SB Nation - Ty Wright

Tennessee Smokies Wrap -- Game 4

Josh77 — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 07:58:49 -0000

The Jacksonville Suns won the Southern League Championship tonight as they blinded our Tennessee Smokies, 7-3.

Today's game got off to a good start, as the Smokies scored two runs in the bottom of the second on a double by second baseman Tony Thomas.

But Smokies starter Andrew Cashner couldn't hold the lead. Cashner gave up one run in the top of the third, which Tennessee promptly got back in the bottom of the inning on a solo home run by left fielder Ty Wright. But Cashner got into real trouble in the fourth inning. He walked two men and then allowed a three-run home run to the opposing pitcher to give Jacksonville a 4-3 lead that they would never relinquish.

For the evening, Cashner threw four innings and allowed four runs on four hits. He walked three and struck out only one.

After the fourth inning, the Smokies offense couldn't do anything. They never even got a man as far as second base again before the ninth inning. Meanwhile, the Smokies defense made three errors in the sixth inning which led to two runs. Shortstop Starlin Castro muffed a ground ball and pitcher Jayson Ruhlman moved the runner to second base on a wild pickoff throw. The next batter bunted, and Castro made a throwing error which allowed the original runner to score. That runner would eventually score later in the inning.

The Suns tacked on their seventh run in the seventh inning off of reliever Alex Maestri.

The Smokies did mount a threat in the ninth when the first two batters reached on a single and a walk. But after right fielder Tyler Colvin grounded into a force out, he then inexplicably got picked off first base with a man on second and one out.

Wright was the big bat for the Smokies tonight--he went 3 for 4 with the home run. Catcher Welington Castillo was 2 for 3.

It was a disappointing finish to the season, but congratulations anyway to Ryne Sandberg and the Smokies as they had a very successful season.

Tennessee Smokies Wrap -- Game 3

Josh77 — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 06:21:48 -0000

Shortstop Starlin Castro singled home Brandon Guyer in the bottom of the ninth to give the Smokies a 5-4 win over the Jacksonville Suns. The win keeps the Smokies title hopes alive. They now trail Jacksonville two games to one.

There was a lot of scoring early in this game, as Smokies starting pitcher Casey Coleman allowed a run in the top of the first after a one-out double, a pair of walks and a sacrifice fly. But the Smokies came roaring back for three runs in the bottom of the inning, scoring on singles by first baseman Blake Lalli, third baseman Marquez Smith and catcher Welington Castillo.

Coleman couldn't hold the lead, however, as he allowed a two-run home run in the second inning and another run in the third to give the Suns a 4-3 lead. Coleman's final line for the evening was four innings pitched, allowing four runs on five hits. Coleman walked three and struck out four.

The bullpen then stepped in and kept the game close. David Cales pitched two shutout innings in relief of Coleman. He allowed only one hit and one (intentional) walk. Cales struck out two.

The Smokies tied the game in the fifth inning when right fielder Tyler Colvin doubled home left fielder Ty Wright. The score would stay knotted at four until the ninth inning.

Pitching in his third inning of relief, Marcos Mateo allowed a one-out triple in the ninth inning. With the Smokies season on the line, Mateo got a shallow fly out and a strike out to get out of the inning with no damage. Mateo, who was credited with the win tonight, went three innings and allowed two hits. He struck out three and isssued one intentional walk in that ninth inning.

With one out in the ninth, Guyer pinch-hit for Mateo and singled to left. He then stole second base and was singled home by Castro to end the game and keep the season going for the Smokies.

Castro was 2 for 5 with that one huge RBI. Wright went 2 for 4 and scored twice. Lalli was 1 for 1 with one RBI and three walks.

Andrew Cashner takes the mound for the Smokies tomorrow night as they look to stave off elimination one more time and even the series. This has been an exciting series, as two games were ended on singles in the bottom of the ninth and all three games were one-run affairs.

Tennessee Smokies Wrap -- Game 1 Sept. 15

Josh77 — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 06:29:49 -0000

It was a topsy-turvey game with a controversial finish, but in the end the Smokies ended up on the wrong end of a 6-5 loss in ten innings to the Jacksonville Suns. The Smokies now trail the best-of-five series one game to none.

