Yardbarker: Rafael Cova

minor lines, 9/19/09

Sun, 20 Sep 2009 10:12:12 -0500

In their final games of the year, the last two Giants' affiliates in action had different fates--Connecticut lost but San Jose won. The most individual highlight-worthy line in their final games of the year was (a) Eric Surkamp with 3 ER but 12 K in 8.0 IP. AAA: Fresno ended its season on Labor Day AA: Connecticut lost to Akron 10-6(losing the Eastern League championship series 3-1) Connecticut: 2B Brock Bond: 2 for 4, BBConnecticut: CF Mike McBryde: 1 for 5, 2B, ...

minor lines, 9/17/09

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 12:16:04 -0500

San Jose, the Giants' one affiliate in action, won the first game of the Cal League championship series, with the top individual highlight being (a) Clayton Tanner allowing just 1 ER in 7.0 IP. AAA: Fresno ended its season on Labor Day AA: Connecticut had an off-day in its best-of-five championship series(They trail 2-0 heading into game 3 in Akron tonight.) A+: San Jose defeated High Desert 2-1 San Jose: RF Roger Kieschnick: 1 for 4, HRSan Jose: CF Francisco Peguero: 2 for...

minor lines, 9/15/09

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 10:22:12 -0500

Both Giants' affiliates still seeing post-season action lost last night, with no individual lines really standing out as highlight-worthy, although an honorable mention would go to Eddy Martinez-Esteve for his home run while reaching base twice. AAA: Fresno ended its season on Labor Day AA: Connecticut lost to Akron 7-2(in game 1 of the best-of-five EL championship series) Connecticut: DH Eddy Martinez-Esteve: 1 for 3, HR, BBConnecticut: SS Brandon Crawford: 2 for 4, EConnecticut:...

minor lines, 9/12/09

Sun, 13 Sep 2009 11:10:28 -0500

While Connecticut dropped the third game of its playoff series, San Jose won its playoff opener. Individual highlights from those two Giants' affiliates last night: (a) Clayton Tanner had 7.0 shutout IP, and (b) Nick Noonan reached base three times. AAA: Fresno ended its season on Labor Day AA: Connecticut lost to New Britain 6-1(but still lead the best-of-five series 2-1) Connecticut: 1B Brett Pill: 1 for 3, BB, SOConnecticut: 3B Ramon Castro: 1 for 3, 2B, HBPConnecti...

minor lines, 9/3/09

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 03:53:00 -0500

Well, everyone knows the Giants are a pitching system. And they can find fine pitching performances from almost anywhere. Like 50th round pick Mike Loree throwing the equivalent of a perfect game last year. But I mean, seriously, at some point, isn't it just showing off? Tonight's highlight? (a) David Mixon, 20th round pick and career reliever, making just his third pro start of his career trying to help rest a San Jose rotation before the playoffs, p...

minor lines, 8/30/09

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 02:26:16 -0500

Not much in the way of highlights today: (a) The AZL Giants won their division championship, and earned the right to face the Mariners rookies Monday for the AZL Championship (one game to win it all); (b) Oliver Odle threw six solid innings for San Jose, allowing one earned run, to get a win as San Jose coasts to the playoffs; (c) Buster Posey (remember him?) got a three hit day in a loss to Sacramento. Fresno Grizzlies (Triple-A): Sacramento 5, Fresno 4 C Buster Posey ...

minor lines, 8/26/09

Sat, 29 Aug 2009 06:50:32 -0500

Don't hate me because I'm beautiful. Hate me because I'm way late (blame that damn leopard in the cold weather...and hope my bosses don't see me writing that). Highlights that you missed on Wednesday's nice day of pitching: (a) That Bumgarner kid threw seven shutout innings allowing just four hits and one walk; (b) Clayton Tanner threw seven innings of one-run ball, allowing just three hits and two walks while striking out six; (c) Betcha didn't expect to se...

minor lines, 8/14/09

Sat, 15 Aug 2009 00:51:03 -0500

Highlights from the Giants' farm, generally a good night for quite a few hitters but not the pitchers: (a,b,c) Brad Boyer, Francisco Peguero, and Andy D'Alessio each had four hits; (d,e) Jesus Guzman and John Bowker also reached base four times each; (f) Nick Noonan had a couple XBH; (g,h,i) Chris Dominguez and catchers Johnny Monell and Hector Sanchez all homered in multi-hit performances; and (j) Mike Loree had one of his best starts of the season. AAA: Fresno ...

