Volstad Goes Four at Fitch & Castro Leads Cubs to Victory at HoHoKam

Chris Volstad threw four innings (67 pitches), allowing two runs (only one earned) on six hits (all singles), with no walks and eight strikeouts, and Jeffrey Baez singled twice, tripled, drove-in a run, and stole a base, in Extended Spring Training intrasquad action this morning at Fitch Park in Mesa, AZ.

Despite allowing six hits, Volstad had a very impressive outing, throwing strikes and getting lots of ground balls (4/0 GO/FO and five ground ball singles).

Later in the day and a half-mile up Center Street, Iowa Cubs LHP Travis Wood threw six solid innings of one-run ball (76 pitches – 49 strikes), Starlin Castro hammered a 1st inning two-run home run off the scoreboard, Alfredo Amezaga clubbed a solo HR, and Joe Mather laced an RBI double into the LF corner and scored on a Darwin Barney RBI single, leading the Cubs to a 5-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers in what was the Cubs’ final Cactus League Spring Training game of 2012.

Rafael Dolis labored through his one inning of relief, walking two and allowing a two-out RBI double, but Shawn Camp pitched the 9th and notched the save in typical Shawn Camp fashion, allowing a hard-hit single through the box to open the inning, before inducing a 6-4-3 DP grounder, and getting the final out of the game on a check-swing strike three.

Because a half-dozen EXST Cubs position players were at the MLB game, the intrasquad game did not have enough players to stock two full lineups, so Rock Shoulders was the DH for both squads, and players from Squad “B” rotated defensively at 3B for Squad “A.”.

Here is the abridged box score from the intrasquad game at Fitch Park:

NOTE: Rock Shoulders was DH for both teams and had five PA (total), and SQUAD “B” players rotated defensively at 3B for SQUAD “A”

SQUAD “A” LINEUP:
1. Shawon Dunston, Jr, CF: 1-4 (K, 1B, 3-U, BB, K, SB)
2. Brian Inoa, 2B: 0-5 (K, 4-6 FC, K, F-8, F-8, 2 SB)
3. Dong-Yub Kim, LF: 1-4 (K, K, 3B, K, R)
4. Anthony Giansanti, C: 1-3 (1B, K, BB, K, R)
5. Rock Shoulders, DH: 1-4 (FC, 1B, 3-6-1 DP, K, R)
6. Trevor Gretzky, 1B: 1-3 (3-6 DP, 1B, BB, 1-3)
7. Jeffrey Baez, RF: 3-4 (1B, 1B, K, 3B, RBI, SB)
8. Luis Acosta, SS: 0-4 (K, K, 6-3, K)
9. NO 3B IN LINEUP
NOTE: Jair Bogaerts played 3B for SQUAD “A” in bottom of 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th innings, Danny Lockhart played 3B for SQUAD “A” in bottom of 2nd and 6th innings, and Carlos Penalver played 3B for SQUAD “A” in bottom of 4th inning


SQUAD “B” LINEUP:
1. Danny Lockhart, SS: 0-3 (1-3, BB, K, K)
NOTE: SLOT WAS SKIPPED 2nd & 4th TIMES THRU BATTING ORDER
2. Carlos Penalver, 2B: 2-3 (1B, 5-3 SH, BB, L-8, 1B, R, SB)
3. Dan Vogelbach, 1B: 1-2 (BB, BB, 1B, BB, 4-3, R, SB)
4. Ryan Cuneo, LF: 2-5 (E-4, P-4, 4-3, 1B, 3B, R, RBI, SB)
5. Delbis Arcila, RF: 1-4 (BB, K, 3B, 4-3, 6-3, RBI)
6. Garrett Schlecht, CF: 2-5 (1B, K, K, F-7, 2B)
7. Jair Bogaerts, 3B: 2-3 (1B, 6-3, 1B)
NOTE: SLOT WAS SKIPPED 2nd & 4th TIMES THRU BATTING ORDER
8. Yaniel Cabezas, C: DID NOT BAT – PLAYED DEFENSE ONLY
9a. SLOT WAS SKIPPED FIRST FOUR TIMES THRU BATTING ORDER
9b. Rock Shoulders, DH: 0-1 (K)

