TCR Friday Notes

I'll ease back into TCR with some links...

- Geovany Soto will be back in the lineup tonight just in
time for some Coors Field inflated hitting. Way to pick your spots
Geo...

- A rather crucial 7-game swing here for the Cubs...4 at Colorado and then 3 at home versus Philly. The Rockies are a game behind the Giants in the wild card and one ahead of the Cubs. Pitching matchups for this weekend are: Zambrano vs U. Jimenez (3.76 ERA), Dempster vs. Marquis (3.49), Wells vs. Hammell (4.62) and Gorzelanny vs. De La Rosa (5.00 ERA, although 5-0 with a 2.50 ERA in July, but then got crushed in his first August start against Philly).

- Here's a great Dusty-ism, except it's from Hendry.

"I can't say enough about Hill," general manager Jim Hendry said. "He really saved us."

- Carlos Marmol leads all of baseball with a 8.48 BB/9 rate and at least 50 innings pitched (52 currently). I went back to 1995 and only found 2 other instances of a walk rate above 8 per nine innings and at least 50 innings pitched, John Rocker in 2000 (53 IP) and Stephen Randolph in 2004 (81.2 IP). Not a good career choice for Marmol...

When I think of control-challenged relievers that played for the Cubs, my mind always wanders to Mitch Williams. His career worst (using the 50 IP cut-off) was 7.79 BB/9 in 108.1 IP for the Rangers in 1987. In his 2 years with the Cubs, he walked 5.84 in 1989 (a career best) and 6.78 per nine innings.

- The Cubs signed their 6th round pick, LHP Brooks Raley to a $750K bonus, and inked their first 12 picks to date. The deadline is August 17th.

- Julio Castillo, the Cub farmhand that was indicted for throwing at a fan during a brawl last year, ended up getting 30 days of jail time and three years probation. As far as I know, he's still a member of the Cubs organization, although I'm sure Arizona Phil would know better.

-  Kevin Hart made his first start for the Pirates last night, going 6 innings and giving up 3 runs, 1 BB, 9 H, and 5 K's.

- Chad Gaudin has been traded from the Padres to the New York Yankees for a player to be named later...he could replace another ex-Cub in Sergio Mitre in the rotation.

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Friday Notes
Submitted by Rob G. on Thu, 08/06/2009 - 9:52pm
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Comments

Submitted by Cubster
on Fri, 08/07/2009 - 6:38am

Yankee's plan to acquire all ex-cubs for the bottom end of their pitching staff...

side by side with Sergio Meatball stands Chad Gaudin (who is still on the Cubs payroll)

http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2009/08/06/gaudin-to-jo...

Submitted by Ryno
on Fri, 08/07/2009 - 7:50am

So the Cubs can't hit a sleepy 84 MPH Justin Lehr fastball, but they'll probably clobber Jimenez' 98 MPH fastball...

What a silly game.

Submitted by The E-Man
on Fri, 08/07/2009 - 10:32am

Chad Gaudin - he of the 5.00+ era and 1.88 SO/BB fame.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 08/07/2009 - 12:05pm

Carl Pavano to Twins for a PTBNL

Submitted by Seamhead
on Fri, 08/07/2009 - 12:25pm

Roster move for Soto?

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Fri, 08/07/2009 - 1:15pm

DFA Hendry?

Submitted by Seamhead
on Fri, 08/07/2009 - 4:01pm

Good choice.

Very little range and seemingly powerless these days.

Submitted by Arizona Phil
on Fri, 08/07/2009 - 12:30pm

Yes, Julio "Animal" Castillo is still a member of the Cubs organization (he is technically on the Boise Reserve List). He was at Fitch Park throwing bullpen side-sessions & sim games for about three months before going to Dayton for the trial. What his ultimate future with the Cubs will be, I don't know, but he does throw in the mid-90's...

Castillo is the man-child from the jungles of Hispanola (near the Dominican Republic-Haiti border) who caught a rat at the Peoria Sports Complex a couple of years ago and kept the rodent as a pet in his motel room while he spent the summer pitching for the AZL Cubs.

