Cubs Down on the Farm Report - 07/15/10

By Brandon on July 15, 2010 16 Vote 0 Votes

Not only is it All-Star week for Major League Baseball, but many minor league festivities and games took place this week that allowed top prospects from each club to take the field together. With the Futures Game history, Hak-Ju Lee and Brett Jackson have rejoined their respective clubs. A handful of Smokies helped the North to a win in the Southern League Midsummer Classic. Also, two more Cubs prospects competed in a nationally televised game, the Triple-A version of the All-Star battle on the MLB Network. Finally, we'll look at the team leaders in each statistical category just over half way through the year.

All that and more in today's Down on the Farm Report!

AAA-Iowa Cubs - (49-41)
Most of the I-Cubs have enjoyed three straight off days to recoup for a long second half. At the break, they are in first place by the slimmest of margins in the PCL American North. The Omaha Royals and Memphis Redbirds are tied for second, just a half of a game out. The Nashville Sounds are looming around, just a game behind. To have all four teams in a division all within one game of each other at the All-Star Break is unthinkable!

Two of the Cubs brightest prospects competed in the Triple-A All-Star Game on Wednesday night as the Pacific Coast League did battle with the International League. Shortstop Darwin Barney and right-handed pitcher Thomas Diamond were both on the roster. The Pacific Coast League fell in the game to their rivals from the International League by a score of 2-1. Barney got the start at short and went 1-for-2 with a two-out run scoring single. Diamond was the starting pitcher and did not allow a hit in two shutout innings. He did surrender a pair of walks. Former Cub farm hand Doug Deeds, now playing with Reno, got the start in centerfield for the PCL. Click for full box score.

Iowa Statistical Leaders at the Break
Batting Average: Bryan LaHair, .311
Home Runs: Brad Snyder, 12
RBI: Micah Hoffpauir, 56
OBP: Bobby Scales, .401
ERA: Thomas Diamond, 2.86
WHIP: Jay Jackson, 1.09
Wins: Casey Coleman, 8
Strikeouts: Thomas Diamond, 92
Saves: Brian Schlitter, 12 (not on the team's active roster)

Upcoming Games and Probable Pitchers:
*All Times CDT
Tonight @Oklahoma City 7:05 (Casey Coleman)
Friday @Oklahoma City 7:05
Saturday @Oklahoma City 7:05
Sunday @Oklahoma City 4:05
Monday VS Oklahoma City 7:05

AA-Tennessee Smokies - (52-37,10-10)
After enjoying some R&R, the Smokies got back in action last night. They hosted Chattanooga to kick off a weeklong homestand. Tennessee won their division in the first half to clinch a playoff spot, but they have not been as sharp since the standings reset.

Tennessee players had a huge impact in the North's 3-2 All-Star Game victory over the South on Monday night. The reason they were crowned first half champions became apparent to the rest of the league. Tony Campana went 1-for-3 and scored in the bottom of the fifth. Tony, who was the leadoff hitter and starting centerfielder, scored the run that turned out to be the difference in the game. Robinson Chirinos (starting catcher) and Blake Lalli (starting DH) both made contributions as well. They each delivered run scoring singles in their first at bat to account for the two runs scored by the North in the bottom of the second. Steve Clevenger, who took over for Chirinos behind the plate, also had a single in two tries. Smokies hurlers Luke Sommer and Ryan Butcher both tossed scoreless frames. Click for full box score.

The Smokies shut down the Lookouts 5-0 on Wednesday in the first game after the All-Star Break. Russ Canzler doubled twice while Tony Thomas went 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBI. Chris Archer went five strong innings to cruise to his second win since being promoted from Double-A. Click for full box score.

