Cubs Triple Their Pleasure & Defeat A's at Fitch Park
Bijan Rademacher roped a two-run triple, walked twice, and scored three runs, and NWL batting champion Stephen Bruno drove-in three runs with a two-run triple and an RBI FC, propelling the Cubs to a 10-7 victory over Athletics in Arizona Instructional League action this morning at Fitch Park Field #3 in Mesa.
It was Sonny Gray (A’s) versus Dillon Maples (Cubs) when the game started, but Gray (A’s 2011 1st round draft pick- #18 overall) labored through two innings of work (39 pitches - 24 strikes), allowing two runs (both earned) on two walks and a hit, plus two strikeouts.
And Dillon Maples once again could not throw strikes, walking five in just 1.1 IP (46 pitches - only 19 strikes).
With a hammer-curve and a mid-90’s heater with movement, Maples is almost impossible to hit (the one hit he gave up today--and it is the only hit he has allowed in three Instructs appearances--was a routine ground ball that struck a base-runner), but both of his best pitches are “chase” pitches, so he’s in trouble whenever he gets behind in the count and has to throw a strike.
In three starts so far at Instructs, Maples has this line: 4.0 IP, 1 H, 4 R (4 ER), 10 BB, 7 K, 2 WP, 116 pitches (54 strikes).
The best outing by a Cub pitcher today was the one turned-in by Dominican bonus baby ($1.5M signing bonus) RHP Juan Carlos Paniagua, who threw 2.2 IP of shutout ball, allowing one hit and one walk, with three strikeouts (two swinging).
Here is the abridged box score from today’s game (Cubs players only)
CUBS LINEUP:
1. Shawon Dunston Jr, CF: 1-4 (6-3, 1B, K, K, R, RBI)
2. Albert Almora, DH #1: 1-3 (6-3, F-9 SF, 1B, F-9, R, RBI)
3a. Jorge Soler, DH #2: 0-2 (K, FC, BB, 2 R, RBI, SB)
3b. Justin Marra, PH: 0-1 (K)
4a. Bijan Rademacher, RF: 1-1 (BB, BB, 3B, 3 R, 2 RBI)
4b. Marco Hernandez, SS: 0-1 (3-U)
5a. Wilson Contreras, C: 0-1 (BB, F-8, HBP, R)
5b. Chadd Krist, C: 0-1 (5-3)
6. Stephen Bruno, 2B: 1-4 (K, 3B, 1-6 FC, 5-3, 3 RBI)
7. Tim Saunders, SS-RF: 1-3 (1B, 1-3, 6-4-3 DP, RBI, PO)
8a. Ben Carhart, 3B: 1-1 (F-9 SF, 1B, RBI, SB)
8b. Jesse Hodges, 3B: 0-1 (6-3)
9. Jacob Rogers, 1B: 1-3 (1B+E8, K, 6-3, R)
10. Trevor Gretzky, LF: 1-3 (1B, K, K, R)
CUBS PITCHERS:
1. Dillon Maples: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 3 R (3 ER), 5 BB, 2 K, 46 pitches (19 strikes)
2. Trey Lang: 2.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 1 K, 1 HBP, 1 GIDP, 44 pitches (21 strikes), 2/2 GO/FO
3. Juan Carlos Paniagua: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 WP, 39 pitches (26 strikes), 1/3 GO/FO
4. Steve Perakslis: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 3 K, 1 WP, 29 pitches (15 strikes), 2/0 GO/FO
5. Corbin Hoffner: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 21 pitches (11 strikes), 2/1 GO/FO
CUBS ERRORS: NONE
CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Wilson Contreras: 2-5 CS
WEATHER: Sunny, hot, and a bit breezy, with temperatures in the upper-90's
ATTENDANCE: 24 (mostly scouts)
Baez has picked it up lately, hits in 13 of his last 14 games..something like 19/56 with 3 BB and 9 K over that span.
That Liberace movie is on HBO this week end.
/just saying
wow...that rizzo K in the 8th was a swing even sammy sosa would rag on.
It's hard to compare two very different eras, but as good as Urlacher was, Butkus was better.
Not that there's anything wrong with that.
cubs load the bases with 0 out...no one scores.
awesome!
I thought it would be strained neck from watching balls fly over his head
~~ right after Sveum stomped on his big right toe.
He sounds like Marmol minus the $9.8M.
i wonder how long until i.stewart asks to be traded...if for no other reason than to get ABs on someone else's AAA team
yet another day he didn't start...got a PH appearance, 0-1.
also, josh vitters continues to be unimpressive, 0-4.
b.bogusevic continues to make a joke of AAA...1-2 (HR) with 3bb...(.370/.475 avg/ob%)
"My right big toe is kind of sore, why do you ask?"
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Somewhere in the Cubs locker room, Bill Murray chimes in...
"an Army without leaders is like a foot without a big toe"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtbBmwgxKc0
I wonder how what converstion went.
"Hey Shawn, do you have anything that hurts?"
"My right big toe is kind of sore, why do you ask?"
i'm not sure the author of that report knows what "lights-out" reliever means.
if he means a reliever with spotty control that will throw 20+ pitches an inning in AAA is "lights-out" i wonder how high the praise goes for someone that deserves it.
he's got good velocity at least. he's worth taking a chance on.
s.camp on the DL (evidently sucking is an injury these days) with a "sprained right big toe" (no, seriously)...r.dolis up
File this under the banner of how's the Cubs organizational depth coming along...
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Must have stubbed that toe throwing the grand slam last night. How convenient.
per Roto...
But for 2013 the Cubs rotation depth is greatly improved.
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JB: I completely agree about the 2013 improvement.
In fact, the debacle that was 2012 was accelerated when Maholm/Dempster/Garza were gone which is a tough nut to crack for any team. If the trade deadline subtracts 2 starters this year from the Cubs they likely will have Villanueva and even Scott Baker should be ready by then...and if not then one AAA guy (Rusin, Vizcaino).