Giant Bats Quiet Cubs at Fitch Park

Tommy Joseph cracked a two-run home run to lead the Giants to a 12-1 drubbing of the Cubs in AZ Instructional League action at Fitch Park Field #1 in Mesa this afternoon. (Field #3 remains unplayable in the aftermath of the torrential rain and flash flood that hit Mesa Tuesday afternoon).

18-year old Korean bonus baby Jin-Yeong Kim got the start for the Cubs today, and was “lights out” through the first two innings, retiring the side in order in both innings, and striking out the side in the 2nd. But the youngster hit a wall in the top of the 3rd, walking the lead-off hitter on four pitches before allowing two singles and a double that ended his day. Kim also suffered some type of right leg injury while backing up 3rd base just before he was relieved, and was last seen limping to the Cubs bench before getting a ride to the clubhouse on a golf cart. Whether it was a groin, quad, knee, or ankle, I don’t know, but I have a feeling we have seen the last of Kim until next March.

2B Logan Watkins had to leave the game after colliding with RF Xavier Batista while going after a pop fly in short right in the top of the 5th. Watkins initially remained in the game and he did take his AB in the bottom of the inning, but then he was sent to the clubhouse for further evaluation. Hopefully he did not sustain a concussion, but it was a fairly violent collision (X. Batista is a big dude), and Watkins did lay motionless for a few seconds afterward.

Because Marco Hernandez and Gioskar Amaya had morning workouts and were not dressed for the game, and with Pin-Chieh Chen out with a rib injury and Wes Darvill having been sent home, 3B Willson Contreras was moved over to 2B for the final four innings. A converted catcher, Contreras had not previously played 2B in his pro career, but he handled his only two chances flawlessly.

Here is today’s abridged box score (Cubs players only):

1a. Evan Crawford, RF: 2-3 (1B, 5-3, 3B, R)
1b. Engel Santana, C: 0-1 (4-3)
2. Hak-Ju Lee, SS: 1-2 (BB, 1B, 4-3, RBI, SB)
3. Sergio Burruel, C-DH: 0-1 (4-6-3 GIDP, BB, BB)
4. Justin Bour, 1B: 0-3 (F-7, 6-4-3 GIDP, 6-4-3 GIDP)
5. Xavier Batista, DH-RF: 0-3 (F-9, K, P-3)
6a. Logan Watkins, 2B: 0-2 (4-3, 4-3)
6b. Dustin Geiger, 3B: 0-1 (F-9)
7. Micah Gibbs, DH #2: 0-3 (4-3, 3-U, K)
8. Reggie Golden, CF: 1-3 (P-4, 1B, K, CS)
9. Chris Huseby, LF: 0-3 (K, F-9, K)
10a. Willson Contreras, 3B-2B: 0-2 (6-3, L-7)

1. Jin-Yeong Kim: 2.0 IP, 3 H, 4 R (4 ER), 1 BB, 3 K, 37 pitches (27 strikes), 1/2 GO/FO
2. Jhon Rodriguez: 2.2 IP, 5 H, 4 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 2 HBP, 1 WP, 1 GIDP, 46 pitches (30 strikes), 6/1 GO/FO
3. Tarlandus Mitchell: 2.1 IP, 0 H, 1 R (1 ER), 3 BB, 2 K, 1 WP, 1 BALK, 43 pitches (23 strikes), 5/0 GO/FO
4. Ryan Hartman: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 11 pitches (8 strikes), 1/0 GO/FO
5. Amaury Paulino: 1.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HR, 1 GIDP, 21 pitches (14 strikes), 2/0 GO/FO

2B Logan Watkins E-4 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base and unearned run to score from 2nd base)


ATTENDANCE: 16 (mostly scouts)

WEATHER: Sunny and a bit breezy with temperatures in the 80’s


Phil - Was Darvil sent home for any special reason other than it was time to go home?

Submitted by DavidP on Thu, 10/07/2010 - 7:32pm.


DAVID P: Wes Darvill was sent home from Instructs and directed to come back later in the off season to begin an enhanced Strength & Conditioing Program. This same program has helped both Tyler Colvin and Brandon Guyer improve their strength in the past.

The problem with Darvill is that he makes all the plays at SS but just doesn't have a SS arm. The Cubs have an arm strengthening program that helped Colvin and Guyer improve their arm strength to where they now can play RF, and it is hoped a similar improvement can be realized by Darvill that will allow him to remain at SS.

Also, Darvill has the body-type that should generate some power, but he has proven to be just a singles hitter so far. By adding some muscle it is hoped he can develop some XBH & HR power (as happened with both Colvin and Guyer).

Darvill already has a patient approach at the plate (he takes a lot of walks).

tim lincecum

he's pretty good at baseball.

Not a bad pitcher.


Drafted by Cubs in 2003 - did not sign


That Stockstill sure sucked as a talent evaluator!

Under Stockstill we had 4 first round choices in 2002, 10 choices in the first four rounds and only Rich Hill ever made the majors. The only other draft picks that year to make the majors was Adam Greenburg for an AB or two and Randy Wells, drafted as a catcher. I realize that drafting isn't an exact science but this must be a near record for ineptitude.

" . . . Adam Greenb[e]rg for an AB or two."

One pitch, not technically an AB. Nor did he ever touch first. That's what makes AG Destiny's fool.

Not that I'm disputing your point. But you left out

Billy Petrick (3rd), Micah Hoffpauir (13th), and Rocky Cherry (14th).

I stand corrected. Kind of forgot that Petrick and Cherry ever made the ML roster and overlooked Micah.

that draft for the cubs was given a pretty universal slam-dunk thumbs up...some people thought the cubs might/should take john mayberry over brownlie, though.

injuries happened to all the pitchers, but they snagged a nice collection with great stuff/upside.

brownlie started off nice, but ran into injury...hagerty pretty much injured himself right off the bat and was never the same...blasko was cruising until his injuries...clanton i think came pre-injured and barely started his career before retiring (he blames the cubs for ruining him, though...whatever)

Have you seen that windup? It's junk. He'll never amount to anything.

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