Cubs Organizational Report 06/19/08

AAA New Orleans (37-38) 1 @ Iowa (43-31) 4 Hitters: Pie, F: no PA, 9th inning defensive replacement in CF, worked with his bait-and-tackle in preparation for fishing off of the outfield wall after the game, successfully caught a Chicago Cubs Program, which is the closest he'll probably get to anymore Wrigley Field's merchandise this season. E-Patt: 2/4, HR, R, RBI, K, started in RF and switched to 2B in the bottom of the 9th. DuBois, J:1/4, HR, R, RBI, K, I don't even know why I bother putting him in here, other than I decided it was unfair to not list him after he hit a HR. McGehee, C: 2/4, R, K Pitchers: Marshall, S: 8 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 1 HR, 11-7 GO-FO, 87-58 P-K, a big smile since he's going to be on his way to Chi-town in a few days to pitch for the big boys again. AA Mobile (1-2) 3 @ Tennessee (2-1) 4 Hitters: Colvin, T: 2/5, R, 2 RBI (including the game-winner in the bottom of the ninth) Fox, J: 2/4, 2B, HR, R, RBI, he's been terrible this season so far, but in his last four games has hit 4 2B and 2 HR. He's drawn 24 BBs against 253 ABs so far this season between Iowa and Tenn. Perhaps he had a discussion with Colvin about learning patience? Fuld, S: 2/4, 3B, R, has been 7th circle of hell terrible for the Cubs org. this season. For some reason, other organizations are not returning calls to Hendry about his now tradeable 'untradeable' asset in the farm. Pitchers: Samardzija, J: 7 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, 10-8 GO-FO, tried to make an impression with the org., thinking he may have a shot at a start with Big Z out for a bit. Marshall made a better impression against better competition. He goes back to brooding in his castle on the Tennessee countryside. Ceda, J: 1.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 1-1 GO-FO, BS, W. With Ceda (6'4" 275 lbs.) and Jesus Estrada (6'8" 260 lbs.) in the Smokies bullpen, they are working on lower building blocks for the team pyramid they do at the end of the season for the local paper. A+ Brevard County (1-0) 3 @ Daytona (0-1) 2 Hitters: Thomas, T: 0/5, 2 K, GIDP, ends 11 game personal hit-streak Wright, T: 2/3, 2B, R, BB Canzler, R: 2/4, 2B, R Reed, M: 3/4, 3B, RBI, CS/PO @ 3B Barney, D: 2/4, SB Pitchers: It was reliever night for the D-Cubs, since they didn't have any starters ready apparently. Johnson, G: 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 2-2 GO-FO Harben: 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 5-2 GO-FO, interesting note: Harben's been terrible this year 5.74 ERA, which can be directly attributed to his WHIP of 2.01. He walks about a man an inning and gives up about a hit an inning. He also strikes out a man an inning. What he doesn't do is give up home runs, as he's only given up 1 in 42.1 IP this season. He's got a pretty strong reputation as a GB pitcher, but that's not getting him anywhere unless he discovers how to throw in the strikezone again. At one point he was a very valuable prospect, but he walked too many guys for the Twins, which is why we got him. His walks have only gotten worse with the Cubs, even after TJS. Phelps, M: 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 HR, 1-2 GO-AO, another player who is only good if you don't look at his walk total and ERA (21 BB in 25.1 IP on the season). A Beloit 3 @ Peoria 1 Hitters: Smith, M: 0/3, BB, K, hopefully a promotion with the call-up to Tennessee of Josh Lansford. Splitting time with Thomas @ 2B and playing regularly @ 3B can only help him. Donaldson, J: 2/4, K, E Rosa, J: 0/4, 2 K Anderson, C: 2/3, 3B, R Pitchers: Rhee, D: 5 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, it'll be interesting to see what the 19 y.o. can do in the second half for Peoria. I'd be somewhat surprised by a promotion, but if he continues dominating this level and stays healthy, he has nothing left to prove here. He has given up 5 unearned runs in 31.1 IP, which is highly unusual. Either way, a stop a Daytona late this season wouldn't be a bad thing, if just to see how fast he's going to move up the ladder. Santana, A: 1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K A- Eugene (2-1) 8 @ Boise (1-2) 4 Hitters: Vitters, J: 1/4, R, RBI Burke, K: 0/4, 2 K, OF Assist, seriously, 3 OF Assists in 3 games against the same team? The opposing manager should be reaming his players on this one. I'll call Burke a poor man's Ryan Harvey. He can take a walk, but he needs to hit for a little higher average and strike out a lot less to deserve more recognition than that. Ridling, R: 3/4, 2B, HR, R, 3 RBI, either this player or the guy below him (or both) need to get moved to Peoria and/or Daytona to improve their anemic offenses. As college 1B, they can handle being moved up a little quick. And it would be nice to have a D-Lee replacement ready for when his contract's up. Keedy, R: 2/4, K, CS, this guy and the guy above him are the only two players to play in more than one game with Boise to have an average over .300. Their also the only ones batting over .400 with the same qualifiers (obviously, but just to say they've been good). Rundle, D: 1/2, 2B, R, BB, SB, OF Assist, S Pitcher: O'Donnell, B: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 0-3 GO-AO AZL AZL Cubs don't begin play until the June 22. Their roster, which I linked yesterday, to date has 15 players on it. 3 are younger than 20, and 5 are younger than 22. Apparently they don't really pay attention to the average age at each level. Larry Suarez is listed on their roster. DSL DSL Orioles (8-9) 0 @ DSL Cubs1 (11-5) 3 Hitters: Damian, A(18 y.o. OF): 3/3, R, BB, CS Medina, J(22 y.o. C):1/4, 3B, R, 2 RBI Pitchers: Castillo, J(20 y.o. RHP):5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 4-7 GO-FO Tineo, J(17 y.o. RHP): 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 1-0 GO-FO, W Rodriguez, S(18 y.o. RHP):2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K How'd they face 35 batters you ask? 4 errors on the part of the defense. While good defense at this level is uncommon, to face 35 batters while your staff throws a 3-hitter at any level is pretty amazing I think. DSL Blue Jays2 (11-6) 8 @ DSL Cubs2 (7-10) 3 Hitters: Parra, R(17 y.o. C): 0/2, R, K, 2 BB, E, PB Pitchers: Garcia, R(16 y.o. RHP):2.0 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 1-2 GO-FO, L, he gets highlighted because he's 16 and it's the first time he's pitched since I started doing these. 16 year olds aren't common at this level yet. Usually they are still at the academies practicing. The fact that he's facing live hitters (many that are much older than him too boot), I think says something about what the Cubs must think of him. In closing, all I have to say is that today Aramis Ramirez is my favorite Cub. I'd become pretty partial to Soriano, Soto and Fukudome all the while maintaining my A-Ram loyalty, but with what Ramirez did today, he becomes my favorite Cub until I decide otherwise. So quite possibly tomorrow. Thanks for reading these and if you have any ideas, please share.