Game Preview: Charlotte Stone Crabs VS Daytona Cubs

Tonight, I will be attending a minor league baseball game in Florida! Although Everything Cubs readers are probably not going, I will provide you with a game preview to give you more information about the Cubs' Class-A affiliate.

Match Up
Charlotte Stone Crabs (Rays' Class-A) VS Daytona Cubs
First Pitch: 4:35 PM CT
Location: Charlotte Sports Park
League: Florida State League (Class-A Advanced)

About Charlotte Sports Park
The stadium is the home of the Tampa Bay Rays during Spring Training. It was built in 1988 but underwent major renovations before the 2009 season. The spring of '09 was the first time the Rays called Charlotte Sports Park their Spring Training home. The Stone Crabs also started playing there in the summer in '09, so it's just their second season at this ballpark. It served as the spring home of the Rangers from 1988 to 2001. Then, Charlotte Sports Park was without a tenant until 2007, when the Charlotte County Redfish of the independent South Coast League, spent just one season there.

D-Cubs Season to Date
The Cubs season has been up and down so far. They went just 34-36 in the first half for a fifth place finish out of six teams. However, since the standings reset at the midway point the D-Cubs have played better with a 12-10 record to bring them up to .500 on the season. Daytona is in third place, just two games out of first in the North. They dropped three of four at home against Fort Myers in a series that wrapped up yesterday.

Stone Crabs Season to Date
The Stone Crabs won the FSL South in the first half with a record of 43-26. They have already clinched a spot in the postseason, so they're not too concerned with their 9-14 start to the second half, which puts them in fifth. The Stone Crabs are in a losing streak of their own, dropping three in a row in Brevard County Thursday-Saturday.

Daytona Players to Watch
Michael Brenly is the D-Cubs starting catcher and has a .298 batting average. DJ LeMahieu, Rebel Ridling, and Kyler Burke are among the other big boppers for Daytona. LeMahieu is an infielder who played shortstop for LSU in the College World Series. After a great season a year ago, Burke has had a down 2010 at the plate. Ridling, a first baseman is heating up and leads the club in homers with 9.

Charlotte Players to Watch
Stephen Vogt has been terrific at the dish this year. He's mostly used as the DH and is hitting .341. Also keep an eye on third baseman Greg Sexton and catcher Matt Spring.

D-Cubs Starting Pitcher: Dae-Eun Rhee, RHP
Rhee has a 2-9 record but his ERA is decent at 4.46. This will be his 18th start (19th appearance). Rhee, who's from South Korea, is 21 years old. He pitched for Mesa and Boise last season.

Stone Crabs Starting Pitcher: Shane Dyer, RHP
Dyer has made 11 starts since being promoted from the Midwest League, where he start the season. He has a record of 4-6 with a 3.31 ERA with Charlotte. A sixth round pick in 2008, Shane was the FSL Pitcher of the Week for the week of June 7.

Radio Broadcast
Locally in Daytona on 1340 AM and on www.daytonacubs.com.

Up Next
This is the first of a four game series between the two clubs. The set will continue tomorrow night at 6:05 CT.

The Down on the Farm Report 7/3/10

With all my other writings on the Cubs system, I haven't had much of a chance to update this site on Cubs prospects yet this season. Now that the present isn't looking so great, it's a perfect time to look to the future! If you are not aware yet, I tweet about the Cubs minor league system. Go to www.twitter.com/cubsfarmupdates. Also, I write a Down on the Farm Report twice a week (Mondays and Thursdays) over at www.ChicagoCubsOnline.com.

Now let's get into how the future Cubs are doing, level by level.

AAA-Iowa Cubs
Overall Record: 43-37
Place in Division: 3rd, 0.5 GB of first
Leading Hitter: Matt Camp, .302
HR Leader: Jason Dubois, 11
RBI Leader: Micah Hoffpauir, 54
Best OBP: Bobby Scales, .389
Best ERA: Thomas Diamond, 2.53
Best WHIP: Jay Jackson, 1.10
Most Wins: Casey Coleman, 7
Most Ks: Thomas Diamond, 87
Saves Leader: Brian Schlitter, 12- promoted to MLB
AAA-All Stars (July 14): Pitcher Thomas Diamond and SS Darwin Barney
Futures Game: Manager Ryne Sandberg will serve as a coach for the World Team

AA-Tennessee Smokies
Overall Record: 48-32
First Half Finish: First Place, clinched playoff birth
Second Half Record: 6-5
Place in division: 2nd, 1 GB
Leading Hitter: Tony Campana, .321
HR Leader: Russ Canzer/Ty Wright (promoted to AAA), 10
RBI Leader: Ty Wright, 51- promoted to AAA
Best OBP: Blake Lalli, .383
Best ERA: Hung-Wen Chen, 2.96
Best WHIP: Austin Bibens-Dirkx, 1.01
Wins Leader: Hung-Wen Chen, 8
Ks Leader: Craig Muschko, 8
Saves Leader: David Cales, 10
Southern League All-Star (July 12) Starters: Blake Lalli, Robinson Chirinos, and Tony Campana
Southern League All-Star Reserves: Steve Clevenger, Ty Wright (replaced on roster, callup)
Southern League All-Star Pitchers: Austin Bibens-Dirkx, Hung-Wen Chen, David Cales, and Ryan Butcher
MLB Futures Game: Outfielder Brett Jackson will play for U.S. team, manager Bill Dancy will be a coach for team U.S.A.

Class-A Advanced Daytona Cubs
Overall Record: 39-40
First Half Finish: 5th, 7 GB
Second Half Record: 5-4
Place in Division: Tied for 2nd, 2 GB
Leading Hitter: Brett Jackson, .316 promoted to AA-Tennessee
HR Leader: Brett Jackson, 6
RBI Leader: DJ LeMahieu, 51
Best OBP: Brett Jackson, .420
Best ERA: Chris Archer, 2.86
Best WHIP: Chris Rusin, 1.07
Win Leader: Chris Archer, 7
K Leader: Chris Archer, 82
Saves Leader: Luke Sommer, 6
FSL All-Stars: (played in the game on June 12): Jackson, Rafael Dolis, Aaron Shafer

Class-A Peoria Chiefs
Overall Record: 41-36
First Half Finish: 3rd, 5.5 GB
Second Half Record: 3-5
Place in Division: Tied for 6th, 3 GB
Leading Hitter: Greg Rohan, .290
HR Leader: Justin Bour, 8
RBI Leader: Greg Rohan, 50
Best OBP: Matt Cerda, .370
Best ERA: Su-Min Jung, 3.74
Best WHIP: Jeffry Antigua, 1.37
Wins Leader: Trey McNutt/Rob Whitenack, 6
Ks Leader: Try McNutt, 70 promoted to Daytona
Saves Leader: Jordan Latham, 10
Midwest League All-Stars (June 22): Hak-Ju Lee, Logan Watkins, Matt Cerda, & Trey McNutt
Futures Game (July 11): Hak-Ju Lee, World Team

Updates from this year's draft picks, the Boise Hawks, and the Mesa Cubs next time!