Starter Chris Carpenter got off to a terrible start in the bottom of the first inning, giving up a bases-loaded triple that put the Smokies down 3-0. After that he settled down and Carpenter went 4.1 innings, allowing the three runs on four hits. Carpenter walked four and struck out five.

But the Smokies struck back in the top of the second inning, scoring two runs on a double by catcher Welington Castillo. The Smokies would go on to tie the game in the fourth inning when first baseman Blake Lalli and right fielder Tyler Colvin led off the inning with back-to-back doubles.

The score would remain tied at three until the bottom of the eighth, when reliever David Cales allowed a run. A leadoff single ended up on third base with nobody out. after a stolen base and a bad throw by Castillo. A strikeout and a line out made it look like Cales might pitch out of the jam, but a two-out single put the Suns up 4-3.

The Smokies have been fighting back the whole post-season, and tonight was no different. In the top of the ninth, the Smokies tied the score when second baseman Jonathan Mota singled home third baseman Marquez Smith. However, the Smokies failed to take the lead later in the inning when Mota was thrown out trying to score from third on a fly ball to center field. Smokies manager Ryne Sandberg was ejected arguing the call.

Cales pitched 1.2 innings tonight. He gave up one run on two hits. He walked one and struck out two.

The game then went into extra-innings and the Smokies fortunes looked bright when Smith singled home center fielder James Adduci to give the Smokies a 5-4 lead. Unfortunately, left fielder Ty Wright was thrown out at the plate trying to score on the same play.

Looking to get his fourth save in as many games, Smokies closer Brian Schlitter struck out the first two batters he faced. But he then fell behind 3-1 to Suns catcher Brad Davis, who deposited the next pitch over the left-center field fence. Schlitter did not retire another batter, allowing singles to the next three batters and ending the game.

The third, game-winning, single was highly-controversial. The batter was initially called out at first base after hitting a slow-roller to third. But after an argument and the Suns manager asking the first base umpire to ask the home plate umpire for help, the call was overturned and first baseman Lalli was ruled to have been off the bag, allowing the winning run to score.

Marquez Smith was the big hitting star for the Smokies, going 3 for 5 with a double. He scored twice and had one RBI. Right fielder Tyler Colvin was 2 for 5 with a double, an RBI and a run scored.

The Smokies will try to even the series tomorrow night as Jeremy Papelbon will take the mound against Suns pitcher Graham Taylor, who started at Wrigley against the Chicago Cubs on May 1st and who was almost traded to the Cubs for Jacque Jones two years ago.

Cubs Minor League Wrap -- August 24

Josh77 — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 05:12:45 -0000

Man, summer colds suck. They're even worse when you're trying to take care of an infant. Then you're responsible for cleaning up two people's messes.

Jeremy Papelbon was named Southern League Pitcher of the Week.

Iowa Cubs (66-64)

The Iowa Cubs zipped past the New Orleans Zephyrs, 7-4.

Starter Mitch Atkins improved his record to 7-11 with a strong start tonight. Atkins went seven innings and allowed two runs on four hits. He walked two and struck out five.

David Patton's rehab appearance did not go well. He gave up two runs on a home run in the eighth inning and got in trouble in the ninth before Vince Perkins was summoned from the bullpen to get the final out. Patton went 1.2 innings and allowed the two runs on two hits and three walks. He struck out two. Perkins got his third save while facing two batters. He walked the first one and then struck out the final batter to end the game.

Left fielder John-Ford Griffin had two doubles in a 2 for 5 game. He scored twice and knocked two in. First baseman Micah Hoffpauir also went 2 for 5 and had one double. Hoffpauir had three RBI and scored once.

Tennessee Smokies (31-27)

The Smokies remained in a tie for first place tonight as they filleted the Carolina Mudcats, 16-9.

Andrew Cashner has been struggling, really for the first time in his professional career. Tonight he couldn't go the necessary five innings to pick up the win, despite leaving with a 13-5 lead. Cashner went 4.1 innings and allowed five runs on seven hits. The really bad news was that he walked five and struck out only one. Two of the runs Cashner allowed in the five-run first inning were unearned, however

Dustin Sasser was given the win in relief. Sasser threw two shutout innings. He gave up one hit, walked one and struck out two.

