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

Lee Suspended 5 Games

....as was Chris Young. Both players were fined as well. Lee will file an appeal today delaying his suspension hopefully long enough until Aramis Ramirez returns from the disabled list. Hitting coach Gerald Perry was suspended for 3 games and cannot appeal his suspension. Jake Peavy and Brian Giles were both fined an undisclosed amount. Go Sammy! (send hate mail to [email protected])

Comments

Does anyone know what caused Perry's suspension? I haven't seen complete footage of the brawl and haven't heard any details as to his involvement. Was he the one who greenlighted Zambrano's belt-waving?

the cubs goals up until allstar game should be 1. trade j. jones 2.they need to go 13-6 that way they are one game over 500 at the break.this should be doable considering opp. win %

You, too? Chad & I went on about this yesterday. I say Lee serves his suspension now. Basically play the Rangers with neither Lee or Ramirez and Ramirez comes back Friday.. Lee comes back Sunday. No sense in prolonging it. And by the way... has Ramirez been taking batting practice? Will he even be ready to come back Friday?

Hey if we really need power in the lineup for a possible few games without D-Lee and Ramirez, just sign Glenallen Hill to a 10-day contract...

My paraphrase of Tim Kurjian on the ESPN Baseball Today podcast: Kurjian - "I would think that McPhail and the rest of them would look at it and say, "We are not winning with Tejada, so lets see what we can get for him." I would rather upgrade at SS than in RF, especially if Tejada would be the option. I know that Tejada is on the backside of his career, but he can still be highly productive. And if Floyd can stay healthy, he will be able to produce in RF.

Dave, Just curious - which top prospects or current Cub players would suggest we include to get MJ?

Tejada is very much on the downside of his playing career and should be moved to third or even better first. He is not the answer for anyone at shortstop. He can still hit, as evidenced by his .300 average with seven home runs, but has become a definite liability in the field. If the Cubs needed a third or first baseman, I would be all for acquiring him.

Just curious - which top prospects or current Cub players would suggest we include to get MJ? I have no idea what it would take to get Tejada. I would think it would take a lot less than what it would have taken a couple of years ago (i.e. Mark Prior).

How about Zambrano and Jones for Santana on the Twinkies? I can't imagine they are going to have enough money to sign him when his contract is up....maybe Big Z is a little more affordable? Hell, throw in Barrett and some minor leaguers and maybe we can get Mauer too! lol.

The unfortunate thing is we did not trade him for Mark Prior. However, MJ is not a good SS anymore and I don't see the Cubs with a need at third base plus the Cubs would have to give up a lot of minor league talent to get him. The Cubs needs are relief pitching, a catcher, a right fielder. In terms of the catcher and right fielder they need to be able to be above avergae defensively!

I disagree. In right field you need someone who can mash the ball, but without being a butcher in the field. We need a good defensive shortstop and catcher more than a right fielder.

Why is RF a need but not SS? The Cubs have a player (Floyd) hitting well in RF, without another guy in AAA (Murton) who has proven that he can hit major league pitching successfully. The Cubs do not have a quality hitter at SS. They have a decent, patient hitter (Theriot) and a bad hitter (Izzy), but not a good one. I don't understand why RF is more of a need than SS.

How many years/dollars does Tejada have left? If memory serves he is signed through 2009. He could certainly be a possibility at 2B after this season if he was acquired.

nazey: "On a side note, how is it that DLee is hitting .340 in the 3 spot and only has 36 rbi? That’s about an 80-85 rbi pace- yikes." It's because Dusty puts crappy OBP guys at the top of the lineup, oh nevermind...

ZHL: "How many years/dollars does Tejada have left?" Tejada is still owed: 2007: $12 million 2008: $13 million 2009: $13 million 2010: $2 million signing bonus (deferred) 2011: $2 million signing bonus (deferred) So, after this year, he still has 2 years/$30 million left.

