SB Nation - Darwin Barney

Cubs Minor League Wrap -- September 5

Josh77 — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 06:55:10 -0000

I'm back. (No thanks to AT&T) Did anyone miss me?

I'm not going to bore you with the details. . .oh what the heck, I am. My DSL modem/router decided to blow up on its one month birthday on Monday. After a long call to AT&T and tech support telling me to balance it on my knee and bark like a seal while rubbing my tummy and patting my head to see if that would make it work, it was concluded that the thing truly melted down and that it was bad and had to be replaced. We were told that we would have a new one by Wednesday, Thursday by the latest. By the time we actually got a hold of someone on Friday, it became very clear that not only was a modem not coming, no one had even bothered to record that there was even a problem. And of course, because I live on the West Coast, everyone who could help us had already gone home for the Labor Day Weekend. They told us to go to an AT&T wireless store in my area and they could help me. They laughed in our faces and told me they didn't do that kind of stuff. (So clearly some CSR had just made something up to get us off the phone) Finally around 7pm tonight, I found someone who could help us--Best Buy. Of course, because I live out in the boonies now, the nearest Best Buy is a half hour away and they could only help us after we gave them $110.

So yes, I am going to start looking for alternatives to AT&T. Unfortunately, because of my current rural life, my options may be limited or even non-existent.

Let's be honest--without the internet, following the minor leagues on a daily basis is impossible. Oh, I know how the River Cats and the Grizzlies have been doing because that's in the local news, but I've had no idea what's been going on in the Cubs minors this week. So I'm going to try to get up to speed this weekend as the playoffs start this week.

I'm sorry for my absence during this critical week. But living in Hooterville along with caring for an 18 month old girl made it nearly impossible to go out and do the MLW, and beside, AT&T lied to me about how quickly this would all be taken care of.

Good news out of AA after the jump.

Iowa Cubs (71-71)

I see the I-Cubs playoff hopes went down the toilet while I was away. Tonight they lost their sixth straight game as they were atomized by the Albuquerque Isotopes, 8-3.

Ezequiel Astacio started and . . .hey, when the heck did we get him? Man, you miss a lot. Anyway, Astacio started and got the loss, giving up two runs in four innings. He surrendered six hits. Astacio walked one and struck out three.

Shortstop Darwin Barney went 2 for 3 with a double. He scored twice and had one RBI.

Tennessee Smokies (37-31)

The magic number is now one for the Smokies playoff birth as they caved in the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx, 3-1.

Last time we saw Andrew Cashner, he had been struggling. Not tonight as he threw seven shutout innings, allowing only two hits and one walk. He only struck out two, however.

Brian Schlitter collected his 22nd save with a perfect ninth inning. He struck out one.

The Smokies only had four hits tonight and were greatly aided by five Diamond Jaxx errors. Catcher Welington Castillo went 1 for 4 with a double.

I notice Brandon Guyer got promoted back to AA while I was "away." He was 1 for 4 tonight with a run scored and an outfield assist.

Daytona Cubs (30-37)

The Daytona Cubs are finishing this season out on a high note, winning their third in a row 4-1 over the Clearwater Threshers.

Craig Muschko improved his record to 7-3 with 5.2 shutout innings tonight. He gave up only one lone single. Muschko walked three and struck out nine.

I see right fielder Kevin Soto has joined the D-Cubs with the end of the rookie league team's season. Tonight Soto went 2 for 4 with a stolen base. Soto scored twice and had one RBI.

Center fielder Tony Campana was 2 for 5 with a double. Catcher Luis Flores went 2 for 4 with an RBI.

Peoria Chiefs (42-25)

The Chiefs clinched a while ago, but they haven't eased up at all. Tonight they committed regicide against the Clinton LumberKings, 8-3.

Jeffry Antigua started and got the win with five shutout innings. He gave up three hits and walked three. He also struck out three as his record in the Midwest League improved to 4-0.

Center fielder Jose Valdez hasn't had a problem with the Midwest League at all. Today we was 3 for 4 with a triple and three stolen bases. That's some impressive speed stats there--although he was caught stealing once. Valdez scored twice.

Second baseman Ryan Flaherty went 2 for 4 with a walk and a run scored.

Left fielder Nelson Perez hit his 11th home run tonight with a two-run homer in the sixth inning. Perez was 1 for 5.

Boise Hawks (33-42)

The Hawks were left in the dirt by the Tri-City Dust Devils, 3-2.

Starter Dae-Eun Rhee had gopheritis tonight, allowing two home runs in the two innings he pitched. He gave up all three runs on four hits. He walked one and didn't strike out a batter.

Robert Whitenack had three shutout innings of relief and Josh Lansford and Corey Martin each had two scoreless innings.

Second basema Logan Watkins was 2 for 4 with an RBI.

Cubs Minor League Wrap -- August 29

Josh77 — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 05:48:05 -0000

Iowa Cubs (70-65)

The Iowa Cubs made it four in a row tonight with a 7-4 thumping of the Oklahoma City RedHawks.

