Guest Pitchers Aboard for Hoffpauired Win Streak

Micah Hoffpauir was activated a week ago and the Iowa Cubs haven't lost since. In the last two games alone he's driven in more runs than the pesky redhead has in 23. Yesterday he manned a post in right-field, possibly as a Plan B in the event of a failed Jim Edmonds experiment.

Meanwhile Kevin Hart was 'stretched out' from 67 pitches in his previous start all the way to 68 yesterday; from 3.2 innings all the way to four.

Hart's stuff is overpowering at this level. Yesterday he allowed only two hits [one a windblown, first inning homer] and a walk while whiffing six. Command and efficiency remain the objectives. It took him 51 pitches to get the first six outs, five of which were strikeouts; only 16 to get the next six, only one of which was a 'K'.

I cannot account for the fact that he wasn't allowed to at least start the fifth and build on his previous workload, especially given that he seemed to be finding a groove in the third and fourth.

All told he threw a first pitch stike to nine of the 15 hitters he faced and retired all nine of them.

Pitching coach Mike Mason paid Hart a very brief visit on the mound in the second inning after his 41st pitch. He must have said something like, 'fucq k's' because Hart's work was more to the point afterwards.

Sean Marshall's start on this stand was ordinary and little more than a workout. He threw 63 pitches while going four innings on May 12 and allowed a couple ER's while walking two and striking out three as he converts back from reliever to starter mode.

As for Rich Hill, he's walked five and fanned 13 over the course of 11 innings spanning his two starts for the I-Cubs. Nothing new here; great stuff, poor command, questionable intensity level...

After getting off to a chilly start compared to last year's club which both entertained fans here in Des Moines AND contributed mightily to the success in Chicago, the I-Cubs now seem poised to again play a key organizational role come summer.

Whether that role is as a supplier of trade bait or reinforcements in Chicago remains to be seen.

The word here is that Chicago ordered Hoffpauir's move from 1B to right. Yesterday he made a nice leaping grab to end the second inning when the opposing pitcher was the first to put a ball in play versus Hart.

CRUMBS: The pesky redhead's chronic bout of extra-baselessness finally came to an end on Sunday when he doubled to right after nearly a hundred plate appearances. He followed that with a two-double game on Monday before reverting to singularity in yesterday's 5-2 win [Hoffpauir drove in all five with a three-run homer and a double]...Mike Burns is a 30-year-old journeyman who was 4-9 a year ago for the Pawsox in the Boston system, but he has fanned 34 and walked only six while swinging between the rotation and the bullpen here this year...will be interesting to see if Felix pouts when he comes back in the wake of Edmonds' acquisition; last year when he was sent down he arrived in time to play a night game on the same day he got the bad news...since Hoffpauir joined the team they have outscored opponents 42-15 during their seven-game win streak...MW

Tags: 
Iowa Cubs update
Submitted by Mike Wellman on Wed, 05/14/2008 - 9:30am
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Comments

Submitted by garsky
on Wed, 05/14/2008 - 9:38am

Interesting that Mike questions Rich Hill's intensity, since I've always thought that of him too. Given his decent stuff, I wonder if he has any trade value left. Between Hart, Marshall and Gallagher, it seems like we have enough SP depth.

Submitted by big_lowitzki
on Wed, 05/14/2008 - 10:26am

Given his decent stuff, I wonder if he has any trade value left.

I am pretty sure that there would be 29 teams interested in trading for Rich Hill.

Submitted by Mike Wellman
on Wed, 05/14/2008 - 9:43am

Marquis is another guy that doesn't display much of a pilot light. When Lilly was struggling he talked openly about not doing his part; Marquis doesn't seem to give a shit, at least not publicly, which of course is his prerogative...

Submitted by Mike Wellman
on Wed, 05/14/2008 - 10:30am

I'd like to hear Pat Hughes describe the 'uniform' of the Cub fan in the photo that has 'nothing to do with the story'...

Submitted by champsummers
on Wed, 05/14/2008 - 10:58am

I'm kinda speechless myself.

Although, you'd better just hope that Muskat doesn't read TCR.

Submitted by JoePepitone
on Wed, 05/14/2008 - 10:42pm

I thought that WAS Carrie Muskat.

:)

Submitted by 10man
on Thu, 05/15/2008 - 3:01pm

That would explain why she still has a job writing for the Cubs.

Submitted by navigator
on Wed, 05/14/2008 - 11:19am

and then played two innings of defense on it (insert negative comment about Dusty Baker here)...

http://www.mercurynews.com/giants/ci_9253756

Arguably the Reds' best hitter this year.

Submitted by navigator
on Wed, 05/14/2008 - 11:22am

which correlates with the news yesterday that if Edmonds comes in, Pie goes down, and Hoffpauir moves to the on-deck circle for promotion to the bigs.

Submitted by Little Nate Lewis
on Wed, 05/14/2008 - 11:45am

Past the noon hour on Wed. and still no confirmation on Edmonds.

Maybe this deal is as "imminent" as the Roberts deal....

Submitted by Hollinger
on Wed, 05/14/2008 - 11:46am

He hasn't officially cleared waivers yet.

Submitted by Little Nate Lewis
on Wed, 05/14/2008 - 11:53am

Oh, OK. I only knew his clear date was today. What time will he clear?

Submitted by Hollinger
on Wed, 05/14/2008 - 11:45am

I've been to both of Hill's starts now in Des Moines, and the "stuff" that is getting AAA hitters out looks exactly like the "stuff" that got him demoted. Flat and slow.

