Editor's Notes: Sorry about my inconsistency life and its daily responsibilities have a way of getting front of best laid plans.
That said the Cubs system is at the the mid-season evaluation point, (40% plus of the season mark). end of split season in the minor leagues, beginning of the rookier and short-season A-class ball and finally the draft. Where do the Cubs stand?

• Major league level they are fovering around 4-games over .500, surviving. Concievably the race in the division is already dormant and unless the Cubs play extended .650 plus ball they will not be able to catch the Cardinals. Yet they are within a game or so of the wild card race where pragmatically thinking their chances are good.
  Derrick Lee continues in his quest for an historic hall-of-fame-like triple-crown performance batting .390 with 20 HR's and 60-RBI's. Projecting Lee over the remaining 93 games puts him at 47 HR's and 140 RBI's.


• Aramus Ramirez who was in a early season slump (batting .230 in mid-May) is now batting just under .300 (.296) and has 16 HR's and 42-RBI's. Ramirez projects out to 38 HR's and 100-RBI's.


• The other surprise is Jeremy Burnitz's seemingly consistent servicable offense out of RF where he is batting .288 , 12-HR's and 42-RBI's. He projects out to 28-HR's and 100-RBI's.


• Walker seems to have recovered from his knee injury batting .306 but his power has been diminished.


• Barrett is one of the best offenive catchers with batting .281, 8 HR's and 33 RBI's. He projects out to 20-HR's and 77-RBI's.


• Perez is a godscend at SS replacing Nomar's offense with better defense.


• The problem is LF & CF. Leftfield has been a disaster in what is usually a team's power hitting offense. Dubois has shown promise hitting the occassional HR (6) but batting .250 and 21-RBI's is not championship caliber. His platoon mate Todd Hollandsworth has been (as expected) no better even though he has recovered from disasterous early season slump. On the whole the mark of scoring 26 runs while driving in 42 from this position is why the Cubs are not ten games above .500.


• Now Corey Patterson, when you take a long look at the Cubs Patterson was the pivot point where the Cubs hoped the offense and defense would revolve around his speed and talent. Patterson has not developed and in fact mentally has regressed. Next year is his final year before free agency. Behind the scenes the Cubs appear to have an even more talented young CF (21 year old Felix Pie). Pie probably would benefit from one more campaign in the minors so the question is "what is to be done?" Patterson is batting .255 (.290-OBP and .701-OPS), with 10 solo HR's and 22-RBI's and only 33 runs scored. He is the reason why the Cubs are not competing with the Cardinals even with all the pitching injuries. Patterson must go.


• Pitching is the organization's strength except that injury has been endemic. Today it was stated that Mark Prior was going to return from his freak injury on Sunday while it is expected that Wood was going to return soon thereafter. This would reclaim the regular starting rotation of Zambrano, Maddux, Prior, Wood and the 5th TBD. Published reports state that Jerome Williams (RHP, 23-year old acquired from SF) is the slated 5th starter. This would mean that RHP Sergio Mitre and LHP Glendon Rusch would be reassigned. Ruscb is need in the bullpen as a swing-starter/long-relief /LOOGY. With Prior and Wood returning it will be expected that the Cubs will need long relievers for a while.


• The Cubs are going to qualify for the playoffs based on the effectiveness of their starting pitching over the last 93 games, they have to win 54 games or .600 ball, minimum. To be a true world series contender they need to find a true lead off hitter (preferably in CF) and a real .850 OPS in left field.

Minor Leagues tomorrow

Editors Notes: Again I have to apologize for my lack of consistency, my health is a concern so I am not always capable of updating my blog regularly. That said; Cubs made an interesting move this week calling up Rich Hill the 25 year old LHP from Iowa. Talking about a rapid rise Hill was not invited to the major league training camp in the spring and now is on the 25-man roster! He replaced the cup of coffee server John Koronka who started two games barely seeing the 5th inning in both games. At this point it is unknown what is Hill's role in that he has been a starter along but all reports indicate he may be a LOOGY out of the bullpen (LOOGY is the baseball term meaning Lefty-One-Out-GuY). In that he is a strikeout guy this might be a pitcher the Cubs have been searching for.

