Cubs MLB Roster

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40-Man Roster Info

40 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (roster is full) 

28 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE, and twelve players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors. 

Last updated 3-26-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 15
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Jose Cuas
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Caleb Kilian
Mark Leiter Jr
* Luke Little
Julian Merryweather
Hector Neris 
* Drew Smyly
* Justin Steele
Jameson Taillon
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

INFIELDERS: 7
* Michael Busch 
Nico Hoerner
Nick Madrigal
* Miles Mastrobuoni
Christopher Morel
Dansby Swanson
Patrick Wisdom

OUTFIELDERS: 4
* Cody Bellinger 
Alexander Canario
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman 

OPTIONED: 12 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Ben Brown, P 
Alexander Canario, OF 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Daniel Palencia, P 
Keegan Thompson, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 
Hayden Wesneski, P 

 



 

Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Game 155 Recap: Cubs 9, Pirates 5

Big Day for the Big 3

Box Score, Play by Play, Photos

W-Hill (10-8), Keeping pressure on the Brewers, Home Runs, pennant-chase baseball on beautiful september days. L- Duke (3-8), Sam Fuld's noggin and shoulder. Magic Number - 6 (with Brewers loss factored in) Things to Take from This Game 1. The Big 3 Soriano had two HR, including his first opposite-field blast at Wrigley, a double, and 5 RBI. Lee went 4-5 with a HR, Ramirez had a two-run HR. All three have been on huge hot-streaks at the moment when it matters the very most. Theriot also had 3 hits and scored twice. 2. The Other Big 3 (+1) Hill got pulled after 5 effective innings and 73 pitches, with only a series of scratch hits in the second leading to 3 unfortunate runs. Marmol, Eyre, Howry and Dempster then closed out the game. A bit odd that all four pitched in a game that was 7-3 when Hill left. Marmol looked sharp, Howry and Dempster got hit around a bit, Eyre got saved on a spectacular play by... 3. Sam Fuld Fuld made a terrific play to turn a run-scoring extra-base hit with one-out in the seventh, into an inning-ending double-play that revved up the fans. Nyjer Morgan stroked one to the right-center wall. Fuld ran back, lept into the vines, crashing hard against them, to catch the drive. A strong throw to Lee doubled-up the runner, and kept us out of a potentially big Pirate inning. Fans just loved it. The closing in on the division details, below. Game Recap Inning 1
  • Whoops, thought the game began at 1:05 central, not 12:05. Nyger Morgan is on first, and Bautista walks. Sanchez then hits a sinking soft liner to right. Morgan badly misjudges it, taking off for third, while Murton catches it quite easily. Murton tries to hulk up a bit too much on the throw, and skips it in to Theriot who catches it on a very tough hop, to double off Morgan. Phelps then bounces out to Theriot, who catches a tough hop off the lip of the grass, to get the force at second.
  • Cubs half of the inning, Morgan then badly misjudges a Derosa fly ball, has to hit the brakes and make a big leaping catch on what should have been a routine fly.
  • Lee smokes one out to the left-field bleachers on an inside fastball. Crowd goes wild.
  • Cubs dugout yelling at umpire Tom Hallion over balls and strikes calls.
  • Ramirez and Murton single.
  • Soto singles sharply off the side of the pitcher's mound. Sanchez at second has to redirect, barehands the ball, and rushes a sidearm throw to first, which gets away from Phelps. Ramirez scores, 2-0. Monroe K's to end it.
Inning 2
  • Len informs us that the Reds' appeal of the game featuring the double-switch has been denied. We've officially won that game, for good. Suckers.
  • Paulino and Pearce both single with one out, runners on 1 and 2 for Kata. Neither hit hard, Pearce's a badly broken bat
  • and Kata with a jam-shot floater just over Lee's head, into fould territory - Murton with a nice play on the carom off the bullpen wall, but Paulino still scores. 2-1 on a series of cheap hits, runners at 2 and 3, Duke up.
