Cubs Best and Worst of April

A look at the have and have-nots down on the farm.

Team The Good The Bad The Interesting
Iowa

A. Rizzo (86 AB's)

384/430/663

7 HR, 23 RBI, 6 BB, 18 K

Jay Jackson (20.1 IP)

1-2, 6.20 ERA

8 BB, 11 K, 2 HR

Chris Rusin (27.1 IP)

2-2, 2.63 ERA

6 BB, 13 K, 1 HR
Tennessee

N. Struck (27.1 IP)

2-2, 3.29 ERA

11 BB, 24 K, 2 HR

Jae-Hoon Ha (93 AB's)

247/311/312

0 HR, 5 RBI, 7 R, 3/5 SB, 7 BB, 20 K

K. Rhoderick (10 IP)

1-2, 2 Saves, 1.80 ERA

3 BB, 12 K, 1 HR

Daytona

Nelson Perez (69 AB's)

261/402/522

3 HR, 13 RBI, 3/4 SB, 16 BB, 22 K

H. Simpson (18.2 IP)

0-3, 8.20 ERA

15 BB, 7 K, 4 HR

A. Kirk (29.1 IP)

1-0, 1.53 ERA

7 BB, 15 K, 0 HR
Peoria

Michael Jensen (29 IP)

3-1, 2.79 ERA

8 BB, 22 K, 1 HR

T. Easterling (58 AB's)

172/273/207

0 HR,  5/7 SB, 3 BB, 20 K

K. Burke (21 IP)

0-1, 1.71 ERA

4 BB, 17 K, 0 HR

 

Honorable Mention:

W. Castillo 320/435/520 - 2 HR, 8 RBI, 8 BB, 12 K

G. Rohan 295/370/495 - 5 HR, 28 RBI, 12 BB, 11 K

R. Silva 342/398/461 - 7 XBH, 0/5 SB, 7 BB, 15 K

O. Zapata 304/391/446 - 2 HR, 4 RBI, 8 R, 3/5 SB, 7 BB, 15 K

P. Francescon: 2-1, 2.00 ERA, 27 IP, 26 K, 4 BB, 3 HR

The Top 16 Not Mentioned:

Brett Jackson (Iowa) - 236/343/416 in 89 AB's, 2 HR, 11 R, 8 RBI, 4/5 SB, 14 BB/28 K

Javier Baez (EXST Arizona) - (stats as of 4/29/12) 295/295/705 in 44 PA, 3 HR, 13 RBI, 9 R, 3/3 SB, 0 BB/13 K

Dan Vogelbach (EXST Arizona) - (stats as of 4/29/12) 189/286/459 in 42 PA, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 5 R, 4 BB/8 K

Dillon Mapes - rehabbing in EXST, has yet to throw.

Trey McNutt (Tennessee) - 0-1, 0.61 ERA in 14.2 IP, 7 BB, 13 K, spent time on disabled list with blister problems.

Josh Vitters (Iowa) - 261/307/304 in 69 AB's, 0 HR, 8 RBI, 8 R, 5 BB/10 K

Matt Szczur (Daytona) - 242/351/337, 13/16 SB, 24 R, 13 BB/18 K

Ronald Torreyes (Daytona) - 230/306/324, 3/3 SB, 6 BB/7 K...missed about a week with an injury

Junior Lake - been out all of April with a back problem, just started hitting at EXST in Arizona.

Rafael Dolis (Cubs) - 1-1, 2 H, 1 SV, 3.95 ERA in 13.2 IP, 8 BB/2 K/1 HR

Matt Cerda (Tennessee) - 273/333/500 in 22 AB's, 2 BB/7K...just activated from disabled list.

Reggie Golden(Peoria) - 192/250/192 in 25 AB's, 1 BB/9 K...on disabled list with left knee injury.

Jeff Beliveau (Iowa) - 0-1, 2.84 ERA in 12.2 IP, 5 BB, 10 K, 1 HR

Tags: 
Cubs Minor League Stats
Submitted by Rob G. on Tue, 05/01/2012 - 4:04pm
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Comments

Submitted by Rob Richardson
on Tue, 05/01/2012 - 4:12pm

Between Rizzo and LaHair, we seem to have one of those good kind of problems on our hands.

