Game 84 Thread / Cubs @ Giants (2 of 4)

it may not be there for long but the mlb gameday has the cub lineup sporting Marmol as the starting pitcher...can you say typo?

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2008_...

the game preview says Marquis, but the gameday tab shows Marmol in the pregame lineup/boxscore

and Welly is into the 95+ pitch count range in the 5th, mets leading 6-3

Another horrendous outing by Rich Hill today, pitching for the AZL Cubs in Peoria versus the AZL Padres.

HBP
BB
BB
E5-RBI
BB-RBI
1B-RBI
SF-RBI

box score

Whatever the Cubs hoped would happen by sending Rich Hill to Fitch Park to work on his mechanics with Minor League Pitching Coordinator Mark Riggins sure isn't working too good (so far)

Maybe the Cubs could try sending Hill to the Dominican Summer League, or perhaps to either the MLB Australian or European Baseball Academy?

AZ Phil, in case you missed this from the other thread, I think I found what Rich Hill's problem is...maybe the arizona heat might melt that crayon.

http://tinyurl.com/5uyb4f

Pie's back from dusty AZ and in CF for Iowa which has a 10-2 lead in the 7th. He also has a HR and a single with 2 RBI's in 3 at bats. Kevin Hart back from his concussion (I think it's his 2nd post-concussed outing) also started and pitched 3.2 innings of 2 hit, no run ball. Hoffpauir is 3-4 with 2 doubles/2 rbi's. I kinda wish there was room on the roster for both DWard and Hoff-Power.

DeRosa's batting 2nd, not sure about Theriot although even the scoreboard in SF says Theriot's batting 2nd.

Theriot scratched, Cedeno at SS batting 8th.

Gee...I sure wish we'd win 50 games by the end of July more often than this...no wonder we haven't won in 100 years.

What just happened? Gameday says Fred Lewis stole home. That can't be right.

Not watching the game on TV but how in the f%&* did we let them steal home on us?

delayed double steal...Soto throw to Fontenot came on on a hop, runner at 3rd timed his move perfectly as Soto throw went through to 2nd. Marquis nearly at 30 pitches.

Theriot out with "stomach flu" according to Pat/Ron.

Final NYM 7, Stl 4

L-Wellemeyer

21-year old fireballing RHP Jose Ceda (he of the 98 MPH fastball and mid-80's slider) in six games since getting promoted from Daytona to AA Tennessee and being moved back to the bullpen & installed as the Smokies closer:

6 G
1-0
0.90 ERA
4 SV (1 BS)
10 IP
7 H
1 R (1 ER)
2 BB
17 K
.189 OBA
0.90 WHIP

Also, Columbian RHP Dumas Garcia (who was discussed here a few days ago) has been promoted from Tennessee to AAA Iowa, and he threw a 1-2-3 shutout inning (one K) in tonight's victory over Omaha.

Too much Matt Cain last night ...to be followed by too much Tim Lincecum tomorrow.

Better win tonight, boys -- don't want to be draggig (yet another) 3-game losing steak into St. Loooey.

AZP -- you beat me to the puch with the Ceda update -- looking good.

So, The Riot is down with the flu -- and Lou puts him in to face 2 RHP who throw 95 mph? Goofy.

Theriot had the flu.

I had a feeling after first couple innings it would be low scoring game.

Fell asleep and woke up to see the ninth.

All the sports talk stations here are panicing about Cubs and how Cardinals are on there heels with pitching help on the way and possible trade for Fuentes.

IMO, this team seems very levelheaded and confident. They might struggle in July, but I see them stepping on throats through August.

Cain just had a great start, not much you can do about that. The good news was that Marquis actually had a good start against a pukey Giants offense. I think tonights game has a favorable pitching matchup in the Cubs direction, if Dempster can rebound from his last start. Hopefully Lincecum will make a couple mistakes and we can scratch a couple of runs against him. Having Ramirez back will be nice.

AZ Phil,
I can't help but notice how heavily Marquez Smith is raking down in Peoria. Do you have any predictions as to when he may see Daytona? Seems like it would clear the way for Jovan Rosa to get 3rd base time in Peoria and fill a huge hole at 3rd in Daytona.

Cain has a habit of owning the Cubs for some reason. I feel a little better about Lincecum tonight than I did about Cain last night, though they are both pretty good.

And though it was only one run, Marquis' first inning was treacherous. I was glad to see him settle down a little, but overall it was a pretty sloppy game for him.

Though it was painful to watch at the time, it was good to see the Cubs mount a rally in the 9th. Theriot even had a good at bat going, but it's not fun trying to hit a 95 mph heater in on the hands (with a stomach ailment, which probably left him fatigued).

But I do have to say it's getting harder and harder to watch Cedeno do anything. He had his one uber-flukey month before the league realized they didn't have to throw strikes to get him out. He can do that just fine on his own, thanks very much. As his plate discipline has evaporated and he's back to being hacktastic Ronny, I'm guessing his only value is in his glove?? Omar Vizquel he ain't, and the non-flip to Fontenot (who, admittedly, is no gem with the glove either) on the Winn ground ball just underscores his overall lack of baseball instincts. As much as everyone, including me, ragged on Neifi, at least the guy could pick it.

I have no solutions, other than to scour the league for a utility type guy who is a plus-plus middle infielder. Ronny ain't it and he's the wrong fit for what this club needs. After watching Cedeno for parts of three seasons now, I don't see a ballplayer. I see a guy with tools and skills, but a sub-par understanding of the game. And I don't really see him learning on this level for this team. Obviously the guy needs lots and lots more reps and PAs to get better (though I'm still not sure he'd be any good). Everyone keeps expecting McPhail to take him off our hands, especially with having a perilous situation at the shortstop position. Seems as though McPhail has his doubts, too.

Submitted by Dr. aaron b on Wed, 07/02/2008 - 8:45am.

AZ Phil, I can't help but notice how heavily Marquez Smith is raking down in Peoria. Do you have any predictions as to when he may see Daytona?

Seems like it would clear the way for Jovan Rosa to get 3rd base time in Peoria and fill a huge hole at 3rd in Daytona.

===========================

DR AARON B: I agree with everything you said.

Marquez Smith is in the same "class" as 2B Tony Thomas, SS Darwin Barney, and LF Ty Wright (all three position-players played at Boise last year and are now at Daytona), and Smith should have been promoted to Daytona when Josh Lansford got moved up to Tennessee. 

Why Smith is still at Peoria, I have no idea. It just makes no sense.

Submitted by SheffieldCornelia on Wed, 07/02/2008 - 8:23am.

I saw Garcia's promotion and was wondering about that. Was he sent to Iowa because there was a need for a reliever there, or are they fast-tracking him through the system? 3 levels in one season through June is pretty rapid movement

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SHEFF: Dumas Garcia will turn 25 next week, so I would think the promotion to Iowa will be permanent (unless he sucks at AAA, of course).

Just as a point of information, the most common age at each minor league level for the Cubs is:

AZL CUBS - 19

BOISE - 22 (50% 1st year players)

PEORIA - 22

DAYTONA - 23

TENNESSEE - 24

IOWA - 25

So if possible you really want players to be assigned to the appropriate level.