Minor League Discussion & Boxes 5-26-10

[Outshined_One]

Box Scores

 

Iowa lost 9-3 Box Score

 

CF S. Fuld 1/5, K

SS D. Barney 0/5, K, E (6, fielding)

3B C. Tracy 1/5, R, RBI, HR (2), K

1B J. Dubois 1/4, K, HBP, E (1, fielding)

RF B. Snyder 2/4, R, 2B (13), 2 K, SB (5)

DH B. Scales 1/4, K

LF J. Adduci 0/3, BB, R

C C. Robinson 1/3, BB, RBI

2B M. Camp 2/4, RBI, CS (2), PO (1B)

SP M. Atkins 5 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 4 ER, 2/3 K/BB, HR, 7-5 GO-FO

RP J. Samardzija 3 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2/2 K/BB, WP, 5-2 GO-FO

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

 

Tennessee won 3-0 Box Score

 

CF T. Campana 2/5, RBI, 2 K

SS M. Gonzalez 2/5

LF T. Wright 1/4, 2B (15), K

DH R. Canzler 2/4, K

RF M. Spencer 1/4

3B J. Vitters 1/4, R, 2 K

C S. Clevenger 3/4, R

2B M. Smith 2/4, R, 2B (1), K

SP A. Bibens-Dirkx 7 scoreless, 2 H, 4/0 K/BB, 7-9 GO-FO

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

 

Daytona won 9-3 Box Score

 

CF B. Jackson 2/4, BB, 2 R, 2 RBI, HR (2), 2 K

SS DJ LeMahieu 1/5, R, RBI, 2B (7), E (5, fielding)

2B R. Flaherty 1/5, R, RBI, 2B (8), K, E (3, fielding)

1B R. Ridling 1/2, 3 BB, R

RF K. Burke 1/4, R, 3 RBI, HR (4), K

3B J. Opitz 3/5, R, 2B (5), 2 K, CS (1), E (2, throw)

LF J. Valdez 0/4, K, E (3, fielding)

SP DE Rhee 4.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 1/3 K/BB, HBP, 8-3 GO-FO, E (3, throw)

RP J. Beliveau 1.2 scoreless, 1 H, 2/1 K/BB, 2-0 GO-FO

RP D. Patton 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 0/1 K/BB, 4-0 GO-FO

RP M. Perconte .1 scoreless, 1 H, 1/0 K/BB

RP M. Carrillo 1 perfect, 2/0 K/BB, 1-0 GO-FO

 

Peoria lost 7-3 Box Score

 

SS HJ Lee 0/3, BB, 2 K, 2 SB (15)

CF L. Watkins 1/4, RBI, SB (6)

2B M. Cerda 0/3, BB

3B G. Rohan 0/3, BB, R

1B J. Bour 0/4, 2 K

DH DJ Fitzgerald 0/4, RBI, K

C J. Mota 1/4, R

LF R. Jones 2/3, R

SP SM Jung 5.2 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2/2 K/BB, WP, 5-7 GO-FO, E (2, fielding)

RP L. Suarez 1.1 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 1/3 K/BB, 2-1 GO-FO

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

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

 

 

OVERALL: 2-2

[Guest]

Probable Starters

 

Iowa: RHP Mitch Atkins (3-1, 2.61 ERA, 31 IP, 8 BB, 17 K)

Tennessee: RHP Austin Bibens-Dirkx (2-1, 2.72 ERA, 43 IP, 13 BB, 34 K)

Daytona: RHP Dae-Eun Rhee (2-5, 4.95 ERA, 36.1 IP, 13 BB, 22 K)

Peoria: RHP Su-Min Jung (4-2, 4.37 ERA, 35 IP, 18 BB, 24 K)

[Guest]

Cashner to the Iowa pen

 

 

I hate it... so... much, It–it...it–flame... flames... flames on the side of my face.

[toonsterwu]

Very disappointing that they are making the move now, and not in a few weeks. That said, this was an expected outcome for awhile now.

[illiniguy]

Cashner to the Iowa pen

 

 

I hate it... so... much, It–it...it–flame... flames... flames on the side of my face.

Sorry TT this is why I think Hendry is a worse GM than Dayton Moore. No way this happens with Michael Montgomery. None at all.

[Guest]

“We did the same experiment with Jay Jackson,” Iowa pitching coach Mike Mason said. “Jackson passed; now it’s Cashner’s turn to see if he can acclimate to the bullpen.”

 

Screw this organization.

 

This not one day after Bruce Miles had this:

 

Bruce Miles[/url]"]At Iowa last night, Jay Jackson worked 3 scoreless innings of relief, extending his scoreless-innings streak to 9.1 over five games at the I-Cubs fell 1-0 to Salt Lake. Andrew Cashner was named the PCL pitcher of the week for May 17-23 as he went 2-0 with a 0.69 ERA.

