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

Cubs Drop Game, Cut Six

I wasn't at the game, but the Cubs dropped a 4-2 decision to the Colorado Rockies today at Hi Corbett Field in Tucson. box score After the game, the Cubs announced several roster cuts, optioning C Geovany Soto to Iowa, and sending NRI LHP Ryan O'Malley and Carmen Pignatiello, C Jake Fox, 3B Casey McGehee, and 1B Micah Hoffpauir to the minor league camp at Fitch Park. The Cubs have also released RHP Eli Diaz and Alfredo Francisco, LHP Nate Bland, C Kevin Ciarrachi, 1B Jason Hart and Luther Murphy, INF Derek Wathan, and OF Tony Miller and Nate Price from minor league camp, and OF Davy Gregg has retired. Diaz was a 2006 40th round draft pick out of Texarkana JC who pitched at AZL Mesa last season, Francisco was a one-time hot-shot Dominican 3B prospect who received a big bonus from the Cubs five years ago, but was converted to a pitcher when he couldn't learn to hit curve balls and sliders, Murphy was a 2005 "draft+follow" JC player (selected in the 46th round out of Palm Beach CC) who signed with the Cubs prior to the 2006 Rule 4 Draft and then was assigned to AZL Mesa, Price was a '06 NDFA (University of Iowa) who hit a combined .263 as a "4th OF" at Peoria and Daytona last year, Ciarrachi was signed last December after playing in professional independent leagues the previous five seasons, and Bland (ex-HOU) , Hart (ex-TEX), Wathan (ex-FLA), and Miller (ex-COL) were minor league FAs signed to minor league contracts during the off-season by the Cubs. Gregg was a speedy CF selected in the 27th round of the 2005 draft out of the University of South Carolina who played at Boise in '05 and at Peoria last year. In the game at Hi Corbett, Ted Lilly went five innings, allowing nine hits, four runs (earned), walking two, and striking out one, with a 6/8 GB/FB. He also threw a WP. The Cubs did all of their scoring in the top of the 1st, as Alfonso Soriano pumped-out another lead-off HR, and Daryle Ward drove in Angel Pagan (who had doubled with one out) with a two-out RBI single. Pagan was 1-3 with a BB, Michael Barrett and Mark DeRosa each had a hit and a walk, and Felix Pie was 0-2 with two K in relief of Soriano in CF. DeRosa also made an error at 2B. Lilly breezed through the odd-numbered innings, but struggled in the even-numbered innings. The Rockies scored all four of their runs in the 4th, as Lilly surrendered two walks (a lead-off free pass to Matt Holliday and another one to pitcher Brian Lawrence while Lawrence was trying to bunt) and four hits (including a Troy Tulowitzki RBI double, an RBI single by Yorvit Torrealba, a Jamey Carroll sac fly, and a Garret Atkins infield hit misplayed by Lilly). In the second inning, Lilly had survived a no outs/bases loaded jam (three consecutive hits to start the inning), by getting a pop up, K, and fly out. Ryan Dempster returned to action after missing about a week with a tight neck, throwing one inning (1 H and 1 BB, and a 1-6-3 DP). Other Cubs pitchers who saw action included Will Ohman (1 IP, 1 BB, 1 K) and Angel Guzman (1 IP, 1 K), as Manager Lou Piniella has apparently already begun transitioning Gooz to bullpen duty. The Cubs return to HoHoKam Park in Mesa Wednesday to face Sammy Sosa and the Texas Rangers. Jason Marquis is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Cubs. I wonder if Rob G has any thoughts on Sammy Sosa, and his relationship with Cubs fans? With Tuesday's roster cuts, the Cubs ST roster now stands at 38 (20 pitchers, three catchers, eight infielders, and seven outfielders) 35 of the remaining players are on the 40-man roster, and three are NRI. 2007 CHICAGO CUBS SPRING TRAINING ROSTER PITCHERS (19): Rocky Cherry Neal Cotts Ryan Dempster Scott Eyre Angel Guzman Rich Hill Bob Howry Ted Lilly Carlos Marmol Jason Marquis Sean Marshall Juan Mateo Wade Miller Roberto Novoa Will Ohman Mark Prior Kerry Wood Michael Wuertz Carlos Zambrano NON-ROSTER PITCHERS (1): Les Walrond ========================================= CATCHERS (2): Michael Barrett Henry Blanco NON-ROSTER CATCHERS (1): Koyie Hill ==================================== INFIELDERS (7): Ronny Cedeno Mark DeRosa Cesar Izturis Derrek Lee Aramis Ramirez Ryan Theriot Daryle Ward NON-ROSTER INFIELDERS (1): Tomas Perez ================================= OUTFIELDERS (7): Buck Coats Cliff Floyd Jacque Jones Matt Murton Angel Pagan Felix Pie Alfonso Soriano NON-ROSTER OUTFIELDERS: NONE ================================== OPTIONED TO IOWA (AAA): IF-OF Scott Moore LHP Clay Rapada C Geovany Soto OPTIONED TO TENNESSEE (AA): 1B Brian Dopirak OPTIONED TO DAYTONA (A+): RHP Jeff Samardzija =================================== Here are a couple of factors Jim Hendry has to consider when deciding which remaining players to cut... NO TRADE RIGHTS IN 2007: Henry Blanco (automatic through June 15th) Mark DeRosa (automatic through June 15th) Scott Eyre (limited - unknown which teams are "no go") Cliff Floyd (automatic through June 15th) Jacque Jones (limited - unknown which teams are "no go") Derrek Lee Ted Lilly (automatic through June 15th) Jason Marquis (automatic through June 15th) Aramis Ramirez Jeff Samardzija Alfonso Soriano Daryle Ward (automatic through June 15th) Kerry Wood (automatic through June 15th) NOTE: Blanco, DeRosa, Floyd, Lilly, Marquis, Ward, and Wood get automatic "NO TRADE" rights through June 15th because they were Type XX FA who signed contracts after the conclusion of the Free-Agency Filing Period; Wade Miller was a Type XX FA, but he does NOT have "no trade" rights through June 15th, because he re-signed with the Cubs prior to the conclusion of the MLB Free-Agency Filing Period. ----------------------------------------- MINOR LEAGUE OPTION STATUS (Spring Training 2007) * Player can be optioned to minors out of Spring Training 2007 only after clearing Major League Waivers ONE MINOR LEAGUE OPTION LEFT: Ronny Cedeno Angel Guzman (see NOTE 1) Rich Hill * Roberto Novoa * Will Ohman (see NOTE 2) Geovany Soto (has been optioned to AAA) * Michael Wuertz NOTE 1: Because of time spent on the DL in 2004 and 2005, Guzman gets a 4th option year in 2007. A player receives a 4th option year if he has not spent five “full seasons” (a “full season” being a minimum of 60 days on a major league or a minor league active roster--NOT including time spent on the DL--from the start of a season, or a minimum of 90 days total on a minor league or major league active roster--NOT including time spent on the DL--in a given season) by the time his first three minor league options have been exhausted. NOTE 2: Ohman cannot be optioned to the minors without his consent once he accrues another 132 days of MLB service time. (Players cannot be optioned to the minors without their consent once they accrue five years of MLB service time). TWO MINOR LEAGUE OPTIONS LEFT: * Neal Cotts Brian Dopirak (has been optioned to AA) Carlos Marmol Scott Moore (has been optioned to AAA) Angel Pagan Felix Pie * Mark Prior (see NOTE 3) Ryan Theriot NOTE 3: Prior cannot be optioned to the minors without his consent once he accrues another 41 days of MLB service time (that's when he will have accrued five full seasons of MLB service time). THREE MINOR LEAGUE OPTIONS LEFT: Rocky Cherry Buck Coats Sean Marshall Juan Mateo Matt Murton Clay Rapada (has been optioned to AA) FOUR MINOR LEAGUE OPTIONS LEFT: Jeff Samardzija (has been optioned to A+) In the case of a player who has already been optioned to the minors (Soto, Moore, Rapada, Dopirak, and Samardzija), his option year will only be exercised once he has spent at least twenty days on optional assignment to the minors in 2007, which would be as of April 21st (if the player is not recalled in the meantime). Also, players on optional assignment to the minors can be moved back and forth between the majors and minors as necesary throughout the season, limited only by having to remain in the minors at least ten days after being optioned, UNLESS the optioned player is being recalled to replace a player who has been placed on the DL.

