Angels Cruise Past Cubs at Fitch Park

Aided by 12 walks, a HBP, a balk, four wild pitches, two passed balls, and two errors, the Angels defeated the Cubs 8-2 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training action this morning at Fitch Park Field #3 in Mesa, AZ.

The Cubs managed only four hits, but one of them was a Dan Vogelbach solo home run that gave the Cubs an early 1-0 lead.

Cubs 2011 1st round draft pick Javier Baez broke a lengthy slump with a 9th inning ground single to left. Prior to the 9th inning hit, Baez had gone 0-20 with ten strikeouts since hitting for the cycle last week versus the Angels in Tempe.

Even with the recent batting skid, Baez is hitting 278/278/750 with three HR, three triples, two doubles, and 12 RBI in ten EXST games (36 PA). He also has no walks and 11 strikeouts (all swinging), two stolen bases (no CS), and he has committed six errors in the field (four throwing, two fielding).

While the Cubs were playing the Angels on Field #3, RHP Su-Min Jung and LHP Brian Smith squared-off in a two-inning "sim" game on Field #2, facing some of the Cub position players who were not in the lineup on Field #3. Both Jung and Smith have had control issues going back to Minor League Camp in March, and so they are being held out of EXST games until they show that they can throw strikes more consistently. (And the way Ryan Hartman and Alvido Jimenez threw the ball today, they might be joining Jung and Smith in the "sim" game plan very soon).

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

CUBS LINEUP:
1. Trey Martin, CF: 1-4 (K, 1B, 6-3, F-8)
2a. Pierre LePage, 2B-DH: 0-2 (BB, 4-3, K, SB)
2b. SLOT WAS SKIPPED FINAL TIME THRU BATTING ORDER
3. Javier Baez, SS: 1-4 (K, K, 6-3, 1B)
4. Xavier Batista, LF: 0-4 (1-3, 6-3, K, 5-4-3 DP)
5. Dan Vogelbach, DH-1B: 1-2 (HR, K+PB, HBP, R, RBI)
6. Yasiel Balaguert, RF: 0-3 (E-6, K, 4-3)
7. Jeimer Candelario, 3B: 0-3 (F-8, 1-3, K)
8a. Ryan Durrence, 1B: 0-1 (K)
8b. Trevor Gretzky, PH-DH: 0-1 (3-U, BB, R)
9. Gioskar Amaya, DH-2B: 1-3 (K, K, 1B, RBI)
10. Wilson Contreras, C-DH: 0-3 (F-8, K, 6-3)
11a. SLOT WAS SKIPPED FIRST TIME THRU BATTING ORDER
11b. Anthony Giansanti, DH-C: 0-2 (F-9, F-9)

CUBS PITCHERS:
1. Carlos Martinez: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 4 BB, 2 K, 2 GIDP, 52 pitches (23 strikes), 4/0 GO/FO
2. Ryan Hartman: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 3 R (3 ER), 3 BB, 2 K, 1 HBP, 3 WP, 35 pitches (15 strikes), 2/0 GO/FO
3. Alvido Jimenez: 1.0 IP, 3 H, 4 R (3 ER), 2 BB, 1 K, 1 BALK, 37 pitches (19 strikes), 0/2 GO/FO
4. Charles Thomas: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K, 1 WP, 1 GIDP, 34 pitches (21 strikes), 3/1 GO/FO
5. Pete Levitt: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 32 pitches (17 strikes), 3/2 GO/FO

CUBS ERRORS: 2
1. C Wilson Contreras - E-2 (errant pick-off attempt at 1st base allowed baserunner to advance to 2nd base)
2. SS Javier Baez - E-6 (throwing error allowed batter to reach base safely and baserunner to score unearned run)

CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Wilson Contreras: 1-3 CS, 1 PO, 1 E (see above)
Anthony Giansanti: 2 PB

ATTENDANCE: 6

WEATHER: Overcast and breezy with temperatures in the 80’s

Tags: 
EXST Cubs
Cubs Extended Spring Training
Dan Vogelbach
Javier Baez
Submitted by Arizona Phil on Wed, 04/25/2012 - 4:51pm
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Comments

Submitted by Cubster
on Wed, 04/25/2012 - 5:21pm

Dan Vogelbach, DH-1B: 1-2 (HR, K+PB, HBP, R, RBI)
---
Az Phil: can you please describe Vogelbomb's bomb while waxing poetic? (or at least in a run on sentence)?

