Angels Withstand Cub Comeback at Extended Spring Training

Runey Davis reached base three times, scored two runs, knocked-in another, and stole a base, but the EXST Angels scored two runs in the 8th to take the lead after the EXST Cubs had clawed their way back from a 6-0 deficit to tie the game in the 6th, and held-on to defeat the Cubs 8-6 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training action at Fitch Park Field #3 in Mesa this morning.


With two hits today, Davis raised his EXST batting average to .353 (.450 OBP), and with his speed and the ability to play all three OF positions, I would think Davis (the Cubs 2009 12th round pick out of JUCO World Series champion Howard JC) is a strong candidate to get promoted to Peoria.


RHP Eduardo Figueroa got the start today for the Cubs and had a very poor outing, allowing six runs (four earned) on six hits and two walks (plus a WP) in just 1.0+ IP. But RHP Yohan Gonzalez threw three innings of shutout relief (lowering his ERA to 1.29 and his WHIP to 0.86) and RHP Jadel Mendez followed Gonzo with two innings of shutout relief to keep the Cubs in the game. Mendez allowed three hits in his two innings of work, inducing two timely double plays to get out of jams.


EXST Cubs co-closer Rogelio Carmona entered the game with the score tied, and picked-up the loss after allowing two runs on a double, a triple, and two walks.


2009 5th round draft pick Wes Darvill (Langley, BC) committed his team-leading 5th error (two errors so far at SS, and three at 2B), leading to two unearned runs (although he did go 1-3 to raise his BA to .200), and Jae-Hoon Ha was charged with his 5th Passed Ball. (Ha was a catcher in HS in Korea, then was moved to RF after he signed with the Cubs in 2008, and then was moved back to catcher last September in the AZ Instructional League)


Here is today’s abridged box score (EXST Cubs players only):


LINEUP
1. Arismendy Alcantara, SS: 0-3 (F-9, BB, 5-3, K, R, SB)
2. Vismeldy Bieneme, DH-2B: 0-3 (K, BB, K, 4-3, R)
3. Jesus Morelli, RF: 1-4 (L-9, 2B, 1-3, F-7, RBI)
4. Brandon May, 1B: 0-2 (BB, L-8 SF, K, 4-3, R, RBI)
5. Charles Thomas, 3B: 1-4 (E-6, 3-U, 1-3, 1B)
6. Jae-Hoon Ha, DH-C: 1-4 (4-6-3 GIDP, 1B, F-7, 6-4-3 GIDP, PO)
7. Runey Davis, CF: 2-2 (1B, BB, 1B, 2 R, RBI, SB, CS)
8a. Carlos Romero, C: 1-2 (1B, 1-3, RBI)
8b. Bobby Wagner, PH: 0-0 (BB, R)
9. Wes Darvill, 2B-DH: 1-3 (1B, E-6, 6-3)
10a. Cody Shields, LF: 1-2 (1B, F-9, PO)
10b. Albert Hernandez, LF: 0-1 (K)


PITCHERS:
1. Eduardo Figueroa – 1.0 IP, 6 H, 6 R (4 ER), 2 BB, 0 K, 1 WP, 1/2 GO/FO, 48 pitches (26 strikes)
2. Yohan Gonzalez – 3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 GIDP, 3/4 GO/FO, 46 pitches (27 strikes)
3. Jadel Mendez – 2.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 2 GIDP, 5/1 GO/FO, 23 pitches (14 strikes)
4. Rogelio Carmona – 2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 3 K, 43 pitches (27 strikes)


ERRORS (1):
2B Wes Darvill E-4 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base and runner on 1st base to advance to 3rd base – both subsequently scored unearned runs)


CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Carlos Romero: 0-1 CS
Jae-Hoon Ha: 0-1 CS, 1 PB


ATTENDANCE: 8


WEATHER: Partly cloudy and VERY breezy with winds gusting up to 30 MPH, with temperatures in the 60’s