Casey Fossum improved his record to 6-4 by allowing only one run on two hits over five innings. Fossum walked four and hit two batters. He struck out nine.

Blake Parker pitched the ninth inning and picked up his 20th save. Parker allowed one hit and didn't walk anyone. He struck out two.

First baseman Micah Hoffpauir went 2 for 4 with three RBI and a run scored. Third baseman Andres Blanco was 2 for 5 with two runs scored. Shortstop Darwin Barney was 2 for 4 with a run scored.

Tennessee Smokies (34-28)

Ryno's Boys stayed tied for first place by beating the Moblie Bay Bears, 7-4.

Starter Jeremy Papelbon gave up two home runs in his five-inning start, but got the win anyway. Papelbon allowed four runs on seven hits. He walked two and struck out one.

Brian Schlitter got save number twenty-one. He pitched the final 1.1 innings, allowing no runs on one hit. He didn't walk a batter and struck out two.

Right fielder Tyler Colvin hit a bases-loaded triple and a solo home run for four RBI tonight. Colvin was 2 for 4 and scored twice.

Third baseman Marquez Smith was 2 for 4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored. Shortstop Starlin Castro went 2 for 4 with a walk and two runs scored. Castro also stole his third base for Tennessee.

Daytona Cubs (27-34)

The D-Cubs were thrashed by the Clearwater Threshers, 6-2.

Rafael Dolis started and only went three innings. He gave up two runs on three hits, although one of the two runs was unearned. Dolis walked four and struck out three as his record dropped to 3-9. His ERA is a respectable 3.54 though.

Left fielder Marwin Gonzalez hit his second home run, a solo home run in the fifth inning. Gonzalez was 1 for 3.

DH Brandon Guyer was 2 for 4 with an RBI. Second baseman Jake Opitz was 2 for 3 wih a walk.

Peoria Chiefs (38-23)

The Chiefs shucked the Cedar Rapids Kernels, 11-1.

Austin Bibens-Dirkx continues to dominate the Midwest League. Tonight he improved his record to 7-1, tossing 6.2 innings and allowing only one run on five hits. He didn't walk anyone and struck out six. The Chiefs expect Bibens-Dirkx to start the playoffs for them, but I really think he needs to get a September call-up. Please?

It was a six RBI night for right fielder Kyler Burke, including a triple and a grand slam. It was Burke's 14th homer this year. Burke was 2 for 4 with a walk. He scored twice.

DH Ryan Flaherty was 2 for 3 with a double and a walk. He scored twice and had two RBI. First baseman Rebel Ridling was 2 for 5 with an RBI and three runs scored.

Center fielder Jose Valdez made his Midwest League debut a successful one. He was 2 for 5 with two runs scored.

Boise Hawks (30-38)

The Hawks lost their sixth game in a row as they were messed up by the Tri-City Dust Devils 3-1.

Starter Robert Hernandez was pretty good tonight. He went five innings and allowed only one run on four hits. He didn't walk anyone and struck out five.

Eduardo Figueroa got the loss in relief. He gave up two runs, one earned, over his 1.2 inning relief stint.

Shortstp Hak-Ju Lee was 2 for 4 with a run scored.

Cubs Minor League Wrap -- August 28

Josh77 — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 04:59:54 -0000

Believe it or not, the D-Cubs threw another no-hitter tonight, less than two weeks after the last one. It was another one of the seven-inning no-nos.

Generally good news from the farm tonight, although Brett Jackson went on the DL with a sore right wrist.

Iowa Cubs (69-65)

The Iowa Cubs moved into second place with a 4-2 victory over the Oklahoma City RedHawks.

Jeff Samardzija dominated tonight for six shutout innings tonight. He gave up only three singles and one walk. The Shark struck out six.

Jeff Stevens threw two perfect innings of relief, striking out three.

The I-Cubs were paced tonight by a pair of solo home runs. The first as a third-inning shot by right fielder Brad Snyder, his 14th on the season. Snyder was 1 for 3 with a walk overall. The second one was an insurance run in the eighth inning by DH Matt Craig. It was his fourth home run for Iowa, seventh in the PCL and 11th overall. Craig was 2 for 4 on the night with two runs scored.

Shortstop Darwin Barney was 2 for 3 with two stolen bases. Barney had one RBI and scored once. Left fielder John-Ford Griffin was 2 for 3 with a walk.

The Iowa Cubs are two games behind the Memphis Redbirds in the standings with ten games to play. They have no games left with Memphis, however.

Tennessee Smokies (33-28)

The Smokies late-inning heroics just keep on coming. They scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth to stun the Mobile Bay Bears, 3-2 and move back into a tie for first place.

Starter Chris Carpenter allowed one run on five hits in his six inning start. He didn't walk a batter and struck out two.