D-Lee only has 36 RBI's because when he was hitting .390, Soriano was sucking and Jacque was hitting second. Then he started slumping and Soriano and Pie were on base all over the place. Now he's hitting again and Soriano's sucking again. That, and if he had 15 homers by now, he'd have a bunch more RBI's. Instead, he has half that.

D-Lee only has 36 RBI’s because when he was hitting .390, Soriano was sucking and Jacque was hitting second. Not quite... Jock only has 16 at-bats batting second.

When are you people going to learn? We already have an All-Star, Gold Glove shortstop! And Jacque's gonna be a very good player this year! End o' story.

Would you sign Tejada this offseason for 2/30 to play 2B if you hypothetically knew he was going to hit .310 with 22-25 homers? I would lean slightly toward no. But if the Cubs can trade for him without giving up a stud - like perhaps for Theriot, Jones and Dopirak or a similar package - then maybe. Given that we have 2 SSs - one with a plus golve, one with a plus contact bat - but only one legit RF and at that who should only play part-time - I'd still prefer to try to upgrade RF over SS. Unless Mike Young is available, but I doubt it.

Ha Ha Danville Joe!! But it is funny as all offseason and even currently people keep saying how JJ is such a good value when you consider what other OFs are signed for, but I don't care if he was making only $1,000 a year, he has totally sucked so far this year. Putrid!!! .235 avg, .294 obp, .332 slg and .626 ops

one with a plus contact bat I am a big fan of Theriot, but I am not so sure that he has a "plus contact bat." His current season numbers are as follows: .268/.329/.340 That really isn't a "plus" anything. Don't get me wrong - I believe that Theriot is valuable, but not necessarily as a starter on a team with playoff hopes.

Another thing about Tejada I have annually noticed as he is one of my fantasy players on my dynasty team - he has faded after the ASG every year he has been in Baltimore. Now, is that due to lack of excitement because he's stuck with a loser? (I know, I know, we're still talking about the Cubs...) I can't answer that. I don't recall him being a bad second-half player with Oakland, but that's almost ancient history these days. One more factor with Tejadad - Baltimore is self-proclaimed "shortstop country," and I'm not sure they're ready to deal him yet.

Dave, The Riot has definitely been exposed and/or overexposed this year. I think his career numbers show he's slightly better than his annual line thus far, except for the slugging %, which is probably almost best-case for the Riot. Probably only a starter on an AL team where you can easily "hide" him at 8/9

he has faded after the ASG every year he has been in Baltimore. Hmmm... not so sure about that. Tejada's pre/post all-star OPS: 2006 Pre: 871 Post: 886 2005 Pre: 977 Post: 738 2004 Pre: 863 Post: 929

I think his career numbers show he’s slightly better than his annual line thus far What career numbers? His 50 games from last year where pitchers didn't know who he was? Again... I like the guy - a lot. But I am not sure that we can expect much more from the guy. His career minor league numbers are: .271/.355/.337, which show great patience, but that is about it.

That, and if he had 15 homers by now, he’d have a bunch more RBI’s. Instead, he has half that. And yet when I said several weeks ago that one of the main problems with the Cubs was production from the #3 spot DUE TO A LACK OF HR's you disagreed Wes. In fact, although DLee accounts for the overwhelming majority of the stats, the Cubs #3 is aactually below average in RBI's and well below average in HR's. Does anyone here stilll want to argue that #3 hitters don't need to hit HR's??!! Until he finds his power, I hit Lee #2 and get Pie outathere. In fact, I'd only start Pie when Marquis and Z are pitching and bat him ninth in front of Soriano, not behind him the way we're doing it now. We also need to get Barrett out from behind the plate more often. He came up as a SS/3B. He has a decent arm. So, why can't he play first base or RF? Right now he projects to 24 HR/ 78 RBI which is enough production to justify playing him in the outfield.--- certainly better than anything else we've tossed out there this year.

