peoria delayed by wet grounds.

 

A. Whose James Russell? 23 is way too young for an I Cub.

B. I had no idea Justin Berg was still with the organization.

 

A. Russell was a 14th rounder in 2007 out of Texas who got over-slot money. Somewhat interesting guy but he's struggled as a starter at AA.

B. Berg is on the 40-man roster.

[Guest]

http://boisehawks.tv/

 

Boise home games are still free if you go there.

 

---

 

Lee had a single in the first. Ha flew out to RF but had a nice at bat where he kept fouling stuff off after falling behind 0-2.

 

Hernandez: 2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 3 GO-0 FO. Both XBH he gave up were wind-aided: the first might have been a single but due to the wind, it turned into a double (runner thrown out at third by Ha but it scored the guy who walked) and the second looked like a fly to CF but ended up being a deep triple.

[Guest]

Bottom 3rd:

 

Jose Valdez doubled.

Hak-Ju Lee has a great eye. Took 2 questionable strikes, then took the next 4 for a walk. He's now 4/6 with a BB on the season.

Now Logan Watkins bunts and everyone is safe when they tried to get Valdez at third.

Jae-Hoon Ha up with the bases loaded and he gets an RBI single. 1-1 tie game.

Matt Cerda then lines one off the pitcher to the first baseman for an out, gets an RBI fielders choice but he should have had more. Pitcher looks ok. Lee scores to make it 2-1 Boise.

Greg Rohan strikes out on a check swing. Two outs.

Cliff Andersen goes the other way to LF for a 2-RBI single. Watkins and Ha scored, Andersen takes 2nd on the throw. 4-1 Boise.

George Matheus RBI single. Andersen limps in to score and make it 5-1 Boise. Matheus takes 2nd on the throw.

Sean Hoorelbeke grounds out to end the inning.

 

Hernandez: 3 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 3 GO-2 FO.

[Guest]

Mesa's starting lineup:

 

CF Francisco Guzman

3B Dwayne Kemp

1B Chris Weimer

DH Justin Bour

RF Jesus Morelli

C Juan Medina

2B Derrick Fitzgerald

LF Sean Williams

SS Robert Bautista

P Toby Matchulat

 

According to the MiLB.com box score, they're playing with no umps. :)

[Guest]

Jeff Beliveau with another solid outing for Peoria today - 4.2 relief innings with 3 H, 2 ER, 1 BB and 7 K.

 

On the season: 49 IP, 39 H, 18 ER, 25 BB, 64 K, 3.31 ERA. Maybe he and James Leverton should swap places.

[Guest]

Lee strikes out in his third at bat. 1/2 with a single BB and a K. Jae-Hoon Ha with another single just now. He's 2/3 with 2 singles. Hernandez (likely) final line: 5 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 5 GO-5 FO.

 

In Mesa, Toby Matchulat (who was the last cut from Boise's roster this season and an 11th round pick in 2008): 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K, 7 GO-1 FO. Mesa has 3 hits - singles from Chris Weimer, Jesus Morelli and Derrick Fitzgerald.

[Guest]

Josh Lansford is making his pitching debut and has struggled so far - single, balk, RBI double, single thus far. Oof, now a comebacker to Lansford but he throws the ball away going for a double play - sadly, Lansford had a chance at getting the guy at home but didn't even check him. But then Lansford works out of it with a sacrifice bunt, lineout to second base and then a 4-3 ground out.

 

Boise leads it 5-3 midway through the 6th.

[Guest]

Cerda with a passed ball in the 8th, then Perconte with a wild pitch but it's all in a driving rain storm so that might have affected Cerda's catcher defense.

 

After Perconte was ineffective, Yohan Gonzalez came in and he's having all sorts of control problems. Yeesh.

[Guest]

In Mesa, Toby Matchulat (who was the last cut from Boise's roster this season and an 11th round pick in 2008): 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K, 7 GO-1 FO. Mesa has 3 hits - singles from Chris Weimer, Jesus Morelli and Derrick Fitzgerald.

 

This was Matchulat's final line. Aussie Cody Hams made his pro debut following Matchulat and didn't fare as well - 2 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 2 HBP.

