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View Full Version : Let's check in on the Iowa farm....


ryno4ever
Apr 6th 2008, 10:49 am
In Iowa:

It took 13 hours for the Iowa Cubs and Round Rock to split a Pacific Coast League doubleheader Saturday afternoon (and night) at Principal Park.

Jake Fox keyed a four-run second inning with a two-run homer as the Cubs won the 1 p.m. opener 4-3. Round Rock scored nine runs in the seventh inning while winning the 7 p.m. nightcap 16-8.

An announced crowd of 9,703 watched the first day-night doubleheader in at least 25 years in Des Moines - 4,655 Saturday afternoon, then 5,048 during the evening, including the Lorenzens, who sat in the front row behind the Cubs' dugout - for both games.


"We saw the good, the bad and the ugly," said Gary Lorenzen, who was still in his seat when the short-of-pitching Cubs were forced to switch Luis Figueroa from third to the mound in the eighth inning of the second game.

Gary's wife, Ruth, used a blanket to keep warm during the nightcap.

"Games like this are OK," she said. "It'd be better if it was a little warmer, though."

The teams combined for 41 hits, including seven home runs during the day. Iowa's Eric Patterson singled and doubled in the first game, then tripled and homered in the nightcap.

As for Fox, he just followed his plan.

"I felt jumpy Friday; I didn't see a lot of pitches, so I told myself to take the first pitch (Saturday) regardless where it was, just to see what it looked like so I could get my timing and rhythm down," Fox said. "He threw a ball, then another ball, and I knew that he had to come to me with a fastball.

"I put a good swing on it, and it went a good ways."

Fox's first hit of the season landed far beyond the fence in center field. He combined for 24 homers last season at double-A Tennessee (18) and Iowa (six).

"My goal every year is to hit more than I hit the year before," Fox said.

Iowa manager Pat Listach thinks Fox can be a home run force in the league.

"He's as strong as they come," Listach said. "That homer he hit was a long one. He's always in swing mode. He can definitely contend for the league lead

Bockstock
Apr 7th 2008, 9:40 am
Are you planning on going to Rhee's second start this week???

From all i've read about him, he sounds like he's the real deal. I read he is also the yougest cubs prospect to start the season at Low A since....dum dum dum dum.....Greg Maddux

He was already rated decently high (#15-20???) in the Cubs system before he even threw an official pitch in the states.

ryno4ever
Apr 7th 2008, 9:39 pm
We may go down on Saturday night, if it is warmer out. I wouldn't mind a day game, but it's so cold at night yet.....

ryno4ever
Apr 7th 2008, 9:45 pm
Position: P
Date of Birth: 03/23/1989
Height: 6' 2" Weight: 195 lbs
Bats: L
Throws: R
Resides: Seoul, South Korea

Biography:

He did not pitch in pro ball last year but was impressive in the instructional league. Rhee's fastball has been clocked in the 90-94 MPH range with a good curveball, excellent control and changeup. Baseball America described his changeup as more like a splitter that "dives at the plate." When Rhee made his second Instructs appearance in four days, he threw a 1-2-3 inning (4-3, F-9, 3-U) on just nine pitches and wowed the scouts with his outstanding control and off-the-table splitter mixed with a 90 MPH two-seamer with movement.