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

Game 74 Thread / Cubs @ White Sox (3 of 3)

Game Chat Sean Marshall vs. Jose Contreras Lineups:
Soriano LF Podsednik LF
Fontenot 2B Gonzalez RF
Lee 1B Thome DH
Ramirez DH Konerko 1B
Floyd RF Pierzynski C
Pagan CF Iguchi 2B
DeRosa 3B Fields 3B
Hill C Terrero CF
Izturis SS Uribe SS

Comments

I guess the Cubs figure the best way to move Jones is to keep him off the field and out of view of any scouts!

at this point, one game isn't going to do anything for his trade value. Best he just not get hurt.

I'm not all that fond of Sean Marshall following Rich Hill in the rotation. I'd prefer to see: Z, lilly, hill marquis, marshall...

Popping my TCR comment cherry by asking people that questioned/criticized the Soriano signing to apologize. Truly one of the most exciting players in baseball. The crowd is still buzzing about that home run. Also want to say thanks to all the contributors to this site--you make me seem like the most knowledgable Cubs fan! :) Cheers...

Welcome Jamie! And thanks for the updates relaying the news that (1) Soriano is good and (2) the crowd was excited about a home run. Keep it coming!

Soriano = yard ------------------------ Yet another solo job though.

433: (1) i didn't say that Soriano was good; (2) merely an observation on that Soriano moonshot, more than five minutes after it landed; (3) keep the comments about comments coming, guy--they add a lot to the message board.

how bad of baserunner can Pagan be----the sac fly is right in front of him and he run's into a dp----these are the mistakes that will kill the team, poor baserunning judgement, and he's the biggest offender

During this break in the action, I'm reminded of how little the manager makes a differnce: "Hey Bob (Brenly), how's that rulebook reading coming" Bob: "I told you, this rulebook gives me a headache, there's a lot of so forth and so ons". This from a manager who won the World Series. I know it doesn't take a rocket scientest, but don't you think the Manager of a MLB team should have some idea of the rule book? If not, what are they talking about during the arguments with the umpire? Then there's Ozzie Guillen, who while I try to forget, did also with the WS. Maybe the Cubs should fire Lou and hire him with someoby dumber - hey isn't Dusty Baker available? Just as I'm getting excited about the pitching, solid defense, and the tear that the Fonz is on, another solid display of fundamental baserunning, ugh.

A guy who makes his first post so that it calls out straw-men on the board, demanding apologies for an issue where the caller-outer never said squat to begin with, has no standing to be talking about the content of the message boards.

I nominate Chicago Jamie's third comment in Post #11 for Most Ironic, Moronic Post of the Year!

Be nice to Trans; he lost his spiritual advisor today. Also, the Straw Men (and Women) hope that Jamie is still alive and posting 6 years from now, when we're looking to unload Sori on somebody.

fair enough, transmission. that's a pretty loose definition of "demanding," but whatever. i was really just trying to convey my excitement about Soriano being a Cub and never having understood people questioning his signing. i certainly wasn't expecting any apologies. I thought that third comment was kinda funny, 433. at least i've got the rest of the day to work on my schtick! Six years from now Soriano will be making less money than a lot of outfielders he's outproducing. Man, you'd think it was us that just got swept with you guys on here. Beautiful day to be a Cubbies fan--Go, Cubs, Go!

Chicago Jamie, that's a typical TCR baptism. Actually, you got off easy. Welcome. RIP Rod Beck.

From Kenny Williams: "Change needs to happen and change is going to happen. When that happens, I don't know." Way to qualify that killer threat there, Ken.

Dotel is no friend of mine- Blew a 9th inning lead vs. the Cards earlier this week, now blows one in the 9th vs. the Brewers. Enjoy your stay in K.C., Octavio.

Final in 11 ROYALS 4 Brewers 3 bases loaded walk in the top of the 11th

Royals Win, Royals Win. 7 1/2 games out. 5 by the All Star break and this is a race.

Barrett went 0-4 with a K and 2 men left on base while batting 2nd for the Pads in their 4-2 loss to the Redsox with Beckett/Papelbon. Jake Peavey might be peaved with a short 5 inning stint (but 111 pitches) to his new catcher although he only gave up 3 runs . Maybe we can add to our blame Barrett list, high pitch counts for the pitching staff?

and to complete a wonderful day...Phils 5 Cards 1, third out by Alfonseca with the bases loaded with cardinals somewhere Rod Beck is smiling...

