Cease Fires 99, but Not Enough Gas to Stop Giants from Pummeling Cubs

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Tue, 05/19/2015 - 05:41 pm

Nicol Parra reached base four times (a two-run HR, two singles, and a walk), Chase Compton belted a triple and two doubles, drove-in a run, and scored another, Byron Murray slugged a three-run home run and a triple, Richard Amion Jr drilled an RBI triple, singled, walked, and scored a run, Fernando Pujadas smashed a two-run triple, and LHSP Nik Turley hurled six innings of shutout ball, as the Giants swept a Cactus League Extended Spring Training split squad doubleheader from the Cubs this morning at Mesa CubTown at Riverview Park.

The Giants shutout the Cubs 6-0 in the game played on Field #6, and drubbed the Cubs 10-4 in the game played on Field #5. 

Roberto Caro singled twice, tripled, and drove-in two runs for the Cubs.

RHP Dylan Cease (2014 TJS) got the start for the Cubs on Field #6, and worked a third of an inning, walking the bases loaded around a strikeout. Cease's fastball was riding high (topping out at 99 MPH), but he had difficulty commanding it (22 pitches - only ten strikes). Otherwise, he was unhittable.

Cease was the Cubs 6th round draft pick out of Milton HS - Milton, Ga in 2014, and the Cubs selected him despite knowing that he would need a UCL elbow ligament transplant ("Tommy John surgery"). Considered one of the top high school arms in the 2014 draft class and a likely 1st round pick prior to his elbow issues, he received a $1.5M signing bonus (equivalent to "first round money") and then had the TJS last July 22nd. He has made a rapid recovery, and barring a setback, he will likely be a rotation starter for the AZL Cubs when the Arizona League season begins play next month.

In his first EXST Cactus League start start last Tuesday (16 pitches, two outs recorded, one HBP), Cease's fastball was topping out at 97 MPH, so his velocity has increased a bit over the past week. 

Prior to the Cactus League games, RHPs Jacob Turner (on Cubs MLB 60-day DL with a right flexor strain), Erling Moreno (2014 TJS), and Trey Masek (2014 shoulder surgery) threw in a three-ining "sim" game on Field #3. Turner threw one inning (15 pitches), and Moreno and Masek threw two innings a piece (30 pitches each).

OF Chris Denorfia (on Cubs MLB 15-day DL with a hamstring strain) was one of the hitters in the "sim" game. 

In EXST Cubs roster news, LHRP Daniel Schlereth and RHSP Felipe Paulino have been moved-up to AAA Iowa.

The 6'3 260+ 31-year old Paulino was orginally signed by the Houston Astros as an International free-agent out of the Dominican Republic in 2001, and he has pitched in the big leagues with Houston, Colorado, Kansas City, and the White Sox. He underwent an elbow UCL transplant (TJS) post-2012 when he was with the Royals, and then missed most of last season with a right shoulder injury while a member of the White Sox.

Paulino was signed to a minor league contract by the Cubs on May 3rd, after being released by the Boston Red Sox at the end of Spring Training. His fastball velocity has ranged from 94-96 MPH in his two Cactus League Extended Spring Training outings and one EXST intrasquad game.  

Schlereth was the 1st round pick (26th overall) of the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2008 out of the University of Arizona, and was part of the Max Scherzer/Curtis Granderson/Edwin Jackson/Ian Kennedy/Austin Jackson/Phil Coke three-team mega-deal in December 2009, going to the Tigers with Scherzer, Coke and A. Jackson (Granderson went to the Yankees, and E. Jackson and Kennedy ended up in Arizona).

Schlereth was signed to a minor league contract by the Cubs on April 26th, after he was released by the Detroit Tigers,

FELIPE PAULINO - CACTUS LEAGUE EXTENDED SPRING TRAINING GAMES
1. 5/6: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K, 0/1 GO/FO, 22 pitches (12 strikes)  
2. 5/9: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K, 1 WP, 1/1 GO/FO, 29 pitches (20 strikes)
TOTAL: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K, 1 WP, 1/2 GO/FO, 64% strikes,  0.00 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, .182 OppBA

Paulino also pitched in one EXST intrasquad game:
5/14: 3.1 IP, 4 H, 3 R (3 ER), 2 BB, 6 K, 1 HR, 2/0 GO/FO, 64 pitches (43 strikes) 
 