Tennessee Team Statistical Leaders
Batting Average: Tony Campana, .316
Home Runs: Canzler/Chirinos/Wright*, 10
RBI: Ty Wright*, 51
OBP: Tony Campana, .379
ERA: Hung-Wen Chen*, 3.96
WHIP: Austin Bibens-Dirkx, 1.01
Wins: Hung-Wen Chen*, 8
Strikeouts: Craig Muschko, 70
Saves: David Cales*, 10
*= Not on Active Roster, called up to Triple-A

Upcoming Games and Probable Pitchers:
*All Times CDT
Tonight VS Chattanooga 6:15 (Rafael Dolis)
Friday VS Chattanooga 6:15 (Chris Carpenter)
Saturday VS Montgomery 5:15
Sunday VS Montgomery 4:00
Monday VS Montgomery 6:15

Class-A Advanced Daytona Cubs
With one of the earliest All-Star Breaks of any minor league, the Florida State League has a long, hot summer of baseball without too much time off. After dropping two of three to Clearwater, the D-Cubs enjoyed a needed off day on Tuesday.

The D-Cubs dropped Monday's game 5-1 at the hands of the Clearwater Threshers. Jose Valdez, who looped a couple of singles, was the only Cub with a multi-hit contest. Dae-Eun Rhee went five innings and allowed only one run, but he was the hard-luck loser to drop to 2-9. Chris Siegfried allowed the Threshers to tack on four earned runs in the sixth. Click for full box score.

The Ft. Myers Miracle routed Daytona 10-2 on Wednesday. Jose Valdez, Junior Lake and Michael Brenly had two hits each. Alberto Cabrera allowed 7 runs (4 ER) in 3.2 innings. David Patton was also hit hard for three runs in 1.1 innings. Click for full box score.

Daytona Statistical Leaders
Batting Average: Brett Jackson*, .316
Home Runs: Rebel Ridling, 8
RBI: D.J. LeMahieu, 52
OBP: Brett Jackson*, .420
ERA: Chris Archer*, 2.86
WHIP: Chris Rusin, 1.01
Wins: Chris Archer*, 7
Strikeouts: Chris Archer*, 82
Saves: Luke Sommer*, 6
*= No longer with the D-Cubs, moved up to Double-A

Upcoming Games:
*All Times CDT
Tonight VS Ft. Myers 6:05
Friday VS Ft. Myers 6:05
Saturday VS Ft. Myers 6:05
Sunday @Charlotte 4:35
Monday @Charlotte 6:05

Class-A Peoria Chiefs
The Chiefs have not been playing up to par since the start of the second half. Daniel Keefe, a right-handed pitcher, was called up from Boise to help boost the Peoria staff. Jeffry Antigua went down with an injury to make the call-up necessary. Despite a bad record, there are still several Chiefs having stellar years so far.

Monday, the Cedar Rapids Kernels were scheduled to meet the Chiefs in a double header. However, rain hit Perfect Game Field (the home of the Kernels) after only six innings of game one. There was no perfect game as the name of the field would suggest, but there was a no-hitter tossed by Cedar Rapids' Stephen Locke in the shortened contest. The Chiefs pitching staff was just as dreadful as their hitting allowing 10 earned tallies in just five innings. D.J. Fitzgerald walked, stole second, and then was caught when he tried to swipe third. He was one of only two Chiefs to reach base, the other via an error. The second game of the scheduled twin bill was washed out. Click for full box score.

The Dayton Dragons staged a huge comeback in the top of the ninth in Peoria on Wednesday. They scored five times against Jonathan Latham and Corey Martin to tie the game at nine before the Chiefs won it with a run in the bottom of the ninth. Hak-Ju Lee had three singles and a double with a run scored in his four hit game. Frank Batista and Ronny Morla pitched three innings each. Click for full box score.

