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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 

 



 

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Game 72 Recap: Cubs 4, Devil Rays 5

How Many Losses?

W - Sonnanstine (8-3), loud domes, cowbells

L - Zambrano (8-3), soreness and discomfort, opposite field singles

S - Percival (17)

Box Score, Photos

Things to Take from This Game

1. Cheap Runs

The Devil Rays scored a run in the first when DeRosa missed a line drive that allowed the runner to come around from first. It was a pretty bad miss by DeRosa. In the third the Devil Rays scored four times on a seemingly endless series of controlled swings producing opposite field singles.

2. Missed Spots, Calls

Zambrano didn't have much command of the fastball, missing up in the zone with some frequency. The home plate ump didn't have much command of his strike zone, either. It made for a bit of a bumpy game. But other than the third, both Z and Sonnanstine worked quickly and effectively. Cotts gave up a leadoff walk, but Wuertz got through the rest of the game without incident.

3. Missed Opportunity

The Cubs had a great chance to score in the fifth, with the bases loaded and no outs for Theriot, Lee and Ramirez. Theriot beat out a potential GIDP to score one run, but Lee and Ramirez couldn't drive the other runners in.

4. Another Wild Ninth

Soto makes up for last night's near-miss, and lines a home run off of Percival in the 9th, to make the game 5-4. DeRosa then walked, but Percival managed to nail things down from there. Another dramatic loss.

5. Uh. Oh.

Z left the game with two outs in the seventh after throwing a pitch to Eric Hinske. Soto saw something, and immediately got up, motioned to the dugout, and all went out to the mound. Z left and as of this posting has "Right Shoulder Discomfort" Edmonds had left the game in the fourth with "Left Foot Soreness." With Reed Johnson hobbled by a strained back, Fukudome had to play center. As per usual, stay tuned for updates.

 

Your "they're still the Devil Rays, no matter what their marketing department thinks the focus groups want" details, below.

Game Recap

Inning 1 - Top

  • Fukudome bounces the first pitch to Iwamura at second, 4-3 putout
  • Theriot with a smash to third. Longoria makes the 5-3.
  • Sonnanstine is working very quickly. He has an interesting delivery, where he seems to really sling his right, throwing arm way down and around like a windmill. Just as I say it, Brenly points out that he also has a hitch in the windeup as he comes down with the leg.
  • And Lee grounds out to Aybar at first, unassisted. Very fast top of the first

Inning 1 - Bottom

  • Z also working very briskly. Iwamura walks on a full count. Looks like he's missing with the fastball.
  • Crawford laces a slicing liner into left-center. DeRosa partially overruns it, but the ball is still just directly over his head when the ball hits off his glove and rolls to the wall. Error on DeRosa. Iwamura scores, Crawford on second. Pretty unfortunate miss, there.
  • Called strike three on an inside fastball to Upton.
  • Hinske flies out to Edmonds. Crawford goes to third.
  • Longoria gets brushed back a bit. Then taps out to the catcher, 2-3 putout. Inning over, 1-0 Devil Rays


Inning 2 - Top

  • Lots of Cowbell and other percussive instruments in effect at the Dome
  • Ramirez singles up the middle, left of the shortstop
  • Edmonds thinks he has walked (and so did I) but the ump calls it strike 1. Another fastball in for strike two, full count.
  • Really have the percusion working. Inside the dome, it reminds me of the few bits of Japanese major league games I've seen on TV
  • and Edmonds K's on a fastball
  • It really sounds like it could be a playoff game at Tropicana. PRetty neat.
  • Soto just barely tips a changeup that would have been strike three. Drops out of Navarro's glove.
  • Soto hits a slow bouncer, Longoria comes in on it and turns a 5-4-3. Yesterday and today are the first two games I've had a chance to watch Longoria, but his D seems to be as good as advertised.

