The Children Are The Future-Cubs Minor League Update Sponsored By Binny’s Beverage Depot

In Minor Leagues by Obstructed View Staff170 Comments

Iowa

Dave Sappelt hit his 2nd HR of the year and Anthony Rizzo knocked in 3 RBI's. Adrian Cardenas keeps killing the ball down there and Vitters is now sporting a sweet .635 OPS. But at least he has 5 walks vs 6 k's. Keep in mind he is still young for AAA. Casey Coleman had a good start but the bullpen shit the bed and Iowa lost 7-12.

Smokies

Jae Hoon Ha went 3-4 with a SB. Nick Struck went 5 IP and gave up 1 ER. He now has a 2.45 ERA.

Daytona

Daytona broke out the big sticks winning 13-2. Spellcheck Jr went 2-6 and is almost up to a .200 batting average. Torreyes picked up a pair of hits and a walk as well. Nelson Perez had a big day going 3-3 with a HR, 3 RBI's and pair of walks.

Peoria

Oliver Zapata continues to hit very well going 2-4. He now has 13 hits in 28 AB's for the year. The big story was Michael Jensen had another great start. Jensen only allowed 2 base runners in 7 IP and struck out 6. It was reported that Jensen was throwing in the low 90's with a good curve. Its still early but Jensen has been one of the few bright spots in the minors this year. 

Share this Post

Comments

  1. Author
    Mercurial Outfielder

    @ Andrew:

    In EXST, getting tattoos, hitting HR and pissing off the Angels’ MiLB coaching staff. He’s hitting well, though, so the Cubs will probably promote him in the near future.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  2. Author
    Mercurial Outfielder

    @ Rice Cube:
    He wasn’t exactly setting the world on fire at Iowa, so I’m guessing transformation has not yet occurred.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  3. Author
    Mercurial Outfielder

    10 K, 2 BB in 43 PA for Soto. Going back to last season, Soto has not posted a less than 2:1 K:BB since April 2011. I’m beginning to wonder if CCD’s Rick Wilkins prediction wasn’t spot-on.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  4. Bobby Hansen

    Sappelt’s homer last night was an inside the park HR. Gameday called it “a ground ball through the hole at 2nd base”.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  5. Author
    Mercurial Outfielder

    What’s up with Wells’ velocity? I’m seeing all low-80’s, I remember him being able to work in the low-mid 90’s.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  6. Recalcitrant Blogger Nate

    I think LaHair can provide league avg offense for a couple of seasons. Not sure if that’s really worth that much though

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  7. Author
    Mercurial Outfielder

    Speaking of K’s, Cespedes has 19 K, 7 BB in 51 PA and is somehow still OPS’ing .900. He’s “on pace” for 223 K and 82 BB. (dying laughing)

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  8. Author
    Suburban kid

    Cubs should just save everyone a lot of time and forfeit this game. If they can’t score a run in the first four innings, there really isn’t much point in playing the rest of them.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  9. Author
    Mercurial Outfielder

    That sac bunt effectively killed that inning. I don’t get what is so fucking laudable about having a player in the lineup who can’t be trusted to swing the fucking bat with men on base. It makes managers give away outs in the stupidest and most dogmatic fashion, and it takes what would be exciting moments int he game and turns them into a theater for idiocy.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  10. Author
    Mercurial Outfielder

    @ Suburban kid:

    Yes. (1) Why the double switch if you’re beginning the inning with the pitching change? (2) why switch with LaHair and not Soriano?

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  11. Author
    Mercurial Outfielder

    What a festival of shittiness. First Sveum does something dopey, then the fucking team can’t figure out how to throw the ball. Idiocy from top-to-bottom this inning from the Cubs.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  12. Author
    Mercurial Outfielder

    @ Rice Cube:

    Yep. Wells probably goes back down after this start, Lopez to the rotation, Bowden takes Lopez’s spot in the ‘pen.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  13. Recalcitrant Blogger Nate

    Why the hell did Sveum switch the best hitter out anyway. LaHair should have been up in that inning.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  14. Recalcitrant Blogger Nate

    @ ACT:
    I’d hope to get a pitcher from TB, and perhaps one with more upside than Davis. Do they have a guy names Torres in AAA?

