The Cub Reporter (TCR) | A Chicago Cubs Blog

Bogaerts Knows How to Whistle, Blows Out Three-Run Blast at Fitch Park

Arizona Phil — Sat, 26 May 2012 20:34:56 +0000

Jair Bogaerts crushed a 420-ft HR over the CF fence to cap a four-run 5th inning and James Pugliese (four innings of one-hit shutout ball with five strikeouts) and three relievers combined to throw a three-hit shutout, as one squad of Cubs blanked one squad of Giants 4-0 on Field #2, and Javier Baez and Jeimer Candelario each doubled and drove-in two runs, Dong-Yub Kim doubled and tripled and scored two runs, Brian Inoa doubled and tripled and knocked-in two runs, and Wilson Contreras belted a solo HR, but Stephen Yarrow blasted a solo home run and Hector Mercedes hammered a three-run shot to propel the other squad of Giants to victory over the other squad of Cubs by a score of 11-9 on Field #3, in a Memorial Day Weekend Cactus League Extended Spring Training doubleheader extravaganza played this morning at Fitch Park in Mesa, AZ.

Both games were seven-inning affairs.

Jair Bogaerts was the PTBNL in (what turned-out to be) the rather convoluted Theo Epstein compensation trade that saw the Cubs send RHRPs Chris Carpenter and Aaron Kurcz to the BoSox, and is the brother of Boston's #2 rated prospect, SS Xander Bogaerts. But unlike his brother, Jair is a big dude (6'2 240+) who could be Rock Shoulders' twin brother, a lumbering corner INF who has played mostly 3B (and none too well, either) since joining the Cubs, while hitting 189/302/243 with only two XBH (both doubles) and just one RBI through 17 EXST games (43 PA) coming into today's action.

Meanwhile over on Fitch Park Field #1, five Cub pitchers (Bryce Shafer, Amaury Paulino, Roderik Pichardo, Loiger Padron, and Ramon Garcia) threw an early-morning four-inning “sim” game prior to the EXST twin-bill.

In EXST Cubs roster news, RHP Felix Pena and OF Yasiel Balaguert have been promoted to Peoria, and RHP Rob Whitenack (June 2011 TJS rehab) has been moved-up to Daytona.

Cubs VP of Player Personnel Oneri Fleita has been at Fitch Park all week, getting a first-hand look at the Cubs Extended Spring Training squad, so it probably didn’t hurt Balaguert’s cause that he went 5-7 with a HR and five RBI in EXST games this past Monday and Wednesday. He was hitting 338/384/492 in 23 EXST games (73 PA). Some of you may remember that the 19-year old Balaguert as one of two Cuban defectors signed by the Cubs last December 7th (RHP Carlos Martinez was the other one).

The solidly-built Balaguert has played mostly RF and LF at EXST (he has a decent arm but doesnt have the range to play CF), and shows occasional power but with a body & a swing that should produce home runs at a more substantial rate as he matures. He was a teammate of highly-regarded Cuban OF prospect Jorge Soler on the Cuban Junior National Team.

RHP Felix Pena put up a 5.68 ERA and 1.21 WHIP with 6/11 BB/K in 19.0 IP (10 games) at Extended Spring Training prior to getting the call-up to Peoria.

Fleita also had a chance to watch Rob Whitenack throw “lights out” at Maryvale on Tuesday, when the right-hander tossed six innings of three hit ball at the Brewers, throwing 56 pitches (45 for strikes)

Here are the abridged box scores from the two EXST games played at Fitch Park today (Cubs players only):

FIELD #2

CUBS SQUAD “A” LINEUP:
1. Trey Martin, CF: 0-3 (5-3, F-8, K)
2. Carlos Penalver, SS: 0-3 (L-6, F-8, K)
3. Eduardo Gonzalez, LF: 0-3 (K, E-6, F-9, SB)
4. Rock Shoulders, 1B: 1-2 (1B, K, BB)
5. Xavier Batista, RF: 0-2 (BB, L-7, F-7)
6. Dan Vogelbach, DH #1: 0-1 (K, BB, BB, R)
7. Danny Lockhart, 2B: 0-3 (P-6, 1-3, 6-3)
8. Wilfredo Petit, C-DH: 1-3 (4-3, 2B, K, R, RBI).
9a. SLOT WAS SKIPPED FIRST TIME THRU BATTING ORDER
9b. Justin Marra, C: 1-2 (1B, K, R, RBI)
10. Jair Bogaerts, 3B: 1-3 (F-8, HR, F-9, R, 3 RBI)
11. Trevor Gretzky, DH #3: 1-1 (BB, 1B, SB, CS)

CUBS SQUAD “A” PITCHERS:
1. James Pugliese: 4.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K, 1 GIDP, 54 pitches (34 strikes), 4/3 GO/FO
2. Brian Smith: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 PO, 13 pitches (7 strikes), 1/0 GO/FO
3. Ethan Elias: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K, 13 pitches (6 strikes), 3/0 GO/FO
4. Pete Levitt: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 20 pitches (15 strikes), 1/0 GO/FO

CUBS SQUAD “A” ERRORS: 1:
1B Rock Shoulders - E-3 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely)

CUBS SQUAD “A” CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Wilfredo Petit: 0-1 CS

FIELD #3

CUBS SQUAD “B” LINEUP:
1. Shawon Dunston Jr, CF: 2-4 (3B, 1B, P-4, 4-3, 2 R, RBI)
2. Gioskar Amaya, 2B: 1-3 (6-3, BB, K+WP, 1B, 3 R, RBI, 2 SB)
3. Javier Baez, SS: 1-4 (5-3, F-9, 5-3, 2B, 2 RBI, SB)
4. Jeimer Candelario, 3B: 1-3 (F-8, 2B, BB, K, 2 RBI)
5. Dustin Geiger, 1B: 1-4 (5-3, 5-3, 1B, P-6)
6. Kevin Encarnacion, RF: 0-2 (BB, 4-3, 4-3, CS)
7. Wilson Contreras, C: 1-3 (F-7, HR, K, R, RBI)
8. Garrett Schlecht, LF: 1-3 (2B, K, F-7, R)
9a. Neftali Rosario, DH #1: 0-0 (HBP)
9b. Dong-Yub Kim, PH-DH: 2-2 (2B, 3B, 2 R)
10a. SLOT WAS SKIPPED FIRST TIME THRU BATTING ORDER
10b. Brian Inoa, DH #2: 2-2 (3B, 2B, 2 RBI)

CUBS SQUAD “B” PITCHERS:
1. Jose Arias: 3.1 IP, 4 H, 5 R (4 ER), 2 BB, 3 K, 1 HBP, 1 HR, 63 pitches (43 strikes), 5/1 GO/FO
2. David Henrie: 2.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R (2 ER), 0 BB, 2 K, 1 HR, 25 pitches (20 strikes), 1/3 GO/FO
3. Ryan Hartman: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 7 pitches (5 strikes), 1/0 GO/FO
4. Carlos Martinez: 1.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R (3 ER), 0 BB, 2 K, 1 HBP, 1 HR, 23 pitches (14 strikes), 1/0 GO/FO

CUBS SQUAD “B” ERRORS: 2
1. SS Javier Baez - E-6 (throwing error allowed batter to reach base safely – eventually scored unearned run)
2. P David Henrie - E-1 (errant throw on what should have a 1-6 FC allowed runner to reach 2nd base safely – eventually scored unearned run)

CUBS SQUAD “B” OUTFIELD DEFENSE:
CF Shawon Dunston Jr - runner thrown out 8-4-2 trying to score from 1st base on a double

ATTENDANCE: 24

WEATHER: Sunny & breezy with temperatures in the 70’s

Metaphorically Speaking, What 2012 Represents: Rebuilding vs Deconstruction

Dr. Joseph Hecht — Sat, 26 May 2012 18:38:58 +0000

From the previous thread, I came upon Old and Blue's complaint that he hates the phrase, "rebuilding year".