Does anyone here stilll want to argue that #3 hitters don’t need to hit HR’s??!! Lee not hitting home runs has been somewhat bothersome, but the guy still is slugging .525, which places him 13th in the NL. His RBI production has not been because of a lack of home runs. Lee, with runners on: .398/.476/.565 Lee, with RISP: .422/.486/.656 He is crushing the ball with runners on. The RBI will come.

HItting the sweet rock a little early, cwtp? Let's focus on fixing the real problems with the Cubs, not creating others... Pie needs to play EVERY DAY. More than almost anyone else, he needs to be put in a stable role on this team, and left there to learn and develop. As for moving Barrett, I am all for it, as long as moving him means moving him to another team, and getting another catcher in here. Moving Barrett to another position leaves a big problem behind the plate, since Koyie Hill is the only other option right now. Not to mention that your two proposed positions are currently occupied by the Cubs' best hitter, and a serious logjam of other players who have actually played RF before. I am not going to get into the whole argument about Lee not hitting enough homers. I am in agreement with Wes, as usual, that some of Lee's production has been hurt by Soriano and the #2 slot, which was seemingly a different person every day for awhile there.

Samaramadingdong apparently had a positive start, so his bullpen work might have been useful: CHC HiA Samardzija, Jeff ……….. 4.2 5 0 0 5 1 5.06 - first start since June 1

#40 CWTP...........Barrett came up as a third baseman and played in about 120 games there for some really bad Expo teams. Apparently, you never saw him play third. If you think he is weak defensively as a catcher, he was a butcher at third. He has one ideal position in the major leagues, designated hitter, and the sooner they find a club for him, the better.

some of Lee’s production has been hurt by Soriano and the #2 slot, which was seemingly a different person every day for awhile there. Hmmm... I questioned this one, but the I looked that the stats. The Cubs are 11th in the NL in terms of OBP from their #2 hitter. They are 6th in the NL in terms of OBP from their lead off hitter.

I actually think that a bigger problem is one we discussed a few days ago, and that is the Cubs' production from the #5 slot, which I don't expect to get any better with Lee and/or Ramirez out of the lineup. Look at those stats if you really want to see a problem...

Jace... no question - but the problems from the 5 slot have little to do with Lee's lack of RBI production.

If Lee hits .350 the rest of the year, I could care less if he doesn't hit another HR. With a so called good lineup and a so called good hitter in the leadoff spot, .350 should be enough for many, many RBIs, and then ARam hits behind to hit the HRs. The interesting thing is Soriano is only hitting .167 with a .167 OBP against finesse pitchers. For the past 3 years, he's hitting .273 with a .291 OBP against finesse pitchers. If pitchers ever figure out that you can get Soriano out by throwing sliders in the dirt, he's going to be screwed.

The interesting thing is Soriano is only hitting .167 with a .167 OBP against finesse pitchers. Interesting... where did you get that stat?

The lineup actually looks rather incomplete without Soriano, Lee, Ramirez, and Floyd all in it. Until everyone is healthy/suspension served we'll have to deal with watching an incomplete team.

I know, dave. I was just pointing that out while you were on a stat-finding mission already. I think that the #5 slot production is a more serious issue to the team's overall success than D. Lee's RBI production right now. Johann - That is why Soriano insists on batting in the leadoff slot. With the good part of the lineup behind him, pitchers are more likely to throw him strikes, because they want to avoid walking him. When most pitchers really want to throw strikes, they throw fastballs, which he can actually hit.

Johann: The interesting thing is Soriano is only hitting .167 with a .167 OBP against finesse pitchers. For the past 3 years, he’s hitting .273 with a .291 OBP against finesse pitchers. If pitchers ever figure out that you can get Soriano out by throwing sliders in the dirt, he’s going to be screwed. Steve Stone eluded to this some time ago... Soriano crushes the #3, 4, and 5 guys in the rotation and can't hit off the #1 & 2 guys. That lends credence to the saying that good pitching beats good hitting.