[craig]

The Mesa roster shows a scad of guys have signed.

[craig]

...

In Mesa, Toby Matchulat (who was the last cut from Boise's roster this season and an 11th round pick in 2008): 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K, 7 GO-1 FO. Mesa has 3 hits - singles from Chris Weimer, Jesus Morelli and Derrick Fitzgerald.

 

Interesting. My recall was that he supposedly had a promising arm when drafted, but was very wild. 4K/0BB/4IP is a change from a guy who walked 29 guys in 18 innings last year.

[Little Slide Rooter]

With Kevin Hart getting promoted, James Russell got the spot start and went 3 scoreless.

 

Peoria delayed by wet grounds.

 

A. Whose James Russell? 23 is way too young for an I Cub.

B. I had no idea Justin Berg was still with the organization.

 

A. Russell was a 14th rounder in 2007 out of Texas who got over-slot money. Somewhat interesting guy but he's struggled as a starter at AA.

B. Berg is on the 40-man roster.

 

Berg is only 25 too. I would have thought he was near 30 by now.

[Guest]

Des Moines Register[/url]"]Russell said manager Bobby Dickerson asked him after Saturday's game if he could start, and he was more than ready.

 

"I felt pretty good," he said. "I had two days off, so I felt somewhat fresh. I could have gone more, but all they needed was three innings, and that's fine."

 

...

 

"He [steve Clevenger] hit the ball early, he just didn't get hits," Dickerson said. "Now, he's finding some holes. The best at-bat was the one with the bases loaded. He got a line-drive single to center and it was a quality at-bat. He fouled off some pitches, got a pitch away and hit it up the middle."

 

Clevenger said he is handling outside pitches better.

 

"I'm feeling a lot more comfortable," Clevenger said. "Guys here know how to pitch and hit their spots. You have to be patient and get a good pitch to hit."

 

Arizona Phil @ TCR[/url]"]Dwayne Kemp ripped an RBI single to drove-in Robert Bautista with the game-wining run, as the AZL Cubs rallied with three runs in the bottom of the 9th to defeat the AZL Angels 6-5 in Arizona League (AZL) Opening Day action at Fitch Park on Sunday. Kemp also clubbed an RBI triple earlier in the game, and Bautista drove in three runs with a squeeze bunt, a FC grounder, and a single, while also stealing three bases.

 

20-year old 2B D. J. Fitzgerald had a memoraable pro debut, going 4-4 with two doubles, two runs scored, and a stolen base. The Cubs 22nd round pick in the 2009 Rule 4 Draft (First-Year Player Draft) out of Dyersburg State CC, "DJ Fitz" was a star baseball player at Ocean Lakes HS in Virginia Beach, VA. He signed an NLI with Georgia Southern, but ended up at a Tennessee JC instead.

 

20-year old RHP Toby Matchulat got the start for the AZL Cubs, and was stellar, throwing four shutout innings (7/1 GO/FO), while allowing just two harmless singles and no walks, with four strikeouts. Matchulat just missed making the Boise Opening Day roster, after having an impressive Extended Spring Training at Fitch Park. An 11th round pick out of Wabash Valley JC in 2008, the lanky 6'5 right-hander struggled big-time with his command in his pro debut last year (29 BB in 18.2 IP), but he has really turned it around this year. Kudos to AZL Cubs Pitching Coach Rick Tronerud and Minor Leagure Pitching Coordinator Mark Riggins for helping Matchulat find a better arm slot and a more consistent release point.

 

19-year old Australian LHP Cody Hams followed Matchulat to the mound, and had a tough couple of innings. He threw the ball OK, but was adversely affected by his own goof-ups, including two hit batsmen, two balks, two errant pick-off throws, and a walk. Of course, Hams has been pitching for only two years (he was a star cricket player in high school, and he had never even seen a baseball game until he attended the MLB Australian Academy in 2007), so he probably is bound to have a longer learning curve than most of the other youngsters at Fitch Park. The 6'5 Hams has a pitching form very similar to that of a Rich Hill or a Sean Marshall.