Tag: JOT

Iowa Cubs 2 @ Nashville Sound 7

This is what I get for talking up Mike Olt yesterday. He went 0-4 with 4 Ks. Yikes. Jae-Hoon Ha went 2-3 with a double and a walk.

The pitching was fucking terrible.

Tennessee Smokies 4 @ Chattanooga Lookouts 3

Javier Baez doing Javier Baez Things. 2-5 with a homer and 2 Ks. His 36 homers on the season are now just one behind George Springer for the minor league lead. Here's hoping for a 4-4, 2 walk, 2 homer day from him today, just for the hell of it. Arismendy Alcantara was 2-5 with his 31st SB on the season. He's put together a nice little 15-30 season. Matt Szczur was 2-4 with a walk. Christian Villanueva was 1-3 with a homer and 2 walks. John Andreoli was 2-4 with a BB. 

Nick Struck worked 5 innings and gave up 3 runs on 3 hits, 3 walks, and a K. A.J. Morris worked 2, allowing a hit and nothing else. Hunter Cervenka gave up a hit in the middle of getting 3 punchouts in his inning of work. And Frank Batista struck out 1 in getting the save.

Philadelphia Phillies 3 @ Chicago Cubs 4

This was one of those YCPB days. The shitty Cubs offense coaxed 3 walks and 9 hits out of Cliff Lee, which, what? Starlin Castro was 2-5 with a double and a homer. Darwin Barney was 2-4 with a walk, a SB, and a double. Donnie Murphy was 1-4 with a double. Junior Lake was 2-3 with a walk and didn't even strike out. Basball is weird. Welington Castillo was 2-4. Anthony Rizzo had what's becoming sort of the Anthony Rizzo Game (0-4, BB). He also made two pretty boneheaded plays in the field.

On the pitching side, I'm still waiting for the Chris Rusin Pixie Dust to wear off, but at this point it might take until next year. 5 innings pitched, 3 Ks, 3 walks, 4 hits, and only 3 runs (2 earned). I cannot figure out how he's not getting crushed, other than that, once again, baseball is weird. Regression is stalking him like a clever girl at this point. The bullpen kept things pretty boring after that, tossing a combined 4 innings of 2 hit, 1 K scoreless ball.

Daytona Cubs 1 @ Brevard County Manatees 5

Kris Bryant got the day off, which is dumb, because the rainouts have given him plenty of freaking days off and he's the most important prospect on the roster. Whatever. Dan Vogelbach played today, though, going 1-3 with a walk and 2 Ks. He's hitting .281/.372/.448 in his 16 games played at Daytona. Elliot Soto was 2-2 with a double. Wes Darvill was 3-4 with a double.

Yao-Lin Wang worked 3 innings in a "start", allowing 2 hits, no runs or walks, and striking out 4. Nice work sir. Ryan Searle worked the next 4 and shat all over himself, allowing 4 runs on 5 hits, 2 walks, and 3 Ks. Lendy Castillo worked the last, and was Lendy Castillo-ey, allowing a run on 2 hits and 2 Ks.

Peoria Chiefs 9 @ Kane County Cougars 0

Ryan Sweeney and Luis Valbuena both got rehab starts in preparation for coming back today, Sweeney going 1-4 and Valbuena going 1-3 with a walk. Jeimer Candelario was 0-4 with 3 Ks. Gioskar Amaya was 0-3 with a walk. Trevor Gretzky was 1-3. The Cougars had no XBHs in this one and struck out 8 times.

James Pugliese got that start and was not good. 3 innings, 5 runs, 6 hits, 2 walks, 2 Ks, and a partridge in a shitty baseball tree. Stephen Perakslis worked 2 and allowed a run on 4 hits and a K. Michael Hamann struck out 2 in his 2 innings. Kenny Socorro finished off the final two frames, allowing 3 runs (1 earned) on 5 hits and a punchout.

Hillsboro Hops 5 @ Boise Hawks 0

The Hawks got no-hit yesterday. Yasiel Balaguert's walk was the only thing keeping them from getting perfect-gamed.

Dillon Maples gave up 4 runs (2 earned) on 6 hits and 2 walks in 5 innings, but struck out 6. Corbin Hoffner allowed a run in his 3 innings, allowing a hit, 2 walks, and fanning 3. Trey Lang struck out the side in the ninth.

