Hops Go Brew Crew's Way, Barley Defeat Cubs at Riverview Park

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Wed, 05/14/2014 - 4:53pm

Jorge Ortega tossed six shutout innings, Tucker Neuhaus (Brewers 2013 Supplemental 2nd round draft pick - Wharton HS - Tampa, FL) drilled two RBI doubles, singled, and scored a run, Edgardo Rivera reached base four times (a single and three walks), stole a base, and scored three runs, and Luis Aviles smacked a three-run home run, as the Brewers outlasted the Cubs 8-6 in Cactus League Extended Spring Training action this morning on Field #6 at the Under Armour Performance Center at Riverview Park in Mesa, AZ.   

Jeffrey Baez walked twice, doubled, stole a base, and scored a run and Eloy Jimenez singled, doubled, and scored a run for the Cubs. In 17 Cactus League Extended Spring Training games (67 PA), Baez is hitting 345/433/500, with two doubles, two triples, one HR, 5 RBI, 8 RUNS, 9/8 BB/K, and 12 SB (0 CS), and he leads the team in OBP, SLG, SB, BB, and RUNS, is second only to the departed Matt Scioscia in AVG (Scioscia hit 348 in 26 PA), and is one of only three EXST Cubs players to hit a HR (Tyler Alamo and Rashad Crawford are the other two).    

Justin Ruggiano (Cubs MLB 15-day DL - hamstring) and Casper Wells (AAA Iowa 7-day DL - back spasms) continued their EXST rehab assignments in today's game, going a collective 0-8.

Ruggiano popped-out to short and flied out three times (including two near-HR hit to the warning track, one in left and the other in right-center), and Wells tapped back to the pitcher on a check-swing, popped out to the shortstop, lined-out to CF, and reached base on an E-5 (dropped infield pop fly).   

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


CUBS LINEUP:
1. Jeffrey Baez, DH #1: 1-2 (2B, P-6, BB, BB, R, SB)
2. Oliver Zapata, CF: 0-3 (F-7, K, BB, P-6, R, SB)
3. Justin Ruggiano, DH #2: 0-4 (F-7, F-8, P-4, F-9)
4. Casper Wells, RF: 0-4 (1-3, P-6, E-5, L-8)
5. Eloy Jimenez, LF: 2-4 (1-3, K, 1B, 2B, R)
6. Antonio Valerio, C: 1-4 (E-5, 5-3, 5-4 FC, 1B, R, RBI)
7. Gleyber Torres, SS: 0-2 (BB, 4-3, HBP, F-9, R)
8. Roney Alcala, 1B: 1-3 (6-4-3 DP, K, 2B, BB, R, RBI)
9. Jesse Hodges, 3B: 1-3 (1B, F-8, E-4, HBP)
10. Dalfis Ortiz, 2B: 0-4 (4-6 FC, K, 4-U FC, FC. 2 RBI, 3 SB)  
11. Arnaldo Calero, DH #3: 0-3 (HBP, F-9, E-6, K)

CUBS PITCHERS:
1. Michael Heesch: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 18 pitches (13 strikes)
2. Erick Leal: 4.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R (2 ER), 3 BB, 2 K, 1 WP, 8/1 GO/FO, 60 pitches (37 strikes)
3. Trey Lang: 1.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R (3 ER), 4 BB, 1 K, 1 HBP, 3/0 GO/FO, 39 pitches (18 strikes)
4. Francisco Carrillo: 2.1 IP, 2 H, 3 R (2 ER), 0 BB, 3 K, 1 HR, 1/3 GO/FO, 27 pitches (22 strikes)

CUBS ERRORS: 2
1. 3B Jesse Hodges - E-5 (throwing error allowed batter to reach base safely)
2. 2B Dalfis Ortiz - E-4 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely - eventually scored unearned run)

CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Antonio  Valerio: 0-2 CS

CUBS OUTFIELD ASSISTS:
1. CF Oliver Zapata - threw out baserunner 8-2 trying to score from 2nd base on single to CF
2. CF Oliver Zapata - threw out baserunner 8-5 trying to advance from 1st to 3rd on single to CF

ATTENDANCE: 12

WEATHER: Sunny & breezy with temperatures in the 80's 

Tags: 
Cubs Extended Spring Training
Jeffrey Baez
Eloy Jimenez
Justin Ruggiano
Casper Wells

Comments

Submitted by crunch  on Wed, 05/14/2014 - 5:26pm  
cubs/cards postponed because of rain and obama.