Inning 2 - Bottom

  • Floyd chops one off the plate. Z waits for it, patiently throws to first, gets Floyd by a step.
  • Aybar grounds 6-3 to Theriot.
  • Navarro fights off an inside fastball, lining it over Cedeno for a single into right.
  • As Brenly observes, Z getting his fastball up
  • Bartlet grounds the first pitch into a routine 6-4. Another quick inning

Inning 3 - Top

  • DeRosa pops to second
  • Hoffpauir lines a single just in front of Upton in center.
  • and Cedeno grounds out to Longoria, who makes another really fine play coming in on a ball, reaching across his body one way and then throwing back across his body on the run. Hoffpauir to second
  • Fukudome lines a double down the right field line. Nice job pulling the inside fastball. Hoffpauir scores. Crowd still going wild.
  • Theriot lines one back through the middle. I didn't think there'd even be a play at the plate, but Upton charges, makes a fantastic throw home. It's only a bit high, and Navarro has to go up for it as Fukudome slides in for the run. 2-1 Cubs. Theriot takes second on the throw.
  • Lee K's swinging

Inning 3 - Bottom

  • Hmm, this game is also on ESPN. I learn this as Len is pointing out that Carlos has to wait an extra half-minute between innings, due to the national-TV advertising. Between that on not hitting, and Len and Bob speculate he might be antsy.
  • Iwamura walks again.
  • Crawford lines one to Cedeno's left. He dives for it, deflecting off his glove and rolling slowly away into right field. Iwamura to third and Crawford to second. I didn't know Crawford was having leg troubles, but yeah, he's definitely running with a limp
  • Upton lines a fastball up in the zone, outer-half, back to center. Edmonds gets to it before it goes to the wall, Iwamura scores with Crawford holding at third, Upton at first. 2-2 game
  • and Hinske goes opposite field to left, scoring another run. Z still lacking command of the fastball.
  • Longoria fists one inside-out, rolling it past Cedeno's left and into right field. Runner on second comes in to score, runners still at 1 and 2, still no outs, 4-2 game. Devil Rays finding all the holes.
  • Floyd with a big swing, pops out to Cedeno. Floyd makes a big windup to slam his bat into the ground, but then thinks better of it.
  • Yet another oppo-field hit, this one by Aybar. Run scores, still 1st and 2nd. 5-2.
  • When did the Devil Rays put in an aquarium tank behind right field, full of Devil Rays?
  • Navarro walks, loading the bases.
  • Lieber warming up.
  • Bartlett rolls one to Cedeno, who turns a nice 4-6-3 with Theriot. Inning over, 5-2.

Inning 4 - Top

  • Ramirez strikes out looking at a pitch he thinks is high and inside.
  • and now the first pitch to Edmonds is a called high strike, and he's not too fond of it.
  • Kirwan Danly (sp?), your home-plate ump. Now Navarro isn't happy with the second pitch.
  • Edmonds pops out to the pitchers' mound in the left field foul territory
  • Soto lines the first pitch he sees off of the very top of the wall in left-center for a double.
  • DeRosa grounds to Bartlett, inning over

Inning 4 - Bottom

  • Edmonds has some sort of injury. Murton goes in to left, moving DeRosa over to right, with Fukudome over to center. Reed Johnson is unavailable due to a strained back that he aggrevated running out of the box on his game-ending bunt attempt last night.
  • Iwamura promptly flies to Murton in left.
  • Crawford rolls out to Theriot.
  • and another grounder to Theriot, Upton out. Nice rebound from last inning

Inning 5 - Top

  • Hoffpauir lines one just to Aybar's left at first. Into the corner, double.
  • Cedeno walks.
  • 3-0 on Fukudome. And now walks him. 2 walks in a row from one of the best strike-throwers in baseball.
  • Bases loaded for Theriot.
  • Curve for strike one to Theriot.
  • Theriot chops a pretty routine-looking double-play ball to Iwamura. Theriot runs like hell and beats out the relay at first. Run scores, runners 1 and 3, 5-3 game. Extra helping of scrap served on that play.
  • Lee looks bad swinging at a low breaking pitch for strike three.
  • Ramirez flies to Hinske in right. Only one scores with bases loaded, no outs, and the 2-3-4 guys due up.

Inning 5 - Bottom

  • Cute footage of the Devil Rays mascot miming Theriot's stretching routine before the game.
  • Hinske grounds to Cedeno.
  • And now, footage of Raymond gyrating at Theriot. Oh my.
  • Edmonds leaves due to "left foot soreness."
  • Longoria K's looking, inside fastball
  • Floyd pops to Theriot. Another easy inning for Z

Inning 6 - Top

  • Murton christens his appearance in this game by hitting a grounder. Gets past Bartlett for a single.
  • Sonnanstine departs.
  • J.P. Howell in.
  • Soto linesone back up the middle on a hit and run, but Iwamura is covering the bag and the ball winds up being hit right to him for a 4-3 double play. Ouch.
  • DeRosa grounds to Bartlett, inning over.

