Minor League Discussion & Boxes 4-16-10

[Outshined_One]

Box Scores

 

Iowa won 7-4 in the 11th Box Score

 

SS D. Barney 2/6, 2 R, RBI, K

2B B. Scales 2/5, 2 RBI, 2 2B (4), K, E (2, fielding), HBP

RF M. Hoffpauir 2/6, 2 K

LF J. Dubois 2/5, BB, R, RBI, HR (4), 3 K

1B B. LaHair 1/5, 3 K

3B M. Smith 1/5, R

CF B. Snyder 1/5, 2 K

C C. Robinson 1/2, 2 BB, 2 R, 2 RBI, HR (1)

PH J. Adduci 0/1

3B M. Camp 1/1, R

SP C. Coleman 7 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2/1 K/BB, 14-4 GO-FO

RP B. Schlitter 2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 3/1 K/BB, HBP, 3-0 GO-FO

RP B. Parker 1.2 scoreless, 1 H, 2/2 K/BB, 2-1 GO-FO

RP J. Gaub .1 perfect, 1/0 K/BB

 

Tennessee lost 11-7 Box Score

 

CF T. Campana 3/6, 2 R, RBI, 2B (2), 3B (1), K, E (1, throw)

SS S. Castro 2/5, RBI, 2B (2), 3 K, E (2, throw)

LF T. Wright 2/5, R, K

RF B. Guyer 1/4, BB

C S. Clevenger 2/4, BB, R

2B R. Flaherty 0/3, K

PH R. Canzler 0/1

PH N. Samson 0/1

3B J. Opitz 0/4, BB, R, K, E (2, throw)

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

SP A. Bibens-Dirkx 1 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 0/1 K/BB, HR, 1-2 GO-FO

RP M. Carrillo 4 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 3/1 K/BB, 6-3 GO-FO

RP D. Cales 2 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 2/0 K/BB, 3-1 GO-FO

RP M. Mateo 1 scoreless, 2 H, 1/0 K/BB, 0-1 GO-FO

RP D. Sasser 1 perfect, 3-0 GO-FO

 

Daytona lost 8-4 Box Score

 

CF B. Jackson 2/5, K

3B M. Gonzalez 3/4, 2 RBI

2B DJ LeMahieu 2/5, RBI

RF K. Burke 0/5, 3 K

DH J. Vitters 2/4, K, SB (2)

C M. Brenly 1/3, BB, R, 2 K

LF N. Perez 0/3, BB, R, K

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

SP R. Searle 5 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 2/1 K/BB, 8-5 GO-FO

RP C. Archer 3 IP, 4 H, 5 ER, 2/3 K/BB, 5-2 GO-FO

 

Peoria won 7-4 Box Score

 

SS HJ Lee 2/4, 2 R, K, SB (2)

CF J. Valdez 3/5, 2 R, SB (6)

3B M. Cerda 0/3, 2 BB, 2 R

DH J. Bour 2/4, BB, 5 RBI, 2 2B (4), K

C J. Rosa 0/5, K

LF J. Morelli 1/4, R, 2 K

SP T. McNutt 6 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 5/2 K/BB, 10-3 GO-FO

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

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

RP J. Latham .1 perfect, 0-1 GO-FO

 

OVERALL: 2-2

[hawkeyecub]

Going to watch the Chiefs play tonight. Hak-Ju is 4-10 so far in the series, hopefully he keeps it up.

[Guest]

Probable Starters

 

Iowa: RHP Casey Coleman (0-1, 3.00 ERA, 6 IP, 0 BB, 4 K)

Tennessee: RHP Austin Bibens-Dirkx (0-0, 3.60 ERA, 5 IP, 1 BB, 6 K)

Daytona: RHP Ryan Searle (0-0, 4.50 ERA, 4 IP, 1 BB, 4 K)

Peoria: RHP Su-Min Jung (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 4 IP, 2 BB, 1 K)

[Little Slide Rooter]

Smokies are getting smoked 11-4, but Castro is 2-2 with a 2B and an RBI

 

In Iowa, Casey Colemans given up 1ER with 2K through 4.

[Guest]

Not a lot to get excited about on the pitching side tonight. Searle was mediocre, Archer piggy-backed him and was downright bad, and Cales got shelled. On the plus side, Coleman had his typically decent, BABIP heavy start, and McNutt had a pretty solid outing.

