Samardzija throws 4-2/3 of a No-No at Fitch Park

Jeff Samardzija threw 4-2/3 innings of no hit ball, Luis Flores clubbed a solo home run, Shawon Dunston, Jr hammered a two-run homer, and Carlos Penalver had three hits, scored a run, and drove-in another, in Extended Spring Training intrasquad action this morning at Fitch Park in Mesa, AZ.



Samardzija walked one and struck out four, threw one wild pitch, and had the opposing hitters pounding his pitches into the ground (8/2 GO/FO) throughout his outing. He threw 62 pitches (42 strikes) in his 4.2 IP of work.


Frankie de la Cruz followed The Shark to the mound, and was as bad as Samardzija was good. Vying for a spot in the Cubs bullpen, de la Cruz allowed five runs (all earned) on seven hits (including three doubles and a HR) and a walk in just 2.1 IP. He just flat-out got pounded... by kids who couldn't make the Peoria Opening Day roster.


Here is the abridged box score from the game:


SQUAD “A” LINEUP:
1. Shawon Dunston, Jr, CF: 1-5 (3-U, 4-3, 4-3, HR, F-9, R, 2 RBI)
2. Javier Baez, SS: 2-5 (5-3, 4-3, 1B, 2B, K, R)
3. Ryan Cuneo, DH #1: 0-3 (K, 4-3, 4-3, BB, R)
4. Xavier Batista, RF: 1-3 (P-6, K, 2B, BB, R, RBI)
5. Rock Shoulders, 1B: 1-3 (6-3, 4-3, 1B, HBP, RBI, CS)
6. Jeimer Candelario, 3B: 1-4 (P-1, K, K, 1B, RBI)
7. Anthony Giansanti, DH-C: 1-3 (6-3, 1B, BB, F-8, R)
8. Dong-Yub Kim, LF: 1-2 (BB, 2B, 6-4 FC, BB, RBI)
9. Luis Acosta, 2B: 1-4 (K, P-3, 4-U FC, 1B, R)
10a. Yaniel Cabezas, C: PLAYED DEFENSE ONLY - DID NOT BAT
10b. SLOT WAS SKIPPED LAST TWO TIMES THRU BATTING ORDER


SQUAD “B” LINEUP:
1. Brian Inoa, 2B: 1-5 (6-3, 1B, 1-3, 4-6 FC, K, R, SB)
2. Carlos Penalver, SS: 3-5 (K, 1B, 1B, E-5, 1B, R, RBI)
3a. Luis Flores, C: 2-2 (HR, 1B, R, RBI)
3b. Wilfredo Petit, C: 1-3 (5-4 FC, 1B, 6-3, PO)
4. Dan Vogelbach, 1B: 1-3 (E-6, 1B, 4-3, BB, HBP)
5. Delbis Arcila, RF: 0-2 (3-U, BB, K, BB, BB, RBI)
6. Jair Bogaerts, 3B: 0-4 (P-3, K, BB, L-6 DP, 4-6 FC)
7. Trevor Gretzky, DH: 1-2 (1B, E-4, BB, BB, R, SB, CS)
8. Jeffrey Baez, CF: 2-4 (1B, K, 1B, K)
9. Garrett Schlecht, LF: 0-3 (K, K, K, HBP)


SQUAD “A” PITCHERS:
1. Jose Rosario: 3.1 IP, 7 H, 3 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 5 K, 1 HR, 77 pitches (49 strikes), 2/1 GO/FO
2. Hunter Ackerman: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K, 1 WP, 37 pitches (22 strikes), 4/0 GO/FO
3. Charles Thomas: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 0 K, 21 pitches (12 strikes), 0/1 GO/FO
4. Brian Smith: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 2 K, 2 HBP, 2 WP, 38 pitches (17 strikes), 2/0 GO/FO


SQUAD “B” PITCHERS:
1. Jeff Samardzija: 4.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K, 1 WP, 62 pitches (42 strikes), 8/2 GO/FO
2. Frankie de la Cruz: 2.1 IP, 7 H, 5 R (5 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HR, 57 pitches (34 strikes), 4/2 GO/FO
3. Ryan Hartman: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 3 BB, 1 K, 1 HBP, 30 pitches (12 strikes)