Submitted by navigator
on Fri, 08/07/2009 - 12:33pm

I was surprised to see that Milton Bradley is on a pace to appear in 134 games this year.

But, what are the chances? That would be the second highest total in his career (2004 - 141 is tops) and he averages 90-100 games per season. Time may be running out. Uncle Milty has appeared in 88 games already.

Submitted by crunch
on Fri, 08/07/2009 - 4:05pm

you could probably tack on another 10+ games to that if he wasn't rested for matchups.

Submitted by The Joe
on Fri, 08/07/2009 - 4:08pm

If he wasn't rested for matchups, he might have had a limb fall off by now, due to his Mark Prioritus.

Submitted by VirginiaPhil
on Fri, 08/07/2009 - 12:49pm

Re Hill: I don't like watching him come to the plate either, but maybe catching is mostly about catching, and maybe there's more to catching than the usual stats. If a catcher has workable ideas about how to get a hitter out, it could show up in the final score.

By my count, the Cubs are 55-30 in games that Hill has started, going back to 2007 when he took over for Michael Barrett. When you consider that Hill weakens the team's offense when he plays, it's even more remarkable.

After 2007, people mostly dismissed Hill's team-related success as lucky timing, but now it has happened again.

Submitted by big_lowitzki
on Fri, 08/07/2009 - 1:00pm

After 2007, people mostly dismissed Hill's team-related success as lucky timing, but now it has happened again.

Who knew that, in addition to adding 5 mph to a pitcher's fastball, Koyie Hill would also make Soriano hit better, Bradley hit better, ARam get healthy, Fukudome to come out of his slump, etc? He really does have super powers, eh?

The Cubs haven't been winning more games (since Soto went on the DL) because of Hill. They are winning games because they are scoring more runs. And Hill has had very, very little to do with that.

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Fri, 08/07/2009 - 1:18pm

Who knew Big Lo was Koyie Hill's kryptonite?

Submitted by Arizona Phil
on Fri, 08/07/2009 - 12:55pm

In addition to signing LHP-OF Brooks Raley (6th round pick out of Texas A&M) for Supplemental 1st round money (he received nearly $250K more than 2nd round pick D. J. LeMahieu got), the Cubs also recently signed left-handed hitting slugging catcher Sergio Burruel (19th round pick out of Trevor Browne HS - Phoenix, AZ) to an above-slot bonus, and Burruel made his pro debut (as DH) last night for the AZL Cubs (he walked and crushed a double in four PA).

LHP Aaron Kirk (3rd round pick out of Owasso HS - Owasso, OK) made his pro debut Wednesday night, threw one inning, and struck out the side. He has plus-velocity.

The Cubs have now signed 29 of their 50 selections from the 2009 Rule 4 Draft, including their first 12 picks and 14 of their top 15, although two of the players who signed (17th round pick RHP B. J. Dail and 23rd rounder OF Jeffrey Pruitt) subsequently had their contracts voided.  

The AZL season is over on August 28th but the Boise season doesn't end for another ten days after that, so expect several AZL Cubs to get promoted to Boise on August 29th.

Submitted by Raisin101
on Fri, 08/07/2009 - 5:36pm

Wow, I didn't realize Kirk had plus velocity. That's nice to read.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Sat, 08/08/2009 - 1:16pm

That's a steal for Raley. A really impressive coup for the Cubs scouting department to get that guy. For about 2/3rds of the season he was the best pitcher in the country (though never the best prospect of course). Oh yeah, and he projects to be a Darrin Erstad type in center field and with the bat. Any word on what the Cubs are wanting to do with him, Phil? Or rather what he wants to do?

Submitted by Raisin101
on Sat, 08/08/2009 - 10:13pm

He was drafted as a pitcher.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Sun, 08/09/2009 - 1:30pm

True, but the Cubs have a history of letting people choose. I am sure they would have loved to convert Harvey to pitching two years ago, for instance.

Submitted by Indiana JJ
on Fri, 08/07/2009 - 12:56pm

The best fans in baseball...
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/...

