Opening Day Minor League Wrap

We'll see how this works. I created an account at First Inning and it allows you to track certain minor leaguers. I thought I'd try to keep up with my top 16 prospects on a nearly daily basis. You may be interested in others, but it's my list, so go get your own. They haven't made Hayden Simpson available yet, so I will add him once they do to replace Darwin Barney, who of course is with the major league club.

Hitter Results for April 07
Name Level Pos AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SO BB SB CS
Michael Burgess A+ LF 4 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0
Welington Castillo A+ DH 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0
Matthew Cerda A+ 3B 5 0 3 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 0
Ryan Flaherty AA LF 3 0 2 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 0
Reginald Golden                          
Brett Jackson AA CF 4 1 2 0 1 0 2 1 2 0 0
DJ LeMahieu AA 2B 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
Marquez Smith AAA 3B 4 1 2 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0
Matthew Szczur A CF 4 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
Josh Vitters AA 3B 5 2 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Pitcher Results for April 07
Name Level IP R ER H 2B 3B HR SO BB
Christopher Carpenter









Jay Jackson









Austin Kirk









Kenneth McNutt









Christopher Rusin AA 5.0 3 3 4 0 0 0 4 1

Hayden Simpson did pitch last night making his Cub organizational debut and seemed to bring his good stuff. 3.2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K giving up 1 solo home run. I'll also mention Thomas Diamond's line with Iowa since he's one of the names in the mix to take a rotation spot with the big league club. He went 4 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 5 K, 1 HR and threw 84 pitches, only 45 for strikes. He could actually face a lineup on Tuesday against the Astros that is worse than the Round Rock Express (Texas affiliate), but I would be surprised if that outing earns him a promotion.

Scores:

Tags: 
Cubs MInor League Recap
Submitted by Rob G. on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 1:47am
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Comments

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 1:02am

Miles on the difference between Q-Ball and LouPa's post-game press conferences

Quade grew up in the suburbs, so he gets the fascination with the Cubs and the passion of the fans. As a sports fan himself, he finds himself asking questions when he watches a game on TV. So maybe that’s why he sits in the interview room after the game and talks for 10-15 minutes, allowing us to dissect strategy sessions without getting testy or defensive.

Read more: http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20110407/s...

Submitted by Ryno
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 7:24am

Last season he was only mopping up and this season just started. I don't think we'll really see the depths of Q's patience until the season progresses and the Cubs find themselves out of contention. By that time the media will start to clamor and question his decisions.

Submitted by Mike Wellman
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 8:23am

great feature, rob! looks like vitters & jackson are off to good starts toward des moines...

Submitted by Mike Wellman
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 8:24am

and so much for the 2010 pcl pitcher-of-year as i-cubs shell him for 10 in 3!

Submitted by Mike Wellman
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 8:27am

btw, starlin looks cross-eyed on that bobblehead; as though the ball in his glove ricocheted there after inflicting a groin injury...

Submitted by Ryno
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 9:22am

Better than the photo of Starlin that Cubs.com is using on their main.

Submitted by Newport
on Sat, 04/09/2011 - 5:36pm

Why were they giving away AA Starlin Castro bobbleheads at Wrigley?

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 9:02am

Rosenthal says Silva is *cough* weighing several major league offers at the moment and should join a team shortly.

Submitted by Charlie
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 11:28am

Thanks for the link, Rob! That's a handy website for us prospectphiles.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 12:36pm

University of California reinstates their baseball program.

Submitted by The E-Man
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 2:59pm

You are meaning Berkley?

Isn't this where Jackson went to school?

When did they end the baseball program there?

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 3:03pm

yes

lack of money

no idea where the money is coming from now to get it back up.

It was just rare for a Divison 1A school to nix a baseball program in a major conference, especially on the West Coast.

here's a link
http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/04/08/...

alumni fundraising got it back up and running.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 12:41pm

Olney on Castro apparently if you have ESPN insider

http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/blog?name=olne...

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 12:42pm

Al wants to kill one of the few guys worth rooting for...

http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2011/4/8/20983...

Submitted by Charlie
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 1:04pm

It's an unorthodox, outside-the-box idea... but it just might work.

You are a visionary, Al. And you are so good at patting yourself on the back! Kudos.

Incidentally, if the Cubs did decide to give Wood the ball to start Tuesday in Houston, it would be 13 years to the day that he made his major league debut

And the combination of an injury-prone pitcher making his first start in a few years on any anniversary that involves the number 13 makes this seem like a better idea?

Submitted by Charlie
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 1:09pm

Of course, if this is humor (A Modest Proposal, 13th anniversary), then it is a bit underdone and, simply, not very funny, but not because it is offensive or something like that. There's just no punch line.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 1:42pm

But the point of the original modest proposal was that it was a sarcasm of the status quo. Sarcasm of a far fetched idea is not the same thing.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 1:09pm

It would be an even more outside of the box idea had I not come up with it three years ago. Doing it mid-season, and either not pitching him for 10 days, or having him swing back and forth from the pen to the rotation would be recklessly stupid.

If Wood actually thought that he could do it, you do something like that over an off-season, not during the season.