SQUAD “A” CATCHERS DEFENSE:
1. Yaniel Cabezas: 1-3 CS
2. Anthony Giansanti: 1 PO


SQUAD “B” CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Wilfredo Petit: 1-1 CS


SQUAD “A” ERRORS: 5
1. SS Javier Baez - E-6 (throwing error allowed batter to reach base safely)
2. P Jose Rosario - E-1 (errant pick-off attempt at 2nd base allowed base-runner to advance to 3rd)
3. 2B Luis Acosta - E-4 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely)
4. 3B Jeimer Candelario - E-5 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely)
5. P Brian Smith - E-1 (errant pick-off attempt at 1st base allowed base-runner to advance to 2nd)


SQUAD “B” ERRORS: NONE


ATTENDANCE: 19


WEATHER: Sunny, cool, and VERY breezy with temperatures in the 60’s

Tags: 
Cubs Spring Training Recap
Jeff Samardzija
Luis Flores
Shawon Dunston Jr
Carlos Penalver
Cubs Minor League Spring Training Recap
Frankie de la Cruz
Submitted by Arizona Phil on Mon, 04/02/2012 - 4:05pm
Return to Homepage

Comments

Submitted by Childersb3
on Mon, 04/02/2012 - 4:10pm

Peoria has posted their roster. Rosario is on it, but he pitches in an EXT intersquad the day after getaway day.

Why post a roster if it isn't accurate? Geiger posts on facebook he's going to Peoria. He's not on the roster either.

I know it's early, but we're making errors already. Let's go people , let's go.

Submitted by Arizona Phil
on Mon, 04/02/2012 - 4:46pm

Austin Reed, Bryce Shafer, and Scott Weismann took the Peoria roster slots from Hunter Ackerman, Ryan Hartman, and Hayden Simpson, who were left at EXST. Hartman and Ackerman pitched in the Fitch Park intrasquad game today, and Hartman could not throw strikes.

I don't know that Roariuo was left at EXST to stay there, He might have pitched in the intrasquad game today to get his pitch count up (he threw 77 pitches today) in preparation for starting at Peoria.

SS-2B Kenny Socorro was supposed to be a player-coach at Peoria, so apparently he will be activated right away.

Wes Darvill was moved back up to Peoria and Eduardo Gonzalez and Taylor Davis got last-minute moves up to Peoria from Boise/Mesa, replacing Dustin Geiger, Sergio Burruel, and John Andreoli, who (apparently) got moved up to Daytona at the last minute.

I know Yaniel Cabezas was left at EXST because he is unble to hit, and there was an opening for an infielder at Daytona after Elliiot Soto was moved up to Tennessee to replace Junior Lake.

I'm not sure why Andreoli would have been moved up.

Submitted by Childersb3
on Mon, 04/02/2012 - 5:04pm

Interesting stuff,

hey, Daytona's website says Simpson made their roster. The press release only had twenty names on it (all 13 pitchers, only 7 hitters

no Concepcion, Antigua, Cates, Serrano, Negrin, Spencer.

Didn't see Alcantara, Silva, Barroso, Harrington or Bonne

Submitted by Arizona Phil
on Mon, 04/02/2012 - 7:33pm

I suppose it's possible that Hayden Simpson got bumped-up one level rather than the other way around. He wasn't throwing with much velocity, though.

As for the names not listed, it's possible that some of them ended up on the Diabled List.

The last Daytona squad I saw on the field was:

DAYTONA (24+4)

PITCHERS (14)
Zach Cates
* Gerardo Concepcion
* Frank del Valle
Eduardo Figueroa
Ty’Relle Harris
* Eric Jokisch
* Austin Kirk
Matt Loosen
A. J. Morris
Brian Schlitter
* Matt Spencer (ex-OF)
Larry Suarez
Brett Wallach
Tony Zych

CATCHERS (1+1):
Yaniel Cabezas (REHAB - was left at EXST)
# Micah Gibbs

INFIELDERS (5+2):
# Arismendy Alcantara
Leugim Barroso
Dustin Harrington
* Richard Jones
Pierre LePage (INACTIVE - injury rehab)
Greg Rohan (INACTIVE? - may have been released or quit)
Ronald Torreyes

OUTFIELDERS (4+1):
Abner Abreu (INACTIVE? - may have been released)
Eliecer Bonne
* Nelson Perez
* Rubi Silva
Matt Szczur

So as of this past weekend there were openings on the D-Cubs Active Roster for at least two position players (presumably why John Andreoli, Sergio Burruel, and Dustin Geiger would have been moved-up to Daytona from Peoria--if they were--although that means one more position player is either going on DL or released).

