Wells, It Could Have Been Worse

Ryan Cuneo homered and doubled (and just missed another HR when a long fly hooked foul at the last second), Pin Chieh Chen had three hits (a single, a double, and a triple), and Randy Wells saw his first game action since April 4th, but the EXST Angels got hits when they counted and induced three rally-killing double-plays, edging a split squad of EXST Cubs 5-4 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training action at Fitch Park Field #3 in Mesa this morning.


The game was extended an extra inning to allow all of the Angels and Cubs pitchers due to throw today to get their scheduled work.



Making his first appearance in a game since being placed on the 15-day DL on April 5th with a right forearm strain, Wells threw two innings (40 pitches), allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits (three singles, a double, and a triple), with no walks and two strikeouts, and a balk.


Wells retired the first man he faced on a fly out to left on a 2-2 pitch, before allowing a triple into the right-centerfield alley. A spectacular diving catch by CF Kyung-Min Na on a pop fly to short-center saved a run and another base-runner, but the next two batters ripped consecutive two-out RBI hits (a single and a double) to plate the Angels first two runs Wells then recorded the third out of the 1st inning on a 3-1 GO (where Wells had to double-time it to 1st base to just barely beat the batter to the bag).


Wells found himself in trouble again right at the outset of the 2nd inning when a fielding error put the Angels lead-off man on 1st base. A ground out moved the runner up to 2nd, before two singles (on consecutive pitches) drove-in the Angels third run. The big right-hander then got it together and struck out the final two batters he faced, both looking. (Of Wells 28 strikes, ten balls were put into play, three were fouled-off, 11 were called strikes, and four were of the swinging variety).


RHP Andrew Cashner (rotator cuff) is a bit behind Wells in his rehab, and was limited to throwing a "two-inning" (30 pitch) pre-game "live" BP session on Field #2. One of Cash's pitches hit Augie Ojeda on the foot, sending the diminutive veteran infielder to the clubhouse and knocking him out of the starting lineup of the game on Field #3. For Augie, Fitch Park must be starting to feel like The Hotel California.


While one squad of Cubs was playing the Angels at Fitch Park, the other squad (known as Squad “A”) traveled up the 101 Pima Freeway to the Talking Stick Resort to play the EXST Rockies at Salt River Fields. Unfortunately I can provide no information about that game.


Here is today’s abridged box score from the game played at Fitch Park (Cubs players only):


LINEUP:
1. Pin-Chieh Chen, 2B: 3-4 (1B, 3B, 4-3, 2B+E9, R, RBI)
2. Dustin Geiger, 3B: 0-4 (6-4-3 DP, 6-3, K, K, RBI)
3. Ryan Cuneo, DH #1: 2-4 (HR, F-8, 2B, F-7, R, RBI)
4. Reggie Golden, RF: 0-4 (6-3, K, 1-3, 5-3)
5. Brian Inoa, DH #2: 2-4 (1B, F-7, 4-3, 3B, R, CS)
6. Eduardo Gonzalez, LF: 1-2 (F-7, BB, 1B, F-7 SF, RBI)
7. Johan DeJesus, C: 2-4 (2B, 5-4-3 DP, 6-4-3 DP, 1B)
8. Xavier Batista, 1B: 1-4 (K, 1B, K, K, CS)
9. Wes Darvill, SS: 0-3 (P-4, K, K)
10. Kyung-Min Na, CF: 1-3 (F-8, 6-3, 1B, R)


PITCHERS:
1. Randy Wells: 2.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R (2 ER), 0 BB, 2 K, 1 BALK, 40 pitches (28 strikes), 2/2 GO/FO
2. Jose Rosario: 4.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 5 K, 53 pitches (30 strikes), 4/2 GO/FO
3. Yilver Sanchez: 2.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 3 K, 1 HR, 37 pitches (24 strikes), 1/2 GO/FO
4. Manolin DeLeon: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 16 pitches (10 strikes), 2/1 GO/FO


ERRORS: 4
1. SS Wes Darvill - E6 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely – eventually scored unearned run)
2. SS Wes Darvill - E6 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely)
3. SS Wes Darvill - E6 (throwing error allowed batter to reach base safely)
4. 1B Xavier Batista - E3 (missed catch on what should have been a 6-3 GO allowed batter to reach base safely)


CATCHERS DEFENSE
Johan DeJesus: 3-3 CS


ATTENDANCE: 3


WEATHER: Sunny with temperatures in the 80’s

Tags: 
Extended Spring Training
Randy Wells
EXST Cubs
Ryan Cuneo
Pin-Chieh Chen
Augie Ojeda
Andrew Cashner
Submitted by Arizona Phil on Thu, 05/12/2011 - 2:50pm
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Comments

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 05/12/2011 - 2:55pm

encouraging.