It implies that there is some actual construction going on. So far, best as I can tell, the only brick laid down is a Rizzo block, and there are no guarantees with prospects. Shark has been a pleasant surprise, but no credit for TheoCorp there. He's been in the system for some time. I know I'm supposed to give this time, but so far, I'm pretty underwhelmed.

Hmmm. Maybe he's got something there. This made me think of a metaphor regarding the Foodie Fad of cooking deconstructed style. Yep, that's what Jedstein is using as their modus operandi.

They are deconstructing the Cubs:

More hits than runs
Good starting pitching without wins

Here is a working definition of what is going on (thanks to the Foodie Buddah.com site):

At heart, any deconstructed dish (ball club) should contain all the classic components found in the “original.” The difference is in the preparation. When creating a dish (ball club) utilizing deconstructive techniques, the ingredients (players) are essentially prepared and treated on their own. It is during the plating and presentation stages that everything is brought together.

Based on the Cubs puny offense of late, it is apparent that we are not at the "plating" stage, and far from the "presentation" stage. So to make my point just a little easier to swallow, you can choose which of the following deconstructed vs classic options you prefer. Just make sure there is enough alcohol content, 2012 Cubs watchers are going to need it.

...and I just wanted to give props to Tim Souers Cubby-Blue site. Awesome "Ryan Dempster Can't Get Any Support" pictures (Even Mrs. Dempster could use a little support in these trying times). Plus he tells a Metaphorical story (thanks, Charlie) that only a 10 game Cub losing streak could force out of him.

Professor Pentland and the Homer's Odyssey

Mike Wellman — Thu, 24 May 2012 12:12:17 +0000

Jeff Pentland played with Reggie Jackson and has tutored Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, Carlos Beltran and Matt Kemp, to name-drop just a few. He has advanced degrees in biomechanics. His playing days were on both sides of the chessboard; pitcher and hitter. What he doesn't know about the art/science of hitting may not be worth knowing.

No wonder the Dodgers fired him as their hitting coach last year.

It's not like there wasn't a precedent. But gurus like Pentland are never out of work any longer than they care to be. This year he signed on with the Seattle Mariners (again) as the hitting coach for their Triple A affiliate, Tacoma of the Pacific Çoast League. The Rainiers hit only .235 in April but this month they're banging away at a better than .300 clip and carrying a 13-game homer streak as Pentland settles in. He stepped away from the batting cage while the Rainiers are in Des Moines taking on the Iowa Cubs and talked with TCR.

Pentland said he's still occasionally in touch with Bonds but has no contact with Sosa. In fact, he parlayed his history with Bonds, dating to Arizona State where he coached while Bonds played, into a breakthrough with Kemp when Pentland was trying to establish a rapport after joining the Dodgers.

"I just mentioned something I'd once worked on with Barry," Pentland said. "Matt's eyes lit up. He said, 'You worked with him?' I had instant credibility." With Kemp maybe, but not enough with the Dodgers when the brass went looking for a scapegoat despite the breakout success of the latest Pentland protege.

Ask Pentland if any of his former star pupils got carried away with experiments in home remedies for slumps like brainiacs who cheat on exams without needing to and he gets circumspect. Inasmuch as he didn't blow any whistles when investigators interviewed him for a couple of hours during the compilation of the Mitchell Report it's no surprise that Pentland didn't confide anything while he sat and spat there in the confessional of the visitors' dugout at Sec Taylor Field. Whatever personal suspicions he may harbor are kept to himself.

"I didn't make judgments one way or another," he said when asked specifically about Sosa's power surge. "He was a grown man and I treated him that way." Read into that what you will.

Pentland joined the Cubs midseason in 1997. Over the following winter he had a heart-to-heart with Sosa, convincing him to swing easier to make more contact. The following summer Sosa and McGwire mugged Ruth and Maris in what's since become a dark alley of the record book.

"Sammy had very big, very strong hands," Pentland recalled. "He liked to use a bat that was thicker-handled than sluggers usually use." And lighter-barreled?

Pentland was gone from Chicago by the time Sosa's infamous corked bat incident occurred but he seems sympathetic about it, recalling that equipment used to come at Sosa in bunches during his seasons in the sixties.

"I used to check out his bats because he got 'em all the time from manufacturers and I never found one that was altered. You can tell a corked bat just by the sound the ball makes coming off of it," Pentland said, adding that if he'd found a suspicious weapon in Sosa's arsenal he would have pointed it out to him.

He brought up the juiced balls conspiracy theory during the discussion of enhanced performance.

"I remember George Brett at that time saying how the balls bounced twice as high as they used to," he said.

Pentland's been in the game for decades now. He says the same approach doesn't work for everybody and believes players are generally more sensitive than formerly due to the increased pressures that come along with increased paychecks. Besides PEDs and turbocharged gear, Pentland notes the modern player has tools at his disposal that are completely legit and equally accessible to pitchers and hitter alike.

"All of the videotape and the computerized spray charts and tendency data are so sophisticated now," he said. "You really have to take advantage of that stuff. I tell the guys here about guys I know in the big leagues that got there and stayed for 10-12 years, more by working hard than raw talent."

He may look and sound like just an ol' country batting coach spouting his accumulated wisdom like tobacco juice but it's more complicated than that. He's a biomechanic who tinkers under the hoods of living, breathing machines. Just picture him talking applied physics to Sammy Sosa and try to imagine how many bombs Einstein might have hit with a database, juiced balls, weight training and a good video tech backing him up.

Baseball might have been very, very good to him, too!

Cubs Win One on the Rocks

Arizona Phil — Wed, 23 May 2012 20:56:20 +0000

Yasiel Balaguert singled three times, drove-in a run, and scored another, Sergio Burruel reached base three times on two singles and a walk, scored one run, and knocked-in another, and Dong-Yub Kim doubled twice and scored two runs, leading the Cubs to a 6-4 victory over the Rockies in Cactus League Extended Spring Training action this morning at Fitch Park Field #3 in Mesa, AZ.

Here is the abridged box score from today’s game (Cubs players only):

CUBS LINEUP:
1. Shawon Dunston Jr, CF: 0-4 (K, F-8, F-9, 5-3)
2. Gioskar Amaya, 2B: 1-4 (E-4, F-8, L-8, 1B, R, 2 SB)
3. Javier Baez, SS: 1-4 (K, 1B, 5-3, F-9, R)
4. Yasiel Balaguert, RF: 3-4 (1B, 1B, 1B, F-7, R, RBI)
5. Dan Vogelbach, 1B: 1-4 (6-U FC, E-5, 2B, K, RBI)
6. Dong-Yub Kim, LF-DH: 2-4 (2B, K, F-9, 2B, 2 R)
7. Sergio Burruel, C-DH: 2-3 (P-6, 1B, BB, 1B, R)
8. Brian Inoa, DH #1: 1-3 (1B, L-1 DP, HBP, 4-6 FC, RBI)
9. Danny Lockhart, 3B: 2-3 (HBP, 1B, 1B, F-8, PO)
10. Justin Marra, DH-C: 0-3 (3-6 FC, BB, 6-3 DP, F-7)
11. Trevor Gretzky, DH-LF: 0-3 (6-3, 4-3, 3-1)

CUBS PITCHERS:
1. Tayler Scott: 3.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 3 K, 1 PO, 54 pitches (36 strikes), 2/2 GO/FO
2. David Henrie: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 13 pitches (11 strikes), 0/2 GO/FO
3. Felix Pena: 2.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 3 K, 32 pitches (21 strikes), 2/0 GO/FO
4. Alvido Jimenez: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 33 pitches (20 strikes), 2/1 GO/FO
5. Daniel Adrian: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 14 pitches (8 strikes)

CUBS ERRORS: 2
1. 1B Dan Vogelbach - E-3 (dropped pop fly in foul territory, extending AB)
2. 1B Dan Vogelbach - E-3 (missed catch on attempted pick-off at 1st base allowed baserunner to advance to 2nd base)

CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE
Sergio Burruel: 1-2 CS

CUBS OUTFIELD ASSISTS:
CF Shawon Dunston Jr - threw out batter 8-4 trying to stretch a single into a double

ATTENDANCE: 7

WEATHER: Sunny & breezy with temperatures in the 90's

Trey & Whitey Toast the Brew Crew

Arizona Phil — Tue, 22 May 2012 22:31:27 +0000

Trey Martin belted a bases-loaded triple and Kevin Encarnacion crushed a two-run triple to highlight a nine-run 3rd, Jeimer Candelario doubled twice, walked, and drove-in a run, and Rob Whitenack threw six strong innings, allowing one run (unearned) on three hits (all singles), with no walks and seven strikeouts, to help the Cubs cruise past the Brewers 12-1 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training action this morning at Maryvale Baseball Complex Field #7 (AKA “Paul Molitor Field”) in Phoenix, AZ.

