Cubs Invite 19 to Spring Training

The Cubs are going to have a full house in Mesa this spring, inviting 19 non-roster players to camp. To the list:

Pitchers:

LHP: J.R. Mathes, James Russell

RHP: Andrew Cashner, Casey Coleman, Thomas Diamond, Jeff Kennard and Vince Perkins

Catchers: Robinson Chirinos, Steve Clevenger, Blake Lalli and Chris Robinson.

Infielders: Darwin Barney, Matt Camp, Starlin Castro, Bryan LaHair, Bobby Scales and Josh Vitters

Outfielders: Brett Jackson and Brad Snyder

I started to keep track of past non-roster invitees at Wiklifield as well and if anyone can help fill in the gaps, it would be much appreciated, even if it's just a link.

In other news, Ted Lilly has already begun throwing after an offseason shoulder scope and Foxsports says the Cubs have shown interest in Kiko Calero, but are worried about his shoulder.

Tags: 
Cubs rumors
Cubs Spring Training
Non-Roster Invites
Submitted by Rob G. on Wed, 01/13/2010 - 12:39pm
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Comments

Submitted by navigator
on Wed, 01/13/2010 - 12:42pm

Live at 2PM Eastern

http://www.naplesnews.com/livevideo/sports/

Submitted by navigator
on Wed, 01/13/2010 - 1:08pm

from the conference,

The Naples partners expect the Cubs to announce their decision immediately following the Cubs convention this weekend.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 01/13/2010 - 1:13pm

couldn't afford decent microphones apparently...

Submitted by Andrew
on Wed, 01/13/2010 - 1:40pm

Is it just me or is that conference mind-numbingly boring, at least to a Cubs fan?

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 01/13/2010 - 1:42pm

I watched 5 minutes and I'm done...my attention span isn't that good. I blame MTV.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 01/13/2010 - 1:01pm

Tigers, Cardinals (Mother effer) and one other team...

http://twitter.com/TBrownYahoo/status/7718076334

Submitted by Ryno
on Wed, 01/13/2010 - 2:36pm

Why aren't the Cubs in on this, again?

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 12:28pm

We've promised the closer spot to a guy gives up a free base runner per inning.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 01/13/2010 - 1:13pm

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2010/01/rich-hi...

somewhere...

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 01/13/2010 - 1:37pm

http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2010/1/13/1249...

Ivan Dejesus will take over 1b coaching duties

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 01/13/2010 - 1:41pm

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/01/...

looks like they're just flipping jobs...

Submitted by jacos
on Wed, 01/13/2010 - 2:34pm

nobody f's with Dejesus

Submitted by Dr. aaron b
on Wed, 01/13/2010 - 2:51pm

Touche my friend....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IONyLZn0pLI

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 01/13/2010 - 1:39pm

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/01/...

still in the picture once he realizes he's not getting a starting job, Xavier Nady mentioned as well

Submitted by The E-Man
on Wed, 01/13/2010 - 1:46pm

We don't have any prospects in Haiti do we?

What a bummer for those already unfortunate folks...

Submitted by Seamhead
on Wed, 01/13/2010 - 2:07pm

Compassion International does a terrific job and is extremely cost-effective. $35 donation will provide food and clean water for a family for a week.

https://www.compassion.com/contribution/givin...

Submitted by The E-Man
on Wed, 01/13/2010 - 3:20pm

Thank you.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 01/13/2010 - 2:38pm

goes on sale tomorrow for those on the season ticket waiting list...

Friday, May 28 vs. St. Louis Cardinals
Friday, June 11 vs. Chicago White Sox
Friday, June 18 vs. Los Angeles Angels
Friday, July 16 vs. Philadelphia Phillies
Friday, July 23 vs. St. Louis Cardinals
Friday, September 3 vs. New York Mets
Friday, September 24 vs. St. Louis Cardinals

Submitted by jacos
on Wed, 01/13/2010 - 3:58pm

Believes McGwire HOFer w/out steroids

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/01/...

He's Dave Kingman at best without the roids.

Submitted by crunch
on Wed, 01/13/2010 - 4:44pm

"I'm not one to judge."

