Rawhide Keeps Them Doggies Movin' at Fitch Park

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Sat, 03/17/2012 - 03:07 pm

Dan Vogelbach and Dustin Geiger slugged back-to-back home runs in the bottom of the 8th inning, and the Chiefs had the tying and winning runs in scoring position with no outs in the bottom of the 9th but could not score, as the South Bend Silver Hawks (Diamondbacks Full-Season Class-A affiliate) rode a two-run Jimmy Comerota triple and took advantage of four errors, holding-on to edge Peoria 6-5 on Field #2, while over on Field #3, Ryan Cuneo crashed a three-run home run in the 3rd to stake the Cubs to an early 4-1 lead, but the Visalia Rawhide (D’backs Advanced Class-A affiliate) rallied for two runs in the 8th and three more in the 9th to defeat Daytona 7-5, in Cactus League Minor League game action this afternoon at Fitch Park in Mesa, AZ.

While the Daytona Cubs and Peoria Chiefs were in action at Fitch Park, the AAA Iowa Cubs and AA Tennessee Smokies traveled up the Loop 101 Freeway to play the Arizona Diamondbacks AAA Reno Aces and AA Mobile BayBears squads at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick Resort.

Moved down from the Daytona squad to the Peoria squad prior to the game, Cubs 2010 #1 draft pick RHP Hayden Simpson got the start for Peoria on Fitch Park Field #2, throwing 2-2/3 innings and allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits (three singles and two triples) before reaching his pre-planned pitch limit (30). He struck out two and did not issue any walks. His curve ball and change-up were fairly effective, but his fastball was hit hard by several of the Silver Hawks hitters.

Peoria trailed 6-2 going into the bottom of the 8th, but after Jeimer Candelario drew a lead-off walk, Dan Vogelbach crushed his home run over the RF fence and onto the roof of a house on the north side of 8th Street. Dustin Geiger followed the Vogel-Bomb with his own dinger, launching the solo shot beyond the LF fence and onto Center Street.

The Chiefs had a golden opportunity to tie or win the game in the bottom of the 9th, as catcher (ex-3B) Wilson Contreras laced a lead-off double into the LF corner, and advanced to 3rd base on a Shawon Dunston, Jr line-single to center. Dunston moved up a base on a wild pitch (still with no outs), but Delbis Arcila tapped back to the mound, and Jeimer Candelario and Yasiel Balaguert struck out swinging to extinguish the rally-flame.

Meanwhile over on Field #3, RHP A. J. Morris got the start for the Daytona Cubs and threw one shutout inning (10 pitches - 9 strikes). That might not seem like much, but is is significant because Morris missed the entire 2011 season rehabbing from post-2010 shoulder surgery. (The Cubs obtained Morris from the Washington Nationals in the January 2011 Tom Gorzelanny deal, and they must have thought pretty highly of him at the time, because they acquired him despite knowing that he had just undergone shoulder surgery).

After Morris threw his shutout inning, the D-Cubs scored a run in the bottom of the 1st on the strength of a Reggie Golden two-out RBI single that drove-home Pin-Chieh Chen (who drew a walk leading-off the inning, before moving up to 2nd base on a stolen base and to 3rd on a ground out), and then plated three more in the bottom of the 3rd on the Ryan Cuneo three-run HR over the right-centerfield fence.

The D-Cubs held a 4-2 lead after seven, but two pitchers up from the Boise/Mesa squad (Ian Dickson and Tayler Scott) surrendered five runs between them over the last two innings.

Like Peoria, Daytona got the tying runs on base in the bottom of the 9th, but Pin-Chieh Chen and Ronald Torreyes lined out, and 2011 NWL HR champ Paul Hoilman (like the Mighty Casey that he is) struck out (swinging) on three pitches to end the threat and the game.

There are five squads at Minor League Camp, but only four play games, so players assigned to the fifth squad (Boise/Mesa) are dispersed among the four teams that were in action today. (Boise/Mesa will morph into the Cubs Extended Spring Training squad next month).

