Chiefs Sweep Cubs Minor League Awards

[ChiefsVoice]

Sean Gallagher named Cubs Minor League PItcher of the year.

 

Eric Patterson named Cubs Minor League Player of the year.

 

Just wanted to give you guys the scoop. I'll post our press release soon.

[NCCubFan]

The Cubs stole our thoughts on who the Minor League POY is. :D

[rawaction]

Cool. Congrats to both.

 

Weren't Dopirak and Pie the last 2 POYs from the MWL Cubs?

[Chris]

Cool. Congrats to both.

 

Weren't Dopirak and Pie the last 2 POYs from the MWL Cubs?

 

Dopirak and Pinto.

[rawaction]

Cool. Congrats to both.

 

Weren't Dopirak and Pie the last 2 POYs from the MWL Cubs?

 

Dopirak and Pinto.

 

Yeah, Pinto was the pitcher, but in 03, was it Pie who was Offensive player of the year?

[Chris]

Cool. Congrats to both.

 

Weren't Dopirak and Pie the last 2 POYs from the MWL Cubs?

 

Dopirak and Pinto.

 

Yeah, Pinto was the pitcher, but in 03, was it Pie who was Offensive player of the year?

 

I thought this was only the second year of the player/pitcher of the year.

[rawaction]

Cool. Congrats to both.

 

Weren't Dopirak and Pie the last 2 POYs from the MWL Cubs?

 

Dopirak and Pinto.

 

Yeah, Pinto was the pitcher, but in 03, was it Pie who was Offensive player of the year?

 

I thought this was only the second year of the player/pitcher of the year.

 

Yeah, you are probably right.

[ChiefsVoice]

Peoria, IL – The Peoria Chiefs have announced that the Chicago Cubs awarded both of their Post-Season 2005 Minor League Awards to Chiefs players. Sean Gallagher was named Cubs Minor League Pitcher of the Year and second basemen Eric Patterson was named Cubs Minor League Player of the Year.

Gallagher earned national recognition when he began the season with over 40 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run. He started the 2005 MWL All-Star game in Peoria and led the league in ERA until late August. When all was said and done, the 19-year old right-hander went 14-5 in 26 starts with a 2.71 ERA and 139 strikeouts in 146 innings before earning a last week promotion to Daytona.

“What he accomplished at his age and the success he had was hard to match anywhere,” said Cubs Director of Player Development Oneri Fleita. “He really was a year ahead of himself and it was phenomenal. He was consistent all year and really something special to watch.”

Gallagher, a 12th round pick in 2004, not only started the Chiefs first no-hitter in 12 years, but two starts later threw the first six innings in the only one-hitter in O’Brien Field history. He tied for the MWL lead in wins, was 3rd in ERA and 4th in strikeouts while also being named to the MWL Post-Season All-Star Team.

“I was astonished when I got the call from Oneri,” said Gallagher. “Other players had such great years as well. It is definitely a top honor and a privilege. I wasn’t even supposed to start the year in Peoria and I used that to motivate me and work hard and be consistent. And its great that Eric won the other award he made some great plays behind me all year.”

Patterson, an 8th round pick out of Georgia Tech in 2004, was the model for consistency all year in the Chiefs lineup. He batted first or second most of the season and was continuously on base in front of the power hitters. Patterson also started the All-Star Game in Peoria and picked up a single in two at-bats. The 22 year old finished the season leading the league in hitting at .333. He also added 13 homers, 71 RBI, 26 doubles, 11 triples, 90 runs scored, a .535 slugging percentage, .405 on-base percentage and 40 stolen bases.

“We try to give guys a full season in one league and Eric would have stayed in Peoria without the injuries at higher levels,” Fleita said. “He had such a tremendous first full season. He won a batting title and was as consistent as a player can be. He hit to all fields, showed power, speed and great defense. We rewarded him with a move to AA for the playoffs and he more than held his own.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Patterson picked up another reward when he was selected for the prestigious Arizona Fall League which begins October 4th. In addition to winning a batting title, Patterson also finished the year in the top five in the MWL in stolen bases, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, runs scored and triples. And while some publications downplay his defense, Patterson committed just nine errors in 110 games and led the MWL in fielding percentage for second basemen.

