We have a three way battle underway for the title of best record in the farm system, and that could very well result in the Cubs punching three playoff tickets by the end of the first half. The years of intelligent drafts and international free agent splurges are now being felt across all levels of the organization, and the win-loss records simply echo what we already knew: this system doesn’t have the horde of elite talent we have seen in the recent past, but in terms of quality depth from top to bottom it is absolutely stacked.
Iowa (22-26) is really the only team not in the fight for best record, but they have been playing better of late. Now that the Chicago team is getting back to full strength, Iowa is also getting back some keys guys. They are still in fourth place, and their seven game deficit doesn’t feel like it is getting any smaller, but they aren’t out of it just yet.
Tennessee (29-19) is not only right in the thick of the fight for best record in the system, they are currently in first place in the Southern League North Division by two and a half games, and they own the best record in the league. It is time to talk magic numbers, and for the Smokies it is 19. Any combination of Tennessee wins and second place team (currently Biloxi) losses that equals 19 clinches the first half division title for Tennessee. And with a win today, the Smokies will have swept a five game set against Biloxi.
The Pelicans (28-22) have had problems catching first place Buies Creek, but that Astros’ affiliate has hit a bit of a skid and as a result the Pelicans are suddenly sitting in second place just one game out of first. They have a very real chance of sneaking into the top slot before the first half ends in a few weeks, but their margin for error is slim. Lurking just a half a game back of Myrtle Beach is Carolina.
Given that South Bend has the best record in the farm system, you might expect that they would also be in first place and in at least as good of shape as Tennessee. But they aren’t. Despite being 12 games over .500, despite having the third best winning percentage in their league, and despite the Midwest League guaranteeing the top two teams in each division a trip to the playoffs, the Cubs are not in the playoff picture. They trail West Michigan for the division lead by three games, and Dayton for the second playoff spot by one game. A mid-week trip to Dayton could change up the standings in the Cubs’ favor.
Triple A: Iowa Cubs
Iowa 2, Memphis 1
The bullpen combined to produce four innings of no-hit baseball.
Double A: Tennessee Smokies
Tennessee 6, Biloxi 5
Thanks to this walk-off, the Smokies are ten games over .500.
High A: Myrtle Beach Pelicans
Myrtle Beach 8, Carolina 2
Alzolay took a no hitter into the fifth.
Low A: South Bend Cubs
South Bend 5, Fort Wayne 4
The Cubs had to rally from behind, and ultimately walked this one off.
South Bend 9, Fort Wayne 2
A five run fifth put this game away.
Other Notes