Cubs MLB Roster

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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 
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Game 31 Recap: Cubs 3, Cardinals 5

Three wasted hours, reviewed

 

W - Wellemeyer (3-1), Sunday Night Baseball "BINGO"
L - Marquis (1-2), trying to live-blog double-switches, HDTV on acne scars
S - Isringhausen (10)

 

Things to Take from This Game

 

1. Marquis = Hill? Jason Marquis walked three in the first, but only gave up one run due to a terrific catch by Lee on a bases loaded, line-drive rocket off the bat of Duncan. He gave up five runs and five walks in five innings, with pretty weak command throughout the night.

2. Everyone = Hill? The only pitcher on either side to strike out more batters than he walked was Isringhausen, and his strikeout came on a "let's hurry up and get out of here" called strike three on Lee to end the game. Between the double switches and the walks and the Joe Morgan, it was a tough game to follow. Seriously, could Miller and Morgan stopped talking about Australian aboriginal farming techniques just long enough to call the game?

3. No Clutch Hitting The box score shows 23 LOB for the Cubs. Among the more egregious innings were the first (two on, one out, no runs) the fourth (leadoff double doesn't score) and the seventh (bases loaded, one out, one run scores)

4. Soriano Looks Lost Soriano started out his first ABs by going 0-2, 0-1, 0-2, 0-2, and 0-2. Besides two strikeouts, he did get a single and an RBI sac fly out of all that. But still...

 

The hum-drum highlights follow....

 

Game Recap

 

