Minor League Discussion & Boxes 7-31-10

[Outshined_One]

Box Scores

 

Iowa won 15-7 Box Score

 

CF S. Fuld 2/4, 2 BB, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2B (11), 2 SB (15)

SS D. Barney 2/6, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2B (23)

RF T. Wright 2/6, RBI, 2B (3), 2 K

1B M. Hoffpauir 1/4, 2 BB, 2 R, RBI

DH J. Dubois 2/4, 2 BB, 3 R, RBI, K

LF B. LaHair 4/6, 3 R, 7 RBI, 3 HR (17), K

2B B. Scales 1/5, BB, R, 3 K

C W. Castillo 2/4, R, RBI, 2B (16), K, E (7, throw), PB (7)

3B M. Smith 1/5, R, K

SP J. Samardzija 5 IP, 5 H, 6 ER, 4/3 K/BB, HR, HBP, 7-3 GO-FO

RP HW Chen 2 scoreless, 0 H, 1/1 K/BB, WP, 2-1 GO-FO

RP S. Maine 1 scoreless, 1 H, 1/0 K/BB, 1-1 GO-FO

RP J. Gray 1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1/0 K/BB, 2-0 GO-FO

 

Tennessee won 9-1 Box Score

 

CF T. Campana 2/4, BB, R, K, 2 SB (36)

LF B. Jackson 3/4, BB, 2 R, RBI, 2B (8), 3B (2)

3B R. Canzler 2/4, 2 R, 3 RBI, HR (15), HBP

C R. Chirinos 2/5, R, 3 RBI, HR (15), PB (5)

1B M. Spencer 1/4

RF B. Guyer 2/3, R, RBI, SB (16), HBP

2B T. Thomas 1/4, R, RBI, K

SS N. Samson 0/4

SP C. Archer 5 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 6/4 K/BB, 3-5 GO-FO

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

RP O. Martinez 1 scoreless, 1 H, 2/0 K/BB, 1-0 GO-FO

RP A. Shafer 1 perfect, 1/0 K/BB, 1-1 GO-FO

 

Daytona won 6-4 Box Score

 

3B DJ LeMahieu 1/5, R

DH R. Flaherty 2/4, BB, 3 R, 4 RBI, 2 HR (6)

C M. Brenly 0/4

RF K. Burke 0/3, BB, R

1B R. Ridling 1/4, 2 RBI, 2B (28), K

2B J. Opitz 3/4

LF G. Rohan 0/4, K

SS J. Lake 0/3, K, HBP

SP K. McNutt 5 scoreless, 2 H 7/0 K/BB, WP, 5-4 GO-FO

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

RP M. Perconte 2 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2/0 K/BB, WP, 2-2 GO-FO

RP J. Leverton 1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1/0 K/BB, 1-1 GO-FO

 

Peoria won 7-0 Box Score

 

SS HJ Lee 0/4, BB, 2 K

2B L. WAtkins 2/4, BB, R, K, SB (16)

CF M. Szczur 0/5

1B J. Bour 0/1, 2 BB, R, 2 HBP

DH DJ Fitzgerald 1/4, BB, K

3B M. Cerda 1/4, BB, 2 R

LF N. Perez 2/4, BB, 2 R, 2B (11), 2 K

RF JH Ha 2/5, 3 RBI, 3B (3), 2 K

SP J. Antigua 3 scoreless, 2 H, 4/2 K/BB, 3-1 GO-FO

RP SM Jung 4 scoreless, 2 H, 8/0 K/BB, Balk, 4-0 GO-FO

RP Y. Gonzalez 2 scoreless, 1 H, 1/0 K/BB, 3-2 GO-FO

 

Boise won 5-4 in the 12th Box Score

 

DH P. LePage 2/5, R, HBP

LF R. Cuneo 1/4, BB, 2 RBI, K

1B R. Jones 1/5, BB, K

LF/RF J. Morelli 2/6, R, 2B (11)