Tags: 
Extended Spring Training
EXST Cubs
Runey Davis
Eduardo Figueroa
Yohan Gonzalez
Submitted by Arizona Phil on Thu, 04/29/2010 - 5:22pm
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Comments

Submitted by Cubster
on Thu, 04/29/2010 - 6:35pm

Robinson Chirinos hit his 6th HR for a Smokies 3-0 lead in the first. Also a solo HR from Ty Wright.

vs the Chatanooga Lookouts (wished they were the choo-choo's)

Matt Spencer added to the Smokies roster (he was obtained in the Jake Fox deal)

Submitted by crunch
on Thu, 04/29/2010 - 9:54pm

someone at the MIL@SD game screamed "White Power" really loud during a richie weeks at bat.

bet a million we won't hear anything about it...bet a million more i'll still be hearing that same dude yell other stuff rather than getting dealt with by the people around him....

must be $1 beer night in SD...there's a lot of "screaming things" fans tonight.

Submitted by crunch
on Thu, 04/29/2010 - 10:09pm

still there. ...and now fans are screaming at other screaming fans across the park along with a crew who are on every single call the umps make.

this is like 10-12 or so people (along with an unidentifiable crew of girls who keep going "woooooooo" at the boys) becoming the voice of 30K people. neat-o.

it's not non-stop noise...it's just for some reason the mics are picking up a lot of crowd noise (or these guys are REALLY f'n loud). a lot has to do with the crowd being almost totally dead except when the ball is in play.

Submitted by crunch
on Thu, 04/29/2010 - 11:08pm

this mil/sd game is nuts...0-8 MIL/SD bottom 5 (bases loaded 0 out) with SD's hits (13) being all singles and 2bb. 7 straight singles in the bottom 5th...

small ball!

-edit- finished with another run after a run scoring double play and a popout.

Submitted by Ryno
on Fri, 04/30/2010 - 6:56am

Those people are probably at all games. The fewer people that are there, the easier it is to hear individual screamers. Maybe it has something to do with the microphones they use or something.

Submitted by The E-Man
on Thu, 04/29/2010 - 10:35pm

In a surfing moment I have happened upon "The Rookie" which I am sure many of you have seen (as have I).

Wanting to look up the "real" Jim Morris at B-R, he was really not half-bad a pitcher for the Rays in 1999 and 2000.

And, his manager that preceded Lou - Larry Rothschild.

Submitted by Ryno
on Fri, 04/30/2010 - 9:16am

It's always fun to read comments on other team's blog sites. Exchange the names in the comments and it could easily be applied to TCR.

I'm just numb. {manager name removed} will keep going with the status quo. Just waiting to see today's lineup so I can vomit in my mouth when I see {players name removed}'s name on it.

The team?

...

Submitted by Ryno
on Fri, 04/30/2010 - 9:19am

Braves...

Bobby Cox, Troy Glaus

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Fri, 04/30/2010 - 9:34am

I read the Sports Illutrated Baseball Preview the other day and it's suggested improvement for the team was benching Glaus and playing Hinske.

Submitted by Ryno
on Fri, 04/30/2010 - 11:05am

Braves fans agree.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 04/30/2010 - 12:07pm

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/boxscore?gid=3004...

Theriot, Fuku, Lee, Ramirez, Colvin, Soriano, Font, Soto, Wells

vs.

Johnson, Drew, Upton, Reynolds, LaRoche, Parra, Gillespie, Snyder, Lopez

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 04/30/2010 - 12:13pm

M. Parisi rocked for 7 ER in 2 IP, LaHair and W. Castillo go 2/3 and LaHair goes 3/4 in the 11-7 loss

Muschko goes 6 IP, 2 ER, 4 K in a 4-3 Tennessee loss. Castro 0/4 but R. Chirinos goes 2/4 with a HR and T. Wright hits a HR as well.

