Here is your mid-week update for our Young Cubs. Please check out Iowa's box scores from Tuesday and Wednesday. They scored 33 runs in their last two games...and Jake Fox is back and on a tear.
Everything went as planned for Carlos Zambrano on Wednesday. His bullpen session went well and he will make a start for the Daytona Cubs this weekend.
Don't forget that you can check out my site at www.youngcubsworld.com for daily updates of the big performers.
Here are the standings for the Cubs' system only:
(click on image to enlarge)
Transactions
- Jose Ascanio (RHP) was promoted from Iowa to the Cubs - 5/10
- Blake Parker (RHP) and Kyle Reynolds (INF) were promoted from Tennessee to Iowa - 5/11
- David Cales (RHP) and Russ Canzler (DH/1B) were promoted from Daytona to Tennessee - 5/11
- Francisco Guzman (OF) and Ryan Keedy (IF) were added from an extended Spring Training to the Daytona Cubs' roster
Peoria Chiefs - Class A
Monday 5/11 - No Game Scheduled
Tuesday 5/12 - Chiefs split a double-header with the Quad Cities River Bandits
Game 1 - Chiefs score big with a 5-run inning, win 8-2 in game one vs. the River Bandits
- Winning Pitcher: Marcus Hatley (2-1)
- Offense: Ryan Flaherty: 1-for-3, 1 R, 1 double, 1 RBI, 1 BB; Kyler Burke: 2-for-4, 2 R, 1 RBI; Nelson Perez: 1-for-4, 1 R, 1 double, 2 RBI; Junior Lake: 2-for-4, 1 run, 1 triple, 1 RBI; Michael Brenly: 1-for-2, 1 R, 2 RBI
Game 2 - Chiefs' bats go cold, lose game two 0-4 to the River Bandits
- Losing Pitcher: Justin Bristow (0-2)
- Offense: David Macias: 1-for-2 (only Chief to get a hit)
Wednesday 5/13 - Game Postponed due to...RAIN!
Daytona Cubs - Class High A
Monday 5/11 - Daytona drops a rained shortened game to the Yankees 3-8
- Losing Pitcher: James Leverton (2-3)
- Offense: Dylan Johnston: 2-for-3, 1 R, 1 RBI
Tuesday 5/12 - Cubs defeat the Yankees 6-5 with a walk off single in the bottom of the 9th by Marwin Gonzalez
- Winning pitcher: Jake Muyco (1-2)
- Offense: Starlin Castro: 2-for-4, 1 R, 1 triple, 2 RBI; Marwin Gonzalez: 2-for-4, 2 RBI
Wednesday 5/13 - Cubs win 9-6 over the Yankees after a big 6-run 5th inning
- Winning Pitcher: Craig Muschko (2-1)
- Offense: Jonathan Wyatt: 2-for-4, 2 R, SB; Marwin Gonzalez: 2-for-4, 2 R, 1 triple, 3 RBI; Starlin Castro: 2-for-4, 1 R, 1 RBI
Tennessee Smokies - Class AA
Monday 5/11 - Smokies drop game to the West Tenn. Diamond Jaxx-3-4 in 12 innings
- Losing Pitcher: Jeremy Papelbon (0-2)
- Offense: Marquez Smith: 3-for-6, 2 R, 1 double; Russ Canzler: 3-for-4, 2 RBI, 1 BB
Tuesday 5/12 - Smokies drop another close one to the Diamond Jaxx-0-1
- Losing Pitcher: Jeremy Papelbon (0-3)
- Offense: Brandon Guyer: 2-for-4, 1 SB; Tony Thomas: 0-for-1, 2 BB
Wednesday 5/13 - Smokies score winning run in the 8th and hold on to squeak out a 3-2 victory over the Diamond Jaxx
- Winning Pitcher: John Gaub (1-0)
- Offense: Marquez Smith: 2-for-4, 1 double; James Adduci: 2-for-4, 1 R, 3 RBI
Iowa Cubs - Class AAA
Monday 5/11 - Iowa gets good pitching and enough offense to win 6-2 over the Redbirds
- Winning Pitcher: Vince Perkins (1-0)
- Offense: Sam Fuld: 1-for-2, 2 R, 2 BB, 2 SB; Jake Fox: 1-for-3, 1 R, 1 triple, 2 RBI; Brad Snyder: 2-for-4, 2 R, 1 double, 1 HR, 3 RBI