David Cales got the win with two innings of relief. Cales gave up two hits and a walk, but didn't allow any runs. He did not strike anyone out.

Right fielder Tyler Colvin had the big blow, an RBI double that tied the score in the two-run ninth. He later scored the winning run on Doug Deeds' pinch-hit single. Colvin was 1 for 4.

Center fielder James Adduci was 2 for 4. Catcher Welington Castillo went 2 for 3.

Daytona Cubs (27-33)

The Daytona Cubs split a double-header tonight, losing the first game, 3-2 in nine innings and winning the second game, 3-0 as the D-Cubs staff tossed their second seven-inning no-hitter in less than two weeks.

In the first game, Ryan Searle started and allowed two runs on six hits over 5.2 innings. Searle walked one and struck out six.

Chris Siegfried pitched the ninth inning and took the loss, allowing a run on two hits. He struck out one.

Shortstop Marwin Gonzalez was 2 for 4 with a double and a run scored. First baseman Jake Opitz and center fielder Tony Campana were both 2 for 4.

The no-hitter was in the second game, as starter Oswaldo Martinez pitched the first four innings, walking two and striking out one. Martinez has now pitched in four games since signing out of the Mexican League: two of those games were no-hitters. He pitched two-thirds of an inning in his Cub debut on August 15.

Mike Perconte finished the no-no and got the win since Martinez didn't go five innings. Perconte walked one and fanned three.

Jake Opitz was the DH for the second game and was 2 for 4 with two RBI.

Peoria Chiefs (37-23)

The Peoria Chiefs were knocked on their ears by the Cedar Rapids Kernels, 8-3.

Justin Bristow started but only lasted two innings. He allowed three runs on four hits. Bristow walked four and struck out two.

Jeff Beliveau pitched much better in relief, but got the loss anyway. Beliveau allowed one run over his four innings of relief. He surrendered five hits. He didn't walk anyone and he struck out four.

Center fielder David Macias had a two-run double in a 1 for 4 game. The Chiefs did not have a hit after the second inning tonight.

Boise Hawks (30-37)

The Hawks were officially eliminated from the playoffs tonight with a 7-2 loss to the Spokane Indians.

Chris Rusin started and took the loss. He went four innings and gave up four runs on seven hits. He walked two and struck out three.

Right fielder Jae-Hoon Ha hit his second home run in the second inning. The solo shot was his only hit in a 1 for 4 game. Shortstop George Matheus went 2 for 5 with a double.

AZL Cubs (13-15, 29-27 overall)

Beat the Brewers, 3-0.

The rookie league team's season is now over.

Cubs Minor League Wrap - August 21

Josh77 — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 06:34:49 -0000

Everyone lost tonight except, well you can probably guess who the only winning team was tonight.

Iowa Cubs (64-62)

The I-Cubs were battered by the Portland Beavers, 8-1.

David Patton made a rehab start tonight for the I-Cubs, but it didn't go as well as the Big Z's did yesterday. Patton got the loss by allowing two runs over his 2.1 innings pitched. He gave up two hits, walked two and struck out one.

Shortstop Andres Blanco went 3 for 4 with three doubles. Matt Camp went 2 for 4 with a double. Second baseman Darwin Barney went 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI. Barney was 6 for 16 in the four-game series in his hometown.

Tennessee Smokies (28-27)

The Smokies were spotted by the Chattanooga Lookouts, 5-3.

Casey Coleman gave up all five runs tonight in his five inning start. Coleman was touched for seven hits, he walked two and struck out four.

Right fielder Tyler Colvin was 1 for 2 with a double, a stolen base and two walks. That makes two games in a row Colvin has had two walks. Shortstop Starlin Castro went 2 for 4 with a stolen base.

Daytona Cubs (22-31)

The D-Cubs offensive woes continued as they were beaten by the Brevard County Manatees, 6-1.

Starter Jay Jackson pitched well, but didn't get any help. Jackson went five innings and allowed four runs, but only one of the four runs was earned as the D-Cubs made three errors tonight. Jackson surrendered seven hits. He didn't walk anyone and struck out seven.

Left Fielder Marwin Gonzalez went 2 for 3 with a triple and a walk. He scored once.

Peoria Chiefs (33-20)

The Chiefs are unstoppable right now as they cut down the Clinton LumberKings, 7-3 for their fifth win in a row.

Starter Alberto Cabrera picked up the win by going five innings and allowing three runs on three hits and three walks. He struck out eight.

Erik Hamren was perfect in the final two innings to collect his seventh save. Hamren struck out two.

Right fielder Kyler Burke hit home run #13 tonight, a three-run home run in the third inning. Burke was 1 for 4.

Center fielder Brett Jackson went 2 for 5 with a stolen base. Jackson had an RBI and scored once.

Second baseman Ryan Flaherty tripled tonight in a 2 for 4 game. Flaherty also walked once. He had one run scored and one RBI. First baseman Rebel Ridling was also 2 for 4 with a walk, an RBI and a run scored.

