Cubs Down on the Farm Report - 05/25/09

Here is your end of the week update from the Cubs' Minor League System. Josh Vitters has stayed hot and has homered in three of his four games this weekend...that is a total of 10 so far for the Chiefs this season.

Daytona has not played a game since Tuesday, May 19 due to rainy weather. The Smokies and I-Cubs are very close to leading their division and the Chiefs are right there as well, but Daytona is going to have to play some games before they can start making up the deficit they are behind in their division.

Thanks for reading and as always you can check out my site at YoungCubsWorld.com for daily updates.

Here are the standings for the Cubs' system only:

(click on image to enlarge)

Transactions:

Richie Robnett - promoted to Iowa from Tennessee
Jesse Estrada - sent down to Tennessee from Iowa

Peoria Chiefs - Class A

Thursday 5/21 - Chris Archer throws 5 scoreless innings gives up only 1 hit-Chiefs win 4-1

Winning Pitcher: Chris Archer (2-0)
Offense: Josh Harrison: 2-for-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI; Josh Vitters: 1-for-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI; Rebel Ridling: 2-for-4, 1 double, 1 RBI

Friday 5/22 - Vitters and Burke go deep, but Chiefs lose 4-14 to the Western Michigan Whitecaps

Losing Pitcher: Alberto Cabrera (3-2)
Offense: Josh Vitters: 1-for-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI; Kyler Burke: 1-for-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI; Nelson Perez: 1-for-4, 1 triple, 1 RBI

Saturday 5/23 - Chiefs' comeback effort comes up short-lose 2-3 to South Bend

Losing Pitcher: Marcus Hatley (3-2)
Offense: Josh Vitters: 1-for-4, 1 RBI; Josh Harrison: 1-for-3, 1 R, 1BB

Sunday 5/24 - Chiefs give up the lead in the top of the 9th, but win with a run in the bottom of the 9th

Winning Pitcher: Erik Hamren (1-3)
Offense: Josh Vitters: 2-for-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI; Junior Lake: 2-for-4, 2 R; Michael Brenly: 2-for-4, 1 double, 1 RBI

Peoria's Team Stats

Daytona Cubs - Class High A

Thursday 5/21 - Game Postponed due to "wet grounds"
Friday 5/22- Game Postponed due to rain
Saturday 5/23 - Game Postponed due to rain
Sunday 5/24 - Game Postponed due to rain

Daytona Cubs' Team Stats

Tennessee Smokies - Class AA

Thursday 5/21- Marquez Smith goes deep for the Smokies, but can't get much offense going; lose 2-8 to the Birmingham Barons

Losing Pitcher: Marcos Mateo (1-2)
Offense: Marquez Smith: 2-for-4, 2 R, 1 double, 1 HR, 1 RBI

Friday 5/22 - Smokies get swept in doubleheader against the Barons

Game One - Smokies drop game one, 2-3 in extra innings

Losing Pitcher: Alex Maestri (1-1)
Offense: Welington Castillo: 1-for-3, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI

Game Two - Smokies struggle to score runs, lose 1-6

Losing Pitcher: Jesse Estrada (0-1)
Offense: Blake Lalli: 1-for-3, 1 R, 1 double; Ty Wright: 2-for-3; Steve Clevenger: 2-for-3, 1 double

Saturday 5/23 - Smokies end 3-game losing streak with a 5-2 victory over the Barons

Winning Pitcher: Casey Coleman (4-1)
Offense: Welington Castillo: 1-for-3, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI; Tony Thomas: 2-for-4, 1 double, 1 BB; Blake Lalli: 3-for-4, 1 R, 2 doubles, 1 RBI; Russ Canzler: 1-for-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI

Sunday 5/24 - Jackson has Fifth straight quality start; Smokies win 5-2

Winning Pitcher: Jay Jackson (3-3)
Offense: Steve Clevenger: 3-for-4, 1 R, 1 RBI; James Adduci: 1-for-4, 1 R, 1 triple, 2 RBI

Tennessee Smokies' Team Stats

Iowa Cubs - Class AAA

Thursday 5/21 - Atkins can't stop the Fresno Grizzlies' offense, Cubs lose 2-9

Losing Pitcher: Mitch Atkins (2-5)
Offense: Sam Fuld: 2-for-4, 1 double, 1 BB; Jason Dubois: 1-for-3, 1 double, 1 RBI

Friday 5/22 - Cubs win close one against the Grizzlies, 3-2

Winning Pitcher: Vince Perkins (3-0)
Offense: Jason Dubois: 2-for-4, 2 doubles, 1 RBI; Doug Deeds: 1-for-3, 1 R, 1 double; Kevin Hart: 2-for -2, 1 double (first start of the year for Iowa after being in bullpen all year)

Saturday 5/23 - Iowa's defense doesn't help and offense can't make up the deficit, lose 2-8 to the Grizzlies

Losing Pitcher: Esmailin Caridad (3-4)
Offense: Jake Fox: 2-for-5, 1 double; Kyle Reynolds: 1-for-4, 1 double, 1 RBI

Sunday 5/24 - Cubs give up the winning run in the 9th inning and they lose 2-3 to the Grizzlies

Losing Pitcher: Jeff Stevens (0-1)
Offense: Nate Spears: 2-for-3, 1 double, 1 RBI; Andres Blanco: 2-for-4, 2 R

Iowa Cubs' Team Stats

Bryce H.

Will Josh Vitters get called up any time soon? He is playing well and probably deserves to get called up. Or would that be rushing Vitters too fast? Jake Fox should also get called up.

Neil

Vitters is at least a year away, probably more like two. Fox will get called up when they start Interleague play on June 12

Jim

That should be right around the time when Fox will start to cool off. Perfect.

Jim

The comments Bradley makes here sum up the problem with this team. No accountablility. Hey Monopoly stop obsessing about the umps and start obsessing about your piss poor BA, OPS, OBP, HR, RBI.... I could go on.

Jim

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4204044

The comments Bradley makes here sum up the problem with this team. No accountablility. Hey Monopoly start obsessing about the umps and obsess about your piss poor BA, OPS, OBP, HR, RBI.... I could go on.

Roland

Really stupid comments by Milton. In the grand scheme of things it probably doesn't mean anything.

I agree with you, the reason Milton is not hitting the ball well now is his own fault. Quit blaming others.

elliot

Can somebody answer the following vague question:

Back during the 2008 spring training, there was a player who made headlines by approaching Lou Piniella and asking him for more playing time because he really wanted a shot at making the team. Lou responded by giving him a game or two and that player responded by gathering a few hits. Yet, he still didn't make the team. For some reason, I think that player was Jake Fox, but I could be wrong... does anyone know the answer to this?

Neil

Elliot, you are right it was Fox.

waldo7239117

I think the Cubs should trade Miles for a PTBNL, call up fox to play third and Scales bes backup for SHort, third second, learn Sclaes how to play short.

Jim C (Tinley Park)

No HR's for Fox Friday Night? He must be in a slump. lol Nice work as always Nate S.

waldo7239117

Yah Bradley gots a point, a lot of the strikeouts he gets is a ball that is not even close.

I dont get it because when Dye threw the helmet behind him and it hit the umpire, he only got suspended for 2 games. But when Bradley barely touch the umpre he got suspended for 2 game. Dye is still appealing and that should stay at 2 game. I will be piss if his suspencion goes down to 1.

Bryan

Nate...thanks for the thorough On the Farm recap, as always.

I read today that Bradley thinks he's being targeted by the umps. Typical Cub mentality...let's blame something/someone else for our abysmal statistics v. taking some personal accountability.

It should be an interesting home reception today.