There was just one game in the farm system yesterday – in the entire organization, actually – but the Cubs’ affiliate won it, so it still qualifies as a good day.
In that game, Ian Happ launched his fourth homer of the season as part of yet another two hit game.
Happ has played well in his first twenty games in High A, but I’m not convinced the Cubs need to rush him up the system. For now the Cubs are committed to developing him as a second baseman, and the Double A Tennessee Smokies currently have a second baseman by the name of Chesny Young. He’s also having a pretty good year. I tend to doubt the Cubs will want to bench Young or force him into a new position to make room for Happ right now.
And Young, who probably needs more games in Double A before we can start talking about a promotion, is blocked in Iowa by Arismendy Alcantara. Alcantara was the first of the Cubs’ recent wave of prospects to hit Wrigley, and although he did not stick in the majors last season, he hasn’t played badly in Iowa to start this season. Alcantara could still be a very valuable part of Chicago’s bench, or a useful trade chip, if he can get his bat back into 2014 form. I suspect the Cubs are perfectly willing to give him a chance to do just that.[adinserter block=”1″]
In other words, there is no hurry to promote the Cubs surging young second base prospects. It will be good to see these guys be challenged, but it isn’t a bad thing to let them sit still and continue to work where they are. That goes doubly so for Happ given he is effectively learning a new position.
However, while I think patience is in order (at least for now) for Happ, that doesn’t apply to all prospects. Bijan Rademacher can’t get to Iowa fast enough to suit me, but that’s an article for a different day.
South Bend was rained out. They will play a doubleheader today to make up the lost game.
Other Notes
If you are hungry or on a diet, stop reading now.
The annual Minor League Food Fight, the MiLB.com online voting contest to pick the best food in the minor leagues, is now underway. You can see the current leaderboard here, but I’m warning you… unless you really like pork it isn’t a pretty sight.
Iowa’s entry in the contest is the Perfect Game Burger (if Arrieta pitches a perfecto, do you think they’ll rename it?). This is a 16 ounce burger topped with cheese, bacon, sriracha mayo, and those obligatory bits of vegetation that clutter up any good burger. Believe or not, that isn’t the largest burger on the list. And it definitely isn’t the largest meat sandwich (looking at you, New Hampshire).
Tennessee checks in with Homer’s Grand Slam. Start with a foot long hot dog, add pulled pork (via Calhoun’s BBQ), macaroni and cheese, friend onions, and top it off with BBQ sauce (also provided by Calhoun’s). A dish like this is probably going to live or die on the quality of the pulled pork; trust me, it is good pulled pork.
Rather than tap into their seaside heritage, Myrtle Beach enters the contest with a taste of Chicago brought to South Carolina. Take two Chicago classics, Italian beef and Italian sausage, and stuff them into the same roll with jalapeños and… carrots and celery? Do Chicagoans really put celery on a sausage? Celery? Chicago, you’ve got some explaining to do.
South Bend, as you probably could have predicted, is represented by the Porknado. If there is a better savory way to fill a waffle cone than pulled pork, macaroni and cheese, and coleslaw, I’m not sure I know what it is.[adinserter block=”3″]
There are a few other culinary highlights from around the minors that shouldn’t be missed. The Akron RubberDucks have concocted something called The Squealer. Somehow they are stuffing a half a pound of hot dog with pulled pork and cheddar, then wrapping the concoction in bacon before deep frying it. I’m thinking Brett is only about a hundred miles from Akron and that a taste test of the Squealer would go nicely on Baseball is Fun. Just sayin’.
New Hampshire also has a dish called the Squealer, and I think you’d have to be a little crazy to order it. The bread is shaped to look like a pig (seriously, go find it on the menu and take a look), and within that bread is bacon, ham, Italian sausage, pepperoni, pulled pork, and cheese. Five pork products and a cheese. Not sure I’m brave enough to order that thing.
The most out of place item in this sea of pork, and the one that is oddly making me the hungriest, is the humblest of the lot. Kannapolis has created the Mater Sandwich – grilled bread, tomatoes, and mayonnaise. Clean, simple, and it sounds wonderful. Do you have any idea how long it has been since I last had a good tomato sandwich? A really long time, that’s how long. I wonder if any local tomatoes are in season yet …
I’ll pull more tasty ballpark foods to discuss here in the Daily from time to time while this contest runs, but be sure to take a look over the whole menu to make sure you don’t miss a single tasty deep fried, pork filled morsel. And don’t forget to do some voting!
