Minor League Discussion & Boxes 4-27-11

[Outshined_One]

Box Scores

 

Iowa with an off day

 

Tennessee lost 2-1 Box Score

 

RF B. Jackson 1/4, Assist (2B)

SS M. Gonzalez 0/3, K

3B DJ LeMahieu 0/4, 2 K

LF R. Ridling 0/4, K

1B J. Vitters 1/4, R

2B N. Samson 1/3, RBI

2B R. Flaherty 0/1

SP R. Whitenack 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 9-2 GO-FO

RP B. Parker 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 2-2 GO-FO

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

 

Daytona lost 8-6 in the 11th Box Score

 

SS J. Lake 0/2, K

3B M. Cerda 2/5, BB, R, 2B (6), 3 K, E (5, throw)

CF JH Ha 2/4, BB (!!!!), R, RBI, SB (3), Assist (Home)

1B J. Bour 1/4, BB, BB, R, 2 RBI, HR (3)

RF M. Burgess 0/5, 2 K

C M. Brenly 0/5, 2 K, PB (3)

LF E. Crawford 3/4, BB, R, 2 SB (7), Assist (2B), E (1, fielding)

2B/SS L. Watkins 0/4, BB, K

SP B. Ebinger 3.2 IP, 5 H, 6 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, HBP, 7-4 GO-FO

RP J. Latham 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 0-2 GO-FO

RP J. Lorick 2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K, 2-3 GO-FO

RP J. Beliveau 1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, K, 0-3 GO-FO

RP R. Searle 1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 3-0 GO-FO

 

Peoria won 7-2 Box Score

 

CF M. Szczur 3/4, BB, 2 R, 2B (4), K

2B P. LePage 1/4, BB, R

3B G. Rohan 2/4, BB, 3 R, 3 RBI, 2 HR (3)

1B R. Jones 1/3, BB, 2 K, HBP

C S. Burruel 1/5, 2 K

DH DJ Fitzgerald 1/4, BB, RBI, 3 K, SB (3)

SS A. Alcantara 0/4, K

SP D. Beeler 3 perfect, 2 K, 4-2 GO-FO

RP R. Lopez 4 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 1 K, 1 HR, WP, 4-3 GO-FO

RP C. Harman 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K, HBP, 2-1 GO-FO

RP M. Hatley 1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 1-0 GO-FO

 

OVERALL: 1-2

[Guest]

Probable Starters

 

Tennessee: RHP Robert Whitenack (at Daytona: 3-0, 1.17 ERA, 23 IP, 25 K, 1 BB)

Daytona: RHP Brett Wallach (0-1, 6.17 ERA, 11.2 IP, 8 K, 7 BB)

Peoria: RHP Dallas Beeler (1-1, 1.64 ERA, 11 IP, 7 K, 3 BB)

[toonsterwu]

Anyone have any clues on Beeler's velo early in the season? Haven't heard much ... is Nate around to help us out with that?

[ctcf]

Woah. Whitnack is starting in Tennessee today. Looks he got moved up.

[Guest]

Woah. Whitnack is starting in Tennessee today. Looks he got moved up.

 

Not a bad debut thus far - 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K.

[HossmanGT]

Woah. Whitnack is starting in Tennessee today. Looks he got moved up.

 

Not a bad debut thus far - 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K.

 

Final line was 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3K.

 

I'm tempering my excitement since we're only one month into the season, but is this guy a top ten Cubs prospect at this point? Dare I say top 5?

[Guest]

Woah. Whitnack is starting in Tennessee today. Looks he got moved up.

 

Looks like the corresponding roster move was Luke Sommer being released. I guess Raley or Rusin will head to the Smokies' pen.

[Guest]

Woah. Whitnack is starting in Tennessee today. Looks he got moved up.

 

Not a bad debut thus far - 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K.

 

Final line was 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3K.

 

I'm tempering my excitement since we're only one month into the season, but is this guy a top ten Cubs prospect at this point? Dare I say top 5?

 

That's far too quick for me. I'd probably sneak him into my top 15 now (admittedly he wasn't in my top 30 to start the season).

 

29 IP with 28 K and 1 BB between A+ and AA is ridiculous.

[Cubswin11]

Woah. Whitnack is starting in Tennessee today. Looks he got moved up.

