Brewers Edge Cubs Split Squad in Mesa
Taylor Green singled, doubled, drove-in a run, and scored another, Carlos Gomez crushed a tape-measure home run, and Marco Estrada tossed four innings of one-hit shutout ball and combined with five relievers to throw a two-hitter, as the Milwaukee Brewers edged a Cubs split squad 4-3 in Cactus League action this afternoon at Dwight Patterson Field at HoHoKam Park in Mesa, AZ
Javier Baez drove-in all three Cubs runs with a two-run HR and a bases-loaded walk.
Edwin Jackson got the start for the Cubs and labored through two innings of work (50 pitches - 27 strikes), allowing two runs on two hits (both singles), two walks, and a HBP, in a 38-pitch 1st inning. E-Jax walked another batter and threw a potential DP ball into CF for an E-1 in a 12-pitch 2nd, but was able to retire the side without any further damage.
NRI RHP Drew Carpenter entered the game an inning earlier than expected and threw three innings in relief (42 pitches - 27 strikes), allowing two runs on the Gomez HR and two doubles in the 3rd inning (his first inning of work) before settling down and retiring the last seven men he faced in a row (with four strikeouts). Carpenter is an extreme long-shot to make the Cubs MLB bullpen and it would be an even longer shot for him to make the Cubs MLB starting rotation, but he is in contention for a starting rotation slot or relief job at AAA Iowa.
Japanese imports LHP Hisanori Takahashi (battling for a bullpen job) and RHP Kyuji Fujikawa (who will likely be the Cubs primary 8th inning set-up man) each worked an easy 1-2-3 inning in relief.
The Cubs did virtually nothing against Brew Crew SP Marco Estrada.
Luis Valbuena walked to lead-off the bottom of the 1st and stole second before eventually being left-stranded at 3rd, and Nate Schierholtz doubled leading off the 2nd but was immediately picked-off by Estrada, who then retired eight of the last ten men he faced.
The Cubs broke through in the bottom of the 5th against Milwaukee RHRP Brandon Kintzler when Brett Jackson drew his second walk of the day and then scored on a Javier Baez two-run HR over the LF fence.
The Cubs scored another run in the bottom of the 6th when Nate Schierholtz and Scott Hairston walked and Brett Jackson was hit by a pitch, and Javier Baez drew a two-out walk on a 3-2 pitch to force-in the run. But Dan Vogelbach (up from Minor League Camp) struck out swinging to leave three runners stranded.
While the Brewers were defeating the Cubs in Mesa, the other squad of Cubs was playing the Angels in Tempe.
I wasn't at that game, but Brian Bogusevic singled, doubled, and homered, Brad Nelson singled and homered, and SP Nick Struck threw three innings of shutout ball to lead the Cubs to a 4-2 victory.
Barring an injury or a trade, there doesn't appear to be room for Bogusevic on the Cubs 2013 Opening Day 25-man roster, but he's had a great start anyway (615/688/1231). It doesn't happen very often, but every now & then you will see an NRI player (a veteran signed to a minor league contract) get traded before Opening Day, and if Bogusevic keeps hitting, he might be one of them. He could be a nice LH PH and/or platoon corner OF for a team in need of such an animal.
Rule 5 Draft pick (and one-time Indians Top 10 Prospect) Hector Rondon threw another 1-2-3 inning, as he tries to cement a spot in the Cubs bullpen.
As I've mentioned here before, Rondon is not your typical Rule 5 Draft pick. He has been outrighted previously in his career so he can elect to be a free-agent if he is outrighted, and he is out of minor league options, so even if waivers are secured and Cleveland declines to re-claim him, the Cubs cannot option him to the minors, and if they outright him, he can be a free-agent. But for that same reason, the Indians are unlikely to re-claim him if given the chance because they probably wouldn't want to spend $25,000 (half the Rule 5 Draft price) to reacquire Rondon if he can elect free-agency (a Rule 5 pick who is re-claimed by the organization from which he was drafted MUST be outrighted to the minor league affiliate from which he was drafted).
Recent comments
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Hagsag 12 hours 12 min ago (view)
Chase Strumpf and Andy Weber invited to the ML camp.