 

On the hitting side, Jackson, LeMahieu, and Vitters each had a couple hits, and Castro is 2 for 3 with a double.

[davell]

I seriously think that Coleman will have a long major league career as a starter. I don't think it will be with us, because I doubt he's looked at as anything more than a 4-5 guy by us(or anyone else for that matter) but I figure with what else we have available to choose from, he'll eventually get cast off and be a lucky get for someone. Almost definitely a small market type team. I could see Darwin Barney having the same fortune as well.

 

 

On a side note, McNutt throwing 6 innings tonight is the longest he's ever gone for us, right? That's a very pleasing development anyway.

[davell]

Some tidbots from AZPhil tonight that are noteworthy for sure. Carpenter threw today in a game down in EXST. Nice to see him on the mound at least. David Patton has been assigned to Daytona(in case it wasn't mentioned anywhere else, but he pitched last night). Matt Spencer seems about ready to join Tennessee from EXST, which is good news too. On a down note though, Huseby has been sent DOWN to EXST.......Control issues, I presume.

[Guest]

Did anyone see this summary from AZ Phil the other day about the hitters at Fitch: http://www.thecubreporter.com/2010/04/15/camp-day-fitch-park-updated-cubs-extended-spring-training-roster#comment-157797

 

INFIELDERS:

 

Arismendy Alacantara: 18-year old switch-hitter with a decent bat... a little water-bug, he plays both SS-2B, but he can definitely handle SS... is a fast runner with excellent base-stealing technique... is probably the best all-around infield prospect at EXST at this time, although NOT yet in the class of S. Castro or HJ Lee....

 

Vismeldy Bieneme: 20-year old switch-hitter... "supersub" type who plays 3B-2B-LF-CF... is an outstanding base-stealer... bat needs work... good plate discipline... versatile, but not a particularly good defensive player...

 

Melvin Camarena: Big guy (6'4) with OK speed... 20-years old, played two seasons (2008-09) in the DSL... plays 1B-LF-RF... just arrived from Boca Chica, and I've only seen him hit (BP and DH)...

 

Rafael Disla: 19-year old switch-hitter... plays 2B-SS (mostly 2B)... fast runner, but without the base-stealing technique of Alcantara or the raw speed of Bieneme... has outstanding plate discipline, although he isn't much of a hitter... kind of shaky defensively (which is why he plays mostly 2B)...

 

Charles Thomas: Cubs 10th round draft pick in 2009... 21-year old RH hitter... a lug (6'4 225+) who played college ball at Edward Waters College in Jacksonville, FL (the same school legendary Negro Leaguer and one-time Cubs Coach and Scout Buck O'Neill attended)... good hitter (he led the AZL Cubs in doubles and RBI in 2009) who has improved his plate discipline this year, he really needs to elevate his swing and hit some HR (he hit one HR in 45 games at Mesa last year) or he won't make it at 1B... played 3B in college and both 3B and 1B last year at Mesa (AZL Cubs), but he isn't very mobile so he has been playing only 1B and DH in Minor League Camp and Extended Spring Training so far this year... he was a two-way player in college (3B-RHP) who threw in the low-90's off the mound, so he might be a candidate to get moved to RHP if he doesn't develop HR power... he declined an invitation to attend Instructs last Fall so that he could return to college and get his degree... his father is a Captain in the U. S. Navy...

 

Wes Darvill: Cubs 5th round pick in 2009 out of Langley, British Columbia... lefty hitter... just turned 18 last September... a raw project who will need some time develop (he hit just 223/295/231 at Mesa last year)... 6'2 with a long-stride, he's probably still a growing boy... played for the Canadian Junior National Team last year and played games in Cuba, DR, and all over the U. S... was drafted as a shortstop, but his arm is a lot like Ryan Theriot's so he might get moved eventually to 2B (or maybe to 1B or LF if he can develop power)... seems to have pull-tendencies, which is OK if he can eventually hit some HR...

 

Ping-Chieh Chen: A lanky 18-year old lefty swinger from Taiwan... plays both SS and 2B... has a strong but scatter-gun arm... fast runner... good bat speed...

