Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

40 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (roster is full) 

28 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE, and twelve players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors. 

Last updated 3-26-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 15
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Jose Cuas
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Caleb Kilian
Mark Leiter Jr
* Luke Little
Julian Merryweather
Hector Neris 
* Drew Smyly
* Justin Steele
Jameson Taillon
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

INFIELDERS: 7
* Michael Busch 
Nico Hoerner
Nick Madrigal
* Miles Mastrobuoni
Christopher Morel
Dansby Swanson
Patrick Wisdom

OUTFIELDERS: 4
* Cody Bellinger 
Alexander Canario
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman 

OPTIONED: 12 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Ben Brown, P 
Alexander Canario, OF 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Daniel Palencia, P 
Keegan Thompson, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 
Hayden Wesneski, P 

 



 

Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Fooled You

A break in the action here at work gives me some time to pop this up. Tonight's loser gets to be queen for a day, possibly longer. Go Cubs or go draft pick...either way! GAME ONE HUNDRED-THIRTY-EIGHT IN-GAME DISCUSSION THREAD [PARACHAT] PITTSBURGH PIRATES (55-83 (Div) 6th - 19.0 GB; (Wild Card) 13th -16.5 GB) AT CHICAGO CUBS (55-82 (Div) 5th - 18.5 GB; (Wild Card) 12th - 16.0 GB) Wrigley Field, 7:05 pm CDT Weather: Clear, 72 degrees, Wind in from RF @ 4 mph TV: WCIU, DirectTV 744 Radio: WGN, XM 189
Juan Mateo, RHP 1-2, 4.15 ERA, 26 IP 14 K, 11BB, 2 HR 208/313/356 againstVictor Santos, RHP 5-9, 5.54 ERA, 112 IP 79 K, 41 BB, 16 HR 314/387/419 against

*Chris Duffy, CF Jose Bautista, 3B Freddy Sanchez, SS Jason Bay, LF Xavier Nady, 1B *Jeromy Burnitz, RF Ronny Paulino, C Jose Castillo, 2B Victor Santos, P *Juan Pierre, CF Ryan Theriot, 2B Aramis Ramirez, 3B Derrek Lee, 1B *Jacque Jones, RF Matt Murton, LF Henry Blanco, C Ronny Cedeno, SS Juan Mateo, P

Pirates vs. Mateo: No Pirates with more than 10 AB's Cubs vs. Santos: Aramis Ramirez: 9-24, 375/400/750, 1 HR Derrek Lee: 4-20, 200/292/500, 2 HR Jacque Jones: 5-14, 357 /400/429 John Mabry: 3-13, 231/231/462, 1 HR Juan Pierre: 2-12, 167/167/417, 1 HR

Comments

Somebody tell Dusty that he has a better chance of scoring with a man on second and nobody out than with a man on third and one out.

Yes! Six more innings until Hendry officially becomes Isiah Thomas!

Billybucks- So you are saying we can expect a sexual harassment suit agaisnt Hendry soon? My guess it will be Rusch when he gets pissed that Hendry wipes some food from Rusch's mouth.

CWTP, I wonder what the total expected runs that were subtracted solely by Dusty making dumb decisions. I bet it'd be more than 10, which probably cost us one win over the course of the season. Add to that the dumb shit like double switching Todd Walker in the 5th inning and pinching Mabry for Theriot, I bet you could come close to quantifying Dusty's net negative impact on the team. It'd be bad, but I guess the truth remains that this team sucks with or without Dusty.

And double switching Jones out of RF for no reason (could've just PH the pitcher the next inning) only to have Mabry muff the flyball to right to lose the game. And on and on. By the way, anyone watching on TV hear that idiots totally lane explanation of the Cubs organizational philosophy of swinging at the first pitch? As if any more evidence was necessary that this is the most pathetic franchise in baseball.

Nevermind...yahoo just updated and said he got ejected.

Juan caught stealing third with one out. Santo -Why?! Why! Indeed! Fire Dusty! And bye bye Juan!

Reason #232 why you should be at Parachat: Comments like this one: WPZ: When Gagne used to come in, the LA people had signs saying "Game over" WPZ: With Dempster, it's a little like that Oh yeah.