Comments

AZ PHIL: Of all the players to be optioned, who do you truly believe will be effective MLB players? Was Jake Fox a hitting "flash-in-the-pan"? Does he have any other fielding skills? And, with the Ronny Cedeno scenarios, do you believe he will be able to do enough to unseat a player at the end of his career (Perez)? Finally, in line with the above, which pitchers do you truly believe will be in the future of the Cubs surplanting the current multi-millionaire arms?

The E-Man — March 21, 2007 @ 8:48 am AZ PHIL: Of all the players to be optioned, who do you truly believe will be effective MLB players? Was Jake Fox a hitting “flash-in-the-pan”? Does he have any other fielding skills? And, with the Ronny Cedeno scenarios, do you believe he will be able to do enough to unseat a player at the end of his career (Perez)? Finally, in line with the above, which pitchers do you truly believe will be in the future of the Cubs surplanting the current multi-millionaire arms? ================================== E-MAN: I think Jeff Samardzija is going to be a front-of-the-rotation guy, and I wouldn't be surprised if he surfaces sooner (like sometime in 2008) rather than later. I also believe Angel Guzman will be a middle-to-top of the rotation starter, but his arrival in the starting rotation will depend on when a spot opens up (probably Miller's slot will open up first). I also like Sean Gallagher, but he could be at least a couple of years away. And I like Donald Veal more as a power lefty reliever (maybe the future closer) than as a starter. He's really just a two-pitch pitcher, and he throws too many pitches per inning to be more than a five or six inning starter. So Samardzija, Guzman, and Gallagher are the pitchers I believe are most-likely to supplant Marquis/Lilly/Miller in the near future (Guzman in '08, Samardzija in '08 or '09, and Gallagher in '09 or '10). BTW, the Cubs do not have to add Gallagher to the 40-man roster until after the 2008 season, so don't expect him to get rushed. I believe Felix Pie will be a solid (possibly All-Star) CF with definte Gold Glove potential. As I've been saying since the day I posted my first comment here at TCR in 2004, Pie is NOT another Corey Patterson. Scott Moore can be an everyday MLB 3B, though not with the Cubs. If he stays with the Cubs, I would project him as a Geoff Blum/Rob Mackowiak-type IF-OF-LHPH, but I think he will have more value to the Cubs as a trading chip. Ronny Cedeno should be a decent everyday SS once he learns to relax, and as long as he hits at the bottom of the order and is considered more of a "supporting" player. I believe a full year of playing everyday at AAA is exactly what Ronny needs right now, so I hope the Cubs do NOT keep him around as a back-up middle-infielder in '07. I think Sean Marshall will be an OK MLB starting pitcher (like a #4 guy), though probably not with the Cubs. Like Scott Moore, I see Marshall as another guy likely to be polished up at AAA and used as a trading chip at some point in the not-too-distant future. Eric Patterson is about ready for the big leagues right now (OFFENSIVELY), and I believe he will be an outstanding #1 or #2 hitter. But, I have a LOT of doubts about E-Pat's future as a second-baseman. If it wasn't that there is no room for him out there, I would move him to CF right now. Jake Fox has as much pure power as any player in the organization. He can flat-out rake. And he seems to be getting better as a hitter (batter), too. I just can't see him as an everyday catcher. I expect Fox will be moved to LF sometime in 2007, but if that happens, I doubt that he has a future with the Cubs, because there is a log-jam in the outfield, even if they trade Jacque Jones. It would be nice if in a year or two, the Cubs could find room for Fox on their 25-man roster as a LF-RF-3B-1B-C-RHPH, though. I like Tyler Colvin a lot, but he's probably at least two or three years away. He just looks like a thorougbred. Once he arrives, he could play any of the three OF positions. And his arm is a lot better than was advertised when the Cubs drafted him last June. I think he will be a VERY good player. I like Rocky Cherry a lot as a solid MLB middle-reliever, probably right now. Once he starts to trust his stuff more, Carlos Marmol has a chance to be an MLB set-up guy or maybe even a closer. He needs to develop some command, though. Clay Rapada should be a good Mike Myers-type MLB LOOGY (but a true LOOGY, where you wouldn't want him to throw to MLB-caliber right-handed hitters). I think Juan Mateo will be an OK MLB middle-reliever, though probably not with the Cubs. Geovany Soto should be a decent MLB back-up catcher (sort of like Jose Molina or Yorvit Torrealba), although probably not with the Cubs (Blanco is signed through 2008 with a club option for 2009, and Soto will be out of minor league options next ST). Brian Dopirak has zero future with the Cubs, partly because he will be out of minor league options two years before Derrek Lee's contract expires (and B-Dope has given no indication that he could play another position--in fact he can barely play 1B). Even if he were to get his power stroke back and have a monster year at AA in 2007 or at AAA in 2008, his future will probably be as a DH or platoon DH in the A. L. One other guy I like a LOT is Sam Fuld, who will play CF at AA this seaon. At the plate. he is a left-handed version of Ryan Theriot, and he is an OUTSTANDING defensive CF. He almost certainly has no future with the Cubs (except maybe as a 4th OF), but he WILL play in the big leagues.