 

The plan is to keep Cashner in the rotation at Iowa, although the Cubs won’t rule him out of big-league bullpen duty if a need arises. They feel both Cashner and Jackson can start or relieve.

 

“Cashner’s throwing great,” said GM Jim Hendry. “He’s had 3 outstanding starts in a row at the Triple-A level. He’s been 95-97 (mph) every night. He’s a high-level guy that certainly not far away. Jackson’s been very good. Casey Coleman’s been very good. It’s a really exciting group of young pitching. (Brian) Schilitter has been good out of the pen. Thomas Diamond has been a nice project that we took a chance on because of Randy Bush’s past with him. He’s been very good. The choices in Iowa are getting better and better. Three or four of those guys are high-level guys.

 

“We’ve got a nice wave coming of good, high-level prospects, not fourth, fifth starters.”

[Little Slide Rooter]

Cashner to the Iowa pen

 

 

I hate it... so... much, It–it...it–flame... flames... flames on the side of my face.

 

If I really felt that this was what we really needed to get us over the top, Id be OK with it, but it just seems like a move to rush these guys up just to get them up. What they should do is shop Gorzalanny or maybe Theriot or Baker for some bullpen help and keep both Cashner and Jax in the rotation. I just hope that we can free up some rotation spots in the neat future so we can put these guys where they belong. And just watch Cash and jax come up and take Stevens and Russels spots whil Howry and Grabow give up 2-3 runs a game.

Edited May 27, 2010 by Little Slide Rooter

[illiniguy]

Wait has Strasburg passed this bullpen test yet?

[Tim M]

Spare me the outrage. Both Jackson and Cashner look to be ready for the big leagues. There is no room in the rotation and the Cubs have problems in late inning relief. It would be a waste of both guys if they left them down in Iowa for the whole year just for the sake of them never having to come out of the bullpen. There is also obviously the school of thought that most young pitchers should start as relievers in the big leagues. If the Cubs don't have plans to have them start again then you have something to rail against, but not now IMO.

[Outshined_One]

The only legitimate reason I can see the Cubs moving someone like Cashner to the pen would be because he had tired arm or a minor injury. However, I have not seen any evidence of either.

 

What a stupid move.

[illiniguy]

Spare me the outrage. Both Jackson and Cashner look to be ready for the big leagues. There is no room in the rotation and the Cubs have problems in late inning relief. It would be a waste of both guys if they left them down in Iowa for the whole year just for the sake of them never having to come out of the bullpen. There is also obviously the school of thought that most young pitchers should start as relievers in the big leagues. If the Cubs don't have plans to have them start again then you have something to rail against, but not now IMO.

How about we have to at some point let Cashner throw over 120 innings if he's ever gonna be a starter at the big league level? Or I guess we could just plug him in and let him go as a normal starter and then be shocked when he gets hurt like Wood and Prior did. Blame goats, Bartman, and curses and stuff.

[Tim M]

The only legitimate reason I can see the Cubs moving someone like Cashner to the pen would be because he had tired arm or a minor injury. However, I have not seen any evidence of either.

 

What a stupid move.

 

They feel Cashner can help the big league club. They don't have an opening in the rotation. They have problems in late relief. They may feel young pitchers should be eased into the big leagues. Don't overthink it.

[Guest]

Spare me the outrage. Both Jackson and Cashner look to be ready for the big leagues. There is no room in the rotation and the Cubs have problems in late inning relief. It would be a waste of both guys if they left them down in Iowa for the whole year just for the sake of them never having to come out of the bullpen. There is also obviously the school of thought that most young pitchers should start as relievers in the big leagues. If the Cubs don't have plans to have them start again then you have something to rail against, but not now IMO.

 

Cashner has less than 175 innings as a starter. Despite his great performance, he needs innings, especially considering he's had very little experience going deep in games(he was on a strict pitch count last year). Like Toonster has mentioned, you can still move Cashner to the pen when he reaches an IP threshold to keep him from being overused. It's not about "oh no they can't throw in the bullpen", it's about "these are not finished products, they need the starter's work to develop".

[Outshined_One]

They feel Cashner can help the big league club. They don't have an opening in the rotation. They have problems in late relief. They may feel young pitchers should be eased into the big leagues. Don't overthink it.

 

The problems with late relief stem from the manager's stupidity and stubborn insistence on trotting out garbage like Grabow and Howry in key situations. Even with Zambrano returning to the rotation, Cashner will be behind Marmol, Marshall, and whoever in the rotation moves to the bullpen (likely along with Grabow and Howry). The Cubs don't need another relief pitcher.

