Nuts & Tourists Invade Riverview Park

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Fri, 03/20/2015 - 9:46pm

The Asheville Tourists (Colorado Rockies Lo-A affiliate) rode a 13-hit attack that included three doubles, two triples and a home run, to coast past the South Bend Cubs (Lo-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs) 9-5 on Field #5, and the Modesto Nuts (Rockies Hi-A affiliate) cruised to a 6-1 victory over the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Cubs Hi-A affiliate) on Field #6, in Cactus League minor league game action this afternoon at Mesa Cubtown at Riverview Park.


Eloy Jimenez had a fine day for South Bend in a losing cause on Field #5, clouting a solo home run, as well as drilling two singles, drawing a walk, stealing a base, scoring two runs, and collecting two RBI. If Jimenez continues to hit in games the way he has so far, he might find himself the Opening Day RF at South Bend.

Both Gioskar Amaya and Mark Zagunis collected a double, a single, and a walk (Amaya also stole two bases) in the Pelican loss on Field #6.

The Defensive Play of the Day was turned in by South Bend third-baseman Jesse Hodges, who made a diving stop of a hot grounder to his right, quickly got to his feet, and made a pinpoint laser-throw to first to nail the Asheville batter by a half-step. (Hodges would later commit a throwing error on an easy one-hopper where he had plentry of time).

Here are the abridged box scores from the two games (Cubs players only):

FIELD # 5

SOUTH BEND LINEUP:
1a. Charcer Burks, LF: 1-3 (3B, 6-3, 5-3, R)
1b. Shamil Ubiera, LF: 1-1 (1B, RBI)
2. Carlos Sepulveda, 2B-DH: 0-4 (6-3, 4-3, 4-3, K)
3a. Kevonte Mitchell, CF: 1-2 (BB, F-9, 2B, R)
3b. Calvin Graves, CF: 0-1 (P-6) 
4. Eloy Jimenez, RF: 3-3 (1B, BB, HR, 1B, 2 R, 2 RBI, SB)
5. Jesse Hodges, 3B: 1-4 (2B, 4-6-3 DP, K, K, 2 RBI)  
6a. Alberto Mineo, 1B: 1-2 (2B, HBP, 3-1)
6b. Roney Alcala, 1B: 0-1 (K)
7. Tanner Witt, DH-2B: 1-3 (BB, F-9, 1B, 6-3, R, SB)
8a. Alex Tomasovich, DH #2: 1-3 (F-9, 2B, L-9)
8b. Tyler Alamo, PH: 0-1 (4-3)
9a. Erick Castillo, C: 0-1 (3-U, HBP)
9b. Tyler Pearson, C: 0-1 (BB, L-8)
10a. Ho-Young Son, SS: 0-2 (K, 5-U FC)
10b. Frandy de la Rosa, SS: 0-0 (BB) 

SOUTH BEND PITCHERS:
1. Erick Leal: 3.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R (2 ER), 0 BB, 3 K, 1 WP, 1 BALK, 2/3 GO/FO, 37 pitches (27 strikes)
2. Trevor Clifton: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R (2 ER), 3 BB, 4 K, 1/0 GO/FO, 49 pitches (24 strikes)
3. Dillon Maples: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 0 K, 1 WP, 2/0 GO/FO, 16 pitches (11 strikes)
4. Corbin Hoffner: 1.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 0 K, 1 HR, 1/1 GO/FO, 21 pitches (13 strikes)
5. James Farris: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 3/1 GO/FO, 24 pitches (20 strikes)

SOUTH BEND ERRORS: 1
3B Jesse Hodges - E-5 (throwing error allowed batter to reach base safely)

SOUTH BEND CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Erick Castillo: 2-5 CS

SOUTH BEND OUTFIELD ASSISTS:
LF Shamil Ubiera - threw out batter-runner 7-4 trying to stretch single into double

