A's Extra Bases Too Much for Cubs to Overcome at Riverview Park

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Thu, 05/08/2014 - 4:00pm

Christhian Perez tossed four innings of one-hit shutout ball in relief, Robert Martinez hammered an RBI triple and a double and scored a run, Chris Wolfe drilled two RBI singles, and Brett Vertigan smacked a solo home run, leading the Athletics to a 5-2 victory over the Cubs in Cactus League Extended Spring Training action this morning on Field #6 at the Under Armour Performance Center at Riverview Park in Mesa, AZ. 

Rashad Crawford belted an RBI triple and a single, stole a base, and scored a run for the Cubs in a losing cause.

RHPs Trevor Graham and Erick Leal "piggy-backed" for the Cubs and threw a combined 7.2 IP, allowing all five runs (four earned), 10 hits (including two doubles, two triples, and a home run), and two walks, with nine strikeouts. 

The way things are playing out so far at EXST, it appears very likely that Graham and Leal will form 2/5 of the Boise starting rotation when the NWL season commences next month, with LHP Tyler Ihrig and RHPs Trevor Clifton and Zak Hermans being other 3/5 (at least until one or two of the better college pitchers selected by the Cubs in next month's First-Year Player Draft get stretched-out to start). 

The Cubs have now lost six straight Cactus League EXST games, and after thirty games (halfway through the Cactus League Extended Spring Training schedule), the Cubs record stands at 11-18-1. 

Here is the abridged box score from today's game (Cubs players only):

CUBS LINEUP:
1. Jeffrey Baez, RF: 0-2 (L-7, BB, BB, F-7, 2 R)
2. Rashad Crawford, CF: 2-4 (1B, 3B, P-6, K, R, RBI, SB)
3. Oliver Zapata, LF: 0-3 (K, F-9 SF, 1-3, K, RBI)
4. Rony Rodriguez, 1B: 0-2 (F-9, HBP, 5-3, BB, SB)
5. Mark Malave, C: 0-3 (BB, 4-3, P-3, 4-3)
6. Dalfis Ortiz, 2B: 1-4 (K, K, 2B, K)
7. Tyler Alamo, DH: 1-4 (F-9, 4-3, 6-3, 1B)
8. Jesse Hodges, 3B: 0-4 (4-3, K, F-9, K)
9. Bryant Flete, SS: 0-4 (K, 3-U, 4-3, 4-3)

CUBS PITCHERS:
1. Trevor Graham: 4.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 4 K, 1 HR, 2/6 GO/FO, 52 pitches (30 strikes)  
2. Erick Leal: 3.2 IP, 6 H, 3 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 5 K, 1 WP, 1 BALK, 3/2 GO/FO, 68 pitches (44 strikes)
3. Alberto Diaz: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 2/1 GO/FO, 14 pitches (10 strikes)

CUBS ERRORS: 1 
SS Bryant Flete - E-6 (missed catch - dropped line drive allowed batter to reach base safely)

CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Mark Malave: 1-1 CS, 1 PB

ATTENDANCE: 4

WEATHER: Mostly sunny with a few scattered clouds and temperatures in the 80's  

Tags: 
Cubs Extended Spring Training
Erick Leal
Trevor Graham
Rashad Crawford

Comments

Submitted by crunch  on Thu, 05/08/2014 - 5:37pm  
Kalish, CF Valbuena, 2B Rizzo, 1B Castro, SS Schierholtz, RF Castillo, C Coghlan, DH Olt, 3B Lake, LF

Submitted by Rob G.  on Thu, 05/08/2014 - 5:51pm  

with Hoffman out and little chance that Rodon, Aiken and Kolek don't go top 3, all kinds of name associated with Cubs now.

Keith Law mentioned Erick Fedde (RHP - UNLV...was drafted by Padres in 2011 as well)

http://m.mlb.com/video/v31229355/draft-report...

BA throws out LHP Brandon Finnegan (TCU)

http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-m...

http://m.mlb.com/video/v31222805/draft-report...

Saw a Nick Gordon mention today as well and Alex Jackson...and Tyler Beede has some connections with Derek Johnson

 

Submitted by Old and Blue  on Thu, 05/08/2014 - 6:21pm  
Are any of those guys Kris Bryant clones?

Submitted by crunch  on Thu, 05/08/2014 - 6:32pm  
there's no slam-dunk college extreme power bats this year expected to go early. there's some "well rounded" college bats, but only a few are expected to go top-10. it looks to be a pitching-heavy top of the draft.