From the Daytona Cubs press release, it looks like they added Hayden Simpson (from Peoria) and Casey Harman (from Tennessee), and Cates, Concepcion, and Spencer are deleted. Cates could start the year on the DL (although he looked fine a couple of days ago), and Matt Spencer could remain at EXST for a while since he is a position-player converting to pitcher. Same goes for Concepcion while he assimilates.

For the position players, there is one roster opening, but no mention of Andreoli, Burruel, or Geiger, or any specific mention of the third outfielder (presumably Bonne) or the other three infielders besides Greg Rohan, Richard Jones, and Ronald Torreyes (presumably they would be Alcantara, Barroso, and Harrington, although they might have Rubi Silva listed as an infielder since he also plays 2B in addition to OF).

Rohan is listed in the press release (he has been a Fitch Park MIA for a week) and so is Chad Noble (also a Fitch Park MIA for a week).

Submitted by Arizona Phil
on Mon, 04/02/2012 - 8:01pm

One other possibility for Dustin Geiger not being on the Peoria or Daytona roster is that he is the PTBNL going to SD as compensation for Hoyer/McLeod. That player was supposed to have been named at the end of Spring Training.

Submitted by toonsterwu
on Mon, 04/02/2012 - 11:14pm

That'd be interesting. Another third base prospect for them that might not stick at 3rd. I forget, was it just one player we are offering, or did they get to pick 2?

As an aside, any thoughts on how Brett Wallach looks as a power pen arm this spring?

Submitted by Arizona Phil
on Mon, 04/02/2012 - 11:33pm

Mon, 04/02/2012 - 10:14pm — toonsterwu

That'd be interesting. Another third base prospect for them that might not stick at 3rd. I forget, was it just one player we are offering, or did they get to pick 2?

As an aside, any thoughts on how Brett Wallach looks as a power pen arm this spring?

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

TOONSTER: The Padres supposedly get to pick one from a list of 12 prospects, none of whom are on the 40-man roster. There was a Padres scout at Fitch Park the past couple of weeks, and he spent most of his time studying (and taking video of) the Peoria and Daytona squads, and Geiger did have a good camp.

Brett Wallach hasn't shown much improvement in the control department, although moving him to the bullpen was a good idea because he does throw hard. Now if he can just find home plate...

Submitted by Arizona Phil
on Mon, 04/02/2012 - 11:44pm

One other thing about today's intrasquad game...

There were a couple of scouts I did not recognize at the game, and Jose Rosario (who is on the Peoria roster) was specifically held back at Fitch Park (after his teammates had left town) and got the start in the game (opposite Samardzija).

So what?

Well, if the Cubs want to keep Lendy Castillo by working out a trade with Phillies, the Phils might want another pitcher with promise back.

Submitted by toonsterwu
on Tue, 04/03/2012 - 12:14am

Oy ... I hope not. I guess I could understand it, but I hope not. I'd rather keep Rosario over Castillo. Both electric arms, but I'd rather take a gamble on the 20 year old than the 23 year old, as Rosario looks to have a better shot of developing into a starter.

Submitted by Hagsag
on Tue, 04/03/2012 - 6:37am

Simpson said on Facebook how humid it is in Florida. He is there.

Submitted by crunch
on Mon, 04/02/2012 - 6:08pm

fwiw, zambrano about to pitch for MIA vs. the yanks on MLB network...@miami's new awesome park.

Submitted by crunch
on Mon, 04/02/2012 - 6:13pm

Z is in really really really good shape...too bad that doesn't do anything for control issues.

Submitted by John Beasley
on Mon, 04/02/2012 - 6:33pm

The key is sustained big-league success is repeating your result. The thing about Zambrano is... ooh, a penny.