Here are the abridged box scores from the two games played at Fitch Park (Cubs players only)

FITCH PARK FIELD #2

PEORIA LINEUP:
1a. Trey Martin, CF: 2-3 (1B, 1-3, 2B, R, RBI)
1b. Shawon Dunston, Jr, CF: 1-1 (HBP, 1B)
2a. Eduardo Gonzalez, LF: 1-2 (1B, BB, 4-3, RBI, SB)
2b. Delbis Arcila, LF: 0-2 (K, 1-2 FC)
3. Jeimer Candelario, 3B: 1-4 (3-2 DP, K, P-5, BB, K, R, SB)
4. Yasiel Balaguert, RF: 0-5 (6-3, 6-3, K, K, K)
5. Dan Vogelbach, DH: 1-4 (K, 5-3, 6-3, HR, R, 2 RBI)
6a. Rock Shoulders, 1B: 0-2 (P-5, F-7)
6b. Dustin Geiger, 1B: 1-2 (4-3, HR, R, RBI)
7a. Danny Lockhart, SS: 0-1 (BB, 3-U)
7b. Javier Baez, SS: 1-2 (P-4, 1B, CS)
8a. Brad Zapenas, 2B: 1-1 (1B, BB, R)
8b. Gioskar Amaya, 2B: 0-2 (K, 3-1)
9a. Wilfredo Petit, C: 1-2 (L-6, 1B)
9b. Wilson Contreras, C: 1-1 (BB, 2B)

PEORIA PITCHERS:
1. Hayden Simpson: 2.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R (2 ER), 0 BB, 2 K, 30 pitches (24 strikes), 3/3 GO/FO
2. Yao-Lin Wang: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R (0 ER), 0 BB, 2 K, 1 HBP, 24 pitches (16 strikes), 1/1 GO/FO
3. Sheldon McDonald: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 1 R (0 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 21 pitches (12 strikes), 2/1 GO/FO
4. Joe Zeller: 1.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 3 K, 1 PO, 21 pitches (17 strikes)
5. Charles Thomas: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 HBP, 19 pitches (12 strikes), 1/0 GO/FO
6. Felix Pena: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 6 pitches (5 strikes), 3/0 GO/FO

PEORIA ERRORS: 4
1. 3B Jeimer Candelario - E5 (errant throw with two outs allowed batter to reach base safely and runner on 3rd base to score unearned run)
2. SS Danny Lockhart - E6 (fielding error with two outs allowed batter to reach base safely and runner on 2nd base to score unearned run)
3. C Wilson Contreras - E2 (errant throw on pick-off attempt at 1st base allowed runner on 1st base to advance to 2nd base and runner on 2nd base to score unearned run)
4. 2B Gioskar Amaya - E4 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely)

FITCH PARK FIELD #3

DAYTONA LINEUP:
1. Pin-Chieh Chen, CF: 0-4 (BB, K, F-8, F-7, L-5, R, SB)
2a. Arismendy Alcantara, 2B: 0-2 (K, BB, 3-U, R)
2b. Ronald Torreyes, 2B: 1-2 (2B, L-4)
3a. Ryan Cuneo, 1B: 1-3 (6-3, HR, 3-U, R, 3 RBI)
3b. Paul Hoilman, 1B: 0-2 (K, K)
4a. Reggie Golden, DH: 1-3 (1B, 2-3, K, RBI)
4b. Brian Inoa, PH: 0-1 (P-4)
5a. Ben Klafczynski, LF: 1-3 (3-U, 1B, 6-3)
5b. Mayke Reyes, LF: 0-1 (F-8)
6a. Anthony Giansanti, C: 0-2 (5-3, 6-3)
6b. Sergio Burruel, C: 1-2 (1B, F-8)
7a. Elliot Soto, SS: 0-3 (K, K, 6-4 FC)
7b. Luis Acosta, SS: 0-0 (BB, R)
8a. Wes Darvill, 3B: 1-3 (F-8, 1B, L-6, PO)
8b. Kenny Socorro, 3B: 1-1 (1B)
9a. Blair Springfield, RF: 1-2 (HBP, 2B, 6-3, R, 2 SB)
9b. Xavier Batista, RF: 1-1 (1B, RBI)

