Minor League Discussion & Boxes 7-27-12

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Box Scores

 

Iowa won 5-0 Box Score

 

2B A. Cardenas 2/4, R, 2B (20), BB, 2 K

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

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

RF D. Sappelt 1/3, 3B (2), 2 RBI, BB

SP C. Volstad 8 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 5 K, HBP, 15-2 GO-FO, 102-72 pitches-strikes; hitting: 0/3, K

RP A. Cabrera 1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 0-0 GO-FO

 

Tennessee lost 6-4 Box Score

 

CF M. Szczur 0/4, 2 K - AA debut

2B L. Watkins 1/3, 2 R, BB

SS J. Lake 2/4, R, 2 2B (16), 2 RBI, 2 K, E (23, fielding)

1B J. Bour 0/4, 2 K

LF G. Rohan 2/4, R, HR (4), RBI

SP T. Harris 2.2 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, HBP, WP, HR, 4-3 GO-FO, 71-35 pitches-strikes; hitting: 0/1

RP Z. Rosscup 3.2 IP, 0 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, 4-1 GO-FO

RP K. Rhoderick 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 2 K, 0-1 GO-FO

 

Daytona won 2-0 Box Score

 

LF J. Andreoli 1/4, SB (37)

2B R. Torreyes 0/4, RBI

CF R. Silva 1/4, K

1B R. Ridling 2/4, R, HR (2), RBI, SB (3)

3B M. Cerda 0/4

SS T. Saunders 2/3, R, 2B (1), K, 2 SB (2)

SP R. Whitenack 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 4 K, 9-1 GO-FO, 79-44 pitches-strikes

 

Peoria won 3-2 Box Score

 

CF PC Chen 0/3, BB

2B W. Darvill 2/4, R, 2B (12), RBI

SS Ja. Baez 2/3, R, HR (11), 2 RBI, BB

3B D. Geiger 0/4, 2 K

DH C. Krist 0/4, K

RF B. Rademacher 0/3, 2 K

SP Z. Cates 5.1 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K, HBP, 5-1 GO-FO

RP A. Reed 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 2-3 GO-FO

 

Boise won 8-3 Box Score

 

2B G. Amaya 2/5, R, 3B (8), 2 RBI, 2 K

SS M. Hernandez 2/4, 2 R, K, SB (4), E (12, throw)

3B S. Bruno 1/4, R, 2 K

1B D. Vogelbach 2/3, 2B (3), RBI, BB

RF W. Contreras 1/4, R, HR (2), 3 RBI, K

DH R. Shoulders 1/4, K

CF T. Martin 2/4, 2 R, 2B (2), SB (5)

SP J. Pugliese 4 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 6-2 GO-FO

RP W. Cruz 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K, HBP, WP, 2-0 GO-FO

 

AZL Cubs lost 3-1 Box Score

 

LF S. Dunston 0/4, K

3B D. Lockhart 0/3, BB, K

CF A. Almora 1/4, R, 2B (2)

RF J. Soler 2/4, RBI, K, SB (2)

DH Y. Balaguert 0/4

C N. Rosario 0/3, K, PB (5)

SS C. Penalver 1/3

SP L. Castillo 4 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, WP, 2-4 GO-FO

RP C. Martinez-Pumarino 2.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 5-2 GO-FO

RP JY Kim 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 1-1 GO-FO

 

DSL Cubs 1 lost 7-6 Box Score

 

CF B. Flete 2/5, K, SB (5)

2B A. Gonzalez 0/5, K

3B M. Malave 1/4, 2B (10), 2 K

SS L. Acosta 0/4, 3 K

SP F. Figueroa 4 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, HBP, 3 WP, 5-0 GO-FO

 

DSL Cubs 2 lost 6-1 Box Score

 

CF Je. Baez 2/4, 2 R, HR (2), RBI, K, HBP

SS J. Emeterio 0/4

1B R. Alacala 0/4, RBI, K

RF-LF R. Caro 2/3, 2 R, SB (11)

SP H. Perez 4 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 6-2 GO-FO

 

OVERALL: 4-4

[Guest]

Probable Starters

 

Iowa: RHP Chris Volstad (5.83 ERA, 4.58 FIP, 63.1 IP, 47 K, 16 BB)

Tennessee: RHP Ty'Relle Harris (2.70 ERA, 3.88 FIP, 26.2 IP, 17 K, 14 BB)

Daytona: RHP Robert Whitenack (7.67 ERA, 5.50 FIP, 31.2 IP, 20 K, 15 BB)

Peoria: RHP Zach Cates (4.71 ERA, 3.82 FIP, 21 IP, 15 K, 5 BB)

Boise: RHP James Pugliese (4.66 ERA, 4.04 FIP, 36.2 IP, 28 K, 12 BB)

AZL Cubs: RHP Lendy Castillo (0.00 ERA, 9 IP, 10 K, 1 BB)

[Guancous]

Taiwan Easterling went on the DL yesterday. Somewhere tspain genuflects.