Maybe we can add to our blame Barrett list, high pitch counts for the pitching staff? I'm guessing that's a rhetorical question. But I think it's going to be interesting micro-analyzing Michael Barrett's effect on the Padres. He inherits an outstanding pitching staff (team ERA of 3.00)... or they were, until MB showed up. Only Peavy's second loss. 9 Hits in 5.0, 111 pitches. Just his second or third non-quality start of the year. Fewest innings pitched this year. Most pitches per inning this year. Ahh yes, The Barrett Factor.

Other factors-- Cubs record since Felix Pie's callup: 12-9 Since Fontenot's call-up 8-7 Since Matt Murton's last game 7-4 Since Michael Barrett's last game: 3-2

By all means, it's obviously Barrett who caused the high pitch count for Peavy today, not the team leading the AL in walks. or the fact that Peavy is 3rd behind Zito and John Maine in Pitches per plate appearance amongst qualified starters.

The Cubs are a below .500 team since Dusty Baker was let go; hence, Dusty Baker should be rehired if the Cubs want to be over .500. Dumb logic, I hope those "records since" posts above are tongue-in-cheek.

also, if koyie hill hadn't caught that throw from soriano (tough short hop), i was very ready to blame michael barrett. white sox are done done done. jermaine dye's contract is up at the end of the year, i know he hasn't done much this year but he can't be done yet after the year he had last year.....bring him to the weaker league, hit him 5th/6th and put him in RF. if he gives you half of what he did last year you've got a much improved lineup, and cliff floyd can play vs. some tough righties and be a deluxe PHer. thoughts???

Dye's glove in RF would be nice, but honestly don't know what he gives us ahead of Floyd right now. Other than costing us a lot of prospects...

Good idea. Lets bring a guy hitting .220. He will help this team. And oh year... he is hurt. Again. And people don't like Griffey, but they like Dye? Odd...

For those of you lucky enough not to be listening to Hawk and DJ, you can hear their furious indignation over the Uribe baserunning controversy on the Cubs site. On Cubs dot com, under the main story ("Cubs sweep away Sox in finale") - click on "Soriano's homer" or "Soriano's throw to plate." That gives you a selection of other pieces of footage from the game. Click on "Guillen gets ejected." Those dudes are livid - they have never seen suck a "BS" call in all their years of baseball. "You're dadgum right this game is gonna be played under protest!" It's especially sweet because Hawk and DJ initially thought it had been ruled a triple play, for some reason.

The Sox would never do that. They already have a SS who can't hit, and they need Pena to back up Drew since he spends half the season on the DL.

If you can't score a run in a dadgum game, your dadgum protest doesn't mean anything. Didn't hear Hawk and DJ today, but yesterday I thought they had a lot of praise for Rich Hill and for Pagan's timing on the squeeze. Hawk tends to make comments in the heat of the moment, but then gives a more balanced perspective moments later.

the best was that DJ was kinda on the right path, basically saying that it's not instantly a dead ball on interference, you let it play out and then decide what works better for the team that got interfered with. hawk told him he was wrong, that it's a dead ball, and that he's never seen anything so wrong in the history of baseball. sorry hawk, you're wrong, the umps got it right, and what is your SS doing standing on 2B there?? the rule makes sense and has to be there bc otherwise you could interfere as an infielder on purpose on any extra base hit, oh, sorry, dead ball, you only get one base!

here's the rule on runner obstruction.. When obstruction occurs, the umpire shall call or signal "Obstruction." If a play is being made on the obstructed runner, or if the batterrunner is obstructed before he touches first base, the ball is dead and all runners shall advance, without liability to be put out, to the bases they would have reached, in the umpire’s judgment, if there had been no obstruction. The obstructed runner shall be awarded at least one base beyond the base he had last legally touched before the obstruction. Any preceding runners, forced to advance by the award of bases as the penalty for obstruction, shall advance without liability to be put out. Rule 7.06(a) Comment: When a play is being made on an obstructed runner, the umpire shall signal obstruction in the same manner that he calls “Time,” with both hands overhead. The ball is immediately dead when this signal is given; however, should a thrown ball be in flight before the obstruction is called by the umpire, the runners are to be awarded such bases on wild throws as they would have been awarded had not obstruction occurred. On a play where a runner was trapped between second and third and obstructed by the third baseman going into third base while the throw is in flight from the shortstop, if such throw goes into the dugout the obstructed runner is to be awarded home base. Any other runners on base in this situation would also be awarded two bases from the base they last legally touched before obstruction was called. (b) If no play is being made on the obstructed runner, the play shall proceed until no further action is possible. The umpire shall then call “Time” and impose such penalties, if any, as in his judgment will nullify the act of obstruction. Rule 7.06(b) Comment: Under 7.06(b) when the ball is not dead on obstruction and an obstructed runner advances beyond the base which, in the umpire’s judgment, he would have been awarded because of being obstructed, he does so at his own peril and may be tagged out. This is a judgment call. NOTE: The catcher, without the ball in his possession, has no right to block the pathway of the runner attempting to score. The base line belongs to the runner and the catcher should be there only when he is fielding a ball or when he already has the ball in his hand.