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Fri, 08/07/2009 - 2:02pm

That's why I'm all for the death penalty for any offense. :)

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Fri, 08/07/2009 - 2:20pm

The people at the Sporting News apparently don't follow baseball very closely. Their MLB home page has a picture of Carlos Zambrano and the blurb underneath reads:

"Victor Zambrano and the Cubs try to figure out how to win on the road as they head to Colorado in a key series for both contenders. That's just one of several intriguing matchups this weekend, Ryan Fagan says."

http://www.sportingnews.com/mlb/

Update: it took them a few hours but they finally fixed it.

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Fri, 08/07/2009 - 1:14pm

Scary note for the Cubs:

Of the next 31 games the Cardinals play, only 3 are against a team currently over .500 (Dodgers).

CRAP

Submitted by Ryno
on Fri, 08/07/2009 - 1:58pm

That's kind of scary, but I still fully believe the Cubs biggest enemy right now is the Cubs. If they can just do what they do, they'll be alright.

Submitted by Doug Dascenzo
on Fri, 08/07/2009 - 1:34pm

Anyone want to take a flyer on the Giambino as a LH bat off the bench?

He's only hitting .193 this year, but has 40 RBIs to go along with 11 HRs. Could he be this year's Jim Edmonds (although mostly as a PH)?

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Fri, 08/07/2009 - 1:51pm

No thanks. He's an admitted steroid freak, and if you want to overlook that he can't play any position and he can't hit. So what value does he have? Why Oakland gave him almost $6 million guaranteed between this year and next year's buyout is beyond me. He sucks.

Submitted by Ryno
on Fri, 08/07/2009 - 1:56pm

Nah. This team is dislikable enough even without Giambi. I'm okay with a slightly less muscly Micah Hoffpauir off the bench.

Submitted by Doug Dascenzo
on Fri, 08/07/2009 - 2:32pm

Giambi's dislikable? I always kinda figured him to be a fun, beer-drinking, party guy.

Also, he grows one helluva mustache.

Anyway, he doesn't really fit anywhere on the Cubs, but even at .193 he's got more RBIs than Bradley. Shit, just last year he hit 32 HRs and had an OPS+ of 128.

Submitted by Cubster
on Fri, 08/07/2009 - 2:42pm

file this under fun with the rule 5 draft: Pirates place Donald Veal back to the DL with a sprained left index finger

file this under McFail ain't doin' us any favors: Gregg Zaun from the O's to the Rays for cash considerations

file this under I'm selective when type and pasting: Brewers recalled RHP Jesus...
(that outta help their pitching staff)

Submitted by Ryno
on Fri, 08/07/2009 - 3:06pm

Just a couple weeks ago we saw a ball get lost in the jersey of an opposing pitcher... you don't have that problem with a robe.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Sat, 08/08/2009 - 1:18pm

well played.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 08/07/2009 - 2:45pm

back for a day at Deadspin...

http://deadspin.com/5332199/the-deadspin-2009-fall...

Submitted by John Beasley
on Fri, 08/07/2009 - 2:58pm

Unbelievable... waiver claim on Rios.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4384253

Who the hell would want that at that price?

Submitted by Ryno
on Fri, 08/07/2009 - 3:04pm

The Dodgers? They have a recent history of terrible contracts.

Submitted by John Beasley
on Fri, 08/07/2009 - 3:24pm

Normally the Dodgers couldn't get anybody through waivers at this point, but in this case, I can see why nobody got in their way.

Maybe the Mets? That's about my only reasonable guess, if they think he can really help them the next four years or whatever he has left.

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Fri, 08/07/2009 - 4:34pm

I'll guess it's the Giants. But you can't count the Royals out, their GM seems to make some questionable financial moves as well, but the Giants are starved for offense and they talked about trading for Rios a while back.

Submitted by The Joe
on Fri, 08/07/2009 - 4:01pm

I like Rios. They can have Bradley, Heilman and Miles in exchange. This defeats the purpose of shedding payroll? I don't care.

