Cubs Pitchers Stretch Out at Fitch Park

Randy Wells, Travis Wood, Andy Sonnanstine, Trey McNutt, Lendy Castillo, Marcos Mateo, Trever Miller, and Rodrigo Lopez threw "live" BP at cool & blustery Fitch Park today, before a sparse crowd under partly cloudy skies.


Wells, T. Wood, Sonnanstine, McNutt, and Lopez threw 45 pitches each, while L. Castillo, Mateo, and Miller threw 30 pitches a piece.

This is somewhat of a change from past years, as the pitchers who are prepping as starters are throwing more pitches per outing earlier than before. I can't remember the last time I saw any pitcher throw 45 pitches in a pre-Cactus League "live" BP session at Fitch.


Lopez has (apparently) been tabbed to start the Cactus League opener versus the Oakland A's at HoHoKam Park on Sunday, and it appears he has a reasonable shot to win the 12th man slot (long reliever/spot starter/garbage man) on the pitching staff. Lopez isn't Cy Young, but he does have the proverbial "rubber" arm and doesn't really need a lot of extra side-work to stay stretched out enough to be able to give his team four passably-decent innings (five tops) when needed.


Best performance at the plate today in "live" BP was by Junior Lake, who hit a couple of balls off the outfield fence, and Josh Vitters peppered Rule 5 draft pick Lendy Castillo's offerings with line-drives back through the box. Otherwise, there were no dingers, as the pitchers appeared to be mostly ahead of the hitters.


1B Anthony Rizzo (acquired from the Padres during the off-season) took some extra ground balls at 1st base after BP. He is a hard worker and the coaches really seem to like him a lot.


Steve Clevenger, battling Welington Castillo and Jason Jaramillo for the back-up catcher job, had an extensive work-out at 3B with the "B" team on Field #2 prior to the "live" BP session. Clevenger played SS in college and was moved to 2B after signing with the Cubs in 2006, before being converted to catcher at Instructs post-2006. Clevenger still has work to do to make himself a major league backstop, but he has the knowledge and aptitude to play anywhere in the infield in a pinch. He's gotten a bit bottom-heavy over the years and he has little range, but having a left-hand hitting back-up catcher who can play other positions in an emergency is a definite plus.


Clevenger has a short stroke that allows him to hit "cold" off the bench without needing a lot of regular playing time to stay ready, and he also is an excellent bunter. He might not have been an Academic All-American (he transferred to Chipola JC after being declared academically ineligible at the U. of Texas), but he has a high "Baseball IQ" and probably will be a manager someday. He understands the fundamentals of the game very well. (The Cubs minor league coaches LOVE Clevenger).


With Geovany Soto unable to do much while rehabbing a groin injury, the Cubs have brought 2010 3rd round draft pick Micah Gibbs (LSU) down to Fitch Park from Minor League Mini-Camp at HoHoKam as a 6th catcher. (See kids? It pays to report early!). Gibbs is probably the best receiver in the organization (albeit with just an average arm), but he has struggled offensively over his first two seasons in pro ball. However, the switch-hitting Gibbs showed tremendous improvement (and an outstanding eye) at the plate at Instructs post-2011, and should be the #1 catcher at Daytona in 2012.


The new regime has demonstrated little patience with mistakes and poor play so far at Fitch Park. Several coaches have stopped work-outs mid-stream to provide a "teaching moment" when a player's performance is not up to par. The players all seem to be enthusiastic and loose, but there is zero tolerance for f*ck ups. And that's kind of refreshing.

Tags: 
Cubs Spring Training
Micah Gibbs
Rodrigo Lopez
Steve Clevenger
Submitted by Arizona Phil on Tue, 02/28/2012 - 2:55pm
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Comments

Submitted by Hagsag
on Tue, 02/28/2012 - 4:39pm

Phil, have you heard anything regarding Gerardo Concepcion? Thanks for the report.

Submitted by Arizona Phil
on Tue, 02/28/2012 - 5:14pm

Tue, 02/28/2012 - 4:39pm — Hagsag New
Re: Cubs Pitchers Stretch Out at Fitch Park
Phil, have you heard anything regarding Gerardo Concepcion? Thanks for the report.

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

HAGSAG: No.

It's been about a month since he was reported as having signed, and even if they were waiting for him to take a physical to make it all official, that's long time to wait.

Submitted by crunch
on Tue, 02/28/2012 - 4:42pm

"Big Cubs press release. They signed Bryan Robinson as VP of Human Resources. "

wow, they hired someone who didn't used to work for the RSox...wonder if he interned there =p

Submitted by artskoe
on Tue, 02/28/2012 - 4:44pm

Didn't he play third for the Orioles?