Submitted by QuietMan  on Thu, 05/08/2014 - 6:43pm  
OF Bradley Zimmer has some buzz. But he lacks that extreme power.

Submitted by crunch  on Thu, 05/08/2014 - 6:24pm  
tyler beede's stock keeps falling. i was pulling for the guy earlier this year, but he's delivered some sketchy performances in between some gems. he's really been scuffling lately.

Submitted by QuietMan  on Fri, 05/09/2014 - 7:35am  
[email protected] UNLV RHP Erick Fedde won't pitch this weekend either due to a tender elbow.

Submitted by Cubster  on Sat, 05/10/2014 - 12:27pm  
Erick Fedde bites the dust. TJ surgery... https://www.baseballamerica.com/college/unlv-... Cubs board blowing up a bit (per Law)?

Submitted by Old and Blue  on Thu, 05/08/2014 - 7:17pm  
ok, the Cubs one good hitter is done for awhile. I'll tune in again in a few innings.

Submitted by Old and Blue  on Thu, 05/08/2014 - 7:21pm  
Assuming Soler isn't limping around again from something in another week, that is a pretty vicious 1-2 punch for Tennessee.

Submitted by crunch  on Thu, 05/08/2014 - 7:24pm  
it'll be even more amazing when baez gets moved back to AA...hahaha...i hope that's just a joke.

Submitted by Old and Blue  on Fri, 05/09/2014 - 5:12am  
cha-ching!

Submitted by CACUBFAN  on Thu, 05/08/2014 - 7:47pm  
Hey Phil! Is this team really young or are they just not very good? Kind of wondering what you think? How does the talent level compare to previous seasons? It just seems like there is almost no one to get excited about which seems different than years past but I am not sure if I am remembering this season vs the fall recaps you do. Thoughts???

Submitted by Arizona Phil  on Fri, 05/09/2014 - 9:16am  

CACUBFAN: The 2014 squad is the youngest and least-experienced Cubs EXST team I have ever seen. The two best prospects (Gleyber Torres and Eloy Jimenez) just turned 17, and 27 of the 60 players presently active at EXST played in the DSL or VSL last season (or as in the case of Jimenez and Torres, did not play anywhere).

Also the team lacks power. The 2014 EXST Cubs have hit just two HR in 30 Cactus League EXST games. Just by comparison, the 2012 EXST Cubs hit 24 HR in 55 Cactus League EXST games, and the 2013 EXST Cubs hit 19 HR in 55 Cactus League EXST games. (Cactus League EXST opponents hit 17 HR against the Cubs in 2012 and 16 HR against the Cubs last season). 

Submitted by CACUBFAN  on Fri, 05/09/2014 - 2:28pm  
Ok. Thanks for the insight. That explains much of it.

Submitted by Rob G.  on Thu, 05/08/2014 - 7:49pm  

Bryant doing Bryant things...

Kris Bryant just hit a ball that may not land for a looooooong time! His solo shot, his 9th of 2014, gives the Smokies a 3-2 lead in the 5th

Submitted by crunch  on Thu, 05/08/2014 - 8:10pm  
rizzo doing rizzo things. it'll be nice when the team is more than rizzo + supporting cast of bit players...and the supporting cast of starters who should be bench players are bench players again.

Submitted by Ryno  on Thu, 05/08/2014 - 8:20pm  
"and the supporting cast of starters who should be bench players" Bingo.

Submitted by jacos  on Thu, 05/08/2014 - 8:11pm  
Tony Four Sacks

Submitted by Rob G.  on Thu, 05/08/2014 - 8:44pm  

Bears draft CB Kyle Fuller - Virginia Tech

Submitted by crunch  on Thu, 05/08/2014 - 9:26pm  
arrieta removed after 4 innings and 82 pitches...went 82 pitches in his last start...went 96 pitches in his last minor league tuneup before that.

Submitted by crunch  on Thu, 05/08/2014 - 10:36pm  
olt...grand slam. dude has power...and can play D...now let's get consistency everywhere else.

Submitted by Carlito  on Thu, 05/08/2014 - 10:44pm  
His swing is crazy the more you see it ... Like he's kind of dragging a tree through the strike zone. Big fat bat and hands always seem to be pulling the bat.