3B D. Harrington 2/5, CS (1), PO (1B)

C M. Gibbs 0/5, R, K

SS E. Soto 0/4, RBI, 2 K

2B A. Alcantara 2/5, R, K, E (15, fielding)

SP JY Serrano 5 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 6/1 K/BB, 2 HR, 6-2 GO-FO

RP E. Rice .2 perfect, 0-1 GO-FO

RP C. Rojas 4 scoreless, 2 H, 3/1 K/BB, 5-4 GO-FO

 

AZL Cubs with an off day

 

DSL Cubs 1 won 11-3 Box Score

 

2B/SS G. Amaya 1/3, 2 RBI, K, HBP

SS M. Hernandez 4/4, R, RBI, 2 2B (17), HR (1), SB (17), E (15, throw)

RF D. Arcila 1/4, BB, 2 R, 2 K

CF O. Zapata 3/4, BB, 3 R, K, 2 SB (15)

 

DSL Cubs 2 won 5-2 Box Score

 

3B W. Contreras 1/4, BB, 3 RBI

2B J. Rodriguez 2/4, BB, RBI, 2B (3), K, CS (5), 2 E (13, fielding x 2)

1B G. Jimenez 0/4, K

SP V. Salazar 5 scoreless, 2 H, 3/2 K/BB, WP, HBP, 5-5 GO-FO

 

OVERALL: 7-0!

[Guest]

Probable Starters

 

Iowa: RHP Jeff Samardzija (7-1, 2.64 ERA, 64.2 IP, 65 K, 43 BB)

Tennessee: RHP Chris Archer (4-1, 0.00 ERA, 28.1 IP, 25 K, 14 BB; Tenn & Daytona: 11-2, 2.06 ERA, 100.2 IP, 107 K, 40 BB)

Daytona: RHP Trey McNutt (2-0, 3.86 ERA, 21 IP, 23 K, 7 BB; Daytona & Peoria: 8-0, 2.12 ERA, 80.2 IP, 93 K, 31 BB)

Peoria: LHP Jeffry Antigua (3-5, 4.81 ERA, 78.2 IP, 68 K, 28 BB)

Boise: RHP Juan Yasser Serrano (4-0, 3.72 ERA, 36.1 IP, 20 K, 11 BB)

[ctcf]

Here's hoping Archer and the Daytona Cubs keep their respective streaks going!

[craig]

When August comes in, often Fleita will promote players in order to either expose them to higher level, and/or to move them onto a winning team (which also affords the chance for extra playoff games.)

 

With that in mind, what is the playoff situations for the varying Cub farm teams? I pay so much attention to the players that I often have little idea how the team is doing W-L wise. And with split seasons, I don't even know which of Peoria, Daytona, and Tennessee already locked up playoff games during the first half.

 

I'm guessing that:

1. Peoria did not get 1st half playoff lock, and isn't likely to make playoffs 2nd half either. Correct?

2. Daytona didn't make 1st half playoffs, but is running away with things second half and is likely to make it?

3. Tennesee got 1st half playoff locked up, and is leading again in second half?

4. Iowa is in good shape for playoffs.

5. Boise is not likely to reach playoffs.

 

Who might be impacted.

1. Daytona

*Rusin. If wasn't in a race, or falls out, I'd expect Rusin to move up to replace Papelbon. But since Daytona is in a race, and Tennessee is already secure, no motive for that yet.

 

2. Peoria: Nobody really there with any big need to promote, or who would help Daytona much. 5 games out, they've still got a chance. But if Peoria isn't in a race...

*Lee might go to Daytona late in the season, just for some exposure. However, with Lake, Lemahieu, and Flaherty already locked into their infield, and with Lee not being a fast-track guy anyway, not a lot of need to advance Lee. He'll need plenty of time to reduce his errors and hopefully to physically mature into at least a little token power.

*No Peoria pitchers with any huge rush to promote.