I thought Pie messed up on the eighth inning hit by DeRosa. Tag up, sure, but you can stop tagging up when you see the outfielder give up on the ball and start playing the carom. Pie just stood there waiting--for what? Meanwhile, Pagan read the outfielder correctly and started to run. If Pie had read the ball and the outfielder's reaction correctly he would have scored easily, with Pagan right behind him (at least, if Uribe had let him pass). I'm still trying to think of a way to blame it on Quade.

I hate to admit this. I mean, I really, really hate to admit this. I mean. Really. I hate to admit this. I have been sticking my fingers in my throat listening to Harrelson for a long time when suffering through Cubs/Sox broadcasts, but I have to admit, and I really hate to admit this (in case I forgot to admit that I hate to admit this since when you are old and blue you WANT to forget things as soon as you can), but . . . I sort of like him today. He was really, really pissed. I haven't heard that in a long time. Can you imagine Len in that moment?

I was right!! Not only was Pagan safe but he should have gotten third and Pie home. I think. Anyways Hawk is and always will be a dumb ass who now seems to be morphing into Yosemite Sam. Damgumit? Whats next -igit umpires? I hates cokey nuts?? No wonder why he's been announcing for 25 years and not a mention of Hall Of Fame.

How long has mlb.com had clickable linescores? Nice feature for cheapskates like me who haven't sprung for an MLB.tv subscription. (Today's aren't loaded yet, btw.)

Hi guys. 1. Pinella still sucks. Why pull Marshall after 7.1? Makes no freaking sense. 2. WIth Demptster hurt Eric Gagne will be a Cub. Mark it down. 3. And to all you Soriano ditractors, you all can stick it in your ears. That guy single-handedly beat the White Sox this weekend. His homers and his defense were incredible and I am so damned glad we have him on our team.

Virginia Phil - It was all Quade's fault. It looked like a decent read by Pie to me. He went back to tag (which is good baserunning with nobody out) and then took off a second or two before the ball got to the outfielder as soon as it was obvious he wouldn't catch it. Also, in that situation, the runner on first is not going to tag up even if the ball is caught, so it wasn't necessarily a good read by Pagan ashe was just advancing as far as possible with the opportunity to go back should the ball be caught. And Quade should have sent Pie. He was two steps from third base running at full speed by the time the outfielder got to the ball at the wall. Even a perfect throw doesn't get Pie there.

I hope those “records since” posts above are tongue-in-cheek. They are absolutely for amusement purposes only. On the other hand, they reflect adjustments in the team roster being made by Lou ....

Brick- Thanks for the heads up on the Hawk call. OMG its the funniest thing you ever heard. Hawk thinking it will be called a triple play, the overuse of the term "pickle" and him yelling at Kornerko "THROW IT HOME!!!" I guess they were not showing the interference replay or they are both the biggest dumb asses ever. I picture the game producer in the booth not liking Hawk and saying "don't show the interference, lets give Hawk some more rope hopefully he will drop a F bomb!!" HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

yeah, we were all over that in parachat, the obstruction completely bailed out Pie who tagged up for no good reason. The ball clearly looked like a hit off the bat. And if it wasn't clear that it was a hit, he still waited until the ball landed before running instead of watching the fielders reaction. maybe he was watching quade, who knows? watched the mlb highlights, no wonder the wsox announcers were peeved. It doesn't appear their cameras caught the obstruction.