 

Blair Springfield: 19-year old RH hitter... Cubs 7th round pick out of MacArthur HS in Decatur, IL... could have gone to Illinois State, but signed with the Cubs instead... has just average speed, but he does have raw plus-power... strikes out a ton, but he isn't afraid to take a walk... played SS and CF in HS, 2B and LF last year at Mesa, and 1B and RF in Minor League Camp this year... a man without a position, he will go as far as his bat will take him (he hit just 202/314/236 in his rookie year at Mesa)...

 

D. J. Fitzgerald: 22nd round pick in 2009 out of Dyersburg State CC in Tennessee... 21 years old... "DJ Fitz" played SS in JC, but was moved to 2B after the Cubs signed him... defensively-challenged, he's playing LF full-time now... an aggressive first-ball fastball hitter with a nice line-drive stroke (he hit 290/327/425 combined with four HR in 54 games at Mesa/Boise/Peoria in 2009), he has just average speed and occasional HR power... will need to display more power to be an everyday LF...

 

Bobby Wagner: A 23-year old Canadian who played college ball at Douglas College in British Columbia, Wagner is a slugging corner IF-OF with an upper-cut swing who has a lot of trouble making contact, but when he does he has big-time 25+ HR power (290/361/580 with 8 HR in 46 games combined at Mesa & Boise last year)... he played 3B in college, but the Cubs moved him to LF after he signed and now he's playing 1B... failing to make the Peoria Opening Day roster was not good for Wagner (and he got cut fairly early in Minor League Camp, too), because of his age (he turns 24 in July)... the clock is ticking...

 

Brandon May: 36th round pick out of th U. of Alabama in 2009... was planning to return to Bama for his senior season, but then he signed with the Cubs at the last minute (mid-August signing deadline)... 22-year old polished RH hitter... can play 3B-2B-1B-LF-RF, and the Cubs even tried him at catcher in Instructs last Fall (but he sort of flunked-out of the program)... has been playing only 3B-1B so far this year... high baseball IQ with solid fundamentals, he looks like the kind of guy who will end up becoming a coach or a manager someday... although he might not have as high a "ceiling" as some of his teammates, right now he is the EXST Cubs most-reliable hitter...

 

OUTFIELDERS:

 

Cody Shields: 2009 15th round pick out of Auburn University (Montgomery campus)... 22-year old RH hitter... had Tommy John Surgery right after he reported to Fitch Park last June and just returned to action this year... 6'4 with plus-speed and the ability to play all three OF positions... he may be one of the worst hitters I've ever seen...

 

Albert Hernandez: 6'1 175 21-year old Dominican... played previous three seasons in DSL where he was probably the best all-around hitter on the team... has arm enough to play RF... runs OK... good bat speed...

 

Xavier Batista: 18-year old 6'3 corner OF... just arrived at Fitch Park from the Cubs Dominican Academy last week... a free-swinger with plus-power and with a legitimate "RF arm," Batista needs to work on his hitting approach... just average speed...

 

Manuel Pestana: 20-year old Venezuelan RH outfielder just arrived at Fitch Park with Hernandez, Camarena, and X. Batista.. 5'11 155 (if that), Pestana is a wisp of a fellow... good defensive OF, above-average speed (but not a "burner"), questionable bat, no power...

 

Francisco Guzman: 22-year old lanky 6'1 Dominican lefty hitting & throwing OF... A true CF and a true lead-off hitter, too, Guzman can bunt with the best of them... has outstanding speed and knows how to use it... plus-plus base-stealing skills (55 SB in 130 career minor league games)... hitting is sometimes a problem, though... has zero power... physically resembles Felix Pie, but without Pie's bat speed and power...

 

Kyung-Min Na: 18-year old diminutive (5'7) lefty hitting & throwing Korean... was rated the fastest HS player in Korea in 2009, and he is indeed VERY fast... got a $700K+ bonus from the Cubs last year... is an outstanding defensive CF with a plus-arm... decent hitter, but not much power... understands situational hitting approach... good baserunning skills & instincts... Played in AZ Instrutional League last Fall... reminds me of Tony Campana (AA Tennessee CF)...

 

Runey Davis: 21-year old 6'0 185 RH hitting Texan... Played at the U. of Texas his freshman year, then transferred to Howard JC in Texas, where he played in the 2009 JC World Series (where he faced Shelton State CC and Cubs RHP prospect Trey McNutt)... Davis led JC in HBP, and he does seem to find a way to get hit... otherwise he is a below-average hitter without much power... has above-average speed... below-average defender...