Shortstop Junior Lake went 2 for 4 with a double and two runs scored.

Boise Hawks (28-32)

The Hawks scored twice in the top of the tenth inning, only to see the bullpen unable to hold a lead. The Hawks lost to the Yakima Bears, 4-3 in ten innings.

Starter Robert Whitenack turned in a very good start, allowing only one run on three hits over six innings. He walked one and struck out two.

Second baseman Logan Watkins went 2 for 3 with a walk. He scored once and had one RBI. Shortstop Hak-Ju Lee was 1 for 2 with three walks. He scored once.

AZL Cubs

Lost to the Athletics, 10-9 in 12 innnings.

This game had some weather-related delays.

Dae-Eun Rhee pitched tonight. I unfortunately missed his earlier start last weekend where he threw two shutout innings. Tonight he was rocked for three runs in two-thirds of an inning.

Cubs Minor League Wrap - August 19

Josh77 — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 06:19:50 -0000

More photos » by Lenny Ignelzi - AP

Bill Murray went to the Cubs/Padres game tonight, since the Chiefs had the day off.

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Iowa Cubs (63-61)

The Iowa Cubs lost to the Portland Beaver, 10-9 in 13 innings.

A long time ago, Mitch Atkins started this game and he got knocked around for six runs in only four innings. Atkins surrendered six hits and three walks. He struck out four.

Jeff Stevens and Justin Berg each threw two shutout innings before Blake Parker entered the game in the 13th and allowed the winning run. Parker was credited with a third of an inning pitched, and he gave up one run on three hits and an intentional walk. Parker struck out one.

Catcher Chris Robinson was 2 for 4 with a double and two walks. Robinson had four RBI tonight and he scored once himself. First baseman Matt Craig hit two doubles and walked once in a 3 for 6 night. Craig scored twice and had two RBI.

Right fielder Micah Hoffpauir went 2 for 5 with two walks. Hoffpauir also had two RBI and scored twice. Finally, shortstop Darwin Barney was 2 for 4.

Tennessee Smokies (28-25)

The Smokies pushed two runs across in the bottom of the ninth inning to blindside the Chattanooga Lookouts, 5-4. It was their fifth win in a row and moved them into a tie for first place in their division.

Starter Andrew Cashner had a few troubles tonight, as he allowed three runs on five hits in only four innings. He walked two. The good news was that he struck out six.

Marco Carrillo pitched the top of the ninth and got the win. He gave up one hit, didn't walk anyone and struck out two.

Right fielder Tyler Colvin stayed hot tonight, going 2 for 4 with an RBI and a stolen base. Colvin is hitting .383 in August.

First baseman Russ Canzler went 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI. Robinson Chirinos was 2 for 3 with a walk and a run scored.

Daytona Cubs

Rained out.

Peoria Chiefs

Did not play

Boise Hawks (27-31)

The Hawks beat the Spokane Indians, 1-0.

Robert Hernandez was excellent tonight, throwing six innings and allowing four hits and a walk. Dionis Nunez pitched the ninth inning and got his fifth save. He allowed only one hit and struck out one.

Shortstop Hak-Ju Lee was 2 for 4.

AZL Cubs

Did not play.

Cubs Minor League Wrap -- August 18

Josh77 — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 09:39:34 -0000

Sure. My internet is out all night and then comes back on just as I'm going to bed.

Iowa Cubs

The I-Cubs were dammed by the Portland Beavers 6-3.

Starter Jeff Samardzija tossed four shutout innings tonight, allowing only one hit. He walked two and struck out three. The bullpen let him down, however. Justin Berg got credited with the loss after allowing two runs in the one inning he pitched.

Shortstop Andres Blanco had another 3 for 4 game with a run scored. He also stole a base. First baseman Matt Craig was also 3 for 4. Craig had two RBI. Micah Hoffpauir was 2 for 4 with a walk and a run scored. Second baseman Darwin Barney went 2 for 4.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennesee Smokies snuck past the Chattanooga Lookouts, 2-1 on a Tyler Colvin solo home run in the bottom of the ninth.

Starter Jeremy Papelbon allowed only one unearned run tonight. He went six innings and allowed only four hits. Papelbon walked one and struck out six.

Brian Schlitter entered the game with two on and two out in the top of the ninth. He walked the bases loaded before getting a fly out to end the inning. He picked up the win when the Smokies scored in the bottom of the ninth.

Colvin's game-winning home run was his tenth in Tennessee. Colvin was 1 for 4.

Catcher Welington Castillo's 11th home run accounted for the other Smokies run. Castillo was 2 for 3 with a stolen base. Center fielder James Adduci was 2 for 4 with a double.

Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs split another double-header with the Tampa Yankees, winning the first game 5-4 and dropping the second game 1-0.

Chris Siegfried got the win in the first game in relief. Siegfried allowed one run on two hits over 2.1 innings. Siefgfried walked one and struck out two.

