There was some movement in the minors today as people came of the DL, both in the majors and the minors. I'm not sure if I have it all, but Iowa outfielder Doug Deeds was demoted to Tennessee. Smokies outfielder Brandon Guyer and pitcher Todd Blackford were demoted to Daytona. Daytona outfielder Dylan Johnston was demoted to Boise. Daytona pitcher Steve Vento was released.
Fun fact: Peoria outfielder Kyler Burke leads all of baseball, majors or minors, in doubles with 27.
Iowa Cubs
A three-run bottom of the ninth inning by the Iowa Cubs did not amuse the defeated Omaha Royals, 7-6.
J.R. Mathes has been having a good season, but today he got knocked around for five runs on nine hits over six innings. One of the runs was unearned. Mathes didn't walk a batter and struck out one Royal.
Neal Cotts made an error in the ninth inning, but was otherwise perfect in picking up the win. Cotts did not strike anyone out.
Bobby Scales picked up where he left off in Iowa, going 2 for 5 with two doubles. He had two RBI and scored twice, including the winning run in the bottom of the ninth.
Jake Fox saw his batting average drop again by going 2 for 5 with a triple. Hey, when you're batting over .400, that's a bad day. Fox scored once and batted two in.
Center fielder Sam Fuld had a double and three walks today. He was officially 1 for 2 with two runs scored and a stolen base. Left fielder So Taguchi was 2 for 5 with a double and a run scored.
Tennessee Smokies
The Smokies gave up two runs in the bottom of the ninth and flamed out against the Mobile Bay Bears, 3-2.
Pitcher Jay Jackson was activated off the DL and turned in another solid performance. Jackson lasted five innings and allowed one run on a solo home run and four hits overall. His control was great as he struck out six and didn't walk anyone. He threw 72 pitches, 51 of them for strikes.
Jayson Ruhlman took the loss. Ruhlman pitched one inning and was charged with two runs, two walks and one hit.
First baseman Russ Canzler was 3 for 4 with a double and his third home run of the year, a third-inning solo shot.
Left fielder James Adduci was 2 for 4 with a double and a walk. Catcher Welington Castillo was 2 for 4.
Daytona Cubs
Daytona split a double header with the Fort Myers Miracle, winning 8-1 in the first game and losing 4-1 in the second game.
In the first game, James Leverton got the win. Leverton pitched five innings and allowed one run on a solo home run. He allowed three hits and issued two walks while striking out three. He also hit a batter.
Left fielder Tony Campana was 2 for 4 with a stolen base. He scored once and had two RBI.
The D-Cubs offense was greatly aided by five Miracle errors in this seven-inning game.
In the second game, starter Dan McDaniel got battered around, allowing four runs on eight hits in only three innings. McDaniel also walked three and struck out two.
Brandon Guyer, went 2 for 6 on the day, 1 for 3 in both games. He also drew a walk in the second game.
Peoria Chiefs
The Chiefs brought the Quad City River Bandits to justice, 3-1.
Starter Marcus Hatley was terrific for six shutout innings. He gave up four hits, walking one and striking out two.
Chris Huseby picked up his fourth save, allowing only one hit in 1.1 innings. Huseby struck out three.
He's back. Third baseman Josh Vitters was 3 for 4 with a double, a run scored and an RBI.
Center fielder Kyler Burke went 2 for 4 with 27th double. Burke scored once.
Catcher Mario Mercedes went 2 for 4 with an RBI.
0 recs | 34 comments
Bunch of people moving down...
So, who’s moving up? Can they at least give Vitters a two week paid vacation to Tennessee? I heard he can play third base.
DisCUBbobulated - June 15, 2009
People aren't moving up
People are getting healthy. Aaron Miles comes off the DL so Bobby Scales has to go down. To make room for Scales, Deeds goes down to TN. Jay Jackson comes off the DL for TN, so to open up two spots, Guyer and Blackford go down to Daytona. (Incidentally, Guyer played for Peoria last year and it was a bit of a surprise that he skipped Daytona. Certainly a mistake in retrospect, but one that was probably a result of Tyler Colvin needing to play in Daytona. Now Guyer is hopefully where he belongs.) So then to open up two spots in Daytona, Vento gets released and Johnston goes to Boise.
And that’s more info than you probably needed.
Josh Timmers - June 15, 2009
Dylan Johnston
He was sent down to be converted to pitcher. Considering the guy never quite figured out how to hit with any consistency and was absolutely horrific in the field, this was a good move.
I remember seeing one game with him in the OF that brought back memories of the Todd Walker in LF experiment. It was like he was playing with roller skates on.