minor lines, 7/30/09

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 02:40:17 -0500

Highlights from the Giants' farm: (a) Ramon Ortiz had 11 K and just 1 ER in 6.0 IP; (b) Clayton Tanner allowed 1 ER in 6.0 IP; and (c, d) both East Coast shortstops, Brandon Crawford and Ehire Adrianza reached base three times, including a double for Crawford. AAA: Fresno defeated Colorado Springs 5-3 Fresno: CF Clay Timpner: 1 for 3, HR, HBPFresno: 3B Rich Aurilia: 1 for 3, HR, BBFresno: SS Ryan Rohlinger: 2 for 4, CSFresno: 2B Matt Downs: 1 for 4, HR, 2 SOColorado Springs: ...

minor lines, 7/25/09

Sun, 26 Jul 2009 14:54:29 -0500

Highlights from the Giants' farm: (a) Ramon Ortiz allowed just an unearned run in 7.0 IP; (b,c,d) Daryl Maday, Ben Snyder, and Waldis Joaquin combined for a thirteen-inning shutout; (e) Andrew Biery had 3 HRs; (f) Vladimir Frias reached base five times; and (g, h) Ehire Adrianza and Eugenio Velez each had three hits, including a double. Honorable mention for a top prospect: (i) Buster Posey had a double, single, and a walk. AAA: Fresno defeated Reno 9-2 Fresno: 2B Eugen...

minor lines, 7/19/09

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 01:29:34 -0500

Highlights from the Giants' farm: (a,b,c) C.J. Ziegler, Roger Kieschnick, and Conor Gillaspie combined for a dozen hits, including Kiesnchnick's 20th HR; (d) Daryl Maday had 6.0 scoreless IP before surrendering a couple runs in the 7th inning; (e) Andy D'Alessio has three doubles; and (f.g) Wilbur Bucardo and Cameron Lamb both had good starts in short-season ball. AAA: Fresno lost to Colorado Springs 4-3 Fresno: 3B Ryan Rohlinger: 1 for 3, 2B, BBFresno: LF Ben Copelan...

Projected Cubs Minor League Camp Rosters

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 18:03:02 -0500

Minor League Camp doesn't open for another couple of weeks, but here are the projected Cubs Minor League Camp rosters for the five squads (141 players) at Minor League Camp and also the DSL Cubs Reserve Lists (two teams - 70 players).

Players at Minor League Camp are sometimes initially placed one level above where they will likely play that season, and then they either get released or get demoted one level lower once the Cubs start to make cuts and send players to Minor League Camp at Fitch Park from the big league camp at HoHoKam, with an accompanying downward cascade of players from Iowa to Tennessee, Tennessee to Daytona, etc.

PROJECTED 2009 CUBS MINOR LEAGUE CAMP ROSTERS:

IOWA (29):

PITCHERS (15):
Marco Carrillo
Angel Castro
Michael Cooper
Jesse Estrada
Dumas Garcia
Jim Henderson
Grant Johnson
* Casey Lambert
Alessandro Maestri (WBC - Team Italy)
Billy Muldowney
Blake Parker
* Jeremy Papelbon
Gregory Reinhard
* Jayson Ruhlman
* James Russell

CATCHERS (3)
* Mark Reed
Tony Richie
Chris Robinson

INFIELDERS (6)
Erick Almonte
Robinson Chirinos
# Matt Matulia
* Kyle Reynolds
Justin Sellers
* Nate Spears

OUTFIELDERS (5)
* James Adduci
* Matt Camp
* Tyler Colvin
Ryan Harvey
Ty Wright

TENNESSEE (29):

PITCHERS (16)
Alberto Alburquerque
Chris Archer
Todd Blackford
* Ryan Buchter
Alberto Cabrera
Hung-Wen Chen (WBC - Team Chinese Taipei)
* John Gaub
Jay Jackson
Jordan Latham
Craig Muschko
John Muller
Jake Muyco
Jose Pina
* Dustin Sasser
* Chris Siegfried
Steve Vento

CATCHERS (2)
* Blake Lalli
Mario Mercedes

INFIELDERS (7)
Luis Bautista
Russ Canzler
Jose Made
Jonathan Mota
Jovan Rosa
Marquez Smith
Tony Thomas

OUTFIELDERS (4)
* Kyler Burke
Brandon Guyer
* Dylan Johnston
* Jonathan Wyatt

DAYTONA (32):

PITCHERS (18)
Ryan Acosta
* Jeffrey Beliveau
Alberto Cabrera
David Cales
Chris Carpenter
Casey Coleman
Rafael Dolis
Marcus Hatley
Robert Hernandez
Kevin Kreier
* James Leverton
Dan McDaniel
* Mark Pawelek
Audy Santana
Aaron Shafer
* Luke Sommer
Josh Whitlock
Hank Williamson

CATCHERS (3)
Luis Flores
Shawn McGill
Carlos Perez

INFIELDERS (7)
* Ryan Flaherty
Josh Harrison
* Ryan Keedy
* Jake Opitz
Rebel Ridling
Nate Samson
Josh Vitters

