4/22/2009

April 22, 2009 Game Notes

A few changes from yesterday's. No links today. Sorry. Running a little late.

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.

AN UNPLANNED BREAK: The Timber Rattlers and Chiefs were rained out on Tuesday. Neither team has played since last Saturday. Wisconsin was rained out on Sunday in Clinton. Peoria was rained out Sunday at Quad Cities. Both teams also had Monday as a scheduled off day. Tuesday’s rainout will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Thursday.

IT’S BEEN A WHILE: This is the latest into the season Wisconsin has gone without a home game being postponed since the 2006 season. In 2007, the second home game of the season, a match with Peoria on April 6, was frozen out. In 2008, the second game of the season, a match with Clinton on April 8, was rained out. In 2006, the first home postponement was on April 29, a rainout of a game with West Michigan.

BUSY OFF DAY: Wisconsin made two roster moves on Monday. 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.

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 Chris Carpenter was the third round pick of the Cubs in the 2008 draft out of Kent State. Carpenter was the Mid-American Conference Pitcher of the Year as he went 6-2 with a 3.81ERA and a MAC leading 88 strikeouts. Carpenter started his pro career with a start against the Arizona League affiliate of the Oakland Athletics, but was moved up to Boise, Chicago’s Northwest League affiliate, after that game. Carpenter went 4-1 with a 4.22ERA in 10 games (six starts) for the Boise Hawks. He struck out 24 and walked 22 in 32 innings for the Hawks. Carpenter in making his third Midwest League start today. In his previous start for the Chiefs, Carpenter lost at Quad Cities on April 16. He allowed four runs (three earned) on two hits and five walks over four innings. Carpenter also struck out six in that game. Today is his first appearance against the Timber Rattlers and his first appearance against an affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers.

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