Other developments; Todd Hollandsworth appears to have earned his starting platoon role back over the last ten games batting near .400 and driving the ball as well. There are many internet commentators who are screaming over this turn of events because of Jason Dubois' status but so what, production in the last time at bat is baseball.

What does this insinuate regarding the big picture? Hendry is a GM who is one that is nothing else but thorough, seeking to constantly improve on the current roster with one eye on the future. He also possesses a keen sense of being a stable-master knowing what is real talent and what is hypeful-hopefuls. He also knows the value of a rich pitching oriented system. This year's draft is more of a reload than anything. He also was very keen on making sure all his high school draftees were sign-able.

Here is what his actions are indicating:

• Outfield will be the focus of this year's midseason trading as the middle infield was last yearr's focus. There is far to much smoke regarding Patterson as to ignore and in reality his value will only diminish with each passing day. Therefore I think Patterson will be traded in a blockbuster deal like A-Gonz was last year.
  


• Leftfield could be part of or an adjunct to the CF deal as Patterson could be traded for a big name LF where then Dubois & package could be traded for a servicable CF.
  


• Mitre is the pivot player in the starting pitching staff. Is he a starter that will take the Cubs through July after Wood returns and up to Prior's return? If he is then the Cubs would be able to move Rusch back to the swing position and bolster a continously shakey relief core?
  


• Borowski and Remlinger: Joe needs to go back and further rehab his shoulder while Remlinger might be looking at a retirement. Does this mean that the Cubs might call up Van Buren, Williams or Aardsma?
  


• Does the drafting of 25 pitchers, many who are college level push the system by elevating some Lansing players to Daytona, a few Daytona arms to West Tenn thus making a few West Tenn players available for a mid-season trade? Top prospects for trade bait; Nolasco, Pignatiello, Ryu, & Koronka. Remember Cubs have  

Editor's notes: This website was down for over 24 hours and I apoligize. Below is the list of 51 draft selections by the Cubs, 25 pitchers and 26 position players. My research through the first 18 rounds was that the Cubs chose big fastballers. They also maitained the pattern of selecting the breath of their prospects from collegiate ranks, (30) while also supplementing the remainder from JUCO ranks (10) and then finally (11) deliberate choices directly out of high school.

Editor's notes: This website was down for over 24 hours and I apoligize. Below is the list of 51 draft selections by the Cubs, 25 pitchers and 26 position players. My research through the first 18 rounds was that the Cubs chose big fastballers. They also maitained the pattern of selecting the breath of their prospects from collegiate ranks, (30) while also supplementing the remainder from JUCO ranks (10) and then finally (11) deliberate choices directly out of high school.

2005 Day One Cub's Selections 

1st round, 20th pick: Mark Pawelek, lhp, Springville H.S., Utah
2-68: Donald Veal, lhs, Pima C.C.
3-100: Mark Holliman, rhr, Mississippi
3-108: Michael Billek, rhs, Central Florida
4-130: Dylan Johnston, ss, Hamilton H.S., Chandler, Ariz.
5-160: Scott Taylor, rhs, Hermitage H.S., Glen Allen, Va.
6-190: Kyle Reynolds, ss, Baylor
7-220: David Taylor, lhs, Baylor
8-250: Dionisio Muyco, c, North Carolina State
9-280: Matthew Avery, rhs, Virginia
10-310: Joseph Simokaitis, ss, Nebraska
11-340: Michael Phelps, rhs, Central Missouri State
12-370: Yusuf Carter, c, El Paso CC
13-400: Brett Jackson, RHS, Modesto J.C.
14-430: Tyler Graham, of, Oregon State
15-460: Roger Evenson, rhs, Northwest Nazarene
16-490: Jon Mueller, rhs, Minnesota
17-520: Brandon Taylor, 3b, Brigham Young
18-550: Victor Liriano, rf, El Paso C.C.

"I want to sign," said the shortstop and recent Chandler Hamilton graduate about five minutes after the Chicago Cubs drafted him in the fourth round of the major league draft Tuesday. "This has been a dream of mine since I was a little kid."

