Minor League Discussion & Boxes 5-18-10

[Outshined_One]

Box Score

 

Iowa won 6-1 Box Score

 

CF S. Fuld 3/5, R, RBI, 2B (3), 3B (3), 2 K

SS D. Barney 1/5, K

RF B. Snyder 3/5, R, RBI, 2B (11), K, SB (4)

1B M. Hoffpauir 2/5, 2 R, RBI, 2B (8), K, E (2, fielding)

3B B. Scales 2/5, R, 2B (12), K

LF B. LaHair 0/4, BB

C C. Robinson 2/5, R, 2 RBI, 2B (3)

2B M. Camp 0/3, BB

PH J. Dubois 0/1

SP T. Diamond 6 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 6/0 K/BB, HR, 4-6 GO-FO

RP J. Jackson 1 scoreless, 1 H, 3-0 GO-FO

RP B. Schlitter 2 scoreless, 1 H, 4/1 K/BB, 0-2 GO-FO

 

Tennessee lost 2-1 Box Score

 

CF T. Campana 1/4, R, K

SS M. Gonzalez 0/3, 2 K, E (4, throw)

LF T. Wright 0/3, K, HBP

C R. Chirinos 1/3

RF M. Spencer 0/3, 2 K

3B J. Vitters 0/3

2B M. Smith 1/3

PH T. Thomas 1/1, 2B (6)

SP HW Chen 6 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 4/3 K/BB, 3 HBP, 7-7 GO-FO

RP A. Maestri 1 scoreless, 0 H, 1/1 K/BB, 1-1 GO-FO

RP D. Sasser 1 scoreless, 2 H, 1/1 K/BB, 1-0 GO-FO

 

Daytona won 4-1 Box Score

 

CF B. Jackson 1/4, R, 2 K

2B DJ LeMahieu 1/4, R, RBI, K

3B R. Flaherty 2/3, BB, R, RBI, SB (1)

DH R. Ridling 1/3, 2 RBI

RF K. Burke 0/4, 3 K

1B J. Opitz 1/3, BB, 2B (2)

SS J. Lake 1/3, R, K, SB (5)

SP C. Archer 6 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 10/0 K/BB, HR, 7-1 GO-FO

RP C. Siegfried 3 scoreless, 0 H, 3/0 K/BB, HBP, 5-0 GO-FO

 

Peoria lost 14-1 Box Score

 

SS HJ Lee 0/2, 2 BB

2B L. Watkins 0/4

3B M. Cerda 0/3, R, K, HBP

RF G. Rohan 0/4

1B J. Bour 0/3, BB, E (6, fielding)

C J. Mota 0/2, BB, K

LF N. Perez 1/3, RBI, 2B (2), 2 K

DH C. Thomas 0/4

CF F. Guzman 0/2, BB, K, E (2, fielding), Assist (2B)

SP R. Whitenack 3.2 IP, 11 H, 10 R, 9 ER, 3/2 K/BB, WP, HBP, 5-1 GO-FO

RP L. Suarez 2.1 perfect, 2/0 K/BB, 2-3 GO-FO

RP Y. Gonzalez 1 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 1/1 K/BB, WP, 2-1 GO-FO

RP J. Latham 1 perfect, 1/0 K/BB, 0-2 GO-FO

 

OVERALL: 2-2

[Guest]

Probable Starters

 

Iowa: RHP Thomas Diamond (2-0, 2.17 ERA, 37.1 IP, 17 BB, 31 K)

Tennessee: RHP Hung-Wen Chen (3-3, 2.95 ERA, 42.2 IP, 10 BB, 20 K)

Daytona: RHP Chris Archer (1-1, 3.72 ERA, 29 IP, 16 BB, 29 K)

Peoria: RHP Robert Whitenack (2-2, 5.91 ERA, 32 IP, 9 BB, 19 K)

[Guest]

Bruce Miles[/url]"]Also at Iowa, it looks like Andrew Cashner will stay in the rotation there. “It’s hard to come up with a guy who can throw 200 innings,” Oneri said. “That would be the first goal (to keep him as a starter). He’s been able to pitch to contact and put hitters away on the first or second pitch.”

 

So, of course, Oneri says in the next paragraph:

 

Jay Jackson, however, figures to remain in the pen at Iowa, and the Cubs feel he may be able to help the big-league pen at some point this year. “It looks like it’s a good spot for him,” Oneri said.

 

](*,)

[Rob]

I'm less upset about the Jackson thing than I probably should be.

