2009 Opening Day Minor League Rosters

Iowa

C - Mark Johnson, Chris Robinson

INF - Andres Blanco, Matt Matulia, Luis Rivas, Nate Spears, Bobby Scales, Jake Fox

OF - Sam Fuld, Doug Deeds, So Taguchi, Jason Dubois, Brad Snyder

SP - Jose Ascanio, Mitch Atkins, Esmalian Caridad, Jeff Samardzija, Randy Wells

RP - Justin Berg, Jessie Estrada, Chad Fox, Kevin Hart, J.R. Mathes, Greg Reinhard, Jeff Stevens, Jason Waddell

That starting rotation is according to the press release and it mentions that Mitch Atkins will get Iowa's opening day start. Also, Triple A and Double A rosters should max out at 24 (according to AZ Phil at least) so there's a good chance two players are headed to the DL right away unless there's been a rule change. Then of course, why wouldn't they just sit back in extended spring training?

Tennessee

C - Welington Castillo, Steve Clevenger

INF - Darwin Barney, Tony Thomas, Jonathan Mota, Matt Camp, Blake Lalli, Kyle Reynolds.

OF - Jim Adduci, Brandon Guyer, Richie Robnett, Ty Wright

SP- James Russell, Hung-Wen Chen, Casey
Coleman, Jay
Jackson, Casey Lambert (link)

RP - Todd Blackford, John Gaub, Alex Maestri, Jeremy Papelbon, Blake Parker, Vince Perkins,
Jayson Ruhlman, Brian Schlitter

25 total for 24 supposed roster spots, so something will have to give.

Daytona

C- Mark Reed, Robinson Chirinos

INF - Russ Canzler, Starlin Castro, Jovan Rosa, Marwin Gonzalez, Nathan Samson, Marquez Smith

OF - Tyler Colvin, Drew Rundle, Dylan Johnston, Jonathan Wyatt

P- Alberto Albuquerque, David Cales, Rafael Dolis, James Leverton, Marcos Mateo, Dan McDaniel, Craig Muschko, Jake Muyco, Dustin Sasser, Ryan Searle, Luke Sommer, Steve Vento, Henry Williamson

Peoria

C - Luis Flores, Mario Mercedes

INF - Rebel Ridling, Josh Harrison, Junior Lake, Ryan Flaherty, Josh
Vitters, David Macias

OF - Cliff Andersen, Kyler Burke, Tony Campana, Nelson
Perez

P - Chris Archer, Jeffrey
Beliveau, Ryan Buchter, Alberto Cabrera, Chris Carpenter, Erik Hamren, Marcus
Hatley, Chris Huseby, Kevin Kreier, Mike Perconte, Jose Pina, Aaron Shafer, Josh Whitlock

Last year's top pick Andrew Cashner looks like he'll stay back in Arizona for extended spring training still dealing with his oblique injury he suffered early on in camp. The mysterious case of Jordan Latham remains...mysterious. I was told he was released by Steve Holley at Inside the Ivy. Then when he ran his own story mentioning it (it's been edited since), the Cubs and particularly Latham's family freaked out a bit and Steve was assured that he wasn't released. Yet, he's not on any rosters suggesting he's staying back in extended spring training in Arizona. But for a kid with a 2.63 minor league ERA over two seasons and pitching in Daytona last year, that's an odd choice unless there's an injury of some sort...or possibly some personal issues that put him behind others.

Tags: 
Cubs Minors
Submitted by Rob G. on Tue, 04/07/2009 - 7:21pm
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Comments

Submitted by Rob G.
on Tue, 04/07/2009 - 6:22pm

Soriano, Theriot, Lee, Bradley , Ramirez, Johnson, Soto, Fontenot, Dempster

vs

Matsui, Rodriguez, Berkman, Lee, Tejada, Blum, Pence,  Bourne, Wandy

Submitted by navigator
on Tue, 04/07/2009 - 6:32pm

Fontenot getting to start in the RH batting lineup... a breakthrough. Go 'not!

Submitted by Jim Hickmans Bat
on Tue, 04/07/2009 - 7:00pm

Rob, are you sure about Ascanio starting in Iowa? Seems like they'd put Mathes in the rotation as filler and let Ascanio develop as a late inning RP, since that's his future in the big leagues. Or maybe they just want him to work on a 3rd pitch?

I would think Iowa would only carry 4 OFs, not 5, so maybe they will just release Taguchi or Dubois.