Submitted by crunch
on Tue, 02/28/2012 - 4:51pm

i think that was boog robinson

Submitted by Jumbo
on Tue, 02/28/2012 - 4:43pm

And that's kind of refreshing.
----
Glad to hear some positive comments from you on the management team.

Submitted by crunch
on Tue, 02/28/2012 - 5:11pm

have the astros lost their f'n minds?

they're moving their #2 starter, brett meyers...to the pen...assuming he's the new closer.

lol wut?

Submitted by Rob G.
on Tue, 02/28/2012 - 6:24pm

have more starters than relievers and Myers was open to it. Maybe Astros think he's more valuable as a upper end reliever than fringe starter in the trade market.

http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/article.js...

"From my standpoint, we have some depth in the rotation between Duke, Livan, Happ, Sosa and Harrell and all the young guys," Luhnow said. "We feel like we're in pretty good shape there and have some choices. We felt like we were a little exposed in the bullpen, and having a guy who's been successful in that role and who's got the mentality and stuff to do well takes pressure off Brandon Lyon coming off an injury and doesn't put pressure on young kids like David Carpenter and Wilton Lopez."

it certainly wasn't forced upon him....

Submitted by crunch
on Tue, 02/28/2012 - 6:31pm

i think he'll be a good closer...and hitting closer to 95 rather than 90mph should help things...but with his price tag (and 2013 option for 10m vs 3m buyout) i just think it's a bad allocation of their available resources.

Submitted by jacos
on Tue, 02/28/2012 - 6:18pm

What's going on with Soler?

Submitted by Rob G.
on Tue, 02/28/2012 - 6:25pm

And where's my World Series ring, Mr. Epstein?

Submitted by jacos
on Tue, 02/28/2012 - 6:50pm

No new rumors ? Haven't heard anything in two weeks

Submitted by DavidP
on Tue, 02/28/2012 - 7:49pm

Soler has not yet been given resident status in the DR. Until that happens, he can not be declared a free agent by MLB. And until that happens, no one, including the Cubs, can officially sign him.

Submitted by jacos
on Tue, 02/28/2012 - 6:24pm

Cleveland Indians reunion involving an old Negro League player it looks like.

Get ready to feel old-

http://thebiglead.com/index.php/2012/02/28/al...

Submitted by Rob G.
on Tue, 02/28/2012 - 6:26pm

on the Magic Johnson post-retirement diet I see

Submitted by crunch
on Tue, 02/28/2012 - 6:36pm

heavy drinking for the win.

he liked speed in his days, too...probably didn't help his attitude.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Tue, 02/28/2012 - 7:08pm

Shiraz Rehman gonna be live streamed in the next few minutes, whatever BWBCHI is...president of Bloomberg Sports too

http://www.csnchicago.com/pages/digital_chalk...

Submitted by Rob G.
on Tue, 02/28/2012 - 7:27pm

they're past talking about the Front Office fantasy app now, talking about Bloomberg's professional app.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Tue, 02/28/2012 - 7:29pm

25 teams use it at the moment...

Submitted by Rob G.
on Tue, 02/28/2012 - 7:41pm

Software is a fancy database but can quickly get to information and every pitch is linked to video of that pitch which is neat. Mostly demo'd on Garza, showing his pitch sequences and so forth...

Shiraz talking now.
(paraphrase)"how can we get all the information we use to make a decision in one place and get to it fairly quickly"

"all scouts enter their analysis into the app"

Submitted by Rob G.
on Tue, 02/28/2012 - 7:49pm

old news, but Ipad "advance scouting" app they sell to players with video

Garza can get all videos of him pitching to Brewers or just swing and misses and so on...

Submitted by Rob G.
on Tue, 02/28/2012 - 7:53pm

Q&A now, everyone there gets a free login to Bloomberg Front Office. *damnit*

Submitted by crunch
on Tue, 02/28/2012 - 7:54pm

what is it with bloomberg/cubs?

they are shilling the hell out of bloomberg products this offseason. maybe they got some free services or something.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Tue, 02/28/2012 - 7:43pm

Garza open to extension

"It's awesome," he said. "What player doesn't want the front office to commit to them? For me, it's nothing but compliments. The way it goes is the way it goes. It'll be behind closed doors. It's huge for me. It would be huge for my family...I'm ready to help the Cubs win."

http://www.csnchicago.com/blog/cubs-talk/post...