...yet he just judged him to be a HOF'r who's going through a tough time. just because your view isn't negative doesn't mean you're not one to judge...damn humans. i'm not even trying to be all technical here...the guy is an embarrassment to those who played the game clean in the roid era.

Submitted by jacos
on Wed, 01/13/2010 - 4:30pm

A rare anti-Cub article from the dim one

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/slezak/1987655...

Must have ran out of peanut butter for her Great Dane, Muff Muff.

Submitted by crunch
on Wed, 01/13/2010 - 4:46pm

oh nos...a 140 million team with good pitching up top and 3+ legit sluggers in the middle. woe. woe!!

Submitted by Dr. aaron b
on Wed, 01/13/2010 - 4:43pm

26 of 45, but nobody drafted before Dunston

Submitted by jacos
on Wed, 01/13/2010 - 4:51pm

You didn't get Rick James in 1965?

F' your couch!!!
Darkness!!!

Submitted by John Beasley
on Wed, 01/13/2010 - 5:52pm

I don't dare see how bad I would do. However, I'm proud to say I aced playoff opponents. Let's see "the greatest fans in baseball" do that with their rube team.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 01/13/2010 - 4:53pm

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php...

think it's subscription..

Entering 2010, the Cubs have more than $125 million committed to just 11 players, including eight earning more than $10 million. That leaves a team that opened 2009 with a club-record payroll of $137 million almost already there again with 14 contracts still left to fulfill, nine of which could get locked up in the arbitration process. The $125 million figure doesn't lead baseball, as the Yankees and Red Sox surpass it, but what makes situation so uniquely bad is that many of the contracts are for underperforming players, with Hendry' propensity for handing out no-trade clauses like they were lollipops further constraining future personnel decisions, including at the July 31 non-waiver trading deadline should the Cubs contend.

Submitted by Arizona Phil
on Wed, 01/13/2010 - 5:23pm

Actually the Cubs have $116.875M (not more than $125M) committed to their 11 signed players, plus $1M paid toward Aaron Miles 2010 salary, plus a projected estimated $10M for the eight (not nine) arbitration eligibles, plus another $3.5M for auto-renewal guys (including $1M in split salaries for players on option to the minors), for a grand projected estimated total of about $131.375M (so far).

So the Cubs probably have about $9M in available 2010 payroll left (presuming the limit is $140M). It could be more than $9M if the 2010 payroll budget exceeds $140M, although Hendry probably will save some of it for mid-season trade acquisitions.

BTW, the Cubs are presently committed to $98.225M in 2011 salaries for nine players (Derrek Lee and Ted Lilly are the only free-agents), although it could go down to $83.625M if Aramis Ramirez opts to be a FA (player option). In addition to the nine signed players, the eight players presently eligible for arbitration will be joined post-2010 by Geovany Soto and possibly Micah Hoffpauir (could be a "Super Two"), although Hoffpauir would have to spend less than 20 days on optional assignment to the minors in 2010 to be reasonably sure of qualifying as a "Super Two." (If Hoffpauir spends 20 or more days on optional assignment to the minors in 2010 he probably won't have enough MLB Service Time to qualify as a "Super Two").

Submitted by navigator
on Wed, 01/13/2010 - 6:09pm

Read it yesterday at ESPN, but I think it's an Insider-only article there.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 01/13/2010 - 6:09pm

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_s...

But to also think that La Russa was walking around the St. Louis and Oakland clubhouses with his fingers in his ears and a hat like Fat Albert's Dumb Donald also requires a huge leap in logic. Here's one of the smartest guys in the game of baseball, only he was completely stupid in just this one area? That's difficult for people to reconcile.

Submitted by crunch
on Wed, 01/13/2010 - 6:12pm

guys getting away with using roids/hgh on your teams is good managing, imo. hehe...

that said, while i believe larussa most likely knew about it...or at least had a damn good idea it was happening...i imagine the players knew better than to actually make it a public display in front of superiors.

Submitted by Ryno
on Wed, 01/13/2010 - 8:57pm

Same reason Bernie Madoff did it... huge financial incentives for everyone. Bernie Madoff can't get away with it though.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 01/13/2010 - 8:16pm

http://twitter.com/soundofphilly/status/77316...

C. Beltran could be out all of 2010.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 01/13/2010 - 8:38pm

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/basebal...

others saying it was microfracture surgery...

