Anthony Rizzo just keeps mashing as he hit his 12th HR of the year. When he gets here and LaHair moves to LF it might be an interesting offense to watch. Brett Jackson got on base once and made the most of it by stealing 2 bases. Jay Jackson has been moved to the bullpen and has done well in his two appearances. Last night he worked 2 clean innings and struck out 4.
Smokies
It may be early but lets go ahead and sound the TRANSFORMATION! bell in relation to Junior Lake. The tooliest of tools player in our system has finally found the ability to take a pitch and its paying dividends. Consider this, last year he had 445 AB's and walked 19 times. This year in 27 AB's he already has 8 walks to only 5 K's. He also hit his first HR of the year yesterday while playing 3B. Its very very early but this kind of change would be a major breakthrough because this kid can do it all athletically. Logan Watkins also had a huge game going 2-3 with a HR, 4 RBI's and a pair of walks. Trey McNutt pitched the first game and worked 5 innings striking out 5 and giving up a pair of solo HR's.
Dallas Beeler had a semi good start. Nothing else happened.
Another name thats starting to crop up is Arismendy Alcantara the SS for Daytona. Prior to this year Alcantara was a glove first kind of guy but he is putting together a pretty good year with the bat in a league that favors pitching. Alcantara had a .292/.321/.469 line with a perfect 10 SB in 10 attempts. He is also still just 20 years old so he's a guy to keep an eye on. Austin Kirk pitched another gem giving up 1 run over 7 innings and fanning 5 batters. Kirk now has a 1.75 ERA in 51 IP. AJ Morris worked a scoreless inning and was followed by Tony Zych for the save.
Kyle(r) Burke had another solid start giving up 1 ER over 6 IP. I would look for Burke to move up to Daytona at some point as he is showing he can start but is pretty old for Peoria. Anthony Giansanti who is being groomed as a super sub was assigned to Peoria and went 2-4. He has a really strong eye at the plate and has played just about every position including C down in instructs. Yao Lin Wang struck out 2 batters to earn the save.
I wouldn’t consider Burke old for his level considering he just made the switch to pitcher. Good to hear he’s pitching so well though.
Strasburg just had the weirdest first inning I’ve ever seen. The first batter of the game “doubled” on a pop up that nobody called. Then he struck out the next batter on 3 filthy pitches. Then it started pouring for several batters and Strasburg walked two on pitches that weren’t even close. Then the umpires called for the tarp before a 3-2 pitch with the bases loaded and two outs. After 9 minutes, they took the tarp off. Then, as Strasburg was going into his windup after the rain delay, the home plate umpire called for time because the other three umpires still hadn’t come on the field. The next pitch was a two-run seeing eye single.
Just bizarre.
GBTS wrote:
While it was a few threads ago, I acknowledge your comment and nod slowly.
BABIP FTW
@ Berselius:
LaHair approves
Pezcore wrote:
some weird points in that article.
Padres giving it to Strasburg today.
btw, thanks a lot for always putting this together, dylanj. nice feature. as long as rizzo continues to hit.
I really like Anthony Bass.
Anthony Bass is Greg Maddux doing a Tim Lincecum impersonation.
When this game is over I think Anthony Bass and I should get an apartment together.
Kudos to the Frumpy Hobbit for pressing the issue, but I’m beginning to wonder if Sveum isn’t a bit touched in the head: http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-sveum-comfortable-making-tough-decisions-20120515,0,4684794.story
Dirty Scot Ian Stewart appears to be heating up of late
Harper—-> more HRs than Pujols.
Sveum : Bunts :: Raymond Babbit : Wapner
Great catch by the little leaguer
Dale thinks they are in a “bunting slump”…
Help us all
@ srbutch5:
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve watch Albert Pujols hit and thought “Man, that guy would be awesome if he were better at bunting.”
Oh, wait, I’ve never done that, because that would make me a fucking moron. SVEUM OUT.
Rizzo —–> Another HR
Berselius wrote:
He still needs work on his bunting.
@ Aisle424:
If this kid wants to be a 3-hitter, he better learn to bunt.
That was the luckiest break the Cubs will have all year
LalalalalalalalalalaHAIR!
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
Meanwhile, in an alternate universe without Dale Sveum…
LABOMB
I’m telling you, 35 HR, < 80 RBI.
LaHair is on fire. Trade this fucker while you can, Theo.
@ GBTS:
Nah, once that 3 hitter gets his bunt slash technique down, the baserunner will pile up. Bunt slump is all it is. LaHair’s set for a Triple Crown chase.
I’m serious about trading LaHair. A 30 YO 1B is not much good to a team that isn’t contending and won’t be for a year or two. Why not try and cash in on him?
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
I’m sure they’ll shop him, but they’ve got cost control too, and he has a position as soon as they dump Soriano.
Cubs lose.
New shit
http://www.obstructedview.net/commentary-and-analysis/is-sveum-seriously-the-best-that-thoyer-could-have-done.html
@ Berselius:
Yeah, but he’s 30 and you’re talking about a guy that’s had a shade over a season’s-worth of professional innings in the OF. Plus maybe you can use those cost-controlled years as leverage in trade negotiations.