Here is your mid-week update for our Young Cubs. Don't forget that you can check out my site at YoungCubsWorld.com for daily updates of the big performers.
Transactions
- Jake Fox recalled from Iowa - Jason Waddell placed on DL
Here are the standings for the Cubs' system only:
(click on image to enlarge)
Peoria Chiefs - Class A
Monday 6/15 - Chiefs sweep a double-header against the Quad Cities Bandits
Game One: Chiefs win 8-0
- Winning Pitcher: Chris Carpenter (3-3)-Complete game shutout
- Offense: Josh Harrison: 1-for-3, 2 runs, 1 BB; Rebel Ridling: 2-for-4, 1 run; Josh Vitters: 1-for-4, 1 double, 1 RBI; Junior Lake: 2-for-3, 2 runs, 1 HR, 1 RBI; Ryan Flaherty: 1-for-3, 1 double, 3 RBI
Game Two: Chiefs win 5-4 in 7 innings
- Winning Pitcher: Manolin De Leon (2-0)
- Offense: Rebel Ridling: 2-for-4, 2 RBI; Kyler Burke: 1-for-2, 1 run, 1 RBI, 2 BB; Junior Lake: 2-for-4, 1 run, 1 double
Tuesday 6/16 - Chiefs blow out the Bandits 10-0
- Winning Pitcher: Aaron Shafer (5-3)
- Offense: Josh Harrison: 3-for-4, 2 runs, 1 triple, 1 BB; Kyler Burke: 3-for-3, 4 runs, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 BB; Ryan Flaherty: 1-for-4, 1 HR, 4 RBI; Nelson Perez: 2-for-4, 1 run, 1 RBI
Wednesday 6/17 - Chiefs get plenty of offense and win 7-3 over the Bandits
- Winning Pitcher: Justin Bristow (3-2)
- Offense: Josh Vitters: 1-for-4, 2 RBI; Josh Harrison: 1-for-3, 2 runs, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 3 SB; Junior Lake: 2- for-4, 2 runs, 1 HR, 2 RBI; Michael Brenly: 3-for-3, 1 run, 1 RBI
Daytona Cubs - Class High A
Monday 6/15 - Cubs come from behind to defeat the St. Lucie Mets 5-4
- Winning Pitcher: Dustin Sasser (4-0)
- Offense: Tony Campana: 2-for-4, 1 run, 1 SB; Robinson Chirinos: 2-for-4, 2 runs, 1 double; Jake Opitz: 2-for-4, 1 run, 2 doubles, 2 RBI
Tuesday 6/16 - Four pitchers combine to shut out the Mets 6-0 behind another good start by Cashner
- Winning Pitcher: Henry Williamson (5-2)
- Offense: Jake Opitz: 3-for-4, 2 runs; Brandon Guyer: 2-for-4, 1 run, 1 double, 1 RBI; Ryan Keedy: 1-for-2, 1 run, 2 RBI, 1 BB
Wednesday 6/17 - Cubs lose 1-4 to St. Lucie Mets as bats go silent
- Losing Pitcher: Ryan Searle (5-5)
- Offense: Starlin Castro: 1-for-4, 1 run; Jovan Rosa: 2-for-3
Tennessee Smokies - Class AA
Monday 6/15 - Smokies lose 2-5 to the Mobile BayBears
- Losing Pitcher: Casey Lambert (4-5)
- Offense: James Adduci: 3-for-4 (9 game hitting streak); Blake Lalli: 3-for-4, 1 run; Tyler Colvin: 1-for-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI
Tuesday 6/16 - No Game Scheduled
Wednesday 6/17 - Game Postponed due to rain
Iowa Cubs - Class AAA
Monday 6/15 - Offense disappears for Iowa and they lose 1-5 to Oklahoma City
- Losing Pitcher: Jeff Samardzija (4-4)
- Offense: John-Ford Griffin: 3-for-4, 1 double, 1 RBI
Tuesday 6/16 - Cubs get some offense going and win 6-2 over OK City
- Winning Pitcher: Kevin Hart (3-3)
- Offense: Sam Fuld: 2-for-5, 1 SB; Steve Clevenger: 2-for-4, 2 runs, 1 double; Matt Camp: 3-for-4, 1 run, 1 RBI; Chris Robinson: 1-for-4, 1 run, 1 double, 1 RBI
Wednesday 6/17 - Iowa wins 5-4 in extra innings against OK City
- Winning Pitcher: Justin Berg (2-1)
- Offense: John-Ford Griffin: 1-for-5, GW HR, 1 RBI; Matt Camp: 4-for-6
Thanks for the info Nate.