Tuesday 5/12 - Cubs lose a slugfest 15-16 against the Colorado Springs Sky Sox
- Losing Pitcher: Kevin Hart (0-3)
- Offense: Sam Fuld: 2-for-5, 3 R, 1 double, 1 RBI, 2 BB; Matt Camp: 2-for-6, 2 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI; Jake Fox: 3-for-4, 3 R, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 2 BB; Brad Snyder: 2-for-5, 1 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 BB
Wednesday 5/13 - Cubs use 25-hit, 18 run explosion to defeat the Sky Sox 18-4
- Winning Pitcher: J.R. Mathes (5-3)
- Offense: Doug Deeds: 3-for-4, 4 R, 1 triple, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2 BB, 2 SB; Jake Fox: 2-for-4, 1 R, 1 double, 3 RBI, 2 BB; Chris Robinson: 4-for-6, 3 R, 1 double, 2 RBI, 1 SB; Nate Spears: 4-for-5, 3 R, 3 doubles, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 SB; Andres Blanco: 4-for-5, 2 R, 1 double, 3 RBI; Sam Fuld: 3-for-6, 1 R, 1 double, 2 RBI
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kevin hart looks like he is strugling.
Here's an interesting thing to think about....
Nate, if you were to construct a team entirely made up of Cubs prospects in 2 years, assuming most of our big contracts are off the books....whom would you choose?
We would have the following guys off the books: Lee, Lilly, Harden, Miles, possibly Bradley (if option doesn't kick in), Gregg, Heilman, Cotts, Freel, and Johnson. Most likely Patton will be gone too, even though he wouldn't be arby eligible.
If you were to choose 11 players from our system: 2 SP's, 1 1B, 2 OFer's, 1 IF/OF type, 1 middle IF, and 4 relievers....who would you choose?
I just thought it be an interesting thought/question.
I'd probably have the following:
Zambrano
Dempster
Samardzija
Ascanio
Marshall
pen: Gaub or Papelbon as the lefty, Stevens, Wells, Reinhard, Guzman, Mateo, Marmol
Soto-C
Hoffpauir-1B
Fontenot-2B
Theriot-SS
ARAM-3B
Soriano-LF
Fukudome-CF
Jake Fox-RF
bench: K Hill-C, Tony Thomas-IF/OF, Clevenger-(b/c he can play IF and catcher), Snyder-OF, Flaherty-IF
anyway, just thought I'd have some fun with it. Obviously a lot can be changed in 2 years time, but all of the guys I mentioned there, I'm really high on.
Tony Thomas and Flaherty are both athletic enough to play IF/OF, and Clevenger would add a very interesting dimension, having a 3rd catcher that can also play the infield adds a nice bonus. Additionally, I'm pretty high on Mateo, Gaub, and Papelbon---especially because of pedigree in the pen, and Ascanio adds a nice touch to the rotation. I'm not as high on Stevens, as he got rocked in ST by MLB talent. All 3 pitchers Hendry got for DeRosa (though I still hate the trade): Archer-A ball, Gaub-AA ball, and Stevens-AAA ball, are doing VERY well. Archer and Gaub might be the best, though Gaub and Stevens are pretty old for their respective leagues.
What are your thoughts, Nate?
Great question Aaron!
I would have my roster look like this:
C-Soto
1B-Hoffpauir
2B-Tony Thomas (I think he is about ready to completely put things togehter)
SS-Theriot-but don't count out Flaherty here either-2 years may be rushing it, but I think he has the tools to be a long term fit at short.