Inning 6 - Bottom

  • Aybar hits a high drive to the warning track. DeRosa makes a very small hop to catch it at the wall.
  • Navarro squibs one to Ramirez, out.
  • Bartlett with a soft liner into shallow center. First runner for the Devil Rays since that awful third inning
  • Iwamura with an easy 4-3 to end the inning

Inning 7 - Top

  • Hoffpauir with the easy ground-out to first
  • Cedeno fouls one right off the top of the toes on the left foot. Owwie.
  • Cedeno then hits a chopper behind the mound, beats Iwamura's throw to first.
  • Cedeno runs on a full count, and Fukudome pulls one to second. Cedeno hops over it, Iwamura has to go to first base.
  • Theriot hits a soft liner to Iwamura, inning over.

Inning 7 - Bottom

  • Z walks Crawford to start the inning. Umpire is consistent in his inconsistent strike zone, at least.
  • Upton hits a hot shot to Cedeno's left. He goes down to one leg on a slide to get it, throws to second from that position, and Theriot makes the return throw for an easy DP
  • After his first pitch to Hinske, Soto calls to the bench to alert them to some physical concern with Z. The trainer comes out to chat with Z.
  • Len and Bob trying to figure out if Lou had waived to the pen or not as he came out to the mound. Replay shows he definitely gestured towards the bullpen, but they think he might have then tried to back out of it. In any case, Z winds up coming out, somewhat reluctantly. Soto definitely noticed something wrong, he got up very quickly after the last pitch, walked to the mound while waving into the dugout.
  • Cotts in.
  • And he throws three balls to walk Hinske
  • WGN shows a replay of Carlos in the dugout, talking to the trainer and Lou. As he does, he moves his left arm up to touch his front right shoulder, sort of above the pectoral. Len and Bob are not thrilled to see this...
  • Wuertz in.
  • Hinske runs on a 3-1 pitch. Strike, safe at second.
  • Longoria K's swinging at a low and inside pitch

Inning 8 - Top

  • Gabe Gross in right for Hinske, Wheeler in to pitch
  • Lee with a lazy fly to Upton. Doesn't look too happy with himself
  • Wheeler really saws off Ramirez, easy roller to second.
  • Murton grounds to Longoria

Inning 8 - Bottom

  • Long battle, 3-2 count on Floyd. Finally walks.
  • Gomes runs for Floyd at first.
  • Aybar chops a grounder to Ramirez, 5-4-3 DP.
  • Initial report on Z: "Right Shoulder Discomfort."
  • Navarro K's swinging

Inning 9 - Top

  • Percival in.
  • Soto smacks a fastball down the middle for a big home run to left. No doubt about it. 5-4 game.
  • DeRosa walks.
  • Hoffpauir flies out to Upton
  • Fontenot hits for Cedeno
  • Like last night, Percival really looks like he's laboring with each pitch.
  • Crowd on its feet, making a ton of noise. Lots of Cowbell.
  • Full count on Fontenot.
  • Flies out to Upton in left center. Two outs. Nuts.
  • 2-2 count to Fukudome, and Percival picks now of all moments to break out a big slow curveball. Fools everyone, called strike three, game over.

Parachat Recap

Inning 1

  • It's Carlos's Birthday!
  • I have a great story involving drunk-dialing, my mother, Ricky Nolasco, the Shriners, Stinky the Clown and Alfredo Amezaga. Will enough people show up to justify my telling it?
  • The Devil Rays' rap-sheet.
  • DeRosa's error
  • What weird off-speed pitch did Z throw to Hinske?
  • MLB Gatorade Coolers' class-action lawsuit against Zambrano

Inning 2

  • Tomato Talk.
  • Did Tim Russert really have a childhood friend named Dick Eaton?
  • !?!?!?!?!?!?!

Inning 3

  • And I entertain parachat with my story of Shriners, Ricky Nolasco, Alfredo Amezaga, My Mother, Stinky the Clown and Drunk Dialing.
  • to which Carlos responds with his own story of Amezaga and his Posse of Short Latinos in high school.
  • complaints about the Cubs' defensive positioning tonight.
  • and general moping.

Inning 4

  • It's all Corey Patterson's fault
  • Rob quotes TCR bylaws at me.
  • How to accept your ban from TCR
  • 17 inch TV screens
  • Dewayne Staats
  • Tattooed baseball players
  • More talk of Reed's bunt play.