FIELD #6

MYRTLE BEACH LINEUP:
1a. Gioskar Amaya, C: 2-2 (1B, 2B, BB, R, 2 SB)
1b. Justin Marra, C: 1-1 (2B)
2a. Chesny Young, 2B: 1-2 (F-9, 2B, BB, RBI)
2b. Bryant Flete, 2B: 0-0 (BB)
3a. Gleyber Torres, SS: 0-3 (K, 6-3, K)
3b. Varonex Cuevas, SS: 0-1 (K)
4. Jacob Rogers, 1B: 1-4 (K, K, K, 1B) :
5. Mark Zagunis, DH #1: 2-3 (BB, 1B+E7, 2B, 5-4 FC)
6. Jason Vosler, 3B: :1-4 (4-3 DP, F-7, 4-3, 2B)
7. Charlie White, RF: 0-4 (4-3, 1-3, K, L-9)
8. Kevin Encarnacion, LF: 0-3 (5-3, K, 6-3)
9. Trey Martin, CF: 0-3 (5-3, K, F-8)
10a. Shawon Dunston Jr, DH #2: 0-2 (3-U, K)
10b. Roberto Vahlis, PH: 0-1 (6-3)

MYRTLE BEACH PITCHERS:
1. Paul Blackburn: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 3 K, 1 HR, 3/3 GO/FO, 39 pitches (22 strikes)
2. Jeremy Null: 3.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 1 K, 2/5 GO/FO, 49 pitches (32 strikes)
3. Lars Huijer: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 1/0 GO/FO, 15 pitches (10 strikes)
4. Tanner Griggs: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 1 GIDP, 2/0 GO/FO, 4 pitches (3 strikes)
5. Daniel Lewis: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 1/1 GO/FO, 17 pitches (8 strikes)

MYRTLE BEACH ERRORS: 1
RF Charlie White  - E-9 (fielding error on line-drive single to right allowed batter to take an extra base)  

MYRTLE BEACH CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Gioskar Amaya: 0-2 CS

WEATHER: Sunny with tempratures in the 80's

ATTENDANCE: 71 

Tags: 
Cubs Minor League Spring Training Game Recap
Eloy Jimenez
Gioskar Amaya
Mark Zagunis
Jesse Hodges

Comments

Submitted by Old and Blue  on Sat, 03/21/2015 - 9:46am  
"If Jimenez continues to hit in games the way he has so far, he might find himself the Opening Day RF at South Bend. " South Bend? Why not the big club? Bring him up!!

Submitted by Old and Blue  on Sat, 03/21/2015 - 10:33am  
BREAKING NEWS: Baez batting leadoff today against Felix Hernandez. Discuss. http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball...

Submitted by Rob G.  on Sat, 03/21/2015 - 10:51am  

The Soriano Corollary - hope he sees more fastballs

Submitted by Old and Blue  on Sat, 03/21/2015 - 11:59am  
It seems a little tied in to what Maddon was saying about Baez the other day, loving the bat speed, but not the inability to control it. The big concern - voiced to the point where it is 3/44 I guess, is that I'm not sure you can teach what Baez has to learn. Castro may have given him the best advice, in swinging earlier, but can you really learn that? I was a terrible hitter - bad eyes - so I have no idea because if it was me I'm just up there flailing hoping for a miracle, but can a guy like Baez just learn to see the ball better? I read an interesting article about Miguel Cabrera awhile back where they said he was able to actually see the spin of the ball coming out of the pitcher's hand. Obviously, that sets him apart if true since that is probably pretty rare, but if Baez really doesn't know when to launch that wild swing of his, can it be taught or learned at this level? That's a question for people who know more about hitting, not a "I don't think he can make it" comment.

Submitted by Charlie  on Sat, 03/21/2015 - 3:48pm  
I know I've said this before, so apologies for being repetitive, but I think it is a mistake to always consider ability to see/react to the pitch separately from swing mechanics. A big swing could mean that you have to start earlier as a hitter, meaning that you are reacting to the pitch earlier and making a decision with slightly less information than someone who can wait a bit longer. Cutting down on a swing or adjusted swing mechanics in other ways can actually allow you to see the ball better in a variety of ways that are independent of quality of eyesight itself. I always figured that was the cause of Soriano's vulnerability to the breaking ball vs. A-Ram's (or Castro's, for another example) relative ability to hit them. Soriano's decision to swing or lay off and his bat path may have both been determined when the ball was farther away from him because he had so much load up and overall exertion. This is not to say, of course, that raw eyesight is never a causal factor.

