Minor League Preview - Rookie and Short-Season A-Ball Good Morning to everyone at the CCO! Today is the first of a three-part installment previewing the 2012 minor league season. With a Dominican Summer League team making the playoffs in 2011, a 2011 rookie team narrowly missing the playoffs, and the most celebrated draft class for the Cubs in recent memory; the 2012 rookie and Short Season-A teams figure to garner more attention than ever. Here's how both teams look for the up-coming season. … [Read more...]
Cubs Down on the Farm Report – 10/06/11
The last of the CCO's five-part series on the Cubs minor league system focuses on the pitching in the lower levels of the organization ... the Boise Hawks and both the rookie league and Dominican summer league teams. Pitching Analysis … [Read more...]
Cubs Down on the Farm Report – 09/12/11
Special Playoff Edition One out of the playoffs, one in the championship series, and one crowned the champion. That's how things went this week in the Cubs' farm system, as Boise, Daytona, and Tennessee all started on the post-season road. Among the excellent performances were those turned in by Reggie Golden, Matt Szczur, Elliot Soto, Frank Del Valle, Jae-Hoon Ha, Rebel Ridling, and Josh Vitters. To find out how each team did, including the new champions of the Florida State League, along … [Read more...]
Cubs Down on the Farm Report – 09/06/11
The end of the regular season is here, and the organization got a pleasant surprise as Boise rode the power bats of Ryan Cuneo, Reggie Golden, Paul Hoilman, and Rafael Lopez to qualify for the post-season in their last game. Boise joins Daytona and Tennessee as playoff teams, with the D-Cubs still struggling in all phases of the game. Tennessee got leadership down the stretch from Josh Vitters, while youngsters Junior Lake and Jae-Hoon Ha are finally coming of age. While Peoria and Iowa are out … [Read more...]
Cubs Down on the Farm Report – 08/29/11
As the regular season enters its final week, Daytona struggles to find consistency before the playoffs as Logan Watkins continues to lead the way. Tennessee is only a game out of the second half championship thanks to the hot hitting of Jae-Hoon Ha. While Boise, Peoria, and Iowa are playing out the string, there continues to be excellent performances for each club. Ryan Cuneo and Wes Darvill were red hot for Boise, while Taiwan Easterling and Ben Klafczynski have been demonstrating good … [Read more...]
Cubs Down on the Farm Report – 08/25/11
As the season begins to wind down in the minors, player movement again seems to be the norm. Arizona, Boise, Peoria and Daytona have all struggled as they have tried to integrate new players. But Peoria's Richard Jones is still in play for the Midwest League Triple Crown, while Bryan LaHair is also in the hunt for the same honor in the Pacific Coast League. Meanwhile, Tennessee is trying to take the second half title in the Southern League and secure a playoff bye. Along with News and Notes, … [Read more...]
Cubs Down on the Farm Report – 08/18/11
All the teams in the system suffered their ups-and-downs to begin the week. The Iowa offense let down a couple of their young pitchers, but came through for Jay Jackson. Tennessee still has some struggles on offense as well, but Brooks Raley was the beneficiary of an outburst. Daytona battled weather problems; bullpen collapses plagued Peoria; while Boise actually split with archenemy Tri-City. Along with News and Notes, and a weekly recap of action in the Dominican Summer League and the … [Read more...]
Cubs Down on the Farm Report – 08/15/11
Tennessee and Daytona each guaranteed a winning season, as both teams collected their 70th win as part of a system sweep on Friday. The minor league organization was a collective 11-7 to end the week. Great pitching performances from Eric Jokisch, Frank Del Valle, Matt Loosen, Casey Harman, Dae-Eun Rhee, Ryan Searle, and Casey Coleman were the highlights, as well as Josh Vitters emerging as a clutch performer. All of that, and more, in this edition of the CCO's Down on the Farm Report. … [Read more...]
Cubs Down on the Farm Report – 08/08/11
Look at me coach! I'm ready to play, today! Centerfield took center stage once again in the organization. In Boise, Reggie Golden took his first shot at the position with good results. Peoria's Taiwan Easterling had a game to remember, while Tennessee's Jae-Hoon Ha is turning things around. And Iowa's Brett Jackson is on a tear that may put him in a big league uniform. Jackson's line over the last ten days: .429/.524/1.000/1.524 (15-for-35 with two doubles and six home runs with seven walks and … [Read more...]
Cubs Down on the Farm Report – 07/28/11
Daytona and Tennessee are starting to come back to the level they displayed earlier in the season; with Greg Rohan and Michael Burgess providing a spark for the D-Cubs, while veterans James Adduci and Ty Wright are lifting the Smokies. Iowa got great pitching from Nick Struck and Casey Coleman. Peoria continues to struggle, while Boise juggles their middle infielders. Along with News and Notes, and a weekly recap of action in the Dominican Summer League and the Arizona Rookie League, welcome … [Read more...]