RHP Scott Taylor of Hermitage (Va.) High School was selected in the fifth round, is a Virginia Commonwealth recruit, although he stated yesterday:

The 6^th and 7^th round found the Cubs select two Baylor U. drafting SS-1B Kyle Reynolds and LHP David Taylor. Reynolds had a .270-BA in his 55 games recording 8-HR’s along with driving in 33 RBIs, David Taylor who is a senior came away with a 7-5 W/L (3.43-ERA) in 17 games. Last year the Cubs like Taylor drafting him in the 20^th round. Reynolds, who started each of Baylor's first 55 games this season at first base before suffering a broken thumb, was previously a 50^th-round selection of Arizona D-backs coming out of high school in 2001. Then Taylor was drafted 2^nd round by the Rockies out of high school in 2001 before the Cubs last year. You can see his entire profile at this link: David Taylor is a good middle of the rotation college pitcher and his link give his background

The RHP Matthew Avery, another big future Cub hurler being 6’-5" and 230 lbs. His record was 6-5 W/L (4.34-ERA ) where he struck out 71 in 85-IP. A link to his college article is here.

The Cubs then selected U of Nebraska shortstop Joe Simokaitis, who batted .300 and recording 16 stolen bases, as the Cornhuskers were 54-13 this year where they are facing Miami this weekend in the NCAA tournament. The 3-time All-Big 12 shortstop where he is a four-year starter holding who school and conference records for career assists (676), this year establishing a school-record of 202 assists. This year This spring committed just eight errors in 285 chances where he had a stretch of 159 straight chances without an error earlier this season. His college bio is here:

In the 12th round, the Cubs selected their second catcher, Yusuf Carter out of El Paso Community College. Carter batted .354 with 13-HR, 7-3B, 10-2B, 68-RBI’s. You can access his picture here:

The Cubs then selected their first outfielder in Tyler Graham of Oregon State in the 14^th round. Graham, who switched from shortstop to the outfield last season, hit .319 for Oregon State this year. You can access his bio here:

Coming into the close of the first day the Cubs selected two more right-handed pitchers; Roger Evenson of Northwest Nazarene College in the 15th round. Evenson, is 6-4, 235-lbs and is (7-6, 4.09-ERA in 112-IP striking out 116 while walking 29, going 20-30 overall in his career. In an interview with Idaho Statesman

In the 16^th round the Cubs chose Jon Mueller of Minnesota in the 16^th has a 90 mph fastball. His bio can be found here:

All told of 19 players chosen by the Cubs yesterday they selected 12 college players, 4 junior college players and three high schoolers.

Editors Notes: Cubs drafted the number one rated high school pitcher LHP Mark Pawelek out of Utah. Pawelek is the state strikeout leader in Utah, and went 8-0 this year. He did not allow an earned run over 51 innings and struck out 109.  Mark Pawelek was 26-2 his first three years at Springville with a state-record 341 strikeouts. His fastball has been clocked at 94-95 mph.

In an article from Baseball America they describe Pawelek in this snippet: 

"He has everything you want," a National League scout said. "Fastball velocity, movement, control, he controls his secondary pitches and they're big league potential pitches."

Pawelek separates himself from other high school pitchers by sustaining his velocity deep into outings. In his last start, he never threw a fastball below 91 mph and, according to scouts, has touched 95 mph this season and hasn't thrown a fastball below 90 in four outings.

His mechanics need cleaning up but his arm works well when he maintains a consistent arm slot. 

"I think the mechanics are raw but they're not hurting him," the scout said. "It depends on how you look at him. The arm's quick enough, he gets out in front and he gets good extension and the stuff in between isn't bothering him.

"That's probably his only real flaw, if there is one."

He complements his fastball with a good curveball, a developing changeup and also mixes in a split-finger fastball, a pitch he says he picked up by watching Roger Clemens demonstrate it on a FOX telecast one summer afternoon.

Pawelek's repertoire helped him to a 3-0 record in four appearances with 49 strikeouts and six walks in 24 innings. He had surrendered three hits and one unearned run, though he had hit four batters. "I like to keep people off the plate," he said with a benign chuckle.

First-Class Character

Southpaws with mid-90s heat and a good feel for pitching can't be found on just any street corner, which makes Pawelek one of the 2005 draft's top commodities. But his personality is every bit as unique as his package of tools.