Submitted by Rob G.
on Tue, 02/28/2012 - 8:27pm

sadly I couldn't listen to all of it, the Q&A seemed the most interesting...

Shiraz on free agents (paraphrase):
"winner's curse, if you're system evaluates Pujols worth 8 years at a certain dollar amount, you have to pay 9-10 years to get him...then the question is how much are you willing to overpay?"

Submitted by tim815
on Tue, 02/28/2012 - 9:09pm

Lendry Castllo. Looks like he belongs, or will be going back to Philly when time allows?

Submitted by John Beasley
on Tue, 02/28/2012 - 9:37pm

i think he's headed to the 60-day DL with "suck fatigue."

Submitted by crunch
on Tue, 02/28/2012 - 9:38pm

what does he throw besides the mid-90s fastball, btw? i nearly forgot about the guy.

Submitted by Arizona Phil
on Wed, 02/29/2012 - 10:56am

Tue, 02/28/2012 - 9:38pm — crunch

what does he throw besides the mid-90s fastball, btw? i nearly forgot about the guy.

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

CRUNCH: L. Castillo throws a low-to-mid 90's fastball and a breaking ball. Profiles as a reliever.

Yesterday he gave it a little bit of that Jose Valverde thing where he jumps & spins after the pitch. Either that or he got spun around by one of Vitters line drives.

Submitted by Arizona Phil
on Wed, 02/29/2012 - 10:40am

Tue, 02/28/2012 - 9:09pm — tim815

Lendry Castllo. Looks like he belongs, or will be going back to Philly when time allows?

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

tim815: I would be very surprised if Lendy Castillo makes the Cubs Opening Day roster.

The Cubs might try and work out a trade with the Phillies to keep him if he clears waivers (which he should). He probably should be pitching at Daytona in 2012.

Submitted by crunch
on Wed, 02/29/2012 - 2:49am

"Right now it's a concrete plan to just let Rizzo have another season in Triple A and let him be comfortable instead of moving him up and down and all that stuff," manager Dale Sveum said. "It's Bryan LaHair's job. It's not his to lose."

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

Submitted by Old and Blue
on Wed, 02/29/2012 - 8:00am

Makes sense to me, but if LaHair dominates, and Rizzo knocks around AAA pitching, which corner outfield spot does LaHair take? I have a gut feeling Rizzo is going to be putting pressure on LaHair to actually turn his 4A story into a cinderella success story very quickly, no matter what Sveum says.

Submitted by tim815
on Wed, 02/29/2012 - 9:06am

If both do well, LaHair resembles a flip candidate.

Submitted by Old and Blue
on Wed, 02/29/2012 - 10:11am

That seems the general consensus here, but it doesn't sound like what he's being told, and as lousy as Trib reporters can be, they're pretty consistently reporting he'll be moved into the outfield if things move along as the team hopes.

Submitted by Rob Richardson
on Wed, 02/29/2012 - 10:14am

I think the question will be how much of Soriano's contract will they need to eat versus what player(s) they will get back in return for moving LaHair.

Submitted by jacos
on Wed, 02/29/2012 - 10:22am

good point

Submitted by Charlie
on Wed, 02/29/2012 - 10:22am

Yeah. I'm sure other teams' level of interest (in either LaHair or Soriano) could change everything.

Submitted by Cubster
on Wed, 02/29/2012 - 12:40pm

updates on mlb.tv and mlb at-bat apps...

Last year, MLB.tv Premium users were required to pay the $124.99/season fee, as well as buying separate iPhone and iPad apps for $14.99 each. This year, subscribers with iOS devices will save $30 by having the apps unlock automatically with a login. Additionally, MLB.tv Premium users will get access to out-of-market game broadcasts on the Apple TV. MLB tells MacRumors that the Apple TV is receiving an updated interface for 2012 as well.

http://www.macrumors.com/2012/02/29/mlb-at-ba...

New for this year is an additional MLB.tv Premium purchase option: a $24.99/month in-app subscription that gives all the same access as buying through the MLB website, but with the convenience of charging the service to an iTunes account. Across the whole length of the season, the $24.99/month charge will be more expensive than the full season charge of $124.99, but it is nice to have the option.