I think your memory is off on that one jwinner5, Pie was at 3b just as the throw was coming in. Pagan seemed disoriented by the obstruction and kept going to 3b without seeing what Pie was doing. Can't really blame Pagan though, I mean Pie should have been scoring there but he badly misread the ball. Even if he goes back to tag, it was pretty obvious the fielder wasn't getting there and he waited forever to start going.

jacos: Anyways Hawk is and always will be a dumb ass who now seems to be morphing into Yosemite Sam. Oh my god, he's brutal. From every "grab some pine" to "you can put it on the board", it's literally worse than nails on a chalkboard. But anyways... sweet job on the sweep. I know a lot of people will be like "nice sweep, but it's the White Sox after all..." blah blah blah marginalize blah... The fact is the Cub's played some excellent ball this weekend and like Ozzie said if they can keep up this caliber of play the rest of the year the Cub's will be right in the thick of the race come September. As bad as the Sox have been lately, they're not a team to scoff at. I was in Milwaukee the entire weekend and went to the Saturday game KC @ MIL, so I didn't see much of the Cub's going ons. Just a few impressions from Milwaukee: TV doesn't do Miller Field justice. It always looked kind of blah to me, but it's a very nice facility (with good parking). It's easy to see why hitter have such a tough time against Dave Bush. His slow, almost "pitching underwater" windup really throws the hitter's timing off despite having very mediocre stuff. The ball really explodes out of his delivery. Corey Hart is really really really good... right now.

fwiw, Piniella gets on Pagan for not looking up "The second baserunner, which is Pagan, has to look at the baserunner ahead of him, and that's what originally caused the problem," Piniella said. "He was running with his head down, ready to go to third because he got a good read on it as it went over the right fielder's head. The only problem was our lead runner [Pie] tagged up."

I suspect the White Sox were showcasing RHP Mike MacDougal for Lou Piniella today, mainly because he is probably the guy the Cubs would get back if Jacque Jones goes to the Sox. It's not that Cubs scouts haven't seen MacDougal recently, just that this might be Uncle Lou's first chance to see him throw since his days managing in TB. MacDougal and Jones are similar age (MacDougal is 30, Jones is 32), both are having really bad years in 2007 but both have also had success in previous years, and (most importantly) the salaries match very closely, with both Jones and MacDougal owed $5M post-2007 (presuming MacDougal gets his $350K buy-out after 2009), so the Cubs would not be taking on any new payroll obligations that they didn't already have. BTW, I am NOT saying that MacDougal would necessarily help the Cubs much, just that he is probably the type of veteran bullpen arm that Piniella wants as his 7th man in the pen, with an A. L.-skewed ERA that should be somewhat better pitching in the N. L. where a lot of the hitters aren't too familiar with his stuff. SALARIES DUE Jones: 2007 - $4M (about $2M left) 2008 - $5M TOTAL: $7M through 2008 MacDougal: 2007 - $1.5M (about $750K left) 2008 - $1.95M 2009 - $2.65M 2010 - $ 3.75M or $350K buy-out TOTAL: $9.1M through 2009, or $5.65M through 2008 (if post -09 club buy-out option is exercised)

Under 7.06(b) when the ball is not dead on obstruction and an obstructed runner advances beyond the base which, in the umpire’s judgment, he would have been awarded because of being obstructed, he does so at his own peril and may be tagged out. This is a judgment call. Here's where I wonder... Should Pagan have been awarded third (and Pie home)? If so, why wasn't he? And if not, wouldn't that make Pagan out, since he advanced "at his own peril" past 2nd? Seems like bases loaded and no outs is the one outcome that I can't 100% figure out according to the above rule.

I think this was the logic: If Pagan doesn't get knocked down, he would pickup his coach holding Pie. If he stays, DeRosa stays. If DeRosa stays, Pie never breaks for home. That may have nothing to do with the thought process, just mine.

Nice to see----Sean Gallagher (1-0) with a nice start for the I-Cubs 5.0 IP, 1 hit, 0 runs, and the win.

at game's end, the first five hitters in the cub lineup today are @ .300 or higher!

Sorry...was that Will Ohman blowing away Jim Thome? Nice! Huge weekend for Soriano -- if he had a lousy series, the Sox fans, local media (and some Cub fans) would be throwing $136MM in his face. Instead, he carries the team offensively and racks up a huge OF assist (great play by K. Hill -- no way Barrett makes that play). Also, I thought I saw him high-fiving Lou after the squeeze call yesterday -- seems to have reached a nice comfort zone as a Cub. One huge concern -- A-Ram is still playing on one leg -- it clearly hasn't gotten better. Tough to do that for 3+ months..... Sean Marshall -- sorry we forgot about you this spring. Keep it rolling.