Submitted by crunch
on Mon, 04/02/2012 - 6:42pm

lulz...also, Z's fastball seems to be sitting at 91-92mph tonight...and it's wild.

Submitted by Ryno
on Tue, 04/03/2012 - 8:26am

Just to offer a counter-argument- I think Zambrano's issues were external and more an issue of expectations. If you expected Zambrano to be what he really is, a number 3 or number 4 starter, then you would have been pleasantly-surprised every time he went out there and dominated, and been all like "Meh" the rest of the time.

But when you pay a guy ace money you expect him to pitch like an ace. And when he doesn't he's branded a failure. Maybe the problem was elevating him to a level where he was ensured failure.

Hendry drank the "Zambrano has 'potential'" koolaid and paid him for potential rather than results. This is a big vulnerability for us non-stat-heads when it comes to predicting future results.

Submitted by Ryno
on Tue, 04/03/2012 - 8:38am

And at least Z pitches with his eyes open

Submitted by DavidP
on Tue, 04/03/2012 - 10:39am

At the time Zambrano was negotiating his contract, Cubs fans were almost universal in their shouting that Hendry should give him "anything he wanted".

"Get 'er done, Jim"

"Pull the trigger, Jim"

Submitted by Dr. aaron b
on Tue, 04/03/2012 - 10:49am

Extensions are almost always a question of leverage and timing. The reports were that we could have extended Z that previous winter for MUCH less money.

Submitted by DavidP
on Tue, 04/03/2012 - 12:42pm

There were also reports that it would take a minimum of 22 million per year to sign him. There are very few reports as unreliable as reports coming from the baseball print and radio media.

Submitted by Jumbo
on Tue, 04/03/2012 - 11:13am

Zambrano signed his extension during the 2007 season, at age 26, after posting WARs of 4.6, 5.8, 5.5, and 4.2. He finished in the top 5 of Cy Young voting in 2006 and 2007. To say we signed him to be anything less than an ace isn't accurate. I'm not sure if you're making that argument, but Z should have been worth his contract based on the past few seasons. I don't fault Hendry for that contract. Z fell off and didn't live up to his contract.

Submitted by johann
on Tue, 04/03/2012 - 12:08pm

Yeah I can't at all blame Hendry for that contract. If Zambrano had had one good season and we had paid them based on that I would have disagreed, but he had shown consistent stats. The thing I can blame Hendry for (and Dusty/Lou) is not dealing enough with Zambrano's emotional issues and letting him get away with stuff seemingly just because he was our ace.

Submitted by Jumbo
on Tue, 04/03/2012 - 6:54pm

letting him get away with stuff seemingly just because he was our ace.
-----
Maybe it was because he's 6'5", 265 lbs and bat shit bonkers + rage issues. I genuinely find intimidation among grown adults fascinating - not to intimidate others, but the fact that people fear/respect the idea that their encounter with another person on that particular day/time might end up in violence. It should seem completely out of the question, of course, but people seem to react to a physical presence.

Submitted by Charlie
on Tue, 04/03/2012 - 7:26pm

I think there is something rational to the fear of people who physically outmatch you to such a degree that they could kill you before they even have time to realize there would be consequences. I'm fairly certain that Z could crush my skull in less time than it takes either one of us to have an actual thought.

Submitted by Cubster
on Mon, 04/02/2012 - 8:41pm

lulz...also, Z's fastball seems to be sitting at 91-92mph tonight...and it's wild.
----
Z's line for the night:

IP 4.0, H4, R5, ER5, BB7, SO 3, Spring ERA 6.23

Submitted by crunch
on Mon, 04/02/2012 - 9:17pm

this park is so weird looking. it's got some great seats in a mix of configurations. i really like the OF seats that are flush with the ground with a mesh fence making up part of the OF wall. the upper OF pool area seats are kinda cool. the skyline view is awesome except for the freakshow of an "art sculpture" that goes into motion when someone homers.

the walls are a freaky shade of green...it's pretty tacky in contrast to all the blue in the park and orange on the MIA uniforms.

the electronic scoreboard is an adventure in ADHD with 10000 bits of information being shown to the audience.