~sigh~

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 05/12/2011 - 3:21pm

bases loaded, 1 out and Soriano up and already 2/2 on the day

"Soriano popped out to second"

~sigh~

200/237/314 heading into the game with RISP

351/383/860 with no one on

Submitted by navigator
on Thu, 05/12/2011 - 4:13pm

and 7 HR leading off an inning.....

just sayin'

Submitted by jacos
on Thu, 05/12/2011 - 3:44pm

sorry if this 3/44

Matt Garza-second best pitcher in baseball?
http://www.sportsinsanity.com/wordpress/2011/...

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 05/12/2011 - 4:01pm

I think I mentioned two starts ago he was tied for best in league in Fangraphs WAR and best in FIP and xFIP which is essentially the same thing.

Halladay has since passed him in WAR.

His LOB% is 61.6% at the moment (usually you're in the 70-75% range and his BABIP is .388, so you can see where some of that bad luck is...

On the other hand, he's got a 2.9% HR/FB rate and you're usually around 10%, so there's gonna be some give and take at the end.

Hopefully he ends with an ERA around 3.25-3.5 at the end and Marmol stops blowing his games.

Submitted by crunch
on Thu, 05/12/2011 - 4:32pm

"Yet Garza has been the best pitcher for most of this year, and is currently the second best pitcher by a tad. This is because of insanely good his peripherals have been."

nice spreadsheet, bro.

i guess if you're going to be giving up runs and hits it don't matter as long as it's singles.

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Thu, 05/12/2011 - 3:50pm

Glad to hear Randy Wells is on the road back.

Submitted by navigator
on Thu, 05/12/2011 - 4:14pm

back to ~~HELL~~

bah, is it next year yet?

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Thu, 05/12/2011 - 4:02pm

Blake DeWitt now playing LF.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Thu, 05/12/2011 - 4:55pm

I am starting to think Casey Coleman isn't a viable starting candidate.

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Thu, 05/12/2011 - 5:45pm

lol

Submitted by Ryno
on Fri, 05/13/2011 - 10:14am

nice

Submitted by Cubster
on Thu, 05/12/2011 - 6:29pm

I am starting to think Casey Coleman isn't a viable starting candidate.
---
Casey Coleslaw?

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Thu, 05/12/2011 - 6:34pm

So who are they going to send down Saturday to make room for Davis?

Berg? Coleman? Colvin?

In a way, if they are thinking about sending Colvin down, it probably makes more sense to either send him down or Coleman and to keep an extra bullpen arm for Saturday in case Davis gets shelled, then send the reliever down for a hitter on Sunday.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 05/12/2011 - 7:08pm

I assume Coleman stays to start.

Berg or Stevens or possibly Russell goes down.

Submitted by Koyies Bansaw
on Thu, 05/12/2011 - 7:12pm

Stevens was sent down when Berg came up. I would bet it's Berg. He has already used an option this year, so by sending him down, they wouldn't give up an option year with anyone else. Yet.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 05/12/2011 - 7:18pm

I should pay attention.

Berg or Russell then. Berg had been pitching well until today.

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Thu, 05/12/2011 - 6:48pm

After some in depth research, Fox Sports has gone out on a limb and declared that the Cubs won't win the World Series this season.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/it-is-not-...

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Thu, 05/12/2011 - 6:54pm

STL beat writer trying to explain and/or defend the addition of Theriot:

"But why did Tony La Russa and John Mozeliak covet Theriot? No. 1, they believed he’d upgrade the offense. And the improvement is there. Is it dramatic? Not really. But last season STL shortstops ranked 28th in the majors with an OPS of .600. So far this season the OPS for STL shortstops is .638 which ranks 21st."

Wow. That's worth sacrificing defense for. My favorite line about Theriot came this off-season when someone with the Dodgers said something along the lines of, "we didn't know until we got him that he had the range of an anvil."

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/round-...

Submitted by navigator
on Thu, 05/12/2011 - 9:43pm

my fave as well...

That was Tony Jackson, ESPN LA.
To be precise, he said at times Theriot had the mobility of an anvil.

Submitted by VirginiaPhil
on Fri, 05/13/2011 - 10:35am

Brett Jackson on 7-day DL.

Nelson Perez called up to replace him. Luis Flores replaces Clevenger.

Interesting catching duo at Tennessee: Flores and Lalli.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 05/13/2011 - 12:19pm

Muskat says he only needed a few days fwiw, but wanted to play it cautious.

Submitted by VirginiaPhil
on Fri, 05/13/2011 - 2:00pm

Just noticed this from Bruce Levine:

Jackson, who plays for Double-A Tennessee, was hit on the hand by a pitch against Huntsville on Wednesday. He saw a hand specialist in Chicago on Thursday and underwent an MRI.

