Outshined_One

I don't think you can sacrifice a bad player to the baseball Gods. I believe, actually, that it was late in Spring Training when Lou sacrificed Milton for a late July surge. He temporarily drained Dempster and Ramirez for August, Harden and Soto for September, and now Lilly to advance to the NLCS. I'm also pretty sure that he sacrificed Miles, but all that gave the Cubs was extra batting practice over the All-Star break. I'm pretty sure they're just going to give Aaron Miles away to a good family who lives out on a farm if he keeps up his production down in AAA.

Compared to last season, this season has been a breath of fresh air. It's nice being excited about guys in the minors once more.

Wells/Ascanio/etc. don't have an impact on how the system is ranked. If you wanted to evaluate the Cubs based on the talent the system has churned out, they'd rate pretty well on the pitching side of things and fairly poorly on the hitting side of things. BA ranked us 27th mostly because the system lacked depth and was very thin at the top, with Josh Vitters pretty much being the only Top 100 prospect we had along with a number of guys who were question marks. Right now, with the way the season has progressed, the Cubs are likely closer to the bottom third than the bottom 5. The system has four, possibly five guys (Vitters, Castro, Jackson, Cashner; maaaaaaaaaaaaybe Lee) who could make a strong case for Top 100 consideration if they produce up to their expectations. The 2008 draft yielded some excellent results and the surge of international players (particularly from the Pac Rim) have helped a lot. There's more talent in the system and some intriguing depth in the lower levels. What is going to matter a lot in the offseason is how the 2009 draft pans out. The Cubs have signed some interesting names, but the quality of talent has been somewhat lacking thus far. Signing Raley and a few of the HS guys would go a long way towards helping that.

Maybe Zambrano can give Pierre to Milton Bradley.

The Cubs have won 8 out of their last 10. :-$

Carpenter only went four innings. Hopefully it was precautionary.

i wouldn't call 27 BB in 89 games "excellent" in low A for a guy who played three years at vandy. a walk rate of 8.2% isn't bad but it really isn't good either. For our system, it's good. Excellent was a bit of hyperbole, yeah. I'm not saying Flaherty is a Top 100 prospect or whatever, but he's better than a lot of people think.

Box Scores Iowa lost 4-2 Box Score CF S. Fuld 0/3, R, BB, K, 2 OF assist (at second base, at third base) 2B A, Miles 2/4, 2B (4), RBI 3B B. Scales 1/3, K, CS (4) C C. Robinson 2/4, R SS D. Barney, 0/2, RBI, E (4, fielding) SP E. Caridad 5 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, WP, 2-8 GO-FO RP J. Gaub 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 4-2 GO-FO Tennessee with the day off. Daytona won 3-1 Box Score CF T. Campana 1/4, 3B (2), 3 RBI LF J. Harrison 0/4, K SS S. Castro 1/4, K RF B. Guyer 0/4, 4 K 3B J. Vitters 0/4, E (7, throw) SP C. Carpenter 4 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 6-2 GO-FO RP D. Cales 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 3-1 GO-FO Peoria won 12-5 Box Score CF D. Macias 2/4, R, BB, K, SB (4), CS (5) 2B R. Flaherty 0/3, R, 2 BB, K 1B R. Ridling 1/3, 2 R, HR (11), 2 RBI, 3 BB RF K. Burke 2/4, 2 R, 2B (33), RBI, BB 3B J. Rosa 2/5, 2 R, 2B (3), HR (3), 6 RBI, E (4, fielding) SS J. Lake 1/2, R, HR (5), 2 RBI, HBP SP A. Shafer 5 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 HR, 5-7 GO-FO RP C. Siegfried 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 3-2 GO-FO Boise won 7-4 Box Score SS HJ Lee 2/5, R, RBI, E (15, throw) RF J. Valdez 2/5, RBI, K, SB (11) CF B. Jackson 1/5, R, RBI 1B J. Bour 2/5, 2B (3), RBI, K 2B L. Watkins 1/5, R, 2B (8), K, CS (2) SP C. Rusin 2.1 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, HBP, HR, 1-2 GO-FO - Boise debut RP J. Antigua 4.2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 11 K, 1-2 GO-FO - first double digit strikeout game from a Hawk since Rich Hill in 2003 AZL Cubs lost 7-5 Box Score CF F. Guzman 2/3, 2 R, BB 2B W. Darvill 2/5, 2 RBI, SB (2) SS DJ LeMahieu 3/5, 2 RBI, SB (1). E (1, throw) DH C. Thomas 1/4, 2B (5), BB, K, PO RF J. Morelli 1/4, R, BB, K 3B J. Petratis 1/5, 2B (2), RBI, 2 K LF K. Soto 2/4, 2 R, 2 2B (3) SP K. McNutt 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, WP, 2-1 GO-FO, E (1, pickoff) RP L. Liria 3 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 4-2 GO-FO The DSL teams with an off day. OVERALL: 3-2