“This is a tremendous honor and there were a ton of deserving players,” said Patterson. “The big thing for me all season was just being consistent. I didn’t really have a prolonged offensive slump and I take pride in that. I work hard to be consistent in offense and defense and I also kept the errors down this year which is real big for me. I’m also happy for Sean he carried us quite a bit on the mound all season.”

Both players were among the top 20 MWL prospects according to Baseball America’s rankings of the league which came out Monday. Gallagher is 15th and the youngest pitcher ranked in the MWL’s top 20. Patterson is ranked 16th, the only second baseman on the list. And OF Ryan Harvey is ranked 7th behind three other outfielders including #1 Prospect Carlos Gonzales of South Bend.

For more information about the Peoria Chiefs or O’Brien Field during the off-season, visit the team website at http://www.peoriachiefs.com

[Chris]

Excellent, thanks Nathan!

[TheDude]

Can you guys tell at this point in time whether this Gallagher kid is the real deal? If he makes it to the majors, how far out is the current projection? 2007?

[ChiefsVoice]

i think he is the real deal...and i would expect sometime in 2007 depending on who stays healthy....

[CuseCubFan69]

i think he is the real deal...and i would expect sometime in 2007 depending on who stays healthy....

 

You don't think it's because younger players struggle with a good curve ball? I hope you're right CV!

[Transmogrified Tiger]

You really think that Gallagher is going to go through High A, AA, AAA, and reach the majors in less than 2 years? That sounds a bit optimistic to me. He'll only be 20 next year, I think 2008 is a much more reasonable timetable.

[ChiefsVoice]

You really think that Gallagher is going to go through High A, AA, AAA, and reach the majors in less than 2 years? That sounds a bit optimistic to me. He'll only be 20 next year, I think 2008 is a much more reasonable timetable.

 

I think at least ends next year in AA if not starts there.

 

If he ends there in 2006, then he is in position to start 2007 in AAA or at least be there by the break and then get a Sep call-up. so yeah I do think he makes his debut in 2007. Especially with all the injuries, look at how many pitchers were shuffled up and down from AA to AAA to Chicago in 2005.

[Tim]

You really think that Gallagher is going to go through High A, AA, AAA, and reach the majors in less than 2 years? That sounds a bit optimistic to me. He'll only be 20 next year, I think 2008 is a much more reasonable timetable.

 

I think at least ends next year in AA if not starts there.

 

If he ends there in 2006, then he is in position to start 2007 in AAA or at least be there by the break and then get a Sep call-up. so yeah I do think he makes his debut in 2007. Especially with all the injuries, look at how many pitchers were shuffled up and down from AA to AAA to Chicago in 2005.

The problem with that scenario is the number of quality pitchers ahead of Sean in the system. Before he gets a shot, the Cubs would have to run through Hill, Guzman, Nolasco, Pinto, Marshall, Ryu, Marmol, etc. And that's not even including several of the guys who are quasi-regulars already like Mitre, Wellemeyer, Leicester. Hopefully, we'll see a return of Chadd Blasko in 2006 at full strength, too.

 

Unless Gallagher is completely lights out, I think it is safe to say he'll be waiting until 2008 to get a shot.

[ChiefsVoice]

well if the past few years are any indication, about 3-5 of those guys will get hurt in 2006....and that would open the door for any number of guys

[BigbadB]

well if the past few years are any indication, about 3-5 of those guys will get hurt in 2006....and that would open the door for any number of guys

 

Love the fact you share your insight with us here at NSBB. I have a question. What does a "ChiefsVoice" do in the offseason?

[ChiefsVoice]

 

Love the fact you share your insight with us here at NSBB. I have a question. What does a "ChiefsVoice" do in the offseason?

 

I work 9-5 like the rest of our front office. I run our website, jersey auctions and press releases. I also help out with marketing/promotion planning for the next season. Come Decemeber I will start planning and creating our program, media guide, 2006 calendar and any other print material we need to produce.

 

oh and I also take full advantage of all the vacation days I built up while working 142 (counting all-star game) days in a 155 day span!