 

Dong-Yub Kim: 19-year old 6'4 Korean corner outfielder... bats and throws right... played in AZ Instructional League last Fall... has plus-power, but needs to improve his hitting approach... has just average speed...

[Guest]

On a side note, McNutt throwing 6 innings tonight is the longest he's ever gone for us, right? That's a very pleasing development anyway.

 

Yes.

[Outshined_One]

Anyone know what happened to Bibens-Dirkx? His first inning was kind of rough, but I'm guessing he could have gone longer than he did.

[craig]

Did anyone see this summary from AZ Phil the other day about the hitters at Fitch: http://www.thecubreporter.com/2010/04/15/camp-day-fitch-park-updated-cubs-extended-spring-training-roster#comment-157797

 

INFIELDERS:

 

Arismendy Alacantara: 18-year old switch-hitter ....

Dong-Yub Kim: 19-year old 6'4 Korean corner outfielder... bats and throws right... played in AZ Instructional League last Fall... has plus-power, but needs to improve his hitting approach... has just average speed...

 

Thanks, cal. Phil actually has had a whole string of reports this week.

 

I was struck by how un-enthused his reports were. He didn't really have many guys with more than one or two tools, none that profiled real well as hitters, and none that appeared to combine both hitting and potential power. Maybe Darvill. Obviously these are pretty young and inexperienced guys, so improved hitting and strength is possible in future. But it seemed that for a lot of them, it's bad approach; or whiffs a ton; or a no-power waterbug. The two best reports, other than 36th round DH/1B May, seemed to be for "ton Campana" Na, and for "waterbug" Alcantara (?). Also not many young Latins, the Dominicans seem largely in their 20's. I suppose that fits with Hendry's low commitment their. I suppose if a Dominican was 17 or 18 and had any size and polish, he'd be costing beyond our budget.

 

Pitching: he mentioned one Latin pitcher, Luis Liria who he said had a very nice changeup, a low-90's fastball, and not much of a breaking ball. 20, 6'2", has already spent two years in DSL.

 

Said carmona 92-94 and heavy fastball, but he didn't seem very enthused, didn't project as good enough to be real late inning stuff guy.

 

Earlier he'd buzzed on Mincone, but in the game this week he was very ineffective.

 

He was pretty positive about Kirk, although his box score wasn't notably good.

 

Other than

[videographer]

Be careful of Arizona Phil's scouting reports. He is a wealth of information and a wonderful service to Cubs' fans. But, I have found his evaluations suspect at times. Extended spring training players (especially Latin & Korean players) are still in the "Play Doh" state of development. Starlin Castro and Junior Lake were thought to be book-ends two years ago from Phil's observations. Last year at this time, I remember Phil going on about Jon Nagel having the makings of an innings eating horse.

 

I love reading Phil's reports and can't wait for the next updates from Arizona. He is the best columnist on the Cub Reporter website. However, I have learned to temper my enthusiasm and rely on the great mystery of time to do my evaluating.

[Guest]

Be careful of Arizona Phil's scouting reports. He is a wealth of information and a wonderful service to Cubs' fans. But, I have found his evaluations suspect at times. Extended spring training players (especially Latin & Korean players) are still in the "Play Doh" state of development. Starlin Castro and Junior Lake were thought to be book-ends two years ago from Phil's observations. Last year at this time, I remember Phil going on about Jon Nagel having the makings of an innings eating horse.

 

I love reading Phil's reports and can't wait for the next updates from Arizona. He is the best columnist on the Cub Reporter website. However, I have learned to temper my enthusiasm and rely on the great mystery of time to do my evaluating.

 

You mean you're telling me Josh Donaldson isn't going to be a 30 HR guy?

[Guest]

Be careful of Arizona Phil's scouting reports. He is a wealth of information and a wonderful service to Cubs' fans. But, I have found his evaluations suspect at times. Extended spring training players (especially Latin & Korean players) are still in the "Play Doh" state of development. Starlin Castro and Junior Lake were thought to be book-ends two years ago from Phil's observations. Last year at this time, I remember Phil going on about Jon Nagel having the makings of an innings eating horse.

 

I love reading Phil's reports and can't wait for the next updates from Arizona. He is the best columnist on the Cub Reporter website. However, I have learned to temper my enthusiasm and rely on the great mystery of time to do my evaluating.

 

Definitely agree.