News about RHP David Aardsma (the recent acquisition from S.F.) where it is reported that he will be returning to the bullpen as soon as he perfects his stuff. here is a quote from Scout.com

"The key is to work on my breaking ball and get it tightened up," Aardsma said. "I had pretty good success last year at Triple-A out of the bullpen. I like coming into the game and closing it out..."

...And so it appears that Aardsma is slowly getting used to being a member of the Cub farm system. In two starts, he is 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA, eight walks, and seven strikeouts.

"There is still a lot of stuff going on," Aardsma admits. "I still have a car in Fresno. It feels like one long road trip right now. It's going to hit me soon. I just want to be a part of the Cubs' organization."

Editor's Notes: The Major League level Chicago Cubs (30-25) are in the midst of a bona fide 180-degree season turnaround finishing their first West Coast trip of 2005, (6-1), best trip in almost 34 years, that is 1971 for Cub historians. In the present summer time span they have stormed to their longest winning streak in the Baker era, seven, (7) and have won nine of their last ten (9-10). The turnaround is more apparent when you realize that they have won 17 out of their last 25 (.680 ball) when they were 11-14 (.440) in their previous 25. (They were 2-3 out of the gate in the first week of the season.) It will be interesting to see how the next 25 games pan as the schedule pits them against the Blue Jays, Red Sox, Marlins, Yankees, Brewers (2), White Sox (rematch), and Nationals (who are now in first place). They have thirty-two games before the All Star break and if they can gain two-to-four-to-six games above the .500 mark, (17-15, 18-14 or 19-13) over that span they will have put themselves in position to compete for a playoff spot.

Kerry Wood received some positive press this week where it was admitted that he was adjusting his faulty mechanics relieving the stress on his ailing shoulder. As of now he is throwing long tosses and off the mound in a re-hab regimen. Next up are some simulated game sessions and then another minor league rehab assignment. Reasonably he will not be pitching a game in the big leagues for at least 21 more days at the earliest, (June 28^th against Milwaukee or July 1^st against the Nationals). That is four starts that either Mitre or Koronka will have supplemented he and Prior).

AAA Prospect Watching
Newly acquired RHP Jerome Williams (1-0) recorded his first win in his second start as an I-Cub, getting six innings completed and only allowing two runs with three hits allowed while also striking out three batters.
Stat line: (1-0) 2-GS, 3.00-ERA, 12-IP, 7-K, 3-BB

SS Ronny Cedeno extended his hitting streak to six games and continues to hit exceedingly well with a .391 batting average and has hit in 12 of his last 13 games (20-46, .435). The 22 year-old is now being groomed as next year’s starting shortstop where it is quietly being stated to beat writers that Cubs are projecting to moving this year’s shortstop major league surprise (Neifi Perez) from SS to 2B.
Stat Line: 32-G, 115-AB, .391-BA, 18-R, 45-H, 6-2B, 0-3B, 5-HR, 14-HR,.441-OBP, 1.061-OPS

2B Mike Fontenot the 24 year-old has hit in six of his last eight games (10-32, .313) and is now playing all three positions on the infield being prepared for a utility role on the big leagues.
Stat Line: 37-G, 127-AB, .285-BA, 22-R, 26-H, 9-2B, 4-3B, 4-HR, 19-RBI, .388-OBP, .900-OPS

OF David Kelton the 25-year old hit homers in back-to-back (#’s 6 & 7) over the weekend. Before last Friday night when he was 2-4 he had just two hits in his last 23 (.087) and did not have any extra-base hits since May 24. Kelton tallied his 30 RBI in his first 34 games.
Stat Line: 53-G, 210-AB, .286-BA, 26-R, 60-H, 15-2B, 1-3B, 7-HR, 36-RBI, .327-OBP .794-OPS

LHP Rich Hill pitches tonight.

AA Prospect Watching:
The vaunted Diamond Jaxx fell out of first place this weekend when they lost a series to (1-3) to the North Caroline Mudcats. Jim Hendry was down in Jackson Tenn scouting the organization’s minor league crown jewel as the Cubs traveled to California. The beat writer was able to talk with Hendry on the Diamond Jaxx . Overall he said that

''We knew this would be a very good club coming out of spring training...They're good kids and quality prospects, ...but he's not thrilled with the idea of breaking up the Jaxx just yet. We've got guys hurt like Mark Prior and Nomar Garciaparra - you don't just replace guys like that with kids from Double-A,. These guys are very good, but I'd like to see them get as many at-bats as they can down here and have a good summer, instead of rushing them." Hendry highly praised outfielders Felix Pie and Matt Murton.