Submitted by Romero
on Tue, 04/07/2009 - 7:02pm

Thanks, Rob!

I'm interested to see how both Ryan Searle and Brandon Guyer do. Am I right in that they're both "skipping" a level (Guyer bypassing Daytona, Searle skipping Peoria)?

And is it true that they're trying out Casey Lambert as a starter? (This might explain why he didn't jump to Iowa after a strong half-season at AA).

And I guess I haven't been paying attention-- what happened to Tiggy? (I know he put up some shizzletastic numbers last year)

Submitted by navigator
on Tue, 04/07/2009 - 8:20pm

Since nobody answered you yet, Tiggy is listed on the Rochester Red Wings (AAA) roster.

Submitted by Romero
on Tue, 04/07/2009 - 9:04pm

Thanks, Navigator.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Tue, 04/07/2009 - 7:07pm

regarding Lambert and Ascanio starting...

that's what the press releases said, doesn't make sense to me to be honest....

Submitted by CPH2133
on Tue, 04/07/2009 - 7:17pm

Rob, whats the deal with listing Samninja 4th in the I-Cubs rotation? Don't give me that "alphabetical order" bullshit, i'm onto your tricks!

Thanks for the run down, now let's watch the cubs shell Wandy

Submitted by Jackstraw
on Tue, 04/07/2009 - 10:48pm

Is there a position player on the Iowa roster who can remotely help the big club if they're called up?

Submitted by mannytrillo
on Tue, 04/07/2009 - 8:21pm

Man, as good as Soriano looked yesterday is as bad as he looks today. Going for the Golden Sombrero next time up.

Submitted by big_lowitzki
on Tue, 04/07/2009 - 9:26pm

Good call manny.

Game tying home run. Golden Sombrero.

Almost the same thing.

Submitted by mannytrillo
on Tue, 04/07/2009 - 9:28pm

I didn't say he was going to get the Golden Sombrero, just that he was going for it. Of course with LaToya on the mound we all knew a HR was a better shot...:)

Submitted by falcon
on Tue, 04/07/2009 - 8:53pm

I have a partial list of those starting out in EXTST. Opitz,Brenly,Jones,Calvert,Keedy,Hoorelbeke,Sontag,Weimer,Kemp,Cerda,Watkins,Mattheus,Sosa,Soto,Cashner.

Submitted by Little Nate Lewis
on Tue, 04/07/2009 - 9:20pm

Good call on Soriano Manny...

Submitted by mannytrillo
on Tue, 04/07/2009 - 9:24pm

What call did I make?

Submitted by mannytrillo
on Tue, 04/07/2009 - 10:31pm

Cubs lose. Back to .500.

THE GOOD:
- Dempster. A very good start. More than kept the team in game. Too bad the offense couldn't come through.
- Soriano. Another HR. And it was a BOMB off Latoya Hawkins.
- Bullpen. Held Houston scoreless for 3 over innings giving their offense a chance to win it. Though Gregg hasn't looked great giving up a run yesterday and an inherited run tonight.

THE BAD:
- Soriano. 3K's and an error. Luckily the HR made us forget about the bad.

THE UGLY:
- Offense. Just did not click tonight. Theriot did have 2 hits, but offense only got 1 run outside of Soriano's HR.

Let's go get them tomorrow and win the series. Hopefully Lilly can turn things around and start to get on track. Go Cubs!

Submitted by Wes
on Tue, 04/07/2009 - 10:35pm

I can only hope the manny post-game review becomes a regular feature on this blog.

Submitted by Jackstraw
on Tue, 04/07/2009 - 10:46pm

"I can only hope the manny post-game review becomes a regular feature on this blog."

Did you write that in Comic Sans font? I can't tell.

Submitted by billybucks
on Tue, 04/07/2009 - 10:39pm

File "Milton Bradley" under "spring training stats don't mean shit"

Be good if he got a hit before they open at Wrigley. Otherwise -- Jacques II

I still don't like closers who "pitch to contact".

Amazing stat -- Cubs haven't been 2-0 since 1995.

But, hey -- the Bears still got Jay Cutler.

Submitted by big_lowitzki
on Tue, 04/07/2009 - 10:43pm

File "Milton Bradley" under "spring training stats don't mean shit"

Or, instead, you could file "Milton Bradley" under "2 games don't mean shit."

