1000 Words: Getting good (Travis) Wood
(Photo by Stephen Green)
Travis Wood’s 2013 campaign has been nothing short of incredible. On the mound this season, the 26-year-old southpaw is 5-3 with a 2.75 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 50 strikeouts in 72 innings. But it’s what he’s done in the batter’s box that has really captured Cubs fans’ attention.
The right-handed hitter owns a .292/.320/.583 (AVG/OBP/SLG) line with a pair of homers and seven RBI. In the fourth inning of Thursday’s tilt with the White Sox, Wood ripped a Jake Peavy cutter into the left-field stands for a grand slam, propelling the North Siders to an 8-3 win.
The grand slam was the first by a Cubs pitcher at Wrigley Field since Burt Hooten accomplished the feat in 1972.
And Wood isn’t the only pitcher on the staff who’s having success at the plate. According to Elias, the 19 RBI by Cubs pitchers in May is the most in a calendar month since the 1940 Tigers drove in 20. Wood (7) and fellow starter Scott Feldman (6) alone each have more RBI than any other pitching staff. Also, the pitching staff has produced more RBI this month than the Cubs No. 3 hitters (17), and they have matched the total from the No. 4 spot (19).
Cubs minor league recap: 5/29/13
Casey Coleman has recorded scoreless appearances in his last three outings. (Photo by Stephen Green)
Iowa’s comeback attempt fell short, Tennessee three-game winnings streak was snapped and Kane County struggled at the plate, though Daytona captured its fourth shutout win of the season. Despite the scoreboard setbacks, here are some highlights from Wednesday’s action:
Iowa Cubs (24-27)
Iowa put the go-ahead run on base in the ninth inning, but was unable to complete the comeback bid, falling 4-3 at Nashville.
- RF Brian Bogusevic (.358) went 1-for-4 with a walk and a run scored. He ranks second in the Pacific Coast League in on-base percentage (.459) and sixth in batting average (.358/59-for-165).
- C J.C. Boscan (.296) went 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored.
- RHP Casey Coleman (3 IP, 2 BB, 2 K) has recorded three straight, scoreless appearances (8.2 IP).
Tennessee Smokies (27-24)
Tennessee’s three-game winning streak was snapped in a 6-3 loss at first place Birmingham.
- SS Arismendy Alcantara (.280) collected his fourth, three-hit game of the season, going 3-for-4 with a triple (1), extending his hitting streak to eight games (.333/10-for-30).
- 3B Christian Villanueva (.254) went 1-for-4 with a double (17), a run scored and two RBI (27).
- RHP A.J. Morris (3.1 IP, 3 H, R, 5 K) recorded season highs in innings pitched and strikeouts.
Daytona Cubs (26-24)
Daytona collected its fourth shutout of the season, blanking Tampa 3-0.
- LF John Andreoli (.317) extended his hitting streak to eight games (.444/16-for-36), going 2-for-3 with a double (6), a run scored and a RBI (18).
- CF Zeke DeVoss (.228) went 2-for-4 with a run scored.
- 1B Dustin Geiger (.311) collected his Florida State League-leading 43rd RBI, finishing 1-for-3.
- RHP Yao-Lin Wang (3 IP, H, BB, 5 K) converted his second save of the season, tying a season-high with five strikeouts.
Kane County Cougars (24-27)
Kane County mustered only five hits in a 2-1 setback at Quad Cities.
- DH Marco Hernandez (.255) went 2-for-4 with a run scored.
- C Carlos Escobar (.217) went 2-for-4 with a ninth-inning RBI single.
- 2B Gioskar Amaya (.263) collected two walks in four plate appearances. He has walked six times in the last four games.
- On Tuesday, OF Albert Almora was named Midwest League Player of the Week for the week of May 20-26 after batting .538 (14-for-26) with five doubles. He has recorded multi-hit efforts in four of his first seven games.