Inning 5

  • Longoria's D.
  • Going Roger Ebert
  • FOX News-like accuracy in the parachat play-by-play.
  • Run differentials
  • late housemates

Inning 6

  • Positive contributions to society.
  • Boobs.
  • The 1992 Mets
  • The 1992 Cubs
  • Chico F'ng Walker
  • Continuing to flail away with our guesses at the 1992 Cubs

Inning 7

  • The complete transaction history of Bob Scanlan
  • More Bob Scanlan information than you can handle, courtesy of baseball-reference
  • Devil Rays announcers whine.
  • Tampa's Weather.
  • Domes
  • Jeff Stone
  • Death by apple-seed poisoning.
  • The mid-low/high 80s.
  • BEES!
  • Roids, Droids, Stroids, Rhoids.

Inning 8

  • "We're not the drunks you're looking for" - nohit.
  • Alligator skin gloves.
  • The Brewers and Miller Park
  • Parking at Wrigley
  • Where is Z?

Inning 9

  • Z's health
  • RALLY CAPS
  • Ugly Fans

Cubs record in games recapped falls to 9-4.

Tags

Comments

I still like our chances. Our starting staff minus Z is still better than St. Louis or Houston and is probably the equal of Milwaukee. This team can still win the NL Central and in the Playoffs anything can happen like Jeff Weaver becoming Don Drysdale.

He is flying out of St. Pete tommorrow morning to Chicago for a MRI. The training staff does not exactly what it is but they doubt its serious.

morning papers not adding much on Z, probably will be news by gametime tonight though. ============= from the sun-times: http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/1013925,CST-SPT-cub19.stng ''There was a funny pitch that I felt something in my arm, and then the last pitch that I threw in the game, I dropped my arm a lot because I couldn't go back over the top with my arm,'' said Zambrano (8-3), who was charged with the 5-4 loss to the Rays. He's scheduled to fly this morning to Chicago to meet with team doctors and undergo an MRI. When asked whether this injury was related to the stiff neck a month ago that the Sun-Times reported radiated into his shoulder, Zambrano said, ''Probably, yeah. But at this point, I don't know anything. Let's see what happens [today], and hopefully it's nothing bad.'' ''It was something out of the blue,'' said Soto, who immediately waved for Piniella after Zambrano's first pitch to Eric Hinske with two out in the seventh. ''It was a [split-finger pitch], and he made a funny face, so I went out there. He never told me [anything was wrong]. But I knew something was up.''

Depending on the results of the MRI, we'd have to think that this could accelerate Hendry's acquisition of another bonafide starting pitcher. Who is actually obtainable for less than four Cubs players that would make a difference? And, at what point does Marquis revert back to his suckage?

Ken "Kenny" Williams can blow me: Asked Wednesday about the different environments that surround the teams, Williams pulled no punches. ''It is so different,'' Williams said. ''You might as well build a border, a Great Wall of China on Madison, because we are so different. We might as well be in two different cities. ''The unfortunate thing for me is it's a shame that a certain segment of Chicago refused to enjoy a baseball championship being brought to their city. The only thing I can say is, 'Happy anniversary.'''

[ ]

In reply to by Tito

The Sox continue to push "the woe is us syndrom" and its becomes self fulfilling. I'm happy they won so they would stop their bitching and whining about weather being bad when they are in town, umpire conspiracies and the number of words that are printed about them in the newspaper. But I guess it didn't. It's not Cub fans fault that the Sox were in the lowest viewed WS in recent history, that their fans don't come out to games, and they have a nut for a manager. Poor Kenny, maybe his owner can figure out away to lead ownership to lock out all the players the rest of the year or maybe have another white flag trade. When the Cubs win the WS the Sox will be more an afterthought than the Chicago Sky in this town.

[ ]

In reply to by Tito

What an unbelievably low-class organization that is. Can you ever imagine Jim Hendry saying something like that about the White Sox? Not in a million years. And if the Cubs win the World Series are Sox fans going to rejoice? Hell no. Just because we're in the same city doesn't mean we have to cheer them on in the playoffs. Because we're 90 miles away from them, should we celebrate the Brewers if they win? Here's a thought - if you want to be a popular team, don't build your stadium in the middle of the ghetto, where people have literally found bullet holes in the seats. Go to hell, Kenny. Enjoy your world series no one gave a shit about, you no-class scumbag.

Did anyone read or hear from DeRosa? WTF?! It looked like he just took his eye off the ball. It pissed me off that Brenley gave him a pass> "He had a long run..." He was pretty much jogging at the end and had easily caught up to the ball. Also, when he slumps he is a ground-out machine. Which he is in currently. Perhaps Lou will "rest" him for a couple days?