Submitted by Ahone Ahtwo Ahthree
on Tue, 04/07/2009 - 10:46pm

It was weird to see Gregg in there in that situation. Marmol should have gotten the call, and then we use Gregg if we ever take the lead. Gregg should only pitch at the start of an inning, not with inherited runners. Looks like it could be a tightrope walk in the 9th with Gregg night in and night out! He too looked dynamite in ST!!

Submitted by billybucks
on Tue, 04/07/2009 - 10:47pm

Well, sure, if you want to go all "rational" on me.

Submitted by carmenfanzone
on Tue, 04/07/2009 - 10:48pm

How about Hawkins being 0-2 on Soriano and he throws him a fastball down the middle? 10 cent head-glad we don't have him around anymore...

Submitted by Dr. aaron b
on Tue, 04/07/2009 - 11:11pm

Yeah, but with his stuff you'd think he could be a closer for somebody. I can't believe nobody has ever given that dude a shot?

Submitted by springs
on Wed, 04/08/2009 - 12:36pm

The Cubs have a tendency to push players through the system quickly and I believe this can (and has, though no great examples come quickly to mind) hurt certain players. This year Starlin Castro, one of our better prospects, is moving from Rookie ball at Mesa at 19 years old to High A ball at Daytona. Marwin Gonzalez, another young SS, is moving from Boise to Daytona. Meanwhile, Ryan Flaherty, a 22 year old who played in big time college ball, is going from Boise to low A ball at Lansing.

Similarly, Brandon Guyer finally got healthy and started producing in the second half of last season. Instead of bringing him along slowly and moving him up one level, the Cubs push him up to AA (skipping Daytona).

I expect Castro, Guyer and Gonzalez will struggle, though have hope and excitement that they excel. I think there is much higher risk from these quick movements, such as that a player will lose confidence and/or develop bad habits while struggling, without much benefit (if he dominates at a certain level, he can be promoted, which is a boost to confidence).

Any thoughts?

Submitted by Dr. aaron b
on Wed, 04/08/2009 - 12:53pm

One thing to keep in mind,especially with the latin guys. Peoria is cold this time of year. Maybe the Cubs think they will have a better chance to get off to get starts in a warm weather situation, as opposed to freezing in Peoria with the rest of the guys.
This was mentioned as a reason that Josh Vitters might also start in Daytona this year.

I suspect that if Gonzalez or Castro struggle in Daytona. They will head to Peoria once the weather heats up. Just a hunch.

As for Guyer, he is in the same situation that Marquez Smith is in. He is already 23 years old. He needs to be moving up through the ranks a little quicker than the other guys if he wants to be considered a prospect. So maybe starting him in AA is the Cubs way of saying "Move forward or Get out of the way". Again, just a hunch.

Submitted by Jackstraw
on Wed, 04/08/2009 - 2:04pm

Re comments 25 & 26.

What great comments. Absolutely the core reason I like TCR so much. Thoughtful stuff I never would have considered.

Submitted by falcon
on Wed, 04/08/2009 - 9:43pm

It's hard to figure their thinking on moving or not moving players. You have a big time 2-way college player like Jericho Jones who turns down being picked in the 3rd round (as a pitcher) so he can take his shot at hitting and being a position player ( Cubs 20th round pick) By the way, the Dodgers clocked him 92-96 in their pre-draft tryout. So he leads the AZL in hitting for most of the summer ( and falls off somewhat in August)....he reports to spring training and bats over .400 and holds his own in the AA games.....he wasn't promoted last summer to Boise and he was not promoted to Peoria or Daytona this week. Go figure......he has the highest power rating (97) of any outfielder in the Cubs system.Guyer needs to be moving on up.....he has the tools and should rise to the promotion. I think moving Starlin Castro that far up is a big mistake......there will be some players that will not rise to the level they're starting at so we will see some shuffling around of rosters after a few weeks.

Submitted by Arizona Phil
on Wed, 04/08/2009 - 6:31pm

Submitted by Dr. aaron b on Wed, 04/08/2009 - 11:53am.

As for Guyer, he is in the same situation that Marquez Smith is in. He is already 23 years old. He needs to be moving up through the ranks a little quicker than the other guys if he wants to be considered a prospect. So maybe starting him in AA is the Cubs way of saying "Move forward or Get out of the way". Again, just a hunch.

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

AARON: 23 is the most-common age for players at A+ (like Daytona), 24 is the most-common age for players at AA, and 25 is the most-common age for players at AAA.

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