The Smokies banged out 19 hits tonight, led by Tyler Colvin, who got his batting average up to .305 with a 4 for 6 game. Colvin doubled once. He had one RBI and scored once.

Catcher Welington Castillo was 3 for 6 with two doubles. He scored once and had two RBI. First baseman Russ Canzler went 2 for 5 with a double and a walk. Canzler scored twice and had two RBI. Shortstop Starlin Castro was 2 for 6 with two doubles. He had one RBI and one run scored. First baseman Blake Lalli had a four RBI night. He also scored once in a 2 for 4 night. Center fielder James Adduci was 2 for 3 with three walks. Adduci scored four times. He also stole a base.

Two Smokies homered tonight. Left fielder Ty Wright hit his ninth homer in the first inning with a man on. Wright went 3 for 4 with a double and two walks. He scored three times. Second baseman Tony Thomas hit #11 in the second inning with the bases empty. Thomas was 1 for 3 with two walks.

Daytona Cubs

Had the night off.

Peoria Chiefs (35-21)

The Chiefs had been bludgeoning opponents lately, but tonight they used their pitching and defense to shut out the Quad City River Bandits, 2-0.

Austin Bibens-Dirkx has made six starts for the Peoria Chiefs, and in those six starts he's gone 5-1 with a 1.70 ERA. (He also has one win as a reliever.) Tonight he had seven shutout innings and allowed only four hits and one walk. Bibens-Dirkx struck out six. ABD is 24 and washed out of the Mariners organization, so we need to temper our enthusiasm a little. Still, if he keeps this up, signing him out of the independent leagues is going to be a major coup for our scouting team.

Chris Huseby got the save number 18. Huseby pitched 1.1 innings and allowed only one hit. Huseby struck out two.

Third baseman David Macias was 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored. First baseman Rebel Ridling was 2 for 3 with a double.

Boise Hawks (30-33)

The Hawks lost to the Spokane Indians 14-5.

Starter Robert Hernandez allowed three runs on four hits over four innings. He walked three and struck out six. The rest of the pitching staff were worse.

Second baseman Logan Watkins was 2 for 3 with two doubles and two walks. Watkins scored once. Third baseman Greg Rohan had two doubles in a 2 for 4 game. He scored once and had two RBI.

Left fielder Robert Wagner hit his third home run tonight. Wagner was 2 for 4 with two RBI.

AZL Cubs (11-13)

Did not play. Their season ends Friday night.

Cubs Minor League Wrap--April 15

Josh77 — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 07:26:47 -0000

It might have lacked the drama of the Big Z in Milwaukee last season, but the Cubs threw a no-hitter tonight!

Daytona Cubs (19-27)

When a team throws a no-hitter, even of the seven-inning variety, it gets the lead-off position. Tonight four Daytona Cubs pitchers combined to no-hit the Dunedin Blue Jays, 4-0 in the first game of a double-header. They lost 3-2 in the second game.

Craig Muschko started the game tonight and went the longest, going four innings. He walked one and struck out two.

Chris Siegfried pitched one inning and was awarded the win on the "Starter must go five" rule. Siegfried neither walked nor struck out anyone.

Oswaldo Martinez was just signed out of the Mexican League, and made his Cub debut part of a historic one. He pitched two-thirds of an inning and issued a walk and had a wild pitch. David Cales finished out the final 1.1 innings. He didn't walk or strike out anyone.

It was Daytona's first no-hitter in 13 years. Kerry Wood and two relievers threw that one.

Second baseman Nate Samson had a two-run home run and a two-run homer to provide all of the D-Cub offense. Samson also walked once.

In the second game, James Leverton started and took the loss, giving up three runs on three hits, including a two-run home run, over five innings. Leverton walked two and struck out three.

Nate Samson went 2 for 4 in the second game. First baseman Jake Opitz was 2 for 3 with a double and a run scored.

Iowa Cubs (61-59)

The Iowa Cubs summited the Tacoma Raniers, 7-4.

J.R. Mathes picked up the win to improve his record to 11-6. Mathes pitched five innings and allowed three runs on seven hits. One of the runs was unearned. Mathes walked one and struck out one.