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Dolorous Jon Lester 17 hours 36 min ago (view)
Ryan Tepera returns. Major League deal
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crunch 1 day 15 hours ago (view)
spring training TV is usually fluid...adding and subtracting broadcast games...
first cubs TV (as of now) is March 3 (wednesday) on ESPN at 3pm EST.
radio broadcasts available for almost every game that's not televised. the cubs get going on monday and some other teams will start the day before.
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crunch 2 days 12 hours ago (view)
dj snelton's left elbow is screwed up...6 weeks rest then re-evaluate.
looks like he's going to try to avoid having surgery.
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Arizona Phil 3 days 4 hours ago (view)
AAA leagues really need to play through the month of September, because with September rosters being limited to 28 instead of 40, players will need to be moved back & forth between MLB and AAA throughout the month of September instead of just through the month of August.
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Mike Wellman 4 days 11 hours ago (view)
I get you, SW. Here in Des Moines, Cardinal fans flocked to I-Cub games when Memphis Redbirds were in town. That won't happen in '21 and even if it does in '22 & beyond it won't be as frequent as when they were in the same division. Not that I'll miss seeing Cardinal gear @ our ballpark...
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Dolorous Jon Lester 4 days 13 hours ago (view)
Ervin claimed by Braves. So we lose a potential future (and also current) asset in exchange for one year of a very mediocre Jake Marisnick.
This team has no direction at the moment.
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Sonicwind75 4 days 13 hours ago (view)
As a midwest kid now living in Texas, new scheduling is a bummer. Only get a chance to drive and see Cubs once every 3 years with interleague. Really looked forward to those games in Round Rock and the one season in San Antonio. I understand it makes more sense in the big picture, just selfishly disappointed.
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Cubster 5 days 14 hours ago (view)
Barry Foote bobble day! Cool!
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Mornington Crescent 5 days 16 hours ago (view)
They also gave away Larry Craig bobblefoot dolls as a promotion.
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crunch 6 days 8 hours ago (view)
alcantara passes through waivers and is assigned to AAA.
marisnick contract final, phllip ervin (OF) DFA'd
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Hagsag 6 days 10 hours ago (view)
Yes they did.
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crunch 6 days 11 hours ago (view)
welcome to the "big time" st paul saints...they built a nice park, the fans showed up, and they go from indies to AAA (with a bit of $ help from the twins for part ownership).
billy murray is a part owner of the group that owns the saints, btw.
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Mike Wellman 6 days 12 hours ago (view)
Hagsag, the River Bandits made the cut tho, right?
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Craig A. 6 days 13 hours ago (view)
Could have an option year remaining. Bleacher Nation walked it back, per the link above.
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Hagsag 6 days 13 hours ago (view)
Living in the Quad Cities area, I look forward to hopefully coming to Des Moines to see the I Cubs a few times this summer.
Comments
Thanks for the report, Phil.
JOHN B: I can't see the Cubs
JOHN B: I can't see the Cubs carrying six outfielders and only five infielders. I'm not saying they should or shouldn't, just that they won't.
If Stewart doesn't get released, Valbuena & Lillibridge are the two utility infielders and Clevenger goes to Iowa. If Stewart does get released and Valbuena is the everyday 3B, I think Clevenger wins the second utility INF job because he can also be the #3 catcher. (Clevenger played 2B his first season in pro ball so he is at least familiar with the position, and he has also played some 1B and 3B in the minors).
BTW, Clevenger is swinging the bat now like he did pre-oblique injury last May.
Unbelievable. Even now, Lohse
Hasn't the issue been the
It's a completely unworkable
Yep...he might be SOL....
CLE has already used this
Lake has also made a couple
nice. i didn't listen to the
JOHN B: Junior Lake made a
JOHN B: Junior Lake made a nice stop & accurate throw to 2nd base to start a nifty 5-4-3 DP today, and he also made an outstanding catch with his back to the infield on a tricky pop fly in LF foul territory, but then there was the horrendous throw to 1st base (E-5) on a routine play leading off the 4th inning (eventually resulted in an unearned run scoring).
Lake needs to play somewhere in the outfield, either CF or RF. And because he can't hit breaking balls from RHP, his future will be as a RH platoon CF or RF. And it probably won't be with the Cubs, either.
for anyone who has XM radio
in case you missed this,
Wind blew Cashman off target
That's a mental image I