Submitted by crunch
on Wed, 04/25/2012 - 6:06pm

fwiw, the CWS/OAK game is really good.

going to the bottom 13th.

Submitted by crunch
on Wed, 04/25/2012 - 6:30pm

2 runs top 14th...2 runs bottom 14th...tied.

Submitted by John Beasley
on Wed, 04/25/2012 - 6:36pm

Something tells me without even looking that Parker didn't get the win for my fantasy team.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 04/25/2012 - 7:06pm

get use to it, it's a 1 1/2 player offense (Cespedes and Weeks).

Submitted by big_lowitzki
on Wed, 04/25/2012 - 8:54pm

Which is about a 1/2 more of a player than the Cubs have...

Submitted by crunch
on Wed, 04/25/2012 - 6:36pm

wsox faaaaaaaail. A's win.

Submitted by superjimmer
on Wed, 04/25/2012 - 6:20pm

Whoah, ugly:

Bryce Harper - AAA Syracuse:

72 plate appearances
.227 BA
1 Home Run
2 RBI

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 04/25/2012 - 6:27pm

age 19

Submitted by springs
on Wed, 04/25/2012 - 6:56pm

I like something that ugly in the Cubs farm system....if he was a 19 year old at AAA.

Submitted by superjimmer
on Wed, 04/25/2012 - 7:47pm

Agreed. Not really ripping on Bryce, just commentary towards all the Wash Nat fans who were hoping he'd make the major league roster this year.

Submitted by Old and Blue
on Thu, 04/26/2012 - 6:49am

Stats like Harper's just show how hard a game baseball is, and how hard it is to hit at any professional level - to say nothing of the big leagues. Even Albert Pujols is struggling early on (or was, haven't looked to see how he's been doing the last couple games).

Submitted by Charlie
on Thu, 04/26/2012 - 10:37am

Pujols's early struggles prove only one thing: Tony LaRussa was responsible for all of his success.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 04/25/2012 - 7:05pm

gave up 5 ER in the first inning

1B, 2B (francisco Lindor), 1B, Sac Fly, 1B, HR, Pop out, Ground Out

4 scoreless since, 3 singles and 2 K's

Daytona won 6-4; Torreyes 2/5 with 2 SB's, Szczur 0/3 with a BB and 2 SB and 2 R, Rohan with his 5th HR

Tennessee starting Brooks Raley tonight vs. Jackson (Seattle): Soto 6, Watkins 4, Ha 9, Bour 3, Ridling 0, Adduci 8, Mota 7, Brenley 2, Samson 5

Iowa has the night off.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 04/25/2012 - 7:08pm

Concepcion done after 5, 77 pitches; 5 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 2 K, 1 BB

picked off Lindor off 1B at some point

Submitted by crunch
on Thu, 04/26/2012 - 12:44am

bit of a writeup on concepcion and his debut

http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=2012...

Submitted by Old and Blue
on Thu, 04/26/2012 - 6:52am

Nice - sounds like he adjusted pretty well after the initial shock.

Submitted by Cubster
on Thu, 04/26/2012 - 11:03am

Pujols's early struggles prove only one thing
---
better HGH in St. Louis?

Submitted by big_lowitzki
on Thu, 04/26/2012 - 11:55am

**better HGH in St. Louis?**

Is that different than "Tony LaRussa was responsible for all of his success?"

Submitted by jacos
on Thu, 04/26/2012 - 11:25am

I prefer this to the 7th inning guest conductor

http://kotaku.com/5905279/if-you-thought-the-...

