Cubs’ Minor League Daily: Thud.

kane county cougarsThe Cubs farm system opened the minor league season by losing all four games.

That’s the downside of following the minors. The good days can be very good (Daytona winning the Florida State League in 2011, for example), but then you get days like yesterday when there are just no wins to be found. Those are fairly rare, though. Hopefully this is the last one we see all year.

Despite the gloomy outcomes, there were some bright spots in the box scores.

Scores From Yesterday

Iowa – This game was tied until the seventh inning. And then it was 10-3. That was the final in this Cubs loss.
Tennessee – The Smokies’ offense was pretty much a two man show in this 7-3 loss.
Daytona – The Baez and Soler Show got off to a slow start as Daytona lost 4-3.
Kane County – Kane County also got off to a rough start and dropped their home opener 7-2.

Performances of Note

  • [Iowa] We may as well pick up the Iowa coverage right where we left it off last year. Brett Jackson struck out twice in four at bats, but he also singled and scored. Jackson’s strikeouts will probably be one of the more talked about stories throughout the first part of this season.
  • [Iowa] Brian Bogusevic moved over to first base for the Cubs, and carried the offense with a three hit day. J.C. Boscan and Ty Wright each had two hits.
  • [Tennessee] Welcome to Double A Arismendy Alcantara. If a 2 for 3 day with a stolen base, a home run, and three RBIs isn’t starting a level off right, I don’t know what is.
  • [Tennessee] Matt Szczur had a nice game himself. Batting lead off, Szczur singled three times in four at bats.
  • [Daytona] On his first day in High A, Jorge Soler went 2 for 4 and was caught in one attempt at stealing. Javier Baez, on the other hand, went 0 for 3 with two strikeouts.
  • [Daytona] The Daytona offense was led by Timothy Saunders and Stephen Bruno, both of whom doubled for the team’s only two extra base hits.
  • [Kane County] Daniel Vogelbach had two hits, but it was Rock Shoulders (playing DH) who supplied the power with a two run homer in the fourth.
  • [Kane County] Jeimer Candelario was batting cleanup for the Cougars, and the young third baseman drew the team’s only walk in addition to his base hit.
  • Other News

  • Pitching did not have a great day anywhere in the system yesterday, with a few individual exceptions. Notably for the major league team, both Casey Coleman and Rafael Dolis pitched quite well for Iowa in relief. Either one could find himself in the Wrigley Field bullpen before the summer is out.
  • Last season Daytona was the most steal-happy team in the Cubs’ organization, and so far they appear likely to keep that title in 2013. The Cubs swiped four bases (Saunders 1, Taiwan Easterling 2, Zeke DeVoss 1) in five attempts.
  • Even though Baez had a rough start to the season, there is no reason to panic. Stats do not mean a whole lot this early in the year due to sample sizes. And even if they did mean anything, Baez will still have plenty of rough nights as he learns to lay off bad pitches and not give away at bats. Four home runs in four at bats during spring training was nice, but that is essentially meaningless now that the season has started.
  • written by

    Luke Blaize is the Minor League Editor at Bleacher Nation, and you can find him on Twitter at @ltblaize.

    more cubs news

    Justin Steele Injury Update: New Classification, MRI Tomorrow, IL Stint Coming? Steele and Counsell Speak

    A significant update on Justin Steele came from Craig Counsell tonight after the Cubs extra innings loss in Texas. In short: Yes, a stint on the Injured List is likely for Justin Steele. But we still don't know how severe...

    Enhanced Box Score: Rangers 4, Cubs 3 – March 28, 2024

    It took exactly one day for the Cubs' ace to sustain what may be a significant injury, for their closer to blow a save, for the umpires to significantly impact the outcome of a critical play (this time in the...

    OMG: Michael Busch Scored the 9th Inning, GO-AHEAD Run, Because He Just Never Stopped Running

    That was absolutely incredible. To all the little kids out there, when your coach tells you to never stop running, this is why. Rookie Cubs 1B Michael Busch (the guy the Cubs got from the Dodgers this offseason to be...

    Pre-Gamin’: Cubs at Rangers – Lineups, Pitching Matchup, Broadcast Info, Game Thread

    *SHORT COURTS: It's Time To Bring The Home Court, Home! Looking for a unique way to celebrate your athlete or team before you peruse the FIRST CHICAGO CUBS LINEUP of the Year? Don't miss out! For just one more week...

    The Cubs Are Among the Most Returning-y Teams

    I am still mostly incapacitated at the moment, so apologies for the short shrift on such an otherwise blessed day. In between pokes and prods, I wanted to share a chart I saw that was pretty interesting, even if unsurprising:...