Submitted by Rob Richardson  on Sat, 03/21/2015 - 4:12pm  
Well said. It seems to me the Javy's swing requires him to start so early that he become a guess hitter. The question then becomes does shortening his swing take away his bat speed.

Submitted by Old and Blue  on Sat, 03/21/2015 - 4:53pm  
Seems like they aren't willing to push the issue that far, but that they'd like to see him try to shorten it with two strikes. I have no idea if he's doing that or not.

Submitted by Old and Blue  on Sat, 03/21/2015 - 4:57pm  
That makes a lot of sense to me. It makes sense, too, that some hitters may even compensate a bit for not being able to see the ball as well as others by having ferocious swings that crush the ball when they make contact. Baez doesn't have to be perfect up there - he's shown that he can hit low sliders a long way. He just has to somehow find a way to not swing at every friggin pitch, and, like Castro says, start a bit earlier (maybe?)

Submitted by Newport  on Sat, 03/21/2015 - 11:08am  
0-4, 3 Ks

Submitted by crunch  on Sat, 03/21/2015 - 12:27pm  
no tv for m's/cubs...thanks obama.

Submitted by Rob G.  on Sat, 03/21/2015 - 3:25pm  

Baez lead off single and SB, Bryant HR off King Felix.

fuck it, bring him up.

Submitted by Transmission  on Sat, 03/21/2015 - 3:55pm  

Kris Bryant is going to force me to start watching ST games on mlb. tv.  jerk.

Submitted by jacos  on Sat, 03/21/2015 - 4:17pm  
Dear God

Submitted by JoePepitone  on Sat, 03/21/2015 - 6:08pm  
Hey, Trans! Great to see you commenting again! Hope to see you around some more!

Submitted by billybucks  on Sat, 03/21/2015 - 3:32pm  
This is getting ridiculous. OK, so start him with the Cubs. Who knows? This may turn out to be their best chance to win for the next 10 years -- solid rotation, promising bullpen, good leadoff guy, young power bats -- take your shot.

Submitted by Charlie  on Sat, 03/21/2015 - 4:14pm  
I know the probability that they all make it as MLB everyday players is not great, but it's hard not to drool over the prospect of Bryant, Soler, Russell, a not-struggling Baez, and Schwarber all in the same Cubs lineup. Especially with so many of these prospects (with the exception of Baez) putting up some good offensive numbers this Spring Training.

Submitted by Old and Blue  on Sat, 03/21/2015 - 4:48pm  
AZ Phil was able to talk me out of the odds against it happening by pointing to some teams with a lot of successful prospects. The thing is, Bryant, Russell, Soler, and Schwarber all seem to have a really good idea of what they are doing at the plate. Baez may be the odd man out, but even he could be a force if he just gets things under control a bit. A Soriano type, maybe, but that's not a bad career.

Submitted by Charlie  on Sat, 03/21/2015 - 4:54pm  
Based on the Cubs' hitting today, I'd like to add to my comment the following prediction: 6 years from now all current Cubs prospects have enjoyed the first several years of illustrious careers, fans of every other MLB team hate Cubs fans and Kris Bryant, and our bodies and minds are ruined by years of almost uninterrupted masturbation. Kind of like St. Louis Cards fans now. [cymbal crash]

Submitted by Old and Blue  on Sat, 03/21/2015 - 4:43pm  
Okay, you guys have convinced me from the previous thread. Keep Bryant down for those two weeks. Who needs him?

Submitted by Old and Blue  on Sat, 03/21/2015 - 4:45pm  
But seriously, this is kind of weird. I realize it's spring training, but how does this even happen at this level?

Submitted by jacos  on Sat, 03/21/2015 - 4:45pm  
King? Meh

Submitted by Jackstraw  on Sat, 03/21/2015 - 6:46pm  
Send him down.

Submitted by John Beasley  on Sat, 03/21/2015 - 4:59pm  
Welington Castillo should be on this team. David Ross, sure, at least until Bryant needs to be recalled, so he's got a few weeks. Pitch framing matters, but so does offense.

Submitted by Old and Blue  on Sat, 03/21/2015 - 5:16pm  
Wow, Baez and Fowler didn't get on base. That's going to be a big waste of Bryant's next home run. Sheesh, guys, get in the game a bit.