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  15. Author
    ACT

    Looks like he threw 1 slider to Clevenger (followed by 2 fastballs).
    Here’s the pitch sequence to Stewart.
    1 75 Curveball Ball
    2 76 Curveball Called Strike
    3 76 Curveball Swinging Strike
    4 78 Curveball Ball
    5 76 Curveball Called Strike

    I wonder if there was something in the Reds’ advanced scouting report that said Stewart can’t hit a curve.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  16. Author
    ACT

    @ mb21:
    Brenly speculated (plausibly, imo) that it was because the Reds’ late-inning relievers were left-handed. So, he wanted to keep righty Mather in the game.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  17. Author
    Mercurial Outfielder

    @ ACT:

    And the switch happened in the 5th inning, when Cueto was cruising. But at least we have further conformation that Bob Brenly is a stooge.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  18. Author
    ACT

    It’s a real tribute to the Rangers’ playing ability that they keep winning year after year with Ron Washington calling the shots. Amazing.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  19. Author
    Mercurial Outfielder

    @ mb21:

    Yeah, that double-switching out the best hitter strategy of his would be negated by the preponderance of good hitters in that lineup.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  20. Author
    ACT

    @ Mercurial Outfielder:
    It’s sad because the players keep making him look like a genius by scoring 10 runs a game. People will even praise that squeeze play as “unconventional” thinking, since it drove the winning run in (never mind the the run expectancy in that situation was over 2).

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  21. Author
    Mercurial Outfielder

    @ josh:
    Not me. With that said, I think he ought to be platooned, and I’m really worried by the utter lack of power from him.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  22. Author
    Suburban kid

    @ mb21:
    I was just trying to think who was left from the Dusty era. All I could come up with was Wood, Dempster and Marmol. I guess Soto might have had a cup of coffee in 2006, but I’m not sure.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  23. Author
    Suburban kid

    In my video game, Anthony Rizzo is ROY, Ian Stewart is MVP and Randy Wells is Cy Young. (dying laughing)

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  24. Author
    Suburban kid

    MB who is your avatar? If my avatar is going to have sex with him for Mish, I should at least know his identity.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  25. Author
    mb21

    @ ACT:
    I’m not concerned about his home runs. I’m just concerned that he kind of sucks. I expect the power will come just as it will for Soto.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  26. Author
    josh

    @ mb21:
    Yeah, his fielding has been maybe even worse than last year, and he hasn’t made solid contact that I’ve seen. Pena was driving a lot of balls to the outfield, but the wind was killing them. Hell, I’d be happy if he had 2-3 doubles by now. It seems like every hit is a floater over the 2nd baseman’s head. Too early to call it, but he’s been on the downslide anyway, and I’m tired of watching him flail.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  27. Author
    josh

    @ ACT:
    I was calling for Sori to be let go before the season even started. I really have no desire to watch him. Nice guy and all that, but I’d rather see Joe mather oaf around than Soriano.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  28. Author
    ACT

    Mish wrote:

    Starlin Castro and triples:

    http://baseballmusings.com/?p=82383

    The Reds defeated the Cubs 4-3 Sunday afternoon, but Starlin Castro hit his second triple of the season. That doesn’t sound like much, but two triples a month would give him 12 on the season. That season total would give him 26 for his career.

    The White Sox defeated the Mariners 4-0 on Saturday afternoon, and Philip Humber pitched his first perfect game of the season. That doesn’t sound like much, but one perfect game a month would give him 6 on the season. That season total would give him 6 for his career.

    What a silly paragraph.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  29. Recalcitrant Blogger Nate

    Soriano that is. If the Cubs release him when they call up Rizzo, they’ll have a chance to determine if Lahair can play a passable LF. They’ll also get to save $400,000 this year, because someone will sign him for the stretch run and hope he can pop a few dingers. They can also give PA’s to Sappelt and whoever the hell else plays OF in AAA. If no one was going to take him this offseason, I can understand hanging onto him to let his owed money reduce and see if he can keep hitting. However if he’s cooked, its better to cut bait and quit wasting everyone’s time. I do think he should be given until late July. If he looks like this at that point, bye.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  30. Recalcitrant Blogger Nate

    @ Rice Cube:

    Yea I think we’re saying the same thing. I’m just going to stop hoping he can get ahold of one when he comes up with men on base. I’ll just expect him to flail away

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  31. Author
    josh

    @ ACT:
    It’s more of a heartfelt wish than a sincere suggestion of business strategy. Realistically, I’d settle for seeing him with fewer at bats. If they did trade him in a ridiculously one-sided deal in July, I’d be fine with that.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  32. Author
    Mercurial Outfielder