I am less than thrilled with Mike Quade. It was Hendry's bone to reward Quade for his longevity in AAA, and I'm sure Lou was like, "What am I getting paid? Oh, sure, Quade can coach 3b for me." But I am blaming Michael Barrett for the play, and also agree w/BB that NO WAY he makes the D play K.Hill makes. In fact, the ball would have gone all the way to the wall when he whiffs trying to catch it - OR - it remains in the dirt by the plate where he'd still be looking for it now!

CUBS starters now #2 in NL w/3.82 era, BUT - LEAD the NL with BAA - .235 2006? 15th in the NL, starters E.R.A. were 5.19, BAA .259

Phil-- The Cubs looked at MacDougal extensively last year, they were here in KC scouting him on multiple occasions. If they didn't want him then (when Dempster was struggling so bad), it's hard to see them wanting him now. Especially with two other similarly-paid, veteran setup men already on the payroll (Howry and Eyre). I think if Jones is not (literally) dumped to another team (which certainly could be the White Sox) in the next two weeks for two worthless low-level minor leaguers, in a Corey Patterson-esque type dumping trade, then I think you'll see Hendry swallow his pride and DFA Jock. The contract is a sunk cost, he has to know that. Right?

sounds like Buehrle is being shopped around and could be dealt very soon with Kenny's proclamation that big changes are coming. So far Brewers, Cardinals and Mets seem to have the most interest and I imagine the Phils would to (or at least they should). Seems to me the "sellers" at this point are going to be... White Sox Rangers Royals (if they have anything) Nats (see Royals) Orioles (but they've been impossible to deal with) and never count out the A's to do something... WSox and Rangers look like they're ready to do business at any point now so some possibilities... WSox:Dye, Buehrle, Podsednik and with Williams flare for the dramatic I'd say Thome, Jenks, A.J or Garland all possible as well Rangers: Gagne, Otsuka, Sosa, Wilkerson, Teixeira

Jones for Gange seems like the most logical move for all involved. Re: Buehrle: If he must come to the NLC, I'd rather he go to the Brews than the Cards... the Cards scare me more then Milwaukee. The Phils seem like the best fit, let's hope he goes there.

Lou's definitive comment on Jacque: RH starter, Pie not playing -- and JJ doesn't see the field. Ouch. The annual series at the Cell always reminds me how little an AL manager has to do during a game. NL managers should get paid more -- they have a much harder job.

Whatever happens - I just hope Hendry doesn't fuck it up. I tip my hat to him with the young pitchers that have come along, and unless we get something truly of value for more than a rental period, I would like to hang on to our promising arms. As I stated above - our starters now rank #2 in the NL, statistically w/era.

AZ Phil- Jones for McDougal? I would DFA Jones before doing that. Not only does he have a bad contract, McDougal would block more deserving younger pitching. Rob G- McPhail supposedly calling all the shots over there, so maybe it will change. I don't know whoelse beside Tejada you want from that team. Maybe McPhail has a hard on for some obscure minor leaguer and deal could be made. I would still like to get a high obp lefthanded hitter in this lineup before getting more bullpen help. Play rf, ss or catcher.

Wonder if we could get Bobby Crosby from Oakland cheaply. Yes, he's injury-prone. Yes, his OBP is .289. But he had a 745 OPS in 2004, and he's still only 27. This could be a classic case of a guy needing a change of scenery. Hendry's best trades are ones where he acquired talented underachievers (see Lee, Ramirez) who need a change of scenery. While a Hendry-Billy Beane meeting of the minds sounds frightening, I'm curious. (No, Lee wasn't necessarily an "underachiever" with Florida. But who knew he was this good?)

Tim McCarver, this state's leading asshole- In USA Today....today- " In fan voting to pick baseball's All-Star Game National League outfield starters, Barry Bonds is running fourth. Fox's Tim McCarver, on the New York Yankees-San Francisco Giants game Saturday, suggested Bonds is playing so well that democracy should be overruled: "Even if Major League Baseball has to overhaul the entire All-Star balloting program, they need to make sure Bonds is the starting left fielder." Maybe MLB could also make fans quit booing Bonds." Bonds' apologists are so chic now. Dumb ass.

MLB should make people stop booing a player? Does MLB have a crack team of commandos that could pull this off with minimal loss of life?