Submitted by tbone
on Tue, 05/01/2012 - 4:31pm

In that the only two legit power hitters in the organization play first base?

Submitted by crunch
on Tue, 05/01/2012 - 4:35pm

both should be good for 150Ks...woo.

i like rizzo...i like lahair...both get it done ugly, though. rizzo at least has room to improve and settle...and it seems he's making a bit of improvement this year while still playing over his talent level compared to age. lahair hopefully will cut down on the misses with regular ABs...hopefully.

Submitted by big_lowitzki
on Tue, 05/01/2012 - 6:36pm

I don't care about 150 strikeouts if he continues to have an OPS over 1000 (or even 900).

Though, of course, his ridiculous BABIP is completely unsustainable.

Submitted by Old and Blue
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 8:16am

Rizzo's got too many errors, but he's a pretty good fielding first baseman overall with good instincts. He'll be fine given more experience. Where to put LaHair is a bigger issue. He seemed to do okay in left last year when put out there, so I guess that's it. It all depends on how and when the team cuts Soriano off I guess.

Submitted by crunch
on Tue, 05/01/2012 - 4:25pm

"Rays shortstop prospect Tim Beckham has been suspended 50 games for a positive drug test."

weed strikes again. it's time to get rid of this stupid rule.

oh, you got oxys, percs, and flexiril in you on prescription along with a developing alcohol problem...no problem til you get arrested, go play kid.

i'd be fine with a suspension...a week...whatever...but 50 days? hell, 20 days is too much.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Tue, 05/01/2012 - 4:45pm

some rain forecast for tonight in Cincy

Submitted by Cubster
on Tue, 05/01/2012 - 5:47pm

Muskat tweets...
Tarp is partially off field at Great American Ball Park and radar shows more rain coming.

Rain washed out batting practice for Cubs in Cincy. Radar is very colorful, which isn't a good sign.

Cubs lineup vs #Reds: DeJesus rf, Campana cf, Castro ss, LaHair 1b, Soriano lf, Stewart 3b, DeWitt 2b, Soto c, Samardzija p

Levine or Padilla tweets...
Tentative start time is 7pm CST (8pm Eastern)
(translation, a 1 hr delay expected)

Submitted by crunch
on Tue, 05/01/2012 - 7:25pm

this rain delay is quickly becoming the most inconvenient thing to ever happen to me in my entire life.

i'm so bored...and tired...must...have...passive...entertainment...

Submitted by WISCGRAD
on Tue, 05/01/2012 - 7:42pm

Any updates on whether they will play or not?

Submitted by crunch
on Tue, 05/01/2012 - 7:46pm

looking at twitter it seems the rain has stopped, but no word about the tarp moving yet.

supposedly another weather cell might be close, too. *shrug*

Submitted by Old and Blue
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 8:19am

i'm so bored...and tired...must...have...passive...entertainment...

Sorry if this sage advice is late, but have you considered turning "safe search" off on Google?

Submitted by Rob G.
on Tue, 05/01/2012 - 7:01pm

I mentioned it in a previous thread, but judging by his twitter and some of his teammates comments Pierre LePage has been released or retired.

‏ @pierrelepage1 Heading home to CT in the morning. Thank you everyone for all the support you've given me. I'm extremely blessed to have had this opportunity.

Anthony Giansanti ‏ @GianSanity @pierrelepage1 I hope everyone who had a chance to see you play or play with you recognized and appreciate everything you did. #godspeed

Submitted by crunch
on Tue, 05/01/2012 - 7:48pm

lulz...omar vizquel tossed from a game he's not playing for yelling at the ump over balls/strikes from the dugout.

Submitted by John Beasley
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 9:22am

Grumpy Old Men

Submitted by Cubster
on Tue, 05/01/2012 - 7:52pm

rain leaving the cincy area but another wave just east of indy heading toward the ballpark

http://www.wcpo.com/subindex/weather

windows open, windows close, we doze...

Submitted by Cubster
on Tue, 05/01/2012 - 8:03pm

David Kaplan on the rain delay theater mentioned that Hak Ju Lee is struggling this year so far

He's playing for the Montgomery Biscuits and in 111 PA:

.248 .315 .327 .642

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/play...

probably not worth checking back until the all-star break but I'm thinking this isn't a big enough sample to say much about struggling.