Very detailed and thoughtful. Thank you. Being that I only see the MLB guys come through Chicago, I really enjoy hearing about the future of the club. So, what you are indicating it seems, from at LEAST the pitching corps, is there is quite a bit of promise. There are several on this blog that give Hendry ZERO credit for any investment in our current Minor league system which I believe to be baseless in reading your opinions.

E-MAN: I believe the Cubs minor league system was overrated five years ago, and it's underrated right now. The main problem the Cubs have at the moment is what do with all their young outfielders (the ones who are already outfielders, as well as the guys who should be outfielders). The Cubs have a lot of good outfield and pitching prospects, but there is a huge hole in the organization at catcher and in the middle infield (SS-2B). If Eric Patterson were to somehow develop into at least a passable MLB second-baseman, that would help a lot, but I doubt that he will.

Isn't it possible to fill those holes through trades? You don't seem to have as many Minor Leaguer for Minor Leaguer trades as you would expect.

AZ PHIL: I'm encouraged by your optimism about E-Pat as a hitter. I know he did really well in a brief stint at Iowa last year AND in the AFL. However-- how do you account for his weak/mediocre numbers at West Tennessee last year? (Jake Fox also had really weak numbers at AA last year, too) And also-- if Patterson moves to the OF, where does he go? Pie is already in CF (I believe in Pie A LOT). Does Pie move to RF? Does E-Pat have the arm for RF? Does E-Pat move to LF? And if so, what happens to Murton? Plus-- Soriano is already in the OF somewhere for the next 8 yeard. :) Have you heard any rumblings of when or where our guys in Iowa will be moving around the diamond? It seems like a lot of our top position prospects are either changing positions or being groomed to be multi-positional. For example-- Moore (3B, 1B, SS, LF, RF, can he play CF?) Patterson (2B, OF?) McGehee (3B, 1B, C) Pie (CF, RF) Coats (OF, 2B, SS) Fox (C, 1B, LF, RF) And here's an interesting thought...It seems like it would be really hard to replace A-Ram's production from 3B. However-- how close could we get to A-Ram's production in 2008 with a Moore/McGehee platoon? I know A-Ram was good to the organization by just signing a below-market contract. But I wonder if Moore/McGehee is a risk worth taking if A-Ram can be moved for another player of equal value. Moore/McGehee also provides alot of flexibility on the bench, particularly if McGehee can really play Catcher at the ML level. Maybe it's a horrible idea but I'm just kind of thinking out loud... And as for Sam Fuld-- just based on his minor league numbers, I like him too. Are you worried about his injury history? As for Mateo...why in the world has he hardly pitched this spring?