Maybe she could melt Soso's face

Submitted by jacos
on Thu, 04/26/2012 - 11:34am

Gotta love the stogie

http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/lifestyle/20...

Submitted by crunch
on Thu, 04/26/2012 - 4:19pm

latino.foxnews...lulz.

it's only been recently they've re-opened people to comment on stories on latino.foxnews...i wonder why...oh yeah, their regular story commentators over at "regular" foxnews.com

Submitted by Tito
on Thu, 04/26/2012 - 11:39am

Are the posts cut off for anyone on IE at the "roster snatchers" post? It's fine on Chrome. Just curious.

Submitted by Eric S
on Thu, 04/26/2012 - 1:34pm

The posts are missing/cut off after "roster snatchers" on the IE browser I'm using as well.

Submitted by big_lowitzki
on Thu, 04/26/2012 - 2:16pm

People still use IE?

Submitted by Tito
on Thu, 04/26/2012 - 2:38pm

About 35 percent of Internet users. You can do the math if you want, but the short answer is "millions of people."

I have no affinity for it, but it's what our IT dorks support.

Submitted by Ryno
on Thu, 04/26/2012 - 2:52pm

I think some people like to have a little breather in between the time you double-click the browser icon and the time the browser actually opens. Maybe for some people this period of waiting is a zen experience.

Personally, I like my browser to open as soon as I click on the icon so I use Chrome, but I appreciate other points of view.

Submitted by Old and Blue
on Thu, 04/26/2012 - 4:44pm

Most IT departments push IE because they have internal web apps that rely on the way old IE browsers interpret HTML and JavaScript. It's very difficult to get them to change, but as Windows XP falls off the Microsoft support matrix, hopefully you will start seeing company IE departments pushing out browsers that correctly support standards.

Also, of course, lots of moms and grandmas have IE, and always will. They're just not gonna upgrade, ever.

Old guys like me, we use Chrome.

Submitted by Rob Richardson
on Thu, 04/26/2012 - 12:54pm

http://mlb.sbnation.com/2012/4/26/2975181/bry...

"People wondered whether Bryan LaHair was a quad-A hitter. He looks more like a big-league hitter on a quad-A team."

Ba-zinga!

Submitted by Ryno
on Thu, 04/26/2012 - 3:01pm

True statement.

Submitted by Old and Blue
on Thu, 04/26/2012 - 4:50pm

I missed that home run. From the picture in that article, it looks like he really reached down and got it. I can't even imagine being able to hit a fastball in that location.

Submitted by superjimmer
on Thu, 04/26/2012 - 5:56pm

Oh pshaw, you could totally do it! Don't sell yourself short O & B!!

Submitted by Old and Blue
on Thu, 04/26/2012 - 6:40pm

maybe on the kinect with those cartoon guys

Submitted by John Beasley
on Thu, 04/26/2012 - 1:26pm

Maybe he'll shut up about it now.

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/bob-...

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 04/26/2012 - 2:23pm

Pagan with a 3-run HR off Marshall to give Giants a 6-5 lead

Submitted by big_lowitzki
on Thu, 04/26/2012 - 2:51pm

Clearly Marshall sucks and Hoystein made a great trade!

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 04/26/2012 - 2:54pm

I see no other conclusion.

Submitted by superjimmer
on Thu, 04/26/2012 - 5:57pm

Except Pagan is amazing and we should never have let him go!

Submitted by Cubster
on Thu, 04/26/2012 - 4:43pm

Clearly Marshall sucks and Hoystein made a great trade!
---
Nope. Just chalk it up to another arm that Dusty burned out.
Prior
Wood
Harang
Marshall

Submitted by crunch
on Thu, 04/26/2012 - 6:08pm

wow, DET releases b.inge.

"he wasn't playing as much as he'd like to play." - leelaaaand

countdown til he's a cub begins in....3...2...1... =p

Submitted by superjimmer
on Thu, 04/26/2012 - 6:40pm

There is no way they'll claim Inge...