  • Duke singles down the third base line past the drawn in infield. Two runs score. 3-2 on a series of cheap hits.
  • Morgan pops out to Lee, who makes a nice basket scoop catch by where the brick barrier to the new seats meets the Pirates' dugout. 2 outs
  • Trachsel up in the bullpen. Len tells us he was scheduled to pitch a sim. game later today, if not needed in the real game.
  • Nice called strike 3 on a curve to Bautista. Len and Bob laugh at Hallion's very exaggerated twisting-backwards left-hook on the call.
  • Soriano hits a line drive that just gets out to right. 3-3 game.
  • DeRosa hits one into the seats foul down the right-field line. Pearce made an awkward effort to jump for it, sort of jamming his foot into the foul wall padding. Seems to be ok. Nothing else interesting in the inning, Tied at 3 after two.
Inning 3
  • Was making an omelette for most of the top of the third. Seems that not much happened. Hill K's Nady and Phelps swinging. For having an era of 9 so far in this game, Hill has looked quite in control for most of it.
  • Lee rolls one into right for a single to lead off the third.
  • Ramirez lines one out to left, just a few rows up. Awesome series for Ramirez so far. Soriano's gotten to 30 HR and Ramirez to 100 RBI on the year, today.
  • Murton and Soto K, Monroe Walks and Theriot hits a ball that probably should be a 6-3 out by Kata, but the ball gets away from him, Theriot credited with a hit. 1 and 2 with 2 outs for Hill. Bounces back to Duke to end the inning.
Inning 4
  • The Wash-Our-Hands-of-the-Kellie-Pickler-Incident Contest Winner gets announces. He's declared to be the "first fan" to get to sing the 7th. I guess Ronnie Woo-Woo and celebrities who are also genuine fans don't count?
  • Soto with a nice catch of a popup at the screen behind home plate.
  • Soriano with a leadoff walk in fourth. Derosa forces him, 5-4 for the first out. Lee singles to left.
  • Ramirez hits one up the middle, and Sanchez ranges far to his right to grab the ball while sliding behind second base, gets Ramirez at first, but runners advance to 2 and 3. Murton up with 2 outs. Murton walks, bases loaded for Soto.
  • Soto gets jammed, bounces out to Sanchez.
Inning 5
  • With one out, Morgan walks, steals second. Bautista pops up, and Lee makes another nice catch in foul territory. Derosa with a nice play on a hard-hit ball by Sanchez to end the inning.
  • Torres relieves Dukes, and Jones pinch-hits for Monroe. Strike 3 called, another wild twisting punch-out call by Hallion, much to Len and Bob's amusement.
  • Theriot singles, and Floyd comes in to pinch-hit for Hill. Only 73 pitches in 5 basically good innings, and Hill comes down... That'll cause some chatter.
  • Floyd called out on strikes, not to thrilled about the call on the inside fastball.
  • Theriot steals second, just ahead of the tag. Nice foot-first slide. 2 outs, runner on 2nd for Soriano
  • Soriano clobbers one to the back rows of the bleachers in left. Like Ramirez, Soriano with 3 HR in the last two days. 7-3, Soriano with a huge smile on his face as he goes back to the dugout. Gets the curtain call.
Inning 6
  • Zeus in to relieve in the sixth. Walks Phelps.
  • Nady pops one towards the foul line in left, Soriano can't find it. Theriot, Jones race to try to get there, but ball drops well into the stands. Phew. Nady eventually flies out to Soriano, with Jones again running over just to be safe.
  • Paulino K's looking on a knee-buckling slider.
  • Pearce K's looking as Zeus hurls a mighty thunderbolt past himl. Zeus finishes the inning looking strong.
  • Van Benschoten in to relieve, McClouth in, Nady over to Right, Pearce out of game on what must be a double switch. I spelled Benschoten correctly, without looking? Sweet.
  • Lee lines one back through the middle where Van B's head had just been, for a 4-4 day so far.
  • Ramirez pops up to Sanchez, who struggles to look for it in the sun. Lee is lured off of first base, and when Sanchez catches it (quite easily, suggesting perhaps a great Deke), Lee is doubled off of first. Murton flies out to end it.