Submitted by John Beasley  on Sat, 03/21/2015 - 5:20pm  
Here's Bryant's bomb off Felix: http://m.mlb.com/video/topic/69972428/v514008...

Submitted by jacos  on Sat, 03/21/2015 - 7:03pm  
The good news is the Cubs are now being run by smarter guys than us. The better new is the Cubs have Kris Bryant.

Submitted by Cubnut  on Sat, 03/21/2015 - 7:26pm  

Rick Sutcliffe (@Sut_ESPN) tweeted that, in the Cubs dugout today, Billy Williams compared Kris Bryant to Roy Hobbs. Via @thecubreporter, I asked whether Billy was referring to the heroic movie depiction of Roy Hobbs or the fallen-hero-crushed-by-his-own-hubris depiction of Hobbs from the novel. Sutcliffe tweeted back that he will confirm with Billy tomorrow. 

Submitted by billybucks  on Sat, 03/21/2015 - 8:41pm  
Bryant's OPS currently stands at 2.072. I would take that for his rookie season.

Submitted by Carlito  on Sat, 03/21/2015 - 9:09pm  
Jesus Christ he's on fire. But so was Bryan LaHair ... anyone can have a hot stretch. This game is about the long haul. No, Kris Bryant is not an ageing AAAA player like LaHair, but someone of his talent level playing to kill in spring training against pitchers trying to find their stuff and get innings in does not mean he's gonna be a world beater in 2015. Chances are he IS rookie of the year. Fine. Maybe. Chances also are he still has a lot to learn. Chances also are the Cubs are still a year away from contending. But just because he's pissed off and annihilating spring training pitching doesn't mean you bring him up for 9 days and lose a year on the back end. There's very good odds he doesn't do shit the first month. Maybe he cools off literally and at the plate. I still vote send him down. Last year baez crushed homers his first week. Soler killed the ball at an unearthly clip, Alcantara had an insane first few games. It's adrenaline and a sprint. But baseball isn't a sprint. Something to prove and pitchers learning. Bryant is doing it in spring training - games don't count. Doesn't mean too much with regard to the long haul. Gonna be ups and downs. He'll start down.

Submitted by Rob G.  on Sat, 03/21/2015 - 9:39pm  

I'm going Soler for ROY.

Submitted by jacos  on Sun, 03/22/2015 - 6:15am  
Ditto

Submitted by Cubster  on Sun, 03/22/2015 - 6:34am  
Soler for ROY Bryant for Roy Hobbs? Billy Williams only watched the movie (didn't read the book), therefore, light fixtures explode when his HR wins the World Series.

Submitted by jacos  on Sun, 03/22/2015 - 9:31pm  
*pennant /that guy

Submitted by Cubster  on Sun, 03/22/2015 - 9:48pm  
did they beat Miami? http://tinyurl.com/pcxkb7b

Submitted by Old and Blue  on Sun, 03/22/2015 - 8:17am  
I respectfully disagree, but I will admit that he is still two homers away from Jake Fox's 10 Spring home runs mark (I think he had a ton anyway, but I can't find spring stats on him quickly so I could be wrong).

Submitted by WISCGRAD  on Sun, 03/22/2015 - 1:16pm  

Maddon saying Bryant to get outfield work starting this week. That works well in a number of ways. He can be sent to AAA to get outfield reps for a couple of weeks. Olt can start at third. Rizzo, La Stella, Castro, Olt, Montero, Bryant, Fowler, Soles for a lineup, with Alcantara as utility and Baez ready to push La Stella to the bench if he does well in AAA.

Submitted by Charlie  on Sun, 03/22/2015 - 1:25pm  
I don't have strong feelings about it, but at least it should make the transition easier if they have to Miguel Cabrera/Ryan Braun him. Still like him a lot better at 3B if he can play passable defense there. I do like the possibility that it gives Olt a few more chances to prove he can have value as an MLB player.