Submitted by JD
on Fri, 04/27/2012 - 3:10pm

You heard that Jim Hendry is gone, right?

Submitted by crunch
on Thu, 04/26/2012 - 6:13pm

one of the worst (debated for some f'n reason) contracts in baseball gets even worse...

"Sean McAdam of CSNNE.com was told that Carl Crawford has an injury to the ulnar collateral ligament of his left elbow which will not require surgery."

so much for coming back earlier than the "few" months he was expected to miss.

Submitted by johann
on Thu, 04/26/2012 - 11:02pm

Yep I'll debate it completely. It's bad now. If he had even a 110 OPS+ and helped carry a very good Red Sox team over the top the contract Theo would been have been a hero, and those were not unlikely suppositions. Far more likely then what actually happened and if you say you predicted the past two seasons Crawford had you are lying.

Submitted by crunch
on Fri, 04/27/2012 - 12:16am

i think the contract sucked from the minute it was signed.

that much money for a guy with that skill set for that many years?

you can get a hell of a lot of player for $20m a year and i wouldn't dream of starting with carl crawford age 29-35.

Submitted by The Joe
on Fri, 04/27/2012 - 3:10pm

I didn't care enough to predict, but the first thing I thought upon hearing of the contract was "Isn't he always hurt?".

Submitted by Cubster
on Thu, 04/26/2012 - 6:16pm

is Inge an upgrade over Stewart at 3B?

is Inge an upgrade over DeWitt/Mather/Baker as backup at 3B?

The problem in Detroit is that Inge was playing 2B. That's about as stoopid as playing DeWitt or Baker at 2B...

oh, Wait... who's our backup at 2B?

Submitted by crunch
on Thu, 04/26/2012 - 6:20pm

not a starter upgrade...inge is nearly useless except for his glove at 3rd and putting the ball in the OF, occasionally over a fence (when he doesn't K)...supposedly decent 2nd.

fwiw, BAL is the early rumored team to pick him up...might spell the end in BAL (or a trade) for r.flaherty.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 04/26/2012 - 6:20pm

inge is 35 (yeah, shocked me too). He's not coming to the Cubs.

some O's rumor as Reynolds and Betemit have been butchering 3rd base in the early going.

Submitted by Cubster
on Thu, 04/26/2012 - 6:21pm

Inge is 34, didn't we just get rid of a 34 yr old (OF)?

I don't think the Cubs should be collecting 34yr olds anymore. Maybe Boston can collect more of the 34yr olds out there.

Submitted by crunch
on Thu, 04/26/2012 - 6:23pm

there's nothing point to him coming...i was just joking around.

it wouldn't surprise me, but there's nothing pointing to it...especially since inge wouldn't gain much playing time with the cubs even if he was wanted. there's gotta be better options for him.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 04/26/2012 - 6:24pm

sorry, should have said age 35 season.

Submitted by John Beasley
on Thu, 04/26/2012 - 6:36pm

I always thought Detroit misused the guy. He should have been a backup catcher who could also hit enough to get spot starts at the corners. In that role he'd be perfectly sufficient. Unfortunately, his contract was a joke from the minute it was announced.

Submitted by crunch
on Thu, 04/26/2012 - 6:39pm

he was/is such a great defensive 3rd (killer arm, too)...they shouldn't have handed him a longterm contract, though...and probably should have ended their relationship years ago rather than giving him 2 more years...

Submitted by John Beasley
on Thu, 04/26/2012 - 7:57pm

True, but he never hit enough to play 3rd, no matter how good his arm/D played there.

Submitted by Cubster
on Thu, 04/26/2012 - 6:24pm

Heath Bell blown save #3 (and loss #3).

Nice free agent acquisition...and he's 34yrs old too. Not a good week for 34 yr olds.