Submitted by Old and Blue  on Wed, 05/14/2014 - 6:47pm  
Captain Happy: "We won't be able to have Olt in the lineup because we need to bring him along slowly, and a rain delay will throw him off because he was expecting some at bats today. Hopefully next week we can start easing him back into the lineup."

Submitted by Ryno  on Wed, 05/14/2014 - 9:04pm  
Did he really say that? Jesus, he's not some finely-calibrated piece of space travel equipment or something, he's a professional athlete. I'm trying to cut the manager some slack, and get that not playing Olt isn't really the problem, but yikes, what's with the odd rambling about Olt. The real problem with this team is the players are not good enough. Think about it, put Rizzo, arguably the best Cubs hitter, in the Yankees lineup, where does he hit? 6th? 7th?

Submitted by johann  on Wed, 05/14/2014 - 9:53pm  
His OPS puts him 3rd among regular yankee players and Mark Teixeira has only been in 25 games. His OWAR puts him behind only Yangervis Solarte.

Submitted by crunch  on Wed, 05/14/2014 - 10:06pm  
the 2014 yanks are batting jacoby "why the hell is this guy hitting 3rd" ellsbury 3rd...and the slow, elderly, almost-extinct dinosaur jeter 2nd in almost every lineup...because jeter is jeter or some crap. managers, go figure. their power guys occupy the 4-5-6-7 slots...and of course soriano is hitting before solarte (which made sense early, but keeping it up seems kinda odd). quite honestly...on girardi's 2014 yanks...rizzo might actually be hitting 6th =p

Submitted by Old and Blue  on Thu, 05/15/2014 - 7:30am  
I think Rizzo's numbers would be ginormous in a real lineup. Right now, pitchers simply walk around him for the most part. I just hope he hangs in there and doesn't start giving in. It's gotta be frustrating.

Submitted by Old and Blue  on Thu, 05/15/2014 - 7:28am  
Sorry, Ryno, I was hoping it was such a ludicrous statement, even for Captain Happy, that you guys would recognize the satire. And although I did make that up, I did borrow heavily from RenteriaSpeak.

Submitted by Ryno  on Thu, 05/15/2014 - 8:45am  
I'm not sure what that says about Renteria that we can't discern what's real and what isn't.

Submitted by Cubster  on Wed, 05/14/2014 - 8:25pm  
Veres up. Rosscup to DL (we hardly knew ya).

Submitted by crunch  on Wed, 05/14/2014 - 9:14pm  
4ip 1h 2bb 5k... 0.00era 0.75whip short sample size (of course), but he was getting some absolutely silly swing/miss and frozen strikes on guys. come back soon, guy.

Submitted by Old and Blue  on Thu, 05/15/2014 - 7:31am  
Did I hear a crunch heartbreak?

Submitted by crunch  on Wed, 05/14/2014 - 9:18pm  
looks like TEX is having pitchers drop like flies (harrison/perez...both expected to miss significant time). too bad the cubs minor league system is the former TEX minor league system because otherwise they might have something to trade for ninja.