    @ Rice Cube:
    So basically, Sveum allowed Dusty to goad him into sitting his best hitter. Figures that move would be the one thing Brenly would be right about.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  33. Author
    Mercurial Outfielder

    @ ACT:
    I wouldn’t be so absolute. I think it’s a long shot. A very long shot. But this FO has shown a willingness to eat cash. If Sori’s power outage runs through May, their hand could be forced.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  34. Author
    Rice Cube

    @ Mercurial Outfielder:
    I think the release is always in their back pocket, the question is how long they wait before they use it. I really do think that they let him play most of the season before shutting him down though, just to see if something happens. Might as well since they have little to lose; money’s already spent.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  35. Author
    mb21

    @ ACT:
    It’s not going to happen this early in the season. It probably won’t happen before they get a chance to see if some AL team needs a DH at the end of July. After that I wouldn’t be so sure though.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  36. Author
    mb21

    @ Mercurial Outfielder:
    I agree, but I don’t even think it’s that much of a long shot. If ACT is saying they won’t release him before August then I agree. I think the odds of that are very slim. May as well keep him around to see if he can get hot at some point and maybe some AL team with DH need will be interested. After that I don’t think it’s a long shot at all. Actually, here’s all I think has to happen to pretty much ensure Soriano’s release by the end of August: Bryan LaHair has a good season at the plate. If he’s having a good year they’re not going to call up Rizzo, but they could move him to LF.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  37. Author
    mb21

    @ bubblesdachimp:
    I’d assume so, but I didn’t really know why he wasn’t yesterday. Usually when a player is traded prior to a game they’re available for the following day’s game. Every once in awhile when they are traded after a game they are not available the following day.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  38. Author
    bubblesdachimp

    @ mb21:

    I assume he had to be on the active roster… You cant just have a player in limbo… Or maybe he wasnt on the active roster since the Cubs called up Wells..

    one confused primate here

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  39. Author
    bubblesdachimp

    @ GBTS:

    I was thinkinf about this.. If he can playa passable left. The lineup of

    Lahair
    Jackson
    Rizzo
    Castro
    Wellington

    suddenly isnt so miserable

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  40. Recalcitrant Blogger Nate

    Bowden probably wasn’t activated yet because Wells was up and the roster was at 25. I think they have to send Maine or somebody down.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  41. Author
    WaLi

    @ Recalcitrant Blogger Nate:
    I’m unsure where Bowden is if he isn’t on the 25-man. I guess he is in trade limbo. Not sure how long he can stay there for though since he doesn’t have any options.

    04/22/12 Chicago Cubs recalled RHP Randy Wells from Iowa Cubs.
    04/21/12 Chicago Cubs placed RHP Ryan Dempster on the 15-Day disabled list retroactive to April 18, 2012. Right quad strain.
    Chicago Cubs traded CF Marlon Byrd to Boston Red Sox for Michael Bowden.
    Chicago Cubs recalled CF Tony Campana from Iowa Cubs.
    04/20/12 Chicago Cubs placed RHP Kerry Wood on the 15-Day disabled list retroactive to April 14, 2012. Right shoulder fatigue.
    Chicago Cubs recalled Scott Maine from Iowa Cubs.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  42. Author
    mb21

    @ bubblesdachimp:
    He was on the active roster for the Red Sox so when the trade was completed he was on the active roster for the Cubs. I’m confused too. Maybe they give a team 24 hours or something after a trade to settle roster issues. I don’t know.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  43. Author
    mb21

    @ GBTS:
    I realize I wasn’t very clear. I meant that if LaHair is having a good season and playing 1st base I don’t see them calling up Rizzo. If they were to move him to LF then they would call Rizzo up. I don’t think we see anything like that until August rolls around. Even then I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Cubs hold off a week or two to see if he gets hot in early August and they can then make a waiver trade. At that point it wouldn’t surprise me at all to see Soriano released. This assumes he sucks, which he basically does at this point. He’s been worth 2 rWAR over the last 3 seasons and the projections, IIRC, don’t even think he’s a 1 WAR player this season.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0
  44. Author
    mb21

    @ WaLi:
    I’m not exactly sure what the rules are, but there must be a trade limbo rule. That’s the only explanation. The Cubs can’t option Bowden to the minors. He was on the active roster when traded so is added to the active roster on the team he is traded to unless they make another transaction. It’s all very weird.

      Quote  Reply

    0

    0

Leave a Comment