I don't think it's possible that Jackson was hit, unless the ump missed it: Jackson was 1 for 1 ("Brett Jackson singles on a ground ball to left fielder Brandon Jones") when he was lifted in the top of the second (for Nate Samson, with Flaherty shifting to the outfield).

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Fri, 05/13/2011 - 4:02pm

Could have been the ump called it a foul ball.

Submitted by jacos
on Fri, 05/13/2011 - 11:34am

ACCORDING TO COWEHERD ON ESPN

EDIT_NOW SPECULATION

WHAT A DICK!

SORRY!

Submitted by Jace
on Fri, 05/13/2011 - 11:35am

Uhhh.. seriously?

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 05/13/2011 - 12:14pm

colin cowherd was your source?

Submitted by jacos
on Fri, 05/13/2011 - 12:25pm

Driving in Fl all that will come on, my apologies again

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 05/13/2011 - 12:32pm

no worries, I won't ban you...this time.

/appropriate bold lettered sarcasm

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 05/13/2011 - 12:17pm

rumors been squashed by all the beat writers fwiw.

Submitted by Jace
on Fri, 05/13/2011 - 12:38pm

Did you really need this instance to arrive at the conclusion that Cowherd is a dick? I would assume not. Just another in an ever-growing list of reasons for me.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Fri, 05/13/2011 - 1:38pm

I actually don't think he is one, but he plays one on TV/Radio. Five or Six years ago when I first started listening to him he was relatively measured, but the last couple years he seems to be the "say anything controversial to get my name in lights" type of guy. Meanwhile, the patron saint of dicks, his colleague Jim Rome, seems to be backing off of the running inflamatory remarks.

Anyway, Cowherd is right, Hendry does need to be fired... Where is Manny when we need him?

Personally the Good/Bad Hendry take on things finally tipped when he traded Maddux for Izturis... and then crowed about it. What a buffoon.

Submitted by navigator
on Fri, 05/13/2011 - 12:46pm

Somebody at ESPN probably told him or tweeted about Kent (who am I and why does Google stick my stuff at the top of search?) Sterling's blog on Wednesday. His column starts like this,

Today, I am announcing the immediate termination of Chicago Cubs general manager Jim Hendry.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 05/13/2011 - 12:15pm

Wells to have a rehab start Tuesday with one of the minor league affiliates, one that is going to be home since they like to give them the attendance boost.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 05/13/2011 - 2:02pm

and it will be Peoria.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 05/13/2011 - 12:37pm

Torres 8, Sanchez 4, Huff 3, Bosey 2, Schierholtz 9, Ross 7, Fontenot 6, Tejada 5, Bumgarner 1

vs.

Castro 6, Barney 4, Byrd 8, Baker 5, Soriano 7, Johnson 9, Pena 3, Hill 2, Dempster 1

over under on 4 runs total in this game?

Submitted by navigator
on Fri, 05/13/2011 - 12:50pm

I thought Q-Ball said he was trying to get Colvin some playing time?

Must've meant AAA.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Fri, 05/13/2011 - 1:34pm

"Dempster 1"

Give me the over, unless it's getting rained out after three.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 05/13/2011 - 1:34pm

1-0 Giants in first, game over.

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Fri, 05/13/2011 - 1:53pm

Great play by Reed Johnson on a ball hit by Fontenot. That will be on tonight's highlight reel.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Fri, 05/13/2011 - 1:56pm

Diving on a ball that the typical outfielder makes on a fast jog?

The parachat die hards have already moved on to following college baseball it seems.

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Fri, 05/13/2011 - 4:18pm

Fontenot hit a ball that kept drifting towards the wall, looked like it could be a hr. Johnson backed up, turned around and looked like he might have lost it, then drifted from along the wall into the well, looked like there was no hope of even getting a glove on it, and he jumped back against the vines and made the catch. He even looked like he stuck in the vines for a second. It was a great catch.

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Fri, 05/13/2011 - 4:19pm

It was windy and real foggy down there the first part of the game. I ran some errands and now the fog doesn't look as bad.

Submitted by crunch
on Fri, 05/13/2011 - 2:00pm

0-2 count on soriano...he ends up walking?

who's wearing soriano's jersey? that can't be him.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 05/13/2011 - 2:22pm

2-out clutchiness by Dempster, Castro and Barney.

it's a miracle!!!

Submitted by crunch
on Fri, 05/13/2011 - 2:28pm

barney 2011... 195 hits, 15 doubles, 2 triples, 2hr.

Submitted by crunch
on Fri, 05/13/2011 - 4:18pm

13 hits (so far, 0 out 8th)...11 singles.

Submitted by Cubster
on Fri, 05/13/2011 - 7:18pm

When did the cubs have a lineup where their first 4 hitters were over .300, the 5th was leading the NL in homers and the 6th was over .400

True cubbery to have a struggling offense with the above stats.

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