Peoria Team Statistics
Batting Average: Greg Rohan, .298
Home Runs: Justin Bour, 9
RBI: Greg Rohan, 53
OBP: Justin Bour, .365
ERA: Su-Min Jung, 3.86
WHIP: Nick Struck, 1.28
Wins: Rob Whitenack, 7
Strikeouts: Trey McNutt, 70
Saves: Jordan Latham, 11

Upcoming Games:
*All Times CDT
Tonight VS Dayton 7:00
Friday VS Dayton 7:00
Saturday VS Bowling Green 6:30
Sunday VS Bowling Green 1:00
Monday VS Bowling Green 11:30am

Updates from Boise/Mesa
Cameron Greathouse is the most recent call-up to Boise. Greathouse is a left-handed pitcher who did not allow a run in three appearances with the Mesa Cubs. The Hawks were 14-11, 1.5 games ahead of Spokane going into play late last night. The Mesa Cubs are at .500 at 9-9, tied for second in the AZL East. The AZL Giants are in first place.

Remember
You can send questions and comments to cubsblogmailbag@aol.com. You can follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/cubsfarmupdates for more minor league news and reports. Also, please check out my Cubs blog at www.everythingcubs.blogspot.com.

jerljr

I'm sorry Zambo, but its time to part ways. I dont blame him for trying to fire up the team but it had the opposite effect.

Please go and I hope the best for ya.

Brian McCabe

Under 21! Very key point there. Good work, Neil.

I am going to go ahead and agree with JerlJr on this one.

You are not going to put Lee on the bench for an extended period of time, especially when you might be trying to trade him!

This is just how it works. No one who has meant this much to a team gets "benched" for a CAREER minor-leaguer. Remember, these guys we are talking about are in there late-20s, if not early 30's respectively. If they could make a significant impact in "The Show" it would have already happened.

Just my two cents.

PaulS

How about this little nugget from Chris De Luca today?

The Cubs, sources say, have been doing their homework on three key Mets prospects -- left-hander Robert Carson and right-handers Kyle Allen and Jeurys Familia.

I was kinda hoping for a little higher prospect. None of these guys are in the Baseball America top 10.

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/deluca/2499696,CST-SPT-deluca15.article

Neil

I'm putting together info on all three pitchers right now. All three are in the Mets' top 20 prospects ... Kyle Allen (14), Jeurys Familia (15) and Robert Carson (16).

All three are under 21 years of age.

Gramps

GO CUBS!! I will still be rooting for them to win. I know it is a longshot, but I still won't give up on the season. I have seen teams come from further back than 9-1/2 games. If they continue to play the way they played before the All-Star Game, they will have no chance. But that is the beauty of baseball...nobody knows what they are going to do. If there is a law of averages they should have a great second half. I have never seen a team be as bad with runners in scoring position and I have been watching baseball for over 60 years now. Call me crazy but I will not give up the season until they are mathematically eliminated. Once again, GO CUBS!

jerljr

I agree Gramps.

I can think that the season is over but you better believe that I hope that I'm wrong.

So what are they going to do with Zambrano. Please trade him for a a level player, let him go whatever but please get rid of him. Its best for both parties. Really

John_CC

Hey Crazy! Keep the hope, Gramps. Someone has too and I'm not capable.

Heading into the dog days...I hope a real contender emerges in the NL and starts to pull away. I just don't know who that will be.

jerljr

I know, I know it hard for you guys to understand why you dont just replace a guy that has been core member of you team for the last 6 years in Lee with a minor leaguer that is hitting well in the minors bu will hit .250 at best in the majors. Its hard to understand. Or a Steve Stone says its bet for a prospect to play everyday in the minors then sit on the bench in the majors.

Damn all of them. You know I think they want to lose, its a conspiracy!!!!!!!

Hendry is really a Cardinal's fan.

By the way, as far as a spark. That was what Castro was suppose to be. it worked fro about 3 games.

PaulS

So Jerljr, what is your solution to this teams poor performance? You don't seem to advocate any type of change for this team, so I assume you want to just let them play as is, ignoring the last half of last year and the first part of this season.