[Guest]

FYI:

 

Though the Hawks do not have the full allotment of players in Boise, they are hamstrung by the Cubs farm system, who has too many players in Mesa – which means there are players on the Hawks roster (Pierce Johnson, Brian Smith, Rashad Crawford) who have never came to Boise, but are on their DL to free up space in Mesa.

 

http://boisehawksradio.mlblogs.com/2012/07/25/near-perfect/

[BeerHere]

FYI:

 

Though the Hawks do not have the full allotment of players in Boise, they are hamstrung by the Cubs farm system, who has too many players in Mesa – which means there are players on the Hawks roster (Pierce Johnson, Brian Smith, Rashad Crawford) who have never came to Boise, but are on their DL to free up space in Mesa.

 

http://boisehawksradio.mlblogs.com/2012/07/25/near-perfect/

Sorry for being the grammar police, but that sentence barely understandable.

[El Duderino]

@BleacherNation

 

Sounds like Matt Szczur will finally be promoted to AA to take the spot of injured (concussion) outfielder Jae-Hoon Ha.

[Guest]

@CarrieMuskat: Jae-Hoon Ha sidelined 7 to 14 days with concussion after crashing into OF wall Thu nite for AA Tennessee. #Cubs

[Guest]

Kevin Goldstein ‏@Kevin_Goldstein

Very. But he absolutely has to keep hitting. RT @Cubs_Baseball: @Kevin_Goldstein Thoughts on Dan Vogelbach? Intriguing at all?

[fromthestretch]

Kevin Goldstein ‏@Kevin_Goldstein

Very. But he absolutely has to keep hitting. RT @Cubs_Baseball: @Kevin_Goldstein Thoughts on Dan Vogelbach? Intriguing at all?

 

Because of course they drafted a guy with his physique thinking that they could fall back on his speed and defense if the bat didn't come around.

[Cubswin11]

Kevin Goldstein ‏@Kevin_Goldstein

Very. But he absolutely has to keep hitting. RT @Cubs_Baseball: @Kevin_Goldstein Thoughts on Dan Vogelbach? Intriguing at all?

Yeah, no [expletive] [expletive] KG

[Guest]

I think his point is that he's very, VERY bad in the field.

[Little Slide Rooter]

@Kevin_Goldstein: I'd have him up now to evaluate. RT @Cioannacci: @Kevin_Goldstein expanding on that, would you bring Vitters up sometime this season?

 

My sentiment exactly. There's no reason to keep looking at Valbuena, who could be a decent utility guy, and I don't think that there's any benefit to keeping him in Iowa. He's hitting better then ever, and making some progress in his patience, but still leaves much to be desired in that deparent. it's not like an extra 2 months in Iowa is going to suddenly turn him into vintage Kevin Youkilis.

[toonsterwu]

@Kevin_Goldstein: I'd have him up now to evaluate. RT @Cioannacci: @Kevin_Goldstein expanding on that, would you bring Vitters up sometime this season?

 

My sentiment exactly. There's no reason to keep looking at Valbuena, who could be a decent utility guy, and I don't think that there's any benefit to keeping him in Iowa. He's hitting better then ever, and making some progress in his patience, but still leaves much to be desired in that deparent. it's not like an extra 2 months in Iowa is going to suddenly turn him into vintage Kevin Youkilis.

 

The fact that all the reports seem to indicate that the Cubs are looking for a 3rd baseman in a trade makes me wonder how they view Vitters future.

[Guest]

Yeah, I really think they're gonna let Vitters beat up on PCL pitching as long as possible, then make him this coming offseason's Colvin. To be more bold about it, I'd be surprised if Vitters reaches 100 PAs as a Cub.

[Guest]

Szczur to AA to replace the DLed Ha.

[BeerHere]

Yeah, I really think they're gonna let Vitters beat up on PCL pitching as long as possible, then make him this coming offseason's Colvin. To be more bold about it, I'd be surprised if Vitters reaches 100 PAs as a Cub.

