NEWSLETTER
The draft is over. Analysis of the draft has just begun, though, and the steady stream of draftees signing their first contracts will make sure that 2014 draft stays in the forefront of the conversation until we are well into trade season.
But the draft itself is over, and that means we have unofficially moved into the next stage of the minor league campaign: shuffle season. For the past two months or so the minor leagues (Stateside, anyway) have consisted of the four full season league teams whose highlights appear every morning in the Daily. In a few days, though, two short season league teams begin play. The Short Season A Boise Hawks start their season on Friday (the 13th, if you’re one of those superstitious types), and the Arizona Rookie League AZL Cubs get started on June 21. These two teams will also be covered in the Daily when their seasons get underway.
But first they need players.
Some of those players will come from the prospects who were left in Extended Spring Training. Some will come from the draft. And some will come from the full season league teams. Look for the Cubs to start shuffling the rosters of the full season league teams this week with part of that shuffling including the assignment of a few players to Boise.
Kane County will likely see the most allocated to the Northwest League, but I don’t think they will lose more than a handful. Any player who has been struggling badly, or who has been playing in a part time role but who the Cubs may want to have playing more regularly is a candidate for a trip out west. No one really comes to mind in the first category, but on the second list I could see catcher Cael Brockmeyer sent to Boise to catch every day (unless Will Remillard is promoted to Daytona, which is also very possible). Daniel Canela, a first baseman who has appeared in fourteen games, could join him.
Kane County and Boise will not be the only teams affected by shuffling, though. This is also the time of the year when we see an uptick in promotion/demotions among the four full season squads. Tennessee probably has the most candidates who look ready to move up (with John Andreoli and Kris Bryant at the top of the list), but the Cubs will need to find spots for them to play in Iowa, not to mention replacements for their positions in Tennessee. Bijan Rademacher could move up to Double A to replace Andreoli, should he be promoted, but replacing Bryant at third is tougher. Recalling Wes Darvill to Tennessee is one option. Demoting Christian Villanueva is another, but not one I like very much. Playing Mr. Everything Anthony Giansanti at third could help bridge the gap, should the Cubs decide they want Bryant moved to Triple A. Of course, leaving Bryant in Tennessee for a little while yet is a valid option as well.
Scores From The Weekend
Iowa –
Friday – Pitching carried the day in this 2-1 win.
Saturday – Three errors hurt the cause in this 5-1 loss.
Sunday – Iowa hurlers pitched a shutout as the Cubs won 3-0.
Tennessee –
Friday – Tennessee claimed a shutout on the road and won 4-0.
Saturday – Make that two road shutouts as the Smokies won this one 5-0.
Sunday – Tennessee tied this one up in the ninth, but lost in walk off fashion 6-5.
Daytona –
Friday – A huge seventh inning carried the Cubs to this 10-7 win.
Saturday – It was not a good day in High A as Daytona lost 8-0.
Sunday – The Cubs mounted a huge rally, but lost to lowly Clearwater anyway. The final was 8-7.
Kane County –
Friday – The Division Champion Cougars had three big innings in this 12-5 win.
Saturday – The Cubs held off a late rally by Cedar Rapids to pick up the 5-2 win.
Sunday – The Cougars led early, but then the bats went quiet. They lost 3-2.
Performances of Note
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