Outshined_One

He was hitting way over his head and was due for a correction at some point. Hopefully he'll use the slump to lay off more pitches, take a few more walks, and make the adjustments he needs to make. With any luck, he'll continue showing that his power surge wasn't a fluke.

So, did Ron chop off his upper lip or what?

We did.

Only one game tonight since the I-Cubs got PPD.

Or we could go to 312 Sports!

Rick Sutcliffe agrees.

Box Scores Iowa's DH PPD Tennessee won 9-5 Box Score CF T. Campana 2/4, BB, R, 2B (3), SB (8) SS S. Castro 0/4, BB, RBI, K LF T. Wright 1/4, R, 2 RBI, K, HBP C R. Chirinos 0/4, BB, R DH S. Clevenger 2/4, BB, 2 R RF T. Thomas 3/4, BB, 2 R, 3 RBI, 2B (5), E (3, fielding) 2B R. Flaherty 3/5, R, 3 RBI, 2B (1) 3B J. Opitz 0/3, BB SP M. Carrillo 3 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 3/2 K/BB, HR, 2-4 GO-FO RP D. Cales 3 scoreless, 2 H, 1/1 K/BB, 5-2 GO-FO RP R. Buchter 1 scoreless, 1 H, 3/2 K/BB RP A. Maestri 1 IP, 0 H, 1 ER, 1/1 K/BB, 4-1 GO-FO Peoria and Daytona with the day off OVERALL: 1-1

Alright, enough straying from the topic of how less than a month of ABs has definitively shown that Albert Pujols is on the decline and will soon be released.

LHP Scott Maine to Tennessee LHP Jeremy Papelbon to the DL

Yeah, really nothing to hang your hat on from a big day. Bummer. I'm actually really happy to see Cashner go 7 innings and throw nearly 100 pitches. Considering he struck out two batters in his last inning, it seems like he was able to keep his stuff at that late stage of the game. His performance wasn't spectacular, but it was a positive sign.

Part of me wants to nuke this thread. Another part of me wants to sticky it. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm...choices, choices...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2791/4093950406_8cb48d5493_o.jpg

There have been a lot of nights where the GO-FO and Ks don't add up to the IP for pitchers. When I've done some digging, it's because they MiLB longer count lineouts in tallying GO-FO.