Submitted by crunch  on Sun, 03/22/2015 - 1:30pm  
there is way too much "making fun of people who want bryant to be up" snark going around the internet (not here as much)...and too many of those on board with keeping him down are so full of shit. he doesn't need to "work on" anything...he's most likely going down for the same reason he wasn't brought up last september...money and service time. i understand and support the decision to keep him down, but there's not some noble "casual fans don't understand" reasoning for sending him down aside from the service time issue unless the kool aid is flowing so hard that those who are buying the official line actually believe it has very little to nothing to do with service time. it's getting toxic out there on both sides of the issue. myself, it's hard to argue with keeping him down a couple weeks...i don't care if he breaks with the team or comes up in late-april. the system needs fixing, not bryant, not theo/jed, not boras, not tony clark, etc etc...fix it and it's not an issue going forward. this has been going on for years...TB's very familiar with the hate and angst and they've never cared.

Submitted by Rob G.  on Sun, 03/22/2015 - 4:06pm  

saying he has things to work on doesn't mean someone doesn't understand that his being sent down to work on those things doesn't also benefit the organization. Or that it's the combination of having things to work on and service time that is at question here, not one or the other.

Submitted by Charlie  on Sun, 03/22/2015 - 6:29pm  
If there's anything Bryant needs to work on in Iowa, it's probably baserunning. With all these HRs he's hitting, he's not getting any practice on the basepaths. Sorry, I know I'm late to the joke party on this subject.

Submitted by Old and Blue  on Sun, 03/22/2015 - 4:11pm  
I would think that the casual fan is the one who cares the most. I went on record in the previous thread that I wanted him to start with the MLB club, but I don't feel very strongly about it, and I would think most thinking baseball fans won't, either. If Bryant doesn't start the year with the big club, my man Olt gets a few more chances at things, and so that's a plus. I don't think it's a mistake if Bryant doesn't start off with the big league club, I just think the whole service time thing is kind of silly since we cannot possibly know what things will look like six years down the road. For me, it's a slight preference that he start up with the big league club. But I also kinda want to see Olt in the lineup for a month to see what happens there. This team is so loaded with prospects that it's fun no matter what happens.

Submitted by crunch  on Sun, 03/22/2015 - 4:15pm  
i'm really not seeing much irrational (hell, nothing really) about what's been going on here, but on other boards, twitter, and etc things are getting off the hook. there's a group of people out there who see the front office as a 100% outlet for truth, gospel, and anyone suggesting there's anything going on besides exactly what they're saying are heretics who don't deserve to be cubs fans.

Submitted by Old and Blue  on Sun, 03/22/2015 - 5:36pm  
Twitter is full of people with no lives. At the end of the day, this stuff just doesn't matter much.

Submitted by crunch  on Sun, 03/22/2015 - 3:42pm  
hammel just recorded the last out with a man on 2nd. he was hitting 8th...hurrah for that crap. i think t.wood is the only guy in this rotation that should be hitting 8th...though not over alcantara like hammel is today.

Submitted by crunch  on Sun, 03/22/2015 - 4:44pm  
t.wood pinch hit for hammel to end the cubs 1/2 of the inning...cute. alcantara lead off the next inning with a homer, btw. he's looking like an awesome supersub option for the cubs...a guy that would be getting a chance to start on a lot of clubs.

Submitted by Old and Blue  on Sun, 03/22/2015 - 5:36pm  
"alcantara lead off the next inning with a homer, btw. he's looking like an awesome supersub option for the cubs" Like Ben Zobrist!! -- ducks

Submitted by Rob G.  on Sun, 03/22/2015 - 6:02pm  

In a major league game he would have been pitched around if he was batting 8th.

Submitted by Old and Blue  on Mon, 03/23/2015 - 7:17am  
Like Ben Zobrist!!

Submitted by The Joe  on Sun, 03/22/2015 - 8:55pm  
I'll be tickled pink if he turns into Zobrist.

Submitted by Old and Blue  on Mon, 03/23/2015 - 7:19am  
Well the reference is a wee bit of humor only I would probably get - for a week or so every single beat writer was making a Zobrist/Alcantara comparison. Partly because I think Maddonini brought it up but it was pretty relentless for a bit.

Submitted by crunch  on Sun, 03/22/2015 - 3:45pm  
rockies released j.chacin...that's worth keeping an eye on. he's had a horrible spring so far, fwiw.

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    America NEEDS its HEROES.

     
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    if he does die by "suicide", I would blame Bill Barr and look into a real conspiracy.

     
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    welcome to an unwelcome June 1st.

     
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    November 3, vote!

     
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