++++++++++++++
39 players are on 40-MAN ROSTER (roster is full)
Three players are on 60-DAY DL (do not count against 40-man roster)
One player is on 15-day DL
13 players have been optioned to the minors
* bats or throws left
# bats both
PITCHERS (12)
Michael Bowden
Shawn Camp
Scott Feldman
Kyuji Fujikawa
Kevin Gregg
Edwin Jackson
Carlos Marmol
Hector Rondon
* James Russell
Jeff Samardzija
Carlos Villanueva
* Travis Wood
=================
CATCHERS (2):
Welington Castillo
# Dioner Navarro
=================
INFIELDERS (5):
Darwin Barney
Starlin Castro
Cody Ransom
* Anthony Rizzo
* Luis Valbuena
==================
OUTFIELDERS (6):
* Julio Borbon
* David DeJesus
Scott Hairston
* Nate Schierholtz
Alfonso Soriano
* Ryan Sweeney
====================
15-DAY DL (1):
Matt Garza, P
60-DAY DL (3):
Scott Baker, P
* Steve Clevenger, C-IF
Arodys Vizcaino, P
OPTIONED (13):
Alberto Cabrera, P
Rafael Dolis, P
* Brett Jackson, OF
Junior Lake, IF-OF
Trey McNutt, P
* Brooks Raley, P
* Chris Rusin, P
Dave Sappelt, OF
Jorge Soler, OF
Matt Szczur, OF
Christian Villanueva, 3B
Josh Vitters, 3B-1B
* Logan Watkins, INF
Blah, blah, blah...I've been swamped and despite the recent not terrible baseball being played, the Cubs don't give me enough reasons to make sure I watch a game.
So I have little to offer today other than a quick recap of Baseball America's recent chat about their midseason Top 50 list which includes one Cub at #25 - Javier Baez (and one former Cub in Hak-Ju Lee at #47).
Dan Vogelbach homered, tripled, and singled twice, drove-in three runs, and scored two more, leading the AZL Cubs to a come-from-behind 9-7 victory over the AZL Athletics in Arizona League action this evening at HoHoKam Park in Mesa, AZ.
On the day after Anthony Rizzo's first HR (and 2nd game winning hit) as well as the first day of the month that Ron Santo finally gets into the Baseball Hall of Fame...
In just his second AB in his first professional game, 19-year old SS David Bote (Cubs 2012 18th round draft pick out of Neosho CC) blasted a three-run home run off the LF scoreboard, carrying the AZL Cubs to a 5-4 victory over the AZL Angels in Arizona League action this evening at HoHoKam Park in Mesa, AZ.
Trey Martin doubled twice, the second one a laser-shot off the RF fence that drove-in the go-ahead run and capped a four-run 7th, as the AZL Cubs rallied to edge the AZL Indians 6-5 in Arizona League action this evening at HoHoKam Park in Mesa, AZ.
Be on the lookoput for a white Cadillac Escalade with Florida plates being driven by a young adult male with short hair who was last seen wearing dark, baggy gym shorts, a Miami Dolphins t-shirt and a wide grin.
Anthony Rizzo's career starts Tuesday night 7pm CST at Wrigley Field vs the NY Mets righty Dillon Gee. Rizzo was pulled after two at bats in today's Iowa Cubs 2-1 win vs. Round Rock, including a strikeout and a flyout to CF. He ends his Iowa career, barring a future demotion (God Forbid!), with the line: .342/23 HR/62 RBI.
Knowing the end of his reign here is near, I braved the heat and the Zooperstars today and went to Principal Park in search of something to remember Anthony Rizzo by.
A betting man would have to like the Omaha Storm Chasers to successfully defend their title in the American North Division of the Pacific Coast League this year. The stretch drive of the season may be reminiscent of Secretariat’s in the Belmont Stakes. But just who are those also-rans way up the track behind the young Royals? Why, besides the I-Cubs it’s the young Cardinals and young Brewers! I like the affiliations of not only my hometown team but also their divisional opponents.
Four AZL Cubs pitchers combined to throw a six-hitter with 16 strikeouts, and the Cubs took advantage of a gaffe by the AZL Giants manager to push across two runs in the bottom of the seventh, en route to a 3-1 Arizona League Opening Night victory at HoHoKam Park in Mesa, AZ.
The Cubs set did something odd yesterday other than the obvious win. They managed 5 HR's but no other XBH's and apparently they've only done that 10 times in their entire franchise history. In other rare statistical oddities, Soriano is the franchise leader at home runs and RBI's for a designated hitter with 4 and 10.
The first 600 characters of the last 16 comments, click "View" to see rest of comment.
from CBS sports and Tribune...
CBS...To make room for Garza on the roster, the Cubs earlier Tuesday designated RHP Michael Bowden for assignment. Also Tuesday, Chicago claimed RHP Eduardo Sanchez off waivers from the St. Louis Cardinals and assigned him to the Triple-A Iowa Cubs.
Trib...The 24-year-old Sanchez had a 3.72 earned-run average in nine appearances at Triple-A Memphis. He made 43 appearances for the Cardinals in 2011 and '12, compiling a 3.40 earned-run average. Last year he had a 6.60 ERA in 17 outings for the Cardinals.
btw on Garza, Cubs have no reason to trade him if they don't score big-time prospects. They'll certainly offer him the qualifying offer and get the draft pick or happily have him back.
from CBS sports and Tribune...
CBS...To make room for Garza on the roster, the Cubs earlier Tuesday designated RHP Michael Bowden for assignment. Also Tuesday, Chicago claimed RHP Eduardo Sanchez off waivers from the St. Louis Cardinals and assigned him to the Triple-A Iowa Cubs.
Trib...The 24-year-old Sanchez had a 3.72 earned-run average in nine appearances at Triple-A Memphis. He made 43 appearances for the Cardinals in 2011 and '12, compiling a 3.40 earned-run average. Last year he had a 6.60 ERA in 17 outings for the Cardinals.
m.trout gets his 1st cycle...
cubs sure are good at these late/last-inning comeback teases only to fail...
4-5, final...men stranded on 1st and 3rd.
make that 4/4 (.223)
Man, I'm sure glad Camp wasn't DFA'd. It's not like guaranteed salary is important or something. Wait....what?
16.2ip 26h 6bb 12k - 7.56era 1.92whip
rondon/russell/camp combine to give away a 3-0 lead.
awesome 5 run inning.
welcome back garza...this is what you've been missing.
still lots of lipstick on this Cubs pig...
btw on Garza, Cubs have no reason to trade him if they don't score big-time prospects. They'll certainly offer him the qualifying offer and get the draft pick or happily have him back.
Always good to get Shawn Camp some work. I hope Garza breaks his knees with a bat when he gets bak to the dugout.
Worst Cubs bullpen ever?
Phillip Humber on the roster, not a good thing though.
and......Camp gives him a no decision. Go Cubs.
He does have the stuff. Plus guys from Nacogdoches are always cool.
5ip 1h 3bb 5k (0r) for garza...82 pitches
cruising around 94mph with the fastball (92-94mph, mostly tipping to the upper).
I bet the Cubs could add Phillip Humber to the roster if they wanted.
well, he did have a no-hitter through 4.1ip today at least.