Inning 1 - Top
  • And we have our first discussion of the Cubs leadoff hitter situation as Soriano strikes out on three pitches.
  • Theriot walks.
  • Lee hits a sharp bouncer to the left of Izturis at SS, who bobbles, tries to flip to the 2Bman with his glove, but the flip is wide, and Kennedy can't handle it. Everybody safe.
  • Fukudome pops to Izturis.
  • Joe Morgan, trying to compare the Japanese majors to the American majors, unartfully winds up calling them minor-leaguers. We'll see how many "Japanese players are..." statements we get tonight...
  • DeRosa K's on a checked swing strike 3. From two on and one out, to a pop fly and strike out end of the inning.
Inning 1 - Bottom
  • Schumaker bounces up the middle to Theriot. Marquis does a nice job of forcing his arms to his sides, resisting the temptation to make a lunge for it. Easy out.
  • Kennedy walks on 5 pitches, bringing up Pujols. This is not wise.
  • That was wise. Pujols K's swinging at a slider/cutter a half foot outside.
  • Ankiel walks. In spite of the Pujols K, Marquis doesn't seem to have any command yet tonight.
  • 2-0 on Glaus, and Rothschild comes out for a chat.
  • Glaus walks on four pitches. We'll see if Marquis gets demoted tomorrow.
  • Ball one on Duncan.
  • Duncan smokes a line drive maybe 4 feet off the ground and to Lee's right. Lee makes a great reaction to it, and snags it with a rolling dive for the finish. Hardest hit ball of the inning, maybe the game, and it ends the inning.
Inning 2 - Top
  • Soto lines a double into the right field corner.
  • Fontenot walks on four straight.
  • 3-1 to Johnson, who lines a double inside the third base bag. Soto scores, 1-0 Cubs
  • ESPN has decided they don't have enough visual clutter on the screen to complement the aural clutter of Joe Morgan, so they've added a little pop up bar above the main score bar at the top of the screen. It tells you what the given hitter does after a certain count, like 0-1 or 2-0.
  • With runners at 2 and 3, Marquis swings away and fouls out to third.
  • Miller exlaims "what a bad at bat that was!"
  • Soriano drives one to the CF warning track, and Fontenot scores on the sacrifice fly. 2-0 Cubs
  • Theriot bounces out to Izturis
Inning 2 - Bottom
  • Molina swings at the first pitch, and bounces one to Theriot. Saying he "jogged" to first would be generous.
  • Morgan explains to us that Pujols is a "great hitter."
  • Wellemeyer singles inside the first base bag.
  • Izturis lines one over Fontenot for a single. Runners at 1 and 2, one out.
  • Schumaker singles to right-center, just out of Fontenot's diving reach. Runner scores, runners on 1 and 3, with a 2-1 score.
  • and Kennedy pulls one through the right side hole, scoring a run, putting runners on 1 and 2 for Pujols. 2-2 game. Lee couldn't quite get to it, having to hold the runner on first
  • First pitch swinging, Pujols hits one up the middle that Theriot makes a lunging grab for. Spinning around, he shovels to Fontenot, who fires to first, where Lee has to sprawl a bit for it. 6-4-3 GIDP off the bat of Pujols to end the inning. Bad start to the game for Prince Albert.
Inning 3 - Top
  • Lee grounds to Izturis.
  • Fukudome walks.
  • Whatever's happening in this inning, it doesn't matter. What matters is babbling inanities about Japanese baseball.
  • It's not so much that Joe Morgan sounds racist or anything when he talks about Japanese baseball, it's that he doesn't know how to discuss the matter thoughtfully or intelligently, and winds up just saying things that make you wince...
  • Somewhere in that pointlessness, DeRosa flied to right. No one at ESPN noticed
  • Soto bounces sharply to third. Glaus handles it, throws him out.
Inning 3 - Bottom
  • Marquis K's Ankiel on, um, something low and inside...
  • Glaus lines one to Soriano, who misjudges the spin and has to make a lunging backhand for it. Hangs on for the out.
  • Duncan walks.
  • Molina bounces to third, easy throw to first. Inning over
Inning 4 - Top
  • And we have our CD promo to start the fourth. And an excuse for mindless banter with Gammons.
  • Fontenot shoots a double down the left field line. Duncan chases his tail around in the corner for awhile, before retrieving the ball in his mouth, and jogging it back in to the infield. Good Duncan.
  • Johnson flies lazily to right, runner has to hold at second. Took a lot of pitches to fail, at least.
  • Marquis bounces sharply to Wellemeyer, who throws to first. Fontenot still stuck at second.
  • Soriano K's swinging on a three pitch at bat. Again. Leadoff double stranded at second.
Inning 4 - Bottom
  • LouPa on Soriano: "I like him in the one-hole, he feels comfortable there."
  • Wellemeyer grounds back to Marquis
  • Izturis lines a single to left center. 2-2 for Izturis, yeesh.
  • Hit and run, Schumaker bounces out to Lee. Izturis to second, two outs.
  • Morgan and Miller seem to be talking about Chess metaphors. Parachat thinks they're stoned. It would explain a lot of things....
  • Kennedy walks, Pujols up with runners at 1 and 2, two outs.
  • Pujols rips one inside the third base bag, on a rolling slider. Both runners score on the double. 4-2 Cards
  • Ankiel pops to DeRosa, ending the inning.
Inning 5 - Top
  • Theriot walks.
  • Lee K's swinging at a slider low and outside.
  • Theriot runs on a pitch that Molina has to reach down and across his body for. From his knees, Molia throws a one-hopper down to second, almost beaning Wellemeyer on the throw. It gets Theriot in plenty of time, for the caught stealing. Sort of unbelievable. Molina gets a standing O.
  • and Fukudome flies out. That was quick.
Inning 5 - Bottom
  • Glaus K's swinging.
  • as does Duncan.
  • Molina bounces easily to Theriot. No one "jogs" more slowly to first than Molina. Easy inning
Inning 6 - Top
  • DeRosa with a broken bat ground out to SS.
  • Wellemeyer taken down for Kyle McClellan. (Who??) Ludwick in for Duncan on a double switch.
  • Soto looks at a nice curve ball on the outside corner for a called strike 3.
  • Fontenot walks.
  • Johnson grounds to Glaus, easy inning
Inning 6 - Bottom
  • Ludwick grounds one just past DeRosa into left field for a single.
  • Izturis grounds out to Lee, Schumaker advances
  • Marquis taken down for Marshall.
  • Sean saws off Schumaker, who rolls one up the first base line. Marshall gloves it and tags him out. An odd looking little out. Schumaker to third.
  • Kennedy floats one in to left center, out of Soriano's reach. Ludwick scores. 5-2.
  • 3-0 to Pujols, with a lefty Ankiel up next. Marshall throws one as far outside as he can without it being an intentional ball, and Pujols walks. Runners on 1 and 2, two outs, for Ankiel.
  • Ankiel swings at the first pitch, gets jammed, and pops out to Soto.
Inning 7 - Top
  • Cedeno pinch hits for Marshall, gets HBP (didn't see it happen, unfortunately.)
  • Guess what? Soriano's down 0-2.
  • But comes back to line one up the middle, to the left of the SS, for a single. Cedeno to second, no outs.
  • Theriot rolls one through the left side hole, Cedeno holds at third. Bases loaded, no outs for Lee.
  • Morgan is surprised the held Cedeno at third. Morgan sholdn't be.
  • Lee flies softly to RF. Runners hold.
  • Randy Flores in to face Fukudome
  • Fukudome flies to straight away center, sacrifice fly, Cedeno scores. Soriano holds at second, in spite of the bad throw going through to home
  • Appeal to third that Cedeno left to soon. Nope. Replay shows it was darn close, but a correct call.
  • Pitching change without going to commercial, gives ESPN a chance to explain what a prince among men, scholar, and humanitarian LaRussa is.
  • Ryan Franklin in to pitch, and Aaron Miles in at second on the double switch. LaRussa games are real challenges for the live-blogging recaps. Somebody donate something to me.
  • DeRosa lines out to center. Bases loaded, one out, just one run scores in the inning
Inning 7 - Bottom
  • Sean Gallagher in, DeRosa out with Cedeno to play third in the double switch.
  • Glaus grounds out to third
  • Miles dumps one into CF for a single
  • Molina waves through a hit and run, and Soto throws out Miles by two steps at second. Great throw on the bag.
  • Molina breaks his bat grounding back to Gallagher
Inning 8 - Top
  • Soto works a full count, walks on a pitch just off the outside corner
  • Fontenot works a full count. Morgan is discussing some Japanese manager who punched people in faces.
  • Meanwhile, Fontenot pops out to Izturis.
  • Johnson flies out to the warning track down the left field line. Close, but definitely didn't get all of it. Two outs.
  • Cedeno battles, but winds up striking out swinging at a low slider. No good comes of the inning.
Inning 8 - Bottom
  • Ludwick pops to Fontenot
  • Izturis lines out to Theriot. Two very quick outs, after the Cubs hitters all battled last inning
  • Good Grief, how many cut aways to Morgan interviewing Pujols can we take?
  • Schumaker grounds out to Theriot.
Inning 9 - Top
  • Isringhausen in for Franklin
  • Soriano grounds weakly to Glaus
  • Theriot pops out to Pujols.
  • Lee takes a low called strike three. Game over.