Blake Parker got his 15th save, although he did allow a run on a solo home run. He pitched two innings, walked two and struck out three.

Second baseman Luis Rivas had three doubles in a 3 for 4 game. He scored twice. Catcher Steve Clevenger was 2 for 4 with a run scored and two RBI.

First baseman Micah Hoffpauir hit a solo home run in the ninth. Hoffpauir went 2 for 5.

Tennessee Smokies (25-25)

The Smokies eclipsed the Jacksonville Suns, 7-4.

Casey Coleman leads the organization in wins this season, and he picked up #13 tonight , although he really didn't pitch that well. Coleman went 5.1 innings and allowed four runs on four hits and four walks. He struck out four, of course.

Jayson Ruhlman was perfect over the final 1.2 innings for his fourth save.

Right fielder Tyler Colvin was 3 for 3 with a triple and a walk. He scored twice. Left fielder Ty Wright and third baseman Marquez Smith were both 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored. One of Smith's his was a double.

Peoria Chiefs (28-20)

The Chiefs were robbed by the Quad Cities River Badits, 3-2 in ten innings.

Starter Aaron Shafer allowed two runs on eight hits over 5.2 innings. He didn't walk anyone and struck out three.

Kevin Kreier took the loss. He gave up a run on two hits and two walks over 1.2 innings.

Third baseman Ryan Flaherty hit home run #17 tonight to tie up the game in the eighth inning. Flaherty was 2 for 4 with the one RBI. First baseman Rebel Ridling had a double in a 2 for 4 game.

Boise Hawks (25-30)

It took 12 innings, but the Hawks beat the Everett Aqua Sox, 4-3.

Starter Robert Whitenack allowed two unearned runs over five innings. He gave up six hits, walked once and struck out four.

Second baseman Logan Watkins went 4 for 6 and scored the winning run in the 12th inning on shortstop George Matheus's single. Matheus was 2 for 6 with the one RBI and one run scored.

DH Jae-Hoon Ha was 3 for with a double and a run scored.

AZL Cubs

Beat the Dodgers, 10-4.

Cubs Minor League Wrap--August 5

Josh77 — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 05:25:39 -0000

I think Geovany Soto is fine.

Iowa Cubs

The I-Cubs trumped the Reno Aces, 3-2.

Starter Esmailin Caridad went six innings tonight, allowing only two runs on three hits, including a solo home run. Caridad walked two and struck out an eye-popping twelve Aces. I don't know for sure, but I'm betting that's a career high for Caridad. I've been doing these wraps since before Caridad entered the Cub system, and I can't remember him ever having that many strikeouts.

Blake Parker was perfect in two innings of relief for his second win of the year when So Taguchi singled home Nate Spears to win the game in the bottom of the ninth. Parker struck out one.

Second baseman Matt Camp was 2 for 5

Tennessee Smokies

The Smokies skinned the Carolina Mudcats, 8-6.

Casey Coleman improved his record to 11-5 tonight with three runs on five hits over 5.1 innings. Coleman gave up two home runs. He walked one and struck out three.

Alex Maestri entered the game with two one and one out in the ninth and nailed down his third save. He struck out the first batter, hit the second one and got the third one to ground out to the third baseman.

Catcher Geovany Soto homered again tonight in his rehab appearance. For the first time, he caught the entire game tonight and went 1 for 4 with a walk and two RBI.

Left fielder Ty Wright also homered for the eighth time tonight. Wright was 2 for 4 with a walk. He scored twice and had two RBI.

Shortstop Starlin Castro was 2 for 5 with a run scored. Center fielder James Adduci was 2 for 5 with a run scored and a stolen base. First baseman Blake Lalli went 3 for 4 with a double and an RBI.

Daytona Cubs

The D-Cubs topped their arch-rival Brevard County Manatees, 6-3.

Starter Jay Jackson got the win with six solid innings, giving up two runs, one earned, on five hits. Jackson walked one and struck out four.

Right fielder Brandon Guyer was 2 for 3 with a walk and two runs scored. Center fielder Tony Campana was 3 for 4 with, of course, a stolen base.

Peoria Chiefs

The Chiefs were demoted by the Beloit Snappers, 7-1.