Yeah, Rynox, and the #1 and #2 pitchers in most teams' rotations are the ones that can throw their junk for strikes, so Soriano sees less fastballs from them.

From ESPN. Interesting... I didn't realize they had splits against different types of pitchers. That is quite cool. With that said, the .167 BA/OBP is only in 24 at-bats. Over the last three years, he does have a (slightly) more respectable line: .273/.291/.482

Steve Stone also likened the setup guys and closers on most teams to the #1 & #2 starters. So basically when you need that big hit in the 8th & 9th inning you might not want to count on Soriano.

So basically when you need that big hit in the 8th & 9th inning you might not want to count on Soriano. Hmm... not so sure about this. Most setup guys/closers tend to be power pitchers, and rarely are finesse pitchers. Soriano hits power pitchers VERY well.

Well since you are quite the stat guy I'll throw this one out: Soriano, Late & Close: 240/296/280

Awww... I missed my chance to use the saying I learned "Let's throw this in bed and see if Madonna sleeps with it" Was it jacos? Jace? I'm thinking it was one of the two.

Soriano, Late & Close: 240/296/280 So the question is this - does Soriano struggle in late and close situations because of the pitchers? Or because he presses to hard and pressure situations and tends to swing at bad pitches?

Yes :)

Rynox - I'm not sure what you are asking in #59. Are you asking where you got that saying from? It wasn't me, though I have heard it before...

Yeah somebody used it in a comment and I loved it... maybe it was jacos... oh well I don't feel too bad, because I don't think it was original anyways. :-p So what have we learned about Soriano? * He doesn't hit well in cold weather * He only hits in the leadoff spot * He only hits while playing left field * He doesn't hit well against good pitcher * He's not good late and close * His bat starts to get hot when the cicadas come out * He has a better OBP during the full-moon lunar phase As Ron Santo would say... oh boy... geesh.

I'm not anti-Soriano, btw... just pointing out the nuances of his game. When all those things are true he really crushes the ball.

Yet somehow he is still hitting .294/.345/.517. That's not too bad for a guy who has such limited abilities. But is anyone else concerned about the fact that Soriano only has 8 SB?

I don't understand this whole late and close thing. According to what I have read here, there is no such thing as clutch. Soriano's numbers in "late and close" situations must be due to small sample size or just plain bad luck. People are not effected by situations. The only thing that matters is career numbers and that a player will generally perform in all situations to those numbers. Clutch can't be proven with numbers, right? So it doesn't exist. Remember TCR flavored Kool-aid is available at Jewel/Osco and your local CVS and Walgreens pharmacy.

it dont matter who is pitching...soriano is gonna sit in the front of the batter's box and swing. if youre a pitcher you better make sure your stuff has early sink, you dont make a mistake and hang something, and/or you get lucky and blow it past him (70mph or 100mph)...he's a pretty simple hitter with very little rhyme/reason to his swing. kinda scarey guy to have around long-term if his swing slows down...then again a guy with his swing will probably not regress for years past the norm given how well above average it is now.

In Soriano's defense, just about NOBODY hits #1s and #2s well... that's why they're #1s & #2s...

Hmmm... in looking at more numbers, Soriano is the exception on the Cubs against finesse pitchers. The Cubs have the most run scored (in the NL) against finesse pitchers, and have the 3rd best OPS.

Yay.

nay...unless its the 8th and the cubs got a 5 run lead...wait, with this pen better make it an 8 run lead.

Well... true crunch - I would like to see Sosa hit his 600th against the Cubs, as long as it doesn't keep the Cubs from winning.

nay

I would like to Sammy hit #600 -- then have the Cubs ask that his bat be checked for cork -- then watch Sammy forget how to speak English again. Or, explain that he only uses the corked bat for BP...which makes his regular bat feel heavier....which makes no sense whatsoever.