Felix Pie is the most coveted player in the Cubs farm system, Will Carroll, from Baseball Prospectus described Pie as the next Michael Jordan of baseball. It is interesting what Hendry said about Pie; ''He's going to be a solid major league player for years. He plays the game hard and makes everybody around him better. It was also noted that Pie’s 45-K’s in 209-AB’s is disconcerting where Pie needs more development.
Stat Line: 52-G, 209-AB, .306-BA, 38-R, 64-H, 16-2B, 3-3B, 11-HR, 24-RBI, .357-OBP.926-OPS

OF Matt Murton has raised so many eyebrows in baseball that some scouts are worried to trade with Hendry anymore as it appears he has stolen MVP candidate Derrick Lee from Florida and last year’s club MVP Aramus Ramirez from Pittsburgh a year earlier. Now Murton still leads the (AA) in hitting. ''We liked Matt when he was with the Red Sox, and now he's even better than we imagined,’ ''Murton was key in that deal for Garciaparra. If we hadn't gotten Matt, we wouldn't have done the deal.''
Stat Line: 53-G, 212-AB, .373-BA, 32-R, 79-H, 12-2B, 3-3B, 5-HR, 32-RBI, .439-OBP .967-OPS

RHP 23- year-old David Aardsma, temporarily is in the starting rotation, only allowed two runs on five hits over six innings in his last game yesterday. Aardsma was acquired from SF Giants for LaTroy Hawkins will be moved back to a closer role after he gets more innings in and more work on his mechanics.
Stat Line: (1-0) 2.45-ERA, 2-GS, 11-IP, 8-BB, 7-K

RHP Ricky Nolasco still is tied for the lead the AA Southern League with wins (6-0and the second-lowest ERA (2.08). Unfortunately Nolasco lasted only four innings and gave up five earned runs on 10 hits against the Tennessee Smokies last week.
Stat Line: (6-0) 2.64-ERA, 11-GS 64.2-IP, 19-BB, 69-K’s

1B Brandon Sing still leads the league with a .616 slugging percentage through 50 games, although once a week he attempting to play an outfield spot to make him more versatile in the major leagues. Brandon is 6’4" and finally filling out his frame but remains quite athletic.
Stat Line: 51-G, 172-AB, .302-BA, 35-R, 52-H, 18-2B, 0-3B, 12-HR, 37-RBI, .425-OBP, 1.041-OPS

Other notes; IF Richard Lewis (.188-BA in 40-G in AAA) and LHP Renyel Pinto (1-2, 9.53-ERA in AAA), would rather have stuck in (AAA)Iowa but after struggling in early in Iowa, the two are now performing fine with the Jaxx. Lewis, (who was the 2004 Southern League MVP), is 5-for-9 in four games. Pinto who last year had a stellar season with the Jaxx, has been lights out, with a 1-0 record and a 1.71-ERA in five games.

Advanced A: Prospect Watching:
Daytona (26-26) RHP Sean Marshall (4-3) tossed a seven-inning complete game in game one but picked up the loss in his first complete game since May 11 of last year It is interesting to note that left-handed hitters have still yet to score on him this season in 12 2/3 innings.

The More foreboding is the offense of Brian Dopirak whose slide continues. He went a combined 0-for-5 in this past Saturday's doubleheader, his batting average falling to .235. More curious is that 29 of his 46 hits have come bases empty. Even more scary is that Dopirak is batting just .191 with runners on base and .087 (2-for-23) with runners in scoring position with 2 outs.

On a positive note J.J. Johnson is red-hot (8-for-11 in his last 4 games) now batting a season-best .296. Johnson was the D-Cubs' top hitter in May with a .323 average for May. 2002 Detroit first round pick, Scott Moore also continued his hot hitting, going 3-for-6 and stealing his 11th base. Previously he had 5 career stolen bases when in the Tiger organization.