David Cales pitched a perfect bottom of the seventh to get his thirteenth save. He struck out one.

Four D-Cub hitters were 2 for 4 in the first game: RF Brandon Guyer, DH Josh Vitters, first baseman Mark Reed and catcher Luis Flores. Guyer and Vitters each scored a run, Flores had a double and two RBI. Left fielder Jonathan Wyatt went 2 for 3 with a walk. Wyatt had two RBI and scored twice as well.

In the second game, starter Oswaldo Martinez pitched 3.1 shutout innings. He allowed two hits an a walk while fanning two. Mike Perconte pitched 2.2 innings of relief, but got the loss when he allowed a walk, a stolen base and a game-ending single in the bottom of the seventh.

Right fielder Brandon Guyer was 2 for 3.

Peoria Chiefs

The Chiefs are red hot right now. Tonight they crushed the Quad City River Bandits, 14-1.

Jeffry Antigua started, went six innings and picked up the win. Antigua allowed only one run. He surrendered three hits, walked one and struck out four.

Left fielder Nelson Perez hit home run #10 in the sixth inning. Perez was 1 for 4 with a walk. He scored twice and had three RBI. Right fielder Kyler Burke hit home run #12 in the seventh. Burke went 2 for 3 and also had, naturally, a double. Burke had four RBI total and scored three times.

Shortstop DJ LeMaheiu went 2 for 4 with a walk and two runs scored. Catcher Michael Brenly went 2 for 4 with a double. Brenly scored once and had two RBI.

Tempers flared in this game as there were a couple of bench-clearing incidents, although apparently no punches were thrown either time. The first was after the QC pitcher threw three balls at Brett Jackson, hitting him the third time. The second was when Erik Hamren retaliated in the next half inning. Hamren was ejected.

Boise Hawks

The Hawks lost to the Spokane Indians, 6-1.

Hawk pitchers gave up 16 hits tonight, and that's about all I want to say about this game.

AZL Cubs

Lost to the Royals, 7-6 in ten innings.

Cubs Minor League Wrap -- August 17

Josh77 — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 08:48:10 -0000

Quick note: Today in Baseball Prospectus, Kevin Goldstein wrote ($) "Midwest League scouts are wondering how [Brett] Jackson dropped to the 31^st overall pick. . . Jackson's power/speed combination is moving him up prospect lists while others wait to get their pro career even started."

Thought you might want some good news.

Iowa Cubs (63-59)

The Iowa Cubs topped the Tacoma Raniers, 5-3.

Starter Casey Fossum got the win tonight, going five innings and giving up two runs on four hits. Fossum walked one and struck out three.

Blake Parker pitched the ninth inning and gave up a run, but qualified for his sixteenth save anyway. He allowed one hit, which was a solo home run. He didn't walk or strike out anyone.

I guess Andres Blanco is doing well in his "rehab" assignment. Tonight he homered and doubled in a 2 for 4 game. He scored twice and had the one RBI. Blanco also walked once.

Left fielder John-Ford Griffin was 2 for 5. Shortstop Darwin Barney went 2 for 4.

Tennessee Smokies (26-25)

The Smokies blinded the Chattanooga Lookouts, 3-2.

Chris Carpenter went five innings and allowed one run on only two hits. He did walk three batters, but he struck out four.

Dustin Sasser got the win in relief after he allowed the tying run to score in the seventh inning. Brian Schlitter retired all four batters he faced to get his 18th save. He didn't have a strikeout.

First baseman Blake Lalli was 2 for 3 with a two-run double and a walk. Right fielder Tyler Colvin was 2 for 4 with a triple. Shorstop Starlin Castro was 2 for 2 with a walk and a run scored.

Daytona Cubs (21-28)

The Daytona Cubs split a double-header with the Tampa Yankees, 3-2 and 0-13.

Ryan Searle started the first game and allowed only one run over 4.2 innings. He surrendered four hits, walked one and struck out two.

Jose Pina got the win, although he gave up a run over. 1.1 innings of relief. He didn't give up a hit although he walked two. Dan McDaniel got the final two outs for his first save without incident.

Third baseman Josh Vitters went 3 for 4 with a double and an RBI. Left fielder Jonathan Wyatt was also 3 for 4 with a ribbie. First baseman Jake Opitz went 2 for 4 with a double and a run scored.

In the second game, starter Billy Muldowney got rocked for five runs on six hits over 1.2 innings. He walked two and didn't have a strikeout.

Right fielder Brandon Guyer went 2 for 3. Third baseman Josh Vitters was also 2 for 3, so maybe everyone can stop panicking about him.

Peoria Chiefs (30-20)

The Chiefs continue to roll as they apprehended the Quad City River Bandits, 7-1.