The nine-run Cub 3rd lasted about 30 minutes and was unusual for an Extended Spring Training game because the opposing manager will usually stop the inning (“ROLL IT!”) before it can get that far. But the Brewers made a pitching change mid-inning, so the scoring continued unabated.

Trailing 1-0 after two innings of play, Trey Martin led-off the top of the 3rd by drawing a walk. Wilfredo Petit then bounced a chopper to the first baseman, who made an erant throw to 2nd atempting to force Martin. Kevin Encarnacion followed Petit and made the Brew Crew pay for the error, smashing a triple off the LF fence to drive-in Martin and Petit. Encarnacion scored on an Eduardo Gonzalez ground ball RBI single through the box, and then Gonzalez stole 2nd and scored when Carlos Penalver blooped an RBI double into short CF. Jeimer Candelario ripped an RBI double into the RF corner to plate Penalver, and Xavier Batista was hit by a pitch and Wilson Contreras reached base on an E-6 to load the bases, still with no outs. After Neftali Rosario struck out and Danny Lockhart bounced into a 3-2 FC at home, Trey Martin unloaded the biggest hit of the inning, a bases-clearing two-out three-run triple over the centerfielder’s head to make the score 8-1. Martin scored the 9th run of the inning on a WP a moment later, his second run scored in the inning.

Rob Whitenack was a strike-throwing machine today (56 pitches - 45 strikes), and when the Brewers did put a bat on the ball, they mostly beat ground balls into the dirt (8/3 GO/FO).

Rehabbing from June 2011 TJS, Whitenack has been outstanding so far at EXST:
0.64 ERA
0.75 WHIP
.196 Opp BA
73% GO
73% strikes
28.0 IP, 19 H, 4 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 26 K, 2 HBP, 1 HR, 2 GIDP

I doubt that "Whitey" will be staying down here much longer.

Here is the abridged box score from today’s game (Cubs players only):

CUBS LINEUP:
1a. Eduardo Gonzalez, LF: 2-3 (K, 1B, 1B, BB, R, RBI, SB)
1b. Garrett Schlecht, LF: 1-1 (2B, R)
2. Carlos Penalver, SS: 1-5 (6-3, 2B, F-9, F-9, K, R, RBI)
3a. Jeimer Candelario, 3B: 2-3 (2B, 2B, BB, F-9, RBI)
3b. Jair Bogaerts, 3B: 0-1 (E-5)
4a. Xavier Batista, 1B-DH: 0-2 (K, HBP, BB, K, R)
4b. SLOT WAS SKIPPED LAST TIME THRU BATTING ORDER
5a. SLOT WAS SKIPPED FIRST THREE TIMES THRU BATTING ORDER
5b. Trevor Gretzky, 1B: 0-2 (L-5, E-5)
6. Wilson Contreras, DH #1: 1-5 (6-3, E-6, K, 1B, 4-3, 2 R)
7. Neftali Rosario, DH-C: 1-5 (F-8, K, K, 2B, 4-3)
8. Danny Lockhart, 2B: 0-5 (4-3, 3-2 FC, 4-3, 3-1, F-8, R, RBI)
9. Trey Martin, CF: 1-4 (BB, 3B, K, K, F-9, 2 R, 3 RBI)
10. Wilfredo Petit, C-DH: 0-2 (FC, BB, 4-3, HBP, 2 R)
11. Kevin Encarnacion, RF: 1-3 (3B, HBP, 4-3, F-7, R, 2 RBI)

CUBS PITCHERS:
1. Rob Whitenack: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R (0 ER), 0 BB, 7 K, 2 HBP, 1 GIDP, 56 pitches (45 strikes), 8/3 GO/FO
2. Brian Smith: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 1 HBP, 1 PO, 13 pitches (8 strikes), 0/2 GO/FO
3. Matt Spencer: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 21 pitches (15 strikes), 0/1 GO/FO
4. Carlos Martinez: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 1 GIDP, 14 pitches (7 strikes), 2/1 GO/FO

CUBS ERRORS: 1
2B Danny Lockhart - E-4 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely – eventually scored unearned run)

ATTENDANCE: 6

WEATHER: Sunny, hot, and a bit breezy, with temperatures 100+

Rizzo Shoots & Scores!

Mike Wellman — Tue, 22 May 2012 20:48:01 +0000

Glad tidings from breezy Principal Park where the I-Cubs climbed all over the Tacoma Rainiers and snapped a four-game skid with an 18-8 slapstick win this afternoon. Anthony (Ratso) Rizzo (who else?) paced Iowa with a record-tying performance in support of Chris Volstad's first outing for the team.

Rizzo lined his 15th homer to the luxury seats in left-center on the first pitch in the bottom of the 2nd for the game's first run. 25 more would follow and Rizzo scored four of them to tie the club record of five in a game. He also drove in two of the others with a bases-loaded single. All told Rizzo had three hits and reached on two of the Rainiers' half dozen errors. The stands were full of field-tripping grade-schoolers, a random batch of whom could have acquitted themselves as professionally with their gloves as did the visitors.

Volstad? The highlight was striking out the side in the first, all swinging, with a single mixed in. I would estimate that 90% of his pitches registered between 89-91. He looks imposing on the mound but is not and seems to have little margin for error. In only one of his six frames did he retire the side in order. The top of the 3rd started out like it might be his designated poor one for the day when he walked the leadoff man on four pitches and then gave up a single. But he righted himself there, surrendering only a sacrifice fly as he retired the next three hitters. In the 6th he had two down with a man at first when he ran out of gas and was rocked for a homer, a single and a double before Luis Valbuena rescued him with a diving snag to end the uprising. In fairness, that sequence began with Iowa in front 16-1 and he was in a new city throwing to a new catcher against a new opponent.

Steve Clevenger started at DH today in a rehab assignment and batted twice before he was removed after three innings. He may have tweaked something frollicking around the bases and sliding home in the midst of the Tacoma fielding follies. Luckily Rizzo wasn't hurt while running more laps in a game than any I-Cub has since Roosevelt Brown at Omaha's venerable old Rosenblatt Stadium in the previous century.

Brett Jackson had the day off.

Angels Can't Even Contain Baez, Much Less Stop Him

Arizona Phil — Mon, 21 May 2012 21:34:05 +0000

Javier Baez drove-in six runs with a two-run HR and a grand slam, Yasiel Balaguert knocked-in four runs with a three-run home run and a sacrifice fly, Dong-Yub Kim drove-in two runs with an RBI single and a solo HR, and Wilson Contreras ripped a two-run double, leading the Cubs to a 14-4 demolition of the Angels in Cactus League Extended Spring Training action this morning at Fitch Park Field #3 in Mesa, AZ.

Both of Baez's home runs were hit 420+ feet over the right-centerfield fence, landing on Field #5 (the "half-field" infield located north of the clubhouse).

Baez now has eight home runs and 26 RBI in 24 EXST games, and he has saved his best work for games against the Angels. In six EXST games (24 AB) versus the Halos, Baez is hitting .468 with two doubles, a triple, five home runs and 16 RBI. Apparently he can do whatever he wants when he faces the Angels.