But like others, hope it is in a blow out with the Cubs up 10 runs, and he doesn't get any other hits in the series.

I want to see Sammy Barrett smach Sosa's boom box again. Also, Soriano has been overall good in the late innings except for this year. Which, Chad, proves what stat people say about clutch in general. There is very little consistency in "cluitch" numbers among players. There are clutch situations, but not a lot of players who do better in those situations then others over an extended period of time. What you do get are good hitters doing well in clutch situations because they're good hitters, not because they're more clutch.

I say "nay" because I tired of the "Sammy Show" a long time ago. I actually expect Sammy to swing the bat REALLY poorly this series, especially if he has family at the game. I'm expecting strike outs and pop-ups. That said, I hope Sammy gets 600 right after he leaves Chicago.

oriano has been overall good in the late innings except for this year. He has been okay - but nothing special, and below his overall numbers. 2004-2006 Close and Late: .261/.342/.425 - OPS 767 Overall: .275/.329/.519 - OPS - 848 But I do agree with you that for the most part, good hitters hit well, regardless of situation.

Yay. And I want him to moonwalk around the bases and then a two middle-finger salute at home plate to Jim Hendry's pressbox. :) He's got a good shot, he's still crushing lefties this year last time I checked and he'll face two.

Nay.......I saw Sammy's tired act for 7 Spring trainings '97 to '03, and nothing during the regular season convinced me he was anything but all about Sammy. The ultimate non-team player.

Speaking of former Cubs OFs -- looks like Corey has hit a new low: .205 BA/.258 OBP 33Ks/12BBs 1HR in 200 AB Yikes.

I'm with what appears to be the consensus - if he hits it in a Cub win, it don't make me no never mind.

ward activated...no big surprise there since parrapa the rappa was pitching in AAA yesterday.

AZ Phil- Wow -- 8 HRs for Brendan Harris. Former Cubs seem to thrive in Florida. -- Dontrell (sp), Sergio, Harris, etc. Maybe we should start only drafting players from cold-weatheir climates.

You know, my first reaction to #102 was to think, well gee, Harris never played well for us, how were we supposed to know he was going to randomly bust out in 2007? But then I took a cursory glance at his batting averages in our system and he hit .274 at Lansing, .329 at Daytona, .321 and .280 at West Tenn and .311 at Iowa (in order by year and per various sample sizes, some of them significant) before he was traded to Montreal in 2004 as part of the 3-way Nomar deal. Is there a specific reason I can't recall that we were willing to give up on him, other than that we were about to receive Nomar (and Murton)?

We had the great Jose Macias, Alex Gonzalez, Rey Ordonez (who was at home eating nacho's and was then handed starting SS under Dusty), and Ramon Martinez to give playing time to before we would ever think about playing stupid Brendan Harris, lol. Atleast Lou isnt afraid to play the young guys. Dusty was god damn allergic to them unless all his vets were injured.

Is there a specific reason I can’t recall that we were willing to give up on him, other than that we were about to receive Nomar (and Murton)? Well... you do need to give up something decent to get decent people back. And I would do that trade over in a second. The Cubs came out on top with that trade both at the time and in the future. Murton will be a better major league baseball player than Brendan Harris.

Arizona Phil: So? like we need .321/.376/.502 what would we do with Cesar? he used to be an allstar, you know...

Like Theriot and Fontenot (and Murton), nobody really liked Harris because he didn't have spectacular tools, like Corey or Felix. They are just good, solid ballplayers, but we label them "AAAA" because they can't hit batting practice pitches 500 feet or run like the wind. Having said that, I would still have made the Nomar deal.. I still can't figure out how a lineup with Sosa, Alou, Nomar, Lee, Ramirez, Walker and a decent Corey completely stopped hitting the last week of 2004 and missed the playoffs.

Dave is dead on. Sometimes trading someone doesn't mean you've given up on someone. The Expos liked Harris and he was a small price to pay to get Nomar and Murton.

