Minor League Discussion & Boxes 8-5-2009

[Donbedouin]

Jason Waddell has been released from Iowa.

 

According to Sullivan it was due to "violating team regulations". He was probably gonna get released this offseason anyway, to clear 40-man space.

[bubblesdachimp]

Hak-Ju has two singles today.. Our Shortstops excite me. By my count we have at least four legit ones in DJ, Castro, Hak, and Flahery. Exciting

Darwin Barney is probably a Theriot-level player, as well.

 

Then there are Logan Watkins and Junior Lake, too.

 

I am much more intrigued by Logan then Junior. I know the tools and everything are there but he K's a reeeeeal lot.. But it is still nice to have people that are toolsy and have a chance to turn out.

[Little Slide Rooter]

RP J. Gaub 1 scoreless, 1 H, 2/0 K/BB

RP B. Parker 2 perfect, 1/0 K/BB, 4-1 GO-FO

 

We have these guys who seem to do this on a regular basis, meanwhile, we have Samardzjia taking up a bullpen spot while he should be in Iowa working on his stuff.

[toonsterwu]

Hak-Ju has two singles today.. Our Shortstops excite me. By my count we have at least four legit ones in DJ, Castro, Hak, and Flahery. Exciting

Darwin Barney is probably a Theriot-level player, as well.

 

Then there are Logan Watkins and Junior Lake, too.

 

I'll be surprised if Watkins gets tried at shortstop. He's on pace with Hak-ju Lee (I believe they'll be brought up together as much as possible), with Flaherty/LeMahieu/Lake all immediately ahead of him that may get time at short. Just not sold that they'll shift him to short. If he moves, I think it's to CF, but I imagine they'll keep the Watkins/Lee DP combo together for at least next year, probably in Peoria (although I guess there's a part of me that wouldn't be all that stunned if they jumped Lee to Daytona, but I'm not expecting it - while it isn't a factor, I think that having several other Koreans around would likely help Lee a tiny bit, and all the other guys are probably, at best, slated for Peoria).

[toonsterwu]

Jason Waddell has been released from Iowa.

 

According to Sullivan it was due to "violating team regulations". He was probably gonna get released this offseason anyway, to clear 40-man space.

 

He was a decent arm, but we have enough options, including a somewhat underrated Ruhlman, the recently moved up Sasser, and a A+ arm that I'm forgetting right now, along with Gaub/Russell/Papelbon/Lambert.

[Guest]

Knoxville News-Sentinel[/url]"]Cubs general manager Jim Hendry was at Smokies Park on Monday when Cashner limited the Carolina Mudcats to an unearned run and two hits over six innings with eight strikeouts. It was Hendry's first glimpse of the former Texas Christian University star since spring training.

 

"Very impressed," Hendry said. "We've been impressed with him since the day we drafted him. I remember Timmy Wilken, our scouting director, in that draft room that day hoping he'd get to 19. I think Timmy had him seventh or eighth in the country so we were sweating out that 15th through 18th pick. Timmy thought we had a realistic chance to get him but we weren't sure."

 

Cashner fastball topped out at 97 mph and he has a nasty high-80s breaking ball to complement his heater. He is still learning not to telegraph his change-up by slowing down his delivery.

 

"The injury in big league camp set him back a couple of months," Hendry said. "He's got the whole package - great delivery, good stuff - and he can go either way."

 

"He's got power stuff," Hendry said of Cashner. "He was great in the closer's role at TCU and he is learning how to pitch. He adapted and he's a can't-miss guy."

 

Scouts from other teams agree.

 

Said one, who was willing to share his report if granted anonymity: "I just wrote that he is the type of pitcher who could be in the big leagues in September and never be back down again."

[jersey cubs fan]

Timmy?

 

 

The Cubs seem to like getting guys acclimated to the big leagues via the bullpen. It would not surprise me in the least if they put Cashner in there to end this year hoping he'd stick for the playoffs.

[Guest]

Timmy?

 

 

The Cubs seem to like getting guys acclimated to the big leagues via the bullpen. It would not surprise me in the least if they put Cashner in there to end this year hoping he'd stick for the playoffs.

It wouldn't be the worst thing in the world they could pick up from Earl Weaver, who believed in breaking pitchers into the big leagues that way.

[Guest]

sasser to AA

 

Casey Lambert to AAA.

[Little Slide Rooter]

sasser to AA

 

Casey Lambert to AAA.

 

Why Lambert over Coleman? I suppose it depends on whether they want a starter or reielver, lefty or righty.

[Guest]

sasser to AA

 

Casey Lambert to AAA.

 

Why Lambert over Coleman? I suppose it depends on whether they want a starter or reielver, lefty or righty.

 

Correct. Lefty reliever (Waddell) was released at AAA so a lefty reliever moves up from AA (Lambert) to replace him and a lefty reliever from A+ (Sasser) moves up to replace Lambert.

[Wrigley Rat]

sasser to AA

 

Casey Lambert to AAA.

 

Why Lambert over Coleman? I suppose it depends on whether they want a starter or reielver, lefty or righty.

 

Correct. Lefty reliever (Waddell) was released at AAA so a lefty reliever moves up from AA (Lambert) to replace him and a lefty reliever from A+ (Sasser) moves up to replace Lambert.

I get that idea - and agree with it, however I am surprised that Alex Maestri wasn't promoted to see what he could do over a longer stretch in AAA. Lambert doesn't need to be protected this offseason, but Maestri does. I wonder if they've already made the decision one way or another on whether to protect him this offseason?