SQUAD “A” PITCHERS:
1. Zach Cates: 3.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R (0 ER), 5 BB, 3 K, 73 pitches (36 strikes), 5/1 GO/FO
2. Alberto Cabrera: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 15 pitches (8 strikes), 0/1 GO/FO
3. Jin-Young Kim: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 19 pitches (12 strikes), 2/1 GO/FO
4. Sheldon McDonald: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, (1 ER), 0 BB, 2 K, 19 pitches (15 strikes), 1/0 G)/FO

SQUAD “B” PITCHERS:
1. Chris Volstad: 4.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 8 K, 1 GIDP, 67 pitches (49 strikes), 4/0 GO/FO
2. David Henrie: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 1 K, 1 GIDP, 24 pitches (11 strikes), 2/0 GO/FO
3. Carlos Martinez: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 13 pitches (6 strikes), 1/1 GO/FO
4. Felix Pena: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 12 pitches (9 strikes), 1/0 GO/FO
5. Ian Dickson: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 22 pitches (14 strikes), 0/1 GO/FO

SQUAD “A” CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Anthony Giansanti: 0-3 CS

SQUAD “B” CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Yaniel Cabezas: 0-4 CS

SQUAD “A” ERRORS: 1
2B Brian Inoa - E-4 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely and unearned run to score)

SQUAD “B” ERRORS: 1
2B Carlos Penalver - E-4 (throwing error allowed batter to reach base safely)

ATTENDANCE: 17

WEATHER: Sunny with temperatures in the 70’s

Tags: 
Cubs Spring Training Recap
Starlin Castro
Jeffrey Baez
Chris Volstad
Cubs Minor League Spring Training Recap
Submitted by Arizona Phil on Tue, 04/03/2012 - 6:08pm
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Comments

Submitted by Arizona Phil
on Tue, 04/03/2012 - 6:48pm

Contrary to what you see in the Twitter traffic between Garrett Schlecht and Trevor Gretzky on the right side-bar, Gretzky actually grounded into a DP and singled against Volstad.

Volstad did strike out Dong-Yub Kim and Luis Acosta twice, but he didn't strike out anybody three times today.

Submitted by Hagsag
on Tue, 04/03/2012 - 6:56pm

Sergio Burruel is listed as one of the catchers in Daytona, but no Micah Gibbs .

Submitted by Hagsag
on Tue, 04/03/2012 - 6:57pm

Phil, have you heard why Cabrera is still at Fitch?

Submitted by Cubster
on Tue, 04/03/2012 - 7:34pm

Vogelbomb with 3 walks and a single.

the mancrush continues...

Submitted by soonercub
on Tue, 04/03/2012 - 7:37pm

Someone needs to inform Theo that the Cubs Way Manual needs to include: Hat Trick=someone strikes out 3x, Golden Sombrero=striking out 4x. I am proud member of both prestigious clubs.

Submitted by Ryno
on Tue, 04/03/2012 - 8:06pm

haha

And is it true the Cubs just finished spring training with a winning record? Pennant, here we come!

Submitted by superjimmer
on Tue, 04/03/2012 - 9:46pm

Time to shop Marmol to BoSox?

Submitted by Jim Hickmans Bat
on Tue, 04/03/2012 - 11:02pm

Andrew Bailey injured. BoSox front office whines about the trade, demands additional compensation in 3, 2, 1....

Submitted by Seamhead
on Tue, 04/03/2012 - 9:52pm

Casey Weathers says go for it.