Congrats to Jim Hendry for officially running this organization into the ground. Last Place!! WOO!!!

welcome to the gutter/cellar/basement

well...I've got my #2 pick...for now unfortunately this organization is so incompetent we'll probably go on a winning streak against the Rockies the last week and miss on on the player I really want. KC Royals you're in our sights...too bad the AL gets the #1 pick no matter how bad we are.

Hold your horses, Cubs are only last place in the NL. There's still some work to be done to catch KC for last place overall, but I have faith in Hendry & Dusty's vision to get us there!

I thought that the team with the worse record in either league gets the first pick.

YES! Last place has been achieved -- and who better to put us there than Dempster, who allowed the winning run to score because of 2 walks and 2 wild pitches!!! Dempster has now lost 3 straight games to the previously last-place Pirates, by giving up 2, 3 and now 1 run with the game on the line. What in the world are they going to do with him for 2 more years? He is now in LaTroy-land, and he ain't coming back. What starting pitcher FA is going to come here if he knows Dempster will be blowing numerous W's? Still liking Theriot -- a triple (although I didn't see it - legit or cheapie?) and 2 walks. He has put up a lot of XBH (although not HRs) in his brief time, and now has more BB than K's, I think, plus a great SB success ratio. I know it's a small sample size, but his Iowa numbers look pretty similar. 3 more hits for Murton, which must mean he's due to sit tomorrow so Pagan can go 0-4.

"NO, CRUNCH, IT'S NOT PORNOGRAPHY." that stadium needs more hot midget action. fail.

"a triple (although I didn't see it - legit or cheapie?)" legit...it could have been a very easy standup double if the ball was played totally perfectly at worst. near the line quickly into RF.

BILLYBUCKS: "...and who better to put us there than Dempster, who allowed the winning run to score because of 2 walks and 2 wild pitches!!!" This is the whole nutshell concept of the Dusty NOT holding players accountable. The post-game conference that I saw a snippet from had Dusty pointing to great Pirates plays in the field saving runs, and he also remarks about the little infield hit in the 9th off Demp and they should have been out of the inning with Blanco's throw to 2nd (saying nothing about his ball four). He mentioned nothing specific about Dempster stealing 15.5 million dollars, how he walks the bases loaded, can't find the plate, and wild-pitched us to a loss. From a freaking CLOSER. He DID say "he's had a tough time lately..." or something like this. This is the problem I have with him is that in my eyes, he shields his players from any criticism and will not publicly hold them accountable. I think as fans, many of us who see players stealing money, would like them to be publicly called out. They should be able to handle it for being a fucking overpaid, underperforming player that causes US frustration. I think with this team in last place now, many of us may have been delusional in thinking that even 4th place would have been realistic. At least I was thinking 3rd or 4th. But LAST place? In the NL? I didn't envision it. I wish that the Tribune would sell this team.

mannytrillo: "Congrats to Jim Hendry for officially running this organization into the ground." That's cute, manny, but there's plenty of blame to go around, IMO. Anyone else unexcited about the draft pick if the Cubs end up finishing in last place? I have this vision of the Cubs blowing their first pick on some guy ranked #113 by the experts, some 19-year old left-handed pitcher who has a history of elbow problems. Tell me you can't see that happening.

I could be mistaken but I believe the National league team with the worst record gets the first overall pick in next year's draft. Kansas City had the first overall pick in the amateur draft this year and I am pretty sure the leagues rotate the first pick on alternating years.

I stand corrected, it is by worst record and not by league.

8-16 here out to avoid 100 losses. Cubbies always like to have something to shoot for in September.

So much venom for a meaningless loss.... We moved up a draft pick at the moment, far more important than whether we finish 5th or 6th in our division. From what I read, the high school crop is quite promising this year although the college crew is a bit down. That could all change between now and June of course.

Anyone else unexcited about the draft pick if the Cubs end up finishing in last place? I have this vision of the Cubs blowing their first pick on some guy ranked #113 by the experts, some 19-year old left-handed pitcher who has a history of elbow problems. Tell me you can't see that happening. I assume you're alluding to Colvin who mashed the ball in his first taste of the pros. The Cubs managed a 1st/3rd round talent (some say Colvin would have gone in the sandwich round or the 2nd) out of a 1st/5th. Seems like a good gamble. Colvin was ranked rather low by BA but what does that mean? Samard???? was a mid-1st pick if he didn't play football. Yeah, we could draft the next Matt Bush or Brien Taylor, but it's better to have the chance to pick up the next A-rod than someone else getting the opportunity first.