A-ball Prospect Watching
Peoria Chiefs are also at the .500 mark (28-28) RHP Lee Gwaltney (4-1) made it two straight starts without an earned run, allowing just two hits over seven innings. He now has a 1.49 ERA over his last four starts. OF Bo Flowers (266-BA) leads the team with 45 strikeouts is off to a 5-for-13 start. His strikeouts are significant where he has whiffed at least once in each of his last seven games, and 15 of his last 16 overall.

Editors Notes:  Cubs extended their win streak to seven, most in Dusty Baker's Era, pushing the Cubs to 4 games over .500 and only 5 1/2 games behind St. Louis and 1 1/2 games behind the wild card leader (AZ). More over they Cubs are 8-2 over their last 10 and 15-6 since starting out 1-7 in May. That my friends is a turnaround. LHP Glendon Rusch (4-1; 1.96-ERA) is the epiphany of the scrap heap revival! Speaking of starting left-handed pitchers the last time the Cubs had back-to-back sins by starting southpaws was way back in the time machine, 7/22-23/87 when Steve Trout and Jamie Moyer recorded victories. Derrick Lee only leads the majors in runs scored, runs batted in, hits, home runs, batting average on base average, slugging average, and total bases.

With Koronka, Mitre and Dubois now becoming instrumental on this team it shows the importance of an effective minor league system. As of today the Cubs organization lead the baseball world with a 112-100 overall record. This is something to watch and a big change since earlier era's.

AAA Prospects  Iowa is a place where players either refine their MLB level readiness or are parked for insurance oragnaizational depth purposes.

Prospects who are preparing  

#1) SS Ronny Cedeno (22 yrs. old),  he already spent a few weeks in late April to mid May appearing in 10 games, 16-AB's (3 as a starter) where he batted .313, 1-HR, 5-H, 2-RBI's. Cedeno has the best infield arm, with great range and glove. He impressed everyone in spring training and the only thing in his way is Neifi Perez's surprising resurgence at SS.
Stats: .385-BA, 28-G, 100-AB's, 16-R's 38-H's, 5-2B's, 5-HR's, 13-RBI's

#2)2B-IF Mike Fontenot (25 yrs. old next week), also has spent a few stints on the 25-man roster filling in when Walker went down. Acquired in the Sammy Sosa trade Fontenot is a left-handed bat, appeared in 7 games, although only 2-AB's, scoring 4-runs on 0-hits, 2-BB (go figure). Fontenot has good speed and now is playing multiple infield positions so he could accend in a utility capacity.
Stats: .285-BA, 33-G, 111-AB's, 17-R, 33-H, 7-2B's 4-3B's, 4-HR, 19-RBI's

#3) RHP Jon Leicester (26 yrs. old), Jon who spent most of last year in middle relief last year, pitching effectively has not stuck this year as Wuertz and Wellemeyer have passed him by. Leicester has a good stock of a 93+mph four seam fastball and slider (in relief) and a change when starting. His role is really a 'swing man' meaning long-relief, spot start and occasional middle relief. This year his stats aren't good, (0-2, 9.00-ERA)
Stat line: 0-1, 3.46-ERA, 4-G, 3-GS, 13-IP, 9-K, 7-BB

#4 LHP Raul Valdez (27 yrs. old) a refugeee from Cuba, by way of Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, Valdez had to try five times to leave the Cuban National team. His break through occurred last winter where he impressed Cub scouts before incurring a non-throwing arm injury in late February. He started out in (AA) before promoted on May 9th. Valdez's big pitch is a nasty change that he uses in all situations, he also has a fair fastball, slider and curve.
AA Stat:   2-0, 5.09-ERA, 5-GS, 5-G, 23-IP, 18-K, 3-BB
AAA Stat: 3-1, 3.38-ERA, 5-GS, 4-G, 24-IP, 20-K, 7-BB

#5) LHP Rich Hill (25 yrs old), Rich has accended rapidly this year after showing pretty well in Advanced-A lst year and then dominating (AA) early on in April and May in West Tenn. He leads the minors with 104 K's. He has the systems best big tight curve ball, that he couples with a 90-92 MPH four seam fastball and a developing "cutter". Control was historically his trouble but this year that appears to be solved. Hill is next in line if Mitre or Kornonka falter or are traded.
AA Stat:   4-3, 3.28-ERA, 10-GS, 10-G, 57.-IP, 90-K, 21-BB
AAA Stat: 0-1, 5.01-ERA, 1-GS, 1-G, 6.2-IP, 14-K, 2-BB