1000 Words: Navarro’s Hat Trick
(Click photos to enlarge)
The Crosstown Cup can bring out the best in players. Exhibit A: Dioner Navarro. The free-swinging backup catcher was locked in Wednesday afternoon, ripping home runs in each of his three official plate appearances to lead the Cubs to a 9-3 victory over the White Sox.
Batting right-handed in the second and fourth innings, the 29-year-old switch-hitter took a pair of John Danks change-ups into the left-field stands. Then batting left-handed in the bottom of the seventh, he launched a Brian Omogrosso fastball down the right-field line onto Sheffield Avenue for his third homer of the day. Navarro finished 3-for-3 with three home runs, six RBI, four runs and a walk.
It was the first multi-homer game of Navarro’s career, and he became the first Cubs catcher to hit three homers in a game since George Mitterwald in 1974. After yesterday’s win and Tuesday’s rainout, the North Siders lead the Crosstown series 2-0. Travis Wood will take the mound for the Cubs Thursday afternoon, opposite Sox veteran Jake Peavy.
Cubs minor league recap: 5/28/13
Shortstop Javier Baez blasted a walk-off, two-run homer in extra innings to lead the D-Cubs to victory. (Photo by Stephen Green)
Iowa, Tennessee and Daytona all collected a win Tuesday while Kane County was unable to recover in a rain-shortened outing. Here are some highlights from yesterday’s action:
Iowa Cubs (24-26)
Iowa defeated host Nashville, 6-2. The I-Cubs have won nine of their last 11 games.
- 1B Brent Lillibridge (.274) homered for the second consecutive game, going 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI (6).
- 3B Edwin Maysonet (.270) hit his fourth home run in his last seven games and tallied three RBI (20).
- SS Donnie Murphy (.275) went 2-for-4 with a double (4) and a run scored.
- LHP Chris Rusin recorded his longest outing of the season, throwing 97 pitches in eight innings.
Tennessee Smokies (27-23)
Tennessee scored a run in three consecutive innings and held on to defeat first-place Birmingham, 3-2.
- 3B Christian Villanueva (.254) went 2-for-4 with a double (16), a triple (1) and a run scored.
- DH Arismendy Alcantara (.270) hit a game-tying, solo home run in the fourth inning, finishing 1-for-4.
- RHP Kyle Hendricks recorded his fourth consecutive quality start, finishing May with a 4-1 record and a 1.96 ERA (7 ER/32.1 IP).
- RHP Frank Batista (1.1 IP, H) converted the save, improving to a perfect 7-for-7 in save opportunities.
Daytona Cubs (25-24)
Javier Baez blasted a walk-off, two-run homer in the 11th inning, lifting Daytona to a 6-4 victory over visiting Tampa.
- SS Javier Baez (.268) finished 2-for-6 with the two-run homer.
- LF John Andreoli (.312) extended his hitting streak to seven games (.424/14-for-33), going 2-for-6 with a run.
- 3B Ben Carhart (.267) went 1-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored.
- LHP Frank Del Valle (2 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, K) earned the win in relief, improving to 3-0.
Kane County Cougars (24-26)
Kane County suffered a 7-5 setback at Quad Cities in a rain-shortened, six-inning affair.
- DH Dan Vogelbach (.292) homered for the second consecutive game, going 1-for-3 with a run and three RBI (35).
- CF Oliver Zapata (.273) extended his hitting streak to 10 games (.359/14-for-39), going 2-for-3 with two runs.
- LF Pin-Chieh Chen (.240) went 1-for-3 with a triple (2) and two RBI (15).
- RHP Lendy Castillo (2 IP, H, BB, 2 K) threw two scoreless innings of relief, his second consecutive scoreless outing.
Cubs’ Almora named MWL Player of the Week
(Photo by Jason Wise)
It has been a good week for Cubs’ 2012 first-round draft pick Albert Almora. After missing the early portion of the year with a broken hamate bone in his hand, Almora made his 2013 debut for the Class-A Kane County Cougars on May 22 and got off to such a fast start he was named the Midwest League Player of the Week.