*Perhaps Whitenack, if they did want to promote Rusin. Whitenack has very blah overall stats, finally dropped under 5.0, and his splits are very boring. But over his last ten starts and 50+ innings, his WHIP is barely 1.0 and his ERA is sub-3. A friend watched him in the Wrigley game, said his offspeed stuff looked fairly mediocre/unrefined/raw, and said he wasn't real fast. But he thought Whitenack looked like his frame and shoulders suggested he might be able to carry significantly more weight/muscle, and perhaps to throw significantly harder in future. A well-controlled sinker at 89-91, that's a good A-ball pitch. But if he matured into a 93-95 mph hard sinker with good control, that could be a really good big-league pitch. If an opening in Daytona's rotation opened, he could be the guy they'd like to expose and get a chance to be a part of the playoff action.

 

3. Boise doesn't have much to promote.

*Kirk could, if he adds a couple more good starts. But assuming Peoria didn't win it's first half and doesn't get into the playoffs 2nd half, I wouldn't imagine Kirk is going to get jumped up to Daytona's contender.

*LePage could certainly get promoted, but again no playoff motive and 2B is already somewhat cluttered with Cerda/Watkins, so it's not like he'd move right up and start at 2B everyday.

*Kurcz obviously deserved a promotion, and he's been so good that perhaps he could get shot up right to Daytona to see how he faired and to be a part of the playoff run in the event that he can compete.

 

Thoughts? And am I right that neither Peoria nor Daytona earned 1st-half playoff spot? Or Boise?

[ScrubMD]

Probable Starters

 

Iowa: RHP Jeff Samardzija (7-1, 2.64 ERA, 64.2 IP, 65 K, 43 BB)

Tennessee: RHP Chris Archer (4-1, 0.00 ERA, 28.1 IP, 25 K, 14 BB; Tenn & Daytona: 11-2, 2.06 ERA, 100.2 IP, 107 K, 40 BB)

Daytona: RHP Trey McNutt (2-0, 3.86 ERA, 21 IP, 23 K, 7 BB; Daytona & Peoria: 8-0, 2.12 ERA, 80.2 IP, 93 K, 31 BB)

Peoria: LHP Jeffry Antigua (3-5, 4.81 ERA, 78.2 IP, 68 K, 28 BB)

Boise: RHP Juan Yasser Serrano (4-0, 3.72 ERA, 36.1 IP, 20 K, 11 BB)

 

Any word on if McNutt's blister issues have subsided? Didn't he get bumped from his last start at the last minute?

[Outshined_One]

And am I right that neither Peoria nor Daytona earned 1st-half playoff spot? Or Boise?

 

Correct. Daytona's only two games up in their division, so they're not exactly running away with it.

[JonJayCutler]

Archer so far:

 

3 IP 1 H 0 ER 0 BB 4 SO :-)

 

Jackson with a double.

[ctcf]

Archer so far:

 

3 IP 1 H 0 ER 0 BB 4 SO :-)

 

Jackson with a double.

 

Kinda fell apart in the 4th. Now with 6 K and 3 BB and... 1 ER. The streak ends at 32.0 IP if I have my math right.

[Outshined_One]

McNutt's back! Looks like the layoff did him some good:

 

5 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 K

[roadtotheshow]

Archer's command issues pop up again ...might keep him out of Top 5 ranking. WALKS =TROUBLE

 

My Cousin said Antigua is absolutely dominating ...throwing 95

[THISisTHEyear09]

Archer's command issues pop up again ...might keep him out of Top 5 ranking. WALKS =TROUBLE

 

Yeah I dont think a guy who throws 97mph, has a 70 slider, and has .27 ERA at AA should deserve a Top 5 ranking

[roadtotheshow]

Archer's command issues pop up again ...might keep him out of Top 5 ranking. WALKS =TROUBLE

 

Yeah I dont think a guy who throws 97mph, has a 70 slider, and has .27 ERA at AA should deserve a Top 5 ranking

 

Im not saying he is way down on my list, maybe in the 7-9 slot.

