Minor League Roundup

[Auz]

My vote for minor league player of the year is Rebel Ridling, just because of his name.

If he doesn't look like this, then I will be bitterly disappointed...

[Ace]

Mitch?

Also, Josh Harrison is tearin' shit up. Promote that kid.

[Kid]

<!--quoteo(post=35837:date=May 6 2009, 03:53 AM:name=Dingo)-->QUOTE (Dingo @ May 6 2009, 03:53 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->My vote for minor league player of the year is Rebel Ridling, just because of his name.

If he doesn't look like this, then I will be bitterly disappointed...

<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
My favorite part of that picture? The Obama bumper sticker.

Apparently he just thinks that flag looks good but has no idea what it stands for.

[Butcher]

I'm thinking that the Obama sticker is Photoshopped.

[Andy]

I'm thinking nearly everything on there is photoshopped.

[Scarey]

The confederate flag isn't always a symbol of racism. It's a symbol of southern pride a lot of the time. Everyone knows about it, but some people choose to see it as something else... kinda like how the swastika is now seen as a symbol of hate.

[Scarey]

<!--quoteo(post=35842:date=May 6 2009, 06:29 AM:name=Ace)-->QUOTE (Ace @ May 6 2009, 06:29 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Mitch?

Also, Josh Harrison is tearin' shit up. Promote that kid.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I think they need to start teaching him to play in the outfield though. I've heard his fielding is similar to that of an orangutan with it's legs tied together. Also, Jake Optiz is off to a quick start at 2B in Daytona. They really need to get Colvin back up to Tennessee and have Harrison start taking outfield reps at Daytona.

... and I just noticed that Marquez Smith was finally promoted to AA! The Smokies now have an infield of Lalli (1.017 OPS), Thomas (.970 OPS), Barney (.816 OPS), and and Smith (.907 OPS at high A). Clevenger is hitting the hell out of the ball too, it's just a shame that Castillo and the outfield are terrible right now.

[Kid]

<b>May 6:</b>


<!--c1-->CODE<!--ec1-->                    R  H  E
Nashville (14-12)   4  8  1
Iowa (14-11)        7  10 0
WP: Jose Ascanio (1-1)
LP: Lindsay Gulin (1-2)
HR: NSH - Joe Koshansky (5); IOW - Jason Dubois (4)

Ascanio: GS, 5.0 IP, 0 R, 0 ER (1.01 ERA), 3 H, 0 BB, 9 K
Matt Camp: 3-4 (.286), 2 RBI (2), R
Andres Blanco: 2-4 (.337), 2B (6), RBI (10), R<!--c2--><!--ec2-->


<!--c1-->CODE<!--ec1-->                      R  H  E
Tennessee (12-10)    
Mississippi (11-14)   (PPD/Rain)<!--c2--><!--ec2-->


<!--c1-->CODE<!--ec1-->                  R  H  E
Daytona (12-14)   1  6  0
Tampa (10-16)     3  6  0
WP: Dellin Betances (2-3)
LP: Jose Pina (0-1)
SV: Jonathan Ortiz (5)

Andrew Cashner: GS, 3.0 IP, 0 R, 0 ER (1.00 ERA), 1 H, 2 BB, 2 K
Craig Muschko: 2.0 IP, 1 R, 1 ER (4.58 ERA), 3 H, 1 BB, 0 K
Dylan Johnston: 1-3 (.176), 2B (2), RBI (6), BB, CS (1), PO<!--c2--><!--ec2-->


<!--c1-->CODE<!--ec1-->                 R  H  E
Peoria (14-11)   8  15 1
Lansing (8-17)   6  9  1
WP: Kevin Kreier (3-1)
LP: Ryan Koch (0-2)
SV: Ryan Buchter (3)
HR: PEO - Junior Lake (1), Josh Vitters (3); LAN - Kenneth Wilson (1), Mark Sobolewski (1)

Marcus Hatley: 3.0 IP, 4 R, 4 ER (5.40 ERA), 5 H, 1 BB, 5 K
Vitters: 3-5 (.333), 2B (4), 2 RBI (11), 2 R
Josh Harrison: 3-5 (.394), 2B (8), R, CS (6)<!--c2--><!--ec2-->

[Giff]

Wow, great outing from Ascanio.

[Auz]

How long can they keep Ascaino from being called up? Especially with our shitty pen.

Great outing by Vitters and Harrison is killing it this year.

Cashner is looking great which is also great to see so our two number 1 draftee's are going well.

[Clapp]

I wonder if Ascanio's developed another pitch, or just improved his slider possibly. When he was up with us, his change was flat-out filthy and his fastball got up into the 95 mph area, so unless he's just throwing more strikes or something, not really sure why he'd be doing so much better. His slider was pretty blah.