In 26 at-bats, the 19-year-old outfielder hit .538 with five doubles, 14 hits, two walks and only two strikeouts. He logged four multihit efforts in his first seven games.
The Cubs made Almora the sixth overall selection in the 2012 draft. He spent the second half of last season with the Arizona rookie team and Short-Season Boise, where he combined to hit .321/.331/.464 with 12 doubles and two home runs in 140 at-bats.
ESPN’s Law gives Cubs’ Soler a boost
(Photo by Stephen Green)
This offseason, ESPN Insider’s Keith Law was high on the Cubs’ organizational overhaul. The well-respected talent evaluator ranked the North Siders the No. 5 farm system in his annual offseason rankings—up from No. 20 the previous season—and put four farmhands in his top 100 prospects list. Three of those four players were acquired by the club since Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer took over after the 2011 season.
Each May, Law goes back and updates his top 25 prospect rankings. While it’s worth noting a few of his top players have already graduated the list by moving up to the majors, Cubs prospect Jorge Soler made a big jump—21 spots to No. 21—on Law’s list. Below is what he said about the Cuban outfielder:
21. Jorge Soler, OF | Chicago Cubs (age 21)
Current level: High Class A (Daytona)
Preseason ranking: 42The power is already showing up thanks to Soler’s tremendous bat speed, and he’s drawn more walks (18 in 173 PAs) than I would have guessed given how long he had gone without facing live pitching before last summer. He’s been only fair in right field and his arm has looked average, both disappointments relative to what I saw from him last year.
Cubs Minor league recap: 5/27/13
Brian Schlitter made his first appearance for the I-Cubs Sunday after starting the season with Tennessee. (Photo by Stephen Green)
While Iowa’s five-game winning streak was snapped after an early setback Monday, Tennessee and Kane County both rallied late for comeback victories. Daytona had the day off but will be back on the field tonight against visiting Tampa. Here are some highlights from yesterday’s action:
Iowa Cubs (23-26)
Iowa was victimized by a four-run, third inning in a 4-3 loss to visiting Oklahoma City. The loss snapped Iowa’s five-game winning streak.
- RF Brian Bogusevic (.369) reached base three times, going 1-for-2 with two walks, a double (13) and two runs scored.
- 1B Brent Lillibridge (.264) blasted his third home run of the season, a fifth-inning solo shot.
- LF Darnell McDonald (.202) went 0-for-1 with two walks, a stolen base (5) and a RBI (12).
- RHP Brian Schlitter (2 IP, 2 H, 3 K) made his first appearance for Iowa after allowing only two earned runs in 21.2 innings for Double-A Tennessee to begin the season.
Tennessee Smokies (26-23)
Tennessee rallied for a run in the seventh inning and two in the eighth to defeat Huntsville, 8-6, in the final game of a five-game series.
- 2B Ronald Torreyes (.236) snapped a five-game hitless skid, going 2-for-5 with a home run, a run scored and three RBI (14).
- LF Ty Wright (.247) went 2-for-4 with a double (7) and two runs scored.
- C Chad Noble (.286) collected his first hits of the season with Tennessee after beginning the season at Daytona. He went 2-for-3 with a walk, a double (1) and a run scored.
- RHP Tony Zych (2 IP, H, K) tossed two scoreless innings, earning the win in relief.
Kane County Cougars (24-25)
Kane County tallied five runs in the eighth inning, surging past visiting Beloit, 8-4. The Cougars have won four of their last five games.
- DH Dan Vogelbach (.292) went 3-for-5 with a home run, two runs scored and two RBI (32).
- RF-CF Oliver Zapata (.265) extended his hitting streak to nine games (.333/12-for-36), going 2-for-4 with a run scored.
- LF Pin-Chieh Chen (.238) went 1-for-4 with a walk, a run scored and two RBI (13).
- RHP Steve Perakslis (3 IP, H, R, BB, 3 K) earned his first victory of the season, allowing no earned runs in three innings of relief.
Cubs acquire RHP Alex Burnett off waivers
(Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
The Cubs claimed right-hander Alex Burnett off waivers from the Orioles Monday afternoon.