Do you really see them trading him this offseason? There is a gaping hole at 3B. Vitters is young and under cost control for some time. I guess I wouldn't be surprised but if I see them giving him a shot at least.

[Guest]

Yeah, I really think they're gonna let Vitters beat up on PCL pitching as long as possible, then make him this coming offseason's Colvin. To be more bold about it, I'd be surprised if Vitters reaches 100 PAs as a Cub.

Do you really see them trading him this offseason? There is a gaping hole at 3B. Vitters is young and under cost control for some time. I guess I wouldn't be surprised but if I see them giving him a shot at least.

 

Yeah, I don't think they believe in Vitters as a capable MLB hitter. They traded Colvin and signed a FA RF last year, I imagine that they don't have a problem trading Vitters and going with a more preferred 3B option in FA or trade.

[Little Slide Rooter]

@Kevin_Goldstein: I'd have him up now to evaluate. RT @Cioannacci: @Kevin_Goldstein expanding on that, would you bring Vitters up sometime this season?

 

My sentiment exactly. There's no reason to keep looking at Valbuena, who could be a decent utility guy, and I don't think that there's any benefit to keeping him in Iowa. He's hitting better then ever, and making some progress in his patience, but still leaves much to be desired in that deparent. it's not like an extra 2 months in Iowa is going to suddenly turn him into vintage Kevin Youkilis.

 

The fact that all the reports seem to indicate that the Cubs are looking for a 3rd baseman in a trade makes me wonder how they view Vitters future.

 

There's a lot of talk that he's ticketed for LF as well. Wouldnt surprise me if we move Soriano.

[toonsterwu]

Yeah, I really think they're gonna let Vitters beat up on PCL pitching as long as possible, then make him this coming offseason's Colvin. To be more bold about it, I'd be surprised if Vitters reaches 100 PAs as a Cub.

 

I could see that. Another possibility - I could also see them thinking we kept Vitters at 3rd this year, but it doesn't look good, so let's shift him to LF in the fall, perhaps another AFL tour, and try to get rid of Soriano this winter.

 

Edit: Typed this before noting SCS' post.

[17 Seconds]

Yeah, I really think they're gonna let Vitters beat up on PCL pitching as long as possible, then make him this coming offseason's Colvin. To be more bold about it, I'd be surprised if Vitters reaches 100 PAs as a Cub.

Do you really see them trading him this offseason? There is a gaping hole at 3B. Vitters is young and under cost control for some time. I guess I wouldn't be surprised but if I see them giving him a shot at least.

 

Yeah, I don't think they believe in Vitters as a capable MLB hitter. They traded Colvin and signed a FA RF last year, I imagine that they don't have a problem trading Vitters and going with a more preferred 3B option in FA or trade.

 

I'm confused by the comparison between Colvin and Vitters

[Guest]

Cubs farm products without huge upside that have poor approaches that may prevent them from being regulars. They traded the first one(Colvin) to try and upgrade elsewhere, and I think they'll do the same to Vitters this offseason.

[jersey cubs fan]

Yeah, I really think they're gonna let Vitters beat up on PCL pitching as long as possible, then make him this coming offseason's Colvin. To be more bold about it, I'd be surprised if Vitters reaches 100 PAs as a Cub.

Do you really see them trading him this offseason? There is a gaping hole at 3B. Vitters is young and under cost control for some time. I guess I wouldn't be surprised but if I see them giving him a shot at least.

 

Yeah, I don't think they believe in Vitters as a capable MLB hitter. They traded Colvin and signed a FA RF last year, I imagine that they don't have a problem trading Vitters and going with a more preferred 3B option in FA or trade.

 

I'm confused by the comparison between Colvin and Vitters

 

There are plenty of comparisons. Definitely more of a Hendry regime type player than Epstein. Patience problems. Defensive questions. Not very impressive minor league resume despite showing obviously specific talents and occasional flashes.

[illiniguy]

Cubs farm products without huge upside that have poor approaches that may prevent them from being regulars. They traded the first one(Colvin) to try and upgrade elsewhere, and I think they'll do the same to Vitters this offseason.

So they'll want to move Baez?

[El Duderino]

i think you missed the upside part

[davell]

Cubs farm products without huge upside that have poor approaches that may prevent them from being regulars. They traded the first one(Colvin) to try and upgrade elsewhere, and I think they'll do the same to Vitters this offseason.

So they'll want to move Baez?

Baez certainly has a huge upside.