Other than that Iowa Cubs have OF's Ben Grieve and Dave Kelton who are out of options who could fill in during emergencies or major roster moves. Kelton (25 yrs. old) and the last player cut in spring continues to lead most of the offense batting .284, 4-HR.s, 32-RBI's, 15-2B's. The other player is 1B Jim Huffpauir (25-yr. old) the big left-hander who is batting .292, 2-HR, 2-2B, 3-3B's and 3B Cody Ransom, CF Trinidad Hubbard, C Geovany Soto, 3B Scott McClain and LHP Russ Rohlicek. Except maybe for Grieve & Kelton they all appear to be AAA 1/2 level players

got to go will try to finish later today!

Editor notes: Last night Cub fans witnessed the debut of two Cub left handed pitchers, something probably as unique as back-to-back contending seasons. Left-handed Cub pitchers are few and far between, I can recall but a few starting with: Ken Holtzman who actually blossomed in Oakland, Steve Trout and Jamie Moyer. Please tell me more for my memory is short in this regards.

John Koronka last 5 innings facing a faltering LA Dodger team. After starting out 12-2 this year the Dodgers are now a game sitting on .500 losing 10 games to the mark over the last 30 days or so. Koronka pitched as I expected, nibbling and a fiddling forcing many a batter to dribble until they adjusted the second and third time through the lineup. Koronka is expected to start again in Wrigley against Toronto.

The other dubut was 25 yr. old Rich Hill, another left-handed pitcher who hurled almost 7-innings and striking out an amazing 14 for (AAA) Iowa. That is 14 out of the 20 outs he recorded, that is 70%. All told he has recorded 54% of his outs in 64.1-IP this year.  Rich Hill leads the minors with 104 K's, (90 in AA) with the systems best curve ball, alongside a "cutter" and four-seam 90-92 mph fastball. The lanky tall (6'4" 185 lbs) former U of MI hurler is catching the eye of everyone in the MLB futures world.

Editor's Notes:  Here is background on John Koronka  tonights starting pitcher for the Cubs.

Koroncka is 6'1", 185 lbs., 24 yrs. old (turning 25 July 3rd), originally drafted in the 12th round by Cincinnati way back in the last century when he was just seventeen years old and pitching for high school in Clearwater Fla. He was acquired by Texas in the winger of 2003-'03 as a Rule V draftee but then returned to the Reds after he posted a 6.75 ERA in those five spring-training appearances.. The Cubs acquired him last August in a minor league swap of left handers, (Phil Norton) who sipped a few cups of MLB coffee with the Reds and now is back with the Iowa Cubs.

Koroncka has not been impressive this year, (the same going for most of the AAA team outside the performances of Cedeno, Fontenot and Kelton), compiling a (4-5) W/L, 4.73-ERA. 10-G, 9-GS, (53.3-IP), where he allowed just over a hit an inning (56-H), giving up 29 runs, (28-ER), with 21-BB and 37-K's.

Koronka's scouting reports states that he has a good changeup and a high-80s fastball, but his fate will be determined on whether he has developed an effective breaking ball.” 

In short he is constantly in trouble, a nibbler who has pretty good control. The Dodgers are not a great hitting team so the Cubs might get 5 innings out of him before the major leagurers start hitting him the 3rd time around. It is good that RHP's Zambrano and Wuertz 1-hit the Dodgers last night pitching nine innings yesterday. By-the-way RHP Dempster recorded his 6 (out of 7) save last night.

Newly acquired RHP Jerome Williams pitched for Iowa last night where he showed well hurling a solid game, going six innings giving up two runs by scattering seven hits and striking out four before being lifted in a tied game. The I-Cubs bullpen then allowed seven runs (6 attributed to Dailey) over the next two innings.  SS Ronny Cedeno continued in his hot hitting going 2-4, (1-R) now batting .380 in 26-G and 92-AB's. 2B Mike Fontenot was 0-3, he is batting (.291).