Submitted by crunch
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 1:12pm

wood is stretched out for 40-50 pitches...what harm could it do?

oh wait, 40-50 pitches...that's pointless, especially talking about kerry wood...3 innings at most, probably.

Submitted by jacos
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 1:08pm

Wow, that's all kinds of stupid.

What is he basing this on? Some Disney movies he has seen?

Submitted by Ryno
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 1:21pm

There's a 80% chance he would survive it with no problem, but why bother? Why risk it? If we're talking August and we're 1.0 game back I might say otherwise, but what would the Cubs be trying to prove by making this move? It's nonsense. I still think Marshall could do it. The only problem is then the bullpen no longer has Sean Marshall.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 12:49pm

FYI, on the game results box on the right you can click on minor league results and get all the minor league boxscores in one place from First Inning.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 1:40pm

some potential milestones that could be hit in 2011

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?c...

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 2:03pm

the world's greatest actor and one of the goofs from The Office

http://www.thebrooklynbrothers.com/uploads/ne...

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 2:20pm

Pretty good.

Submitted by Tito
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 2:04pm

Random Castro fact:

SI article has him as the most productive NL hitter in 2010 on changeups and split-fingers:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/articl...

(Article is formatted weirdly online, just FYI.)

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 2:16pm

Fangraphs agrees:

http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid...

I like the Vlad quote best from the article, because you know it's true. Going to be a sad day for me when "Young Vladi" retires from MLB.

Submitted by jacos
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 4:19pm

Played with Expos!

How old is he?

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 2:29pm

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php...

mentions Jackson, Vitters and Simpson from last night

says Simpson hit 94 mph with his fastball.

Submitted by crunch
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 2:53pm

"Paul Goldschmidt, 1B, Mobile (Double-A Mobile): 2-for-4, 2 HR (2), 2 R, 4 RBI, BB, K"

monster power. straight up.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 3:01pm

#Brewers vs. Cubs - Weeks 4 Gomez 8 Braun 7 Fielder 3 McGehee 5 Betancourt 6 Morgan 9 Kottaras 2 Wolf 1

and they took the last 3 vs. the Braves

UPDATE:
Cubs lineup
2B Baker, SS Castro, CF Byrd, 3B Ramy, C Soto, 1B Pena, LF Soriano, RF Colvin, P Zambrano

Submitted by Ryno
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 3:07pm

Uh oh... a crappy left-hander. You know what that means.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 3:12pm

not sure I'd characterize Wolf as crappy, but toe-may-toe, ta-ma-toe

judging by Morgan and Gomez in the lineup, they intend to do some running on Soto. Although Z is tough to run on...

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 3:13pm

be pretty awesome if Papelbon blows this game in the 9th for the Red Sox

Submitted by crunch
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 3:23pm

woo night baseball.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 3:23pm

Re: Manny retiring

only thing between him and the HOF is a positive roids test

-edit- apparently possibly another one. Story is he was contacted by MLB regarding their drug program and just retired instead of dealing with it.

Submitted by crunch
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 3:25pm

i changed my comment about manny ramirez to "woo night baseball" because the info is still leaking out of the front office...and it's a positive roids test that probably caused him to retire this time.

his HOF run is probably over if that's the reason...as if it wasn't in enough danger before this.

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 4:15pm

Everyone should also remember that the first time a player tests positive for PED's of any sort, the punishment is counseling and it's not made public. This is actually Manny's 3rd failed PED test.

I pray this puts the final nail in that POS having any HOF chance (which should be made automatic with 1 failed test).

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 4:17pm

I'm shocked Bud Selig and co. would admit Ramirez failed a test and not just sweep it under the rug and let him retire without controversy, which is the type of nonsense we have grown to expect from Selig.

Submitted by jacos
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 4:20pm

They got their first convict to show the "system" works. Hell yeah they were going to let everyone know.

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 7:25pm

Interesting, Manny didn't tell the Rays he was retiring, they found out from MLB. What a weasel.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers...

Submitted by JoePepitone
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 10:57pm

"There is a saying in the drug testing business that a drug test is not a drug test at all. It's an IQ test."

No wonder he failed it.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 4:25pm

Everyone should also remember that the first time a player tests positive for PED's of any sort, the punishment is counseling and it's not made public.

That's not true anymore. Since 2005, the first failed drug test is made public. Since 2006, the first failed drug test is 50 games (it was 10 for 2005).

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/news/drug_policy.jsp?c...

I suppose Manny could have failed a test between 2003-2005, but we don't for sure.

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 4:29pm

Hmm. Well, good.

I'm still surprised MLB admitted there was something this time, since their drug policy has been such a joke.

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 4:21pm

http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/08/rami...?

Two sources tell NY Times Manny was indeed facing a 100 game suspension for another failed PED test.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 3:32pm

Manny Ramirez has retired, Major League Baseball announced. MLB says it notified Ramirez of "an issue" under its drug program and that the longtime slugger decided to retire instead of continuing with the process. Ramirez would have faced a 100-game suspension if he hadn't retired, according to ESPN.com's Jayson Stark (on Twitter).