 

Cashner has less than 175 innings as a starter. Despite his great performance, he needs innings, especially considering he's had very little experience going deep in games(he was on a strict pitch count last year). Like Toonster has mentioned, you can still move Cashner to the pen when he reaches an IP threshold to keep him from being overused. It's not about "oh no they can't throw in the bullpen", it's about "these are not finished products, they need the starter's work to develop".

 

This pretty much sums it up for me. Cashner also needs to work on his changeup; he won't get much of a chance at doing that out of the bullpen.

[Guest]

And they still haven't tried Parker or Gaub, both who have futures as quality pen arms. Stevens was perfect in his appearance since being recalled too.

[TruffleShuffle]

i hate rooting for the cubs organization. they're run so badly and their losing tradition is richly deserved.

 

brett jackson and kyler burke have home runs tonight; hopefully they'll be converted to pitching or rushed to the major leagues next week.

[Guest]

Spare me the outrage. Both Jackson and Cashner look to be ready for the big leagues. There is no room in the rotation and the Cubs have problems in late inning relief. It would be a waste of both guys if they left them down in Iowa for the whole year just for the sake of them never having to come out of the bullpen. There is also obviously the school of thought that most young pitchers should start as relievers in the big leagues. If the Cubs don't have plans to have them start again then you have something to rail against, but not now IMO.

 

Cashner threw 100 innings last year. He needs to be stretched out if he ever is going to start. By sending him to the pen already, you've stunted his opportunity to help the big league rotation next season or just push him into an arm injury. This is stupid for reasons that have nothing to do with how you break him into the big leagues.

 

The Cubs have just sent their top two pitching prospects to the pen only a month after sending one of their 3 best starters to the pen. How ridiculous.

[wekim81]

Spare me the outrage. Both Jackson and Cashner look to be ready for the big leagues. There is no room in the rotation and the Cubs have problems in late inning relief. It would be a waste of both guys if they left them down in Iowa for the whole year just for the sake of them never having to come out of the bullpen. There is also obviously the school of thought that most young pitchers should start as relievers in the big leagues. If the Cubs don't have plans to have them start again then you have something to rail against, but not now IMO.

 

Cashner threw 100 innings last year. He needs to be stretched out if he ever is going to start. By sending him to the pen already, you've stunted his opportunity to help the big league rotation next season or just push him into an arm injury. This is stupid for reasons that have nothing to do with how you break him into the big leagues.

 

The Cubs have just sent their top two pitching prospects to the pen only a month after sending one of their 3 best starters to the pen. How ridiculous.

THIS.

 

Man, how depressing a night. We [expletive] away a game on the big league level, and then this news.

[Keener98]

Hahahaha this organization is really ran by complete morons. Please get Lou and Hendry out of this organization ASAP!

[17 Seconds]

so embarrassing

[davell]

Pathetic. But I wish like hell I could say I'm stunned by the move. It's hard to pull for this damn organization, as Truffle just said.

[rawaction]

Since when does pitching in a major league bullpen require pitching in a minor league bullpen first? If the Cubs want to bring Jackson or Cashner up in the pen, fine. But I don't see why they have to limit their innings now to get them ready for that. Let them throw, work on all their pitches and then call them up and put them in the pen. It's not like they have to learn a new position. It's still just pitching. Zambrano didn't get sent to the minors to work out of the pen. Marshall didn't.

[CUBZ99]

Since when does pitching in a major league bullpen require pitching in a minor league bullpen first? If the Cubs want to bring Jackson or Cashner up in the pen, fine. But I don't see why they have to limit their innings now to get them ready for that. Let them throw, work on all their pitches and then call them up and put them in the pen. It's not like they have to learn a new position. It's still just pitching. Zambrano didn't get sent to the minors to work out of the pen. Marshall didn't.

 

Exactly. Unless they plan on calling up Cashner this weekend for the Cards series, and want his arm fresh, it makes absolutely no sense to move him to the bullpen in the minors. Especially considering how dominant he has been out of the starting role.

 

What is really baffling is that the extra innings he was pitching as a starter have produced great results to this point. His command is getting much better, and it appears that he has two pretty good off speed pitches to compliment his fastball.

[KingCubsFan]

This is why you can't let GM's (and managers, to a lesser extent) stay in the organization with a "Win Now or Leave" mandate, because they make stupid, shortsighted decisions like this. I respect Ricketts' decision to evaluate the management before making any decisions, but if he's serious about making the farm system a priority this should be the final straw. Hendry has now moved our top prospect to the majors at the age of 20 and moved our #2 and (arguably) #3 prospects to the bullpen, all in an attempt to save his job. He's basically trying to Dusty this organization for the second time in 10 years.

[Guest]

Yesterday at Extended: http://www.thecubreporter.com/2010/05/26/cubs-giants-play-two-extended-spring-training