[ ]

In reply to by navigator

From my view (literally out if left field) it looked to me like Derosa saw that the ball was hit hard and maybe didn't think he was going to get it. He quickly realized that it was gonna be a catchable ball, relaxed and as stated ran past it. I went to the last two games and the crowd was easily 80-90% Chicago blue. Unfortunately the Cubs played so f****** badly that the 3,457 pure Devil Ray fans that were there were louder than the 30,000+ Cub fans most of the time. Oh yeah, there were some idiots ("Rays" fans obviously) running around in some kind of pajama/fairy-type outfits with bullhorns and $hit. Pretty funny.

You'd think after winning the whole enchilada the WS would start acting like a winning organization, but they still display the old insecurities of their previous selves. They should take a page from the 1970's - circa Oakland A's, who were always treated as second - class citizens compared to the SF Giants, but kept their yaps shut and just kept on winning championships, year after year. Eventually, you can't ignore the elephant in the room.

but they still display the old insecurities of their previous selves... =========== rightly so...after all, aren't they coming off a well earned 72-90 season.

Couple of items since I haven't been around much the last week: Heard last night on the DEVIL Rays' radio broadcast after Soto's double: "This is a real major league park. You have to hit it far to hit it out...not like that so-called major league field the Cubs play at with that short distance and 'goofy' basket. This is a real park..." Good Lord. I realize Lou liked Hoff batting up there in the 9th, but after his AB the night before against Percival, why not bunt to move DeRosa to scoring position in the 9th? This schedule is crap. First we go from Toronto to NY to Tampa within 36 hours, and now we have a night game on "getaway day" followed by an afternoon game the next day? What's up with that?

looks like the Mariners are really cashing it in now. McLaren out, Jim Riggleman in. Yep that Jim Riggleman of the sub .450 career WP as a manager.

I'm glad my "It's all Corey's fault" made the parachat recap...

Mighty sporting of the Cardinals to drop two in a row to KC the same time we were losing. Cards are about to lose today, too... 4-1 KC in the 9th.

Woof -- Cards score 4 runs in 3 games, at home, against the Royals. Brewers win a wild one -- lead 8-1 in the 9th, win 8-7 with the tying run on base.

Recent comments

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Javier Assad started the Lo-A game (Myrtle Beach versus Stockton) on the Cubs backfields on Wednesday as his final Spring Training tune-up. He was supposed to throw five innings / 75 pitches. However, I was at the minor league road games at Fitch so I didn't see Assad pitch. 

  • crunch (view)

    cards put j.young on waivers.

    they really tried to make it happen this spring, but he put up a crazy bad slash of .081/.244/.108 in 45PA.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Seconded!!!

  • crunch (view)

    another awesome spring of pitching reports.  thanks a lot, appreciated.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Here are the Cubs pitchers reports from Tuesday afternoon's Cardinals - Cubs game art Sloan Park in Mesa:

    SHOTA IMANAGA
    FB: 90-92 
    CUT: 87-89 
    SL: 82-83 
    SPLIT: 81-84
    CV: 73-74 
    COMMENT: Worked three innings plus two batters in the fourth... allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits (six singles and two doubles) walked one, and struck out six (four swinging), with a 1/2 GO/AO... he threw 73 pitches (52 strikes - 10 swing & miss - 19 foul balls)... surrendered one run in the top of the 1st on a one-out double off Cody Bellinger's glove in deep straight-away CF followed one out later by two consecutive two-out bloop singles, allowed two runs (one earned) in the 2nd after retiring the first two hitters (first batter had a nine-pitch AB with four consecutive two-strike foul balls before being retired 3 -U) on a two-out infield single (weak throw on the run by Nico Hoerner), a hard-contact line drive RBI double down the RF line, and an E-1 (missed catch) by Imanaga on what should been an inning-ending 3-1 GO, gave up another run in the 3rd on a two-out walk on a 3-2 pitch and an RBI double to LF, and two consecutive singles leading off the top of the 4th before being relieved (runners were ultimately left stranded)... threw 18 pitches in the 1st inning (14 strikes - two swing & miss, one on FB and the other on a SL - four foul balls), 24 pitches in the 2nd inning (17 strikes - three swing & miss, one on FB, two SPLIT - six foul balls), 19 pitches in the 3rd inning (13 strikes - seven swing & miss, three on SL, two on SPLIT, one on FB - three foul balls), and 12 pitches without retiring a batter in the top of the 4th (8 strikes - no swing & miss - four foul balls)... Imanaga throws a lot of pitches per inning, but it's not because he doesn't throw strikes...  if anything, he throws too many strikes (he threw 70% strikes on Tuesday)... while he gets a ton of swing & miss (and strikeouts), he also induces a lot of foul balls because he doesn't try to make hitters chase his pitches by throwing them out of the strike zone... rather, he uses his very diverse pitch mix to get swing & miss (and lots of foul balls as well)... he also is a fly ball pitcher who will give up more than his share of HR during the course of the season...   
     