 

I just see him as somebody who would be much more valuable as a starter if we had a spot available for him, but since we don't and his stuff plays up in the pen (where we need help at the moment), why not make it a temporary move? It's not like he needs the innings like Cashner does.

[SouthSideRyan]

I'm less upset about the Jackson thing than I probably should be.

 

I just see him as somebody who would be much more valuable as a starter if we had a spot available for him, but since we don't and his stuff plays up in the pen (where we need help at the moment), why not make it a temporary move? It's not like he needs the innings like Cashner does.

 

What exactly is the benefit? Doesn't this lower his trade value?

[Rob]

I'm less upset about the Jackson thing than I probably should be.

 

I just see him as somebody who would be much more valuable as a starter if we had a spot available for him, but since we don't and his stuff plays up in the pen (where we need help at the moment), why not make it a temporary move? It's not like he needs the innings like Cashner does.

 

What exactly is the benefit? Doesn't this lower his trade value?

 

It lowers his trade value in the short term, sure... But I'm actually buying Jackson as somebody who can step into the 8th inning on the big league club almost immediately.

[jersey cubs fan]

I'm less upset about the Jackson thing than I probably should be.

 

I just see him as somebody who would be much more valuable as a starter if we had a spot available for him, but since we don't and his stuff plays up in the pen (where we need help at the moment), why not make it a temporary move? It's not like he needs the innings like Cashner does.

 

What exactly is the benefit? Doesn't this lower his trade value?

 

It lowers his trade value in the short term, sure... But I'm actually buying Jackson as somebody who can step into the 8th inning on the big league club almost immediately.

 

I think it actually does very little to his trade value in the short term, although it could severely limit his value if he stays in the bullpen for an extended period of time (unless he's amazing in the major league bullpen).

[Outshined_One]

I'm less upset about the Jackson thing than I probably should be.

 

I just see him as somebody who would be much more valuable as a starter if we had a spot available for him, but since we don't and his stuff plays up in the pen (where we need help at the moment), why not make it a temporary move? It's not like he needs the innings like Cashner does.

 

That's pretty much my feeling on him. There's still something to be said for getting him innings and a major league workload, but unlike Cashner, there haven't been many questions about whether Jackson can pitch deep into games or maintain his stuff over the course of the season. Putting him in the bullpen in the short term wouldn't hurt.

[SouthSideRyan]

But is it really necessary to do it at the AAA level other than to prove to the idiots in charge that he has the "mindset" to be an 8th inning guy? It's annoying enough that Sean Marshall is going to be a reliever for the rest of his career with the Cubs. Now we're going to do it to one of our best pitching prospects? Edited May 18, 2010 by SouthSideRyan

[jersey cubs fan]

But is it really necessary to do it at the AAA level other than to prove to the idiots in charge that he has the "mindset" to be an 8th inning guy?

 

Maybe not necessary, but if the plan is to put him in the major league bullpen this summer, giving him a couple outings there in AAA couldn't hurt.

[Guest]

But is it really necessary to do it at the AAA level other than to prove to the idiots in charge that he has the "mindset" to be an 8th inning guy?

 

Maybe not necessary, but if the plan is to put him in the major league bullpen this summer, giving him a couple outings there in AAA couldn't hurt.

 

Yeah, that's my feeling. If Jackson is relieving at Iowa for months, then yeah, it's dumb. But if it's to acclimate him to the role before the promotion, eh.

[CUBZ99]

But is it really necessary to do it at the AAA level other than to prove to the idiots in charge that he has the "mindset" to be an 8th inning guy?

 

Maybe not necessary, but if the plan is to put him in the major league bullpen this summer, giving him a couple outings there in AAA couldn't hurt.

 

Yeah, that's my feeling. If Jackson is relieving at Iowa for months, then yeah, it's dumb. But if it's to acclimate him to the role before the promotion, eh.

 

 

Has he pitched in relief lately? and how has he been? Any increase in velocity or stuff?

[soapy]

But is it really necessary to do it at the AAA level other than to prove to the idiots in charge that he has the "mindset" to be an 8th inning guy? It's annoying enough that Sean Marshall is going to be a reliever for the rest of his career with the Cubs. Now we're going to do it to one of our best pitching prospects?

 

Breaking him into the majors in the bullpen doesn't mean he's going to be the next Sean Marshall. Plenty of starters break into the league as relievers.

[SouthSideRyan]

I'm probably overreacting, but I see a team who identifies some dumbass need and obsessses over it every year. This year it's an 8th inning pitcher, if they ever actually find a guy who works in the 8th inning, he's never going to get out of that spot.