RHP Jose Arias got the start for the Cubs today and threw four innings (55 pitches), allowing two runs (only one earned) on four hits (all four singles) and a walk, with seven strikeouts. Arias now leads the EXST Cubs pitchers in strikeouts with 26 (in 21.0 IP)

While the Cubs were playing the Angels on Field #3, RHP Marcos Mateo (on the Cubs 60-day DL with a sore elbow), RHP Justin Berg (2011 TJS rehab), LHP Luis Villalba, RHP Loiger Padron, RHP Ramon Garcia (broken hand rehab), and RHP Ethan Elias threw a five-inning “sim” game on Field #2, facing Cubs players who were not in the lineup on Field #3. Mateo looks to be close to returning to full-scale game action, and a healthy Marcos Mateo could possibly help the beleaguered Chicago Cubs bullpen.

RHP Su-MIn Jung --who has been throwing in "sim" games for the past month while trying to resolve major control issues--got into a Cactus League EXST game for the first time since April 18th. Jung got only one out, and allowed two runs on a single, two walks, and two HBP (including one that hit an Angels hitter in the head, knocking him out of the game), before getting pulled out of the game after throwing 24 oitches (only nine strikes).

In EXST roster news, 1B Ryan Durrence has been released. Durrence was signed by the Cubs after the 2011 June draft as a Non-Drafted Free-Agent (NDFA) out of Bethune-Cookman, and he hit 247/314/406 with a team-leading three HR for the AZL Cubs in 2011. But he has struggled this year, hitting just .120 with no XBH in nine EXST games (26 PA). He was also blocked at 1B by Dan Vogelbach, Rock Shoulders, Ryan Cuneo, Paul Hoilman, Justin Bour, and Anthony Rizzo in the Cubs farm system, so he would have had to really light it up at Minor League Camp and Extended Spring Training to get any consideration for advancement.

Veteran LHRP Ryan Rowland-Smith (on the Iowa Cubs DL since April 19th with a sore back) has completed his EXST rehab and has returned to the I-Cubs. He threw in two EXST games (1.2 IP) last week and allowed no runs on one hit and a walk, with three strikeouts.

Also, Peoria Chiefs RF Reggie Golden (Cubs 2010 2nd round draft pick) has undergone season-ending surgery for a torn ACL. He injured his knee while running the bases in a MWL game last month. He will be out of action until Minor League Camp (Spring Training) 2013.

Cubs VP of Player Personnel Oneri Fleita was at the game today.

Here is the box score from today’s game (Cubs players only):

CUBS LINEUP:
1. Shawon Dunston Jr, CF: 2-4 (K, 4-3, 1B, 1B)
2. Gioskar Amaya, 2B: 1-2 (1B, BB, 6-4 FC, BB, 2 R)
3. Javier Baez, SS: 2-4 (6-4-3 DP, HR, HR, 7-4 FC, 2 R, 6 RBI)
4. Xavier Batista, LF-DH: 0-4 (6-3, F-9, F-7, P-2 DP)
5. Jeimer Candelario, DH-3B: 0-3 (5-3, BB, F-8, F-7, R)
6. Dustin Geiger, 3B-DH: 2-4 (5-3, 1B, 1B, 4-3, 2 R)
7. Dan Vogelbach, 1B: 0-3 (K, HBP, FC, K, R)
8a. Wilson Contreras, C: 2-3 (1B, 2B, 2-3, 2 R, 2 RBI)
8b. Neftali Rosario, C: 0-0 (BB)
9. Yasiel Balaguert, RF: 2-3 (1B, HR, F-8 SF, K, 2 R, 4 RBI)
10a Dong-Yub Kim, DH #2: 2-3 (1B, HR, 5-3, 2 R, 2 RBI)
10b. Trevor Gretzky, LF: 0-1 (F-7)
11a. SLOT WAS SKIPPED FIRST TWO TIMES THRU BATTING ORDER
11b. Brian Inoa, DH #3: 0-1 (K)

CUBS PITCHERS:
1. Jose Arias: 4.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 7 K, 1 GIDP, 55 pitches (36 strikes), 4/1 GO/FO
2. Su-Min Jung: 0.1 IP, 1 H, 2 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 0 K, 2 HBP, 24 pitches (9 strikes), 1/0 GO/FO
3. James Pugliese: 2.2 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 27 pitches (16 strikes), 4/4 GO/FO
4. Roderik Pichardo: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 6 pitches (5 strikes), 1/2 GO/FO
5. Pete Levitt: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 15 pitches (10 strikes), 2/1 GO/FO

CUBS ERRORS: 1
SS Javier Baez - E-6 (throwing error on run-down between 1st & 2nd allowed runner at 3rd base to score unearned run)

CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE:
1. Wilson Contreras: 0-1 CS
2. Neftali Rosario: 0-1 CS

ATTENDANCE: 13

WEATHER: Sunny with temperatures 100+

Sunday Funnies: How's your faith hanging there, Cub Fans?

CubbyBlue — Sun, 20 May 2012 16:12:03 +0000

Click to see the gif.

Steve Clevenger, Geovany Soto, and Wellington Castillo.
You can find them all on the same page - the injury report on MLB.com.
3 catchers going down at the same time is incredibly ridiculous, and the result is Koyie Hill.
Like a ghost from last year's horror movie.
But in the learned words of Lou Piniella, "What are you gonna do?"
The baseball gods are messing with us big time, as usual.
It's the year of we're-not-supposed-to-expect-to-win, so I guess we just laugh it off.
I sure could use one stinkin' W against the Sox, though.
That too much to ask, baseball god?

Cubs 2012 Extended Spring Training - Stats Update (5/20)

Arizona Phil — Sun, 20 May 2012 12:53:14 +0000

2/3 of the way through 2012 Extended Spring Training, here are the Cubs Cactus League game statistics.

There is no official scorer at the games, so the stats are unofficial.

2012 EXST CUBS RECORD (thru 5/20): 16-20-6

* bats or throws left
# bats both

NOTE: "SLASH LINE" below position players names = AVG/OBP/SLG

POSITION PLAYERS:

NOTE: POSITION PLAYERS ARE SORTED BY PLATE APPEARANCES (PA)

SHAWON DUNSTON JR (CF-LF):
276/337/447 (24 GAMES – 86 PA) – 6 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 10 R, 6 BB, 10 K, 1 HBP, 3 SH, 3 SB (1 CS), 1 PO

* DAN VOGELBACH (1B):
183/272/338 (23 GAMES – 85 PA) – 3 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 11 R, 8 BB, 17 K, 1 HBP, 1 SF, 2 GIDP
DEFENSE: 6 ERRORS

JAVIER BAEZ (SS):
329/354/696 (23 GAMES - 82 PA) – 5 2B, 3 3B, 6 HR, 20 RBI, 18 R, 1 BB, 22 K, 2 HBP, 10 SB (1 CS)
DEFENSE: 7 ERRORS

# JEIMER CANDELARIO (3B):
315/367/521 (23 GAMES – 80 PA) – 6 2B, 3 3B, 1 HR, 13 RBI, 14 R, 5 BB, 15 K, 1 HBP, 1 SH, 1 GIDP, 2 SB (0 CS)
DEFENSE: 4 ERRORS

GIOSKAR AMAYA (2B):
242/368/306 (22 GAMES – 76 PA) – 2 2B, 1 3B, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 11 R, 13 BB, 14 K, 1 SF, 1 GIDP, 3 SB (0 CS), 1 PO
DEFENSE: 3 ERRORS

XAVIER BATISTA (LF-RF):
393/466/656 (22 GAMES- 73 PA) – 8 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 19 RBI, 14 R, 9 BB, 8 K, 1 HBP, 2 SF, 1 GIDP, 1 SB (0 CS)
DEFENSE: 1 ERROR, 5 OUTFIELD ASSISTS