Submitted by Cubster
on Wed, 04/04/2012 - 6:21am

the Muskat article on Epstein from yesterday's interview:

"Our progress as an organization is not going to be linear," Epstein said. "It's important to focus on what we're doing internally and understand that everything outside is really -- no offense -- is just noise. Whether it comes from [the media] or even comes from some fans, who are deservedly upset at a given point, it's really just noise. If we let it affect our decision making, shame on us."

If you see Epstein wearing headphones, now you know why.

He said that because he grew up in Boston, he understood the Red Sox's distractions before he took over as the general manager prior to the 2003 season.

"I think that was part of the Red Sox problem for many, many decades -- focusing too much on the next day's sports section and what people thought," he said, "and focusing a little too much on the Yankees and other factors and not on just building something and keeping everybody's internal focus on progress and building. We're not going to be deaf to the concerns of fans and what's going on around the [Cubs]. We'll recognize that, with respect to the media, it's just noise and we'll focus on what we're trying to do despite the occasional cacophony.

"Now," he added to the writers, "it's your job to make it hard for us."

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?...

Submitted by Cubster
on Wed, 04/04/2012 - 6:22am

Bruce Levine's chat from yesterday.

http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chicago/chat/...

Submitted by Hagsag
on Wed, 04/04/2012 - 7:37am

Az Phil,
It looks like all of the Cuban players have been assigned to Extended Spring Training. What are you thoughts on this interesting development?

Submitted by tim815
on Wed, 04/04/2012 - 7:48am

We will find out if Team Theo considers 'assigned to XST' a sentence or a challenge. If few (2011 HS signees/Cuban imports) move up, they're really working on the 'teaminess' of the organization. If upgrades are relatively quick, they just weren't ready.

Submitted by toonsterwu
on Wed, 04/04/2012 - 8:30am

Silva's still at A+, unless I missed something. And ... pretty sure Bonne is as well (or at least, they were listed there, at last check).

Concepcion/Martinez/Balaguert in XST don't bother me because of their youth. Cabeza can't hit, although it wouldn't surprise me if they sent him there primarily to work with the young arms and help them adjust.

The surprising assignments are Del Valle and Serrano, if they were sent to XST. I guess Del Valle is young enough that they could send him down there for more development, but I wonder about that one. Going to be curious to see what the reason was. Serrano's at the point where if they want to send him down to mentor kids ... okay. He's 24 and hasn't shown to be much.

Submitted by Arizona Phil
on Wed, 04/04/2012 - 9:06am

Wed, 04/04/2012 - 6:37am — Hagsag

Az Phil,
It looks like all of the Cuban players have been assigned to Extended Spring Training. What are you thoughts on this interesting development?

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

HAGSAG: I don't know why most of the Cubans were left behind. Barroro didn't play yesterday even though the intrasquad game needed a 3B.

Balaguert is inactive with an injury and Cabezas is also slowed by an injury (he can catch but can't hit), and Concepcion is just being brought along slowly. Negrin and Del Valle both started Minor League Camp restricted to Limited Activity Only and they may not be deemed ready to start the season on full-season active lists, but I don't know what happened with Barroso and Serrano.

It's possible that one or two (like maybe Barroso and Serrano) could be loaned to teams in the Mexican League, where they would get more-regular playing time than might be the case at Daytona. The Cubs sold Oswaldo Martinez to the Mexico City Red Devils a couple of weeks ago, so additional transactions with Mexican League teams wouldn't surprise me.

Submitted by crunch
on Wed, 04/04/2012 - 2:35pm

i know it's mostly for "show" but it's common to designate the Mexican League as a AAA-caliber league because of all the washed up AAAA/"retired" types.

to me it's a bit more like AA-ish talent...not as bad as cuba, but the level of competition (especially pitching) is kinda weak.

speaking of the Mexico City RD's...they got a 300+lb 6'4" (more like 6'2") 1st baseman named japhet amador...the funny thing is he still lists in media guides as 215-220lbs. he's gaining a little "maybe someone should sign him" talk from people looking at numbers without knowing he's about 80lbs heavier than his list weight.

http://www.flixya.com/files-photo/A/b/r/Abreg...
http://www.clubalgodoneros.mx/images/noticias...

