On The Farm: Smokies Get Some Help

Thursday Sept. 9, 2010
Posted: 12:10 p.m.

By Kevin Czerwinski
CSNChicago.com

CUBSTennessee AA
The Smokies will receive some reinforcements just in time for Thursdays Southern League playoff opener against West Tenn. Tennessee added four players to the roster that clearly strengthen the team and could have significant impact on the outcome of the series.

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Chris Carpenter was brought back from Triple-A Iowa and will start Game Two of the series. He was 8-6 with a 3.16 ERA before getting bumped up to Iowa.

Lefty reliever Luke Sommer was also brought back from Iowa for a second stint with Tennessee. Sommer began the year in Daytona and went 1-1 with a 2.52 ERA and six saves before getting the bump up to the Southern League. He was 1-1 with a 2.02 ERA and eight saves, earning a spot on the Southern Leagues mid-season All-Star team before he was promoted to Iowa. Sommer was 1-0 with a 4.05 ERA in seven games for the I-Cubs, who were eliminated from playoff contention on the last day of the regular season.

Catcher Robinson Chirinos, who returns from Iowa, could have the biggest impact of the group. He hit .318 with 15 homers and 64 RBIs in 77 games for the Smokies, earning spots on both the mid- and post-season all-star teams in the Southern League. He then hit .364 with three homers and 10 RBIs for Iowa.

Finally, infielder DJ LeMahieu hit .314 with 73 RBIs for Daytona, which was also eliminated from playoff contention on the final weekend of the Florida State Leagues regular season.