I was at the game, he threw really hard and had the reds chasing his offspeed pitches That's a pretty good way of putting it. Hart gets in trouble with teams that have patience at the plate, but against a team like the Reds who are happy to chase anything in and around the zone, he looks pretty darn good.

If it weren't for his batting average, most people around here would be talking up Ryan Flaherty more often. He hit HR #14 tonight and is sporting some excellent power and discipline numbers.

I hope not. There is only about a month left in the minor league regular season. Keep Lee at Boise. What about next year? I assume Castro is headed to AA next year so a spot is open at Daytona but moving Lake to Daytona after a subpar performance in Peoria would be counterproductive. The Cubs will cross that bridge when they get to it. Projecting lineups and positions a year from now in the minors can be quite the exercise in futility, since so much can happen between now and next Spring. It wouldn't hurt Lake a whole lot to repeat in Peoria, but, at the same time, he has an excellent array of tools that could justify moving him to Daytona next season, regardless of production. It all depends on how he continues to develop and mature, as well as whether the Cubs think he's ready to be moved up, regardless of his stats.

This thread is like a work of art. Why tarnish it by locking it?

Len and Bob said Dempster is supposed to be back on Tuesday so no. It sounds like Hart will stay in. Gotcha. And also shocked the crap that Matt Lawton brought us actually made it to the bigs. Great K:BB ratio :roll: He's got a fantastic sinker...and that's about it. Not a bad option to have in the pen, but don't expect miracles.

I wouldn't trade Bradley just to trade him. The Tigers have a bad farm system, although they also have a few young players in the majors who could be of interest to the Cubs. Still, it's not a good idea to just chuck him under the bus when he has a strong OBP and could hit a hot streak since he's a very good hitter. I'd think about a deal that somehow gets Dunn on this team in Bradley's place, but that's not happening.

I thought he looked inconsistent, but okay with Peoria (considering his age and level). It seemed like his problems were mostly footwork and concentration, with pretty good physical defensive tools.

