Iowa Cubs 2015 Wrap-up
I share quite a bit of Iowa Cubs info here as they are the local minor league team. The Cubs have taken one of the best minor league organizations and turned into a playoff contender. This meant I got to see some talented players play downtown (Kris Bryant, Kyle Schwarber, Anthony Rizzo). Because of the nature of the minors, talented players don't necessarily spend a lot of time in Triple A. Conversely, some of the stars in Triple A may end up little more than role players in the majors.
I saw three games since I last wrote about the team last. I also follow local coverage on radio and the Des Moines Register, so my insight comes largely from there, as well as my own observations.
Here are your 2015 I Cubs standouts as we move into 40 man rosters.
Mike Olt - 1B/3B- Olt gave some solid performances as a starter for Iowa. He has since been waived and picked up by the White Sox. While unlikely a major star (at one point, he was a top prospect in the Rangers organization), his dependability is often given as a reason for his high potential as a major league role player
Javy Baez - SS- Baez was supposed to be a big star like Kris Bryant but injuries seem to have slowed him down. Baez did well in Iowa when he was not injured. He was often talked about as trade bait, as the Chicago Cubs seem to have a glut of talent on the left side of the infield. Still, the Cubs GM said he likes to keep the best players and find positions for them, instead of dealing off good players who play positions that are already called for.
Taylor Teagarden- C - Dependable veteran catcher, played some games with the Mets
Rafael Davis C- Played with the Chicago Cubs last year, splitting duties with Teagarden
John Andreoli- CF- Outfielder with a lot of speed
Mike Baxter, Adron Chambers- OF - experienced minor leaguers and solid role players in Iowa
Christian Villanueva- 3B- despite playing the same position as Kris Bryant, Villanueva is one of the top prospects in the organization, and was a solid hitter for the Cubs
Chris Valaika- 1B- Valaika is an older player so may not have a lot of upside, but I have heard that he has done a great leadership role in getting people like Baez and Bryant ready for the big leagues
Games:
August 12- Iowa 3, Nashville 1- Dallas Beeler, who has spent some time in Chicago, though not very successfully- gave up only one run in 6 2/3 innings. Relievers (and possible future stars) Joe Ortiz and Bryan Schlitter helped with the hold and save. Arismendy Alcantara hit a homer, and baez a triple to power the Cubs.
August 29 (game 1 of Doubleheader) Iowa 5, Sacramento 1- Eric Jokisch (like Beeler, a heralded prospect who could break into Chicago's rotation of the future) went seven innings giving up five hits and only one run. Olt hit a home run, had 3 hits and 2 RBIs while Villanueva had 2 RBIs, Alcantara 1
August 29 (game 2 of Doubleheader) Iowa 2, Sacramento 1- This one went 12 innings with Teagarden, Villanuvea, and Baxter having multiple hits. Former Major League reliever Rafael Soriano gave up the lone run.
I saw three games since I last wrote about the team last. I also follow local coverage on radio and the Des Moines Register, so my insight comes largely from there, as well as my own observations.
Here are your 2015 I Cubs standouts as we move into 40 man rosters.
Mike Olt - 1B/3B- Olt gave some solid performances as a starter for Iowa. He has since been waived and picked up by the White Sox. While unlikely a major star (at one point, he was a top prospect in the Rangers organization), his dependability is often given as a reason for his high potential as a major league role player
Javy Baez - SS- Baez was supposed to be a big star like Kris Bryant but injuries seem to have slowed him down. Baez did well in Iowa when he was not injured. He was often talked about as trade bait, as the Chicago Cubs seem to have a glut of talent on the left side of the infield. Still, the Cubs GM said he likes to keep the best players and find positions for them, instead of dealing off good players who play positions that are already called for.
Taylor Teagarden- C - Dependable veteran catcher, played some games with the Mets
Rafael Davis C- Played with the Chicago Cubs last year, splitting duties with Teagarden
John Andreoli- CF- Outfielder with a lot of speed
Mike Baxter, Adron Chambers- OF - experienced minor leaguers and solid role players in Iowa
Christian Villanueva- 3B- despite playing the same position as Kris Bryant, Villanueva is one of the top prospects in the organization, and was a solid hitter for the Cubs
Chris Valaika- 1B- Valaika is an older player so may not have a lot of upside, but I have heard that he has done a great leadership role in getting people like Baez and Bryant ready for the big leagues
Games:
August 12- Iowa 3, Nashville 1- Dallas Beeler, who has spent some time in Chicago, though not very successfully- gave up only one run in 6 2/3 innings. Relievers (and possible future stars) Joe Ortiz and Bryan Schlitter helped with the hold and save. Arismendy Alcantara hit a homer, and baez a triple to power the Cubs.
August 29 (game 1 of Doubleheader) Iowa 5, Sacramento 1- Eric Jokisch (like Beeler, a heralded prospect who could break into Chicago's rotation of the future) went seven innings giving up five hits and only one run. Olt hit a home run, had 3 hits and 2 RBIs while Villanueva had 2 RBIs, Alcantara 1
August 29 (game 2 of Doubleheader) Iowa 2, Sacramento 1- This one went 12 innings with Teagarden, Villanuvea, and Baxter having multiple hits. Former Major League reliever Rafael Soriano gave up the lone run.