 

Parachat Recap
Pregame
  • Freezing me out of the conversation. Thanks, Crunch.
  • ESPN Bingo: Mark your card with things like Big Red Machine, Importance of Leadoff Hitter, Billy Goats, Bartman, Popular Music Tie-in, etc. etc., and wait for the Sunday Night Baseball crew to discuss or demonstrate it. Fun for everyone!
  • Crappy computer construction.
  • Investing in HDTV or not?
  • Oh dear god.

 

Inning 1
  • Mocking ESPN and our leadoff hitters.
  • One out in the first and we're already sick of ______
  • Fukudome's acne scars in HD. Wow, tough crowd, tonight.
  • What are we TIVOing?
  • What is Joe Morgan giving you?
  • How many times do you have to shake off a Sinker call, to throw a Sinker?
  • Ankiel is ugly.
  • Reacting to Marquis' bad start.
  • and to Lee's excellent play
Inning 2
  • Mom jokes.
  • Screwing up the "telephone game" Purple monkey dishwashing jerks.
  • Child-molesting broadcasters.
  • Should Johnson have taken third on Soriano's sac fly?
  • Should Soriano feel proud for hitting one to the warning track?
  • We still don't like the broadcasters.
  • Driving balls into gaps.
  • Take one guess what parachat's opinion of the broadcasters is?
  • Drunken boating. Not a good idea.
  • Do we still dislike the ESPN announcers? Yes.
Inning 3
  • Bad movies.
  • Canoeing the Mighty Mississippi naked with John Madden.
  • Not happy with Morgan comparing Fukudome to only two other players, both of them Japanese.
  • Wincing at Joe Morgan's explanation of the state of international baseball.
  • If Joe Morgan were a tree in the forrest and he fell....
  • Are you smarter than a Denny's menu crossword puzzle?
Inning 4
  • An encore performance of Pickle Surprise
  • George Bush vs ______
  • Ultrasuede.
  • Chad wants to know how gay he is...
  • Bowl Scrapers/Stainers is so 2007. 2008 is all about Chad.
  • Are Miller and Morgan stoned? Smart money says yes.
  • Gay Leprechaun Doll for kids: potential names?
  • I get rick roll'd.
  • Punk music youtube links.
  • Who is hiding in the bushes watching me? Carlos and CT Steve, at least
  • Groups we hate.
  • Morgan's man-love for Pujols.
Inning 5
  • What is TCR asking you to do?
  • This room is bloodier than...
  • (oh, dear god.....)
  • Jacos writes parachat porn.
  • Euthanizing Soriano.
  • Pledging a buck to TCR for every Theriot CS. Who wants to join?
  • Marveling at Molina
  • Pulled when sucking.
  • GTA:4
  • Are we more worried about Soriano or the rotation?
  • The Molinas.
  • The Soriano contract
Inning 6
  • How Jim Hendry's record is like a toupee.
  • OF trade options.
  • Lyrics to the Sanford and Son theme song?
  • Great Bears' drafts of yesteryear.
  • Weird dream outfields.
  • Fantacizing about the checkout lady at piggly wiggly.
  • Plucking Bungle's twanger. oh. dear. god.
Inning 7
  • Bilingual mullets. Don't ask.
  • rally caps.
  • Why didn't Soriano take third?
  • Ankiel's pin-point control of needles.
  • Ciallis, Finally Fast and Fast.com
  • Where'd Gallagher's weight go?
  • How we prove we're gay.
Inning 8
  • Muffin-checking
  • Where Johann and Carlos's moms belong on the field.
  • 21st century electronic mullets.
  • HIV muffins.
  • Japanese skin care.
  • Hit it harder than ________
  • Major RALLY CAPS effort comes up short
  • Which one of us is really JAG?
  • What's Rob doing with our Money?
  • Man-boobs.
  • What are your children doing?
Inning 9
  • disemmination.
  • I'm informed I've been fired. The rest of this recap will be done by a trained golden retriever.
  • Woof.
  • Woof woof woof Sprouting Okra pant pant.
  • Pant pant pant Al Yellon pee pant pant.
  • Bow wow wow jokes about baseball and race pant pant slobber.
  • Is that my tail?
  • Oh, is that my tail?
  • Hey, it's my tail!
  • Where'd my tail go?
  • Help! It's the vacuum cleaner!
  • Isringhausen's leg looks like a good hump.
  • I wonder if the remote control would be fun to eat.
  • Yelp! Trans' recap record, 3-1. Whimper.