Ryno: "That's cute, manny, but there's plenty of blame to go around, IMO." Absolutely... That is why I do blamed the players, the manager, the coaches, but mostly the GM.

Prolonged excellence would be much preferred, but if you're not going to qualify for the post-season or at least come close, it's better to just lose 100+ games and maybe finish with the worst record in baseball and get the best HS or college player next June. The Diamondbacksa, Tigers, and Marlins, have done that, and I like that approach. Why just be mediocre and finish in 4th place in the N. L. Central when you can REALLY stink and get the best player in the draft the following June?

The Diamondbacksa, Tigers, and Marlins, have done that, and I like that approach. Why just be mediocre and finish in 4th place in the N. L. Central when you can REALLY stink and get the best player in the draft the following June? - Organizational Goals: 1) We want to REALLY STINK 2) We want maximally high draft choices. This is a new tactic, previously we strove to be mediocre. 3) Trade high draft choices for Matt Karchner type players

From today's Tribune: Pie peeved Felix Pie will report to Arizona after the season to work out with Triple-A hitting coach Von Joshua. Pie, the Cubs' top-rated prospect, was upset that he was one of the few players on the 40-man roster not to be called up. "Sure he was mad," said Oneiri Fleita, the Cubs' director of player development. "I told him before the game, and he went out and had three hits, then called me after the game and said, 'What do I have to do to get better?'" Fleita said Pie needs to work on his baserunning, bunting and his overaggressiveness at the plate. "Sometimes he swings early in the count, like he knows we don't like to see," Fleita said. "But a lot of that is [lack of] experience." Bunting skills? Once again, lets try to put the square peg into the round hole. Since when is laying off pitches early in the count the Cub's approach? That approach certainly has not been preached to their major league team since ... well forever? I'd be pissed too if I was Pie.

This is NUTS: "Honestly, I'd like to see him get his head together, take some time off and have a great winter. Fleita said Pie ''probably is'' disappointed not to be among the September call-ups. ''But he's a good kid and he can turn it into a positive. He's going to work with Bob Dernier on his bunting and base running and then he'll spend the winter working with Von Joshua." Pie is not a leadoff man. The Cubs(Hendry) said they were batting him first at Iowa in order to get him more plate appearances after missing half a season at West Tennessee. But that apparently was a lie because now he's being judged a failure as a leadoff man and needs more work on his @#$!BUNTING@#%! and baserunning??! Whats more, he's getting the full Corey Patterson treatment. Pie is now officially a "headcase" who Fleita "hopes" will take the winter off (and how's he gonna do that when you have him playing in the AFL and Winter leagues?) and "get his head together." If I'm Pie and I read that quote from Fleita I'm thinking WTF!WTF!WTF!WTF!WTF!WTF!WTF!WTF!WTF!WTF!WTF!WTF! Pie led Iowa and was 14th in the PCL in runs scored. Juan Pierre is 47th in the NL and dead last (http://tinyurl.com/qp3mf) among leadoff men in runs scored. Pie hit 15 home runs and drove in 52. Pierre has hit 2 home runs and has driven in 34. Pie OBP .341 Pierre .335 Pie Slug .451 Pierre .392 Pie Avg .283 Pierre .290 Pie's strikeout/AB ratio the previous four years 22% Pie's strikeout/AB ratio this year 22%

I should add that it's clear Pie isn't being brought up because Dusty wants to "reward" his number one boy Juan Pierre who must play every game. I've never seen more selfish baseball, more unnecessary base stealing attempts at inopportune times, than Pierre has been displaying the last couple weeks. Last night he treated us to another pointless failed attempt to steal third as he pads his season numbers while managing to run us out of rallies And of course Pie can't be brought up to play RF because Dusty must reward JJ with totally pointless at bats as well.

Inside scoop -- Cubs plan to draft Cade McKnown, but will stress his need to improve his bunting skills.