No one has been a bigger surprise this year than Austin Biebens-Dirkx. Tonight he went six innings and allowed only one unearned run on two hits. ABD walked two and struck out one. Since being signed out of the independent leagues in July, Biebens-Dirkx has gone 5-1 with a 1.93 ERA. His two walks tonight were the most he's allowed in any appearance all season.

For the third straight game, DH Ryan Flaherty homered. The third inning solo shot was his 19th of the season. Flaherty was 3 for 5 and scored twice.

Right fielder Kyler Burke was 2 for 2 with a double and two walks. He scored once and had two RBI.

Boise Hawks (26-30)

The Hawks won their fourth in a row as they stopped the Spokane Indians, 5-1.

Josh Whitlock picked up the win with four innings of shutout relief. The Indians had three hits and a walk off of Whitlock, but he struck out five.

Shortstop Hak-Ju Lee was 2 for 5 with two stolen bases and two runs scored. Second baseman Logan Watkins went 2 for 2 with a walk and two runs scored.

AZL Cubs

Thumped the Royals, 9-3.

Cubs Minor League Wrap--August 10

Josh77 — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 06:04:14 -0000

More photos » by David Zalubowski - AP

Esmalin Caridad has been waiting for the Cubs to call him up to the majors all season.

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Boy, I'm glad I didn't hang around for much of the Cubs game tonight.

Congratulations to Esmailin Caridad, who had to make his major league debut under some tough circumstances and didn't do terribly, all things considered. For those who don't know or who didn't read my post in the Caridad story, Caridad actually got into two games with the Hiroshima Carp in 2007, as he was signed out of the same Dominican baseball academy that Alfonso Soriano came out of. You got a good sense of his stuff tonight and his biggest problem--leaving pitches up.

Unfortunately, I don't have a lot of good news to report tonight either. Chicago native David Cales was promoted to Iowa from Daytona. Congratulations, David, although . . .

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs were abducted and probed by the Las Vegas 51's, 16-8.

Casey Lambert got the start because it was Caridad's turn to pitch, and he lasted three innings, allowing three runs on five hits. One of the runs was unearned. Lambert walked one and struck out three.

David Cales AAA debut didn't go well, as he gave up two home runs and five runs total in the 1.2 innings he pitched. However, only one of the five runs was earned as the Cub defense made four errors tonight. Backup infielder Matt Matulia came off the DL yesterday and got into his first game in a month (and only his second since Memorial Day) by pitching two innings. He allowed three runs too.

DH Matt Craig had a good game though. He was 2 for 5 with a grand slam and five RBI. The home run was his sixth of the year. Right fielder Brad Snyder also homered and doubled in a 2 for 5 effort. Snyder's home run was a sixth inning solo shot and he had two RBI total.

Left fielder So Taguchi was 2 for 4 with a walk and two runs scored. Catcher Chris Robinson was 2 for 5 with a double. Shortstop Darwin Barney went 3 for 4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored.

Tennessee Smokies

The only good news today came from the Smokies, as they blitzed the Birmingham Barons, 11-4.

Casey Coleman got the win tonight, improving his record to 12-5. This was despite having allowed four runs on seven hits in only five plus innings. Coleman walked two and struck out two.

Brian Schlitter managed to notch a save in a game the Smokies won by seven runs. He retired all four batters he faced, two by the strikeout.

Right fielder Tyler Colvin was 2 for 4 with a walk and two runs scored. Center fielder James Adduci was 3 for 5 with a stolen base, and RBI and a run scored.

DH Blake Lalli had a double and two RBI in a 2 for 4 game. He also walked and scored three times. First baseman Russ Canzler also had a double and two RBI, although he went 3 for 4. Canzler also scored three times.

Daytona Cubs

The Cubs lost to the Dunedin Blue Jays, 2-1.

Starter Jay Jackson continues to serve his penance by blowing away the Florida State League. Jackson threw seven shutout innings, allowing only two hits and one walk. Jackson struck out four.

Dan McDaniel walked a man and allowed a two-run home run in the one inning he pitched to take the loss. He did strike out the other three batters he faced, though.

Center fielder Brandon Guyer was 3 for 4 with two doubles. Third baseman Josh Vitters got in two at-bats tonight, going 0 for 2.

Peoria Chiefs

The Chiefs were snakebit by the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, 1-0.

Aaron Shafer took the hard-luck loss tonight. He went six innings and allowed the one run on five hits. Shafer walked one and struck out three.

Center fielder Brett Jackson was 2 for 4 with a double. Right fielder Kyler Burke was 2 for 4.

Boise Hawks

The Hawks were mauled by the Yakima Bears, 5-0.

Starter Robert Whitenack allowed all five runs on seven hits over 3.2 innings. He walked two and struck out one.

The Hawk hitters had two hits and 12 strikeouts tonight.

AZL Cubs

Lost to the Giants, 10-3.

Cubs Lose 11-5, Fall Two Games Out - But Cubs Win, Too! (Iowa Cubs, That Is)

Al — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 22:46:14 -0000

More photos » by David Zalubowski - AP

Sorry, Randy. It just wasn't your day.