Submitted by Ryno
on Tue, 04/03/2012 - 8:35am

Miami Marlins Construction Crew Completely Unaware They've Been Building Baseball Stadium

MIAMI--Speaking with reporters while putting the finishing touches on Miami's new stadium Saturday, construction workers at Marlins Park admitted they had no idea what the structure would be used for, despite having built baseball stadiums in the past. "We installed a big pool back there, so maybe all the seats are for people waiting in line to swim?" said foreman Frank Davies...

"But there's that giant rainbow thing with the pink flamingos we built at the edge of the grass that sometimes lights up and moves like a windmill, so I'd say my best guess is this is a really big miniature golf hole or a theme park for disabled children."...

God bless The Onion. :)

Submitted by Tito
on Tue, 04/03/2012 - 9:13am

The bright orange hats are an abomination.

Submitted by Rob Richardson
on Tue, 04/03/2012 - 9:52am

http://643putout.wordpress.com/2012/04/02/mar...

Submitted by Ryno
on Tue, 04/03/2012 - 10:39am

Well I'm not super skilled with photoshop, but here we go...

Fear and Loathing in Marlins Park

Submitted by Arizona Phil
on Mon, 04/02/2012 - 11:07pm

Catcher Alberto Mineo has left Fitch Park (actually he left Minor League Camp a couple of weeks ago) and is playing for Team Italy in the MLB Academies Tournament in Germany.

Unknown when he will be returning to Arizona, but he is on the AZL Cubs Reserve List.

Mineo was signed ($225K bonus) as an International free-agent in August 2010 two weeks after he turned 16. He spent that season at the MLB European Academy in Italy, then played at the MLB Australian Academy last Summer, before spending a few days at AZ Instructs last September.

Submitted by Jim Hickmans Bat
on Tue, 04/03/2012 - 6:58am

Cubs still owe Padres a player for Jed Hoyer.

Submitted by Old and Blue
on Tue, 04/03/2012 - 7:44am

How did I miss the Votto extension news? And, did the Reds just move to L.A. and get a huge TV contract and nobody told us?

Submitted by tim815
on Tue, 04/03/2012 - 8:14am

I wonder if they have insurance?

Submitted by John Beasley
on Tue, 04/03/2012 - 9:15am

Probably $49M to Votto and Bruce combined by 2015. That's quite risky.

Submitted by big_lowitzki
on Tue, 04/03/2012 - 3:06pm

I'm confused... Bruce will make $12m in 2015. I haven't seen all of the details, but Votto's extension will average $22.5m a year. How does that add up to $49 million?

Submitted by John Beasley
on Tue, 04/03/2012 - 4:04pm

Yeah, pretty bad fuckup on my part. First, I added an extra 1 in the second column. Additionally, I had Bruce at 16, which is wrong. So yeah.

Submitted by Dr. aaron b
on Tue, 04/03/2012 - 3:32pm

The crazy part is he was still 2 season's from Free Agency. So this is basically a 12 year contract extension.

Whats the worst that can happen there?

Submitted by Charlie
on Tue, 04/03/2012 - 4:39pm

A massive drop-off in performance that is caused by any kind of occurrence covered by their insurance.

Maybe a paralyzing fear of bases.

Submitted by Cubster
on Tue, 04/03/2012 - 8:43am

And at least Z pitches with his eyes open
---
Didn't hurt Luke Skywalker.

Submitted by Rob Richardson
on Tue, 04/03/2012 - 8:57am

http://espn.go.com/mlb/spring2012/story/_/id/...

Submitted by Rob Richardson
on Tue, 04/03/2012 - 1:36pm

“Whatever we do to enhance the value of Wrigley Field, it will be to make sure the private owners enhance the value at Wrigley Field,” the mayor said at an unrelated event on the Far South Side.

“I will not put my money in their field so they can take their money and invest around the field and get greater economic value.”

http://www.suntimes.com/11691313-417/emanuel-...

Submitted by Newport
on Tue, 04/03/2012 - 5:54pm

I didn't know Rham was putting his own money on the line for the Cubs. He thinks he owns the city already.

Submitted by toonsterwu
on Tue, 04/03/2012 - 2:03pm

h/t nsbb/raisin.

Per peoriachiefs twitter, Jensen/Francescon/Rosario are the first three starters. I'm glad that guys with power stuff like Jensen and Rosario are being given a chance as starters. Francescon has command and enough polish to go with his stuff that he could move fast, so that wasn't surprising.

