Javier Baezleft Monday’s game for Peoria after making a play in the bottom of the second inning. According to the Peoria Journal Star, it is a finger injury that occurred while making a barehanded play on a ball to short. He is listed as day to day.
We should hear more about the injury later today, and until then I would not worry too much. A finger injury on a barehanded play suggests either a jammed or dislocated finger, and neither of those are too serious. Still, with Baez being arguably the best prospect in the farm system now that Rizzo is in Chicago, the Cubs will no doubt play things cautiously. The minor league disabled list is only seven games; don’t be surprised if he is placed on it out of an abundance of caution.
[Iowa] Brooks Raley gave up five hits and one run over seven innings while striking out five. If the Cubs starting dealing pitchers, Raley could be an option to finish out the season in Chicago.
[Iowa] Josh Vitters accounted drove in both of the Cubs’ runs in this game. One of those came on a solo home run, his 12th of the season.
[Tennessee] Not a lot of highlights for the Smokies on Monday. Nelson Perez had a triple and a few players, including Junior Lake and Justin Bour, picked up a double, but that was about it.
[Daytona] Matt Loosen pitched yet another good game. This time he went six innings and gave up three runs on two home runs and two walks while striking out seven. His High-A ERA is now an even 3.00.
[Daytona] The heroes of Game Two were the bullpen, and especially Tony Zych and Scott Weismann. The two relievers combined to strike out seven over five no-hit innings.
[Daytona] Matthew Szczur finished the day 3 for 8 with a double, two walks, and two stolen bases. He now has 22 steals this season.
[Daytona] John Andreoli also had two stolen bases giving him 24 for the season.
[Daytona] Arismendy Alcantara did not steal a base in this game, but he did have a nice, slow trot. The young shortstop added to his breakout year with his fourth home run.
[Peoria] Zach Cates, who struggled earlier in the season with Daytona, pitched better in this game. He lasted four and two thirds innings and allowed just one run on five hits.
[Peoria] Zach Rosscup, the other pitcher who came to the Cubs in the Garza trade, made his first appearance for Peoria as he recovers from an arm injury. He struck out two in two and a third scoreless innings.
[Boise] Jose Arias pitched five innings in which he allowed a run on three hits and struck out three.
[Boise] Gioskar Amaya just keeps rolling along. He had two more hits in this game, including a double, and now has a season OPS of 1.097 (1.138 if we count his one at bat in Iowa).
[Arizona] Shane Lindsay pitched two and two thirds innings of relief in which he gave up a single hit and struck out four. Eduardo Orozco picked up the win with one inning pitched and two strikeouts to set up Jin-Young Kim, who struck out one on his way to a perfect two inning save.
[Arizona] Trey Martin was 2 for 4 with two doubles. Timothy Saunders was also 2 for 4, but that actually lowered his season average to .526.
Other Minor League Notes
It might be time to consider calling Jay Jackson to Chicago. In Monday’s game he pitched the eighth inning and struck out the side. We’ve talked before about his ridiculous splits as a starter (9.23 ERA) versus as a reliever (1.61 ERA) before, but the difference goes beyond just ERA. As a reliever Jackson has struck out 27 in just over 22 innings. Those are the kind of number we like to see out of a late inning reliever; that makes it easier to imagine Jackson having a future in that capacity with the Cubs.
Third baseman Dustin Geiger got off to a late start this season due to an injury, but all the twenty year old has done since arriving in Peoria is hit. He is currently riding a ten game hitting streak during which he has a line of .405/.435/.667 with three home runs.
There was plenty of concern in some quarters while extended spring training was underway because Daniel Vogelbach was not showing as much power as had been expected. Since his season actually began, however, Vogelbach has become another lesson in the very limited utility of spring training statistics. So far this summer Vogelbach has 5 hits in 14 at bats, and 4 of those hits are doubles. He has no walks yet, but he has struck out only once. That’s good for an early line of .357/.357/.643. Three games and fourteen at bats are not enough to tell us much about this guy, but it does not give us any reason to worry, either.
Farm System Standings
AAA – Iowa Cubs : 33 – 45.
Pacific Coast League American Northern Division – Second Place: 14.5 Games Behind.
AA – Tennessee Smokies : 2-3
Southern League North Division – Second Place : 1.0 Game Behind
High A – Daytona Cubs : 4-1
Florida State League North Division – Second Place (tie) : 0.5 Games Behind
Low A – Peoria Chiefs : 2-2
Midwest League Eastern Division – Third Place : 2.0 Games Behind
Short-Season A – Boise Hawks : 4 – 7
Northwest League East Division – Second Place : 2.0 Games Behind
Rookie League – AZL Cubs : 4 – 1
Arizona Rookie League East – Second Place : 1.0 Game Behind
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