I believe Felix Pie will be a solid (possibly All-Star) CF with definte Gold Glove potential. As I’ve been saying since the day I posted my first comment here at TCR in 2004, Pie is NOT another Corey Patterson. Eric Patterson is about ready for the big leagues right now (OFFENSIVELY), and I believe he will be an outstanding #1 or #2 hitter. But, I have a LOT of doubts about E-Pat’s future as a second-baseman. If it wasn’t that there is no room for him out there, I would move him to CF right now. The main problem the Cubs have at the moment is what do with all their young outfielders (the ones who are already outfielders, as well as the guys who should be outfielders). Right on all counts, which is why FELIX PIE belongs on the Cubs bench right now...FOR HIS DEFENSE...something our starting OF will suck at and a crippled Floyd will suck at even worse. There is no reason to wait anymore about Pie's development. No more reasons to pass him over for the likes of Angel Pagan. We have EPAT -who is a stronger hitter- and the rest of the logjam to replace him in the minors. And the big club needs outfielders who can catch the ball and throw it if we're really serious about competing.

I'm curious as to where Navarro and Walrund are going to go. Both have trade value. So Sayeth the God of WAR!

Perhaps Boston would be interested? They always have a dubious to say the least ... pen. So Sayeth the God of WAR!

Romero — March 21, 2007 @ 11:10 am AZ PHIL: I’m encouraged by your optimism about E-Pat as a hitter. I know he did really well in a brief stint at Iowa last year AND in the AFL. However– how do you account for his weak/mediocre numbers at West Tennessee last year? (Jake Fox also had really weak numbers at AA last year, too) And also– if Patterson moves to the OF, where does he go? Pie is already in CF (I believe in Pie A LOT). Does Pie move to RF? Does E-Pat have the arm for RF? Does E-Pat move to LF? And if so, what happens to Murton? Plus– Soriano is already in the OF somewhere for the next 8 yeard. :) Have you heard any rumblings of when or where our guys in Iowa will be moving around the diamond? It seems like a lot of our top position prospects are either changing positions or being groomed to be multi-positional. For example– Moore (3B, 1B, SS, LF, RF, can he play CF?) Patterson (2B, OF?) McGehee (3B, 1B, C) Pie (CF, RF) Coats (OF, 2B, SS) Fox (C, 1B, LF, RF) And here’s an interesting thought…It seems like it would be really hard to replace A-Ram’s production from 3B. However– how close could we get to A-Ram’s production in 2008 with a Moore/McGehee platoon? I know A-Ram was good to the organization by just signing a below-market contract. But I wonder if Moore/McGehee is a risk worth taking if A-Ram can be moved for another player of equal value. Moore/McGehee also provides alot of flexibility on the bench, particularly if McGehee can really play Catcher at the ML level. Maybe it’s a horrible idea but I’m just kind of thinking out loud… And as for Sam Fuld– just based on his minor league numbers, I like him too. Are you worried about his injury history? As for Mateo…why in the world has he hardly pitched this spring? ============================ ROMERO: Mateo is hurt, but I don't know the nature or extent of his injury. As for Sam Fuld, he has had a lot of various injuries in his short career, which I think probably tends to happen because he plays so damn hard all the time. I'm surprised that Theriot has survived unscathed as long as he has, because he really plays hard, too. There is no way I would consider moving Aramis Ramirez and replacing him with a Moore/McGehee platoon. Moore/McGehee wouldn't come anywhere close to A-Ram's numbers. That said, I can see Moore (especially) and McGehee (possibly, but especially if he can be at least become a passably adequate defensive catcher) as future Cubs extra men, and Moore could even be a future starting 3B for some teams if he were to get traded. I think the Cubs are going to move their players around a lot at AAA, with E-Pat playing some OF, Moore playing various corner IF-OF spots, Hoffpauir getting some PT in LF, McGehee getting work at at 3B-2B-1B-C (and BTW, he HAS played some 2B already in the minors), Pie playing both CF and RF, and Coats playing just about anywhere and everywhere. Same goes for Jake Fox. If Patterson were to be moved to CF (for instance), an eventual Cubs OF could be Soriano-Patterson-Pie. That means Jones leaves, Murton gets traded, and Colvin would have to eventually beat-out Patterson or Pie (because Soriano is signed through 2014). That's why I can't see E-Pat staying long-term with the Cubs, unless he can master 2B, which as I said, I doubt will happen. But if his offense is really, REALLY good, the Cubs will either live with his poor defense at 2B, or else do whatever they have to do to make room for him in the OF. There are two separate skill-sets that middle-infielders need to have, one being "ball-hawking" skills (the ability to track and catch fly balls and line drives), and the other (more important one) being "ball-handling" skills (what separates a point guard from a two-guard in basketball). Well, Eric Patterson is a good ball-hawk (which combined with his speed and OK arm, would make him an ideal CF), but he lacks the "ball-handling" skills needed of a middle-infielder. He commits too many turnovers (if you will). He's a "Skaky Jake." And I'm not sure that can be fixed or corrected. I hope so, but I doubt it. As for accounting for Patterson's and Fox's mediocre numbers at AA, I just think both benefited a lot from playing in the AFL after the 2006 season. E-Pat (in particular) just kept getting better and better each day, and by the end of the AFL season, was (in my opinion) the best lead-off hitter in the league (and there were some good ones there). Unfortunately, his defense didn't improve at all. It just got exposed for all to see. And Fox got a chance to hit against better pitchers in the AFL, which helped build his confidence coming into ST. Fox is smart and he's a hard-worker, but what has really hurt him is that his catching problems have interfered with his development as a hitter, because he keeps getting held back to work on his defense when his bat should be taking him to the next level. If he were to be moved to LF, I think you'd see him get to the big leagues fairly quickly, although maybe not with the Cubs. It would be great if E-Pat could stay at 2B and Fox could remain a catcher, because then they both would definitely have value to the Cubs. I just doubt that can happen.