 

Not a bad debut thus far - 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K.

 

Final line was 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3K.

 

I'm tempering my excitement since we're only one month into the season, but is this guy a top ten Cubs prospect at this point? Dare I say top 5?

 

That's far too quick for me. I'd probably sneak him into my top 15 now (admittedly he wasn't in my top 30 to start the season).

 

29 IP with 28 K and 1 BB between A+ and AA is ridiculous.

What type of pitches and velo does Whitnack have? Those are other worldly K/BB numbers.

[davell]

I'm pretty sure a knuckle curve is his best pitch. I know his velo isn't anything eye-popping, but can't remember what it is either.

[Guest]

I'm pretty sure a knuckle curve is his best pitch. I know his velo isn't anything eye-popping, but can't remember what it is either.

 

FB with lots of sink on it that runs in the low 90s and a change I believe.

[CubsWin]

I'm pretty sure a knuckle curve is his best pitch. I know his velo isn't anything eye-popping, but can't remember what it is either.

 

FB with lots of sink on it that runs in the low 90s and a change I believe.

McNutt, 21, and Whitenack, 22, in AA should be fun to watch this season.

[toonsterwu]

Love the 9/2 GO/FO ratio for Whitenack. Gotta give AzPhil credit on this one - he nailed this breakout this spring.

 

Sommer released is mildly interesting b/c iirc the rumors correctly a year or two ago, the Cubs were quite hopeful he'd become a useful pen arm, but there's more than enough lefties to fill pen roles in the system right now.

 

My guess is Rusin to the pen and Raley in the rotation on ... upside.

[toonsterwu]

I'm pretty sure a knuckle curve is his best pitch. I know his velo isn't anything eye-popping, but can't remember what it is either.

 

FB with lots of sink on it that runs in the low 90s and a change I believe.

 

The time I caught him last year, he was peaking low 90's, but sitting more upper 80's. That said, no clue as to what he's showing this year. Furthermore, with the sink, as the long as there's action, high 80's is fine.

[Cubswin11]

I'm pretty sure a knuckle curve is his best pitch. I know his velo isn't anything eye-popping, but can't remember what it is either.

 

FB with lots of sink on it that runs in the low 90s and a change I believe.

 

The time I caught him last year, he was peaking low 90's, but sitting more upper 80's. That said, no clue as to what he's showing this year. Furthermore, with the sink, as the long as there's action, high 80's is fine.

Exactly. As long as he can locate his Sinker well, 87-91 mph is fine. Then if he can consistently throw his Knuckle Curve in the high 70's/low 80's and his Change somewhere around 80-83 he should be fine, assuming he can locate those two pitches well. If he can hit low 90's with a sinker I would think he could throw a 4-seamer at least around 92-94 just for effect when needed.

[Guest]

Ebinger is starting for Daytona.

[TruffleShuffle]

Ebinger is starting for Daytona.

 

he did great if you don't include the 4th inning.

 

jae-hoon ha drew a walk =D>

 

junior lake was removed early for reasons unknown - flew out in the bottom of the third then was replaced in the top of the 4th.

[Guest]

http://www.thecubreporter.com/2011/04/27/giants-take-cubs-deep-sweep

[CubsWin]

jae-hoon ha drew a walk =D>

You beat me to it. And not only did he walk, but he hit another double.

[Guest]

Jae-Hoon Ha also got his 6th outfield assist of the season. 6th...and we're still in April!

[sneakypower]

great to see Szczur with a big game too: 3-4, 2B, BB, K

[CubsWin]

jae-hoon ha drew a walk =D>

You beat me to it. And not only did he walk, but he hit another double.

Oops, apparently I misread that. Cerda got the double. Still, I like seeing Cerda hit for extra bases.

[toonsterwu]

I still would like Cerda to get more playing time at 2nd. He's got a solid enough bat that he'll move up the ladder, but I still feel like 2nd is the position that makes the most sense. No disrespect to Logan Watkins, but I'd be fine if he was simply a FT utility guy.

[Little Slide Rooter]

great to see Szczur with a big game too: 3-4, 2B, BB, K

 

hes up to .310 with a .764 OPS, which doesnt sound great, but considering it was in the mid .600s last week, its pretty impressive.

[KingCubsFan]

Too bad Darin Downs didn't have more starts like that for us.