Box Scores Iowa lost 5-1 Box Score SS D. Barney 0/4, K, E (3, throw) 2B M. Camp 0/4 RF B. Snyder 1/4 1B M. Hoffpauir 0/4 3B B. Scales 0/2, BB, CS (2), PO (1B) LF B. LaHair 1/3, 2B (2), K C W. Castillo 1/3, R, RBI, HR (4), K, E (2, throw) CF J. Adduci 2/3 PH S. Fuld 0/1 PH M. Smith 0/1, K SP J. Jackson 5 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 4/3 K/BB, HBP, 4-7 GO-FO RP B. Parker 1 scoreless, 0 H, 2/2 K/BB, 1-0 GO-FO RP J. Stevens 1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1/0 K/BB, 1-0 GO-FO RP J. Samardzija 1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 0/3 K/BB, 2-1 GO-FO RP M. Mateo 1 perfect, 2/0 K/BB, 1-0 GO-FO Tennessee lost Game 1 of their DH 4-3 Box Score CF T. Campana 2/4 SS S. Castro 0/4, R LF T. Wright 2/4, R, 2B (5), E (1, fielding) DH R. Chirinos 1/2, BB, R, 3 RBI, HR (5) RF B. Guyer 0/3, K, Assist (3B) C S. Clevenger 0/3 2B R. Flaherty 1/3 3B J. Opitz 1/2, BB, SB (1) SP A. Cashner 7 IP, 9 H, 4 ER, 4/3 K/BB, 11-4 GO-FO Tennessee won Game 2 of their DH 9-7 Box Score CF T. Campana 2/4, R, RBI, PO (1B) SS S. Castro 0/3, BB, K LF T. Wright 3/4, R, 2 RBI, 2B (6) 1B R. Canzler 1/4, R, 2B (4), K C R. Chirinos 3/4, R, 2 RBI, 2 2B (5), CS (1) RF B. Guyer 0/2, BB, R, K DH T. Thomas 1/2, BB, 2 R, RBI, 2B (4) 2B R. Flaherty 0/3, R, RBI 3B N. Samson 1/3, R, RBI, 2B (1) SP C. Carpenter 3 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 3/2 K/BB, WP, 1-4 GO-FO RP J. Muyco 1 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1-2 GO-FO RP D. Sasser .2 perfect, 1/0 K/BB, 1-0 GO-FO Daytona lost 5-4 in the 14th Box Score CF B. Jackson 1/5, 2 BB, 2 RBI, 2B (3), 3 K, CS (3) DH DJ LeMahieu 2/7, 2 RBI, K 1B M. Gonzalez 1/7 3B J. Vitters 1/5, BB, K LF M. Spencer 0/4 RF K. Burke 0/1, BB RF/LF N. Perez 0/4, 3 K SS J. Lake 2/5, R, CS (2) SP R. Dolis 6 scoreless, 2 H, 2/1 K/BB, 11-4 GO-FO RP D. Patton 2.2 scoreless, 1 H, 2/1 K/BB, 5-1 GO-FO RP M. Perconte 1 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 1/1 K/BB, 1-1 GO-FO RP O. Martinez 3.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 3/3 K/BB, 4-3 GO-FO Peoria lost Game 1 of their DH 3-1 Box Score SS HJ Lee 0/2, BB, SB (8) RF J. Valdez 0/2, BB, K, CS (3) 3B M. Cerda 0/2, BB, K LF G. Rohan 0/3 1B J. Bour 1/2, BB DH DJ Fitzgerald 1/3, K CF F. Guzman 0/1, RBI, K SP N. Struck 5 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 3/2 K/BB, 4-6 GO-FO Peoria lost Game 2 of their DH 1-0 Box Score SS HJ Lee 0/3 2B L. Watkins 0/3, K 3B M. Cerda 1/1, 2 BB LF G. Rohan 0/2, BB 1B J. Bour 0/3 DH DJ Fitzgerald 0/3, K C J. Rosa 0/3, K RF J. Valdez 0/2, BB, K, 2 SB (12) CF F. Guzman 0/2, BB, K SP J. Antigua 5 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2/3 K/BB, 6-6 GO-FO RP J. Latham 1 scoreless, 1 H, 1/2 K/BB, 2-0 GO-FO OVERALL: 1-5

In previous seasons, how many of those starts were at DH?

Box Scores Iowa PPD Tennessee PPD Daytona won 1-0 Box Score CF B. JAckson 1/3, K, HBP 3B DJ LeMahieu 0/3 RF K. Burke 0/4, 2 K DH J. Vitters 1/4, 2 K 1B M. Spencer 1/4, K, PO (1B) 2B M. Gonzalez 0/3 C M. Brenly 1/3 LF N. Perez 1/3, R, RBI, HR (1), K SS J. Lake 1/3, K, SB (2), 2 E (7, fielding x 2) SP DE Rhee 6 scoreless, 1 H, 2/1 K/BB, 14-1 GO-FO RP A. Shafer 3 scoreless, 4 H, 3/0 K/BB, 2-1 GO-FO Peoria PPD OVERALL: 1-0

Spencer's a 1B/LF prospect who could make a good bench option down the road. He was rehabbing an injury through Spring Training and probably will end up in Tennessee once a roster spot opens up. He's too old for Daytona.

So-so. He was a two-way player in college and had some decent stuff as a LHP, so there were some thoughts that he'd sharpen his command and improve his stuff by becoming a full-time pitcher. He's been decidedly inconsistent since the transition, but there's some hope he could be a middle of the rotation type of pitcher. His ceiling is halfway decent. Tonight...well, yeah, not good.