hat tip to our minor league site for this quote from Piniella about Jake Fox... “The truth of the matter is if you can hit, you can play in the big leagues.” Truer words have never been spoken. He also said that from what he saw, his defense wasn't all so bad.

Rob, too true. I like Pinella. He's got a very straight forward, honest style that I appreciate. Where do you think Walrund and Novoa will end up? *I can't believe I typed Navarro earlier... bleh* Also, that 14 year-old kid was pretty impressive in that interview. I agree that he's got a future. So Sayeth the God of WAR!

I would add this to Uncle Lou's comment.. “The truth of the matter is if you can hit, you can play in the big leagues.... but you might have to change positions in order to get there. As for Jake Fox's catching performance in ST '07, there was one game where he blocked two pitches in the dirt and looked really good doing it. But I've seen him do that before. He's also a hard worker, and I think Lou P. is attracted to players like that. And sometimes Eric Patterson makes a spectacular play at 2B because he has good range. It's the day-to-day routine plays I worry most about, and neither E-Pat nor Fox has shown that they can make those plays on a consistent basis.

they'll both be in AAA to start the year... Novoa's had a bum shoulder through spring he needs to get over. Walrond just kind of sucks, although I imagine he could get by as a LOOGY for a desperate team. He had an amazing K/9 rate last year in his brief call-up.

Les Walrond has had a very good ST. If there was an opening for a LOOGY or even for just an extra arm in the pen, I wouldn't have a problem with the Cubs keeping him around. It's just that he's not on the 40-man roster, and there are several other pitchers on the "pecking order" ahead of him. I think Walrond could probably pitch somewhere in MLB right now, so he might ask for (and be given) his release when gets cut, and then make his own deal with a club where he might have a better shot of pitching in the big leagues.