[Ace]

<!--quoteo(post=36059:date=May 7 2009, 12:32 AM:name=Clapp)-->QUOTE (Clapp @ May 7 2009, 12:32 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I wonder if Ascanio's developed another pitch, or just improved his slider possibly. When he was up with us, his change was flat-out filthy and his fastball got up into the 95 mph area, so unless he's just throwing more strikes or something, not really sure why he'd be doing so much better. His slider was pretty blah.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Could it just be increased experience against inferior players? Making better decisions, slightly better control, etc.; the things that come with experience?

[Clapp]

<!--quoteo(post=36062:date=May 7 2009, 05:27 AM:name=Ace)-->QUOTE (Ace @ May 7 2009, 05:27 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=36059:date=May 7 2009, 12:32 AM:name=Clapp)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Clapp @ May 7 2009, 12:32 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I wonder if Ascanio's developed another pitch, or just improved his slider possibly. When he was up with us, his change was flat-out filthy and his fastball got up into the 95 mph area, so unless he's just throwing more strikes or something, not really sure why he'd be doing so much better. His slider was pretty blah.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Could it just be increased experience against inferior players? Making better decisions, slightly better control, etc.; the things that come with experience?
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Absolutely. Was just curious. We'll find out for ourselves in the next couple months.

[Kid]

<b>May 7:</b>


<!--c1-->CODE<!--ec1-->                    R  H  E
Nashville (15-12)   4  8  2
Iowa (14-12)        2  8  1
WP: Mike Burns (4-0)
LP: Esmailin Caridad (3-2)
SV: Chris Smith (5)
HR: NSH - Mat Gamel (8), Joe Koshansky (6)

Caridad: GS, 7.0 IP, 2 R, 2 ER (3.77 ERA), 7 H, 0 BB, 2 K
Jason Waddell: 1.0 IP, 2 R, 1 ER (3.38 ERA), 1 H, 1 BB, 0 K
Doug Deeds: 3-4 (.275), 2B (2), RBI (6), K<!--c2--><!--ec2-->



Game 1:
<!--c1-->CODE<!--ec1-->                      R  H  E
Tennessee (12-11)     4  12 0
Mississippi (12-14)   5  12 0 (F/12)
WP: Kevin Gunderson (1-0)
LP: Jeremy Papelbon (0-1)

Casey Coleman: 4.0 IP, 4 R, 4 ER (3.67 ERA), 8 H, 1 BB, 3 K
Darwin Barney: 4-6 (.360), 3 RBI (9), R, K, SB (2)
Tony Thomas: 3-5 (.345), 2 2B (6), 3B (1), 2 R, BB, K<!--c2--><!--ec2-->

Game 2:
<!--c1-->CODE<!--ec1-->                      R  H  E
Tennessee (12-11)     7  13 1
Mississippi (12-14)   0  5  0 (F/7)
WP: Jay Jackson (2-3)
LP: Deunte Heath (1-1)

Jackson: 7.0 IP, 0 R, 0 ER (4.94 ERA), 5 H, 1 BB, 10 K, WP
Ty Wright: 3-4 (.292), 2 RBI (13), 2 R
Steve Clevenger: 2-3 (.341), 2B (2), 3 RBI (8), R, BB, K<!--c2--><!--ec2-->


<!--c1-->CODE<!--ec1-->                     R  H  E
Clearwater (13-14)   2  5  2
Daytona (13-14)      5  10 0
WP: Dan McDaniel (3-0)
LP: Carlos Monasterios (1-3)
SV: David Cales (5)
HR: CLR - Michael Durant (2); DAY - Robinson Chirinos (2)

McDaniel: GS, 5.2 IP, 0 R, 0 ER (1.25 ERA), 2 H, 2 BB, 9 K
Starlin Castro: 2-3 (.247), R, 2 SB (6)
Dylan Johnston: 2-4 (.192), R, K, SB (2)<!--c2--><!--ec2-->


<!--c1-->CODE<!--ec1-->                 R  H  E
Peoria (14-12)   1  4  2
Lansing (9-17)   4  7  0
WP: Henderson Alvarez (3-3)
LP: Justin Bristow (0-1)

Bristow: 4.0 IP, 3 R, 1 ER (7.00 ERA), 4 H, 0 BB, 1 K, WP
Jeffrey Beliveau: 4.0 IP, 1 R, 1 ER (5.06 ERA), 3 H, 2 BB, 4 K
Kyler Burke: 1-3 (.296), 2B (12), R<!--c2--><!--ec2-->

[Andy]

Nice outing by Jackson.

Is it just me or are there a lot of players hitting the ball really well for the Cubs' minor league system? I realize it's still only a month in, but I don't remember very many players hitting the ball too well last year.