Submitted by crunch
on Thu, 04/26/2012 - 6:34pm

grant balfour disagrees.

also...this kind of handling of "closers" is what i'd like to see the cubs do. if they never pay more than 3-7m for a closer from here on out i wouldn't complain.

balfour, luke hughes, and rich thompson...3 aussies on the A's 25 man roster...lulz, mate.

Submitted by QuietMan
on Thu, 04/26/2012 - 7:34pm

Rich Thompson was DFA's yesterday.

Submitted by crunch
on Thu, 04/26/2012 - 7:42pm

FREE RICH THOMPSON

Submitted by Ryno
on Thu, 04/26/2012 - 7:31pm

Been a decent week for this 34 year old.

Submitted by Eagon
on Thu, 04/26/2012 - 8:06pm

Just watched the highlights of this and he threw 46 pitches for the 2 outs that he managed, impressive

Submitted by Old and Blue
on Thu, 04/26/2012 - 6:42pm

The Cubs can't lose, and that's huge for me.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 04/26/2012 - 8:07pm

Re: Draft
Top 7 of Buxton, Zunino, Appel, Gausman, Zimmer, Correa, Fried, in some order. Eight is where it drops off.

Re: Will Cubs fans be disappointed by B. Jackson
Given what he's replacing, he could be not-special and still feel like a star to Cubs fans.

Re: Max Fried
Q:I caught Fried's last start (pretty crowded, ~20 scouts + Tim Wilken). Fried looked good, though he lost command of the fastball around the 3rd and had to pitch off the curve. Does projection of fastball command become tricky when they have as much movement as Fried's? Love the chats, thank you.
KL:His command has been up and down this year - but that's common for most HS arms. And he's really athletic with good makeup, so there's reason to believe he can develop command in time. He could go 6 to the Cubs, tiny chance he goes above that, most likely goes in the 6-10 range.

http://baseballprospectnation.com/2012/03/21/...

Re: Carlos Correa vs. Javier Baez
Correa has the better bat. Both guys most likely play third in the majors.

Submitted by superjimmer
on Thu, 04/26/2012 - 9:02pm

So do you think Cashman has called Theo/Jed yet about Garza?

Submitted by John Beasley
on Thu, 04/26/2012 - 9:34pm

They probably don't have the minor league depth to pull off that deal. If I was Ephoy I wouldn't do it for Banuelos and Betances. Garza's too valuable, and the Cubs have plenty of money to pay him.

Dempster, on the other hand...

Submitted by crunch
on Thu, 04/26/2012 - 9:46pm

i'm sure they have a few 3-5 starters the cubs could add to the collection. =p

Submitted by QuietMan
on Thu, 04/26/2012 - 10:09pm

FREE ANDY PETTITTE

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 04/26/2012 - 10:29pm

You wouldn't trade Garza for Banuelos and Betances? What do you think other teams are willing to offer?

Submitted by Wes
on Thu, 04/26/2012 - 10:38pm

Probably not much more than that now, but if he has a great first half and somebody gets desperate at the deadline, anything is possible.

Submitted by George Altman
on Fri, 04/27/2012 - 9:08am

Hell, I would. This team is more likely to lose 95 than win 70, so I would be open to any move that made this team better in 2013/beyond.

Submitted by John Beasley
on Fri, 04/27/2012 - 11:11am

Not enough. Just sign the guy already.

Submitted by superjimmer
on Fri, 04/27/2012 - 1:00pm

Why? What does that accomplish?

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 04/27/2012 - 12:12am

Bears 1st round pick
McClellin has started three consecutive years at defensive end for Boise State. He is an undersized DE who 3-4 teams will value at the OLB position. At just under 260 pounds, he can struggle at times against bigger linemen, but he has fifth-round value.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 04/27/2012 - 12:16am

joke aside, rumors be that Packers and Pats were high on him as a 1st round pick

http://blogs.suntimes.com/bears/2012/04/bears...

Submitted by Newport
on Fri, 04/27/2012 - 7:41am

3 of the 4 best OL dudes got drafted rather quickly right after the Bears pick. This was their greatest need and several players were available to fill this need. Blah.