Is Matt Camp someone who can help the big league club at 3rd while Ramirez is out?
Nick, I know you were asking Nate, but thought I'd weigh in on this one.
I thought the same thing about Camp....until I looked at his stats. Even in college with a metal bat, he didn't impress much, hitting a max of 2hr, 46 RBI (in the minors, his max was 2007 when he hit 2 hr, 43 RBI, 42 SB)....not exactly what you want out of your hot corner bat. Now, he does have a considerable amount of speed. In 2006, in 74 games at Boise, he stole 22 bases, and he's always been tough to strike out. But at 25 yrs old, and an enigma at the plate (you never know if he's going to hit .249 avg, .317 OBP (as he did at Peoria), or .340 avg, .360 OBP (like this year). I think you're looking at an emergency MLB player only, or a career minor leaguer (like Scales). Now, one thing's for sure with Camp. He has speed, and he's difficult to strike out...but those are really the only positives.
Thanks Aaron. I was kind of wondering that, because I haven't heard a whole lot about him.
Nate, I notice that the Smokies have
Tyler Colvin list as DH on their roster.
Is that because his arm isn't fully healed yet?
In a small sample with the Smokies, he seems to be doing well...with exception of ko's/bb.
Chris Robinson is a guy that is starting to intrigue me. It looks like he's having a great year in Iowa and might he get a call up in September or even sooner if Soto or Hill gets hurt? He's got a little bit of speed and can hit some doubles. I think he could make for a serviceable back-up. Any thoughts or insights on this guy?
Robinson intrigued me earlier, because he was batting over .360, and tearing it up at AAA. But he's come back to earth a little bit, now sitting at .331 avg, .344 OBP, 1 hr, 27 RBI. But his 4 walks to 21 K's is alarming, along with his OBP.
I've been studying avg and OBP lately, and I think I've finally confirmed my original hypothesis.
My original hypothesis stated that if a player had a high batting average (say, .310 and above), and a mid range OBP (say, .340 and below) at the same time, then that hitter's success was a by-product of dumb luck. In fact, the closer a batter's average is to his OBP in that range, the more luck he has. It means that he lacks the plate discipline to get out of slumps when he's not hitting, and it also means that hits might be falling in when they otherwise may not have been in the past. (to confirm that hypothesis, you then need to test their historical stats, and see where they were at before...a quick check shows Robinson likely falls into the .260-.280 avg range, and .330-.340 OBP range) See, the OBP is generally a good indicator of where your average will end up. Most guys at the MLB level batting over .300 have OBP's in the .370+ range. The one exception to this rule would be Adam Dunn, who despite a .245+avg, still manages to have a .400+OBP, because he draws a tremendous amount of walks, often leading the league.
So, expect Robinson's numbers to come down to the .260-.280 avg range, and stay right at about .330-.340 OBP. Does that mean he's not a good prospect? Not necessarily...but he's NOT a difference maker. I still think he could be just as good as Soto at the MLB level, but without the same power.
A quick check of Soto, shows that we should've expected his fall to happen. His minor league averages tell us to expect around a .260-.275 avg, .340-.350 OBP. That, my friends, does NOT translate well to the big leagues. In fact, until his breakout minor league season in 2007 when he hit 26 hr, the most he'd hit before that was 9....This is quite alarming...but not surprising, considering it was his 3rd consecutive year at AAA.
The best catching prospect we might have is Steve Clevenger, who is struggling a little at AAA. But his stats look far better than Soto's did, or Robinson's as well.
Here's Clevenger's stats:
2006: (20 yrs old)63 games, .286 avg, .363 OBP
2007: 65 games, .340 avg, .378 OBP
2008: 113 games, .298, .374 OBP
2009: 45 games, .309 avg, .377 OBP
He doesn't have much power, but the kid rarely strikes out either, unlike Soto and Robinson. He's also more versatile, playing catcher, 3B, 2B, and 1B