Submitted by crunch  on Thu, 05/08/2014 - 11:39pm  
it's part of the reason i don't think he'll ever hit for much average, though i expect him to do better than what he's doing right now. i see him as a .250/.330-ish avg/ob% type, but with the upside of playing good D at 3rd and being able to hit 25+ HR. he swings hard and it's not wild, but it's not precise. you can stick that at 3rd and deal with it until it's time to pay him over $10m a year multi-year (if he ever develops enough talent to become a guy you'd pay that kind of loot, multi-year...he's still got things to prove).

Submitted by Old and Blue  on Fri, 05/09/2014 - 5:25am  
If he learns how to hit, he could be something special. I want this kid playing every day, and see what Mueller can do with him. Right now, he seems to always be swinging for the fences. Early in the year he did hit that rather awesome opposite field homer and in that case he seemed to just be going with the pitch. For all we know he's up there hacking because he figures it's the best he can do timing wise until he can see more pitches on an every day basis. It really is sheer idiocy to not have him in there every day. The argument that the other journeymen should be in there, at all, at third, is ludicrous. Why try to get more ABs for guys who are going to get you low level prospects at best?

Submitted by Carlito  on Fri, 05/09/2014 - 9:36am  
Yeah. He is 1 behind Rizzo in HR and also 2nd in RBI on the team. I'd like to see him up there and settling in too ... Maybe he'll always have that caveman hack but I'd like to see if he can relax and go opposite field once in a while too.

Submitted by jacos  on Fri, 05/09/2014 - 10:53am  
will find out in his next start, next week. /hopefully I'm wrong

Submitted by Rob G.  on Fri, 05/09/2014 - 1:21pm  

weren't his first 2 HR's to right field? I remember one against Pittsburgh at least.

spray chart shows 2 at least (although seems to only show 4 HR's total)

http://www.fangraphs.com/spraycharts.aspx?pla...

Submitted by Old and Blue  on Fri, 05/09/2014 - 4:20pm  
One was not just opposite field but it looked like he really went with the pitch to just try to drive it, not necessarily trying to clobber it out of the park. Lots of times he seems to be trying for a home run. That's just inexperience. I think the guy can hit, we just need to see him in there every day to find out for sure.

Submitted by Carlito  on Thu, 05/08/2014 - 10:39pm  
Get Olt OUTTA THERE!!!

Submitted by crunch  on Fri, 05/09/2014 - 11:31am  
according to the MLB Network, ninja is not happy about the front office wanting to talk to him about his pitching (specifically his last appearance, and pitch counts) stating...more or less...that the front office needs to mind it's own business and let himself + the people wearing uniforms worry about that rather than the suits.

Submitted by Newport  on Fri, 05/09/2014 - 1:25pm  
According to the local media yesterday, ninja and the front office are on the same page regarding this. Throwing 126 pitches is ok occasionally, but not all the time. He is a well conditioned and experienced athlete, knows the limitations of his body, blah blah blah. Also, if the front office wants to talk to someone, the should start with the fucking manager. http://www.csnchicago.com/cubs/hoyer-samardzi...‘should-probably-die’

Submitted by bigsky33  on Fri, 05/09/2014 - 12:44pm  
It appears Crawford's bat is coming alive as of late. Maybe it is all coming together for him. Bob

Submitted by Rob G.  on Fri, 05/09/2014 - 1:25pm  

http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikeozanian/2014/...

Instead, think of Jon Daniels and the Texas Rangers. Daniels became the general manager of the Rangers in 2005 and soon after rebuilt the team by discarded expensive, older players (Mark Teixeira, Adrian Gonzalez, Chris Young) for younger players (Neftali Feliz, Alvis Andrus, Akinori Otsuka) and the Rangers invested heavily in their farm system.

Teixeira was 27, Gonzalez 23 and Young 27 at times of trade...maybe not the best examples.

looks like there's an 18-minute interview with "They Killed" Kenney and Ricketts that I can't bring myself to watch.

Submitted by jacos  on Fri, 05/09/2014 - 1:31pm  
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wc2o8ywKqos

Submitted by Rob G.  on Fri, 05/09/2014 - 1:38pm  

well-played sir

Submitted by crunch  on Fri, 05/09/2014 - 2:19pm  
this forbes (which is nothing more than a glorified blog roll for online content at this point) article is a weird one. otsuka was in his mid-30s and the agonz trade that brought him (and a.eaton) over was awful. the teix trade was awesome...a lot more awesome than the pittance the braves traded him for later.

Submitted by Rob G.  on Fri, 05/09/2014 - 1:29pm  

Re: Samardzija pitch count non-issue/actual story

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/...

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?...