Inning 7
  • Sam Fuld in for Murton, and Eyre in for Marmol, on the double-switch? Len doesn't think so, which is a bit odd.
  • Eyre's new glove gives his name as Stevey Ire.
  • One out, McLouth walks on a full count.
  • Morgan hits a deep drive to right-center, Fuld makes a spectacular leaping catch into the ivy. (Upon further review, he hit the ivy very hard, jumping into it with no chance to brace himself.) A strong throw back to Lee gets McLouth, for the fan-frenzying double play going into the Stretch. A very fortuitous defensive placement by LouPa, right there.
  • As much as I think the idea wound up being a sham, Props to the guy who sung the seventh inning, Dustin Eglsedar or something like that. He did a nice job, sounds like a very decent and devoted Cubs fan.
  • I'm actually rather surprised that only 2700 people applied for the competition.
  • Soto K's, Jones bounces sharply through the left-side hole. Theriot then drops one in to right field.
  • WGN shows the replay of Eyre giving Fuld a big hug and kiss on the cheek in the dugout, laughing.
  • Ward K's looking, pinch-hitting for either Eyre.
  • Soriano hooks a double into the left-field corner. Jones and Theriot score, 5 RBI for Soriano today. 9-3 Cubs
  • Derosa ends the inning, he's now 0-5.
Inning 8
  • Howry in. Eglsedar still in the booth.
  • Bautista clobbers one to dead center, it lands in the vines on the fly, and disappears. Ground rule double.
  • Sanchez doubles inside the first base line, 9-4 game. Fuld boots it a bit (we'll forgive you, this time) and Sanchez takes third.
  • Howry K's Phelps, gets Nady on a come-backer, Sanchez still at third.
  • Paulino flies to shallow center to end the threat.
  • Lee strikes out looking on a low pitch, Lee is quite unhappy and throws his bat down. It was most certainly low, costing Lee a 5-5 day.
  • Ramirez looks really bad waving at a few sliders from Benschoten.
  • Fuld gets a standing ovation when he comes up to bat. Very cool of the Cubs fans.
  • Fuld comes back from 1-2 to walk. Fans go wild.
  • Soto flies out to Morgan, who struggles with what must be a very tough sun, today.
Inning 9
  • Dempster in. Castillo pinch hits for Pearce, K's swinging. Again, sort of interesting to see the Big Three Relievers in for such a large lead.
  • Kata flies to Soriano. Fans on their feet
  • McLouth up, golfs one out down the right field line, to the back of the luxury bleachers. 9-5.
  • Morgan up, lines to Lee, who tosses to Dempster covering to finish the game.
Parachat Recap Inning 1 Getting settled. Weird plays in the first. Sexual slangs related to Freddie Sanchez. Zach Duke, Cub-killer? Trans Fats jokes. Who to start in fantasy football. Inning 2 Organizing the TCR Reader's Union (TRU). More fantasy football decisions. This dumb inning. Pooping euphamisms. Naked Gun. Hands-free hot dogs. Inning 3 College football games. Using Natives as mascots. Even more college football. When in Rome... Inning 4 Booing the 7th inning stretch winner. American celebrity endorsements in Japanese commercials. What goes on at the Len and Bob bash? Cheering St. Louis's elimination. The Blanco-Soto relationship. Inning 5 Yet more college football. Which sucks worse: Olive Garden's commercials, or restaurants? Hill getting pulled from the game early. How this year's Cubs team is like a good wine. Cheering Soriano. Cut cheese and break wind, or the terrorists win. Inning 6 Moist Cookies. Zeus. Oreo dessert pizza and vegetable shortening. Bad baserunning. Inning 7 The Stevie Ire glove. What should Fuld have done when he caught the routine fly for the first out of the seventh? ESP vs. ISP. Uri Gellar in the closet. The incredible Fuld catch, critiquing the Stretch performance. Digger Phelps. That one girl on the foster-kids commercial that we don't like. Inning 8 Fake getting on Fuld's case for the bobble down the line. Lou's quick hook. The bad Pearl Jam cover of a Tom Petty song being played during fan cam. Proper watering and maintenance of your lawn. Stealing the WGN Truck. Inning 9 The budweiser opera commercial. The old man in the bleachers doing the tomahawk chop. Inventing the TCR Awards. (Major LOLs here...)