    Maybe the Cubs Are the Favorites in the NL Central, After All?

    ESPN was the first to throw some love the Cubs way this week, with an overwhelming majority of their writers, analysts, and editors picking the Chicago Cubs to win the NL Central in 2024. But the love doesn't end there....

    The Season Begins, Love for Morel, Counsell’s Value, and Other Cubs Bullets

    You know where you want to spend your Opening Day morning? The hospital! Suffice to say, this is not how I imagined getting HYPED for the Cubs' opener. I guess I'll just have to think about all the possible lineup...

    Cubs vs Rangers: The First Series of the Year!

    Cubs vs Rangers — THE REGULAR SEASON IS HERE! Wake up and rejoice. Later tonight, the Cubs will begin their march toward October Baseball against the (reigning World Series champion) Texas Rangers in Arlington. Justin Steele is getting the nod...

    The 2024 Chicago Cubs for Dummies

    Boom. We made it. The offseason is over, and the Cubs regular season - and those elevated expectations - begins tomorrow. But in case you slept through the winter, I'm here to catch you up on everything you need to...

    I’m Expecting More This Year, Cubs — It’s Time to Start Winning

    There's no way around it: The Chicago Cubs did *not* have the offseason we hoped they might after making Craig Counsell the highest paid manager in MLB history. Not that they did poorly, mind you. Cody Bellinger, Shota Imanaga, and...

    Latest News

    Rays vs. Blue Jays Probable Starting Pitchers – March 29

    The Toronto Blue Jays (1-0) go on the road at Tropicana Field against the Tampa Bay Rays (0-1) at 6:50 PM ET on Friday.The Rays will look to Aaron Civale against the Blue Jays and Chris Bassitt.Rays vs. Blue Jays...

    Marlins vs. Pirates Probable Starting Pitchers – March 29

    The Pittsburgh Pirates (1-0) play on Friday at LoanDepot park against the Miami Marlins (0-1). The contest begins at 7:10 PM ET.The Marlins will look to Andrew Jacob Puk against the Pirates and Martin Perez.Marlins vs. Pirates Pitcher Matchup and...

    Duke vs Houston Predictions and Odds: March Madness Best Bets

    We have a couple of number-one seeds in March Madness action tonight including Houston (32-4) as the Cougars take on Duke (26-8). Check out the odds and more for Duke vs Houston which tips off tonight at 9:39 pm ET...

    Tampa Bay Buccaneers Offseason Preview: 2024 Free Agents and Team Needs

    The Tampa Bay Buccaneers enjoyed a successful 2023 season, capturing their third straight NFC South title and pushing the Detroit Lions in a thrilling Divisional Round matchup. This strong showing translates to a relatively stable roster with few glaring weaknesses...

    NC State vs Marquette Predictions and Odds: March Madness Best Bets

    March Madness matchups bring us a great battle tonight as 11-seed NC State battles 2-seed Marquette. Check out the odds, stats, and more for NC State vs Marquette which tips off at 7:09 pm ET tonight. NC State vs Marquette...

    Best NBA Prop Bets Today – Friday, March 29, 2024

    Today's NBA schedule has 12 quality competitions in store. Among those games is the Minnesota Timberwolves playing the Denver Nuggets.NBA prop bets for today's games are available, so if you're interested in placing a bet or building a parlay, you'll...

    Updated Elite 8 Odds: UConn Betting Favorite To Win March Madness

    There were some great performances last night including a 30-point win by the UConn Huskies sending them to the Elite Eight. Are they the betting favorite to win March Madness? What team is sitting on top of the odds to...

    UConn vs. Illinois Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats and Best Bets – NCAA Tournament Round Elite Eight

    The No. 1 seed UConn Huskies (34-3) are 8.5-point favorites to advance to the Final Four when they play the No. 3 seed Illinois Fighting Illini (29-8) in the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight on Saturday at TD Garden, airing on...

    Alabama vs. Clemson Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats and Best Bets – NCAA Tournament Round Elite Eight

    The No. 4 seed Alabama Crimson Tide (24-11) and No. 6 seed Clemson Tigers (24-11) will both be vying for a spot in the NCAA Tournament Final Four when they meet on Saturday at Crypto.com Arena, tipping off at 8:49...

    How to Watch UConn Huskies vs. Illinois Fighting Illini: Live Stream or on TV

    The No. 1 seed UConn Huskies (34-3) will take on the No. 3 seed Illinois Fighting Illini (29-8) in the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight on Saturday at TD Garden, airing on TBS starting at 6:09 PM ET.UConn won its previous...

    more cubs news