Box Scores Iowa won 11-2 Box Score CF S. Fuld 2/5, BB, 2 R, RBI, 2B (17), 3B (9), SB (23) 2B A. Miles 1/6, 2 R, 2 RBI, K 1B M. Craig 1/4, BB, 2 R, RBI 3B B. Scales 0/2, 3 BB, R, K C C. Robinson 2/4, BB, 2 2B (17), 5 RBI RF M. Camp 1/4, BB, R, 2B (9) SS D. Barney 2/5, R, RBI, 3B (1), K PH J. Dubois 0/0, BB, R SP JR Mathes 7 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 1/0 K/BB, 14-6 GO-FO RP B. Parker 2 scoreless, 3 H, 4/0 K/BB, 1-1 GO-FO Tennessee lost 4-1 Box Score 2B T. Thomas 1/2, BB, R, HBP, SB (11) CF T. Colvin 0/4, 2 K 3B M. Smith 1/3, HBP RF D. Deeds 1/4, RBI, 2B (10) LF T. Wright 0/3, K C W. Castillo 1/4 SS N. Samson 0/3, K PH R. Canzler 0/1, K PH J. Adduci 0/1 SP C. Coleman 5 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 2/3 K/BB, WP, 10-3 GO-FO RP C. Lambert 2 scoreless, 2 H, 0/1 K/BB, 4-1 GO-FO RP J. Ruhlman 1 scoreless, 1 H, 3-0 GO-FO Daytona Canceled: Rain Peoria won 9-1 Box Score 3B D. Macias 0/4, R, K, E (8, throw), HBP SS R. Flaherty 1/4, R, 3 RBI, HR (13) PH/SS J. Made 0/1 1B R. Ridling 0/3, BB, 2 K CF K. Burke 2/3, BB, 2 R, RBI, 2B (32), HR (8), K C M. Brenly 2/4, R, RBI DH J. Rosa 1/3, BB, R, K 2B J. Lake 2/4, 2 R, SB (6) LF DJ Fitzgerald 0/2, K, SB (1) LF N. Perez 1/2, R, 2 RBI, 2B (15) RF D. Rundle 0/4, 2 K SP J. Beliveau 5 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 4/0 K/BB, HR, HBP, 5-6 GO-FO Boise won 10-9 thanks to a 4 run 9th Box Score SS HJ Lee 3/5, 3 RBI, 2B (10), K RF J. Valdez 3/5, R, RBI, CS (6), E (6, fielding), Assist (Home) CF B. Jackson 1/5, R, K DH JH Ha 2/5, 2 R, RBI 2B L. Watkins 1/4, BB, R, 2 K 1B G. Rohan 1/3, R, RBI PH/1B J. Bour 1/1, 2B (2), 3 RBI 3B G. Matheus 2/5, 2 R, 2 K C M. Williams 0/3, R, K LF R. Davis 1/4, R, RBI, 3B (1), 2 K, Assist (Home) SP R. Whitenack 5 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 3/4 K/BB, 8-3 GO-FO RP L. Suarez .2 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 1/1 K/BB, HBP, 0-0 GO-FO RP D. Nunez 1.1 scoreless, 1 H, 2-2 GO-FO AZL Cubs with an off day DSL Cubs 1 lost 10-3 Box Score DSL Cubs 2 won 5-1 Box Score OVERALL: 4-2

So you're relatively confident he would walk, even in this depressed market? I mean, I guess him accepting arb wouldn't exactly be the worst thing in the world... As inconsistent as he's been, I wouldn't have any problem with seeing him get a 1 year deal.

I'm definitely looking forward to the DJ LeMahieu Experience. He was a blast to watch in the CWS.

Now Wireless Joe Jackson, there's a ball hitting machine!

P Chris Rusin is listed on Boise's roster. Looks like he got called up from Mesa.

You're forgetting about pixie dust. That's always a factor. How's the dust working for Greene and Ankiel these days? Ankiel snorted all of it.

Daytona News-Journal lied to me. Either that or he's hurt. :? missed start due to elbow troubles Gee, I wonder if bringing him out to pitch after a 45 minute rain delay had anything to do with that?