Comments

What was Murton's outfield assist? Also, I sat Lee in my fantasy league and of course he blows up today.

Read the recap. Harrumph. :) Morgan made a horrid baserunning play on an easy fly out to Murton in the 1st.

Oh that's right. Are you one of the TCR Readers' Union folks who are boycotting me? Heh. Ok, I boycott me, too.

FWIW, there's still a crew in parachat watching the Brweers/Braves game.... come join us

The kid who sang at the 7th inning stretch, Dustin Eglsedar, was interviewed on the radio. He's 22-year-old from Iowa. He has bone cancer and has been getting chemo all summer. He sounded like a real nice kid, upbeat and funny, who was thrilled to visit Wrigley. I confess to getting a little choked up hearing him - I have kids his age. And he has a nice voice, sang well. Good luck to you, Dustin ... here's hoping the guys bring home a trophy while you're here to enjoy it.

"A bit odd that all four pitched in a game that was 7-3 when Hill left." Well, the Cubs were only up 5-3 when Hill got lifted for a pinch hitter (Floyd). Piniella figured the lead would be safer in Marmol's hands in the sixth than in Hill's. Piniella has a killer instinct and he usually doesn't leave anything on the bench for extra innings. He tries to win in regulation. In terms of this month, next weekend is "extra innings." Piniella wants to win this thing now, while the Cubs have the Pirates and the Brewers are in Atlanta. Having just watched the end of the Braves-Brewers extra-inning affair, I think Lou has the right idea.

Well, that was nice. The Chop was working tonight! 14-7 in the month of September for the Cubs. Playing well at the right time! IF they go 4-3 in the next seven, it makes it REALLY hard on the BREW.

Piniella figured the lead would be safer in Marmol’s hands in the sixth than in Hill’s. I think that's a fine opinion to have, and I do agree with it in principle. There no reason to not make 100% sure that you're going to put this puppy away. You've got the second best bully in the senior circuit. HOWEVUH, it's still awfully hard to justify it to the kid who had only thrown 73 pitches and had allowed only one of the previous 11 hitters to reach. And the fans who are tired of the starters getting a short hook.

Well Ryan Braun, by playing two games on Yom Kippur eve and day has opened the floodgates on the Brewers. Realize this: the two out 9th inning HR by Thorman and the blown double play by Weeks in the bottom of the 11th were spiritual events from above. Or maybe it was just that Jason Marquis' prayers are being answered. (to cwtp: ...and maybe Sam Fuld should consider becoming Jewish?)

Someone tell Fuld that ivy and padding are not the same thing. Curse of the pint sized cubs outfielders to get head trauma when they finally get their chance in the bigs.

Realize this: the two out 9th inning HR by Thorman and the blown double play by Weeks in the bottom of the 11th were spiritual events from above. I guess you didn't see Sam Fuld's catch and outfield assist.

Why was Fuld inserted over Pie? I am not complaining just curious as to what Loupa is thinking.

In my opinion I think it was Fuld over Pie due to the Cubs being up 4 and wanting to get Fuld some playing time. If it has been a 1 or 2 run game maybe we would have seen Pie. I could be wrong though just a theory.

I'm begging you Lou, Jim, and Larry...PLEASE, PLEASE do not use Dempster as our closer in tight 1 to 2 run ballgames. His pitches have very little movement, weak velocity, and virtually no deception. I'm begging you, for the love of Christ, please do not use Dempster in tight ballgames!!

Except that Dempster has done quite well in 1 and 2 run ballgames. Random... but I just signed up for the Cubs season ticket waiting list. I am number 55571. Wow.

"Why was Fuld inserted over Pie? I am not complaining just curious as to what Loupa is thinking." FWIW, in the post game interview, Lou said Fuld was in for defense ...