DSL Tigers 2 @ DSL Cubs 1

 

Iowa Cubs 2 @ Nashville Sounds 3

If I were the type of person to find a narrative in chaos, I would suggest that Mike Olt has realized that if he wants to not be in the PCL for the third season in a row next year, he better start hitting, and fast. He was 3-4 yesterday, and over the past week has gone 10 for 21 with a double, a homer, 7 walks, and 4 Ks. He's hit .357/.500/.500 over his last ten and I'm starting to wonder if maybe, just maybe, he might not totally embarass himself with a September callup. Olt is a big domino for deciding the futures of a number of other prospects (Baez, Alcantara, and Bryant's future positions and/or teams could vary drastically depending on what the Cubs can get out of him), and you would think his performance between now and about next June or so will have far-reaching implications for the look of the Cubs for years to come. No pressure, Mikey.

Zach Rosscup worked an inning with a walk and 2 Ks and no hits or runs. I have an intense apathy for everybody else on this roster.

Tennessee Smokies 12 @ Chattanooga Lookouts 1

Rough day for Javier Baez at the plate, going 0-4 with a walk and 3 Ks, eventually getting lifted in a double switch. Arismendy Alcantara (whose name I've been pronouncing as al-can-TAR-ah when, according to Sahadev Sharma on the Bleacher Nation podcast this week, it's actually al-CON-tur-uh. Fun with pronounciations.) was 1-4 with 2 walks and 2 Ks. Christian Villanueva was 2-5 ith a double. Matt Szczur was 2-4 with 2 walks. Justin Bour was about half the damn offense, going 3-5 with a double, a homer, and six RBI. Brett Jackson had a "PAY ATTENTION TO ME" game, going 2- with a double, a triple, a walk, and the requisite strikeout.

The pitching was great in this one. Eduardo Figueroa went 6 very strong frames, allowing a hit and a walk on no runs, striking out 5. His Tennessee ERA is now 2.38. He's been inexplicably awesome since getting moved up from Daytona and converting to a starter, allowing just 9 hits, 8 walks, and 3 homers. It's probably a fluke given the painfully low number of bats he's missing (just 17 Ks in 34 innings), but enjoy the ride while it lasts. Armando Rivero worked 2.1 and allowed a run on 4 hits and 2 Ks. And Tony Zych got the last two outs without issue, striking out 1.

Brevard County Manatees 6 @ Daytona Cubs 11

Dan Vogelbach got the day off today, but in his place Dustin Geiger went 2-3 with a homer and 2 walks. Kris Bryant was 1-4 with a bomb of his own. Zeke DeVoss was 2-5 with a homer and a SB.  Bijan Rademacher finished off the power surge with a 3-4, 1 homer day. Ben Carhart was 1-4 with a double and a walk.

Ivan Pineyro was mediocre, working 5 and allowing 4 runs on 5 hits, 2 walks, and 5 Ks. Sheldon McDonald worked 2, allowing as many runs on a walk, a K, and 2 hits. Austin Reed finished off the final 2 frames with a K and nothing else.

Kane County Cougars 2 @ Cedar Rapids Kernels 8

Gioskar Amaya was 1-4 with a double. Jeimer Candelario was 1-4. Carlos Escobar was 3-4 with a double. Meh.

Starling Peralta got rocked for 8 runs in 4 innings. He allowed 8 hits, 3 walks, 3 homers, and struck out 3. Yikes. There was a lot of bullpen work by guys who don't figure to be too important. As a group, the pen worked 4 innings, allowed 2 hits, 0 runs, 4 walks, and struck out 3.

Salem-Keizer Volcanoes 10 @ Boise Hawks 6

Shawon Dunston was 1-4 with a walk. Kevin Encarnacion was 1-5. Jacob Rogers was 1-3. Jeffrey Baez was 1-4 with a homer.

Duane Underwood got beat up for 8 runs, 4 earned, in 3 innings. He allowed 6 hits, 3 walks, and struck out 4. That's not gonna get you to full-season ball next year, Duane. Jasvir Rakkar allowed a run in 3 innings, walked one, and struck out 5. Good work Jasvir. Zack Godley worked 2 scoreless, allowing a hit and fanning one. He should definitely be in Kane County next year in some capacity, as he's been awesome in Boise, working 25.2 innings in 13 games, allowing 6 runs (5 earned), walking only 5, and striking out 27. He is 23, but with a good start to the year next season he could pretty feasibly catch up to an age-appropriate level rather quickly. Carlos Martinez-Pumarino allowed a run in his inning of work.

DSL Cubs 9 @ DSL Tigers 3

Philadelphia Phillies 6 @ Chicago Cubs 5

I didn't watch this one, so I may be a bit fuzzy on the details, but Jeff Samardzija was basically good until he stunk. He worked 5 shutout innings before falling apart in the sixth, allowing 5 runs total in his 6.2 innings with 8 hits, 2 walks, and 6 Ks. His ERA was so close to being under 4 again, too. Shucks. James Russell got 2 outs and struck out 1. Pedro Strop did exactly the same. Kevin Gregg took the loss when he remembered he was Kevin Gregg, allowing a run on a hit.