Submitted by crunch
on Tue, 05/01/2012 - 8:13pm

he's also very young for the league and has been doing somewhat better recently after a very slow start.

chris archer is running out of excuses to keep himself in the rotation, though...early in the season or not.

Submitted by Jim Hickmans Bat
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 12:25am

I'll be honest, I don't think Hak-Ju will ever hit enough to be a major league regular. His defense and speed will get him to the majors, but a sub-700 OPS is hard to stomach in the modern game. Now, if Hak-Ju can just a find a time machine, he would be a primo SS in the 60s and 70s. All that was expected of shortstops then was exactly what Lee has, speed and defense.

Is Adrian Cardenas' apparently decent numbers at Iowa simply a result of the usual PCL inflation, or is he maybe a potential Barney replacement?

Submitted by WISCGRAD
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 8:24am

Cardenas is interesting to me. High School player of the year, 1st round draft pick, and has adapted at each level, in most cases at a young age.

As an 18-year old hit .318 .384 .442 in Rookie Ball.

As a 19-year old hit .295 .354 .417 in a full season of A-ball

As a 20-year old he was hitting .307 .371 .441 in High A before being traded mid-season to the A's in the Joe Blanton deal. He hit .278 .297 .333 in High-A for the A's before finishing the season with 26 games in AA at .279 .392 .326

He then started his 21-year old year in AA and hit .326 .392 .446; but struggled a bit in AAA to finish the year: .251 .317 .372

He had a very similar year the next year with success at AA (.345 .436 .469) but struggling a bit in AAA (.267 .320 .329).

But he played all of last year in AAA as a 23-year old and seemed to figure it out, with a line of: .314 .374 .418

So he mastered AA, had two half-seasons at AAA where he struggled, but then had a solid AAA season last year, and now is following that up with a great start to AAA in 2012.

He is very much like Barney in that he has very little power or speed. His defense is also not great, and Barney certainly has better range at SS and 2B, but Cardenas has more experience playing 3rd. Cardenas is 2 years younger, would be slightly cheaper, and is the better pure hitter with a better walk rate.

I could see in a couple of months a contender perhaps trading for Barney to fill a utility infielder role, and then Cardenas would get a shot.

Submitted by Old and Blue
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 8:26am

Speaking of ex Cubs, Aramis is starting to heat up a bit.

Submitted by crunch
on Tue, 05/01/2012 - 8:22pm

...and the game is postponed

Submitted by The Joe
on Tue, 05/01/2012 - 8:27pm

fart.

Submitted by Dusty Baylor
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 12:58pm

Watch and learn boys.....
/ducks

Submitted by superjimmer
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 3:46pm

See, it's kinda fun, no?

Submitted by Cubster
on Tue, 05/01/2012 - 9:21pm

The I-Cubs are pummelling Memphis tonight in Memphis, 11-3 in the bottom of the 6th.
A 6 run first: BJax double, Sappelt double, Cardenas Sac Fly, Rizzo rbi single, Wright single, Vitters Single, Tolbert rbi single, Apodaca single, JJax Sac Fly, BJax rbi double

BJax 4-4, 3 runs, 2 rbi
Cardenas 2-3, 3 rbi
Rizzo 1-3, rbi, walk
JJax 1-3, run and an rbi (and 5 innings pitched, 6 hits, 3 ER, 3BB, 6 K)
Vitters 2-4

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 11:50am

Sveum and Co. contemplating how to get Rizzo and LaHair in the lineup.

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/12259105-419/c...

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 12:16pm

http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chicago/chat/...

mostly conjecture not worth repeating...they few that are.

Re: Barney
I think Valbuena is just a nice backup. Cardenas they feel has a chance to be an every day player but he has to improve his defense.

Re: Garza
I'vee said it all along and I'll continue to say it: if Garza is not signed to a long-term deal before July, he will be dealt. The Yanks are one of many teams that would be interested in Garza, and they have some minor league players that would be acceptable to the Cubs in a deal.

Re: Soler
I was told that the Soler situation is still a mystery to most, and that MLB is not the problem.