B. Raley with 5 IP, 9 K and 1 ER in a 4-3 Daytona loss. D. Patton gives up 2 runs in .2 IP. Burke finally has a good day at 3/4 with a 2B.

H. Lee gets on-base 3 times out of the leadoff spot for Peoria in a 8-7 win.

Submitted by QuietMan
on Fri, 04/30/2010 - 12:41pm

Mesa site in doubt.

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=377352&s...

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 04/30/2010 - 12:45pm

I see Bud Selig really stepped in and took care of everything.

Well-done.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 04/30/2010 - 12:51pm

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=jp-ariz...

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Fri, 04/30/2010 - 1:42pm

I love that scenario. First of all, keep a copy of your passport and Visa stamp in your wallet, just like Americans have to do in almost every other country in the world... but say he did forget his wallet at home, and he and his friend are unable to explain that they're ballplayers, and the cop, reasonably assumes that they're not, and that this white kid is smuggling in Venezuelans to administer pine tar to bats for $4 an hour.

I love how the writer quotes Hernandez, "“I’m not worried,” said Seattle pitcher Felix Hernandez(notes), a Venezuela native. “I’ll just tell them I play baseball and it’ll be fine.”, right after concluding that players won't sign with the D-Backs... what a nutjob.

Submitted by Ross_Barnes
on Fri, 04/30/2010 - 1:09pm

You know, catchers at the high levels of the Cubs' system are having a banner year so far:

MLB Cubs:

Soto:.340/.500/.480

Iowa Cubs:

Castillo: .270/.357/.676

Robinson: .250/.382/.429

Smokies:

Chirinos: ..361/.414/.754

Clevenger: .333/.400/.400

This level of performance obviously won't last, but I have to believe this is the most talented catching core the Cubs have had in many a moon.

Submitted by Rob Richardson
on Fri, 04/30/2010 - 1:33pm

"I don't have any doubts you'll see [Castro] in Chicago this season, but to put an exact date on it would be foolish."

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/news/st...

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 04/30/2010 - 1:43pm

http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/NickPie...

I imagine a boycott by the players of the the 2011 ASG or possibly even spring training would be the next step if the law isn't repealed by then.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Fri, 04/30/2010 - 1:43pm

I like next Tuesday. Push Theriot to 2nd and Bakernot to third until Aram acts like a professional hitter.

Submitted by billybucks
on Fri, 04/30/2010 - 1:57pm

Cubs only hit indoors in Milwaukee.

If Ricketts is smart, he'll put a dome on Wrigley. Before tomorrow's game.

Submitted by Ryno
on Fri, 04/30/2010 - 2:21pm

That would actually solve several problems.

The rooftop people would be pissed, tho

Submitted by Ryno
on Fri, 04/30/2010 - 2:08pm

This season is going smashingly.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 04/30/2010 - 2:12pm

when they get Z back in the rotation it'll just be like making a trade.

Odds that Cubs even score 3 runs in this game?

Submitted by Ryno
on Fri, 04/30/2010 - 2:19pm

I get the feeling that they are all trying to hit homers. Is anyone else getting that vibe?

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Fri, 04/30/2010 - 2:53pm

Not watching, but after Fukudome hit the grand slam yesterday it was pretty obvious that Lee and Ramirez were looking to pad their stats, rather than just get on base.

Submitted by Ryno
on Fri, 04/30/2010 - 3:07pm

6 runs. Take that Debbie Downer.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Fri, 04/30/2010 - 2:55pm

it being the last day of April and all, but that original plan of batting Fukudome third sure seems like a good one right about now.

Wells had better get it going or his slugging is going to fall below our cleanup hitter's.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 04/30/2010 - 2:58pm

The sabermetricians are welcome to have their opinions about our business. However, I choose to ignore their opinions.

Submitted by Ryno
on Fri, 04/30/2010 - 3:04pm

Word.