Outshined_One - June 15, 2009
Interesting
Giving the kid one last chance. He and Josh Lansford can talk hitting while sitting together in the Boise bullpen.
If you think seeing him play LF was bad, you should have seen him when he was still a shortstop.
Dylan has a lot of power, he simply couldn’t make enough contact nor can he play in the field.
Josh Timmers - June 15, 2009
Dylan Johnston story.
He was brought over from the minor league camp to play in a spring training game at Peoria vs. the Padres on March 22, 2006, a couple days short of his 19th birthday. He’s from Chandler — the Cubs probably did it because, apparently, a large contingent of his family was going to be at the game.
He pinch-hit sometime late in the game. He hit a 400-foot HR off Trevor Hoffman that flew right over my head on the RF berm. If he never makes it — and he’s still only 22 — he’ll always have that to remember.
Al Yellon - June 15, 2009
Kyler Burke.
27 is a lot of doubles for this time of year. What’s your take on him, Josh? Is he going to be moved up?
Al Yellon - June 15, 2009
I'm not Josh, but...
I don’t think there will be much movement this season with guys like Burke and Vitters at Peoria. Although they’ve both had relatively good seasons, there is absolutely no need to rush them. Burke is experiencing his best success so far as a Cub, and it’s probably best for him to stay put and be comfortable all year. Vitters had a great May, and has proven he can hit, but why rush a young 19 year old? Burke just turned 21 and Vitters is 19…allowing them to play an entire season at Peoria is not going to put either of them behind.
chattbaseball - June 15, 2009
I dunno about Burke
Beyond the doubles, he’s only hitting .279 with a .349 OBP. He only has 4 HRs. Good numbers to be sure, but hardly numbers that say he’s not being challenged in Peoria.
I look at Jovan Rosa, who led the MWL in doubles last season and is struggling in Daytona this year as a sign Burke might stay put. But Rosa got me to wondering whether O’Brien Field might have some sort of park effect that was increasing doubles and inflating Burke’s numbers. No way. 21 of Burke’s 27 doubles have come on the road.
Burke could move up after the minor league all-star games when the Cubs traditionally shake up their system. But with his previous problems moving up to the MWL, they might want to leave him there and make sure he’s ready before moving him to the FSL.
Josh Timmers - June 15, 2009
i would imagine that much of the boise roster will be 2009 draft picks
that we get signed. as i’ve been spending more time than i should looking at recent draft classes, are there any names of note from there (or elsewhere) that i should expect to be hearing about from the great northwest soon.
if you’re planning a massive ‘meet the boise hawks’, i can wait until then.
thanks as always.
tim815 - June 15, 2009
and dylan johnston
tim815 - June 15, 2009
And Josh Lansford
They’re putting together and entire bullpen of failed hitting prospects.
There are a lot of people in Extended Spring Training who will end up in Boise. We might finally get to see Hak-Ju Lee there, for example.
Josh Timmers - June 15, 2009
Actually...
Lee might stay down in Mesa for the AZ League. I think he’s recovered from Tommy John surgery, but he missed some development time as a result. He’s young enough that having him in the AZ League for short season ball would not hurt his development.
Some other names of note we should see in Boise…
RHP Larry Suarez
RHP Jon Nagle
LHP Jeff Antigua
2B/SS Logan Watkins
OF Jae Hoon Ha
There’s an outside likelihood that we’ll see guys like RHP Su-Min Jung and 2B/C Matt Cerda there, but they seem more likely to stay in Mesa.
Outshined_One - June 15, 2009
I'd Add
1B/OF Chris Weimer
1B Sean Hoorelbeke
2B/SS Dwayne Kemp
RHP Tarlandas Mitchell
RHP Julio Pena
I think Cerda is a lock to go to Boise due to his bat.
Raisin - June 15, 2009
Top 5 at this point
Nearing the halfway mark this is probably my top 5…
1. Vitters- Mr. obvious
2. J Jackson- Take away 2 of his first 3 starts and he has been every bit as good as last year. Can safely say is not a 1 year wonder
3. S Castro- At his age to be playing the Hi A and doing well is huge
4. Samardzija- is where he needs to be IMO
5. T Thomas- although it could be any of a number of players…Cashner/Archer/Clevenger/C Coleman/B Parker/etc.
Anyone see it differently?
CA Cub Fan - June 15, 2009
Draft signees?
Any word on who has signed thus far?
CA Cub Fan - June 15, 2009
5th Rounder Wes Darvill
Link
That’s about it for now.