Was that some sort of weird Freudian slip? I'm racking my brain to think of what Mr. Freud would suggest he had in mind when he slipped the word fiancee in there while talking about Stalin Castro, but I just can't find an approporiate connection. Castro is one sexy beast. http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/chicago-cubs-wrigley-bound/Starlin%20Castro.jpg /swoon

Three Cubs made this week's Hot Sheet

Box Scores Iowa won 6-0 Box Score SS D. Barney 2/4, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 2B (2) 2B M. Camp 4/5, RBI, 2B (4) RF B. Snyder 2/5, RBI, CS (1) 1B M. Hoffpauir 0/5 3B B. Scales 1/5, K LF B. LaHair 2/3, R, HBP C C. Robinson 1/4, 2B (2) CF/LF J. Adduci 1/4, R, RBI PH/CF S. Fuld 1/1, R SP JR Mathes 8 scoreless, 5 H, 3/0 K/BB, 18-3 GO-FO RP B. Schlitter 1 perfect, 1/0 K/BB, 1-0 GO-FO Tennessee won 16-7 Box Score CF B. Guyer 2/4, BB, 3 R, 2 RBI, 2B (4), SB (7), HBP SS S. Castro 3/4, 3 R, 3 RBI, 2B (6), 3B (4), HBP 3B J. Opitz 0/1 LF T. Wright 3/5, BB, 2 R, 7 RBI, 2 HR (3), K, Assist (2B) C R. Chirinos 1/4, 2 BB, 2 R, 2 RBI, HR (4) RF R. Canzler 1/5, R, K 2B T. Thomas 1/4, BB, R, 2B (3), K 3B/SS N. Samson 1/4, BB, R, RBI SP C. Muschko 6 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 6/1 K/BB, 2 HR, 3-7 GO-FO RP R. Buchter 1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 0/2 K/BB, 0-3 GO-FO RP D. Cales 2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1/1 K/BB, 5-0 GO-FO Daytona lost 11-3 Box Score CF B. Jackson 0/3, BB SS DJ LeMahieu 1/4, BB, R, K, E (2, throw) RF/CF K. Burke 0/3, 2 BB, R, 2 E (2, fielding, throw), Assist (Home) 3B J. Vitters 1/4, R, 2 K, HBP DH M. Spencer 2/5, RBI, 2B (2), K C M. Brenly 2/3, BB, RBI LF N. Perez 1/4 SP B. Raley 2.2 IP, 12 H, 11 R, 8 ER, 3/4 K/BB, WP, 1-2 GO-FO RP L. Sommer 4.1 scoreless, 1 H, 3/0 K/BB, HBP, 8-2 GO-FO RP M. Perconte 2 scoreless, 1 H, 1/1 K/BB, 1-4 GO-FO Peoria lost 5-1 Box Score SS HJ Lee 1/4, K 2B L. Watkins 0/4, R, K 3B M. Cerda 0/3, BB, 2 K DH G. Rohan 1/4, K 1B J. Bour 0/2, 2 BB LF R. Jones 0/4, 2 K CF J. Valdez 0/3, BB RF F. Guzman 0/3, BB, SB (1) SP R. Whitenack 4 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 4/4 K/BB, 3-2 GO-FO RP L. Suarez 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 4-2 GO-FO RP J. Beliveau 2 scoreless, 1 H, 5/1 K/BB OVERALL: 2-2