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 01/13/2010 - 8:31pm

http://www.marconews.com/news/2010/jan/13/com...

Medwedeff met with Cubs President Crane Kenney shortly before Christmas. Kenney gave Medwedeff the impression that the owners were looking for support from the hotel association and the big hoteliers to get behind the project.

“Kenney said if he got the consensus of the lodging organiztion within the county that it would suppoprt the project by virtue of bed tax funds it would be the last piece he was looking for to approach the owners that they submit their notice of termination with Mesa and start negotiations with Collier,” Medweddeff said.

Submitted by Cubster
on Wed, 01/13/2010 - 8:50pm

here's what I found:

SI Jon Heyman...heard beltran had knee surgery today. expected to need 8 weeks rehab. may miss start of year. #mets

nyp_joelsherman: Trying to get 2d confirmation, but hear that Beltran had microfracture knee surgery today without #Mets permission

Submitted by navigator
on Wed, 01/13/2010 - 10:07pm

Since when does he need the Mets' permission?

Submitted by jacos
on Wed, 01/13/2010 - 9:03pm

Appropriately Jan Gabriel died on "SUNDAY!SUNDAY!SUNDAY!"

http://www.chitownradio.com/messages/9873.html

Submitted by artskoe
on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 2:14am

So how much money must each game make to break even? About 140 mil for players, another 20 for management/office/scouts. A certain amount of that comes from TV. Beer is ? a can now? I send in 20 bucks a month for MLB.TV...anybody have any idea? Not that I'm scared for "Da Family."

Casey Coleman is a good baseball name. Thomas Diamond is #2 in that category.

Submitted by Cubster
on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 8:58am

adding names to The Good Baseball Name thread...

Prince Fielder
Steve Swisher
Homer Bailey

Submitted by navigator
on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 10:23am

Joshua S. Outman belongs on any list of good baseball names.

Submitted by Cubster
on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 6:34am

on XM last night the Reds team orthopod, Dr Tim Kremchek was interviewed...apparently Beltran had a knee scope by Dr. Richard Steadman out of Colorado (who is known as a specialist in microfracture work). Supposedly Beltran will not be able to resume baseball activities for 12 weeks (mid April) since after microfracture surgery the patient isn't allowed full weight bearing initially in order for the cartilage surface that was drilled to bring in blood supply and give healing cells a head start. I only caught the end of the interview but they were discussing that playing with knee arthritis is somewhat unpredictable because the symptoms can come and go. I doubt the Mets have any issue with who Beltran selected for this procedure since he's still considered a national expert in this area. The only issues might be notification and timing but apparently Beltran felt OK when the season ended but his symptoms became more severe in the past month.

Baseball can be played with arthritic knees but it might take some working around and a decent pain threshold... the best example is Andre Dawson.

here's a link about microfracture surgery that even mentions Dr Steadman. Actually it's not all that new of a procedure. An earlier version was developed by arthroscopic surgery pioneer, Dr Lanny Johnson, in the 1980's.

http://www.ehow.com/facts_5661946_micro-fract...

Submitted by Cubster
on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 6:39am

another Joel Sherman tweet about Mets not happy with Beltran's decision to have surgery without their "blessing":

http://twitter.com/nyp_joelsherman/statuses/7...

Stoopid Mets.

Submitted by Cubster
on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 8:06am

Boras (Beltran's agent) plus Mr Anonymity's comments in USA Today...
-----
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/nl/20...

A person (wearing a bag over his head) with knowledge of the situation said Beltran did not obtain advance written consent from the club to have the surgery, which was performed by his personal physician, Dr. Richard Steadman, in Colorado. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Mets didn't discuss the matter publicly.
---
Beltran's agent, Scott Boras, said the guarantee language in the slugger's contract requires advance written permission only for elective operations.

"This was necessary surgery, necessary surgery to work," Boras told The Associated Press.
---
Boras said Steadman spoke with Mets medical director Dr. David Altchek on Monday and again after Beltran was examined in Colorado on Tuesday, and that Steadman obtained Altchek's consent for the surgery.

Boras also said he called Mets executives Monday to tell them Beltran was going to see Steadman and that they should keep in touch with Altchek.