TREY MARTIN (CF):
246/296/338 (21 GAMES – 71 PA) – 4 2B, 1 3B, 0 HR, 7 RBI, 10 R, 5 BB, 16 K, 1 SF, 4 SB (0 CS), 1 PO
DEFENSE: 4 OUTFIELD ASSISTS

# ROCK SHOULDERS (1B):
233/329/400 (21 GAMES – 70 PA) – 7 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 11 RBI, 8 R, 9 BB, 24 K, 1 SF, 3 GIDP
DEFENSE: 2 ERRORS

YASIEL BALAGUERT (RF-LF):
293/354/431 (21 GAMES – 65 PA) – 3 2B, 2 3B, 0 HR, 10 RBI, 6 R, 4 BB, 15 K, 2 HBP, 1 SF, 3 GIDP, 1 SB (0 CS)
DEFENSE: 1 ERROR, 2 OUTFIELD ASSISTS

CARLOS PENALVER (SS-2B):
175/250/175 (22 GAMES – 64 PA) – 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 5 R, 6 BB, 8 K, 1 SF, 1 GIDP, 4 SB (0 CS)
DEFENSE: 8 ERRORS

* DANNY LOCKHART (2B-SS-3B):
232/295/339 (23 GAMES – 61 PA) – 2 2B, 2 3B, 0 HR, 6 RBI, 6 R, 5 BB, 12 K, 1 GIDP, 3 SB (0 CS), 1 PO
DEFENSE: 5 ERRORS

WILSON CONTRERAS (C):
339/383/571 (21 GAMES – 60 PA) – 5 2B, 4 3B, 0 HR, 9 RBI, 7 R, 4 BB, 13 K, 1 CI, 1 GIDP, 3 SB (0 CS), 1 PO
CATCHERS DEFENSE: 6-23 CS (26% CS), 1 PO, 4 PB, 4 ERRORS

* BRIAN INOA (2B):
167/220/185 (21 GAMES – 59 PA) – 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 3 R, 3 BB, 16 K, 1 HBP, 1 SF, 1 GIDP, 1 SB (2 CS), 1 PO
DEFENSE: 4 ERRORS

* GARRETT SCHLECHT (LF-CF-RF):
250/379/333 (22 GAMES – 59 PA) – 2 2B, 1 3B, 0 HR, 6 RBI, 5 R, 8 BB, 18 K, 2 HBP, 1 SH, 1 GIDP, 0 SB ( 1 CS)

* TREVOR GRETZKY (1B-LF):
298/365/340 (18 GAMES – 52 PA) – 2 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 8 R, 5 BB, 11 K, 1 GIDP, 1 SB (0 CS)
DEFENSE: 2 ERRORS

ANTHONY GIANSANTI (C-3B-RF)
222/404/417 (17 GAMES – 47 PA) – 1 2B, 3 3B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 4 R, 10 BB, 6 K, 1 HBP
CATCHERS DEFENSE: 4-11 CS (36% CS), 4 PB, 1 ERROR
NOTE: HAS BEEN MOVED-UP TO PEORIA

NEFTALI ROSARIO (C):
222/255/311 (22 GAMES – 47 PA) – 1 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 4 R, 1 BB, 15 K,1 HBP, 1 GIDP
CATCHERS DEFENSE: 5-16 CS (31 % CS), 1 PB, 1 ERROR

JAIR BOGAERTS (3B-LF):
189/302/243 (17 GAMES – 43 PA), 2 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 5 R, 4 BB, 11 K, 2 HBP, 1 GIDP
DEFENSE: 4 ERRORS

# KEVIN ENCARNACION (CF-RF-LF):
394/444/515 (18 GAMES – 37 PA) – 2 2B, 1 3B, 0 HR, 6 RBI, 6 R, 3 BB, 4 K, 1 SH, 1 GIDP, 2 SB (2 CS), 1 PO

* EDUARDO GONZALEZ (RF-LF):
281/324/406 (11 GAMES - 35 PA) - 0 2B, 2 3B, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 6 R, 2 BB, 7 K, 1 SH, 2 SB (0 CS)
NOTE: WAS SENT DOWN FROM PEORIA 5/1

DONG-YUB KIM (LF):
167/212/233 (13 GAMES – 33 PA) – 2 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 8 RBI, 3 R, 2 BB, 7 K, 1 SF, 1 SB (0 CS)

# MICAH GIBBS (C):
250/483/250 (5 GAMES - 29 PA) - 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 6 R, 9 BB, 2 K, 1 GIDP, 2 SB (0 CS), 1 PO
CATCHERS DEFENSE: 1-3 CS (33%)
NOTE: WAS ON REHAB ASSIGNMENT - HAS BEEN MOVED-UP TO DAYTONA

RYAN DURRENCE (1B):
120/154/120 (9 GAMES - 26 PA) - 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 R, 0 BB, 9 K, 1 HBP, 1 GIDP

* WILFREDO PETIT (C):
273/385/364 (17 GAMES – 26 PA) – 2 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1 R, 4 BB, 1 K, 1 PO
CATCHERS DEFENSE: 2-8 CS (25% CS), 1 PB

PIERRE LePAGE (2B):
375/524/563 (7 GAMES – 21 PA) – 1 2B, 1 3B, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 6 R, 4 BB, 1 K, 1 HBP, 1 GIDP, 1 SB (0 CS), 1 PO
NOTE: HAS BEEN RELEASED

JUNIOR LAKE (SS):
176/222/235 (3 GAMES - 18 PA) - 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 3 R, 1 BB, 4 K, 2 SB (1 CS)
NOTE: WAS ON REHAB ASSIGNMENT - HAS BEEN MOVED-UP TO TENNESSEE

# MARK MALAVE (3B):
200/250/200 (9 GAMES – 16 PA) – 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K
DEFENSE: 2 ERRORS

YANIEL CABEZAS (C):
286/286/286 (7 GAMES – 14 PA) – 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1 GIDP
DEFENSE: 4-4 CS (100% CS)
NOTE: HAS BEEN MOVED UP TO PEORIA

# OLIVER ZAPATA (CF-LF):
333/385/417 (3 GAMES – 13 PA) – 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 0 SB (1 CS)
NOTE: HAS BEEN MOVED UP TO PEORIA

* DELBIS ARCILA (RF):
143/250/143 (6 GAMES – 8 PA) – 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K

JEFFREY BAEZ (LF-RF):
000/000/000 (4 GAMES – 7 PA) – 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K

* JUSTIN MARRA (C):
000/167/000 (5 GAMES - 6 PA) - 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K

BRIAN ESPOSITO (C):
000/200/000 (1 GAME - 5 PA) - 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB, 0 K
NOTE: HAS BEEN MOVED UP TO IOWA

LUIS ACOSTA (2B):
000/333/000 (3 GAMES – 3 PA) – 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 R, 1 BB 2 K

DUSTIN GEIGER (3B):
333/333/667 (1 GAME - 3 PA) - 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 1 R, 0 BB, 0 K
NOTE: ON INJURY REHAB ASSIGNMENT FROM PEORIA

===========================================

PITCHERS:

NOTE: PITCHERS ARE SORTED BY INNINGS PITCHED (IP)

STARLING PERALTA:
1.46 WHIP – 4.97 ERA – .321 OppBA (9 GAMES – 9 GS) – 25.1 IP, 33 H, 16 R (14 ER), 4 BB, 24 K, 5 HBP, 1 HR, 3 GIDP, 2 ERRORS

ROB WHITENACK:
0.82 WHIP – 0.82 ERA – .225 OppBA (8 GAMES - 8 GS) – 22.0 IP, 16 H, 3 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 19 K, 1 HR, 1 GIDP, 1 ERROR
NOTE: ON INJURY REHAB ASSIGNMENT FROM TENNESSEE

JAMES PUGLIESE:
1.06 WHIP - 1.25 ERA - .243 OppBA (9 GAMES – 4 GS) – 21.2 IP, 17 H, 4 R (3 ER), 6 BB, 20 K, 2 HBP, 1 HR, 4 GIDP, 1 WP, 3 PO