Submitted by Sonicwind75  on Thu, 05/15/2014 - 10:57am  
How about a deal that centers around Hammel for the injured Perez himself? I know it would be unusual to trade for a player about to have TJ surgery but . . . Perez should be healthy again by the time, if not before, the Cubs might actually start fielding a competitive team. Plus he would have the now requisite TJ surgery out of the way. Have TEX throw in a young high risk/reward prospect to help mitigate the health risk. Might be a chance to get a future middle of the rotation starter that would be under club control for the proverbial pennies on the dollar. Edit: Forgot Perez already signed an extension, believe through 2020.

Submitted by Rob G.  on Thu, 05/15/2014 - 5:11pm  

well I'm sure that extension would be quite valuable to Cubs, think they tried to get him in Garza deal last year but were rebuked. But I have doubts Rangers will dip back into the Cubs waters after Dempster and Garza did nothing for them. Of course you never know...

Submitted by crunch  on Wed, 05/14/2014 - 10:52pm  
HOU wins...CHC now with the least amount of wins in MLB (13). they're still better than HOU by win%, though...by 0.01 (13-25 / 14-27)

Submitted by Ryno  on Thu, 05/15/2014 - 8:48am  
Yeah, take that Houston bitches...

Submitted by crunch  on Thu, 05/15/2014 - 3:28am  
this was posted in the twitter feed side-bar, but it's rather on-point and worth a read. my experience with minor leaguers is mostly AAA guys, but these experiences are often reflected upon. i don't know how Hayhurst was living without a refrigerator or went through so many tough times through all his levels, though...most minor leaguers have a roommate or 2...or 3...or living in "sponsor housing" though the lower levels (kinda like a foreign exchange student)...which gives them at least a "college kid dweller" level of living...but whatever, i'm not gonna pick apart the whole article. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2062307-an...

Submitted by Cubster  on Thu, 05/15/2014 - 5:27am  
Trib/Mark Gonzo on Gerardo Concepcion, I wasn't aware of him having back problems (article includes a few other topics, Baez, Rosscup, Grimm)... http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball...
Hoyer has been encouraged with the recent development of Cuban left-hander Gerardo Concepcion, who struggled after signing a five-year, $6 million contract before the 2012 season and was sidelined for most of 2013 because of back issues. Concepcion, 22, has a 3.20 ERA with 20 strikeouts in 192/3 innings at Class A Kane County. "He was a guy who a lot of our scouts thought really highly of out of Cuba and dealt with some back injuries and issues that slowed him up," Hoyer said. "He's throwing well and hopefully he can keep that going. "It's a hard transition (coming from Cuba). Some guys make it seamlessly. With some guys, it takes a long time, and some guys never make it. Hopefully Concepcion is starting to make that adjustment, and it's nice to see.''

Submitted by Cubster  on Thu, 05/15/2014 - 7:12am  
Denver Post article proposing Shark for Gray http://www.denverpost.com/kiszla/ci_25757152/...

Submitted by Rob Richardson  on Thu, 05/15/2014 - 8:54am  
Clearly the trade idea is made up out of whole cloth, but it is an interesting one. I guess I'm hoping they get more, like Gray and a low-A power arm, but maybe I am being unrealistic.

Submitted by Rob G.  on Thu, 05/15/2014 - 10:26am  

Cubs are always looking for quality and depth in these deals. Gray and something would definitely be part of the deal and probably a few other parts.

Submitted by QuietMan  on Thu, 05/15/2014 - 10:29am  
The Rockies have a tradeable competitive balance draft pick (#35 overall). Getting that added to a deal would be nice. But that may not fit the timeline for a Samardzija trade.

Submitted by Rob Richardson  on Thu, 05/15/2014 - 10:31am  
I thought trading draft picks wasn't allowed in MLB. Has that changed, or are competitive balance picks treated differently?