Submitted by Ryno
on Fri, 04/30/2010 - 3:07pm

I mean not really. Stats have their place, but you really got to keep it in perspective. Stats are a historical record of what happened, not a crystal ball to tell you what WILL happen. Sure, there are predictors, but they usually aren't very good.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Fri, 04/30/2010 - 3:12pm

So the thought is that Ryan Howard is going to start hitting 60 HR's annually?

Submitted by Ryno
on Fri, 04/30/2010 - 3:15pm

I'm talking about stats, not Ryan Howard.

Submitted by Rob Richardson
on Fri, 04/30/2010 - 3:37pm

To ignore the historical record (stats) because it is not a perfect predictor of the future would be short sighted.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 04/30/2010 - 4:27pm

Sure, there are predictors, but they usually aren't very good.

depends on your definition of "Very good". Seems that distractors want 100% accuracy out of there stats-based predictions, but it's fair to say that you can predict a lot better today than say 25 years ago.

Submitted by Ryno
on Fri, 04/30/2010 - 9:56pm

Well I don't want to get into a big stat v. gut feeling war because to be honest, I don't really know what's better. The truth, like so many other things, is probably somewhere in the middle. Stats are good for certain things, like seeing that a guy strikes out a lot, but it will never replace a good scouting report.

To the man who only has a hammer in the toolbox, every problem looks like a nail.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 04/30/2010 - 3:06pm

to replace the injured Suzuki...not sure who will be getting starts, him, Fox or Landon Powell (I assume Powell).

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Fri, 04/30/2010 - 3:11pm

I guess that means he's still catching? How did the A's wind up with our two best power hitting prospects?

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 04/30/2010 - 3:22pm

still catches primarily, a few games at 3b and 1b since becoming an A

92 K's to 80 BB's last year, not showing much HR power yet...

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/play...

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Fri, 04/30/2010 - 3:45pm

Looks like you get good patience or good power from him - not a bad replacement offensively for Suzuki.

Submitted by Rob Richardson
on Fri, 04/30/2010 - 3:42pm

I kind of don't miss having him on the team.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Fri, 04/30/2010 - 3:47pm

Yeah, Smardizija got sent down so we don't have a Heilman replacement anymore. There must be another ex-Irish reliever with no out-pitch we can find somewhere to fill the "we don't want to win this game" role for the Cubs.

Submitted by Rob Richardson
on Fri, 04/30/2010 - 3:50pm

Hey they both also went to ND.

Submitted by Ryno
on Fri, 04/30/2010 - 9:48pm

lol

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Fri, 04/30/2010 - 4:09pm

Nice to club a team, for once, and get Wells an "easy" win.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 04/30/2010 - 4:22pm

was so surprised by Grabow's 1 IP with 2K's that they're giving the credit to Sean Marshall at the moment in my fantasy league.

Sean Marshall
(ChC - SP,RP)
SP Ari Top 9, 11-5 8% 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 4.50

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Fri, 04/30/2010 - 5:03pm

Fox sports play by play also had Marshall and then changed it to Grabow after the inning was over... I was equally surprised.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 04/30/2010 - 4:25pm

despite the blow to his ERA today, Wells has turned himself into a strikeout pitcher so far this year

6 IP, 8 K's today...

27 K's in 31.1 IP against 5 BB's

Submitted by Ross_Barnes
on Fri, 04/30/2010 - 6:07pm

Absolutely, Rob. Although I think he'll continue to be prone to giving up his share of base hits, the excellent control combined with minimal gopher ball tendencies should allow him to be effective most of the time.

Submitted by QuietMan
on Fri, 04/30/2010 - 6:27pm

Kevin Hart

labrum tear

http://twitter.com/RoccoDeMaro/status/1315301...

Submitted by crunch
on Fri, 04/30/2010 - 6:37pm

...and nothing of value was lost

Submitted by The Joe
on Sat, 05/01/2010 - 9:47pm

Dunno...I think he needs that labrum.

Submitted by crunch
on Sat, 05/01/2010 - 11:06pm

well, if he's not king of the wusses he can just man up and walk it off.

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