[soapy]

I'm probably overreacting, but I see a team who identifies some [expletive] need and obsessses over it every year. This year it's an 8th inning pitcher, if they ever actually find a guy who works in the 8th inning, he's never going to get out of that spot.

Well, I suppose that's not totally crazy. I think it's a little premature to jump to that now though. He could be in the bullpen the rest of the year (if the Cubs for some reason get into the race) and still be fine, IMO. As most have said, it's a much different situation than Cashner.

 

ETA: Don't get me wrong. I don't necessarily encourage the move (since I don't think it's the glaring weakness that the Cubs do), but I don't think it's the end of JJ as a starter.

[jersey cubs fan]

I'm probably overreacting, but I see a team who identifies some [expletive] need and obsessses over it every year. This year it's an 8th inning pitcher, if they ever actually find a guy who works in the 8th inning, he's never going to get out of that spot.

 

Oh absolutely that's what they do. Although I wouldn't assume one guy is going to get stuck in such a role. Marmol got moved to closer. They could find that 8th inning guy for this year, and then next year might be obsessed over finding a 5th starter, in which case they might move that guy to the rotation.

[Keener98]

I think the main reason why Jay is pitching in the bullpen in AAA is because of Shark. The Cubs brought Shark up to the bullpen after only being a starter in the minors, and has pretty much sucked, and has said its hard getting used to being a reliever when you have always been a starter. So the Cubs hear this, and think "hey we plan on calling Jay up to the major league bullpen soon, so we better get him some outings in AAA out of the pen, so its easier for him". Not saying its right or wrong, but thats exactly what I think the Cubs are thinking regarding Jackson Edited May 18, 2010 by Keener98

[Guest]

I don't mind breaking a rookie in the big leagues through the pen but why does Jackson need to be relieving at AAA?

[jersey cubs fan]

I don't mind breaking a rookie in the big leagues through the pen but why does Jackson need to be relieving at AAA?

 

Because it wouldn't make sense to demote him to AA?

 

 

 

It's been mentioned they probably want to get him used to working as a reliever for a little bit before he actually pitches in the big league bullpen.

[toonsterwu]

As noted, I actually don't have a big problem with this, if they do call him up. Ideally, Jay would be in the rotation, Blake or someone would be throwing strikes and called up, and Atkins or Mathes would be in the pen.

 

I would have a problem if they suddenly changed course, or promoted, say, Cashner. That said, the idea of giving him a couple weeks to get used to pen usage isn't bad, and it does set him up for an early June call-up.

 

I've even talked myself into thinking that there could be a benefit from the pen work. The talk seems to be that he's focused so much on his control that his slider and curve aren't as sharp as before. Maybe in going to the pen, he'll find it (okay, I'm stretching for extra positives).

 

Anyhow, seems quite clear that he'll be brought up to try to be the righty late inning arm. I still think Cashner gets a call-up late June/early July if the Cubs are hanging around. They'll hope Cash/Marsh/Jay can handle the 7th/8th inning duties (that's my guess), but if not, that would give them a month to find a pen arm (if they are hanging around).

[TruffleShuffle]

good game for diamond: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 6 K, 1 HR. jackson is on in relief and gave up a double amid three ground outs.

[SouthSideRyan]

Now Diamond is somebody I could get behind a move to the rotation in preparation for a promotion. (I say this ignorant of what pen usage would do to Diamond considering his previous injury history)

[Little Slide Rooter]

Now Diamond is somebody I could get behind a move to the rotation in preparation for a promotion. (I say this ignorant of what pen usage would do to Diamond considering his previous injury history)

 

Agreed. I can understand being patient with Cashner and Jax, but with Diamond, he could be a [expletive] or get off the pot type of guy. Im not sure how minor league free agency works with guys like this, but Id really like to give him his shot in the bigs before he moves on.

[Guest]

http://www.thecubreporter.com/2010/05/18/giants-take-two-cubs-scottsdale

 

Chris Huseby DHed again. Wes Darvill made his 9th and 10th errors in 20 ExST games (6 games at 2B, 14 games at SS). Solid 3-inning outing for Austin Kirk.

[Little Slide Rooter]

http://www.thecubreporter.com/2010/05/18/giants-take-two-cubs-scottsdale

 

Chris Huseby DHed again. Wes Darvill made his 9th and 10th errors in 20 ExST games (6 games at 2B, 14 games at SS). Solid 3-inning outing for Austin Kirk.

 

DH? Wasnt Huseby a pretty good closer for 1 of the A teams last year? Why are they trying to convert him? And wasnt Wes Darvill a pitcher as well?