The 25-year-old reliever had his finest season last year, going 4-4 with a 3.52 ERA and 10 holds in 67 relief appearances for the Twins. Prior to the All-Star break he had a 2.49 ERA, fourth among AL relievers. During the spring, the former 12th round pick of the 2005 draft was claimed off waivers by the Blue Jays before being designated for assignment and signing on with Baltimore on April 12.
Burnett is 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA in 12 innings in Triple-A this season. He is currently on the Cubs’ 25-man roster.
1000 Words: The Shark captures a shutout
(Photo by David Banks/Getty Images)
Jeff Samardzija brought his “A” game to the South Side in a 7-0 win against the White Sox Monday night. In the series opener, the Cubs’ ace pitched a two-hitter, earning the 28-year-old his first career shutout. He threw 108 pitches, allowing only two hits—both singles—while fanning eight and walking two.
Though last night’s victory is only the third win for the second-year starter, Samardzija has pitched well all season, owning a 2.85 ERA through 11 starts. The Shark’s Memorial Day win makes him the first Cubs pitcher to throw a complete-game shutout game in almost two years; the last North Sider to do so was Randy Wells on August 29, 2011. The Cubs play three more games against their intracity rivals before either team can claim bragging rights for capturing the Crosstown Classic.
Series 16 Preview: Cubs at Reds
The Cubs will see Reds ace Johnny Cueto on Sunday. (Photo by Andy Marlin/Getty Images)
The Cubs go from pitcher’s environment to hitter’s paradise as they head to Cincinnati for a three-game set. GM Walt Jocketty finally addressed an area this offseason that has plagued the Reds for years: the leadoff spot. And, boy, did he ever. Center fielder Shin-Soo Choo has put up a monstrous .300/.449/.535 (AVG/OBP/SLG) slash line with nine home runs in 45 games. That’s a far cry from the sub-.300 on-base percentage days of Corey Patterson, Willy Taveras and Drew Stubbs—even if Choo is better suited to a corner outfield spot. He is exactly the type of player the Reds need as they look to capture their third division title in four years.
HITTING 4.8 RS/G, 2nd in NL
It’s true that only Choo and other-worldly first baseman Joey Votto get on base with any consistency, but it’s been at such a great rate (roughly 47 percent of plate appearances combined) it’s allowed the team’s power to have maximum effect. Votto, of course, supplies plenty of pop, but so do second baseman Brandon Phillips, third baseman Todd Frazier and right fielder Jay Bruce—though impressively, it’s Choo who leads the team in home runs. On the defensive end, young shortstop Zack Cozart pairs up with Phillips to form one of the game’s best double-play tandems. And Votto has worked hard to become a good fielder at first. In the end, this is a lineup that does it all besides steal bases. It will be vital for Cubs pitchers to limit baserunners in order to mitigate any damage from home runs in Great American Ball Park.
PITCHING 3.6 RA/G, 5th in NL
The lineup gets the plaudits, but the pitching at least deserves a, “You’re not looking so bad yourself.” Every starting pitcher has an ERA below 3.50, from veteran Bronson Arroyo—who throws tonight—to the other four arms (all ages 27 and below). Some of the across-the-board improvements in the last few years could be credited to the defense, but there’s more to it than that. The Cubs will also see ace Johnny Cueto and Homer Bailey this weekend. Owner of a corkscrew windup and one of the game’s most deceptive change-ups, Cueto has continually refined his command to become a truly outstanding starting pitcher. The improved control has paid off in reduced walks and home runs, though he didn’t look his finest in last week’s return from oblique and back issues. Interestingly, he’s even spoken about reducing the twist in his motion if it would prevent future injuries. Once seen as a disappointment after being heralded as a top prospect, Bailey is another member of the pitching staff who has seen a downward trend in his walks—and he not only earned a no-hitter last year but also posted a career-best ERA. Flame-throwing lefty Aroldis Chapman is the closer, but rookie J.J. Hoover has also picked up a save or two.
—Sean Ahmed