Starter Aaron Shafer only went three innings tonight, giving up seven runs on six hits He walked three and struck out five.

The Chiefs didn't get their first hit until the sixth inning tonight when catcher Mario Mercedes broke up the no-hitter.

Boise Hawks

The Hawks were beaten by the Everett Aqua Sox, 7-5.

Let's see. . .Daniel Keefe threw a nice 1.1 innings of relief after the game was already 7-5. Keefe allowed two hits. He didn't walk a batter and struck out three.

Shortstop Hak-Ju Lee went 2 for 4 with a walk and a stolen base. Center fielder Jose Valdez had two stolen bases in a 1 for 4 night. Valdez also scored once. Third baseman George Matheus went 2 for 4 with two runs scored.

First baseman Justin Bour hit his second home run for Boise tonight. Bour went 2 for 4 with a walk and two runs scored.

AZL Cubs

Lost to the Mariners, 4-3.

Just noticed that Larry Suarez got demoted to rookie ball while I was moving last week. He pitched again tonight and allowed two runs on four hits over three innings. Not good for your third year in the Arizona League.

Cubs Minor League Wrap -- August 4

Josh77 — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 05:51:21 -0000

Man, I never thought Boise, playing in the Pacific Time Zone, would be over before Peoria.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs lost to the New Orleans Zephyrs, 3-1.

Starter J.R. Mathes took the loss, allowing the three runs, one of which was unearned, over his six inning start. Mathes gave up seven hits. He didn't walk a batter and struck out three.

Right fielder So Taguchi hit his third home run of the season in the first inning to give the I-Cubs an early lead. Taguchi was 2 for 4.

Tennessee Smokies

The Smokies were outslugged by the Carolina Mudcats, 9-8.

Starter Hung-Wen Chen only lasted three innings tonight, giving up five runs on six hits. Chen walked one and struck out three.

Brian Schlitter pitched the ninth inning and got the loss when he allowed an unearned run. Schlitter surrendered two hits. He struck out two and didn't walk anyone.

Shortstop Starlin Castro was 2 for 4 with a walk in his AA debut. He scored once and had two RBI. However, it was his error in the ninth that led to the eventual winning run.

First baseman Russ Canzler was went 2 for 4 with a double. Canzler also had two RBI and scored once. Left fielder Ty Wright with a run scored.

Catcher Geovany Soto continued his rehab tonight with a solo home run. It was his only hit in three at-bats.

Daytona Cubs

Did not play.

Peoria Chiefs

The Chiefs outlasted the Beloit Snappers, 7-4 in 14 innings.

Starter Chris Archer was long gone by the time this was over, but he was solid in throwing six shutout innings. Archer allowed three hits, walked three and struck out two.

Chris Huseby pitched the final two innings to get the win. Huseby allowed no runs on one hit. He didn't walk anyone and struck out four.

Shortstop DJ LeMahieu was 2 for 7, including a two-run triple that broke the tie in the 14th inning. He also scored twice, including that third run in the fourteenth inning.

Center fielder Brett Jackson was 3 for 6 including his first home run in the Midwest League, a three-run homer in the seventh inning.

First baseman Rebel Ridling was 2 for 6 with a walk. Third baseman Jovan Rosa was 3 for 4 with a double and an RBI.

Boise Hawks

The Hawks were soaked by the Everett Aqua Sox, 6-4.

Su-Ming Jung started tonight and allowed one run on a solo home run. He gave up two hits total in his three innings of work. Jung walked one and struck out three. This is actually Jung's second appearance since coming back from an injury--I missed the first one in all the hullabaloo surrounding my move and my internet problems.

Josh Whitlock got the loss. He gave up one run on three hits over 2.2 innings.

Shortstop Hak-Ju Lee led off the game with his first professional home run. Lee was 2 for 4.

DH Robert Wagner hit his first home run in the fourth inning. It was a two-run home run. Wagner was 1 for 4 along with solving a murder alongside Stephanie Powers.

AZL Cubs

Did not play

Cubs Minor League Wrap -- August 2

Josh77 — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 05:05:09 -0000

Tyler Colvin tied a Southern League record tonight.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs were blown down by the New Orleans Zephyrs, 3-1.

