Welcome everyone to a new minor league season. Jacob Hannemann, Pin-Chieh Chen and Gioskar Amaya have started the season hot at the plate, while Tyler Skulina, Daury Torrez and Tayler Scott have sparkled on the mound. Albert Almora ended his 0-for start to the season in a big way on Saturday night. Almora went 5-for-6 with three RBI and two runs scored as part of Daytona’s 21-hit attack. Javier Baez was ejected from Saturday night’s game and sat out the start of Sunday’s contest against … [Read more...]
Bryant Homers, Soler to the DL, Edwards Debuts and Cubs News from Down on the Farm
Kris Bryant has played two games this season and has two home runs for Double-A Tennessee. After launching his first longball of the year in his first at bat against Mat Latos on Thursday night, Bryant hit his second home run in the seventh inning of Friday night’s game. Bryant went 1-for-4 on Friday night in Pensacola with two strikeouts. The Cubs placed Jorge Soler on the 7-day minor league disabled list on Friday with right hamstring soreness. Soler hit a double in his only at bat Thursday … [Read more...]
Cubs Down on the Farm Report – 03/24/14
Minor League Preview – Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa Good Morning to everyone at the CCO! Today is the last of a three part installment previewing the 2014 minor league season. We will be discussing each level’s strengths, weaknesses, and things to look for. Please note that the previews are based on current roster assignments and anticipated Spring Training success. All assignments, both as to position and level, are subject to change pending the completion of Spring Training. … [Read more...]
Cubs Break Even in the Weekend Series with the Mets – Cubs 6, Mets 3
Spring Training Game Nineteen – Cubs (ss) 6, Mets (ss) 3 WP – Chris Rusin (2-2) LP – Jenrry Mejia (0-1) Save – Alberto Cabrera (3) Dan Vogelbach, Donnie Murphy and Arismendy Alcantara hit solo home runs and Chris Rusin tossed four innings of scoreless baseball as the Cubs beat the Mets in Las Vegas on Sunday afternoon. Chris Rusin helped his own cause Sunday by limiting a majority of the Mets everyday lineup to one hit in four innings of work. Rusin did not walk a batter and struck out … [Read more...]
Best Tools in the Cubs Farm System
The big names in the Cubs minor league system are well known. From the 'Core Four' to the 'Gang of Four', the players and stats are followed and dissected daily throughout the year. Evaluating and keeping track of minor league players is easier now than ever before. But how do the players in the organization stack up against one another? Just because a player is considered one of the top prospects in the game that does not mean another player in the system does not have a better arm or hit … [Read more...]
Cubs Rally in the Ninth and Top the Angels in Tempe – Cubs 3, Angels 2
Spring Training Game Nine – Cubs (ss) 3, Angels (ss) 2 WP – Brian Schlitter (1-0) LP – Josh Wall (0-1, BS 1) Save – Jonathan Sanchez (1) With Brandon Hyde calling the shots, the exhibition between the Cubs and Angels in Tempe on Friday afternoon was a low scoring game until the ninth inning. The Cubs scored two runs in the ninth and held on for a Spring Training victory. Albert Almora (1-for-1 with a run scored) sparked the comeback with a one-out single. Almora advanced to second and … [Read more...]
Samardzija Could Still Be Traded Before Opening Day and News from Day 12 of Cubs Camp
Monday was photo day for the Cubs and the team practiced on the main field at Cubs Park for the first time this spring. But the biggest news of the day surfaced late Monday night courtesy of the Sun-Times. Rick Renteria announced Monday that Chris Rusin, Travis Wood, Edwin Jackson and Jason Hammel would follow Jeff Samardzija in the starting rotation for the Cubs’ first five games of the spring. Samardzija will start the opener against the Diamondbacks. Rusin gets the start in Tempe against … [Read more...]
Cubs Down on the Farm Report – 11/07/13
Pitching Analysis The CCO’s off-season look at the Cubs’ minor league system continues today. With all eight defensive positions covered, it is time to switch to the arms currently in the organization and the possibilities for the pitching staff at Triple-A Iowa. … [Read more...]
Cubs Down on the Farm Report – 09/02/13
Happy Labor Day to everyone from the CCO! As the minor league season entered its final weekend, both the Iowa Cubs and the AZL Cubs were eliminated in their desperate attempts to make the playoffs. Meanwhile in Tennessee and Daytona, both teams are preparing for post-season as the bats of Javier Baez and Dustin Geiger have stayed hot. Boise put themselves in a must-win situation for their final two games after being no-hit on Saturday. As for Kane County, the Cougars wrap up their season on … [Read more...]
Cubs Down on the Farm Report – 08/26/13
Cubs Down on the Farm Report – 08/26/13 The intensity has ramped up as we move into the final week of the minor league regular season. Tennessee moved closer to clinching a playoff spot as Javier Baez continued to wreak havoc in the Southern League. Daytona looked like an unstoppable force once the weather let up and Kris Bryant was unleashed. Kevin Encarnacion and Justin Marra have helped move Boise into a first place tie, while Kane County and Iowa also experienced some successes. For … [Read more...]