Successes are from the top down this week as Welington Castillo, Luis Valbuena, Anthony Rizzo, and Josh Vitters have led Iowa to the best team batting average in the Pacific Coast League. Tennessee is third in the Southern League in pitching thanks to the efforts of Trey McNutt, Dallas Beeler, Dae-Eun Rhee, and Brooks Raley. Rubi Silva continues to be a beast in the Florida State League, while opportunities go unfulfilled for Peoria in the Midwest League. Whatever league you're in ... check out … [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 – 09/08/11
The Cubs Minor League Fourth Quarter Report As the minor league regular season has drawn to a close, players from Triple-A Iowa and Class-A Peoria are looking toward their off-season, with many looking to attend the Arizona Fall League or Winter Baseball. Double-A Tennessee, High Class-A Daytona, and Short Season-A Boise have furthered their seasons by making the playoffs. Rookie League AZL Cubs narrowly missed their chance at the post-season, and the Dominican Summer League Cubs bowed out in … [Read more...]
Cubs Down on the Farm Report – 09/01/11
Playing out the string is not what they have in mind in Boise, as Paul Hoilman looks for a home run crown while Reggie Golden is heating up. Peoria's Richard Jones continues his pursuit of 100 RBI, as All-Stars Evan Crawford, Justin Bour, and Frank Batista of Daytona prepare for the playoffs. With five games left in the season, Josh Vitters and the Tennessee Smokies remain tied for the second half championship and a first round bye. Meanwhile, Bryan LaHair is making history in Iowa. Along with … [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 – 08/22/11
It's a brand new day for the Cubs' Farm System. Here's hoping for sunny skies ahead. The system's teams responded by going a collective 12-7 over the past weekend, buoyed by Tennessee's five-game winning streak. Iowa has also won four out of its past five games, while Peoria and Boise each posted a 2-2 record. Brett Jackson continues to be on fire in Iowa, while Matt Spencer, Rebel Ridling and Justin Bour delivered key home runs. Chris Rusin and Ryan Searle also had top-notch pitching … [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 – 08/04/11
As the minor league baseball season enters the final month of the regular season, two of the Cubs top prospects celebrated birthdays with good nights at the park ... and one was named player of the week. Brett Jackson and Trey McNutt celebrated birthdays on Tuesday. McNutt picked up a win with a solid start on his 22nd birthday and Jackson celebrated birthday number 23 by leading off the game against the Redbirds with a home run ... his fourth at the Triple-A level. Greg Rohan was named Florida … [Read more...]
Cubs Down on the Farm Report – 08/01/11
It was a rough end of the week for a majority of the system as player moves continued down on the farm. The Cubs added two players in the Kosuke Fukudome deal and both Abner Abreu and Carlton Smith made their organizational debuts. Tyler Colvin was promoted back to the show while one of the Cubs top prospects showed off his power and another was placed on the DL. Brett Jackson had a big weekend with homers in back-to-back games but Welington Castillo strained his right hamstring and had to be … [Read more...]