Have you heard? Albert Pujols is going to return to the lineup against the Brewers. He really wants to get to 100 Runs and 100 RBI for the seventh straight year. Go Cards Go!

Woot! Baseball gods have indeed been on our side this week. But what a time to find our home run bats! Talk about peaking at the right time. Objectively speaking he two NL teams I would not want to face in the playoffs are the Cubs and the Phillies.

Objectively speaking he two NL teams I would not want to face in the playoffs are the Cubs and the Phillies. Agreed... for the most part, at least in terms of how they are playing. But San Diego has the pitching to shut anybody down (though so do the cubs, at least in theory). As a Cubs fan, SD probably scares me more than any other NL team.

I'm at 17,833 on the Season tickets wait list. I figure that puts me in line to get tickets around 2055.

I'm not 'scared' by any of the other NL teams. Everything resets at 0 in the playoffs and anything can happen. If Soriano, Lee and Ramirez can stay hot in October then this team will do much better than expected. On the other hand they could all go cold and we would go out with a wimper.

Was there someone in the Wrigley bleachers doing the tomahawk chop? That is funny ... I bet he was thinking "I'll do ANYTHING" for the Cubs to get to the playoffs.

As long as the Cubs keep the 2.5 game lead through the through, everything looks real good. I wouldn't feel comfortable at all with a 1.5 game lead and Milwaukee going home for the game with Cards to cut it to 1 game lead with the Brewers home for 6 and the Cubs on the road.

If you get season tickets in 2055 at 17,000, my great, great, great, great grandchildren are on pace to get them in about 2300 at 51,000.

There was at least a group of fans doing the chop. fans are doing a lot more chanting lately too, from what i can hear.

Ha, Wes. No doubt about that. I'm very anxious to see how far my # drops down at the end of this upcoming offseason. Realistically, how many current season ticketholders are likely to not extend season tickets after this season, or any other season for that matter? I gotta figure the # is very small. 2055 may be a bit of a stretch.... or maybe not.

Actually, I put my name on the list last year. I may be wrong, but I think that was the around the time they first made wait-list registration available via Cubs.com, and thus, easy as hell. I must have hit it early, because the numbers sure have skyrocketed quickly.

"Random… but I just signed up for the Cubs season ticket waiting list. I am number 55571. Wow." From what I've heard, there wasn't a waiting list until the 2004 season. And while I'm sure the number of season tickets that are not renewed are small, I will bet anything that prolly 10% of that waiting list would actually buy the tickets when offered.

That's a crazy figure for the season tickets waiting list. Hell, when I got mine in 2000 (or 2001?) there was no list at all -- I think it started after the 2003 season. For some reason the Cubs don't require a deposit for the list like the Bears do -- I don't really understand that. On the bright side, it may mean that some people on the list may pass when their number comes up if they weren't really serious in the first place. FWIW, after last season I asked about upgrading or improving my seats for 2007, and asked if that was possible based on nonrenewals. The girl told me there were on average only about a couple dozen nonrenewals per year. My cynical side would say that the season tix waiting list has been artificially pumped up through not requiring a deposit in order to reassure potential buyers of the team.

The girl told me there were on average only about a couple dozen nonrenewals per year. ----------------------------- 17,833/24 = 743 years The summer of 2750 is going to kick ass!

Does anyone know the scoop on trying to get playoff tickets online tomorrow morning? Does it matter if I get into the online waiting room at 8:30 or 8:59? Can I open multiple browser windows to get into the waiting room, or will the system just still treat this as one (with only one mlb.com account)? Any other tips?

stroke of luck lou put fuld in boom big catch. would murton have made that catch? also can we put monroe at end of bench next to blanco?

Good news today about the Wildcard race. San Diego's lead is down to half a game, with Colorado now just 2.5 back as well. So, SD looks to be playing the final four games against the Brewers FOR REAL. And, Woody Williams, who didn't start against Milwaukee because he was banished to the pen, was used today and everyone he faced reached base. Double, Ankiel HR, single, single, single, fielder's choice, Pujols 2 RBI single, ....done.

