What has happened since Wednesday?

I tried to think of a clever title for this post, but in the end I decided to keep it simple. The fact is I haven't posted anything in depth since Wednesday when I left for my mountain vacation. There is quite a lot to be excited about in the Cubs' minor league system, so without further ado, here are your Monday morning bullets:

• Ryan Harvey may finally be turning his season around. Yesterday, in a Daytona double-header Harvey went 4-7 with 2 HRs and 8 RBIs, and he is now hitting .223 on the year with 12 HRs and 57 RBIs. Look at the last number there, despite Harvey only hitting .223 and K'ing at an alarming rate, he still has 57 RBIs in only 78 games.
  
• Keeping along the lines of players turning their seasons around, Felix Pie has started to hit the ball since the all-star break. Pie had his average up to .263 before yesterday's 0-8 performance in Iowa's 17 inning win.
• After Rich Hill's PCL MVP in the AAA All-Star game, Hill made his first start yesterday, getting the no decision in Iowa's extra inning win. Hill went 8 IP, giving up 7 hits, 3 ER, 1 BB, and striking out 14. After I initially suspected Hill would be recalled after Zambrano's all-star injury and Prior's DL assignment, it now appears that both will be OK for the start of the 2nd half of the season. Look for Hill to get the call when and if Maddux is traded. Otherwise, Hill may rot in the minors until rosters are expanded in September.
• It has been annouced, Jeff Samardzija will make only 3 more starts before returning to Notre Dame for practice. Look for Samardzija to make his final start for Boise today, and then two more starts in Peoria.
• Tyler Colvin is now turning it on for Boise, and seems to finally be adjusting to the wood bats. Colvin has now raised his numbers to 246/329/369 and has 2 HRs and 11 RBIs in 17 games. He is also 3-3 in stolen bases and a 8/15 BB/K ratio, which is OK.
• Just as he or she did for the Iowa Cubs, poster Romero at BleedCubbieBlue has posted an analysis on the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx pitchers and position players, which is worth checking out.

Notes: Sean Gallagher gets a mention in Baseball America's Ask BA this week, here is the question, check out BA for the answer:

Sean Gallagher is 8-2, 2.39 combined between high Class A Daytona and Double-A West Tenn, and he isn't getting much hype. Do you see him developing into a front-of-the-rotation starter, or more of a No. 4 or 5?

Justin Montminy
Aurora, Ill.

Also, in the same article, BA notes who would have made the Futures Game Rosters if the format was AL vs NL as opposed to the World vs the US, and Sean Gallagher is noted as a pitcher for the NL if the format would have been changed.