Re: Theo and Jed not telling him anything
As a reporter it's my job to communicate with whoever is in charge. That's [the] way they do business, and I have to work with that and around it. Both new executives are good guys with great track records. They just don't trust anybody yet, and that will take time.

Re: Cubs vs. White Sox series
According to the people I talk to, they will play each other 3 times a year, and every 3 years play each other 6 times a year when NL central plays AL central in interleague play.

Re: Marmol
Normally I have to eat a lot of peanuts to get 'Agita', however, Marmol is still learning and developing a new pitch, and that's the 2-seam fastball. I don't think he'll ever be the pitcher that strikes out 100 batters a season again, but that doesn't mean he can't be an effective closer. I just think he's still learning how to pitch and his stuff is good enough that I can be successful as a closer again.

folks berating Volstad pretty bad because T. Wood, R. Wells and C. Rusin are apparently such better options

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 1:10pm

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

Adrian Cardenas, INF, Cubs (Triple-A Iowa): 3-for-5, R, 3 RBI, K. With all the talk of Rizzo and Jackson, don't be surprised if Cardenas gets the call first as utility guy; .354/.398/.585 in 22 games.

Brett Jackson, OF, Cubs (Triple-A Iowa): 4-for-5, 2 2B, 4 R, 2 RBI, K. Snaps out of 6-for-36 slump; .266/.369/.457 in 23 games.

Hak-Ju Lee, SS, Rays (Double-A Montgomery): 2-for-5, 3B, R, RBI, 2 K. Third straight multi-hit game and sixth in last seven has lifted OPS more than 200 points in a week; .255/.319/.349 overall.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 1:17pm

speaking of Hak-Ju Lee, Smokies are playing them right now and Smokies up 9-5 in the 8th

Lee 0/5 1 R, 1 RBI
Watkins, Bour, Ha and Mota with multi-hit games, Mota and Adduci with HR's

N. Struck with the start 5.1 IP, 3 ER, 4 BB, 3 K

Casey Weathers with 1.2 IP, 0 ER, 3 BB, 1 K, ERA at 3.12 so far (12 BB/9 K on the year)

Submitted by The E-Man
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 2:32pm

In taking a very quick look at one year later of trading for Matt Garza, I still have no problem with it.

Archer still walks 7+/9 innings and its anyone's guess if he will pan out.

Lee is still a solid prospect with the glove. I will take Baez over him and Castro with his myriad warts will be at the position for the foreseeable future.

Sammy is not playing this year. And, Campy is turning into the same guy anyway.

Guyer is not on the big club currently, and no great shakes.

Garza is a stud and now the team's best pitcher. I hope he is signed to a long-term deal.

So far, at least, Hendry did not blow this one.

Submitted by crunch
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 2:35pm

garza is also an extreme "day person"

he's not a party guy. he's not staying out til 3am getting loaded.

hell, he's been tied down with kids since he was a kid, himself.

a legit SP who's young who has no issue with day games because he wakes up at dawn anyway...yeah, that's a good fit for this team.

Submitted by Ryno
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 3:00pm

Garza is a great fit and a superb pitcher. I think most people agree on that. The rub doesn't come from Garza's abilities, it had more to do with timing... giving up a lot to get a superb pitcher for a team that is going nowhere fast- seemed odd to me. Still seems odd.

Submitted by crunch
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 3:08pm

you're going to be hard pressed to find anyone not in Oakland (or SD, arguably) who's going to gut a team and just cruise for a few years until you get a slew of cheap/productive kids.

he was very cheap on the wallet and though some like that package of kids given up or would rather have kids in return....i think garza was bought cheap and he's young enough to be the type of guy you give a 5 year contract to without sweating it too hard.

i'd be shocked if they weren't spending next year. i pretty much expect either garza or a.sanchez or c.hammels on the cubs next year (unless hams/sanch gets locked up before he hits FA).

as much as some people are down with a 2014/2015 resurgance, i doubt the fan base on whole are ready to put with another year that looks like this one...especially with the loot coming off the payroll.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 2:34pm

DeJesus RF, Campana CF, Castro SS, LaHair 1B, Soriano LF, Stewart 3B, DeWitt 2B, Soto C, Samardzija P

vs.