OUTFIELDERS (4)
* Cliff Andersen
* Tony Campana
Jericho Jones
* Drew Rundle

PEORIA (32):

PITCHERS (18):
* Jeffry Antigua
Justin Bristow
Manolin DeLeon
Yohan Gonzalez
Erik Hamren
Chris Huseby
Tommy Mejia
Dionis Nunez
Bubba O?Donnell
Julio Pena
Mike Perconte
Cedric Redmond
Dae-Eun Rhee
Carlos Rojas
Ryan Searle
Miguel Sierra
Larry Suarez
Harol Tolentino

CATCHERS (3)
Michael Brenly
Pat Mahoney
# Alvaro Sosa

INFIELDERS (6)
Starlin Castro
# Marwin Gonzalez
Gian Guzman
Sean Hoorelbeke
* Bryan Jost
Junior Lake

OUTFIELDERS (5)
* Kurt Calvert
# David Macias
* Nelson Perez
* Ryan Sontag
TeWayne Willis

BOISE/MESA (19 ? see NOTE):

PITCHERS (8)
* Cody Hams
Su-Min Jung
Josh Lansford (ex-3B)
Toby Matchulat
Oswaldo Martinez
Tarlandus Mitchell
Jon Nagel
Adam Spencer

CATCHERS (3)
* Matt Cerda
John Contreras (ex-3B)
Jose Guevara

INFIELDERS (4)
* Hak-Ju Lee
Dwayne Kemp
George Matheus
* Logan Watkins

OUTFIELDERS (4)
Jae-Hoon Ha
Kevin Soto
Chris Weimer
* Sean Williams

NOTE: Balance of Boise/Mesa ST roster (about 15 players ? probably ten pitchers, one catcher, two infielders, and two outfielders - TBD) will be players moved up to Fitch Park from DSL Cubs (see DSL CUBS roster below).

DSL CUBS - (70):

PITCHERS (42):
Frank Batista
* Alfredo Belizaire
Jane Bremon
Rogelio Carmona
Miguel Corletto
* Welington Cruz
Antonio Encarnacion
Diego Encarnacion
Eduardo Figueroa
Arturo Florentino
* Carlos Galvez
Ramon Garcia
Alvido Jimenez
Joel Lanfranco
Jesse Lebron
Luis Liria
Hector Mayorga
Maicol Medina
Roneidy Mejia
Jade Mendez
Enyelberth Pena
Genezeret Pena
Starlin Peralta
* Marcos Perez
Roderik Pichardo
Francoris Pineda
Gorge Pineda
Andres Quezada
Rafael Ramirez
Ramon Reyes
Roeldwin Reyes
Jhon Rodriguez
Santo Rodriguez
Braulio Rosario
Jose Rosario
* Abner Ruiz
Julio Sanchez
Tomas Sanchez
Yilver Sanchez
Deuris Severino
Jose Tineo
* Melvin Vasquez

CATCHERS (6):
Miguel Gonzalez
Yamel Liria
Juan Medina
Ricardo Parra
Carlos Romero
Jose Vigay

INFIELDERS (13):
# Arismendy Alcantara
Yohan Astacio
# Robert Bautista
# Ramon Bonilla
# Vismeldy Bieneme
# Rafael Disla
* Carlos Henry
# Alexander Mejia
# Jose Montecino
Carlos Morales
Juan Pena
* Melido Perez
Miguel Salazar

OUTFIELDERS (9):
Melvin Camarena
Alejandro Damian
* Francisco Guzman
Albert Hernandez
Pedro Medina
Jesus Morelli
Manuel Pestana
# Gregorio Robles
# Jose Valdez