[davell]

I think it depends on HOW he's walking guys, in a way, as to what kind of prospect he is right now. Is he barely missing? Is he trying to get cute? Is he losing concentration? All of these situations sound better to me than having a Ricky Vaughn streak in him......

 

That said, if he does fairly decently from this point forward to the end of the season, I'll be shocked if he doesn't make BA's top 100......In fact, I honestly think he's got a better shot than Vitters right now.(and I'm not trying to start anything about Vitters)

 

Great to see McNutt pitching extremely well tonight and same for Antigua......

[Outshined_One]

It took a blown save and another inning, but the Daytona Cubs just won their 13th in a row on a Ryan Flaherty walkoff HR.

[THISisTHEyear09]

Player A:7-6 4.10ERA 112.0IP 99H 52R 51ER 14HR 34BB 78SO .240 AVGA

 

Player B: 11-2 2.06ERA 100.2IP 72H 30R 23ER 4HR 40BB 107SO .197 AVGA

 

who would you pick roadtotheshow

[Guest]

Craig, the NWL went to the split season playoff system like so many of the other leagues. Boise had a chance to win their division in the first half and lost the last 5 games of the half to blow their lead. As always, a few Mesa guys get bumped to Boise since Mesa's season ends about a week before Boise's.

[roadtotheshow]

B

[Guest]

My Cousin said Antigua is absolutely dominating ...throwing 95

 

Wow, either he's bumped his velocity up (which is possible...and awesome) or that gun is a bit hot.

[THISisTHEyear09]

Player A - Jay JAckson

Player B - Chris Archer

[Outshined_One]

My Cousin said Antigua is absolutely dominating ...throwing 95

 

Wow, either he's bumped his velocity up (which is possible...and awesome) or that gun is a bit hot.

 

MiLB.com made a bit of an error and combined Antigua's and Jung's numbers for a little while, making it look like Antigua went 6 scoreless innings with 11 Ks. I was beginning to wonder what the hell was happening in Beloit.

[Guest]

Player A:7-6 4.10ERA 112.0IP 99H 52R 51ER 14HR 34BB 78SO .240 AVGA

 

Player B: 11-2 2.06ERA 100.2IP 72H 30R 23ER 4HR 40BB 107SO .197 AVGA

 

who would you pick roadtotheshow

 

Keep in mind A has pitched in one of the biggest hitter's leagues in baseball while B has pitched most of the season in the biggest pitcher's league in the minors.

[Wrigley Rat]

Archer's command issues pop up again ...might keep him out of Top 5 ranking. WALKS =TROUBLE

Yeah I dont think a guy who throws 97mph, has a 70 slider, and has .27 ERA at AA should deserve a Top 5 ranking

Points made. Archer's control or command does put the tiniest of chinks in his armor. I, however, can't think of 5 minor leaguers in the Cubs system who I would want ahead of Archer though, so he will be in my Top 5. If he were walking people Chris Huseby-style or Rich Hill-style, I would be more worried, but as of now I think that he is working around the walks, choosing the right batters to pitch around, pitching to the weaker batters who help him get out of trouble, etc. I think it's smart pitching.

[Guest]

Wow, Su-Min Jung with a bunch of strikeouts again. 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 K. Ties his career high.

 

That's 15 Ks in his last 7.2. 30 Ks in his last 19.2 innings. That's a great development.

[Guest]

No surprises here - Brett Wallach was assigned to the Peoria Chiefs and Kyle Smit to the Tennessee Smokies.

[davell]

Micah Gibbs better be one hell of a fielding catcher, because he makes Koyie Hill look like Bonds, Ruth, and Aaron all rolled into one at bat. Now 8-81 at Boise after 0-4 in Arizona. That's gotta be pretty damn hard to do honestly......