Box Scores Iowa lost 16-8 Box Score CF S. Fuld 1/6,R, 2 RBI, HR (2), K 3B/SS A. Miles 1/5, 2 K, E (3, throw) LF J. Dubois 3/5, 2 R, 2 RBI, HR (11), Assist (Home) C S. Clevenger 2/4, BB, R, K 1B/3B B. Scales 3/4, BB, R, 2 RBI, 2B (13) SS D. Barney 1/3, 2 RBI 1B M. Craig 0/1, 2 BB, R, K SP M. Atkins 3 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 2/3 K/BB, HR, Balk, HBP, 0-6 GO-FO RP J. Russell 1.1 IP, 8 H, 6 ER, 1/2 K/BB, HR, 1-2 GO-FO RP J. Gaub 1.2 scoreless, 2 H, 3/1 K/BB, 1-1 GO-FO RP B. Parkers 1 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 1-1 GO-FO RP N. Spears 1 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 2 HR, 1-2 GO-FO (yay position players conscripted into mop-up duty!) Tennessee lost 10-0 Box Score CF J. Adduci 1/3, BB, Assist (3B) 3B M. Smith 1/3, 2B (27), BB RF T. Colvin 0/4, 3 K, 2 Assists (home, 3B) LF T. Wright 3/4, 2B (14) C W. Castillo 1/4, 2 K 2B N. Samson 1/4, K SP J. Jackson 2.2 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 2 K, HBP, 2-3 GO-FO, E (1, throw) RP M. Mateo 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 0-2 GO-FO RP J. Ruhlman 1 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, HR, 1-0 GO-FO Daytona won 16-10 Box Score LF T. Campana 1/4, 3 R, RBI, 2 BB, K, 2 SB (40), E (4, fielding) 2B J. Harrison 4/5, 3 R, 4 RBI, BB, SB (9) DH S. Castro 1/3, R, 3 RBI, 2 BB CF B. Guyer 2/5, 2B (10), 2 RBI, K, HBP, SB (16) SS M. Gonzalez 2/5, 3 RBI 3B J. Vitters 2/4, R, RBI, HBP RF J. Wyatt 2/3, 3 R, RBI, BB, SB (6) SP J. Leverton 5 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 3-8 GO-FO RP D. McDaniel 1 IP, 3 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 2-0 GO-FO Peoria won 7-6 on a walk-off Jose Made bases loaded walk Box Score CF D. Macias 1/5, R, 3B (1), K SS R. Flaherty 2/3, 4 R, HR (12), RBI, 2 BB, K 1B R. Ridling 3/5, R, HR (10), 4 RBI, K, CS (1) RF K. Burke 2/4, 3B (2), RBI, BB 2B J. Lake 1/4, R, 2 K SP C. Archer 4.2 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 2 K, WP, 9-2 GO-FO RP A. Cabrera 0.2 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, WP, 1-1 GO-FO RP R. Buchter 2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 2-3 GO-FO RP C. Huseby 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1-1 GO-FO Boise lost 5-1 Box Score SS HJ Lee 2/4, R, 2B (9), K, SB (14) 2B L. Watkins 0/2, BB, K, HBP, E (6, fielding) - 15-game hit streak snapped CF B. Jackson 1/4, RBI, 2 K - gotten on base 20 consecutive games RF JH Ha 0/4, K LF B. Davis 0/4, K SP T. Mitchell 0.2 IP, 0 H, 5 ER, 5 BB, 1 K, 1 HBP, 2 WP, 1-0 GO-FO RP C. Martin 3.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HBP, 7-2 GO-FO RP Y. Gonzalez 2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, WP, 5-1 GO-FO AZL Cubs won 4-1 Box Score SS W. Darvill 1/4, K DH DJ LeMahieu 2/4, 2 R, 3B (1), RBI, K, - pro debut 1B C. Thomas 2/4, RBI LF B. Springfield 0/4, 2 K RF-CF K. Soto 2/3, RBI, K SP SM Jung 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K, WP, 2-2 GO-FO RP J. Peña 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, HBP, 2-2 GO-FO RP Ma. Perez 1 IP, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 1-1 GO-FO DSL Cubs 1 won 7-6 Box Score DSL Cubs 2 lost 7-4 Box Score OVERALL: 4-4

I really like his contact skills, but he jumps all over pitches in the strike zone and does a good job of laying off of pitches outside the zone. He's not the kind of guy who'll swing at crap at his ankles or neck very often. His biggest problem is that he needs to learn how to lay off of pitchers' pitches in the zone.

Jay Jackson would take issue with that. Cashner is a better prospect than Vitters. I know people take issue with how the Cubs develop position players, but Vitters' bat and strike zone recognition are leagues better than anyone we've had in the system for awhile now. Considering he's got a very good chance of sticking at 3B, there's a reason why he's a Top 30 prospect in baseball right now. Cashner's done a great job, but he needs to prove he can stick in the rotation.