New Orleans Zephyrs 9 @ Iowa Cubs 2
This team just got a lot more interesting. I put Mike Olt at #6 on the Cubs top prospects list, which is more a compliment to the Cubs farm system than a diss an Olt, who I think is an Top 80-100 type (Alcantara is a Top 80-100 type too). Justin Grimm has every chance to turn into a righty Travis Wood, also, and he likely won't be in Iowa very long. The Iowa staff is actually really crowded right now, with Rusin, Raley, Arrieta, Moscoso, Cabrera, Grimm, Negrin, Loux, and Struck all competing for starts. Rusin was a chance to stay up with the big club in the interim, while I assume Arrieta/Moscoso/Grimm are all locks for the rotation. I have to assume Cabrera is also (though he took a relief appearance in his last go). I imagine either Loux or Raley is the #5 starter on the squad, but I wouldn't be surprised if the situation…resolves itself soon, if you know what I mean.
Logan Watkins had his typical day. Donnie Murphy went deep but struck out twice. Josh Vitters also struck out twice, but walked once too. He's probably pretty sad these days, and will probably move to LF (where his bat won't play) or to another team in a throw-in (maybe with Soriano to the Yankees, who also crave a 3B). Brad Nelson went 2-3 with a double. Edgar Gonzalez doubled as well.
Nick Struck has had a terrible, terrible year, and he's got to be headed to the bullpen soon. He allowed 7 in 5 innings. Jeffry Antigua allowed 2 runs in as many innings.
Jacksonville Suns 5 @ Tennessee Smokies 4
Both Alcantara and Baez were hitless in this game. The only damage was a solo shot by Justin Bour and a 3 run double by Rafael Lopez. They both singled also. Rubi Silva had a 2-hit game, and John Andreoli doubled, singled, and walked.
Another start for Kyle Hendricks, another 0 run performance (though he allwoed 2 unearned runs). He went 7, allowed 4 hits, walked none, and struck out 6. This guy is awesome. Zach Rosscup and an uncharacteristic blowup, allowing 3 runs in 0.2 innings (a 3-run blast by Mark Canha). P.J. Francescon cleaned it up.
Chicago Cubs 4 @ Arizona Diamondbacks 2
Junior Lake was the man, going 4-5 with a HR and 3 RBI. Castro-watch: 2-5, SO, 2B. Rizzo-watch: 0-3, BB, SO. No one cares about anyone else.
Cubs pitching was very dominant. Chris Rusin went 5 and allowed 2 on 2 hits and 2 walks. That'll do nicely. Blake Parker, James Russell, Matt Guerrier, Pedro Strop, and Kevin Gregg all combined for a total of 4 IP, 4 H, 2 BB, 3 SO, 0 R. I'll take that any day of the week.
Lansing Lugnuts 5 @ Kane County Cougars 2
For the first time in forever Gioskar Amaya did not get a hit. He walked twice, though. Albert Almora was similarly hitless but walked once. Dan Vogelbach also walked twice but singled as well. Jeimer Candelario was 1-5 as was Rock Shoulders (who doubled). Reggie Golden homered.
After a putrid beginning to the year, Gioskar Amaya is up to a .281/.356/.425 line. After the ASB, he's been .370/.453/.580, which is awesome. His star has still diminshed significantly (you could have argued before the season that he was a better prospect than Alcantara), and his power is no longer very impressive, but it's nice to see him bounce back after a terrible first half to the season.
Juan Paniagua took the start and was pretty poor again. He lasted 10 outs and allowed 8 baserunners, not a very good ratio to have. He allowed 3 runs, 2 earned, and struck out 4 (of his 18 plate appearances). A bunch of flotsam/jetsam relieved with various degrees of success.
Everett AquaSox 0 @ Boise Hawks 10
Everyone had at least one hit, and only Yasiel Balaguert, Jose Dore, and Trevor Gretzky didn't have exactly 2 (they all had 1). Jacob Rogers had the best day, with a double and a HR. 1-8 in the lineup each had exactly 1 RBI (sorry, Carlos Penalver). Dore did triple and walk.
Rob Zastryzny pitched 2 innings of shutout ball. He allowed a hit and fanned 1. Sam Wilson pitched the next two and walked one, striking 4 out. Zack Godley was up next, pitching 2 and allowing a hit and punching out 2. Scott Frazier also pitched 2; he allowed no baserunners and terminated 2. Tyler Bremer pitched the ninth and allowed a single hit.
DSL Tigers 4 @ DSL Osos 2
VSL Rayos 4 @ VSL Osos 2
AZL Royals 1 @ AZL Cubs 2
Kris Bryant went 1-3 with a double and 2 RBI. He committed no errors. David DeJesus was 2-4 with a double and 2 runs scored in his rehab assignment. Jacob Hannemann didn't get a hit; in fact, the only other hit was a single by Wilfredo Petit.