Submitted by Old and Blue
on Fri, 04/27/2012 - 8:29am

My tendency was to hope for some OL help, too, but I already have a lot more faith in Emery than I did in Angelo, and the Patriots were said to be high on this guy, too, and they seem to know what they're doing.

I was thrilled when Martz came until I saw the results of his coaching, and I'm not convinced that a substantial part of the OL problems were not a result of the coaching scheme. Not just the 7 step dropbacks, but the entire complexity. In software, we call this over-engineering.

I don't know it for a fact, but I'm willing to bet that OL guys are not the smartest guys on the field. Keep it as simple as possible. With Tice the new offensive coach, I have some hopes that the OL will stabilize some, and Emery has been picking up a few more off the street, and will probably draft somebody today.

I gotta give the guy the benefit of the doubt at least for now, and he does seem to understand that the Bears are close to pissing away the one excellent player move Angelo made in getting Cutler.

Submitted by johann
on Fri, 04/27/2012 - 9:37am

While I agree completely the 7-step drops and 5-man blocking was awful, it wasn't only that. I think I watched every game last year and even on 3-step drops and max protect defenses were still getting players free in Cutler's face. A lot of the completions Cutler had were after shaking free of a free rushing defender and making off balance throws, a lot of those to Forte. The left side of the line seemed to be especially bad, though Garza seemed to do a good job moving to center. We also had very little consistent run blocking and Forte made a lot of his runs work himself (as well as being a consistent presence in the passing game, both receiving and blocking).

This line has serious issues and maybe a change in blocking scheme, a healthy Gabe Carimi and a better receiver to throw too will help. I just know our line was exposed way too many times last year and a lot of was with blocking help and short drops too.

Submitted by Dusty Baylor
on Fri, 04/27/2012 - 10:13am

J'Marcus Webb is awful. Chris Williams is awful. A full season of Carimi will be good. That said, getting more of a pass rush was important too

Submitted by johann
on Fri, 04/27/2012 - 11:20am

I agree and I am very happy we got rid of Martz. I'm just not sold when I hear Tice say our offensive linemen are fine. I'm also not sure a guy who has trouble getting off blocks is the best at defensive end but maybe.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 04/27/2012 - 11:37am

fwiw, a few folks seem to be claiming that they like what they see of Webb on tape and think he has the tools to be a good lineman. I don't care to try and find the links at the moment.

not like anyone they got at #19 was going to be a sure-fire upgrade and certainly not gonna find one in the later rounds.

I'm sure the Boise St. guy is great and all, especially if we played a 3-4, which unfortunately we don't. But gotta give the new guy a chance to fail before I get too uptight about it.

Submitted by The E-Man
on Fri, 04/27/2012 - 3:40pm

Some of the local talk is that Emry is liking that SHOULD Lovie go, and as he employed the 3-4 at KC, the versatility is intended.

Submitted by Jumbo
on Fri, 04/27/2012 - 11:32am

Martz's scheme gets the QB hit a lot. The OL wasn't great in pass blocking, particularly Webb. The rest weren't bad pass blockers, though. CWilliams was occasionally overpowered, but he wasn't routinely poor.

I don't disagree with them going with who they have, as long as they open up LT for competition between Webb and Carimi. I think Carimi would be an improvement over Webb now, but I think the team believes that Webb can be developed into a very good LT because of his size and relative athleticism.

I immediately thought of Bazuin when McClellin was announced. I would have either drafted Chandler Jones or traded back, but hopefully this guy can play.

I wouldn't mind at all if he was the starting SLB and then moved up to replace Idonije in the nickel package, but I highly doubt he'll be used that way.

Submitted by Newport
on Fri, 04/27/2012 - 12:38pm

Getting Carimi back will be like having TWO first rounders. Lol.

Submitted by garsky
on Fri, 04/27/2012 - 2:04pm

I don't know it for a fact, but I'm willing to bet that OL guys are not the smartest guys on the field.