The Cubs pitching staff only allowed three hits tonight, but that was enough as starter Casey Fossum took the loss, allowing two runs on two hits over 5.2 innings. Fossum walked three (one intentional) and struck out six.

The I-Cubs only had four hits today. Second baseman Aaron Miles was 1 for 3 with a walk.

Tennessee Smokies

Behind the white-hot Colvin, the Smokies crushed the Carolina Mudcats, 11-1.

Starter Jeremy Papelbon evened up his record at 4-4 by allowing only one run on five hits and one walk. Papelbon struck out six.

Right fielder Tyler Colvin tied a Southern League record by getting hits his first three times at-bat today, thus extending his hit-streak in consecutive at-bats to 11. Colvin tied the record in style, too, as consecutive hit #11 was his ninth home run of the year in AA. It was a three-run home run in the fourth inning. Colvin was 3 for 5 overall and scored twice.

Third baseman Marquez Smith was 3 for 4 with a double and a walk. Smith scored once and had two RBI. Left fielder Ty Wright went 2 for 5 with two RBI and a run scored. Catcher Welington Castillo was 2 for 3 with an RBI and a run scored.

Daytona Cubs

The D-Cubs fell to the Charlotte Stone Crabs, 3-2.

Starter Craig Muschko went five innings today, allowing two runs on four hits, including one solo home run. Muschko walked two and struck out five.

Jose Pina pitched one inning and took the loss when he allowed an unearned run. He gave up one hit, didn't walk anyone and struck out one.

Second baseman Jose Made was 2 for 4 with a run scored. DH Starlin Castro went 2 for 4.

Peoria Chiefs

The Chiefs extinguished the South Bend Silver Hawks, 5-4.

Starter Jeffry Antigua made his Midwest League debut today and he wasn't bad, allowing only one run on five hits over five innings. Antigua walked one and struck out four.

Kevin Kreier allowed a pair of inherited runners to score, but got the win when the Chiefs pushed a run across in the top of the ninth. Kreier was charged with no runs on three hits over 2.2 innings of relief. He did not walk or strike out a batter

Second baseman DJ LeMahieu had a triple in a 2 for 4 game. LeMahieu scored once and had two RBI.

Right fielder Kyler Burke was 2 for 4 with a walk and a stolen base. He scored once. First baseman Rebel Ridling scored once and had two RBI in a 2 for 5 game.

Boise Hawks

The Hawks were beaten by the Vancouver Canadians, 2-1.

Starter Robert Hernandez went 5.2 innings and took the loss when he allowed two runs on two hits. One of the runs was unearned. Hernandez walked three and struck out an impressive nine.

Left fielder Derrick Fitzgerald went 2 for 3 with a walk and the lone Hawk run.

AZL Cubs

Lost to the Dodgers, 4-2.

Cubs Minor League Wrap--July 30

Josh77 — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 06:03:03 -0000

First of all, I want to apologize for not having a MLW yesterday. AT&T was supposed to turn on my phone and internet service yesterday, but I wasn't confident that they would and sure enough, there was a problem. After initially telling us that it wouldn't be fixed until tomorrow or possibly even Monday (and even that wasn't until after they asked my wife "Are you sure you're not a moron?" half a dozen times before agreeing to send someone out), a technician actually called back later and said he could come out this afternoon. He fixed the problem in about a half an hour. I've never had anything but great service from AT&T technicians who get sent out. The people who you have to deal with to actually get one of those technicians to come out, on the other hand. . . Dealing with any major faceless corporation is a problem, but the AT&T call centers are a special level of hell.

As far as the trade goes today, I think the Pirates got some interesting parts, but little that the Cubs can't afford to lose. I like Kevin Hart the best of all of the players the Pirates got. Hart's a bit of an overachiever who turned his career around by learning the cut fastball. I think he should to continue to "overachieve" for a while, but he's really a #4-5 starter. He was a nice return for Freddy Bynum no matter what.

Despite the Cubs moving Jose Ascanio into the rotation in Iowa, I think that if he has a major league future, it's as a middle reliever. He's had control problems in the majors, as most of you know, although his walk rates haven't been bad in the minors the last couple of seasons. If he can pitch in the majors with the talent he's shown in the minors, he's a decent right-handed middle reliever. There are a lot of those guys out there and since we got a decent left-handed middle-reliever for him, I'm not going to cry over his loss.