MINOR LEAGUERS GONE

RELEASED LAST 12 MONTHS??
Luis Andrades, OF (DSL CUBS)
Zach Ashwood, LHP (PEORIA)
Luis Astorga, LHP (ST)
Jose Avila, INF (DSL CUBS)
Cory Bailey, RHP (ST)
Bienvenido Beltre, RHP (DSL CUBS)
Jose Bracho, C (DSL CUBS)
Ben Broussard, 1B (TENN)
Jim Brower, RHP (IOWA)
Michael Bunton, LHP (BOISE)
Yelson Cabrera, RHP (DSL CUBS)
Israel Camacaro, RHP (BOISE)
Matt Canepa, C (ST)
Julio Castillo, RHP (PEORIA)
Andy Cavazos, RHP (IOWA)
J. D. Closser, C (ST)
Corey Coles, OF (DAY)
Rafael Cova, RHP (MEXICO)
Miguel Cuevas, RHP (ST)
Jeff Culpepper, OF (EXST)
Alejandro De La Cruz, RHP (DSL CUBS)
Brian Dopirak, 1B (ST)
Derrek Ellison, LHP (ST)
Danny Fatheree, C (AZL CUBS - MENTOR)
Jesse Garcia, INF (IOWA)
Gasner Guerrier, RHP (DSL CUBS)
Justino Guzman, 1B (DSL CUBS)
Clark Hardman, OF (EXST)
Erik Hempy, LHP (EXST)
Yuri Higgins, RHP (ST)
Matt Hudgins, C (ST)
Edilmar Infante, RHP (DSL CUBS)
Elvin Jimenez, OF (DSL CUBS)
Leon Johnson,LHP (AZL CUBS)
Geoff Jones, LHP (IOWA)
Randy Keisler, LHP (IOWA)
Scott Koerber, LHP (ST)
Kitt Kopach, RHP (AZL CUBS)
Junniol Lami, RHP (DSL CUBS)
Elvis Lara, IF-OF (PEORIA)
Tim Layden, LHP (ST)
Brian Leclerc, OF (ST)
Simon Lee, RHP (ST)
Herasmo Magallanes, IF-OF (DSL CUBS)
Ryne Malone, INF (DAY)
Matt Maradeo, RHP (ST)
Andrew McCormick, RHP (ST)
Scott Meyer, RHP (EXST)
Ryan Meyers, RHP (DAY)
Pacheco Mota, RHP (DSL CUBS)
Billy Mottram, 3B (ST)
Jon Mueller, RHP (PEORIA)
Reinaldo Navarro, RHP (DSL CUBS)
Taylor Parker, LHP (ST)
Lenny Pena, RHP (DSL CUBS)
Mike Phelps, RHP (DAY)
Nelson Pierre, 2B (DSL CUBS)
Ramon Rache, RHP (DSL CUBS)
Pedro Ramirez, OF (DSL CUBS)
Hernan Ramos, RHP (ST)
Jeffrey Rea, 2B (PEORIA)
Jesus Reyes, OF (ST)
Alan Rick, C (ST)
Chris Rivera, RHP (ST)
Carlos R. Rojas, INF (ST)
Gregorio Rodriguez, RHP (DSL CUBS)
Roberto Sabates, C (EXST)
Issmael Salas, INF (TENN)
Cesar Salazar, OF (EXST)
Joel Santo, RHP (ST)
Jose Severino, RHP (AZL CUBS)
Chris Shaver, LHP (IOWA)
Andy Soto, 2B (DSL CUBS)
Min-Kyu Sung, OF (PEORIA)
Shingo Takatsu, RHP (ST)
Scott Taylor, RHP (EXST)
Yubrany Veras, RHP (DSL CUBS)
Chris Walker, OF (ST)
Les Walrond, LHP (ST)
Tanner Watson, RHP (TENN)
Chih-Hsiang Wen, OF (ST)

TRADED LAST 12 MONTHS:
Matt Avery, RHP (to WAS)
Jose Ceda, RHP (to FLA)
Darin Downs, LHP (to TB)
Joe Simokaitis, SS (to SEA)

POST-2008 MINOR LEAGUE FREE-AGENTS:
Mike Burns, RHP
Hector Carrasco, RHP
Matt Craig, 1B-2B (signed with FLA)
Luis Figueroa, INF (signed with LAA)
Adam Harben, RHP
Josh Kroeger, OF (signed with CHW)
Billy Petrick, RHP
Carmen Pignatiello, LHP
Jason Stanford, LHP
Andres Torres, OF (signed with SF)

SELECTED IN 2008 RULE 5 DRAFT:
Yusuf Carter, OF (by OAK)
Mark Holliman, RHP (by MIL)
Donald Veal, LHP (by PIT)

PRESENT STATUS UNKNOWN:?
Joel Altagracia, 1B-3B
Pedro DeJesus, C
Davy Gregg, OF?
Clark Hardman, OF
Justin Rayborn, RHP
Marc Sawyer, 1B
Matt Weber, RHP
NOTE: Both Altagracia (who received a reported $140K bonus last July) and DeJesus were on the?DSL Cubs Instructs roster last November, but neither are presently on a Cubs Minor League Reserve List. It's possible that their contracts were voided for some reason (possibly an age discrepancy,?or maybe some type of?pre-eixting injury or medical condition, or perhaps some other?"issue").

Gregg, Rayborn, and Weber were placed on the Restricted List two years ago when they unofficially retired from Minor League Camp (Weber quit pro baseball to play college basketball), but all three were reinstated and then made eligible for the Rule 5 Draft post-2008, but were not selected. None of the three are on a Minor League Reserve List at this time, so they may have been released after the Rule 5 Draft.

Hardman (2007 9th round draft pick out of Cal State - Fullerton) and Sawyer (2007 15th round selection out of Yale) could still be on the Restricted List, and if so, they will probably remain there unless they decide to "unretire," or else they will? probably be reinstated in time for the 2010 Rule 5 Draft (players can remain on the Restricted List for a maximum of two years before they have to?be reinstated).