Woke up this morning Got out of bed looked up and I saw the Pirates over my head I've got the John Mabry blues. Well now add me to the Dempster must go group, and if they believe Wood will be the closer next year start dreaming about 2008. The Cubs philosphy seems to be a lead off hitter qualities only have to be- Dark Skinned Fast Keep up the good work.

CWTP: Please don't compare "stats" between a bona fide MLB leadoff player with a .300 career average and a World Series ring with a minor leaguer who has not started a game in the Majors. I know you are frustrated, but you're embarrassing yourself. Pierre made an f'd play last night, and he has made outs stealing bases this year in boneheaded attempts, but in Dusty's world, I am guessing with his work ethic and solid numbers, he is earning his playing time. This manager is a goner and I only wish the GM would resign.

This is why our team is dysfunctional. August 23rd when Ryan Theriot tried to steal 3rd base and got caught... "That shocked us all," said Cubs manager Dusty Baker, whose team fell to 53-72. "Maybe he was overplaying. That wasnít a good play. That was a bad play, especially with 3-4-5 coming up there. I guess he was trying to be aggressive." "That was a young, a very young, mistake right there." Theriot took the heat. "Obviously, looking at it now, it wasnít a very good play in that situation," he said. "I was trying to make something happen right there and get everything going a little bit, but looking back on it, it wasnít the best move." Juan Pierre gets caught stealing last night in an identical situation, via Bruce Miles... Baker carried on for two days criticizing rookie Ryan Theriot about a similar play Aug. 22. However, he seemed to defend the veteran Pierre. "Well, I mean, Juan is on his own," Baker offered. "He has a pretty good idea when to run. He didnít get a real good jump on that ball. On that one he usually gets an outstanding jump. Just a tough night." But it doesn't end there as Derrek Lee hops on the defend Pierre band wagon while Theriot got thrown under the bus... "I want him running right there every time," Lee said. "I thought it was the right play. The way we're swinging the bats and struggling to score runs, he's trying to make it easier for the hitters, especially with Aramis out. I thought it was a great play. He just got thrown out." Can't the same be said about Theriot? Or does the situation only change based off service time and the color of your skin? If your gonna throw the rookie under the bus for the play, fine. But if your veteran does the same thing, you better light his ass up in the papers also. You can't imagine the message that sends to every young player through your organization when rookie players are held to much higher standards than the veterans. And to finish all of this off, the Pirates go out and try to get better while the Cubs sit on their ass... Hours before their game against the Cubs, the Pirates commandeered Wrigley Field to take extra batting, infield and outfield practice, something the home team has done precious little of this season. We didn't get to last place by accident. We earned it.

Mike you are being a bit hard on Dusty. How was Dusty to know that Pierre's play was a bad one when Darin didn't call to tell him.

Strong stuff; truth hurts. Cite the source of the content and this should go on the front TCR page as guest commentary. FWIW, IMHO

"Sometimes he swings early in the count, like he knows we don't like to see," Fleita said. Oh my.

Tough stat to get, but -- does Dempster now lead relief pitchers with 9 losses?

The first rule of managing people, whether in baseball or in business, is to praise publicly, and criticize privately. That doesn't mean that you don't hold people accountable, it simply means that you don't rip them in public. You deal with it privately, and take appropriate steps if the actions are not corrected. Dusty gets 50% of this right. He refuses to criticize his players (at least his veteran players) in the pres, no matter how indefensible their actions might be. Because nothing is gained by publicly humiliating a player who already knows that he has goofed. That's how a manager loses a team and gets fired. However, I really question whether he addresses the baserunning gaffes and other fundamental breakdowns in priavte meetings with his players, and he certainly seems reluctant to hold them accountable when they repeatedly make the same mistakes.

Dempster has 8 losses (1-8), good for a tie with Elmer Dessens (5-8) for second place in reliever losses. Derrick Turnbow is the leader in that category (4-9).

"I want him running right there every time," Lee said. "I thought it was the right play" Now this is when a real manager would say "No dumbasses, this is not the right play! I don't care how fast you are and if you won the batting title its dumb baseball!" The Cubs are scoring some runs with Lee back and one more bat the offense will be fine in 2007. The pitching will need Christ himself in the rotation next year to be even decent. Its the pitching stupid.

