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Team Profile
Season Summary
- First Half: 32-39 (.452), 5th place, 8.0 behind
- Second Half: 39-29 (.574), 1st place, 1.0 ahead
- Pitching: 71-68, 3.97, 39 saves, 939 strikeouts
- Hitting: .255, 637 runs, 61 HR, 203 steals
- April: 9-12 (.429)
- May: 13-16 (.448)
- June: 15-12 (.556)
- July: 15-14 (.517)
- August: 15-12 (.556)
- September: 4-2 (.667)
- Playoff Round 1: Defeated Wisconsin, 2-1
- Playoff Round 2: Defeated Fort Wayne, 2-0
- Championship Series: Lost to West Michigan, 3-1
- Best Player on the Team: Catcher Mike Amrhein
- Best Starting Pitcher: Kyle Lohse (13-8, 3.22, 121 strikeouts)
- Bullpen Stopper: Thomas Waligora (0-4, 4.81, 18 saves, 32 strikeouts)
- Best Strikeout Pitcher: Chris Booker
- Best Control Pitcher: Chris Piersoll
- Best Hitter: Derrick Bly (.292, 64 runs, 4 HR, 65 RBI, 10 steals) or Mike Amrhein (.317, 61 runs, 9 HR, 87 RBI, 7 steals)
- Highest BA: Mike Amrhein (.317)
- Home Run Leader: Mike Amrhein (9)
- Best Baserunner: Felipe Jimenez (36 steals) or Jaisen Randolph (32 steals, 9 triples)
- Best Batting Eye: Tony Schrager
July Profile
As anticipated, the Cubbies returned to form for July. This team's best players are very, very good; they just don't have enough of those players.
Third baseman Derrick Bly is not a candidate for league MVP, but he's probably the best player in the next tier. Outfielder Jaisen Randolph would be a valued player on any MWL team, as would catcher Mike Amrhein. Most of the starting position players can help the team win; there's a wide range of skills in this lineup. Pitcher Mike Meyers hasn't appeared in many games, but looks to be the rotation's best, while closer Thomas Waligora shows fine stuff (I love it when my predictions hit). The starters are, in general, adequate; the bullpen's a mixed bag....
One more to watch: First baseman Carlos Yedo.
June Profile
While the Rockford team started the season as a mediocre bunch, at best, they've turned things around and developed into an presentable squad. There are some fine players on this squad, but there are gaping holes in the talent structure and their recent success seems unlikely to continue.
Third baseman Derrick Bly's the team's star; he's not especially fast, but he does everything well. Outfielder Jaisen Randolph is the team speedster; power sources include catcher Mike Amrhein and infielder Nelson Abreu. On the pitching side, several folks require mention: Closer Thomas Waligora has only a few appearances to his credit, but he's been real impressive so far. Todd Noel and Nate Teut are comparable talents, though Teut's been more successful this year. Noel gets more hype, though.
May Profile
The Cubbies' pitching is now around the league's average, and the hitting has collapsed almost completely; nonetheless, they played a tad better in May than April. Such is baseball....
Derrick Bly's having a terrific season, but Nelson Abreu's a more rounded and probably better hitter. Abreu's also by far the better prospect. Neither, though, is showing any power and neither runs much. Other players on the squad do run, with some success. The pitching's a mixed bag. Reliever Barry Fennell's doing very well, but likely isn't quite that good; starter Todd Noel, on the other hand, is a better pitcher than his record shows. Chris Piersoll gives up way too many hits, but half his outs are strikeouts; interesting numbers....
Chris Gissell got his promotion, by the way.
April Profile
This team's got terrific pitching and adequate hitting, but the pieces aren't falling together right. Todd Noel's a potential major league all-star, and returning players Chris Gissell and Derrick Bly are proving they should have been assigned to Daytona. Regardless, the team's losing....
Pre-Season Profile
Manager
Manager Ruben Amaro has managed in the minors for 6 years, in a variety of leagues. This will be his second MWL season. Amaro really likes to let his players run, and calls for bunts quite regularly.
Where they played last season
Many of the 1998 Cubbies position players appeared on the Williamsport roster last season; the pitchers, in contrast, played in a number of arenas.
Team League W/L Place Hitters Pitchers
(Teams)
Daytona Florida State (A) 65-73 10(14) 1 0
Rockford Midwest (A) 66-66 9(14) 6 3
Williamsport New York-Penn (A) 29-46 12(14) 10 6
Mesa Arizona (R) 34-20 1(6) 2 4
Two of the players were acquired from other systems since last summer, and one did not play professionally. Another spent last summer on the disabled list with an injury. One Cubbie made a brief excursion to AA ball last summer. The system had quite a bit of movement during 1997, and several players are counted under more than one team on the table.
This information is based on the opening-day roster.
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Oldest Player:
- Derrick Bly, 24 (9/19/74)
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Youngest Player:
- Jon Garland, 18 (9/27/79)
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Average Team Age:
- Pitchers: 20.3 [no birthdate for one pitcher]
- Position Players: 21.1
- Team Average: 20.8
First Round Draftees
- Jon Garland (1997; 10th pick) (traded; now with White Sox organization)
- Todd Noel (1996; 17th pick) (traded; now with Kane County)
Honors
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Mike Amrhein
- Midwest League Hitter of the Week for August 30-September 7
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Derrick Bly
- Midwest League Hitter of the Week for June 22-28
- 1998 Midwest League All-Star Game selection
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Todd Fereday
- 1997 Arizona League: All-Star third baseman
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Franklin Font
- 1998 Midwest League All-Star Game selection
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Jon Garland
- 1997 Arizona League: #3 prospect
- Baseball America 1997 Cubs Prospects: #4 prospect
- Baseball America 1997 Cubs Draft Analysis: hardest thrower drafted by the Cubs; 3rd closest to majors of all high school players in entire draft
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Chris Gissell
- Midwest League Pitcher of the Week for April 19-25
- Baseball America 1997 Cubs Prospects: #5 prospect
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Kyle Lohse
- Midwest League Pitcher of the Week for August 9-15
- Baseball America 1997 Cubs Prospects: #12 prospect
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Todd Noel
- 1997 Arizona League: #1 prospect, ERA champion, All-Star pitcher
- Baseball Weekly 1997 Cubs Prospects: "Up and Coming"
- Baseball America 1997 Cubs Prospects: #2 prospect
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Jaisen Randolph
- Baseball America 1997 Cubs Draft Analysis: 4th fastest runner in the entire draft, best athlete drafted by Cubs
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Jason Smith
- Baseball America 1997 Cubs Prospects: #6 prospect, best infield arm
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Shane Sullivan
- 1997 Arizona League: saves leader, All-Star relief pitcher
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