TAYLER SCOTT:
1.15 WHIP - 2.91 ERA - .238 OppBA (8 GAMES – 7 GS) – 21.2, 19 H, 9 R (7 ER), 6 BB, 14 K, 2 HBP, 2 GIDP, 1 WP, 1 PO

JIN-YOUNG KIM:
1.02 WHIP - 3.57 ERA - .233 OppBA (9 GAMES - 1 GS) – 17.2 IP, 14 H, 8 R (7 ER), 4 BB, 11 K, 1 HBP, 1 HR, 1 GIDP, 1 WP, 2 PO

PETE LEVITT:
1.21 WHIP - 1.04 ERA - .214 OppBA (10 GAMES ) – 17.1 IP, 17 H, 3 R (2 ER), 4 BB, 13 K, 2 GIDP

JOSE ARIAS:
1.18 WHIP – 1.59 ERA – .286 OppBA (6 GAMES - 5 GS) – 17.0 IP, 18 H, 4 R (3 ER), 2 BB, 19 K, 2 GIDP, 1 PO, 1 ERROR

IAN DICKSON:
0.94 WHIP – 2.65 ERA – .211 OppBA (6 GAMES – 5 GS) – 17.0 IP, 12 H, 5 R (5 ER), 4 BB, 5 K, 1 HBP, 1 GIDP

FELIX PENA:
1.12 WHIP – 5.29 ERA - .219 OppBA (9 GAMES) – 17.0 IP, 14 H, 11 R (10 ER), 5 BB, 8 K, 1 HBP, 1 HR, 1 GIDP, 2 WP, 1 ERROR

CARLOS MARTINEZ:
1.60 WHIP – 3.60 ERA – .268 OppBA (8 GAMES – 1 GS) – 15.0 IP, 15 H, 7 R (6 ER), 9 BB, 5 K, 1 HR, 5 GIDP, 1 WP

* HUNTER ACKERMAN:
1.76 WHIP – 1.80 ERA – .302 OppBA (7 GAMES - 1 GS) – 13.2 IP, 16 H, 10 R (6 ER), 8 BB, 12 K, 1 GIDP, 3 WP

RODERIK PICHARDO:
1.31 WHIP – 4.85 ERA – .213 OppBA (10 GAMES) – 13.0 IP, 10 H, 7 R (7 ER), 7 BB, 9 K, 1 HBP, 2 HR, 2 GIDP, 2 WP

* SHELDON McDONALD:
0.83 WHIP – 1.50 ERA – .205 OppBA (6 GAMES) – 12.0 IP, 9 H, 3 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 18 K, 1 HBP, 1 GIDP
NOTE: HAS BEEN MOVED-UP TO PEORIA

* GERARDO CONCEPCION: 1.59 WHIP – 4.77 ERA – .304 OppBA (3 GAMES – 1 GS) – 11.1 IP, 14 H, 7 R (6 ER), 4 BB, 11 K, 1 GIDP, 3 WP, 1 BALK
NOTE: HAS BEEN MOVED-UP TO PEORIA

RAFAEL DIPLAN:
1.78 WHIP – 2.53 ERA – .289 OppBA (8 GAMES) – 10.2 IP, 13 H, 3 R (3 ER), 6 BB, 10 K, 1 HBP, 1 WP

ALVIDO JIMENEZ:
1.07 WHIP – 3.86 ERA – .152 OppBA (6 GAMES) – 9.1 IP, 5 H, 5 R (4 ER), 5 BB, 9 K, 1 GIDP, 1 WP, 1 BALK, 1 ERROR

* FRANK DEL VALLE:
2.52 WHIP – 8.31 ERA – .410 OppBA (3 GAMES - 1 GS) – 8.2 IP, 16 H, 9 R (8 ER), 6 BB, 11 K, 2 HR, 1 HBP, 2 WP, 1 PO
NOTE: HAS BEEN MOVED-UP TO DAYTONA

CHARLES THOMAS:
1.15 WHIP – 0.00 ERA – .219 OppBA (5 GAMES) – 8.2 IP, 7 H, 2 R (0 ER), 3 BB, 9 K, 1 GIDP, 1 WP, 1 PO
NOTE: WAS MOVED-UP TO PEORIA, THEN WAS RELEASED

DAVID HENRIE:
2.00 WHIP – 10.19 ERA – .452 OppBA (3 GAMES – 1 GS) – 7.0 IP, 14 H, 8 R (8 ER), 0 BB, 5 K, 3 GIDP

* BRIAN SMITH:
2.70 WHIP – 10.80 ERA – .333 OppBA (4 GAMES) – 6.2 IP, 10 H, 8 R (8 ER), 8 BB, 5 K, 4 WP

* AUGUSTO COLINA:
1.74 WHIP - 5.18 ERA - .296 OppBA (4 GAMES) – 6.1 IP, 8 H, 6 R (4 ER), 3 BB, 4 K, 1 HBP, 1 HR

JORGE DIAZ:
1.11 WHIP - 2.84 ERA - .208 OppBA (5 GAMES) - 6.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 8 K. 2 HBP, 1 ERROR

ETHAN ELIAS:
2.21 WHIP - 9.95 ERA - .367 OppBA (5 GAMES) – 6.1 IP, 11 H, 9 R (7 ER), 3 BB, 5 K, 1 HBP, 1 WP

* LUIS VILLALBA:
1.20 WHIP - 5.40 ERA - .286 OppBA (4 GAMES) – 5.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R (3 ER), 0 BB, 4 K, 1 BALK

LOIGER PADRON:
1.20 WHIP - 3.60 ERA - .222 OppBA (3 GAMES) – 5.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 5 K, 1 HBP, 1 GIDP, 1 ERROR

DANIEL ADRIAN:
1.71 WHIP - 5.79 ERA - .333 OppBA (3 GAMES) - 4.2 IP, 7 H, 4 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 3 K, 1 WP

RAMON GARCIA:
1.45 WHIP – 1.58 ERA – .333 OppBA (2 GAMES) – 3.2 IP, 5 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 3 K

RYAN HARTMAN:
2.45 WHIP – 7.36 ERA – .400 Opp BA (2 GAMES) – 3.2 IP, 6 H, 6 R (3 ER), 4 BB, 3 K, 1 HBP, 5 WP, 1 PO

* MATT SPENCER (ex-OF)
1.00 WHIP - 0. 00 ERA - .143 OppBA (2 GAMES) - 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K

* RYAN ROWLAND-SMITH
1.20 WHIP - 0.00 ERA - .167 OppBA (2 GAMES) - 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K
NOTE: ON INJURY REHAB ASIGNMENT FROM IOWA

SU-MIN JUNG:
6.00 WHIP - 20.25 ERA - .200 OpBA (2 GAMES) - 1.1 IP, 1 H, 3 R (3 ER), 7 BB, 0 K, 2 WP

Cubs & D'backs Split a Pair at T-Stick

Arizona Phil — Sat, 19 May 2012 22:12:50 +0000

Trevor Gretzky singled, doubled, walked, stole a base, scored three runs, and drove-in another, and Danny Lockhart belted an RBI triple to key a five-run 5th, leading the Cubs to a 7-2 victory over the Diamondbacks on Quail Field, and Jeimer Candelario and Xavier Batista each rapped a two-run single and Dustin Geiger laced an RBI double to highlight a five-run 2nd inning, but the D’backs took advantage of four Cub errors (including three errant throws on attempted pick-offs) to score seven unanswered runs en route to a 7-5 victory on Mesquite Field, as the Cubs and Diamondbacks split an Arizona Barbeque Festival Cactus League Extended Spring Training doubleheader this morning at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick Resort east of Scottsdale, AZ.

3B Dustin Geiger returned to game action today, and hit the ball solidly in all three of his AB.

Geiger was set to be the starting third-baseman at Peoria at the start of the 2012 season, but he suffered a broken hamate bone in his right hand the last day of Minor League Camp, and has spent the past six weeks rehabbing at Fitch Park.