"He refuses to criticize his players (at least his veteran players) in the press" This is correct, we saw what he did to Cedeno in the dugout earlier this year.

Solid numbers E-man??!! Pierre is dead last in scoring runs batting #1. 30th in Major League Baseball by a wide margin - Ten Runs worse than #29 St. Louis. "Please don't compare "stats" between a bona fide MLB leadoff player with a .300 career average and a World Series ring with a minor leaguer who has not started a game in the Majors.I know you are frustrated, but you're embarrassing yourself." Try to get up to speed. If I'm embarrassing myself then what about BILL JAMES, it's his idea. He's shown that minor league statistics are as good a predictor of major league performance as major league statistics are. And Pie has an extensive minor league career. Six hundred more plate appearances than his manager Dusty Baker... the same Dusty Baker who claims he spent a long time in the minors getting prepared. Nope, Pie knows he's been screwed, but then what else is new. He deserves a September call-up. Nice Job Hendry!

He refuses to criticize his players (at least his veteran players) in the press He definitely doesn't mind criticizing the kids, and he didn't have a problem beating Walker around from time to time.

First of all, if I read the situation correctly (didn't see the game), Pierre tried stealing 3B with one out. Theriot tried it with two outs, which is stupid. If Pierre did indeed do it with two, then he's equally stupid. But it's not an identical situation if he didn't. Secondly, take a wild guess as to why Pierre hasn't scored that many runs. I guess it has nothing to do with how the guys behind him have hit.

*Anyone else unexcited about the draft pick if the Cubs end up finishing in last place? I have this vision of the Cubs blowing their first pick on some guy ranked #113 by the experts, some 19-year old left-handed pitcher who has a history of elbow problems. Tell me you can't see that happening.* No, but I can see them taking yet another probable steroid abusing young pitcher who will spend 1/2 of his first 6 years or more on the DL. More irony: remember when people used to pity the poor Twins for not being able to afford Prior and "having to pick" Mauer. Ha freakin' ha. Boo freakin' hoo.

CWTP: "I should add that it's clear Pie isn't being brought up because Dusty wants to "reward" his number one boy Juan Pierre who must play every game." HA HA HA TCR conspiracy theories at their best.

"Secondly, take a wild guess as to why Pierre hasn't scored that many runs. I guess it has nothing to do with how the guys behind him have hit." --- It also probably has nothing to do with the fact that Pierre was never on base for the first 2 1/2 months of the season. That's a side-effect of not clogging the bases... you don't score runs.

CWTP- From Cubs.com: Will outfielder Felix Pie be called up to the big-league roster? "That's not on me," Baker said. "That's on our development people and Jim. We do wish he'd done better. He's got a few things to learn, according to our scouts, about playing the game. Everybody's clamoring for him, but it's not up to me."

"We do wish he'd done better" Ok...so next year, if he hits .320, with 25 HR's, 70 walks and 40K's, will he get to play here? Pie had a solid season...not spectacular, but solid. He deserved a call up, especially with Mabry's back/Jones's tear duct condition. I really hope that they do not try to make him a leadoff hitter.....

It's best that Pie didn't get called up. He'd have a bad case of splinter-ass in a week or so.

MIKEC: "Juan Pierre gets caught stealing last night in an identical situation, via Bruce Miles..." Identical??? Pierre got thrown out with his team in the bottom of the 8th, 1 out, game tied. Theriot got thrown out with his team down 3 runs, in the bottom of the 7th, with 2 outs. There is a HUGE difference in the two situations. First being 1 out vs. 2 out and secondly, tied game vs. down 3 runs. And trust me I am NOT calling you or Jacos a racist, by there really is no need bringing up the color of skin into the debate. I know you both really despise Baker, but by bringing in the color of skin, it only makes those racist letters and the national view of Cubs fans look more and more true.