Regarding Piniella noting that not only can Fox hit, but his receiving skills aren't that bad. That's exactly what I saw in him last spring. He sure looked athletic, competent, and a hitter. But it looks like things are changing. Although LouPa has only been with the Cubs a short time, he's already "faced" the incredibly inept and ruinous Cubs minor league brainrust. For example, when Piniella took a look at Felix Pie's swing the first thing he did was have his staff work on levelling and shortening it. Lo and behold Pie was able to do just that almost immediately. The result was a fat BA and a lot of singles. So, what did the Cubs Organization have to say? They claimed they had TRIED to teach Pie the very same thing. He just wasn't coachable. I think the same thing is going on with Fox. He's lost in the Cubs' Limbo for position prospects otherwise known as Daytona, Smoky Mountains (replacing West Tenn), and Iowa. It's a place where talent wilts on teams where #'s 2-9 are just there to fill the field out while our pitching prospects work their way up to the major leagues.

Rob, next football season... I might expand my continuation Cubs fantasy league by 2 members. We could always use another pigeon to pluck. But then again, we'd have to add a really competant new person as well... perhaps an Arizona Phil, or a Cub fan friend of mine. So Sayeth the God of WAR!

They claimed they had TRIED to teach Pie the very same thing. He just wasn’t coachable. You got a link on that one? Piniella did note that he was told by many that Fox had work to do on his receiving skills and well I'm sure he does, but as Lou pointed out, he'll find a spot to play if he can hit.

thanks temphus, but 2 leagues this year is already demanding enough. Feel free to ask around the website though, plenty of competent folks around here.

cubswinthepennant: "So, what did the Cubs Organization have to say? They claimed they had TRIED to teach Pie the very same thing. He just wasn’t coachable." When/where did they say that Pie was uncoachable? I though that one of the things I consistently hear about him is how coachable he is.

The Joe — March 21, 2007 @ 1:01 pm cubswinthepennant: “So, what did the Cubs Organization have to say? They claimed they had TRIED to teach Pie the very same thing. He just wasn’t coachable.” When/where did they say that Pie was uncoachable? I though that one of the things I consistently hear about him is how coachable he is. ============================= JOE: Felix Pie is VERY coachable.

Thanks Phil, that's what I had thought. I'm still curious where you read that though, cubswinthepennant

Please, give it a rest. Arizona Phil saying Pie is coachable doesn't mean the Cubs organization didn't claim they had tried unsuccessfully to teach Pie how to flatten and shorten his swing. Pie is obviously coachable...LouPa proved it. Fox is coachable too. Both are rotting away in the Cubs System.

I can't provide a link to a quote from an article where someone in Cubs mgt,( most likely Hendry or Fleita or maybe coach Joshua) said they had tried to teach Pie how to flatten and shorten his swing but they were unable to. And said this in response AFTER Piniella was successful. But it did happen. I thought TCR was paying as close attention as I have been to Pie's spring. Guess not. But, even though most news articles are consigned to the archives in a week or less, here's a couple quotes ( you can still Google) that allude to what I'm talking about. The Cubs have claimed they have been working on Pie's swing for years now without success. Sporting News Mar 11 2007"Coaches have been trying to get OF Felix Pie to shorten his swing, which would help cut down his strikeouts. He didn't make the adjustment this winter, but new hitting coach Gerald Perry and Piniella may be getting the point across this spring." Cubs.com Mar 2007 "This isn't the first time a coach has suggested Pie shorten his swing, but it seems to finally be working." Trib " '5-tool' Pie requires a bit of molding. $6.95 - Chicago Tribune - AccessMyLibrary.com - Mar 10, 2006 Felix Pie is 21 and has all the talent in world, but with Juan Pierre firmly ... The Cubs have tried to correct an uppercut swing Pie brought with him from ... " Kevin Czerwinski May 2005 ". We're (Joshua) trying to teach him (Pie) to get on top of the ball now, his swing is a bit underneath. But he's a great talent. He's going to be special.""

hey cool....thanks, the swing thing I bought, it was the implication that the Cubs were calling him uncoachable, which in the many articles I've read the complete opposite has been conveyed.

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    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.