LAST ACTION: The Clinton LumberKings defeated the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 4-1 on Saturday night in Clinton. Aaron Pribanic allowed one run over 6-2/3 innings for the win. The loss was the sixth straight for the Timber Rattlers.
WHAT ABOUT SUNDAY? The final game of the series between the Rattlers and the LumberKings had been scheduled for Sunday. But, the game was rained out. The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Time Warner Cable Field when Clinton visits Grand Chute in May. The doubleheader has been scheduled for Sunday, May 17.
IT’S BEEN A WHILE: This is the latest into the season Wisconsin has gone without a game being postponed since the 2006 season. Last season, the very first game on the schedule, a road date at Quad Cities on April 3, was rained out and by this point of that season, there had already been six postponements. In 2007, the second game of the season, a home game with Peoria on April 6, was frozen out and by this point of that season there had been five postponements. In 2006, the first postponement was on April 29, a rainout of a home game with West Michigan.
BUSY OFF DAY: Wisconsin had a scheduled off day on Monday, but they did make two roster moves. Timber Rattler pitcher Dan Merklinger was placed on the disabled list retroactive to April 18. Pitcher Kris Dabrowiecki was promoted to Wisconsin from extended spring training in Arizona and is on the roster for tonight’s game.
MEET THE NEW GUY: Dabrowiecki was signed by Milwaukee as a non-drafted free agent on January 15, 2009. The native of Canada spent four seasons as a pitcher for Northeastern University. His first appearance as a Timber Rattler will be his professional debut.
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS: The Peoria Chiefs are the Midwest League affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. Last season, the Chiefs went 60-78 and missed the playoffs. First year manager Marty Pevey has his team off to a 5-4 start on the 2009 season. In their most recent series, the Chiefs dropped two out of three games at Quad Cities. The fourth game of that series was scheduled for Sunday, but was rained out.
COMPARE AND CONTRAST: The Timber Rattlers are hitting .189 as a team. They have scored 24 runs (2.7/game) and hit four home runs. The Chiefs are hitting .266 as a team. They have scored 37 runs (4.1/game) and hit four runs. Wisconsin pitchers have a team ERA of 2.96 while allowing a total of 34 runs (3.8/game). Peoria pitchers have a team ERA of 3.32 while allowing 34 runs (3.8/game). The Timber Rattler defense has committed 10 errors. The Chief defense has committed 17 errors. Wisconsin is 3-3 at home this season. Peoria is 1-2 on the road in 2009. League Hitting stats | League Pitching stats
PROSPECTING: Baseball America’s Prospect Handbook listed three current Chiefs on its Top 30 list of Chicago Cub prospects before the 2009 season. Third baseman Josh Vitters is rated at #1 on the list. Shortstop Ryan Flaherty is at #8. The Chiefs also have pitcher Chris Carpenter as the #18 prospect on the list.
OUT OF THE DRAFT 2008: The Cubs have placed 11 members of their 2008 draft class on the current Peoria roster. Flaherty was a supplemental first round pick in the ’08 draft. Pitchers Jeff Beliveau (18th), Carpenter (3rd), Erik Harmen (37th), Aaron Shafer (2nd), and Jason Whitlock (26th); catcher Luis Flores (7th); infielders Josh Harrison (6th), David Macias (19th), and Rebel Ridling (25th), and outfielder Anthony Campana (13th) were also 2008 draft picks.
FAMILIAR FACES: The Chiefs have 11 players on their current roster that played at least a part of the 2008 season with Peoria. Pitchers Alberto Cabrera, Kevin Kreier, Jose Pina, Shafer, and Whitlock, catchers Flores and Mario Mercedes; infielders Harrison, Ridling, and Vitters; and outfielders Cliff Andersen and Kyler Burke wore a Peoria uniform in 2008.
PEORIA STARTING PITCHER: RHP Aaron Shafer was the 3rd round pick of the Cubs in the 2008 draft. Shafer pitched collegiately at Wichita State University. In his final season with the Shockers, Shafer went 11-4 with a 3.26ERA and he led the Missouri Valley Conference in strikeouts with 110 while walking just 28. Shafer spent last his first professional season with stops in the Arizona League and the Northwest League. He made one appearance for the Mesa Cubs in the AZL before moving to the Boise Hawks of the NWL. In eight games (seven starts) Shafer was 2-2 with a 3.09ERA with 24 strikeouts and five walks. Shafer is 2-0 in two Midwest League starts for the Chiefs in 2009. In his last start, Shafer went seven innings and allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits with seven strikeouts for the win against Dayton on April 15. Shafer has never faced the Timber Rattlers and has never faced an affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers before tonight.
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