Submitted by big_lowitzki
on Wed, 05/14/2008 - 12:00pm

Except that wasn't really Hill's problem.

His velocity was fine, it was his command and control that was the issue.

Submitted by Wes
on Wed, 05/14/2008 - 12:18pm

I don't recall seeing him throw 92 one time yet this year. Maybe I'm wrong, though.

I don't think his velocity was the same as it was in 2007. It's probably due to him keeping his shoulders flatter through his delivery. That's the way he generated power. He had that long, slow wind with his torso leaning way back towards second base. Now that he's eliminated that, he has to try to generate the same power with a shorter motion, which is difficult.

Submitted by Wes
on Wed, 05/14/2008 - 12:35pm

After research, here's what I found:

Rich Hill did in fact throw 92 this season. He hit 92 3 times, all of those coming in the first inning of his April 18th start against Pittsburgh. He also routinely hit 89 and 90 in the first three innings of that start, which was a rarity for all of his other starts. He sat between 86-88 in all of his other starts, and would occasionally get to 89 a couple of times.

In what I think is definitely a related story, that 4/18 outing was clearly his best - 5IP 1ER 3H 3BB 4K.

I do think those 3-4 mph are a big deal for him. He throws a straight-as-a-string 4 seam fastball. I didn't even look at his piece of shit cutter, because he really hasn't thrown it all that much. If you can't throw that 4 seamer at 90-92 AND locate on the inner part of the plate, you're going to get hammered. Richie didn't do either very much this season. Location being the biggest problem, which I think is directly related to his mechanical change.

Now, for somebody like Z, Marquis, or Dempster, the velocity isn't nearly as important as the movement. Z's succeeding more now at 89-93 than he ever did at 94-96 due to all the movement... just as a point of reference.

Submitted by navigator
on Wed, 05/14/2008 - 12:47pm

A few weeks ago, in a start that lasted five innings, Rich Hill threw

an 84 MPH fastball (it topped out around 88)
an 83 MPH slider
an 82 MPH change

With stuff like that he's got to get his curve over.

Submitted by Hollinger
on Wed, 05/14/2008 - 3:16pm

I suppose I worded things wrong... everything was flat and he wasn't really changing speeds. You could tell what pitch he was trying to throw, but it all looked the same.

Submitted by jacos
on Wed, 05/14/2008 - 12:02pm

I know none of us will be around but be sure to tell our grand kids to meet up-

http://bulletin.aarp.org/yourworld/reinventing/art...

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 05/14/2008 - 1:34pm

probably won't announce it until after the game

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/deluca/948313,CST-S...

Unless something goes terribly wrong, the Cubs are poised to make their first key in-season addition of 2008 tonight when they sign Edmonds a few hours after he clears waivers. They're expected to announce the move after their game tonight, when young center fielder Felix Pie will be returned to Class AAA Iowa.

Submitted by Chad
on Wed, 05/14/2008 - 1:46pm

how does that work with the 40 man?

Submitted by Wes
on Wed, 05/14/2008 - 1:58pm

We have two spots open by my count. 39 listed on the roster with Guzzy on the 60 day.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 05/14/2008 - 2:12pm

yeah, what Wes said...

22 pitchers currently and 17 position players...then subtract one for Guzman who' s on the 60-day DL. We can sign Neifi anytime we want. 

Submitted by JoePepitone
on Wed, 05/14/2008 - 10:48pm

"We can sign Neifi anytime we want. "

~shudder~

Submitted by 10man
on Thu, 05/15/2008 - 3:02pm

Edmonds is our Ne!f! for this season.

Submitted by Cubster
on Wed, 05/14/2008 - 2:25pm

Rob: did you swap out that previous picture of Edmonds for this one with him wearing a wig and a red inflatable life-vest?

http://www.pilotmall.com/product/2092/Safety

...is this edmonds and daryle ward in the you tube life vest demo (I can't feel my legs)

Submitted by Chifan
on Wed, 05/14/2008 - 2:25pm

according to Levine and has already agreed to a 1 year deal at the vet min.

Submitted by Old and Blue
on Wed, 05/14/2008 - 2:48pm

I'm normally not a big fan of booing but I hope Cubs fans' throats burn cardinal red with boos

Submitted by Chifan
on Wed, 05/14/2008 - 4:36pm

Apparently Edmonds isnt getting town until 6 and will take it then per Hendry.

Submitted by Dr. aaron b
on Wed, 05/14/2008 - 3:08pm

I wish we could just watch Felix Pie flail away at balls in the dirt all year. Why do the cubs feel the need to upgrade Cf?

Submitted by Vince
on Wed, 05/14/2008 - 5:50pm

Please show me some sort of evidence this is an upgrade

Pie is faster
Pie plays better defense
Pie somehow has been better on offense this year

Oh wait, he is a gamer and scrappy. He is white after all

Submitted by crunch
on Wed, 05/14/2008 - 5:53pm

pie's a "real" prospect.

lou is not going to play him...and given how lost he is you can't really blame him too much.

pie can either sit around hoping for 200-250ab's...or someone else can come in and let the real prospect get some real work in AAA.

hell, i dunno how pie's lasted so long in the bigs barely working...seems like fuld (though he's not doing flashy at all in AAA) would be brought up if they wanted a guy to get 10ab's a week off the bench and crap weather spot starts.

Submitted by Dusty Baylor
on Thu, 05/15/2008 - 9:32am

Sure you ocan blame him.

(Play recording) Pie is getting waaay too sporadic of playing time to develop at all. It's a wonder he can even hold the bat at the right end at this point. Look at the game logs.

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