From the Pgh Lumber Co site: "Tale of the Tape Pittsburgh Pirates Record: 66-87 Chicago Cubs Record: 80-7" Ahh, if only it were so 70 games ago.

"Good news today about the Wildcard race. San Diego’s lead is down to half a game, with Colorado now just 2.5 back as well. So, SD looks to be playing the final four games against the Brewers FOR REAL." Yes sir, very good news indeed.

Does anyone know the scoop on trying to get playoff tickets online [this] morning? I was also wondering something - in the past, didn't they work through Tickermaster or some such service? This year it looks like you just need a cubs.com account. I just wondered if I had to search for my Ticketmaster password.

Well, you can do it online with your mlb.com account or you can do it over the phone. I've heard rumors that if you're calling over the phone, using the out-of-state number gives you a better chance than the number for Illinois residents. I'm not really sure if I believe it, though. I haven't seen a dramatic increase in my success with it. Here's the details: http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/chc/ticketing/nlds_2007.jsp?affiliateID=edC… I wish everybody good luck. Cuz your probably gonna need it.

DeRosa Superscout...he must have said something about how ARam hit his homer off of Cordero as now Cordero has given up two HR's this year. from today's sun-times: These are important games to win, especially playing before Milwaukee,'' said DeRosa, who admitted to calling his former Braves teammates to provide scouting reports about the Brewers.

Checking in at 56067 with a bullet. Scored a free Bears/Cowboy ticket, could be the perfect Sunday. Cubs win Brewers lose Bears win I'm drunker than Britney Spears locked in a liquor store. WHHHHHHHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

Sam Fuld now understands why Soriano stops short of the wall. JJ has not figure it out. And I hope he never does.

I’m drunker than Britney Spears locked in a liquor store. I love that episode. The liquor store is locked down because of a nuclear war, and right before Britney takes her first drink, her liver falls out and breaks. "It's not fair! It's not fair at all!"

Brick - I don't even know what you're talking about but it sounds like a spoof of that old Twilight Zone ep.

Wish I could have been around to do Parachat yesterday as it sounds like it was fun. Also I want to get in on the TCR Readers' Union as soon as I can so I'm not blackballed. I suppose this means that there will be TCR scabs, as well...? But I was busy watching the game at the hospital, where our new baby boy was born several hours after the game. We named him Alfonso. ...not really. We named him Tex, for Teixeira. ...not really

Scabs? We will do everything we can to prevent TCR scabs. And union dues will be due shortly. Unfortunately for those of you not desiring to join the Union, you will still be required to pay "fair share" covering our costs of collective bargaining with management. Our work makes your experience better.

Yea... not going well here either. I guess we need a Cubs ticket purchaser union also. I will begin collecting dues shortly.

I'm going to see it as a good sign that "CubsWinThePennant" is the screen name of our first ticket buyer.

Congratulations, Pell! When my little one was born, the Cubs rattled off 8 straight W's...may yours have the same effect.

Kids are good for division titles, at least. My son was born in September of 2003. :-)

Thanks djchi & Tito. This is baby #3; one born last year with no Cub karma implications that I know of, but my oldest was born in May 2003. Good times. Anyway, djchi, hope your/my wish comes true.

I guess I lose too. I just dropped $275 apiece for four tickets on StubHub - Sec. 224, Row 19, for Home Game #2 (Game 4). I like the seat/price ratio, just not the price. Also, aren't the Cubs eliminated from having any home-field advantage in the playoffs at this point, with the exception of playing the Wild Card team in the NLCS? Anyone know the rules on that one?

I just got what looked like a purchasing window then got kicked back into the waiting room! I didn't even do anything! I hate the virtual waiting room.