I have a Brendan Harris autographed baseball that he signed for me at a game when he was with the Expos, right after the trade. Last year I was ready to start playing catch with it. This year I suppose I'm glad I didn't.

I still can’t figure out how a lineup with Sosa, Alou, Nomar, Lee, Ramirez, Walker and a decent Corey completely stopped hitting the last week of 2004 and missed the playoffs. it was the goat

Yeah -- Dusty batting the goat in the #2 hole was just stupid. The thing couldn't bunt worth a damn.

Via Bizmarquis, TCR reader, and Sportscenter, we learn that old 3/44 is going under the knife to correct his shoulder achies.

Ok..I was for it at the time, and if it'd wprked out, it would be a good trade. But: Nomar as a Cub: 2004:49/165, 14 2B, 4 HR, 20 RBI, .297/.364/.455 2005:65/230, 12 2B, 9 HR, 30 RBI, .283/.320/.452 105 games played..we didn't win shit. Another great Cub trade. Fate...karma..whatever. It didn't work out. And now, we'll have to trade Murton for something useful for the trade to look good if Harris keeps hitting like he is in 2007.

"for the trade to look good if Harris keeps hitting like he is in 2007." Put that right next to "world peace" in the Things That Aren't Likely To Happen list.

Actually I want to change my vote. Mannytrillo is absolutely, positively correct. Sosa needs to go 1-for-13 with 8 Ks and a solo home run in a Cubs' three-game sweep. That's called Double-Entendre Poetic Justice.

Please 'splain what you mean Carlos? The Cubs won't trade him for something useful, or Harris won't keep hittting?

Sorry! I didn't crop the paragraph properly. I meant that Harris is very, very, very unlikely to keep hitting the way he's been so far.

Hmmm...he may fall off some...but his minor league #'s are: .295/.363/.469..compared to .321/.376/.502 this season. He's 26, and has hit at every level. I don't think he can quite keep up what he's doing, but it is his first extended shot in the bigs. Even reverting to his minor league #'s is better than anything else the Cubs have at SS.

Neifi Garciaparra .279 .322 .340 has 1 HR this year. Meanwhile, Juan "prototype leadoff man" Pierre .278 .310 .327 has managed to score a feeble 36 Runs which projects well below 100 for the year. And that will make it three years in a row with less than 100 RS. Neither of these guys were good trades for the Cubs or good pickups by LA for that matter.

from mlb.com Sori 7 Pie 8 Lee 3 Floyd DH Barrett C DeRosa 5 JJ 9 Riot 6 Fonty 4

and Lofton 8 Kinsler 4 Young 6 Sosa DH Byrd 7 Diaz 9 Laird 2 Wilkerson 3 Metcalf 5 I don't know why I typed C for barrett. I'm glad we get to play the worst team in the league WITHOUT their best player!!! I suspect we'll still manage to lose 2 of 3.

Dodgers don't need to club people to death. They win with pitching. Despite the injuries they've had to some of their pitchers they still have one of the best staffs in baseball.

Dodgers don’t need to club people to death. They win with pitching. Despite the injuries they’ve had to some of their pitchers they still have one of the best staffs in baseball. Perfect timing. Exploratory surgery scheduled for Schmidt as well as labrum surgery for Brazoban.

Okay, yeah I didn't scroll up far enough to see that Carlos called it before me. Apologies.

Tejada has 7 homers. Same problem Lee is having... Jace is right-the # 5 slot has been our problem. Not just this year, since we got rid of Alou... On another note, guys we'd be willing to trade: 1. Jones 2. Eyre 3. Barrett 4. Murton 5. Gallagher 6. Izturis-on the condition we get another shortstop I can see another team trading us they're poor performing, big contract for Eyre or Jones. I can see a buyer (AL) wanting Barrett in a backup catcher/dh role and I can see a team dumping salaries wanting Murton+Gallagher.

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.