Box Scores Iowa lost 6-5 in the 10th Box Score 2B/SS M. Camp 2/5, R CF J. Adduci 1/4, R, CS (2), HBP RF B. Snyder 3/4, R, 2 RBI, 2B (6), SB (2), HBP 1B M. Hoffpauir 2/4, BB, R, RBI, 2B (4), SB (1) 3B M. Smith 0/5, K LF B. LaHair 1/5, 2 K C W. Castillo 1/5, R, 2 RBI, HR (3), K SS D. Barney 0/4 SP M. Parisi 6 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 3/2 K/BB, HR, 9-5 GO-FO RP M. Atkins 1.2 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 1/1 K/BB, 2-1 GO-FO RP J. Gaub 1.1 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1/1 K/BB, 2-1 GO-FO Tennessee won Game 1 of their DH 7-3 Box Score CF T. Campana 1/4, R, SB (7) SS S. Castro 2/4, R, 2B (4), CS (2) LF/2B T. Thomas 1/3, BB, 2 R, 3B (1) 1B R. Canzler 1/3, BB, 2 R, RBI C R. Chirinos 1/4, 3 RBI, 2B (3) RF B. Guyer 2/4, 2 RBI, 2B (3), SB (6) 2B R. Flaherty 0/3, K 3B N. Samson 1/2, BB, R LF T. Wright 0/1 SP A. Bibens-Dirkx 5 scoreless, 2 H, 4/2 K/BB, 7-3 GO-FO RP A. Maestri 2 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 1/2 K/BB, 4-1 GO-FO Tennessee won Game 2 of their DH 9-1 Box Score CF T. Campana 1/4, R, 2 K SS S. Castro 2/3, BB, 2 R, 2B (5), CS (3) LF T. Wright 1/3, R, 2 RBI, K, HBP C S. Clevenger 1/2, BB, R, 2 RBI, 2B (2) RF B. Guyer 1/3, R, RBI, 3B (2) 2B R. Flaherty 0/1, 2 RBI 3B J. Opitz 0/2, BB, E (3, fielding) SP HW Chen 6 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2/0 K/BB, HR, 6-10 GO-FO RP D. Sasser 1 scoreless, 0 H, 1/1 K/BB, 1-1 GO-FO Daytona won 9-6 Box Score CF B. Jackson 1/3, 2 BB, R 2B DJ LeMahieu 1/3, BB, 2 R RF K. Burke 1/4, R, 2 RBI, 2B (4), K 3B J. Vitters 3/4, 3 R, 4 RBI, 2 HR (2) 1B M. Spencer 2/4, R, 2B (1) LF M. Gonzalez 0/1 LF N. Perez 1/3, 2 K SS J. Lake 1/4, R, K, SB (1) SP R. Searle 3 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 4/3 K/BB, 0-2 GO-FO RP O. Martinez 2.1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2/3 K/BB, 0-5 GO-FO RP D. Patton 1.1 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 1/1 K/BB, 1-2 GO-FO Peoria won 6-4 Box Score SS HJ Lee 0/4, RBI, K 2B L. Watkins 1/4, K 3B M. Cerda 0/4, K, E (2, fielding) 1B G. Rohan 1/3, BB, 2 R, 2B (5), K DH R. Jones 1/4, R, 3 K C J. Rosa 2/4, 2 R, RBI, 2B (1) LF J. Morelli 3/3, BB, RBI CF J. Valdez 1/4, RBI, 2B (1), K SP SM Jung 5 scoreless, 3 H, 4/2 K/BB, 4-7 GO-FO RP R. Morla 2.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 4/1 K/BB, 2 WP, 4-0 GO-FO RP J. Leverton .1 perfect, 1/0 K/BB OVERALL: 4-1

Link Bonus points for creative shakeweight use. EDIT: Here's a bonus one:

No, he's taking over for Hill as backup catcher. The new everyday catcher is going to be Randy Wells.

It's hard to gauge that, though. Zambrano would be throwing fewer innings and pitches out of the bullpen. However, relievers are usually encouraged to throw harder and let loose compared to starters. My worry with Zambrano is that he'll let loose in relief and do something to screw up his mechanics or delivery, which could lead to a lot of problems when he returns to starting or, worse, injuries. I'm praying the Cubs keep a close eye on him and that he doesn't overdo it in relief.