Although it did not lead to a victory for his squad, Trey Martin made two outstanding diving catches in CF in the game on Mesquite Field. He is one of the best defensive outfielders I have seen down here in a long time, and he has made a number of outstanding catches (and throws) from CF at EXST. He's Gold Glove caliber right now.

In what could possibly be described as “EXST Cubs News of the Weird,” 21-year old Korean outfielder Dong-Yub Kim is now throwing left-handed.

DY Kim signed with the Cubs in February 2009, receiving a reported $550K signing bonus (equivalent to “3rd round money”), and made his U. S. debut at AZ Instructs post-2009. At that time he looked like a young Jose Canseco (a 19-year old kid with a combination of speed, HR power, and a rifle-arm), before tearing up his right shoulder and missing the 2010 season. He was limited to playing DH and 1B (and occasionally LF) after returning to action last year, but he has yet to get back to where he was in October 2009 (pre-surgery).

I had noticed him occasionally throwing left-handed when shagging fly balls in BP, but this is the first time he’s thrown left-handed in a game. And he actually throws better left-handed than he does right-handed (post-surgery)!

In EXST Cubs roster news, recently-signed veteran minor league catcher Brian Esposito has been moved-up to AAA Iowa, replacing Blake Lalli on the I-Cubs roster. Esposito played in one EXST game (yesterday) prior to the promotion, and went 0-4 with a walk.

Brian, we hardly knew ye!

Here are the abridged box scores from today’s games (Cubs players only):

QUAIL FIELD

CUBS SQUAD “A” LINEUP:
1. Shawon Dunston Jr, CF: 1-4 (F-7, 3-U, 2B, K, R, RBI)
2. Carlos Penalver, SS: 0-3 (6-3, F-8 SF, 6-3, K, RBI)
3. Dong-Yub Kim, LF: 0-2 (E-1, 6-3, F-8 SF, BB, RBI)
4. Dan Vogelbach, 1B: 0-4 (K, 3-U, K, L-4)
5. Brian Inoa, DH #1: 0-3 (K+WP, F-7, K)
6a. Wilfredo Petit, C: 1-2 (1B, 1-3)
6b. Justin Marra, C: 0-0 (BB)
7. Eduardo Gonzalez, RF: 1-3 (3-2 FC, 1B, K, R)
8. Danny Lockhart, 2B: 2-3 (K, 3B, 1B, R, RBI)
9. Jair Bogaerts, 3B: 0-2 (4-3, BB, 4-U FC, R)
10. Trevor Gretzky, DH #2: 2-2 (BB, 2B, 1B, 3 R, RBI, SB)

CUBS SQUAD “A” PITCHERS:
1. Ian Dickson: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 1 K, 42 pitches (27 strikes), 3/5 GO/FO
2. Ryan Rowland-Smith: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 15 pitches (8 strikes), 0/1 GO/FO
3. Jin-Young Kim: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 2 K, 1 HR, 1 PO, 28 pitches (17 strikes), 2/1 GO/FO
4. Jorge Diaz: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 17 pitches (11 strikes), 2/1 GO/FO

CUBS SQUAD “A” ERRORS: 1:
3B Jair Bogaerts - E-5 (two-base throwing error allowed batter to reach 2nd base safely)

CUBS SQUAD “A” CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Wilfredo Petit: 1 PB

MESQUITE FIELD

CUBS SQUAD “B” LINEUP:
1. Trey Martin, CF: 0-3 (6-3, BB, 1-3, K, R)
2. Gioskar Amaya, 2B: 2-4 (6-3, 1B, 1B+E5, 3-U, PO)
3. Javier Baez, SS: 1-3 (1B, K, 6-3, 2 SB)
4. Xavier Batista, LF: 2-2 (BB, 1B, 2B, R, 2 RBI)
5. Rock Shoulders, 1B: 0-1 (F-8, BB, BB, R)
6. Dustin Geiger, 3B-DH: 1-3 (5-3, 2B, 3-U, R, RBI)
7. Jeimer Candelario, DH-3B: 1-3 (F-7, 1B, K, 2 RBI)
8. Wilson Contreras, C: 1-3 (2B, K, K)
9. Yasiel Balaguert, DH #2: 0-3 (4-3, F-7, L-9)
10. Garrett Schlecht, RF: 1-3 (2B, K, K, R)
11a. SLOT WAS SKIPPED FIRST TIME THRU BATTING ORDER
11b. Neftali Rosario, DH #3: 0-0 (HBP)
11b. Kevin Encarnacion, PH: 1-1 (1B)

CUBS SQUAD “B” PITCHERS:
1. Starling Peralta: 3.0 IP, 6 H, 5 R (4 ER), 2 BB, 2 K, 1 HBP, 1 GIDP, 57 pitches (37 strikes), 4/3 GO/FO
2. Hunter Ackerman: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 1 R (0 ER), 2 BB, 0 K, 24 pitches (12 strikes), 3/3 GO/FO
3. Matt Spencer: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 15 pitches (9 strikes), 0/2 GO/FO
4. Daniel Adrian: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (0 ER), 0 BB, 0 K, 10 pitches (7 strikes), 2/1 GO/FO

CUBS SQUAD “B” ERRORS: 4
1. P Starling Peralta - E-1 (errant throw on pick-off attempt at 2nd base with bases loaded allowed runner on 3rd to score unearned run)
2. P Starling Peralta - E-1 (errant throw on pick-off attempt at 2nd base allowed runner to advance to 3rd)
3. 2B Gioskar Amaya - E-4 (dropped pop fly with two outs allowing batter to reach base safely and baserunner to score unearned run)
4. C Wilson Contreras - E-2 (errant throw on pick-off attempt at 1st base allowed baserunner to advance to 3rd base – eventually scored unearned run)

CUBS SQUAD “B” CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Wilson Contreras: 0-2 CS, 1 E (see above)

ATTENDANCE: 19

WEATHER: Sunny & breezy with temperatures in the 90's

Plus Five MPH is Back

Dr. Joseph Hecht — Sat, 19 May 2012 19:51:39 +0000

Like a bad penny, the Cubs can't seem to catch a break. Here is the list of the broken catchers:

Steve Clevenger -Oblique rib cage strain. He is scheduled to return to the batting cage this weekend and might be ready to come off the DL by next weekend in Pittsburgh.

Geo Soto - Went on the DL with a knee meniscus tear and had it repaired/ trimmed on Friday. Out at least 3 weeks.

Welington Castillo - Had an MRI of his knee this am and has a mild medial collateral sprain. Out of action about one week if things go well.

So who is left, you ask? Hint: Blake Lalli isn't in the starting lineup tonight...

Blake Lalli?

He was brought up when Soto went on the DL. Hitting only .178 in 20 games in Iowa, he was supposed to be a warm body off the bench but not really expected to start.

Per this Carrie Muskat article (http://t.co./TxaA2klP), ol #55 is back to bring his replanted fingers to the catching corpse (pun intended). Remember that Hill had almost amputated several fingers in his throwing hand on October 16, 2007 in a table saw accident. His surgeon had him hold a baseball to put the fingers and thumb back, so that even if they wound up stiff, he'd be able to hold a ball. Switch hitting Hill is a stiff from either side of the plate. Career line in 833 AB is .211/.275/.298/.573, but if it was possible to believe, he is worse vs left handed pitching (.091/.167/.091/.258).

In honor of the Kerry Wood retirement, the Cubs new braintrust wanted to splurge but after a quick scouring of the minor leagues they settled for "cash considerations" to purchase the contract of Koyie Hill from the Reds. we all know Koyie can't hit and he continued to prove that with a .195 average in 14 games for AA Pensicola.

He's in the lineup tonight catching ol' pal Ryan Dempster, and to complete the Cubbery, he's hitting against a lefty starter (Danks).