Outshined_One - June 15, 2009
thanks for the link
i was upset about the redbirds beating us to a higher rated (by BA) shortstop in the same round. but at least we have this guy signed.
no note of it yet at the cubs site, which is disheartening, ’cuz that was to be my main source for signing status.
does it sound like i’m more interested in the future than the current big club?
tim815 - June 15, 2009
A report on a minor (and possible future) Cub farmhand
Donald Veal is in Indianapolis, pitching on rehab for Pittsburgh. He’d only appeared in 7-8 games for the Pirates, and it shows right now. With the Indians he is throwing for 2 innings, every 2-3 days.
Yesterday, Veal could not throw a strike from the stretch, walking two LH batters on 4 pitches each – all 8 pitches missed in about the same spot, high. Both runners eventually scored on a bloop single. He took the loss yesterday and finished with a line of 2 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 0 K.
So, Veal’s control problems that plagued him last year are still present. Now, I don’t necessarily think Pittsburgh will offer him back to Chicago when his rehab is over, but it’s something to monitor.
Bill Potter - June 15, 2009
If they do...
… maybe we could send him to Colorado for Patton, and send Patton down.
Al Yellon - June 15, 2009
That would be a slick move.
daver - June 15, 2009
I like that.
Couldn’t the Cubs just toss Colorado some money in either case, and just get Patton to Triple-A now?
Bill Potter - June 15, 2009
You'd think.
Al Yellon - June 15, 2009
Maybe the Cubs should hold a benefit concert or something.
daver - June 15, 2009
Paging Eddie Vedder...
…though the last time he tried to associate himself with the Cubs, it didn’t turn out so well…
Bill Potter - June 15, 2009
"Someday Patton will go to Triple A...
…OHHHHH!!! Someday he’ll go to Triple A."
daver - June 16, 2009
i'd rather take a prospect from pittsburgh
(if such a thing exists) and let them do with veal what they want.
tim815 - June 15, 2009
I meant to mention this yesterday...
…but, Saturday night, I wound up watching the last few innings of the LSU v. Virginia College World Series game on ESPN. Doing so enabled me to see Cubs’ second-round pick David J. (“DJ”) LeMahieu in action.
Getting beyond my initial dubiousness that he’s yet another second baseman, I was pretty impressed by what I saw. Unlike a couple former-LSU Tigers on the Cubs current 25-man roster, LeMahieu is tall and lanky. He appears to have a pretty sound swing – definitely nice looking for a RHH. I saw him smoke a ball into left field for a single and I want to say I saw him double as well. (He was 3 for 5 overall.)
LeMahieu looked sure-handed defensively, too. I saw him make at least one 4-3 putout, and I believe I saw him catch a popfly as well. He looked particularly great on a 6-4-3 doubleplay attempt. (The runner at first beat out the throw, but the play itself looked ML-caliber in terms of smoothness and quickness.) All in all, he looked like a solid player.
An additional note of interest: I believe I witnessed the Interview of the Year during the game – none other than Erin “Me Likah the Micah” Andrews interviewing Jim Hendry. Can’t remember much of what Jimbo said because I was too busy staring in awe at the goddess herself. (This was actually the first time I’ve ever seen her on live TV.) Now that I think about it, I believe Hendry did mention his long-standing ties with LSU amongst the usual GM yadda yadda. It was a great game – and I was glad to see LSU win.
daver - June 15, 2009
I watched that game as well
and I was trying to watch LeMahieu very closely. I think the most promising play I saw from him was a defensive play. He was ranging to his right and made a stop on a ball that looked tough to get to. After making the stop he made a nice strong through while falling and having to turn back to 1st.
The report is he’s to lanky to stick at SS and doesn’t have enough pop to play 3B full time but he certainly looks like he has the arm to play the left side he is only 20 I believe so who knows where he might play in the future
CHCOWNTHECENTRAL - June 15, 2009
so we can have cerda
and lamahieu fighting for time in idaho at second. well, better than having no prospects at the position.
tim815 - June 15, 2009
I wouldn't be surprised
if they do like they are doing with Flaherty and give LeMahieu a chance to prove he can play SS. He just started playing 2B this year at LSU up until then he had been a shortstop.
CHCOWNTHECENTRAL - June 15, 2009
works for me
since darvill will be in zona this year
tim815 - June 15, 2009
Dare I say, LeMahieu does resemble J.J. Hardy.
I’d love if he headed in that direction (Hardy’s recent slump notwithstanding).
daver - June 16, 2009
I'm not sure he has/will have Hardy's power
I think we could expect more SBs though
CHCOWNTHECENTRAL - June 16, 2009
i was checking boise's roster and vento
is listed there.
last chance stop for him. be4 trying the nats, of course.
tim815 - June 16, 2009
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