Brian Dopirak

Chicago Cubs Top 20 Review

1. Brian Dopirak: .239/.282/.384 for Class A Daytona, with a 8/25 BB/K ratio in 138 at-bats. He's cut down on his strikeouts, but his production is down across the board.
   
2. Felix Pie: .355/.404/.638 at Double-A West Tennessee, with 13 steals. Looks like a breakout season, putting his tools together.    
   
3. Billy Petrick: 1-3, 4.50 in 7 starts for Daytona, 22/15 K/BB in 32 innings. Mediocre performance, he is capable of better than this.  
   
4. Angel Guzman: Still struggling with shoulder problems.
   
5. Reynel Pinto: Recently demoted to Double-A after poor performance in Triple-A, due to command problems.  
   
6. Jason Dubois: Slugging .574 for the Cubs, albeit in limited action.
   
7. Bobby Brownlie: 5.59 ERA with 23/16 K/BB in 37 innings for Triple-A Iowa. Looked very bad when I saw him back in April.  
   
8. Carlos Marmol: 4-1, 3.02 in 8 starts for Daytona, with a 42/22 K/BB in 45 innings. Doing just fine.  
   
9. Ryan Harvey: .280/.344/.500 for Class A Peoria. Good power so far, plate discipline still shaky (5 walks, 25 strikeouts in 82 at-bats).    
   
10. Sean Marshall: 2-1, 1.85 in 6 starts for Daytona, 31/11 K/BB in 34 innings. Pitching well.  
    
11. Matt Murton: .403/.481/.590 in 36 games for Double-A West Tennessee. Excellent performance, showing sound strike zone judgment.    
    
12. Ricky Nolasco: 2.06 ERA, 6-0 record in 8 starts in Double-A, 48/14 K/BB in 48 innings. Doing well, destined for Triple-A soon.    
    
13. Mark Reed: Horrible start at Peoria, (.135 in 14 games), now at extended spring training.
    
14. Grant Johnson: Extended spring training.  
    
15. Matt Craig: hitting .280/.344/.488 for Double-A West Tennessee.    
    
16. Brandon Sing: Hitting .342/.467/.739, 10 homers for Double-A West Tennesee. Fine performance.  
    
17. Bear Bay: Traded to the Indians, is 4-1, 2.63 for Class A Kinston.
    
18. Jermaine Van Buren: 2.55 ERA, 22/11 K/BB in 18 innings for Triple-A Iowa. Has had some bouts of shaky control but still in line for a middle relief job.      
    
19. Jon Connolly: Made 1 start on April 10th in Double-A, but hasn't pitched since.      
    
20. Richard Lewis: Very disappointing, hitting .203/.288/.254 through 37 games at Triple-A Iowa.

Keep an Eye On: Sean Gallagher, 4-1, 0.37 with a  55/10 K/BB in 49 innings, 20 hits allowed, for Class A Peoria. A 12th round pick from a Florida high school last year, Gallagher made my 2005 book as a Grade C prospect, albeit with a "sleeper" notation. I'd say he has woken up.