The interesting player we gave up was Josh Harrison. Harrison, the nephew of former major leaguer John Shelby, is a guy who doesn't have a lot of raw tools but has done nothing but hit since the Cubs drafted him in the sixth round out of Cincinnati. At 5'8", he's not likely to ever hit for power and despite his stolen base totals, his speed isn't that impressive, as his SB% indicates. Still, he's hit over .300 in both seasons in the Cub system and while batting average is one of my least favorite stats to evaluate minor league hitters, it's hard to ignore the evidence that Harrison appears to be pretty good at putting wood on the ball. Because of my moving I haven't finished my mid-season prospect lists yet, but I was planning on including Harrison somewhere in the high-teens. If this trade comes back to bite us, it's going to be Harrison that is going to do the biting. However, I think the odds are very much against it. He could end up as a poor-man's Howie Kendrick, and we've all seen how many problems the real Kendrick has had in the major leagues.

Now, on to the games. Everyone who played, won.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs dethroned the Omaha Royals, 6-1.

J.R. Mathes had a great start tonight, throwing seven innings and allowing only four hits and one unearned run. Hart walked one and struck out four.

B.J. Ryan faced six batters tonight. He retired the first five and then walked the sixth one before exiting the game. He had one strikeout. Ryan did have some problems finding the plate, however, as of the 25 pitches he threw, only 11 were for strikes.

Left fielder J.F. Griffin (it's all-initials day for the I-Cubs) was 3 for 4 with a double. He scored once and had one RBI. Right fielder S.O. Taguchi had a triple in a 2 for 5 game. Taguchi had two RBI and scored once.

Tennessee Smokies

The Smokies beat the Mobile BayBears, 5-2.

Starter Casey Coleman improved his record to 10-5 with six solid innings tonight. Coleman allowed only one run on five hits. He walked two and struck out two.

Brian Schlitter got his 14th save tonight, although he did allow a run on two hits in 1.2 innings.

Third baseman Marquez Smith hit his eighth home run tonight, a two-run homer off top D-Backs prospect Jarrod Parker in the third inning. Smith was 1 for 5. Then first baseman Blake Lalli went deep back-to-back for his fifth home run. Lalli was 2 for 4.

Left fielder Ty Wright was 2 for 3 with a walk. Catcher Welington Castillo scored once in a 2 for 4 effort.

Daytona Cubs

The D-Cubs cracked the Charlotte Stone Crabs, 2-1 in 12 innings.

Starter Jay Jackson picked up where he left off in Daytona, allowing only one unearned run in 5.2 innings tonight. Jackson gave up four hits, walked only one and struck out nine. (Oh, and thanks to the people on the board who announced his demotion. It's been a rough week for me, and it's good to know others can cover for you.)

David Cales tossed three shutout innings of relief. He gave up one hit and walked two. Cales fanned one.

Henry Williamson got the win. He gave up a walk and a single, but no runs. Williamson fanned two.

Right fielder Brandon Guyer was 2 for 6 and drove home the winning run in the bottom of the 12th. Shortstop Starlin Castro went 2 for 5 with a walk. Third baseman Jake Opitz went 2 for 4 with a walk.

Peoria Cubs

They were winning 3-0 when they were rained out in Dayton. The game will not be made up.

Boise Hawks

The Hawks sunk the Vancouver Canadians, 12-9.

Ryan Sontag retired the final four Canadian hitters without incident for his third save. The rest of the Boise pitchers wish to remain anonymous, although one of them did get the win.

Right fielder Jae-Hoon Ha hit his first home run of the year tonight, a three-run home run as part of a seven-run third inning for the Hawks. Ha also doubled and scored twice in a 2 for 5 game.

First baseman Justin Bour went 3 for 4 with a walk. He scored twice and had two RBI. DH Burundi Davis was a home run short of the cycle in a 3 for 4 game. Davis scored once and had two RBI.

Second baseman Logan Watkins went 2 for 4 with a stolen base an RBI and two runs scored.

AZL Cubs

Did not play.