From MLBTradeRumors

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 6:13pm

and the rest of story from jon heyman

because mannys 1st failure wasn't anabolic steroid, he was to claim only 50-game penalty. mlb was saying 100.

Submitted by The E-Man
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 6:34pm

I got a call to do audio for a cameraman at Comiskey about this "story". Phone was on silent, lost the gig by two minutes exactly. But, I am not quite sure why the local need for an extra shooter? MLB team in Chi today? ESPN? I will miss the $, but its cold and rainy, + not a big US Cellular fan.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 3:41pm

Stevens up, Wells and Cashner to DL

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 4:32pm

Verducci on MLB Network talking about Manny now (With Millar and Rose).

Submitted by jacos
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 4:42pm

Pete Rose?

Submitted by crunch
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 4:58pm

pete rose is probably in vegas somewhere trying to sell autographs on the street and out of friend's houses at partys.

also, chris rose...the guy that used to be on best damn sports show period and other stuff. him and millar have a live baseball chat/news/lulz/interview show.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 5:04pm

I usually make one trip to Vegas a year, he's been signing at some sports store everytime I go.

Submitted by jacos
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 10:34pm

Shop at the forum

Submitted by Rob G.
on Sat, 04/09/2011 - 1:03am

That was one. Last trip happened to be Mandalay bay

Submitted by Dr. aaron b
on Sat, 04/09/2011 - 12:34pm

The pub crawl down Fremont is always worth the price of admission.

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 5:03pm

Chris Rose. As Crunch said, Chris Rose has a new "talk" show with Kevin Millar on MLB Network called Intentional Talk. I only saw today's show, which was mostly Manny talk.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 6:05pm

Iowa:
Lineup: Campana RF, Perez CF, Montanez LF, LaHair 1B, Moore 3B, Scales 2B, Smith DH, Robinson C, Camp SS, Bibens-Dirkx P

Smokies: Jackson CF, Samson 2b, LeMehieu 3B, Ridling LF, Vitters 1B, Lalli C, Adduci RF, Gonzalez SS, Dolis P

Daytona: Watkins 2B, Cerda 3B, Ha CF, Bour 1B, Castillo C, Burgess RF, Brenley C, Lake SS, Crawford RF. Searle starts.

Peoria: lost their suspended game 7-3, lineups not up for the scheduled game,

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 6:40pm

Burgess with his 2nd HR in as many nights. B. Jackson led off with a hit.

Submitted by crunch
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 6:45pm

i wish i could get excited about burgess doing that in daytona, but at this point i'd feel better about it if he was doing it with the smokies.

still...he looks like a power-option bench LF/RF/1st at worst right now...they're handy.

-edit- okay, i just noticed he's 22, turning 23 post-season...i thought he was 23, turning 24 this year. doh.

still...at worst he seems be be a good bench bat and could be more.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 7:01pm

certainly, it would be more interesting if Burgess was doing it in AA, but at least he's doing something.

As soon as Jackson gets called up, Burgess can move up.

Vitters with 2 RBI's on a double.

-edit- Burgess apparently also threw out a runner.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 6:07pm

45-50 pitches tops according to Q-Ball

Submitted by crunch
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 6:15pm

well, that cares of 4 innings or 4 runs given up...whichever comes first.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 6:38pm

Cards down 3-2 in 9th with 2 outs, work the bases loaded off Brian Wilson and Theriot singles in the go-ahead run.

Submitted by crunch
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 6:54pm

and ryan franklyn takes his turn blowing it.

also, lol theriot and fontenot.

Submitted by jacos
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 11:00pm

Pujlos dropped an out in 12th

Submitted by John Beasley
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 8:33pm

Every time I wonder why Baker has a job, I just have to remember that there's plenty of shitty lefties like Randy Wolf for him to feast off.

Go Cubs!

Submitted by crunch
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 9:56pm

MIL playing a LF/left shift defense vs. soto...and that's where soto hits it...for an out.

Submitted by jacos
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 10:34pm

Hawk after sox commit two errors and 5 runs to lose to rays- "sox literally gift wrap this game in a box and hand it to the Rays"

If anyone saw the box let me know the color of the wrapping.

/love when people misuse literally

Submitted by JoePepitone
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 11:06pm

Silly you -- expecting Harrelson to know what "literally" means.

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Sat, 04/09/2011 - 1:43am

Chicago's 3 active pro teams all won on Friday. Nice feat. The clown organization on the South Side lost.

Submitted by navigator
on Sat, 04/09/2011 - 11:03am

XCub Factor in play: PIERRE dropped an easy flyball in the ninth with the bags loaded.

The heartbreaking loss led to Lastings Milledge being sent down and JEFF GRAY called up because WILL OH!NO!MAN is sucking a 16.20 ERA right now and their pen needs fortification.

Submitted by jacos
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 11:14pm

George Hendrick coaching first for rays still rocking the long pants hiding the stirrups which he pioneered.

Rain delay in San Diego?
Wtf?

/cheap bastard wants to watch free extra innings

Submitted by jacos
on Fri, 04/08/2011 - 11:47pm

Game on, lilly pitching and Vin calling it!

/late night

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