Tonight's lineup: Johnson CF, Barney 2B, Castro SS, LaHair 1B, Soriano LF, Baker RF, Mather 3B, Hill C, Dempster P vs. lefty John Danks, 2-4, 6.46 ERA

And Randy Wells is reported to be back from Iowa taking Kerry Wood's roster spot. I'm still not quite sure how Hill gets on the roster unless Castillo is going on the DL, but we haven't gotten confirmation of that yet. It is possible that Casey Coleman will go back to Iowa as Travis Wood is scheduled to start Tuesday vs. Houston (in Volstad's spot) and Muskat tweets that Wells is supposed to be used in long relief this time around.

Cubs Unleash the Wood at Diablo Park

Arizona Phil — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:04:31 +0000

Trey Martin laced a bases-loaded triple to key a six-run 2nd inning, and Javier Baez and Jeimer Candelario each blasted a two-run home run to highlight a five-run 9th, as the Cubs rode a 21-hit attack en route to a 14-5 thrashing of the Angels in Cactus League Extended Spring Training action this morning at Diablo Park Field #3 in Tempe, AZ.

The game was extended an extra inning so that all of the pitchers who were scheduled to throw could get their work.

The Cubs offense was on full display today.

Besides hitting his 6th HR in 22 EXST games, Javier Baez singled and walked (his first walk in 110+ professional PA), Trey Martin added a double to his bases-clearing triple, Jeimer Candelario singled twice and walked in addition to his two-run HR, Kevin Encarnacion had four hits including two RBI singles, and Neftali Rosario singled twice and doubled and scored two runs.

Recently-signed catcher Brian Esposito made his Cub debut in today’s game, catching the first five innings before moving to DH.

Now 33 years old, Esposito was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 5th round of the 2000 draft out of the U. of Connecticut, and had spent the previous 12 seasons playing for a half-dozen different organizations, mostly at the AA level. He also saw a little bit of MLB action with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2007 and with the Houston Astros in 2010. He is a career 216/254/304 hitter in 724 minor league games.

Here is the abridged box score from today’s game (Cubs players only):

CUBS LINEUP:
1a. Trey Martin, CF-DH: 2-4 (F-8, 3B, 2B, E-5, R, 3 RBI)
1b. Wilson Contreras, PH: 1-1 (1B, R)
2a. Brian Inoa, 2B: 0-2 (4-3, F-9 SF, F-9, RBI)
2b. Danny Lockhart, 2B: 0-2 (6-3, 4-3)
3. Javier Baez, SS: 2-4 (1B, K, BB, P-3, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI)
4. Brian Esposito, C-DH: 0-4 (5-3, P-6, P-4, 4-3, BB, R)
5. Dan Vogelbach, 1B: 2-5 (K, P-6, 2B, P-5, 1B, 2 R)
6. Xavier Batista, LF-DH: 1-3 (1B, K, F-7 SF, K, F-8 SF, R, 2 RBI)
7. Jeimer Candelario, 3B: 3-4 (1B, 4-3, BB, 1B, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI)
8. Neftali Rosario, DH-C: 3-5 (1B, 2B, 1B, F-9, F-8, 2 R)
9. Kevin Encarnacion, RF: 4-5 (1B, 1B, 3-U, 1B, 1B, R, 2 RBI)
10a. Dong-Yub Kim, DH #2: 2-3 (1B, F-7, 1B, R, RBI)
10b. Garrett Schlecht, CF: 0-2 (4-3, E-5)
11a. SLOT WAS SKIPPED FIRST TIME THRU BATTING ORDER
11b. Trevor Gretzky, DH-LF: 1-3 (1B, K, P-6)

CUBS PITCHERS:
1. Tayler Scott: 3.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 3 K, 1 HBP, 54 pitches (34 strikes), 2/4 GO/FO
2. Felix Pena: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 0 K, 1 WP, 33 pitches (23 strikes), 3/3 GO/FO
3. Pete Levitt: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 3 K, 26 pitches (17 strikes), 2/1 GO/FO
4. Roderik Pichardo: 1.2 IP, 1 H 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HBP, 29 pitches (18 strikes), 1/3 GO/FO
5. Alvido Jimenez: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 14 pitches (8 strikes), 1/1 GO/FO

CUBS ERRORS: 1
1B Dan Vogelbach - E-3 (missed catch on what should have been 1-3 GO allowed batter to reach base safely)

CUBS OUTFIELD ASSISTS:
LF Trevor Gretzky - threw out batter 7-4 trying to stretch a single into a double

ATTENDANCE: 18

WEATHER: Sunny & VERY breezy with temperatures in the 90’s

Don't Cry Because It's Over. Smile Because It Happened.

Rob G. — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:15:05 +0000

Click on the image for the video.

Kid K Calls it Quits

Rob G. — Fri, 18 May 2012 16:22:53 +0000

It was hinted at on twitter last night that big Cubs news was coming today and news did come.

Somewhat reminiscent of Ryne Sandberg's in-season retirement, Kerry Wood will announce that he's retiring from baseball. I'm sure he'll give his reasons at the press conference, but when elite athletes can no longer do the things that made them elite, the fire to compete can extinguish rather quickly.

Word on XM radio this morning was that the Cubs would try to get him in one more game possibly today or tomorrow for what would certainly be the most exciting thing to happen at Wrigley Field this season.

These are the times that we're pre-programmed to wax poetic on the life and times of a certain athlete, writing the obituary of their careers. For Kerry Wood, the numbers will never match the reputation and must-see nature of his early career, although he will go out with a K/9 rate of over 10, which is certainly impressive. There's of course the magical 20K game versus the Astros and the division series wins versus Atlanta in 2003. He made All-Star games, he won a Rookie of the Year, he destroyed boom boxes and he tore his elbow and shoulder to shreds to try and deliver the Cubs a championship. He'll be rememebered as fondly for his pitching as his desire to be a Cub.

In more unfortunate news (or fortunate depending on your point of view), Geovany Soto has been diagnsosed with a torn meniscus and is headed to the disabled list. No word on who the new backup catcher will be with Steve Clevenger still on the disabled list. Juan Apodaca has been doing most of the catching in Iowa and they also have Blake Lalli down there. Koyie Hill is floating out there too.

Wind Clocked at 20; I-Cubs Clock a Trio

Mike Wellman — Fri, 18 May 2012 02:55:54 +0000

Waiting for the game to begin tonight I noticed that the pitchers would be throwing into a stiff breeze. A couple young scouts, I thought, sat down a couple rows in front of me to chart the game, one of them armed with a jugs gun. I sauntered down to ask them how the scoreboard speedometer compared to their readings since the last time I checked it was thought to generally register a couple mph slower than actual velocity. No, the gunslinger told me, the scoreboard readings run pretty true. In fact, he said, he doesn't really use the gun when he's charting; he just goes by the scoreboard numbers. Only then did I realize the "scout" was Randy Wells.

The Iowa hitters, including young Vitters, did indeed surf the wind to the tune of a long ball hat trick tonight. Besides JV, Brett Jackson and, ho hum, the Rizzo kid, also went deep.

Jackson played left tonight and was dropped to sixth in the order. He began the game leading the PCL in strikeouts but tonight he was but a double shy of the cycle. All three of his hits, not to mention Rizzo's league-leading 14th homer, came off Salt Lake lefty Brad Mills. Rizzo's towering two-run blast in the 3rd came on a 3-0 count after Dave Sappelt stole second with two out on the previous pitch. It was last seen well on its way to the Des Moines river beyond the street that runs behind the right field bleachers. Rizzo also drew a walk off side winding loogy Matt Meyers. He looks supremely at ease and confident at the plate in this league. How numbered are his days here?

Travis Wood worked seven solid innings in evening his record at 3-3, notching nine fly outs against one long homer that came to rest in the left field parking lot where I found it lodged beneath a car tire. Manny Corpas traded three runs for three outs in the 9th to make the final 7-5 I-Cubs.

Sappelt played center instead of Jackson who didn't appear hampered legging out his triple or getting cut down at second by the cutoff man when Ty Wright was held at third after Jackson's sharp single to right. Looking for the elusive cycle in his last trip he grounded out, but still his night was whiffless.