DAYTONA PITCHERS:
1. A. J. Morris: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 10 pitches (9 strikes), 1/1 GO/FO
2. Jose Rosario: 2.2 IP, 3 H 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 1 K, 36 pitches (27 strikes), 6/1 GO/FO
3. Su-Min Jung: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 0 K, 26 pitches (13 strikes), 3/2 GO/FO
4. Brett Wallach: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 22 pitches (13 strikes), 0/3 GO/FO
5. Ian Dickson: 1.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R (2 ER), 0 BB, 2 K, 17 pitches (13 strikes), 0/1 GO/FO
6. Tayler Scott: 1.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HBP, 1 WP, 31 pitches (18 strikes), 0/1 GO/FO

DAYTONA ERRORS: NONE

DAYTONA CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Sergio Burruel: 2-2 CS

ATTENDANCE: 94

WEATHER: Temperature in the low 80's, overcast, & VERY breezy (expecting rain tomorrow)

Tags
Ryan Cuneo
Dustin Geiger
Hayden Simpson
Dan Vogelbach
Cubs Minor League Spring Training Recap
A. J. Morris

Comments

Submitted by toonsterwu on Sun, 03/18/2012 - 03:47 am

AzPhil Any idea on Hayden's velocity? Curious if he's 100%, or still working his way back from, uh, the fracture (I think). I just have a hard time getting intrigued with Morris. I mean, he seems like a guy who, if the opportunity came, could perhaps find some role in the bigs, as the stuff from a couple years ago as decent, but he's 25 this year. Seems like a possible power pen arm that could move fast, I guess. I guess I shouldn't rule out his stuff perhaps improving from what I recall. Any take on how Luis Acosta looked as a shortstop? Last question - buy or sell Wilson Contreras as a catcher (granted, in the really early stages right now of that process)? It is somewhat intriguing, but then again, I had hopes that Jovan Rosa might be an intriguing move to catcher if he could maintain his offensive production.

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Sun, 03/18/2012 - 03:45 am

Sat, 03/17/2012 - 11:47pm — toonsterwu AzPhil Any idea on Hayden's velocity? Curious if he's 100%, or still working his way back from, uh, the fracture (I think). I just have a hard time getting intrigued with Morris. I mean, he seems like a guy who, if the opportunity came, could perhaps find some role in the bigs, as the stuff from a couple years ago as decent, but he's 25 this year. Seems like a possible power pen arm that could move fast, I guess. I guess I shouldn't rule out his stuff perhaps improving from what I recall. Any take on how Luis Acosta looked as a shortstop? Last question - buy or sell Wilson Contreras as a catcher (granted, in the really early stages right now of that process)? It is somewhat intriguing, but then again, I had hopes that Jovan Rosa might be an intriguing move to catcher if he could maintain his offensive production. ==================================== TOONSTER: I don't know what Simpson's velocity was, but he certainly did not blow anybody away. His curve (in particular) was really sharp today, though. I didn't mention A. J. Morris in the post because he is such a great prospect (he's not), but rather because I know what he went through last year (and how great he must feel just seeing game action again), and that the Cubs acquired him from Washington despite his just having undergone shoulder surgery (which seemed odd to me). Luis Acosta is a bit stiff at SS. In fact he looks now (at age 17) what Junior Lake looks like at age 21. I find it VERY hard to believe that Acosta will remain at SS. I would think 3B or RF would be his more likely ultimate defensive destination. He is a beast offensively, though. Loads of power. I think the Cubs moving Wilson Contreras to catcher is a last gasp effort to find some value in him. His bat does not play well enough at either 3B or 1B (plus he is a butcher at both positions), but he might hit enough to be a catcher IF he can be passably-adequate back there. The jury is still out on that, especially if you consider the fact that Contreras WAS a catcher when the Cubs signed him, but they immediatelty moved him to 3B.