For the second straight night, the Cubs are jumping all over the Astros in the first inning. After a couple hits from Nico Hoerner and Ian Happ to get things going, Michael Busch hit a sac fly, Christopher Morel walked,...
What a road it's been - continues to be - for Cubs outfield prospect Brennen Davis. The former top prospect was on a rocket ship to Triple-A in 2021, and then mostly lost the last two years to various injuries....
So much for all those words of optimism and negative X-rays. After colliding with the outfield wall last night, Cody Bellinger fractured his rib (Update: It's actually TWO fractured right ribs) and will hit the injured list today. Chicago Cubs...
CUBS LINEUP — The Chicago Cubs took Game 1 against the Houston Astros in convincing fashion last night. So tonight, they'll go for the quick series win against Spencer Arrighetti at Wrigley Field (it'd be a good idea to win...
Ed. Note: Since this article was published, a CT scan revealed a rib fracture for Cody Bellinger, who is now on the Injured List. You can find all the details of that news in our most recent article right here....
With Cody Bellinger headed to the Injured List with a rib fracture, the Cubs are in need of another outfielder: center field prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong is coming back up to the big leagues for the second time. https://twitter.com/670TheScore/status/1783217891195625709 Crow-Armstrong, 22,...
Hey, we're just having some early-season fun. So allow me to present the 'Mike Tauchman Is Clearly Better Than' list. As of this moment, Mike Tauchman has ... ... a higher wRC+ (151) than Pete Alonso, Fernando Tatis Jr., and...
Name a player hotter than Kevin Alcántara right now. Go ahead, I'll wait. (He's already raking again today. Literally as I type this.) More on Alcántara's big day and the Smokies home run parade last night in today's Cubs Farm...
Just three starts into his San Francisco Giants career, Blake Snell is heading to the injured list with a left-adductor strain. Oof. You hate to even say it — and who really knows if this was related — but early...
In 1997, I was a miserable Chicago Cubs fan. I mean, that was true a lot of the time, but I mean it in a very specific way that year: the Cubs had started the season 0-14. They had literally...
On Thursday, looking for a series sweep, Caleb Raleigh and the Seattle Mariners (12-11) face Adolis Garcia and the Texas Rangers (12-12), with first pitch scheduled for 2:35 PM ET at Globe Life Field.If you're planning on watching this game,...
The San Diego Padres (13-13), with Randy Vasquez on the mound, visit the Colorado Rockies (6-18) who will counter with Dakota Hudson, at 3:10 PM ET on Thursday.If you're planning on watching this game, keep reading for TV and streaming...
The desert heat is rising in Las Vegas, and so are the expectations for the Raiders. The 2024 NFL Draft is rapidly approaching, and the Silver and Black hold the 13th overall pick. Will they prioritize shoring up the offensive...
The Minnesota Twins (9-13), led by Ryan Jeffers, host Gavin Sheets and the Chicago White Sox (3-20) at 1:10 PM ET on Thursday.If you're intending to watch this game, keep reading for streaming and TV options for the Minnesota-Chicago matchup.When...
Justin Verlander takes the ball for the Houston Astros (7-17) when they visit starter Javier Assad and the Chicago Cubs (14-9) at 2:20 PM ET on Thursday.Keep reading to see how to watch the Houston-Chicago matchup below.When is Astros vs....
Cole Ragans will take the mound for the Kansas City Royals (14-10) when they host starter Jose Berrios and the Toronto Blue Jays (13-11) in a rubber match on Thursday, with first pitch at 2:10 PM ET.If you're trying to...
Juan Soto and the New York Yankees (16-8) host Abraham Toro and the Oakland Athletics (9-15) on Thursday in a rubber match, with first pitch at 7:05 PM ET.Find out how to watch the New York-Oakland matchup below.When is Yankees...
For the second straight night, the Cubs are jumping all over the Astros in the first inning. After a couple hits from Nico Hoerner and Ian Happ to get things going, Michael Busch hit a sac fly, Christopher Morel walked,...
Alec Bohm and the Philadelphia Phillies (15-9) visit Elly De La Cruz and the Cincinnati Reds (13-10) on Thursday in a rubber match, with first pitch at 1:10 PM ET.Keep reading to find out all the details on how to...
The Milwaukee Brewers (14-8), led by William Contreras, visit Connor Joe and the Pittsburgh Pirates (13-11) at 12:35 PM ET on Thursday.Keep scrolling to find out all the details on how to watch Milwaukee take on Pittsburgh live.When is Brewers...
NEWSLETTER
There was just one game in the farm system yesterday – in the entire organization, actually – but the Cubs’ affiliate won it, so it still qualifies as a good day.
