Minor League Preview: Low-A Kane County and High-A Daytona Top o’ the Morning to everyone at the CCO! Today is the second of a three part installment previewing the 2014 minor league season. 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 Down on the Farm Report – 11/21/13
Pitching Analysis The CCO’s off-season look at the Cubs’ minor league system continues today. After viewing the possible pitching staff for Triple-A Iowa and Double-A Tennessee, it is time to take a look at the pitching prospects for High-A Daytona. … [Read more...]
Cubs Down on the Farm Report – 09/19/13
Special Assignment – Kane County Cougars v. Peoria Chiefs I had the pleasure of being able to cover the final series of the season between the Kane County Cougars and Peoria Chiefs. I’d like to thank Shawn Touney, Director of Public Relations and the Kane County Cougars. I’d also like to mention reporter Mike Knapp of the Beacon News, who has been an excellent resource, a great baseball conversationalist, and was a welcoming presence in the press box, as well as Kevin Druley of the Kane County … [Read more...]
Cubs Down on the Farm Report – 09/16/13
The CCO’s coverage of the minor league season concludes today with the fourth and final post-season award, the Minor League Player of the Year. Unlike some years, this season there was one player in the Cubs’ system that stood out above the rest. Javier Baez was clearly the top player in an organization that showed a lot of improvement on and off the field. … [Read more...]
Cubs Down on the Farm Report – 09/12/13
The CCO's post-season minor league awards continue today with the Minor League Pitcher of the Year. Kris Bryant, along with James Pugliese, Corbin Hoffner, and Michael Hamann were named Short-Season Player and Pitchers of the Year on Monday. Although there was some very good pitching at all levels in the Cubs’ system this past season, we only needed to look as far as the Tennessee Smokies for a majority of the candidates. While there were several excellent individual performances by the … [Read more...]
Cubs Down on the Farm Report – 09/09/13
The post-season continued for three of the Cubs’ affiliates and Monday will be a big day down on the farm. The Smokies forced a deciding game five by winning back-to-back games over the Barons on Saturday and Sunday. In the Northwest League, the Boise Hawks and the Vancouver Canadians square off for a ring on Monday night after splitting the first two games of the best of three series. The D-Cubs dropped the third game of the FSL Championship series on Sunday and C.J. Edwards will take the … [Read more...]
Cubs Down on the Farm Report – 09/05/13
The Daytona Cubs are the FSL North Champions and are Florida State League Championship Series bound after Wednesday’s 4-0 victory over the Dunedin Blue Jays. The D-Cubs swept the best of three series behind excellent pitching. After Corey Black dominated in game one, C.J. Edwards struck out eight batters over five no-hit innings on Wednesday. Ryan Searle closed out the two-hit shutout with four scoreless frames. C.J. Edwards picked up his first win in the Cubs organization. Kris Bryant … [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 – 08/29/13
The final days of the minor league season are upon us, and Tennessee, behind a power surge from Javier Baez, has locked up a playoff spot in the Southern League. Daytona moved into the post-season in style after a combined No-Hitter on Tuesday locked up a division title. Boise moved into a first place tie with four games left to play, while the AZL Cubs are a game out of a playoff spot with one game left in the season. Along with a recap from your Dominican Summer League division champions, … [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...]