Submitted by QuietMan  on Thu, 05/15/2014 - 10:39am  
From AZ Phil's Corner: Rule 4 Competitive Balance Draft Picks Beginning in 2012, six "Competitive Balance" Rule 4 Draft picks will be awarded by lottery between the 1st and 2nd round, and six more will be awarded by lottery between the 2nd and 3rd round. The lottery will take place on the Monday following the Rule 4 Draft signing deadline. Only MLB clubs that receive revenue sharing and clubs from the ten smallest markets will be eligible to participate in the lottery for Competitive Balance picks. Once awarded, these draft picks can be traded, but only during the MLB regular season, and the pick cannot be traded for cash unless it is a financial adjustment made to offset the salary of one or more of the players involved in the trade. Also, a Competitive Balance draft pick can be traded only once (only by the club that was awarded the pick). Once traded, the pick cannot be "flipped" to a third club. If a player selected with a Competitive Balance Draft pick does not sign, the club receives a compensation selection in the next Rule 4 Draft, one slot lower between the 1st or 2nd round than where the club selected the previous season. There is no further compensation if a player selected with a Competitive Balance compensation draft pick does not sign. http://www.thecubreporter.com/rule-4-competit...

Submitted by Ryno  on Thu, 05/15/2014 - 8:57am  
My brain says no, but my heart says yes.

Submitted by Rob Richardson  on Thu, 05/15/2014 - 12:58pm  
"A high school baseball player in Washington State threw 194 pitches over 14 innings Tuesday before being removed in the 15th inning of his team's eventual 1-0 victory in its district tournament." http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/10935698/dy...

Submitted by Ryno  on Thu, 05/15/2014 - 1:05pm  
The coach ought to be fired immediately.

Submitted by Rob Richardson  on Thu, 05/15/2014 - 1:11pm  
"People just don't understand. I'm not a ace pitcher, I'm a infielder who pitches every now and then. Not a prospect ruining there career — Dylan Fosnacht (@DFosnacht5) May 15, 2014" http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/4...

Submitted by crunch  on Thu, 05/15/2014 - 1:42pm  
he's not going to be an english major in college, either.

Submitted by Charlie  on Thu, 05/15/2014 - 1:43pm  
Is he tossing underhand? Because that is the only way I can imagine 194 pitches in one outing would not constitute a significant injury risk, infielder or otherwise. Throwing overhand is bad for your shoulder, regardless of who you are and what position you play.

Submitted by jacos  on Thu, 05/15/2014 - 1:53pm  
Rizzo bunts twice to beat shift Like it, but does it play into other teams hand by not giving up extra base hits?

Submitted by Charlie  on Thu, 05/15/2014 - 2:08pm  
I'm OK with it in these circumstances. Bases empty, Cubs not hitting Wacha much up to that point. It's a good time to demonstrate he can do it and also get himself on base. Maybe it makes someone rethink shifting on him some other time.

Submitted by Ryno  on Thu, 05/15/2014 - 2:12pm  
Screws up the spray charts. Take that stat heads managers.

Submitted by jacos  on Thu, 05/15/2014 - 2:37pm  
No shift third ab...flyout

Submitted by crunch  on Thu, 05/15/2014 - 3:54pm  
backup catcher d.butera pitched last night for LAD... 1ip 0h 0b 1k...hit 94mph.

Submitted by Ryno  on Thu, 05/15/2014 - 10:16pm  
Reminds me of the Michael Barrett days whose throws to 2B seemed about twice as fast as Maddux's best fastball.

Submitted by jacos  on Fri, 05/16/2014 - 9:48am  
Can't remember last time so many fielders pitching

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  • Dolorous Jon Lester 54 min 58 sec ago (view)

    I believe this is the correct take. It's surprising that Len is leaving. He's good, but he had gotten a little too rationalizey over the past few years for me.

    However, it seemed he was heavily invested in the Cubs. His departure feels like there is some Ricketts-ish bullshit going on behind the scenes at Marquee that Len wants no part of. Anyway, I wish him well with the other Chicago team

     
  • crunch 1 hour 31 min ago (view)

    wtf...

    is everything the ricketts touch just falling to shit in 2021?  ....well, except their heavy investments in taking over the state of Nebraska politically with one of the sons and heavy investment in supportive state legislators...