Good point.....its not like Clines/Sarge/Baker would help him with his patience at the plate... Pie at AAA: .283/.341/.451 Patterson at AAA: .253/.313/.387

No Manny, it does nothing of the sort. It means that we are looking at ways to find Dusty a crappy manager, not that we have to look very far. Fire Dusty Fire Hendry Fire MacFail

re: # 54 & 56 Indeed. I'd like to keep Pie away from Clines/Sarge/Baker as long as possible. Seems like he has really benfited from time with Joshua and Dernier, I'd like to see that continue. Why start the clock on Pie just to give us something to watch in September? I can wait.

There is a HUGE difference in the two situations. First being 1 out vs. 2 out and secondly, tied game vs. down 3 runs. Wait for it....I am gonna agree with this. I don't know what side your taking on this issue though Manny. But I will say this, Pierre's gaffe was worse. Tie game he is on 2nd base only 1 out, a simple single scores him easily. Cubs likely in position to win. You need to take some risks down 3 runs, but you got to play smarter in tight games. Neither situation worked out for either player, and the same comments leveled at Theriot apply to Pierre. Got one of the Cubs hottest hitters in Theriot up next and then you have Derrek Lee. Both were ill-advised attempts. But you would think Pierre would be a tad smarter and know the risk reward in a close game situation like that. So that is worse to me. Look at me....i am debating a play on a team in dead last in the NL Central like its the middle of a pennant race and cost as a chance at the playoffs. This is all the Cubs have left me with......its sad its so sad.

Manny- Where did I say that Pierre and Theriot were being treated different because of race?

Random thoughts on this thread: 1) You CANNOT just compare minor league and major league numbers - you have to calculate major league equivalents to factor in the obvious differences in pitchers at the two levels. I kinow that Pie's 2005 AA MLEs were very good, especially for his age. I don't know what his 2006 stats would translate to as MLEs, but they can't be nearly as good as last year's. 2) Regardless - there is no real point in bringing up Pie for a few weeks now in light of the service time risk. Plus, why is it a bad thing that Pie is told you need to work on some basic fundamentals before you are rewarded? Regardless of whether Pie is being groomed as a leadoff hitter or not, (and none of know for sure), any guy brought up from the minors needs to be able to run the bases well, lay down bunts, increase strike zone judgment, etc. These are theprecise types of skills that the CUbs organization has not (seemingly) stressed with young players and whether it is new or not, the individualized instruction for Pie seems precisely what is in order for him.

Mike, you couldn't be anymore wrong about the stolen bases. Little leaguers know that you don't make the first or last out at third base. (which is what theriot did) Getting to third with one out is a good thing, you can come home without the benefit of the hit. It didn't work out and I'm not sure if you should ever run in front of Derrek Lee, but theriot's play was far more boneheaded than Pierre's.

Please explain what "groomed for a leadoff hitter" is supposed to mean. Do leadoff hitters have to hit an elliptical ball while everyone else hits a round one??

It's your opinion Rob. But I think your totally wrong. We pay Derrek Lee a king's ransom to knock in RISP. If Pierre is on 2nd base, you need to ensure Lee steps to the plate. If Pierre gets thrown out at 3rd (which is a much higher probability than stealing 2nd), Lee likely will not come up with a RISP. Theriot walked after Pierre was caught stealing. With Lee and Jones next up at AB. If you absolutely needed to steal, then you do it in that situation. Double Steal, atleast if Pierre is thrown out at 3rd you still got a person in scoring position with DLee stepping to the plate. But we never got that chance. Situations require different strategies. You need to be a little more conservative in a tie game and your the winning run. You got to give the hitters behind you a chance to hit a simple single. Especially the guy you pay a shit load of money to do that kind of job.

baseball isnt a video game...different role players have different expectations. players really are asked to do things other than going up there and giving it their best shot. no one would need a complicated series of signs, options, and plays if everyone went up there to hit the B button to swing and the A button with direction pad to steal.

There was no guarantee Lee would come up, he was 2 batters away and you don't know if Theriot would walk. Soto pinch-hit next. I'm sure the RSox were glad they were conservative in Game 4 of the ALCS 2 years ago in a close game. A successful steal by Pierre in that situation would put the team in a better situation to score, there was nothing wrong with the decision. And it pales compared to Theriot's last 2 baserunning blunders.