Cubs Minor League Wrap -- July 24

Josh77 — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 06:47:44 -0000

Some wild games tonight. Of course, almost every game in Albuquerque is wild. The Cubs just need a team in the Cal League so they can play in Lancaster and High Desert too.

Iowa Cubs

It's back to "Coors Field on Steroids" for the I-Cubs tonight as they got pounded by the Albuquerque Isotopes, 16-8.

Mitch Atkins drew the short straw tonight and got the start. He lasted only three innings and allowed five runs on eight hits. Atkins walked three and struck out two.

It got so bad that second baseman Nate Spears pitched the ninth. Spears gave up two solo home runs.

The I-Cubs only had two home runs tonight, both two-run homers in the sixth inning. The first one belonged to Sam Fuld, who was 1 for 6 with his second home run, both of the year and of the last three games. The second one was hit by left fielder Jason Dubois, his 11th of the season. Dubois went 3 for 5 and scored twice.

Bobby Scales was 3 for 4 with a double and a walk. He scored once and had two RBI. Both right fielder So Taguchi and catcher Steve Clevenger went 2 for 4 with a double and a walk. He also scored once.

Tennesee Smokies

The Smokies were destroyed by the Mississippi Braves, 10-0.

Jay Jackson had a rough start tonight, not making it out of the third inning. Jackson allowed five runs, four of which were earned, on five hits in 2.2 innings. Jackson walked four (one was intentional), hit one and struck out two.

Left fielder Ty Wright was 3 for 4 with a double.

Daytona Cubs

Daytona is a good hitters park, but it's certainly not "Coors Field South" or anything. Still, tonight the Daytona Cubs hammered the Palm Beach Cardinals, 16-10 on fifteen singles, four walks and only one double.

James Leverton started and allowed three runs on five hits over five innings. One of the runs was unearned. Leverton walked two and struck out four.

Luke Sommer got the win with two innings of scoreless relief. Sommer didn't allow a hit or a walk and struck out three.

The Daytona assault was led by second baseman Josh Harrison who was 4 for 5 with a walk. Harrison had four RBI and scored three times.

Center fielder Brandon Guyer had the one extra base hit. Guyer went 2 for 5 with a double and two RBI and scored once. Shortstop Marwin Gonzalez was 2 for 5 with three RBI.

Third baseman Josh Vitters was 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored. Right fielder Jonathan Wyatt went 2 for 3 with walk. Wyatt scored three times and had one RBI.

Maybe Palm Beach is finally figuring out how to slow down the D-Cubs. Two nights after stealing eight bases and the night after stealing six bases, the Daytona Cubs "only" stole five bases tonight. Wyatt, Guyer and Harrison each had one and Tony Campana had two. Camapana now has 51 steals this season. His 40 steals in the Florida State League are three steals behind the league lead, and that player has played the whole season in the FSL.

Peoria Chiefs

The Chiefs cracked the Lansing Lugnuts, 7-6 on a Jose Made "walk-off bases-loaded walk" in he bottom of the ninth.

Chris Archer started and allowed two runs on four hits in 4.2 innings. Archer had some control problems as he walked four and had a wild pitch. He struck out two.

Chris Huseby threw a perfect top of the ninth to get the win. Huseby struck out one.

Shortstop Ryan Flaherty hit his 12th home run in the third inning tonight. Flaherty was 2 for 3 with two walks. Flaherty scored four times and had the one RBI. First baseman Rebel Ridling also homered, a first inning two-run shot that was his tenth of the year. Ridling was 3 for 5 with four RBI total.

Right fielder Kyler Burke had a triple and a walk in a 2 for 4 night.

Boise Hawks

The Hawks were crushed by the Eugene Emeralds, 5-1.

"But coach, I've got a no-hitter going!" Starter Tarlandus Mitchell didn't make it out of the first inning tonight. He didn't allow a hit, but he walked five and hit one batter. That led to him being charged with allowing five runs. Mitchell also had a wild pitch. He did strike out one batter.

Shortstop Hak-Ju Lee led off the game with a double, stole third and scored the only Hawk run of the game on a Brett Jackson single. Lee was 2 for 4 total.

AZL Cubs

Beat the Brewers, 4-1.

Second-round pick DJ LeMaheiu made his professional debut. He was 2 for 4 with a triple.