Tags

Comments

[ ]

In reply to by Transmission

You did well to stay home for this one, Trans. Ugh. A "D" is about right...Soriano, Marquis did not make me very proud to be wearing a Cubs jersey. And just a poorly-played game overall...the pitching surely wasn't very good, yet no one really hit the ball well. The crowd was most excited, I think, by Theriot's CS--that was a hell of a throw. However, the recap was a good laugh. I liked the Chris Duncan as hopeless pet dog metaphor. And what IS Rob doing with our money?

So we learned that Tony LaRussa is great friends with both Bill Belichick and Bobby Knight. If that was all I knew about the man I'd already know he was an a**hat.

Anybody else notice how much LaRussa switches around his line-up? For example, Ankiel batted #2 on Friday, #6 on Saturday and #4 on Sunday. I'm not sure what it says about LaRussa or the Cards, but I thought that was very interesting. Thoughts?

can we just get rid of soriano for some pitching please..... there is no fielding position he can play on this team... he will not bunt he will not take walks he will not swing for base hits he will not protect the plate he cannot run he cannot steal yes id say hes about 17.5 million dollars over paid a year please please please trade him for a pitcher

Dear Mr. Soriano, It must feel awful to strike out swinging at those pitches that are bouncing weakly along the outside corner of the batter's box, having been low and away to begin with. Failure, especially when done in front of tens of thousands of people, is hard to handle. I understand. SO STOP DOING IT Sincerely, Pell Mell P.S. I wrote this same letter to Sammy Sosa in 1996. P.P.S. Don't do roids.

The Daily Herald suggests that Felix Pie could be headed to the minor leagues. Pie has continued to struggle at the plate, and right-handed Reed Johnson got the start against a righty on Sunday. Ronny Cedeno has started taking fly balls in center field, and the paper speculates that with Cedeno as an emergency option, Pie could be sent to Triple-A Iowa.

Did Miller say that the four batters combined to see 28 pitches in the eighth inning? And all we got out of it is one stinkin' walk ... isn't that just bad luck or great clutch pitching by Franklin? (Does this qualify as Cubbery?) This team will be fine. We forced LaRussa's hand as far as getting Wellemeyer out of there after five innings, and we got into their middle relief. BTW, if you expect Soriano to lay down sacrifice bunts for his salary, then you're underutilizing him. Also BTW, aren't a lot of fans hypocrites (not necessarily on this Web site)? They find one whipping boy, be it Barrett or Jacque or now Soriano. Then, out of the other side of their mouth, they talk about how it is a team game and that you win as a team and lose as a team. For some reason, Derrek Lee had a horrendous game last night. He's earned the right. But he and Marquis (and Ramirez's absence) were the primary reasons why we lost last night.

Recent comments

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    I expect OF Christian Franklin to have a breakout season at AA Tennessee in 2024. In another organization that doesn't have PCA, Caissie, K. Alcantara, and Canario in their system, C. Franklin would be a Top 10 prospect. 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    The Reds trading Joe Boyle for Sam Moll at last year's MLB Trade Deadline was like the Phillies trading Ben Brown to the Cubs for David Robertson at the MLB TD in 2022. 

  • 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).