Submitted by Arizona Phil
on Wed, 04/04/2012 - 3:26pm

Wed, 04/04/2012 - 1:35pm — crunch

i know it's mostly for "show" but it's common to designate the Mexican League as a AAA-caliber league because of all the washed up AAAA/"retired" types.

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

CRUNCH: Because the Mexican League is an "affiliated league," Mexican League players are eligible for selection
in the Rule 5 Draft. But because it is officially classified as a AAA league, its players are only eligible for selection in the Major League Phase of the Rule 5 Draft ($50,000 draft price and the player must be kept on the drafting club's MLB 25-man roster for a year).

So while everybody knows that the Mexican League is really equivalent to Hi-A (like the Cubs Daytona affiliate), it is officially classified as AAA to prevent its players from being selected in one of the minor league phases of the Rule 5 Draft (draft price $12,000 in AAA Phase and $4,000 in AA Phase, with no roster restrictions for players selected in the minor league phases).

Submitted by Hagsag
on Wed, 04/04/2012 - 8:27am

Cubans left at Fitch: Gerardo Concepcion (Lhp), Juan Serrano (Rhp), Yoannis Negrin (Rhp ), Frank del Valle (Lhp), Carlos Martinez (Rhp), Yaniel Cabezas (Inj. C ), Leugim Barroso (IF), Yaseil Balaguert ( Inj. OF ). Ricardo Estevez ( Rhp, Susp. ).
Looks like the only Cuban assigned was Eleicer Bonne,OF, and Rubi Slive 2b/Of to Daytona.

Submitted by Arizona Phil
on Wed, 04/04/2012 - 10:16am

Expect Frankie de la Cruz to get outrighted to Iowa (which he can refuse) and both Marcos Mateo AND Gerardo Concepcion to be placed on the 60-day DL to open up three more slots on the Cubs MLB 40-man roster.

It would not cost the Cubs any extra payroll to put Concepcion on the MLB 60-day DL because he already has a contract with a set salary, and this would allow him to spend a month working his way into shape at Extended Spring Training followed by a 30-day minor league "rehab" assignment at Daytona. By that time, the Cubs should have another opening on their 40-man roster.

The only negative from the Cubs POV is that Concepcion would accrue about 50 days of MLB Service Time while on the 60-day DL before being reinstated and optioned to the minors. .

Submitted by The E-Man
on Wed, 04/04/2012 - 10:41am

PHIL: From this I am understanding that "Disabled List", is a somewhat loosely-interpreted rule?

That is, how is "out of shape" disabled according to MLB in Concepcion's case?

Just wondering about the DL.

Submitted by Arizona Phil
on Wed, 04/04/2012 - 3:29pm

Wed, 04/04/2012 - 9:41am — The E-Man New
Re: Volstad Goes Four at Fitch & Castro Leads Cubs to ...
PHIL: From this I am understanding that "Disabled List", is a somewhat loosely-interpreted rule?

That is, how is "out of shape" disabled according to MLB in Concepcion's case?

Just wondering about the DL.

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

E-MAN: They call it an "arm strength" issue , but pitchers do get placed on the DL when they are not in shape to pitch.

That said, Gerardo Concepcion just thrw 3.1 IP (38 pitches) at Fitch Park today.

Submitted by Hagsag
on Wed, 04/04/2012 - 2:45pm

Tweets...from Sullivan and Dierkes
Lopez, Castillo, and Camp in the clubhouse. Corpas not there. Also from Tim Dierkes, the Cubs have claimed 2b Luis Valbuena from Toronto.

Submitted by crunch
on Wed, 04/04/2012 - 2:55pm

one of the worst middle IF's around. awesome.

at least he's got a little pop in his bat...then again so does dewitt.

Submitted by Ryno
on Thu, 04/05/2012 - 10:46am

How dare you question Theo.

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