The person with knowledge of the situation said Altchek was not authorized to give consent because he is not a Mets official.

Submitted by Cubster
on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 8:35am

This is clearly gamesmanship although I don't think the Mets "have a leg to stand on"
---
The definition of "elective" surgery to me means it's ultimately the patients decision to go ahead with surgery which is any procedure that isn't life or limb threatening and (big AND) doesn't have a short timeline to make that decision before a good outcome can't be achieved (ie. fixing significantly displaced fractures which if not treated in a timely manner would lead to a bad result).

The definition of "necessary" surgery is harder to define, since other than cosmetic surgery most surgeons who recommend a procedure think it's necessary based on a particular outcome trying to be achieved (albeit the chance of the surgery achieving it's goal or a good outcome can vary based on the specific medical problem and the track record for a procedure). Certainly the fracture scenerio I mentioned above fits here. In Beltran's case the outcome trying to be achieved is knee pain relief which is more subjective and can't be (ideally) objectively measured. Microfracture surgery is unlikely to restore the damaged articular cartilage to "good as new" condition. It's a procedure recommended to try to achieve pain relief.

So using the terminology being used, it's more of a legal (contracts) issue, not a doctor recommendation issue. Beltran's surgery was clearly elective. It certainly can be considered necessary although I don't like that term (I prefer to use the term "reasonable") since "necessary" has a different meaning to each person involved here...a patient, a doctor, a lawyer, a sports agent and a baseball GM.

Cosmetic surgery (elective, yes; necessary, no) isn't covered by most insurance plans (although it's lucrative work because it's a cash up front business).

Submitted by Charlie
on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 8:53am

Hey Cubster, this is somewhat unrelated, but I'm curious what it means for Carlos Silva if he is trying to pitch through shoulder impingement. How much more damage can he do to himself by pitching through pain in that case? Is it a matter of simply taking anti-inflammatory drugs, pain killers, and prepping differently for games? Is their a surgery option? What route to baseball players usually go with shoulder impingement? Am I wrong that that's what he has?

Submitted by jacos
on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 8:29am

Called it last month(pats self on back)

Paul Sullivan on WSCR this am, said a source of his told him yesterday Cubs looking at Dye to "play 3-4 games a week" to give "Soriano more rest".

Huh?? Sori still sore?
Yikes.

Stay tuned.

Submitted by Cubster
on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 8:44am

on wscr with Sully they also wanted Soriano to play some 2B if they brought in Dye (unless Fuky would play 2B...didn't he start out as a SS?).

Those goofy sportswriters.

They also speculated that Dye's current price tag has dropped into the $3M with incentives range. Dye would be interesting if he's willing to become the platoon RF and 4th OF. One point I liked was what happens if Fuky or Byrd goes out with an injury. Right now it's Micah Hoffpauir as their next option (although I'd rather see Brad Snyder), so that puts Dye in a bit of a different light. The other options are Xavier Nady (who I like) or Reed Johnson (who at least can play CF too).

Submitted by jacos
on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 8:56am

I missed the whole second base thing, which is stupid.

But I figure Dye would be like a Reed Johnson like signing around start of ST.

Padres have no cash.

But the interesting thing I thought was getting Sori rest, which means he'll need to get out of outfield soon, which I think gets him over to first base next year unless they can trade him.

Submitted by Cubster
on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 8:48am

Regarding Dye's status...Padres.com: The source characterized the team's interest in Dye, who has 325 career home runs in 14 Major League seasons, as "low on likelihood."

http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/news/article.j...
---
Here's Sullivan's Tribune link to his Dye comments:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball...

Submitted by Ryno
on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 8:51am

Great plan.... it's FOOLPROOF!

Submitted by Sweet Lou
on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 10:03am

If Dye gives Soriano a rest "3-4 games a week," doesn't that make Dye the starter?