3B-ARAM-Marquez Smith would be an interesting back up though. He has shown great power so far in his career and is at Tennessee this year, so he isn't far off.
LF-Soriano
CF-Colvin-probably a stretch here, but it would be nice to see him in the Bigs in two years.
RF-Fukudome-There isn't really anybody that I think will do well enough in RF that is in the system. Fox, though amazing this year will not sustain this kind of production and in my opinion he would be a butcher in RF
Bench: Theriot-super sub, Marquez Smith, I like Snyder on the bench, Clevenger (like you said very versatile), Nate Spears (again versatile)
Pitchers:
Starters:
Zambrano
Dempster
Mitch Atkins
Marshall
Samardzija or may be Esmailin Caridad and move Samardzija to the Pen
Pen:I really like the pen you came up with.
Marmol
Samardzija
Papelbon or Gaub
Mateo
Stevens
Reinhard-has been very solid this year
Ascanio-better future as a reliever than a starter in my opinion.
Thanks for the question Aaron, that was interesting to think about. What do other people think?
looks like Jake Fox has DH written all over him. I wonder with Big Papi's rapid decline, if the Sox here in Boston would consider giving up one of their super pitching prospects (Clay Buccholz, Johnathon Masterson, Bard) for him?
the local talk radio rambles on and on about replacing Papi soon
Nate, thanks for responding.
I, too, am intrigued by Smith, and was with Spears...at least last year, but he hasn't done all that much this year. I also agree with Thomas, and feel that if Fontenot can't raise his avg to at least a .275-.280 range, he's not an everyday player at this level, especially since he lacks the speed that Thomas has.
I'm not at all high on Atkins, and especially not Colvin. I thought he was a HORRIBLE reach for Hendry in that draft, as he wasn't even rated as high as a 2nd rounder I believe that year if memory serves me correctly. All major draft experts said that the Cubs were idiots for selecting him that high, and it looks like they're right. Atkins did well last year...but his ERA was still high. Couple that with the fact he got dominated in ST, and is getting dominated in AAA, and I don't think he's going to last that long.
Even though I'm high on most of the guys I mentioned, I believe ALL of them are likely trade candidates given this "win now" mentality that Hendry has. I believe you can have that mentality, but you must also be smart about your prospects. He's given up way too much with little return in the past.
Just think about it for a second. Guys like Willis, Nolasco, Pinto, Mitre, Scott Moore, Pie, Cedeno, Hill, etc., all could have been packaged for decent players, and yet we have only Heilman to show for ALL of those guys at the MLB level. Isn't that pathetic? Talk about the most shitty R.O.I. ever.
Baron,
As for your comment...there's absolutely no way in hell the Red Sox give us anything decent for a 26 yr old guy without a position. Though they keep shuttling Bucholz from AAA to the big club, and did so with Masterson at first as well, there's no way they'd accept that return.
Now, I do, however, think they might accept Derrek Lee AND another prospect for one of those guys, but certainly NOT Bard. Bard throws 100 mph gas, and they're extremely high on him.
But if Lee can prove he's healthy, and start hitting again, that deal totally makes sense for both teams. Fact is, without Big Papi in the lineup, they lack a decent power threat and leader. Lee is seen as one of the good guys in the game, like Papi, so it might be plausible. However, you're talking about Bill James and his comrades, along with Epstein. Chances are, they wouldn't bite on my deal, because they follow the same philosophy that I do....they look at historical stats, and Lee looks like he might be out of baseball when his contract is up, and has declined significantly the last few years.
Given that fact, I would not trade Fox at all this year, unless a trade completely blew me away, and like you said...if they offer Bucholz, Bard, or Masterson straight up for Fox, you do it in a heartbeat, but if Lee is injured for the foreseable future, we need Fox's bat desperately.