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Most of what I'm going to write about today's game is going to be from the boxscore and a bit of following along by cellphone while I was at Wrigley Field watching the Iowa Cubs defeat the Las Vegas 51's 5-4.

Let me first praise Milton Bradley for having perhaps the best day he's had in a Cubs uniform -- 4-for-5 with a double and an RBI, raising his average to .266 and his OBA to .401. In seven August games he's now hitting .450/.571/.550 -- and I think he's now in the perfect spot in the batting order for him, second. Clearly, he puts too much pressure on himself to produce when he's hitting in a RBI spot (fifth, much of the year), and batting him second gives him a real chance to be on base, as we have seen, more than half the time this month (after posting a .457 OBA in July). He's playing good defense and running the bases well.

It's not exactly what Jim Hendry had hoped for when he signed Bradley last offseason, but this type of production is something we haven't seen from many -- or really, any -- Cubs players over the last ten years or so.

I won't pin today's loss on Randy Wells, either, though he struggled and allowed seven runs (five earned) in 5.1 innings. His defense deserted him and the Cubs made three errors in all, and Jeff Stevens got hit pretty hard in his inning-plus of work, putting the game, which resulted in an 11-5 Cubs loss, out of reach. Combined with the Cardinals' come-from-behind win over a really bad Pirates team (thankfully, the Cubs get to play them next weekend), the Cubs now sit two games behind St. Louis.

Mostly, I'm going to pin this loss on the offense, which generated 17 hits, including six extra-base hits, but couldn't get many of them home. The Cubs left RISP in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 7th, 8th and 9th innings -- ridiculous, in my opinion, and left 13 on base all told. It was clear that Lou Piniella had no interest in watching this mess -- he got himself tossed in the second inning.

There's still a chance for the Cubs to split the series (and road trip) against a very good Rockies team tomorrow night... so, look forward to that, and below the fold is my recap of the Iowa/Las Vegas game.

Travis Snider is the guy I was hoping the Cubs would select in the first round of the 2006 draft. Instead, they selected Tyler Colvin; he's been dissected many times on this site, and after seeing Snider pound out a pair of homers at Wrigley today, I'm holding to my position that passing on Snider (who was picked by the Blue Jays with the pick right after the Cubs) was a mistake. Snider, who is only 21 (three years younger than Colvin), has already had a couple of cups o' coffee in the major leagues (posting a .736 OPS with 5 HR in 172 AB) and will likely be in the Blue Jays' starting outfield by 2011 at the latest, perhaps even next year.

That was the parlor game to play today, given that this, unlike last year's "Road To Wrigley" game, was a Triple-A game: "How many players in today's game have played at Wrigley before?" Snider wasn't one of them, but I counted no fewer than six (Buck Coats, Marty McLeary, So Taguchi, Luis Rivas, Bobby Scales, and Micah Hoffpauir), seven if you want to count Justin Berg, who was on the Cubs' 25-man roster briefly last month, warmed up a couple of times, but didn't get into a game. Howie Clark, a 35-year-old veteran of six major league seasons, has also played against the Cubs and former Cub minor leaguer Brian Dopirak has surfaced again in the Blue Jays organization.

How weird must it have been for Micah Hoffpauir, who was in the major leagues with the Cubs all year till Friday, to return to Wrigley as an Iowa Cub? (He got loud ovations every time his name was announced.) His average shown on the scoreboard was blank, which means today was his first minor league game of the year (if he had any AB without hits, it would have shown as .000). I suspect when the Cubs sent him down, they probably told him simply to go to Chicago and wait for the Iowa team to meet him there. Hoffpauir had a bloop double in four at-bats and played both first base and right field. Iowa hitting stars were John-Ford Griffin, who homered onto Sheffield (I was surprised there weren't more homers, with the temperature a stifling, humid 87 degrees and the wind howling out to CF at what was reported at 11 MPH, but it had to be at least twice that), and Darwin Barney, who had a pair of hits.

John Gaub, who has put up gaudy numbers since being promoted, was called on in the seventh, issued a walk and struck out Howie Clark, and then was yanked -- couldn't possibly let him face a right-handed hitter, right? (Granted, it was Randy Ruiz, who has 106 RBI in 113 Triple-A games this year.) Vince Perkins came on and retired Ruiz on a fly to center.

The game is played at just a slightly slower pace than a major league game. You can clearly see why certain players are at that level and can't get any higher, or, as in the case of guys like Clark, Ruiz, Coats and Taguchi, are hanging on, trying to get one more shot at a major league game. The Las Vegas third baseman, Kevin Howard, who got into some of the antics with the "Zooperstars" mascots who appeared today, is in his seventh year in the minors with his seventh organization and you could see why today -- he made two throwing errors on routine ground balls which led to a couple of Iowa runs.

