Cubs Minor League Daily: More Good Pitching and Low Walk Rates

cubs azl spring training logoThe Cubs have had a number of very good pitching performances in their farm system lately, including a couple more yesterday. Particularly in the lower levels of the system, it looks like there are a lot of promising arms who are going to finish the year with a good run of innings.

It has been awhile since I did a Monday quiz, so this seems like a good time to do a pitching related one. If I’m not mistaken we’ve looked at strikeouts before, so this time we’ll take a look at walks. Or walk rates, to be specific. What I’m looking for today are the five pitchers with the lowest BB/9 (minimum of ten games). Starters and relievers are both eligible for this one.

To get these answers you will need to really know the lower levels of the system (although two of them are now in Double A). One of them is a full time starter, one has worked both in the rotation and the bullpen, and the other three are pure relievers.

One more bit of help: the next three names on the list after the five you are looking for are Erick Leal, Ryan Kellogg, and Jeremy Null. For some of you, I suspect that just removed three of your guesses from consideration.

Answers at the end of the column.[adinserter block=”1″]

Triple A: Iowa Cubs
Iowa 6, Oklahoma City 4
If the Cubs are going to make an amazing comeback, beating Oklahoma City is a good place to begin.

  • Rob Zastryzny: 6 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 5 K. Zastryzny has not allowed an earned run in his last three starts.
  • Armando Rivero: 2 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 3 K
  • Albert Almora: 3 for 4
  • Kristopher Negron: 2 for 4
  • Double A: Tennessee Smokies
    Montgomery 7, Tennessee 5 in twelve innings.
    Happ tied the game up with a single in the ninth, but the Smokies did not score again.

  • Stephen Perakslis: 3 IP, 2 H, 2 K
  • James Farris: 2 IP, 1 H
  • Ian Happ: 1 for 1, BB
  • Victor Caratini: 2 for 6
  • David Freitas: 3 for 6, 2B
  • Ben Carhart: 1 for 5, 2B, BB
  • Kelly Dugan: 2 for 5, HR
  • Carlos Penalver: 2 for 4, 2B[adinserter block=”2″]
  • High A: Myrtle Beach Pelicans
    Myrtle Beach 6, Carolina 0
    Four pitchers combined on this shutout.

  • James Pugliese: 5.1 IP, 5 H, 1 BB, 4 K
  • Craig Brooks: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 3 K
  • Tommy Nance: 1 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 1 K
  • Daniel Lewis: 1 IP
  • Charcer Burks: 1 for 3, BB
  • Donnie Dewees: 1 for 3, BB, SB
  • David Bote: 3 for 4
  • Jeffrey Baez: 1 for 3, HR, BB
  • Low A: South Bend Cubs
    South Bend 5, Great Lakes 2
    More good pitching put the Cubs one win away from seventy.

  • Justin Steele: 6 IP, 1R, 6 H, 6 K
  • John Williamson: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 K
  • Scott Effross: 2 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 3 K
  • P.J. Higgins: 2 for 4, 2B
  • Matt Rose: 3 for 4, 2B, HR
  • Adonis Paula: 2 for 3
  • Short Season A: Eugene Emeralds
    Eugene 6, Vancouver 2
    It took six pitchers, but Eugene got the win.

  • Pedro Silverio: 3 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 5 K
  • Marc Huberman: 2 IP, 1 H, 3 BB
  • Josh Conway: 1 IP, 2 BB, 1 K
  • Chad Hockin: 1 IP, 2 K
  • Mark Malave: 1 IP, 2 K
  • Yeiler Peguero: 1 for 2, 2 BB
  • Chris Pieters: 2 for 4, SB
  • Kevonte Mitchell: 1 for 4, 2B
  • Sam Tidaback: 1 for 4, HR[adinserter block=”3″]
  • Rookie: Arizona Cubs
    Cubs 1, White Sox 0
    A solo homer was the only scoring for anyone in this game.

  • Matt Swarmer: 3 IP, 1 BB, 6 K
  • Andry Rondon: 5 IP, 4 H, 2 K
  • Jordan Brink: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 K
  • Kwang-Min Kwon: 2 for 4
  • Isaac Paredes: 1 for 4, 2B
  • Kevin Zamudio: 2 for 3, HR.
  • Yohan Matos: 1 for 3, 2B, SB
  • Other Notes

  • Myrtle Beach has now won nine straight games.
  • The five pitchers with the lowest BB/9 and a minimum of ten appearances are: Jared Cheek (0.80) with South Bend, Casey Bloomquist (1.00) with South Bend, Zach Hedges (1.70) with Tennessee, David Berg (1.80) with Tennessee, and… the one I suspect no one would have gotten… Yapson Gomez (1.80) with Arizona.
  • Of that group, Hedges was the full time starter and Bloomquist was the guy who had floated between the two roles.
  • written by

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

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