...and something new:

MLB told us about a new "At The Ballpark" app coming on Opening Day 2012. The app will expand on the features offered in the At Bat app last year and will offer maps to concession stands, emergency exits and more at ballparks, as well as a geolocated check-in service. Individual clubs can offer seat upgrades, special offers and food discounts to app users. Some clubs even offer mobile food ordering from the app, and can deliver food right to your seat.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 02/29/2012 - 12:46pm

the Apple TV interface last year worked pretty great, better than the Roku. Wonder what they're doing?

also rumors of a new Apple TV, announcement would be March 7th with the Ipad 3.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 02/29/2012 - 1:18pm

for this year, says Rosenthal, official announcement tomorrow.

MLB - 33% make playoffs
NFL - 37.5% make playoffs
NBA - 53.3% make playoffs
NHL - 53.3% make playoffs

let's hope it stops there...

Submitted by crunch
on Wed, 02/29/2012 - 3:26pm

nba/nhl playoffs are a joke...some people don't even start watching until the playoff chase heats up...that goes on with baseball, too, but meh...

they play 162 games...let that sort it out more than letting 14-16 teams in for short series playoffs.

Submitted by Cubster
on Wed, 02/29/2012 - 3:34pm

they should go back to just a world series of the best record NL vs AL

...the 16 team playoffs should be a bunting tournament.

(and we've got CLEVENGER!!!)

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 02/29/2012 - 4:18pm

get rid of the DH, bring back segregation and day games and .10 hot dogs while we're at it!!!!!!!!

Submitted by JD
on Wed, 02/29/2012 - 6:10pm

Rob, I disagree with you about segregation.

Submitted by John Beasley
on Wed, 02/29/2012 - 6:24pm

I don't think the guy who just banned the homophobe is actually racist. ;)

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 02/29/2012 - 6:35pm

I disagree with you about Jon Stewart.

We shall duel at dawn with pistols to settle these very important matters.

blah, blah, blah, obviously I was joking as I'm sure you are...

Lawrie, Garza, Trout for Heyward?

Submitted by JD
on Wed, 02/29/2012 - 10:16pm

Hmmmmm....what you offer intrigues me. I'm more or less looking at it as Lawrie for Heyward since I don't expect Trout to get significant playing time. Lemme ponder. I will, however, allow you to pursue other trades while I ponder.

And, yes, I was joking and knew you were. But I wanted to see who didn't know that I was joking about not knowing you were joking. And it worked. Like a snake charm.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 02/29/2012 - 10:28pm

It's 3 for 1, Phil Rogers would do it.

Submitted by JoePepitone
on Wed, 02/29/2012 - 7:33pm

"get rid of the DH, bring back segregation and day games and .10 hot dogs while we're at it!!!!!!!!"

What I hate about this is that it forces me to choose whether I'd be willing to put up with the segregation in order to have the day games, 10 cent hot dogs & no DH.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 02/29/2012 - 7:41pm

fine, keep your desegregation, just know Obama is your fault.

/dripping with sarcasm, #sarcasm, flashing sarcasm font

Submitted by Charlie
on Wed, 02/29/2012 - 8:06pm

Where are the SARCASM CAPS? COME ON, PEOPLE. WE HAVE A SYSTEM.

Submitted by Cubster
on Wed, 02/29/2012 - 8:24pm

SARCASM CAPS?
---
http://tinyurl.com/7qwwk67

http://tinyurl.com/6w4r2z9

Submitted by Cubster
on Wed, 02/29/2012 - 8:26pm

/dripping with sarcasm, #sarcasm, flashing sarcasm font
---
TCR readers could use one of these...

http://tinyurl.com/28dc2sx

Submitted by crunch
on Wed, 02/29/2012 - 8:34pm

sarcasm detector...more boobs...TCR 2013 is going to be interesting.

Submitted by jacos
on Wed, 02/29/2012 - 8:40pm

and the return of ryan flaherty!

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

Submitted by Arizona Phil
on Wed, 02/29/2012 - 9:13pm

The Orioles selected Flaherty, a first-round sandwich pick of the Chicago Cubs' in 2008, in December's annual Rule 5 draft, which allows teams to select certain players not protected on other teams' 40-man rosters. The club paid $50,000 for Flaherty's rights, but if the Orioles don't keep Flaherty on their 25-man roster for the entire season, the Cubs could buy him back for $25,000 — almost a certainty in Flaherty's case.

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

Before any Rule 5 player can be offered back to his former team, he must first clear Outright Assignment Waivers, where any club can claim him (and assume the Rule 5 roster obligations) for $25,000.

If he is not claimed, THEN his former club can buy him back for $25,000. This is the point when trades invloving Rule 5 players are sometimes made, with the player's former team receiving a different player and/or cash in return for allowing the drafting club to keep the player and send him to the minors,

This will be true for RHP Lendy Castillo (selected by the Cubs from the Phillies AAA Lehigh Valley club in the Major League Phase of last December's Rule 5 Draft), too, if the Cubs choose not to keep him on their Opening Day MLB 25-man roster or DL.