    JOE NAHAS
    FB: 90-92 
    SL: 83-85 
    CV: 80-81 
    COMMENT: Was called up from the Hi-A South Bend group at Minor League Camp for the day... relieved Imanaga with runners at first and second and no outs in the top of the 4th, and after an E-2 catcher's interference committed by Miguel Amaya loaded he bases, Nahas struck out the side (one swinging & two looking)... threw 16 pitches (11 strikes - two swinging)...   

    YENCY ALMONTE
    FB: 89-92 
    CH: 86 
    SL: 79 
    COMMENT: Threw an eight-pitch 5th (five strikes - no swing & miss), with a 5-3 GO for the first out and an inning-ending 4-6-3 DP after a one-out single... command was a bit off but he worked through it...   

    FRANKIE SCALZO JR
    FB: 94-95
    CH: 88 
    SL: 83
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and worked the 6th inning... got the first outs easily (a P-5 and a 4-3 GO) on just three pitches, before allowing three consecutive two-out hard-contact hits (a double and two singles), with the third hit on pitch # 9 resulting in a runner being thrown out at the plate by RF Christian Franklin for the third out of the inning... 

    MICHAEL ARIAS
    FB: 94-96
    CH: 87-89
    SL: 82-83
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and allowed a hard-contact double on the third pitch of the 7th inning (a 96 MPH FB), and the runner came around to score on a 4-3 GO and a WP... gave up two other loud contact outs (an L-7 and an F-9)... threw 18 pitches (only 10 strikes - only one swing & miss)... stuff is electric but still very raw and he continues to have difficulty commanding it, and while he has the repertoire of a SP, he throws too many pitches-per-inning to be a SP and not enough strikes to be a closer... he is most definitely still a work-in-progress...   

    ZAC LEIGH: 
    FB: 93-94 
    CH: 89 
    SL: 81-83 
    CV: 78
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and tossed a 1-2-3 8th (4-3 GO, K-swinging on a sweeper, K-looking on another sweeper)... threw 14 pitches (11 strikes - one swing & miss - eight foul balls)... kept pumping pitches into the strike zone but had difficulty putting hitters away (ergo a ton of foul balls)... FB velo is nowhere near the 96-98 MPH it was a couple of years ago when he was a Top 30 prospect, but his secondaries are better...   

    JOSE ROMERO:  
    FB: 93-95
    SL: 82-84
    COMMENT: Was called up from the Hi-A South Bend group at Minor League Camp for the day and worked the 9th (14 pitches - only six strikes- no swing & miss) and allowed a solo HR after two near-HR fly outs to the warning track, before getting a 3-1 GO to end the inning... it was like batting practice when he wasn't throwing pitches out of the strike zone...

  • crunch (view)

    pablo sandoval played 3rd and got a couple ABs (strikeout, single!) in the OAK@SF "exhibition"

    mlb officially authenticated the ball of the single he hit.  nice.

    he's in surprisingly good shape considering his poor body condition in his last playing seasons.  he's not lean, but he looks healthier.  good for him.

  • crunch (view)

    dbacks are signing j.montgomery to a 1/25m with a vesting 20m player option.

    i dunno when the ink officially dries, but i believe if he signs once the season begins he can't be offered a QO...and i'm not sure if that thing with SD/LAD in korea was the season beginning, either.

  • crunch (view)

    sut says imanaga getting the home opener at wrigley (game 4 of the season).

  • crunch (view)

    cubs rolling out the who's who of "who the hell is this guy?" in the last spring game.

  • videographer (view)

    AZ Phil, speaking of Jordan Wicks having better command when he tires a bit, I remember reading about Dennis Lamp 40 years ago and his sinker that was better after 3 or 4 innings when he would tire a bit and get more sink with a little less speed on the pitch.  The key for Lamp was getting to the 4th inning.