Blake Parker closed the game for his 13th save, but not before allowing a home run to Angel Sanchez. Attendance was 16,280, about half of what the Cubs drew for the minor league game featuring the Peoria Chiefs last year -- possible reasons: a Sunday afternoon isn't going to draw as well as a Tuesday night; it's a lot farther to Des Moines than it is to Peoria, meaning fewer people would follow the team (although a few busloads from Iowa were dropped off on Waveland), and the heat may have kept a few people from walking up on the day of the game. Ran into BCB reader Damen Jackson today; he had a seat near the photographer's bay and hopefully, will have some pictures to post here later on.

We will no doubt see Hoffpauir returning to the Cubs after September 1, and Scales may also be brought up. Apart from that, I don't see anyone who was in today's game who looks like a "hot prospect", nor will be back in Chicago this year (with the possible exception of Justin Berg). The real Cub prospects are at the lower levels of the organization. Perhaps we'll see some of them at Wrigley in the near future.

Cubs Minor League Wrap--August 1

Josh77 — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 06:08:00 -0000

Apparently there's some "bromance" on the Boise Hawks.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs zapped the New Orleans Zephyrs, 14-0.

The I-Cub pitching staff threw a combined one-hitter tonight. Starter James Russell gave up the lone hit in his four innings. Russell walked one and struck out two.

Justin Berg got the win in relief because Russell didn't go five. Berg walked one and hit one in his two innings. He struck out one Zephyr.

B.J. Ryan, John Gaub and Blake Parker finished out the game with an inning a piece. Ryan and Gaub both struck out two in perfect innings. Parker walked one and didn't strike out anybody.

Catcher Chris Robinson led the 19 hit I-Cub attack today by going 4 for 5 with a double. He scored twice and knocked two in. Center fielder Matt Camp was 3 for 5 with a stolen base and three runs scored. Third baseman Nate Spears was 2 for 4 with two walks. Spears scored once and had two RBI.

John-Ford Griffin was 2 for 5 with a double. He scored twice and batted one in. Shortstop Darwin Barney had two doubles in a 2 for 6 game. Barney had one RBI.

Bobby Scales had the lone I-Cub home run tonight, his fifth of the year in AAA. Scales was 1 for 5 with a walk and three RBI. He scored twice.

Even second baseman Aaron Miles got into the act. Miles was 2 for 6 and scored twice.

Tennessee Smokies

The Smokies won their sixth in a row tonight as they deep-fried the Carolina Mudcats, 4-1.

There was a good rehab appearance tonight by David Patton, who allowed one unearned run in a three-inning start. Patton gave up two hits, didn't walk anyone and struck out four.

Marco Carillo got the win with three innings of shutout relief. Carillo gave up one hit, didn't walk anyone and struck out one. Brian Schlitter got his 15th save by pitching the ninth inning. He allowed one hit, but erased the runner with a double play. Schlitter didn't walk or strike out anyone.

Right fielder Tyler Colvin is on fire right now, following up yesterday's 5 for 5 with a 3 for 3 game, including a double and his eighth home run of the season. He also reached once on catcher's interference. Colvin scored twice and had two RBI.

Shortstop Jonathan Mota was 3 for 5 with a double, although he also committed two errors. Center fielder James Adduci was 2 for 4 with a triple and a stolen base. He also scored once.

Catcher Welington Castillo had two doubles in a 2 for 4 game. He had one RBI.

Daytona Cubs

The D-Cubs were shut out by the Charlotte Stone Crabs, 8-0.

Starter Rafael Dolis didn't make it out of the third inning tonight. He allowed three runs on five hits over 2.2 innings. Dolis walked two and struck out four.

The D-Cubs only had two hits tonight.

Peoria Chiefs

The Chiefs clipped the South Bend Silver Hawks 3-2.

Austin Biebens-Dierkx started tonight and picked up the win with eight solid innings. He allowed two runs on four hits. He only walked one and struck out five.

Chris Huseby got his fourteenth save with a hitless ninth, although he did walk two batters, albeit one intentionally.

Second baseman Ryan Flaherty was 3 for 4. DH DJ LeMahieu went 2 for 3 with a walk. Brett Jackson's 28 game on-base streak came to an end.

Some kid I've never heard of named Michael Brenly hit his fourth home run of the season tonight, a solo homer in the third inning. Brenly was 2 for 3 with a walk and scored twice

Boise Hawks

The shutouts continued tonight as the Hawks blanked the Vancouver Canadians, 9-0 behind a seven-run third inning.

Christopher Rusin, Yohan Gonzalez and Dionis Nunez each threw three innings of the shutout.

Right fielder Jae-Hoon Ha went 3 for 5 with a double. Ha scored twice and had two RBI. First baseman Justin Bour went 2 for 5 with a double, two RBI and a run scored.

AZL Cubs

Beat the Rangers 7-6.

Geovany Soto was the DH tonight and he went 1 for 3 with a double and 2 RBI.