100% wrong. From Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wonderlic_Test#A...):

Though used in a variety of settings, the Wonderlic test has become best known for its use in the NFL's Scouting Combine. According to Paul Zimmerman's The New Thinking Man's Guide to Pro Football, the average score of a NFL player according to position is the following:
Offensive tackle – 26
Center – 25
Quarterback – 24 (Most teams want at least 21 for a quarterback.)[19]
Guard – 23
Tight end – 22
Safety – 19
Linebacker – 19
Cornerback – 18
Wide receiver – 17
Fullback – 17
Halfback – 16

Submitted by Old and Blue
on Fri, 04/27/2012 - 3:58pm

I got a 2 on the Wonderlic

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 04/27/2012 - 12:32am

The World's Most Self-Involved Couple

http://deadspin.com/5905250/worst-people-ever...

Submitted by superjimmer
on Fri, 04/27/2012 - 4:21am

The comments are atrocious ... Wow.

Submitted by Old and Blue
on Fri, 04/27/2012 - 8:22am

Yay for the old guy with the young babe! Runs out to Dick's to buy a glove.

Submitted by Ryno
on Fri, 04/27/2012 - 9:46am

If I ever catch a foul ball and am shown on TV not giving it to the nearest screaming child, it's because I would want to keep it and give it to my own kid as soon as I get home. Just want to clear the air in case it ever happens. I don't want to end up on deadspin as a terrible person.

Submitted by jacos
on Fri, 04/27/2012 - 10:22am

I knew that was you.

Submitted by Charlie
on Fri, 04/27/2012 - 10:40am

Fighting children's sense of entitlement in their own small way.

To be totally fair, it's possible that child is fucking awful. Who knows? I'd probably give it to the kid, but who really cares if I don't? People have done much worse things to kids than not fork over a foul ball.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 04/27/2012 - 11:29am

I gave them the benefit of the doubt at first, but then they started taking photos and the kid was still bawling. I'm hoping they were just blissfully unaware, but it sure came off as pretty cold-hearted. Not like players ever throw the ball in the stands to the middle-aged couple. It's either a kid or the hot girl and they didn't qualify for either.

Submitted by WISCGRAD
on Fri, 04/27/2012 - 11:57am

Yeah, even if there was no kid in that scene at all, I would have still thought that couple was douchey.

Submitted by Ryno
on Fri, 04/27/2012 - 12:16pm

Touchè.

Submitted by johann
on Fri, 04/27/2012 - 12:41pm

http://moms.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04...

"The couple was attending their first baseball game and are getting married Saturday. They actually offered the toddler the ball, but his parents turned down the gift."

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 04/27/2012 - 12:53pm

and the rest of the story...

well they seemed douchey like WISCGRAD said :)

Submitted by Old and Blue
on Fri, 04/27/2012 - 4:00pm

The yankees announcer, it really should be said, slammed the kid before he slammed the couple. Methinks he just likes to be a f'in critic.

Submitted by WISCGRAD
on Fri, 04/27/2012 - 7:39am

I hadn't noticed, but the Cubs recent plethora (2) of wins has moved them up considerably in the standings. They are no longer the worst team in baseball! At 6-13 (.313) they are ahead of Minnesota (5-14, .263), Kansas City (5-14, .263), and San Diego (6-14, .300), and are tied with the Angels. Next up Houston and Miami!

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 04/27/2012 - 1:10pm

http://espn.go.com/mlb/blog/_/name/stark_jays...

How many position players have ever been traded when they were hitting .070 (or worse) after that many trips to the plate? The answer, according to the Elias Sports Bureau: It's happened to precisely one other player since 1900 -- the well-traveled Ryan Langerhans. He went 3-for-44 (.068) for the Braves in 2007, then got traded to Oakland. Three days (and four more hitless at-bats) later, he got dealt AGAIN, to the Nationals. So Marlon Byrd should look on the bright side: At least he didn't follow Langerhans into the As Many Teams As Hits Club.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/blog/_/name/stark_jays...