Will be curious what Kopitzke/Villone and their bosses decide. Leaves a ton of arms for the final few piggybacking/rotation roles, though. Assuming Weismann/Lorick/McKirahan/Shafer aren't up for those spots (more because I hope higher-ceiling guys get shots than those 4), that leaves Wells/Wang/Liria/Cruz/Burke/Reed. My guess is that Reed is in the pen for now, with his mechanical consistency perhaps an issue as a starter. It's tough for me to see them have 2 lefties in piggyback roles and 2 lefties in the pen, so I imagine a lefty grabs a spot (guess is Burke on upside/age, as he could move to Daytona soon if he performs well). I'd put Wells in there on youth/sinker/frame (his biggest issue, IIRC, wasn't necessarily stamina (as many have been saying) but high pitch counts. Could be wrong ... maybe stamina is an issue, but I recall a few games where he had 80+ pitches by the 4th).

One other factor may be who closes. Maybe Arizona Phil can shine some light on this. My guess is Weismann, as he was Clemson's closer, but it wouldn't surprise me if they opted to move a hard throwing arm like Liria into such a role. Also, I guess I could envision Reed in such a role, akin to when Huseby had his problems and they moved him to the pen (granted, not exactly the same problems).

Submitted by crunch
on Tue, 04/03/2012 - 3:33pm

t.wood throwing everything over the plate and the MIL B-teamers can't do anything with it.

6ip 6h 1er 1bb 4k...38 pitches. crazy.

Submitted by toonsterwu
on Tue, 04/03/2012 - 3:34pm

probably says more about the B-teamers than Wood, but I'm not watching the game so dunno.

Submitted by crunch
on Tue, 04/03/2012 - 3:36pm

i'm not watching it either, but 6.3 pitches per inning is kinda crazy/lucky...especially through 6ip.

it's not unheard of, but with 4Ks, 1bb...damn. he must be giving up a lot of 1st-pitch hits/outs.

Submitted by Rob Richardson
on Tue, 04/03/2012 - 3:37pm

It is the last game of spring training. They must have planes to catch.

Submitted by crunch
on Tue, 04/03/2012 - 3:41pm

i kinda wonder why i.stewart was out of the game after 1pa, a walk.

fwiw, most of the "real" starters got only 2pa then got replaced.

soto only got 1pa himself...maybe it's just the way they wanted to run the lineup today.

Submitted by crunch
on Tue, 04/03/2012 - 4:04pm

and t.wood's luck stumbles in the 7th

walk, line out, ground out, walk, 1r double, K

-edit- woo gameday, that's a line for dolis...t.wood goes 6ip

Submitted by Rob G.
on Tue, 04/03/2012 - 6:31pm

"We need more talent," Epstein said in a 30-minute session with Cubs beat reporters. "We lack impact talent. We have a number of interesting guys, especially at the lower levels. Every organization has interesting guys at the lower levels.
"We need some more impact talent and we need some guys who have the ability to break through. It'd be nice to get a breakthrough player or two this year and have someone move from that interesting prospect category to that potential impact category."

Submitted by Old and Blue
on Tue, 04/03/2012 - 6:34pm

Theo, what are you doing in Crunch's body?

Submitted by Ryno
on Tue, 04/03/2012 - 8:12pm

Neat!

Submitted by Jim Hickmans Bat
on Tue, 04/03/2012 - 8:32pm

Baez and Vogelbach have the potential to be such impact prospects. Soler too, if the Cubs really do sign him.

It's the pitching that has me worried with the Cubs, our minor league system is MUCH weaker in pitching than most other teams. That needs to change.

Submitted by jacos
on Tue, 04/03/2012 - 9:06pm

i'm thinking that's not Theo's forte

Submitted by George Altman
on Tue, 04/03/2012 - 9:29pm

If Theo is as smart as we all hope he is, he should know he has no T-O-R talent close to MLB-ready. I would hope for the next two years that would be his FA priority - signing at least 1, if not 2, #1/#2 Starters and locking up Garza as their solid #3.

Submitted by Charlie
on Tue, 04/03/2012 - 9:33pm

How many FAs are going to be available in the next two years that will be better than Garza? This doesn't seem like a realistic expectation to me.