     
  • Dolorous Jon Lester 3 hours 2 min ago (view)

    This makes a whole lot of sense. Thanks Phil!

    (And that HR off Hader was unforgettable)

     
  • Hagsag 5 hours 25 min ago (view)

    Shocker!

     
  • Wrigley Rat 10 hours 53 min ago (view)

    Len Kasper is leaving the Cubs for the White Sox radio booth.

    https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&so...

     
  • Charlie 15 hours 10 min ago (view)

    I would be happy to see the Cubs no longer spend DH time on Victor Caratini. Provided there's a Kyle Schwarber or better alternative, of course.

     
  • Arizona Phil 23 hours 13 min ago (view)

    DJL: I don't think Ildemaro Vargas being out of minor league options is much of a concern to the Cubs because as things stand right now he projects as the team's primary utility infielder in 2021. He can play all four INF positions (1B, 2B, 3B, and SS, plus corner OF, too), and he is switch hitter with some pop, especially from the right side (remember the 9th inning HR he hit off Josh Hader in September?). 

     
  • Dolorous Jon Lester 23 hours 56 min ago (view)

    I'm a little surprised Ildemaro Vargas was tendered, given that he's out of options. He has value and isn't expensive as he is pre-arb this year, but still a bit surprised. Have to think he's got an inside track to an Opening Day spot at this point

     
  • waveland 1 day 8 hours ago (view)

    really appreciate the years and years of your updates

     
  • Arizona Phil 1 day 10 hours ago (view)

    BRADSBEARD: Strumpf was wearing a cast on his hand in Minor League Camp before everything got shut-down in March so his not being at South Bend might have had something to do with that. I don't know why Rivas wasn't at the ATS. 

     
  • bradsbeard 1 day 11 hours ago (view)

    Do you have any idea why Rivas and Strumpf weren't at the alternate site in South Bend? I thought Rivas especially showed enough in ST games to be viewed as a legitimate depth option, especially with the DH. 

     
  • Arizona Phil 1 day 11 hours ago (view)

    Alfonso Rivas reminds me a bit of Rafael Palmeiro when Palmeiro first came up to the big leagues and was a "doubles machine" (before he started hitting home runs).   

    Rivas played D-1 baseball at the University of Arizona, so (just like Nico Hoerner, who also played in the PAC-12) I don't think he needs a lot of additional time at AAA before he's ready for MLB. He's a very advanced hitter, as long as you are OK with lots of doubles & lots of walks but not many HR.   

     
  • Dolorous Jon Lester 1 day 12 hours ago (view)

    I hadn't thought of that but I really like that option

     
  • bradsbeard 1 day 13 hours ago (view)

    I really hope Rivas has a chance at the LF job. Would ease some of the sting of Schwarber being cut loose. 

     
  • Arizona Phil 1 day 13 hours ago (view)

    CRUNCH: I got the impression that Ross had seen enough of Schwarber in LF, so implementing the universal DH may be necessary before Schwarber returns to the Cubs in 2021. I think the Cubs would be fine with Schwarber as their main DH going forward. 

    BTW, I strongly suspect that the universal DH will be included in the next CBA, but whether there will be a DH in the National League in 2021 is still TBA (which is really stupid, since clubs need to know right now for sure one way or the other whether or not there will be a DH in the N. L. in 2021). 

     
  • Arizona Phil 1 day 13 hours ago (view)

    Besides the guys on the 40, Cubs 2021 NRI relievers with a legit chance to win a bullpen slot in Spring Training include LHRPs Josh Osich and Rex Brothers, and RHRPs Jake Jewell, Trevor Megill, Dakota Mekkes, Michael Rucker, and Joe Wieland (presuming they are not taken in the Rule 5 Draft). 

    Brothers and Wieland are out of minor league options, however, so if added to the 40 they could not ride the "Chicago - Des Moines Shuttle" like the others could. 

     
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