Publicly, you'll never hear anyone say a bad word about Wrigley. But privately, there are big worries about the 98-year-old park's deteriorating infrastructure, which Chicagobusiness.com reported this week would cost $300 million to repair.

Submitted by The E-Man
on Fri, 04/27/2012 - 3:46pm

Isn't $300MM chump change when comparing to a new stadium like the Marlin's or Miller?

Anyway, I would guarantee you that if polled, America's Cubs
fans would prefer putting that money into winning now.

Not new toilets, in-seat p-b-p, or exploding dolphins.

Give me a fucking winning baseball team for fuck's sake!

Submitted by crunch
on Fri, 04/27/2012 - 3:51pm

i'd settle for a giant implosion, condos, and building a ballpark that doesn't make players want to avoid the team because of the OF wall, the april weather, the day games, and the building itself.

wrigleyville is cute and economically important, but this is chicago not detroit. everyone should adapt just fine, history aside.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 04/27/2012 - 1:40pm

tweet from the former Cub Carpenter

Very thankful for the generous gift from my agency today, however, it is the other Chris Carpenters bday not mine! #10000thtimencounting

Submitted by Ryno
on Fri, 04/27/2012 - 1:45pm

Hah!

Submitted by Ryno
on Fri, 04/27/2012 - 1:47pm

Inge is available.

Submitted by jacos
on Fri, 04/27/2012 - 1:58pm

Put the pipe down

Submitted by crunch
on Fri, 04/27/2012 - 2:14pm

delmon young channeling the non-dead ghost of elijah dukes...and young's brother by being drunk as hell

beat down a guy...facing a hate crime, too.

pro tip - don't make racial/religious statements while beating someone down...that's how that "hate crime" thing works.

evidently the guy was jewish...figure out the rest.

Submitted by Newport
on Fri, 04/27/2012 - 6:04pm

He should have just thrown a bat at them while walking away.

Submitted by crunch
on Fri, 04/27/2012 - 2:39pm

g.para (ARZ) has started using a kid's glove for practice and it's catching on with the team.

the idea is that warming up/practicing with the kid's gloves makes having a real/game glove seem "like an ocean" when using it.

even one of the team's catchers is doing it.

Submitted by Ryno
on Fri, 04/27/2012 - 3:03pm

Tony Campana disapproves.

Submitted by Ryno
on Fri, 04/27/2012 - 3:05pm

And how in god's name did I miss this? On the amusement scale, that's at least a 3.

Submitted by crunch
on Fri, 04/27/2012 - 3:34pm

“There are good ways to handle my rage, and murdering a teammate is almost certainly not one of them.”

lulz

Submitted by crunch
on Fri, 04/27/2012 - 3:54pm

bryce harper to be called up Sat. (vs dodgers)

Submitted by jacos
on Fri, 04/27/2012 - 4:27pm

wow

Submitted by big_lowitzki
on Fri, 04/27/2012 - 4:53pm

Above A-ball Harper has a line of:
Games: 57
.253/.328/.388 --OPS: 716
At-bats/PAs: 201/229
Home runs: 4
Strike outs: 40

Really not sure the point of rushing him up...

Submitted by jacos
on Fri, 04/27/2012 - 4:27pm

anybody going to be on parrot chat tonite?

Submitted by jacos
on Fri, 04/27/2012 - 4:31pm

DeJesus RF, Campana CF, Castro SS, LaHair 1B, Soriano LF, Stewart 3B, Barney 2B, Soto C, Maholm P

me thinks Sandy Koufax gets company tonight

Submitted by jacos
on Fri, 04/27/2012 - 11:31pm

Or not

Submitted by crunch
on Fri, 04/27/2012 - 4:55pm

pujols...lulz...

http://i.imgur.com/cTKQb.jpg

Submitted by Newport
on Fri, 04/27/2012 - 6:06pm

Lulz indeed. Only like 9.75 years left.

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