And congrats to Pell Mell. Quite a tribe of young Cubs fans you've got. =)

Wow!!!! 40 minutes and Game #1 is gone and Game #2 is single tickets only. GO CUBS FANS!!!! magic number 6...WOoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah, the best I was able to come up with was a single seat in section 533. I might do that for the WS, but not for the NLDS. I'll be watching from home. :P

Despite the overly flowery language that's a cool Lou article. McDonough on a potential WS championship and its effects on Cubs fans: "Like, Hey, you haven’t been to work in three weeks, where are you?” LOL

I'm thinking of having the virtual waiting room redone for the NLCS. I'm talking about gutting it and taking care of everything while the virtual walls are open - virtual electric, virtual plumbing, etc. And a better TV. You'd think while we sat in the virtual waiting room they could at least show us one of the hundreds of simulated games Cub pitchers have thrown in the past few years.\.

Thanks djchi & Tito. This is baby #3; Congratulations Pell Mell! My kids have similar names, Bugger #1, Bugger #2.....etc.

Recent comments

  • crunch (view)

    yeah, for me this isn't about who's better at 3rd.  it's madrigal, period.  for me it's about who's not hitting in the lineup because madrigal is in the lineup.

    occasional play at 3rd for madrigal, okay.  going with the steele/ground-ball matchup...meh, but okay, whatever.

    seeing madrigal get significant starting time...no thanks.

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Yeah I am very disappointed Madrigal is starting. He has no business as a starter. He is AAA insurance, a back up at best. Sure his defense looks fine because he plays far enough in that his noodle arm isn’t totally exposed. It comes at the cost of 3B range.

    He’s garbage, and a team serious about winning would NOT have him starting opening day.

  • crunch (view)

    in other news, it took 3 PA before a.rizzo got his 1st HBP of the season.

  • Eric S (view)

    With two home runs (so far) and 5 rbi today … clearly Nick Martini is the straw that stirs the Reds drink 😳

  • crunch (view)

    madrigal at 3rd...morel at DH.

    making room for madrigal or/and masterboney to get a significant amount of ABs is a misuse of the roster.  if it needed to get taken care of this offseason, they had tons of time to figure that out.

    morel played almost exclusively at 3rd in winter ball and they had him almost exclusively there all spring when he wasn't DH'ing.

    madrigal doing a good job with the glove for a bit over 2 chances per game...is that worth more than what he brings with the bat 4-5 PA a game?  it's 2024 and we got glenn beckert 2.0 manning 3rd base.

    this is a tauchman or cooper DH situation based on bat, alone.  cooper is 3/7 with a double off eovaldi if you want to play the most successful matchup.

    anyway, i hope this is a temporary thing, not business as usual for the rest of the season.  it will be telling if morel is not used at 3rd when an extreme fly ball pitcher like imanaga is on the mound.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    There are two clear "logjams" in the Cubs minor league pipeline at the present time, namely AA outfielders (K. Alcantara, C. Franklin, Roederer, Pagan, Pinango, Beesley, and Nwogu) and Hi-A infielders (J. Rojas, P. Ramirez, Howard, R. Morel, Pertuz, R. Garcia, and Spence, although Morel has been getting a lot of reps in the outfield in addition to infield). So it is possible that you might see a trade involving one of the extra outfielders at AA and/or one of the extra infielders at Hi-A in the next few days. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    18-year old SS Jefferson Rojas almost made the AA Tennessee Opening Day roster, and he is a legit shortstop, so I would expect him to be an MLB Top 100 prospect by mid-season. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Among the relievers in the system, I expect RHRP Hunter Bigge at AAA Iowa and RHRP Ty Johnson at South Bend to have breakout seasons on 2024, and among the starters I see LHP Drew Gray and RHP Will Sanders at South Bend and RHP Naz Mule at ACL Cubs as the guys who will make the biggest splash. Also, Jaxon Wiggins is throwing bullpen sides, so once he is ready for game action he could be making an impact at Myrtle Beach by June.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    I expect OF Christian Franklin to have a breakout season at AA Tennessee in 2024. In another organization that doesn't have PCA, Caissie, K. Alcantara, and Canario in their system, C. Franklin would be a Top 10 prospect. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    The Reds trading Joe Boyle for Sam Moll at last year's MLB Trade Deadline was like the Phillies trading Ben Brown to the Cubs for David Robertson at the MLB TD in 2022.