Cozart 6, Stubbs 8, Votto 3, Phillips 4, Bruce 9, Rolen 5, Heisey 7, Hanigan 2, Arroyo 1.

Submitted by The E-Man
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 3:28pm

Ugh - DeWitt: The C Boozer of the Cubs.

Submitted by big_lowitzki
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 4:13pm

Sure...except that Boozer is decent/good and DeWitt isn't.

I honestly don't get the comparison to Boozer (and I'm no fan of Boozer).

Submitted by The E-Man
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 5:13pm

Just how I am feeling about the matter: Boozer sucks. DeWitt sucks.

OF course Booz is making only $13.5MM for this year, while DeWitt was DFA'd so he goes pretty cheap.

Submitted by crunch
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 2:34pm

ugg...

sick of all the "wow, they paid THAT much for the dodgers" talk.

yeah, they did...along with 300 acres of los angeles real estate and buildings. c'mon...

Submitted by Old and Blue
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 4:36pm

When I was living in San Francisco, I think I paid about that much for a quarter acre one time.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 3:01pm

Mark Prior signs minor league deal with Red Sox, headed to EXST or AAA.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 3:20pm

and Wuertz signs minor league deal with Reds

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 3:12pm

not that one...

OF Adonis Garcia

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 3:13pm

headed for knee surgery

there's your window Cubs!!!!

Submitted by The E-Man
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 3:26pm

Whoa!

Submitted by superjimmer
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 3:57pm

Man I would have a hard time letting go of LaHair or Rizzo if that is what you're insinuating? Hmmmm. What chips they got?

Submitted by crunch
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 4:04pm

window to win...humor...sad humor for a sad team.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 4:14pm

I was insinuating an opportunity for Cubs to move up in the standings.

I'm in the camp of trade LaHair if an opportunity arises, god bless the guy, but his window of success will be small (2-3 years) and I think him in LF is about on par with Soriano in LF.

Submitted by Old and Blue
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 4:39pm

I say lock the guy up Evan Longoria style to a nine year contract. Now!!

Submitted by Cubster
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 3:59pm

Ugh - DeWitt: The C Boozer of the Cubs.
---
E-Man: There are so many different ways he (DeWitt) can score: on a sac fly, on a wild pitch, on a 2 run HR, on a Soto GIDP...

Thibodeau expects more from Boozer.
“[Boozer] just has to play his game, do his job,” Thibodeau said. “There’s so many different ways he can score.

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/basketball/bul...

Submitted by The E-Man
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 4:05pm

+1 CUBSTER. +1

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 4:10pm

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/the-...

wtf ump?

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 4:14pm

http://mlb.sbnation.com/2012/5/2/2994811/mr-h...

and in animated gif form

Submitted by crunch
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 4:16pm

sideshow bob makes that play, legit.

Submitted by johann
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 4:33pm

God I want replay. This love for the human element screwing up games in baseball continues to baffle me.

Submitted by Charlie
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 4:35pm

How do you not get fined or demoted for messing up a call that badly? Or why does another ump not get the opportunity to overrule that terrible, terrible call?

Submitted by Mike Vail
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 4:20pm

Will be at the game tonight. Freebie tix, so I got that going for me. Christian Moerlein, a local brewery, finally opened up their restaurant near the park. One of the Cincy tv stations was bitching about them running a promotion welcoming Cubs fans. Pretty funny how hyper sensitive the Reds fans can sometimes be. We live nearby and witness it every year. More to the point, CM is a great beer and the place is a little pricey, but definitely worth it.
Two hippies on the mound tonight. We have the advantage only in that category because we also have a hippie catching. Go (rebuilding) CUBS!!!

Submitted by The E-Man
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 5:20pm

Don't really get the hippie label if you mean Arroyo? He's more like a Country Singer/Songwriter wannabe to me.

Have to try the CM beer. We have been picking up Graeters Ice Cream at our local Whole-in-the-Pocket Foods. It is quite incredible and great for my diet of course.

Other than that, they can have the city.

Submitted by crunch
on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 5:37pm

HAIR FLAPS!

also, he's got a (legit) crappy band that does crappy pop/acoustic covers (matchbox 20, etc) and a few originals.

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