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 10:04am

seemed like you were speculating that he'd be a regular, but Dye as Fuku's platoon partner and giver of days off would be pretty awesome if he's comfortable with the role. Might mean Hoff's out of job though, since they'd want a guy who could play CF on the bench, although I guess Fuku could be the CF back-up

Soto, Hill
Lee, Baker, Fontenot, Theriot, Blanco, Ramirez
Fuku, Byrd, Soriano, Dye, Hoff/Fuld/Colvin

Z, Dempster, Lilly, Wells, Gorzelanny
Marshall, Guzman, Marmol, Grabow, Silva, 2 others

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 10:10am

Adam signs 1/4-5M deal with Dbacks after allegedly turning down 2/17.5M from Giants

whoops...

hope there's a good story behind it...

Submitted by navigator
on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 10:36am

Just up,

http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/fantasy/art...

Submitted by navigator
on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 11:02am

We've all seen this said elsewhere,

1. Starlin Castro: Castro has a full tool shed to work with, including quick wrists that aren't hitting for much power now but should support average power as his body fills out...

but, Castro already has average power, so I'm confused by what they mean. He's a minor league career .403 slugger.

The average major league shortstop hitter is pretty much Ryan Theriot. The 26 SS's with at least 400 PA's last season only put these numbers up, .273 .331 .389 and .712 (which is the average OPS rather than the sum of the average OBA and SLG).

Submitted by big_lowitzki
on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 11:15am

Not sure what Theriot has to do with the "average power" of a SS. Theriot was 16th out of 18 qualifying MLB SS's in SLUG last year.

But a .403 SLUG would place Castro 11th.

Submitted by Charlie
on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 11:34am

You're talking median, Nav is talking average.

I personally think median probably matters more here, though.

Submitted by big_lowitzki
on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 11:55am

No... I am talking about how Ryan Theriot isn't very relevant in talking about the average power of a SS.

Ryan Theriot isn't the average, or median, SS in terms of power.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 12:38pm

All very good, but the original quote doesn't say anything about "for a shorstop". Average power for a MLB regular = 15 HR's 30 doubles.

Submitted by navigator
on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 12:17pm

I mentioned Theriot (in a separate paragraph) because we're all familiar with him and he's arguably an average hitting SS. In my example above his OPS of .712 sets the average for major league baseball. If I expand my list of shortstops to all ML SS's with 250 PA's or more, Theriot's SLG ranks 18/35. ( http://espn.go.com/mlb/stats/batting/_/positi... ) I'd say that's average power by that measure. But most of us don't think Theriot has any power at all.. not really.

So, when writers say Castro has below average power now but may grow into average power, what are they all talking about? That's what I'm asking. As far as I can tell, he's already there power wise.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 12:39pm

Power is measured by ISO, not OPS. Mystery solved.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 12:59pm

I doubt this link works but..

http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=ss&...

Theriot is dead last in ISO over the last 3 years among qualified major league shortstops at .072.

change it to 500 PA's and he's 49 of 56 (ahead of Aaron Miles and Izturis though).

Submitted by jacos
on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 12:13pm

-Said he's in "best shape ever"
- Wants to help team win
-Said he had "6 pack abs" lifted up his shirt, Waddle said atleast a "4 pack" and could not believe Z was 265, but he looked so fit
-Talked about Lou visits to mound and what he says, (Z doing Lou's voice)-"Ya gotta throw strikes. Cmon. ALot of people are watching"
-Most feared hitter Pujlos then Carlos Lee
-Goals for next year "stay in shape" and help the team win
-Did not play softball last year
-Didn't want to address Sosa and McGwire but said he had baseball friend who took "asteroids"(no joke)
The friend did not make MLB but had warning track power and when he took "asteroids"(second time) he could "smash the ball"

Good to see a MLBer admit aster... I mean steroids help you cheat.

Sounded great. Go get'em Z!!!!

Submitted by Seamhead
on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 12:31pm

Levine has a new post up on his blog, where he is attending the owners meetings in AZ.

He concludes, "Hendry will put his GM hat on again this evening when he hopes to talk to other GMs about possible player movement scenarios. The San Diego Padres, Toronto Blue Jays and Colorado Rockies are all teams that have players the Cubs are interested in."

I assume he is refering to Heath Bell, Jason Fraser and Ryan Spillborghs.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 12:42pm

In Spanish it's spelled with an 'e' on the front, which would probably explain his pronunciation, according to the gent who sits behind me.

Submitted by jacos
on Thu, 01/14/2010 - 12:52pm

Ahh! Great call.

It did kinda sound like "esteroid".

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