"Secondly, take a wild guess as to why Pierre hasn't scored that many runs. I guess it has nothing to do with how the guys behind him have hit." --- It also probably has nothing to do with the fact that Pierre was never on base for the first 2 1/2 months of the season. That's a side-effect of not clogging the bases... you don't score runs. - In April, Pierre scored 17 runs, his highest monthly total. His OBP? .289 Slighly lower OBP in May, .267..runs? 11 June, raised his OBP to .352...runs? 9 Last two months, .380 and .346, runs each month: 15 Tells me that in April, he was driven in the relatively few times he was on base and in June, when he was getting on base at a good clip, no one could get him home. And he had more runs in April while getting on less often than during his current hot streak. But yeah, go ahead and blame it all on him.

What a bunch of twisted horseshit. I didn't blame it all on Pierre. You mentioned the guys batting behind him and it's only fair to mention that Pierre has the worst OBP of any leadoff hitter in the NL. The team has absolutely missed D-Lee, but Pierre's lack of runs scored has more to do with him having such a weak OBP than it does the guys hitting behind him. His runs scored in April was a total fluke. Not to mention Walker was also playing way above his head in April and batting behind Pierre every day. 5 of Pierre's RS in April came in the first week when they pounded the Reds, 2 runs scored on passed balls in 1 game. There was a great deal of luck involved in him scoring 17 times with a .289 OBP.

BJS: "it's only fair to mention that Pierre has the worst OBP of any leadoff hitter in the NL." Just so we can talk factually, Pierre does not have the worst OBP of NL leadoff men. Pierre has an OBP of .339 (tied with Marcus Giles), and Randy Winn has an OBP of .319.

"It also probably has nothing to do with the fact that Pierre was never on base for the first 2 1/2 months of the season. That's a side-effect of not clogging the bases... you don't score runs." I guess you're just a master of subtext. Because I see nothing there that doesn't blame Pierre.

Recent comments

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Javier Assad started the Lo-A game (Myrtle Beach versus Stockton) on the Cubs backfields on Wednesday as his final Spring Training tune-up. He was supposed to throw five innings / 75 pitches. However, I was at the minor league road games at Fitch so I didn't see Assad pitch. 

  • crunch (view)

    cards put j.young on waivers.

    they really tried to make it happen this spring, but he put up a crazy bad slash of .081/.244/.108 in 45PA.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Seconded!!!

  • crunch (view)

    another awesome spring of pitching reports.  thanks a lot, appreciated.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Here are the Cubs pitchers reports from Tuesday afternoon's Cardinals - Cubs game art Sloan Park in Mesa:

    SHOTA IMANAGA
    FB: 90-92 
    CUT: 87-89 
    SL: 82-83 
    SPLIT: 81-84
    CV: 73-74 
    COMMENT: Worked three innings plus two batters in the fourth... allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits (six singles and two doubles) walked one, and struck out six (four swinging), with a 1/2 GO/AO... he threw 73 pitches (52 strikes - 10 swing & miss - 19 foul balls)... surrendered one run in the top of the 1st on a one-out double off Cody Bellinger's glove in deep straight-away CF followed one out later by two consecutive two-out bloop singles, allowed two runs (one earned) in the 2nd after retiring the first two hitters (first batter had a nine-pitch AB with four consecutive two-strike foul balls before being retired 3 -U) on a two-out infield single (weak throw on the run by Nico Hoerner), a hard-contact line drive RBI double down the RF line, and an E-1 (missed catch) by Imanaga on what should been an inning-ending 3-1 GO, gave up another run in the 3rd on a two-out walk on a 3-2 pitch and an RBI double to LF, and two consecutive singles leading off the top of the 4th before being relieved (runners were ultimately left stranded)... threw 18 pitches in the 1st inning (14 strikes - two swing & miss, one on FB and the other on a SL - four foul balls), 24 pitches in the 2nd inning (17 strikes - three swing & miss, one on FB, two SPLIT - six foul balls), 19 pitches in the 3rd inning (13 strikes - seven swing & miss, three on SL, two on SPLIT, one on FB - three foul balls), and 12 pitches without retiring a batter in the top of the 4th (8 strikes - no swing & miss - four foul balls)... Imanaga throws a lot of pitches per inning, but it's not because he doesn't throw strikes...  if anything, he throws too many strikes (he threw 70% strikes on Tuesday)... while he gets a ton of swing & miss (and strikeouts), he also induces a lot of foul balls because he doesn't try to make hitters chase his pitches by throwing them out of the strike zone... rather, he uses his very diverse pitch mix to get swing & miss (and lots of foul balls as well)... he also is a fly ball pitcher who will give up more than his share of HR during the course of the season...   
     