Thinking about Rod Beck and those '89 Cubs, makes me realize one thing about the organization: those guys were a bunch of scrap heaps-Gaetti, Beck, Mulholland, Rodriguez, etc..put together until the young talent was "ready". The next year they were horrible. If this year proves anything its that young talent only develops at the major league level-not down on the farm. Look how so many of us were ready to give up Marshall, Marmol and at one point Hill. Fontenot was a forgotten man as well.

Rynox-You seem pretty knowlegeable, however... How in the bloody blue hell do the Cardinals scare you more than the Brewers? Wainwright 6-6, 4.58ERA or Jeff Suppan 8-7,4.90 ERA Kip Wells 3-11,6.45ERA or David Bush 5-6, 5.17 ERA Braden Looper 6-6, 4.66ERA or Ben Sheets 8-3, 3.19ERA Anthony Reyes 0-9, 6.64ERA or Chris Capuano 5-5, 4.35 ERA Todd Wellemeyer 2-0, 4.66ERA or Claudio Vargas 6-1, 4.09 ERA Plus Yovani Gallardo.... Lineups? C: Estrada vs Molina? 1B Prince vs Albert? Tough call this year 2B Weeks or Adam Kennedy? SS:JJ Hardy or David Eckstein? 3B:Ryan Braun or Scott Rolen? OF:Jenkins/Mench-Hall-Hart or Duncan-Edmonds-Encarnacion?

If this year proves anything its that young talent only develops at the major league level-not down on the farm. Very true when we're talking players with success at AAA level, but that kind of thinking will get you nowhere here at TCR...

Dusty... the Cards are only one game behind the Cubs. And they are getting Mark Mulder back shortly. Carpenter could be back as early as July. So if you add Mulder, Carpenter, and Buerhle to the Cards rotation, that is a completely different team.

2 reasons: 1. The Cards have the means to improve their team moreso than the Brewers. They've already started by adding Maroth (which you omitted from your comparison, he's pitching 5.06 5-2). If the Cards feel they are in contention, which they are, they will improve their team, which they will. The Cards will fix or replace their broken parts. 2. As the summer grinds on young guys are often inconsistent and flashy while the veterans continue to output their career averages. Dusty received a lot of criticism for his use of veterans, and I'm no fan of Dusty, but I never had a problem with his choosing a veteran over a young guy. Too bad the veterans he chose were crap.

jacos — June 25, 2007 @ 7:40 am AZ Phil- Jones for McDougal? I would DFA Jones before doing that. Not only does he have a bad contract, McDougal would block more deserving younger pitching. ========================== JACOS: My comment was a prediction, not a suggestion. Since the Cubs need a 12th pitcher immediately, I was speculating that Mike MacDougal might well be coming to the Cubs if Jones goes to White Sox, not that acquiring MacDougal would necessarily solve anything. I just don't believe Hendry will DFA Jacque Jones (who is owed about $2M for the rest of 2007 and $5M next year) and/or pay all or most of his $7M in remaining salary to make him go away. I believe it's MUCH more likely that Hendry will try to exchange Jones for a journeyman MLB reliever making a similar salary who has a history of success at the major league level somewhere in his immediate past, and MacDougal would fit that profile to a tee.

I have to believe the Jones trading chip is worth more than MacDougal, but az phil is usually right. :(

Well put Rynox. Good solid argument for the Cardinals. I still think that the holes in their lineup and rotation are too big for them to overcome. Holes at 3B, 2B, CF, and RF, with Molina out as well. Do they really have enoough to trade to fill these holes? Does Mulder come back at 100%? Carpenter?

Does Mulder come back at 100%? Carpenter? No one really knows... but there is probably a very good chance they when they come back they improve the starting rotation, don't you think? I mean... right now the Cards are relying on Mike Maroth to improve the rotation. The Cards should scare us, being that they have been able to tread water with so many key injuries. And they have a helluva' manager who seems to always have the ability to extract just a little bit more from his team.

1. The Cards have the means to improve their team moreso than the Brewers. They’ve already started by adding Maroth Maroth is worse than anyone starting for the Cards anyway.

Maroth is worse than anyone starting for the Cards anyway. Not so much. Maroth is at least better than Reyes and Wells. And he isn't much worse (if at all) then Wainwright, Looper, or Wellemeyer.

Maroth is an experienced starter, who should at least give the Cardinals 6+ innings and a 4.50 ERA the rest of the way. Not a bad addition for little cost.

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.