Samardzija tells front office to butt out although says that he actually never heard anything from front office, just maybe something a reporter said. Hoyer says it was never an issue and him and Renteria just said it's something to not do every time out which everyone agreed upon.

Ninja's just touchy that he doesn't have his 9-figure deal yet...

Submitted by Old and Blue  on Fri, 05/09/2014 - 4:22pm  
with the way other contracts are working out, we may be looking more at something like a 9 year, 10 figure deal

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  • crunch 14 sec ago (view)

    if bryant wasn't looking less and less like a 3rd baseman, it would probably be even or less.  it's not been so slick the past couple years meanwhile arenado does nothing but win gold gloves.

    bryant has 2 years of club control and arenado can opt out after 2021.

    that said, i dunno if the cubs have the $$ space to take on a $35m/yr contract with or without the risk of him not opting out.

     
  • Charlie 1 hour 15 min ago (view)

    Shouldn't it take less than Bryant, given Arenado's opt out? I guess the Rockies could be asking for more, but it wouldn't make sense.

     
  • Eric S 2 hours 48 min ago (view)

    Has he gone so far as calling the Rox front office namby-pambies yet?  There's only so much a front office can take before it snaps. 

     
  • crunch 3 hours 33 min ago (view)

    n.arenado continues to go very hard on COL front office.  he's careful not to turn on the fans, but he's burning the hell out of every other bridge to the point they may trade him just to not hear about it too much longer.  he's not shy at all about airing it out for the media.

    if the cubs want him, it will most likely take more than just k.bryant.

    https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnis...

     
  • Arizona Phil 19 hours 54 min ago (view)

    The Cubs have officially signed C-1B Alberto Mineo to a 2020 minor league contract and he has been assigned to AA Tennessee. 

    A native of Italy, Mineo was signed by the Cubs as a 16 year old J-2 IFA in November 2010. He was one of three players signed by the Cubs out of the MLB European Academy in Turin, Italy in the years 2008-10 (Italian RHP Alex Maestri and  Dutch INF Dwayne Kemp were the other two).

     
  • Dolorous Jon Lester 1 day 5 hours ago (view)

    No argument there. Plays an excellent violin though.

     
  • crunch 1 day 17 hours ago (view)

    https://images.spot.im/v1/production/gsqady7hf53k5duw7hhf

     
  • tim815 1 day 17 hours ago (view)

    He's better than Taylor Davis.

     
  • Dolorous Jon Lester 1 day 18 hours ago (view)

    He's at a career juncture where I think he is a toss up of he is who he is or there's a little more left for him to achieve. Playing this as his age 27 season he is either in or damn close to his peak. I personally think he doesn't need the everyday playing time, just based on the fact that he's not a top prospect, is older, and doesn't project to be a starter at any spot for a first division team.

     
  • Charlie 1 day 19 hours ago (view)

    This is the take if you see him as a legit prospect. Which, maybe? I know little about him, and his numbers in limited AAA exposure last season were really nice. Maybe a lively ball helps his career.

     
  • bradsbeard 1 day 19 hours ago (view)

    Sounds like a long shot to get a trade done then. Thanks for clarifying!

     
  • Arizona Phil 1 day 19 hours ago (view)

    BRADSBEARD: Before making a trade with the Rule 5 Draft pick's former club, the drafting club must first place the player on Outright Assignment Waivers and any of the other MLB clubs can claim the player for the $50,000 waiver price and assume the Rule 5 Draft obligations (actually it's Rule 6 Selected Player obligations, but you know what I mean). 

     
  • bradsbeard 1 day 21 hours ago (view)

    AZ Phil, the "work out a trade" part of Rule 5 is still a mystery to me. Do the Cubs have to put Megill through waivers and (if he clears) offer him back to SD before they can trade for him?

     
  • Arizona Phil 1 day 21 hours ago (view)

    For those of you who didn't see the game, here are the pitch-velo readings from Wednsdays Cubs - Royals game: 

    Kyle Hendricks: 
    FB: 84-87 
    CH: 77-80 
    CV: 78-80
    NOTES: An amazing pitcher... he's probably in mid-season form right now...  just needs to gradually increase innings...   

    Alec Mills: 
    FB: 89-92 
    SL: 80-82 
    CH: 77-80 
    CV: 66-70 
    NOTES: A legit candidate to be the 5th starter 

     
  • Craig A. 1 day 22 hours ago (view)

    he

     
  • Craig A. 1 day 22 hours ago (view)

    He'll be 27 in May and he's played in 36 games at AAA. Seems like he should be playing regularly. 

     
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