Minor Victory for Iowa Cubs in Shutout Loss

May 30, 2014 @ admin → No Comments

The Cubs had the day off Thursday. So did the White Sox. Fortunately, for those in search of some Chicago-centric baseball, there was some minor consolation. OK, maybe not fortunately if you happen to be a Cubs fan. Cable channel CBS Sports was televising its minor league game of the week: Iowa Cubs at Memphis Redbirds. A glimpse of the future sure resembled the big-league Cubs.

A photo of Shannon Ihrke is about as close as we come to covering hockey around here.

* The big-league Cubs lost a two-hit shutout Wednesday in San Francisco. The minor-league Cubs lost a one-hit shutout Thursday in Memphis. Redbirds left-hander Tim Cooney had his no-hitter broken up in the ninth inning with two outs when Arismendy Alcantara singled to left. Highly touted Cubs prospect Javy Baez ended the game by striking out. If that’s not Wrigley Field-ready, then I don’t know what is.

* If it’s any consolation to Cubs fans (and the guess here is that it probably is not), the Iowa Cubs have not been no-hit since 2002.

* Oh, look. Cubs prospect Kris Bryant hit another home run (No. 16) for Class AA Tennessee. Cooperstown beckons.

* If it’s any consolation to Cubs fans (and the guess here is that there might be a bit of that), Cardinals fans seem to hyperventilate over their team’s prospects at least as much as — if not more than — Cubs fans do over their team’s prospects.

* Speaking the Cardinals, their pitcher Carlos Martinez is a perfect example of the imperfect thinking that young players do nothing but improve. And you can add closer Trevor Rosenthal, too. Both played major roles in the Cardinals reaching the 2013 World Series. Both have been much more hittable in 2014. While both pitchers may have excellent careers, their efforts this season (the latest being a blown save and loss by Martinez on Thursday with Rosenthal giving up a run-scoring double after Martinez’s exit) are merely another example of players have ups and downs along the way. Of course, for Cubs prospects there generally seem more downs than ups.

* Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo is on pace to hit 25 homers and drive in 76 runs this season. He hit 23 and had 80 RBI in 2013. Another example of year-by-year improvement for a young player.

* With Emilio Bonifacio leading the Cubs in hitting at .273 and Starlin Castro second at .272, it’s possible the Cubs could finish the season without any player on the team hitter better than .270. Don’t even ask about any Cubs having 30 home runs or 100 RBI this season.

* Former Bulls and Los Angeles Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro reportedly is a candidate for the Minnesota Timberwolves job. Why? Well, maybe he can tell some really interesting stories about Clippers owner Donald Sterling. You mean there might be another reason to hire him?

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