Submitted by Cubster
on Tue, 04/03/2012 - 10:11pm

How many FAs are going to be available in the next two years that will be better than Garza?
---
1-Tim Lincecum; 2-Cole Hamels

and I didn't have to think more than 2 seconds on that one.

Submitted by toonsterwu
on Tue, 04/03/2012 - 10:34pm

The FA market is still fairly solid after that. For example, I'd be very curious on Anibal Sanchez, a guy entering his prime years.

Submitted by Charlie
on Wed, 04/04/2012 - 10:50am

Is 2 enough of a list? George Altman is suggesting that the Cubs get two pitchers who would both be better than Garza. The Cubs also have to either extend Garza or replace him with a pitcher of equal value. That means they have to be the highest bidders for three pitchers of Garza quality or higher.

And while, as toonsterwu points out below, pitchers like Anibal Sanchez are interesting, they are not clearly better than Garza. If the Cubs brought in an Anibal Sanches, would that clearly push Garza back a slot in the rotation? I doubt it.

Here are the "better than Garza so far" lists as I see them:

2013
Cole Hamels
Zack Greinke

2014
Tim Lincecum
Ubaldo Jimenez

Here are the "comparable to Garza so far" lists as I see them

2013
Anibal Sanchez
James Shields

2014
Matt Garza
Josh Johnson (great results, but injury concerns)
Jair Jurrjens (ditto)
Johan Santana has an option, it looks like, plus, he'll be a bit aged at that point.

I'm no expert on the contracts of these guys, nor am I an expert on their pitching. But it looks to me like the Cubs would need to sign two of Hamels, Geinke, Lincecum, and Jimenez over the next two years to do what Altman suggested. The Cubs would also have to either resign Garza or sign one of those comparable guys. That sounds awesome, but it also sounds like a fairly monumental task to put in front of a front office that also needs to build the farm system and potentially improve at positions currently filled by Soriano and Barney. Do the Cubs have a quality LF and 2B in the upper minors? We might need to replace Soto, too, and Castillo is no sure thing. Do we want DeJesus starting in RF in 2014? Will Jackson succeed at the MLB level? Will Rizzo succeed at the MLB level? There are a lot of questions in addition to the rotation, and I have a hard time imagining Lincecum, Hamels, Greinke or Jimenez getting much less $$ per year than Matt Cain.

The point I really wanted to get to, though, is that Free Agency is not going to solve everything for the Cubs. Some of this stuff is going to have to come from the minors--probably via trades.

Submitted by Newport
on Wed, 04/04/2012 - 12:55pm

Ubaldo Jimenez? M. E. H.

Submitted by toonsterwu
on Wed, 04/04/2012 - 1:02pm

More a side note than anything, but I tend to think we will get an idea of the front office's hoped for timeline with their decision on garza. I think the chances are slim that they won't do anything. If they trade garza, it certainly seems to make the timeline a bit longer, because as you note, the chances of signing multiple top arms seems tough. The easier course would be to add to garza.

Submitted by George Altman
on Wed, 04/04/2012 - 1:14pm

and that's essentially the point I was trying to make. Given the lack of top of rotation arms in the system, but a somewhat interesting group of position prospects (Rizzo, BJax, Castillo, Szczur to go with Castro), the free agent focus should be on first-time FA starting pitchers (ideally #1/#2 types) and re-sign Garza.

For me, it always starts with pitching and defense. As to who those targets would be in 2013 and 2014, I have no idea given who might be available. This approach would seem to fit the Theo-vision -- paying for future performance, building around core assets, etc.

Submitted by Ryno
on Wed, 04/04/2012 - 1:58pm

Pitching and defense. Thank you.

Submitted by superjimmer
on Wed, 04/04/2012 - 3:49pm

I vote trade Garza and pretty sure they will by deadline.

Submitted by crunch
on Wed, 04/04/2012 - 4:15pm

cubs 2015!

chicago cubs over las vegas A's in 7 games.

Submitted by superjimmer
on Wed, 04/04/2012 - 5:39pm

Yessir!!!

X
You may login with either your assigned username or your e-mail address.
The password field is case sensitive.
Loading