To quote Albert Einstein "Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."

jerljr

My solution is there is no solution. We were doomed this year when Ramirez and Lee started off so bad. They are doing better now but its too late. The two key RBI guys. We are not that good and bringing up minorleaguers is nto going to change that. They stuck with these guys becuase they were the only chance we had to get back into it till now. But it didn't happen. So now we will build for the future.

I think that in the future we are going to build off of youth. Which will make you guys happy. Actually me too. But, dont expect to win anything for at last 5 years maybe 10. But It is a better way. They will let Ramirez, Soriano, Zambrano, Lee, etc. contracts run out or trade them for prospects(if they can get anybody to take them) and build from within. The days of having the 4th biggest payroll are over. And just for the record, its a good thing.

I have no problem with what Hendry and Lou have done this year(for the most part) but are horses and chess pieces didn't produce. But the moves were to give us the best chance to win. Which I cant disagree with. And thats not Cubs goggles. If you know anything yet, its that I have my own opinion and outside forces dont influence them.

John_CC

Why always the "you guys"?

If I "don't expect to win anything for the next 5 - 10 years" will that be different that past 5 - 10 years? I reckon if they can win something in that span we'll be better off than the past 100!

jerljr

Maybe not a better way, let me re-phrase.

A cheaper way. Then fill in the blanks.

We are the going to be the new Brewers and Reds. Not quite Pirates, Royals.

Keith Moreland

The changes that need to happen will mostly be in the offseason. This season is lost. Playing Fuld or Scales or LaHair or Hoffpauir or any AAA body like that buys us nothing. Who do you ship out to make that move? Fontenot? Baker? Nady? Is replacing one of those with a borderline prospect really the difference between us being good and bad? Who do you drop from the 40-man to make those moves?

The only changes I would advocate would be in the bullpen, and that's mostly to sort through the pile of so-so pitchers we have to find a couple that will work for next year, and jettison the rest. Other than that, we're wasting time.

It is foolish to promote players to the major league level in order to prove that they suck, before we give up on them as prospects. The only reason noone mentions Dubois is we have seen him before.

LaHair is good example. He isn't a major-league ballplayer. He had a nice AAA last year for Seattle, and they didn't think that much of him, and they even have a big hole at 1B. He can hit a major league pitch, but not well enough to start, and doesn't field well enough to be a ML backup. That's why he is in AAA.

PaulS

I'm not one of those advocating bring up the entire Iowa team, but if there are some guys they need to make some decisions on this winter, why not see how they do against MLB talent? It might prevent a Casey McGehee type move again.

If you trade a Theriot, Fontenot or Baker, then maybe you can take a look see at Barney or Camp to see if they are legit backups for next year. If they are, then this saves some money to be spent elsewhere.

cloycub13

It is confounding isn't it! I remember the I Cub infusion last year, happened near the end of June and it really did seem to spark the team, well more of a flicker but we have not seen alot of that this year either.

PS: Joey Votto...DUCK A-Hole!!!! At least I could have said that a few years ago, but with this staff...Nahh. Although August 6th, it would be really satisfying to see Cashner light this jerk up with a 98 MPH heater into the ribs.

Welcom to the "second half" are we players or spoilers?...are we first half pathetic or a sleeping giant just waiting to erupt?... are we buyers or sellers?...I know my answers, would be nice to know Hendry's and most importantly Rickett's...

Here's to a more enjoyable rest of the season at the very least. Skoal!

Go Cubs!

Ottawa Bob

The past few years the Cubs have brought up some of the hot AAA prospects to fill in for injuries or to just add a temporary spark to the team, such as like Bobby Scales or Sam Fuld did last year. I've seen none of that this year,and this team could use it. The Cubs have looked lifeless all season, Hoffpaur has been really hitting of late, these guys could bring some much needed energy. Scales, Hoffpaur and Fuld have proven on a very limited basis they can get the job done. Our offensive production out of 1st base has been a joke, and yet there sits LaHair in Iowa ripping the ball all year. DON'T GET IT!!