Submitted by Cubster
on Fri, 08/07/2009 - 3:10pm

.. you don't have that problem with a robe
---
can't be correct, wasn't he a lefty?

Submitted by Chad
on Fri, 08/07/2009 - 3:32pm

So the whole thing about Donald Veal and how the pirates might be stashing him on the dl (or not for that matter) made me think of something.

Often a young player like David Patton may be coerced into playing along with a fake injury in order to stay with the team. If I'm him I would do the same, you get to stay on a first place team and have a future with a club like hte Cubs (in this case, i'm considering it a good thing).

But let's take a guy like Donald Veal. He was Cub but then gets Rule 5'd to the Gulag. If they are trying to stash him even though he's not really hurt, couldn't he file a grievance with the union? (this presumes that he'd rather be a Cub, as of course anyone would)

Submitted by Doug Dascenzo
on Fri, 08/07/2009 - 3:54pm

I think the $440K he's getting paid to sit on the DL is what's keeping him happy, considering he'd be nowhere near the majors with the Cubs. Same goes for Patton.

Submitted by The Joe
on Fri, 08/07/2009 - 10:55pm

I wonder if there's some sort unwritten rule that you agree to do it...or be branded as someeone who's not a team player.

Submitted by Rob Richardson
on Fri, 08/07/2009 - 3:55pm

As a lefty this has always interested me.

http://members.tripod.com/bb_catchers/catchers/cat...

http://www.sabernomics.com/sabernomics/index.php/2...

Submitted by crunch
on Fri, 08/07/2009 - 4:12pm

you'll be hard pressed to find a coach in highschool or college that would want a LH catcher...the curve stops there many times.

from the "throwing to 3rd thing" to worries about RH hitters (way more of them than lefty hitters) being able to sneak signs easier...there's plenty of excuses to go around.

Submitted by Cubster
on Fri, 08/07/2009 - 4:17pm

.. you don't have that problem with a robe
---
he can pitch, and catch all at the same time even with a catchers glove on his right hand.

dos equis XX

Submitted by Cubster
on Fri, 08/07/2009 - 4:23pm

if that saw went any deeper, Koyie Hill might have been your most recent mlb left handed catcher...

Submitted by Jace
on Fri, 08/07/2009 - 4:27pm

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stat...

Still climbing the ladder in Yankees' system. Was promoted at the beginning of July to High-A Tampa. Has a 2.60 ERA, 1.10 WHIP. Still pitching with both hands... How far will he go? It sure has been fun to follow...

Submitted by Doug Dascenzo
on Fri, 08/07/2009 - 5:09pm

I think it would be such a valuable skill to be an ambidextrous quarterback so you could roll out to either side and throw on the run.

I hope this guy makes the majors. Would be really cool to watch.

Submitted by Romero
on Fri, 08/07/2009 - 7:28pm

Pat Transvenditte.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 08/07/2009 - 4:35pm

Smoltz DFA'd by Red Sox...

Submitted by The E-Man
on Fri, 08/07/2009 - 6:25pm

The Hoff sent down to AAA, as some of you had desired, to make room for "Oblique-Man"

Submitted by Arizona Phil
on Fri, 08/07/2009 - 8:13pm

Submitted by Cubster on Fri, 08/07/2009 - 1:42pm.
file this under fun with the rule 5 draft: Pirates place Donald Veal back to the DL with a sprained left index finger

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

CUBSTER: Donald Veal has spent 85 days on the Pirates 25-man roster in 2009, so five more days on the Active Roster (and presumably he will be reactivated after rosters expand on 9/1) and the Rule 5 restrictions will be lifted for 2010, so that the Pirates can option Veal to the minors in 2010, 2011, and 2012 (if they wish).

David Patton has already spent 90+ days on the Cubs 25-man Active List in 2009, so he could just go home for the rest of the year because he has spent enough time on the Cubs 25-man roster for his Rule 5 restrictions to be lifted next season. (If a Rule 5 player spends less than 90 days on an MLB Active List in the season following selection in the Rule 5 Draft, the Rule 5 restrictions continue into the next season until the player has accrued 90 days of MLB Service Time).

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