Submitted by Cubster on Sun, 03/18/2012 - 03:29 am

Cafardo's Sunday Baseball Notes:
It has been well-documented that Lucchino has a greater role in baseball operations than he did in the later years of the Theo Epstein regime - though similar to what he had early in Epstein’s tenure - but he contends that he tailors his involvement to the situation.
Dusty still sour on Chicago, he hasn't spent time in Boston it seems...
7. Theo Epstein is going to have to be tough-minded and thick-skinned as he tries to convince Cubs fans that they need to exhibit patience as he rebuilds. Reds manager Dusty Baker, who spent four seasons at the Cubs helm (which included an NLCS appearance), said of Chicago fans, “From my experience, patience wasn’t a real virtue. They’ve been patient for 100 years. That’s a hard sell in Chicago, more patience. They might be patient for a little while, but unlike any other place I’ve been, they count. People count. And they can add real good in Chicago. Everybody - men, women, and children.’’
3. Chris Volstad, RHP, Cubs - The player acquired in the Carlos Zambrano deal with the Marlins has been very impressive in camp. The 6-foot-8-inch righty has exhibited a lot of control and a low-90s fastball that he has been able to get over for strikes. The Cubs feel he may be ready to emerge after a poor season in Florida last year.
and finally...because Az Phil mentioned Andrew Miller or Felix D's name as a possible Cub acquisition in the Theo Comp remaining from Boston (also Franklin Morales). Per Phil, "That makes it sound to me like the PTBNL might be a choice between the three LHRP on the Sox 40-man roster who are out of minor league options"
7. John Lannan, LHP, Nationals - Interest in Lannan has diminished with some teams that feel what they have is just as good (Boston being one, with Felix Doubront and Andrew Miller), and in fact, teams are more interested in lefty Ross Detwiler’s upside. But the Nationals may be leery of dealing either pitcher because of a hamstring injury to Chien-Ming Wang. 8. Felix Doubront, LHP, Red Sox - Scouts really like Doubront’s stuff, but one complaint is that he works very slowly. While Doubront does use a slide-step to hold runners, the feeling is that he is also very slow to the plate.
http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2012/03/18/red_so…

Submitted by crunch on Sun, 03/18/2012 - 03:18 pm

via rotowurld, via paul sulivan's twitter: "Cubs manager Dale Sveum said Rafael Dolis will be a setup man alongside Kerry Wood this season." "Cubs manager Dale Sveum said Jeff Samardzija is a "near lock" for the team's rotation."

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Submitted by George Altman on Sun, 03/18/2012 - 03:41 pm

Only reading the stuff from AZ Phil and the MLB recaps, I don't see anyone has 'out-pitched' Dolis. If Samardzija is going to make the rotation, then having Dolis and K. Wood as RH set up roles makes sense. I see 2012 as a year (depending on their April-June performance) that Dolis could take over Marmol's closer role, Rizzo moves LaHair to the bench or LF (if they can finally find a taker for Soriano), BJax forces the Byrd trade, and Castillo makes a better value at Catcher than paying Soto $6-8M in 2013. The off-field moves in 2012 might be a lot more interesting to watch.

Submitted by Cubster on Sun, 03/18/2012 - 03:38 pm

cubs-rangers in Vegas, Volstad thru 2 IP very sharp, harmless two out singles in each inning. No score. Game is on mlb.com website TV, Rangers broadcasters The Game vs WSox is in a rain delay.

Submitted by DavidP on Sun, 03/18/2012 - 03:18 pm

Volstad has pretty much wrapped up a starting spot unless he implodes in the next 10 days. That leaves only one spot left, and since I believe that the Cubs will want a lefty in the rotation, Maholm is likely to get the last spot unless he really stinks up the rest of the month.

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