    JOE NAHAS
    FB: 90-92 
    SL: 83-85 
    CV: 80-81 
    COMMENT: Was called up from the Hi-A South Bend group at Minor League Camp for the day... relieved Imanaga with runners at first and second and no outs in the top of the 4th, and after an E-2 catcher's interference committed by Miguel Amaya loaded he bases, Nahas struck out the side (one swinging & two looking)... threw 16 pitches (11 strikes - two swinging)...   

    YENCY ALMONTE
    FB: 89-92 
    CH: 86 
    SL: 79 
    COMMENT: Threw an eight-pitch 5th (five strikes - no swing & miss), with a 5-3 GO for the first out and an inning-ending 4-6-3 DP after a one-out single... command was a bit off but he worked through it...   

    FRANKIE SCALZO JR
    FB: 94-95
    CH: 88 
    SL: 83
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and worked the 6th inning... got the first outs easily (a P-5 and a 4-3 GO) on just three pitches, before allowing three consecutive two-out hard-contact hits (a double and two singles), with the third hit on pitch # 9 resulting in a runner being thrown out at the plate by RF Christian Franklin for the third out of the inning... 

    MICHAEL ARIAS
    FB: 94-96
    CH: 87-89
    SL: 82-83
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and allowed a hard-contact double on the third pitch of the 7th inning (a 96 MPH FB), and the runner came around to score on a 4-3 GO and a WP... gave up two other loud contact outs (an L-7 and an F-9)... threw 18 pitches (only 10 strikes - only one swing & miss)... stuff is electric but still very raw and he continues to have difficulty commanding it, and while he has the repertoire of a SP, he throws too many pitches-per-inning to be a SP and not enough strikes to be a closer... he is most definitely still a work-in-progress...   

    ZAC LEIGH: 
    FB: 93-94 
    CH: 89 
    SL: 81-83 
    CV: 78
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and tossed a 1-2-3 8th (4-3 GO, K-swinging on a sweeper, K-looking on another sweeper)... threw 14 pitches (11 strikes - one swing & miss - eight foul balls)... kept pumping pitches into the strike zone but had difficulty putting hitters away (ergo a ton of foul balls)... FB velo is nowhere near the 96-98 MPH it was a couple of years ago when he was a Top 30 prospect, but his secondaries are better...   

    JOSE ROMERO:  
    FB: 93-95
    SL: 82-84
    COMMENT: Was called up from the Hi-A South Bend group at Minor League Camp for the day and worked the 9th (14 pitches - only six strikes- no swing & miss) and allowed a solo HR after two near-HR fly outs to the warning track, before getting a 3-1 GO to end the inning... it was like batting practice when he wasn't throwing pitches out of the strike zone...

  • crunch (view)

    pablo sandoval played 3rd and got a couple ABs (strikeout, single!) in the OAK@SF "exhibition"

    mlb officially authenticated the ball of the single he hit.  nice.

    he's in surprisingly good shape considering his poor body condition in his last playing seasons.  he's not lean, but he looks healthier.  good for him.

  • crunch (view)

    dbacks are signing j.montgomery to a 1/25m with a vesting 20m player option.

    i dunno when the ink officially dries, but i believe if he signs once the season begins he can't be offered a QO...and i'm not sure if that thing with SD/LAD in korea was the season beginning, either.

  • crunch (view)

    sut says imanaga getting the home opener at wrigley (game 4 of the season).

  • crunch (view)

    cubs rolling out the who's who of "who the hell is this guy?" in the last spring game.

  • videographer (view)

    AZ Phil, speaking of Jordan Wicks having better command when he tires a bit, I remember reading about Dennis Lamp 40 years ago and his sinker that was better after 3 or 4 innings when he would tire a bit and get more sink with a little less speed on the pitch.  The key for Lamp was getting to the 4th inning.