Offensively, Anthony Rizzo had a 2-4 day with a walk and his 21st homer. Nate Schierholtz had a 1-4, BB, HR day. Junior Lake's regression continued with an 0-5 day. I think the magic might be wearing off, finally. Donnie Murphy did Donnie Murphy Things, going 1-4 with a double. Starlin Castro was 2-4 with a double and a walk. Dioner Navarro was 2-5. 

Better late than never, it's yesterday's JOT. Sorry for the delay.

Chicago Cubs 3 @ San Diego Padres 2

Is it April? Because Jeff Samardzija just put together two good starts in a row. 8 innings, 7 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, and 7 Ks. PETCO helps, but he's almost got his ERA back under 4. He hit a double, too. Attaboy spellcheck. Kevin Gregg closed it out with a K in a perfect 9th.

Starlin Castro was 1-4. Anthony Rizzo was 1-4 with a walk. Darwin Barney is the best thing about the offense lately, going 3-4 with a homer and a double. I'm gonna start an irresponsible rumor that he's juicing: Darwin Barney is juicing. He has also stolen David Eckstein's old batting gloves. Prove he hasn't. Junior Lake was 1-4 with a double. Donnie Murphy is a helluva drug, 1-4. This is the last recap blurb I wrote after being in a car all day. I am punchy as hell.

Memphis Redbirds 5 @ Iowa Cubs 8

Holy shit did Mike Olt have a day. 4-4 with a homer and a double. Despite all evidence to the contrary, he apparently is capable of putting a bat on a baseball. Dave Sappelt and Brad Nelson were both 2-5 with a double. Tim Torres was 2-4 with a double. And Ty Wright was 1-3 with a double and a BB.

Casey Coleman had a "Hey, This Is The Best You're Probably Gonna Get Out Of Casey Coleman" start, working 5 and allowing 3 runs on 5 hits, 4 walks, and 4 Ks. Alberto Cabrera and Chang-Yong Lim each worked an inning, walking one and striking out two each. Cabrera added a hit to his line. Both were scoreless. Marcus Hatley worked the last two and allowed 2 runs on four hits and 3 Ks. Given that the I-Cubs used up a month's worth of offensive output, I doubt we'll see an interesting game the rest of the season.

Mobile BayBears 4 @ Tennessee Smokies 3

Javier Baez was 0-4 with a K and made his 11th error. He's allowed an off day every now and again. Arismendy Alcantara went hitless but had two walks in 4 PAs. Justin Bour was 1-3 with a homer. Rubi Silva was was 1-3 with a homer and HOLY SHIT RUBI SILVA WALKED. This was just his 17th walk in 118 games, so it's worth celebrating. Brett Jackson had a double in a 1-3 day. Wooo.

Dae-Eun Rhee worked 6 1/3, allowing 2 unearned runs on 5 hits, 3 walks, and 2 Ks. Hunter Cervenka got an out without issue. Tony Zych gave up 2 runs on 5 hits in an inning and a third to take the loss. P.J. Francescon fanned 2 in a perfect 9th.

Daytona Cubs 7 @ Tampa Yankees 3

Kris Bryant was 2-5 with a double. He has 1 walk so far at Daytona. Dan Vogelbach was 0-2 but walked 3 times. Anthony Giansanti was 2-4 with 2 SBs. Wes Darvill was 3-5.

The returns are early, but I think Corey Black might be pretty mediocre. He worked 5 innings yesterday, allowing 3 runs (2 earned) on 4 walks and 2 Ks. Nothing about that excites me. All 10 of his batted ball outs were on grounders though, so that's a little redeeming. Frank Del Valle worked 2 innings, gave up 3 hits, but kept any of them from crossing, striking out 1. Ryan Searle worked an inning, striking out 2 and walking 2. Lendy Castillo gave up a hit and struck out 1 in the ninth.

Kane County Cougars 5 @ Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 3

Everyone had a hit except Gioskar Amaya in this one, who was 0-4, but did reach on an error once. Oliver Zapata was 2-5 with a double and a triple. Giuseppe Papaccio was 1-4 with a homer. Jose Dore was 1-3 with a 3B. Trevor Gretzky had a 2-4 day with a triple of his own.

Tayler Scott worked 6 and allowed 3 runs on 8 hits, 3 walks, and 6 Ks. The bullpen didn't blow it.