Erick Leal started and threw 3.1 innings. He allowed a single run on 4 hits, but did not walk a batter and struck out 2. If he turns into anything I'll be tickled pink with the Campana trade.
Comments
bubblesdachimp wrote:
RynoQuote Reply
Dmick,
How doe Mike Olt rate on the scale that you and (was it Uncle Dave?) put together earlier this year?
EdwinQuote Reply
Why are we so low on Vitters, again? He’s had a quality start to his season at AAA, with his wRC+ of 132.
Yeah he sucked in the majors last year…..but so did Olt. He reached AAA at age 22, while Olt didn’t get there until this season (age 24)….
Yeah I realize Vitters is kind of a slight guy whose defense has never rated so well at 3B and has been in the system forever but he’s always been young for his league while Olt has been age-appropriate or even a little old (for such a highly-touted prospect, at least).
MWQuote Reply
@ MW:
Wow, I didn’t realize that Vitters has put up a 10+% walk rate this year.
BerseliusQuote Reply
I was told Vitters was the future at 3b.
Ian StewartQuote Reply
@ cubsin:
reports plural? as in you’ve seen someone other than Phil Rogers report it? because I’d like to read those, as I think Phil was carrying the water for the org.
GWQuote Reply
MW wrote:
I actually like Vitters, but he’s not the prospect Olt is. Vitters is a poor defender while Olt is a good one. Vitters has a wRC+ in the minors of around 125-130, and Olt consistently has put up wRC+s around 150-160. They are both born on August 27; Olt is exactly one year older than Vitters is.
MylesQuote Reply
Berselius wrote:
84 PA
MylesQuote Reply
@ Edwin:
I haven’t given it much thought, but probably the same rating as we gave Brett Jackson. I think that was a 7C, but I’m not positive.
dmick89Quote Reply
GWQuote Reply
@ Myles:
Yeah, he’s been injured most of the season.
Why don’t I like Vitters? I gave up on him back in 2010. He’s been an afterthought as far as I’m concerned since around that time. Not enough power to play 3rd. Poor enough defense that some see him at 1st base. Poor defender. Poor baserunner. Very low walk rate.
There’s a reason the Cubs sought a 3rd base prospect last year and eventually landed Villanueva. There’s a reason they kept trying to get another one and finally did. The Cubs don’t like Vitters any more than I do.
His skills in some ways match Aramis Ramirez with one huge difference: power. Not to mention, Ramirez was better at getting on base, but as far as secondary skills go, Ramirez was horrible at them all. Couldn’t run. Couldn’t field. That’s Vitters. Minus the power and probably minus the ability to even stick at 3rd base.
dmick89Quote Reply
@ GW:
Didn’t MLBTR link to that article from a couple weeks ago. My guess is that the Cubs acquire some space as you said, sign Jimenez and are done. If they can’t, they need to sign everyone who is still available. Everyone! (dying laughing)
dmick89Quote Reply
@ Myles:
Ah, I see. His ML projected wOBA is still around replacement level too.
BerseliusQuote Reply
dmick89 wrote:
The Cubs would like to buy the world a Coke, and ensure that it comes with a contract (dying laughing).
BerseliusQuote Reply
BerseliusQuote Reply
http://vimeo.com/45291830
MylesQuote Reply
@ Berselius:
wow, neither did I.
@ Myles:
(dying laughing) still somewhat encouraging for Vitters
GWQuote Reply
@ Berselius:
I don’t understand that tweet. (dying laughing)
dmick89Quote Reply
Kris Bryant===> Boise
bubblesdachimpQuote Reply
According to Sickels, in Top 75…
#14 Baez
#18 Almora
#23 Soler
#57 Alcantara
#73 Edwards
Bryant wasn’t ranked (he hadn’t signed).
BA Top 50:
#10 Baez
#16 Almora
#18 Soler
#44 Olt
Bryant wasn’t ranked (he hadn’t signed).
MylesQuote Reply
(dying laughing) I like this comment: http://tangotiger.com/index.php/site/comments/nate-silver-leaves-ny-times-for-espn#13
dmick89Quote Reply
new shit
GWQuote Reply
@ Myles:
Best it’s been since 2002. That year the Cubs had 5 in the top 50 and 2 in the top 6. 7 in the top 100.
2. Mark Prior
6. Juan Cruz
40. Hee Seop Choi
45. David Kelton
48. Bobby Hill
68. Nic Jackson
80. Carlos Zambrano
Sometimes people forget how stacked the Cubs system was back then. In 2001 they had Patterson 2nd, Cruz 17th, Choi 22nd, Christensen 37th, Zambrano 68th, Montanez 73rd, and their top pick in the draft was sure thing Mark Prior.
dmick89Quote Reply
@ dmick89:
Good points, all of them. I just find it funny that people find the third base prospect equivalent of Brett Jackson so exciting.
MWQuote Reply
Myles wrote:
No annotation, no click through.
Suburban kidQuote Reply