Submitted by crunch
on Wed, 02/29/2012 - 9:41pm

that's a weird article...it starts with explaining how it's pretty much a given he's not going to make the O's...then follows with a dozen paragraphs featuring praise from various members of the O's organization.

it was written by a baltimore sports writer, though... *shrug*

Submitted by jacos
on Wed, 02/29/2012 - 4:05pm

Cut the season to 154 games, get rid of about four teams.

Better competition and you won't have to invite all those teams to make it exciting.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 02/29/2012 - 4:14pm

I'm sure you meant the nba/nhl seasons are a joke. The playoffs are quite exciting.

then of course, people that aren't avid baseball fans think the MLB season is a joke and too long. To each their own...

Submitted by Charlie
on Wed, 02/29/2012 - 4:59pm

162 games at 2-3 hours a pop. I've never had a hard time understanding why some people think baseball is a boring sport.

WGN's national coverage of so many games and the long, summer season are also probably 2 and 3 on the list of reasons I learned to love the Cubs as a kid, though.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 02/29/2012 - 2:19pm

and there were 24....

Coleman over Mateo, W. Castillo over B. Jackson, Clevenger over LaHair, Rusin over Rhee

Sweet 16 so far
(1) Beliveau vs. (12) McNutt
(2) Coleman vs. (14) Rusin
(4) Lalli vs. (9) Cardenas
(3) W. Castillo vs. (10) Clevenger

plus 8 more 2nd round matchups to go....

Submitted by Cubster
on Wed, 02/29/2012 - 4:53pm

get rid of the DH, bring back segregation and day games and .10 hot dogs while we're at it!!!!!!!!
---
and for God-sakes, thaw out Ted Williams head.

Submitted by crunch
on Wed, 02/29/2012 - 8:48pm

because i'm bored...

we got 8.5 years of aram...1 season was a 1/2 season thanks to health...and 3 were semi-shortened seasons where he saw 500-550ish PAs (rather than 600+)...and 4.5 he pulled pretty much full-time work.

all-in-all he averaged about 135 games a season (560 PA) and put up a .294/.356/.531/.887 line.

neat.

Submitted by Jim Hickmans Bat
on Thu, 03/01/2012 - 4:26am

I'm still pissed I only got to see three years of Madlock in blue pinstripes. Wrigley was a skin-flint jagoff.

Submitted by John Beasley
on Thu, 03/01/2012 - 5:56am

He was also a key part of the only Cubs playoff series win in the last 104 years. #depressing

Submitted by Old and Blue
on Thu, 03/01/2012 - 8:20am

I liked Aram, all n all. Although, I didn't mind him being shown the door. Sometimes, you really need to just vacuum up a team. Plus, he was getting a bit slow at third - but at the beginning it was a lot of fun to watch him change at 3rd. I remember when he first started with the Cubs and he had this weird foot shuffle to his left when a ball was hit at him. Somebody worked with him because it went away after a few months. And there was that double clutch when he threw, which never completely disappeared but also got better. For a few years he even seemed like a pretty decent fielder, although some stats head will probably punch up a few numbers saying I'm wrong. And his hitting, well, that's a good reminder up there. One of Hendry's good moves, for sure. I bet he's gonna kill us when we play them. His thing, like all seasons for him, is, did he have a good workout regimen during the offseason so he can avoid those pesky injuries.

Submitted by jacos
on Thu, 03/01/2012 - 10:11am

"Somebody worked with him because it went away after a few months"

Santo I believe

Submitted by Old and Blue
on Thu, 03/01/2012 - 11:35am

Really? Good ole Ronnie.

Submitted by 10man
on Thu, 03/01/2012 - 11:58am

It was pretty awesome that Santo, who had no feet, worked w/ Aram to get his footwork straightened out.

Submitted by Old and Blue
on Thu, 03/01/2012 - 12:18pm

I guess that would be a classic case of, "do what I say, and not what I do."

Submitted by Stevens
on Thu, 03/01/2012 - 12:39pm

I'll remember ARam's time fondly. Never really bought the "he doesn't hussle" stuff, given his injuries. Plus, he always seemed to me like he really wanted to win. I remember how pissed he was at a game the Cubs blew in 06. Loved the dramatic late-inning homers. I even have a jersey.

I wish him well. I'd wish him weller if he weren't in the division.

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