Boise Hawks 2 @ Hillsboro Hops 1

No XBHs for the Hawks in this one. Kevin Encarnacion went 2-4. Jacob Rogers was 3-4.

Duane Underwood had a nice start, going 5 and allowing a run on 3 hits, a BB, and 3 Ks. Zack Godley continues to be really, really good in Boise, working 2 and striking out 3. Jasvir Rakkar allowed a hit while striking out 2 in the 8th. And Eddie Orozco got the save, pairing a walk with a K.

AZL Angels 2 @ AZL Cubs 4

Rafael Dolis is rehabbing here, working the first inning, and allowing a walk against a K in a scoreless frame. Daury Torrez worked 6, allowing 3 hits with no runs and 6 Ks. Trevor Clifton was not great, allowing 2 runs in 2 innings on 2 hits and a walk. He struck out 4.

DSL Cubs 8 @ DSL Yankees1 3

 

Memphis Redbirds 0 @ Iowa Cubs 2

Kyle Hendricks got the win by tossing 7 strong shutout innings, allowing 4 hits and a walk on 3 Ks. Zach Rosscup and Eduardo Sanchez had 3 Ks between them in a perfect 8th and 9th.

Mobile BayBears 3 @ Tennessee Smokies 2

Dim the lights and put on a Luther Vandross record, because it's Javytime. Baez was 2-4 with a SB and his 34th homer of the year last night. That's 34 home runs in 121 games. Over his last ten he's hitting .447/.488/1.000. For the entire month of August he's hitting .404/.449/.730. If you believe in clutchness, he's hitting .386/.441/.783 with runners on, with a .385/.450/.846 line with runners in scoring position. If you believe it's a skill to get better when the moment is big, Javy is surely showing a knack for it.

Other performances of note: Arismendy Alcantara was 1-3 with a walk, a SB, and a CS. Rubi Silva was 2-4 with a homer and a triple. Brett Jackson's Mortal Coil was 1-1 with 2 walks before getting lifted in a double switch for Jonathan Mota, who was 1-1. Matt Szczur came in in the 6th and was 1-2 with a double.

Eduardo Figueroa put up a quality start, going 6 and allowing 3 runs on 8 hits, a walk, and 3 Ks. The bullpen finished it off with 5 combined Ks in 2 scoreless.

Chicago Cubs 6 @ San Diego Padres 8

The Cubs went 27 outs without scoring a run last night, which was Cubslike. They managed to grab six runs before doing so, which was not. They still allowed eight runs, which was Cubslike. They did so in PETCO, which is extra-Cubslike. Nate Schierholtz was 1-5 and hit a 3 run homer. Anthony Rizzo was 1-4 with a walk. Brian Bogusevic was 1-4 with a triple. Starlin Castro was 1-5. Donnie Murphy was 1-3 and managed not to hit a home run.

The pitching was pretty terrible, all things considered. Edwin Jackson allowed 6 runs (5 earned) in 6 innings. James Russell managed to give up a homer to a lefty in PETCO. I'm pretty sure you should be fired from your LOOGY gig if that happens. The Padres scored in each of the last five innings. Way to really get after that top 3 pick, boys.

Daytona Cubs 5 @ Tampa Yankees 1

Kris Bryant was 1-4 with 2 Ks. Dan Vogelbach went 1-3 with a walk and 2 Ks. Dustin Geiger was 1-4 with a double and 2 Ks. The entire D-Cubs roster struck out 13 times yesterday.

C.J. Edwards is a strikeout machine, and yesterday tossed 4 innings of 8 K, 1 walk, 4 hit ball. Kyler Burke was fine in 2 innings, allowing 2 walks against a K. Zach Cates got touched for a run in the final 3 innings, giving up 2 hits, 2 walks, and fanning 4.

Beloit Snappers 2 @ Kane County Cougars 5

Gioskar Amaya was 1-4. Jeimer Candelario was 1-3 with a walk. Rock Shoulders was 2-3 with a homer and a walk. Trevor Gretzky was 2-3 and is hitting .412 in 5 games at KC.

The pitching was mediocre as hell.

Boise Hawks 8 @ Salem-Keizer Volcanoes 1

Kevin Encarnacion had a helluva day, going 5-5 with a double and a homer, boosting his boise average to .356. Jacob Rogers was 1-4 with a BB. Justin Marra was 1-2 with a homer and 2 walks. Carlos Penalver had a triple in 4 ABs.

Paul Blackburn had what I am describing as a Rich Harden start, throwing 5 innings of 1 hit ball but walking six. He struck out 2 and somehow avoided plating a run. Scott Frazier tossed 2 and allowed a hit, a walk, and a K.

DSL Yankees1 @ DSL Cubs 6