DANIEL SCHLERETH - CACTUS LEAGUE EXTENDED SPRING TRAINING GAMES
1. 5/6: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 1/2 GO/FO, 15 pitches (7 strikes)
2. 5/9 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 3 BB, 2 K, 2 WP, 0/1 GO/FO, 26 pitches (11 strikes)
3. 5/12: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 2/0 GO/FO, 11 pitches (8 strikes)_
4. 5/15: 1.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R (2 ER), 0 BB, 1 K, 1/0 GO/FO, 22 pitvhes (15 strikes)
TOTAL: 4.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R (3 ER), 3 BB, 4 K, 2 WP, 4/3 GO/FO, 55% strikes, 6.25 ERA, 2.00 WHIP, .313 OppBA

Here are the box scores from the two Cactus League EXST games (Cubs players only):

FIELD #6

CUBS SQUAD "A" LINEUP:
1. Kevonte Mitchell, CF: 0-3 (F-7, 5-3, K)
2. Frandy de la Rosa, 2B: 2-3 (P-5, 1B, 1B)
3. Eloy Jimenez, LF: 1-3 (K, 5-3, 1B)
4. Jose Paniagua, 1B: 0-3 (F-9, F-8, 5-3)
5. Kevin Encarnacion, RF: 1-3 (1B, 4-3, K)
6. Adonis Paula, 3B: 1-3: (K, K, 1B+E4)
7. Jhonny Pereda, C: 0-1 (F-9, BB, HBP)
8a. Andruw Monasterio, DH: 0-1 (K)
8b. Jenner Emeterio, PH-DH: 0-1 (K)
8c. Tyler Alamo, PH: 0-1 (5-4-3 DP)
9. Carlos Jimenez, SS: 0-2 (6-3, 1-3)

CUBS SQUAD "A" PITCHERS:
1. Dylan Cease: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 1 K, 22 pitches (10 strikes)
2. Mark Malave: 2.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 4 K, 1 WP, 3/1 GO/FO, 58 pitches (39 strikes)
3. Dillon Maples: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 1/0 GO/FO, 21 pitches (13 strikes)
4. Yomar Morel: 1.1 IP, 4 H, 3 R (3 ER), 0 BB, 1 K, 1 HBP, 2 WP, 2/1 GO/FO, 30 pitches (19 strikes)

CUBS SQUAD "A" ERRORS: 1
1B Jose Paniagua: E-3 (dropped pop fly allowing batter to reach base safely)

FIELD #5

CUBS SQUAD "B" LINEUP:
1. Roberto Caro, RF: 3-4 (1B, 1B, 3B, 4-3, 2 RBI, CS)
2. Robert Garcia, CF: 1-4 (F-7, 1B, 3-U, K)
3. Carlos Sepulveda, 2B: 1-4 (K, K, 2B, 1-3, CS)
4. Yohan Matos, C: 1-4 (L-5, 6-3, 3B, K, R)
5. Ricardo Marcano, LF: 1-3 (F-7, F-7, 1B+E7, RBI)
6. Varonex Cuevas, 3B: 1-3 (P-6, 1B, K, R)
7. Ho-Young Son, SS: 2-3 (1B, 2B, F-9, 2 R, SB)
8. Roney Alcala, 1B: 0-2 (3-U, F-8 SF, K, RBI)
9a. Alberto Mineo, DH: 0-0 (BB)
9b. Danny Gutierrez, PH: 0-1 (K)
NOTE: SLOT WAS SKIPPED SECOND TIME THRU BATTING ORDER

CUBS SQUAD "B" PITCHERS:
1. Anthony Carter: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 0 K, 1/1 GO/FO, 15 pitches (11 strikes)
2. Santiago Rodriguez: 1.2 IP, 6 H, 6 R (6 ER), 3 BB, 1 K, 1 HR, 1/3 GO/FO, 39 pitches (24 strikes)
3. Scott Frazier: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K, 1/1 GO/FO, 10 pitches (4 strikes)
4. John Michael Knighton: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K, 1/2 GO/FO, 21 pitches (11 strikes)
5. Greyfer Eregua: 2.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HR, 2/3 GO/FO, 45 pitches (28 strikes)

CUBS SQUAD "B" ERRORS: 1
3B Varonex Cuevas: E-5 (throwing error on infield single allowed batter to advance to 2nd base)

WEATHER: Sunny and a bit breezy with temperatures in the 80's

ATTENDANCE: 9



Tags
Cubs Extended Spring Training
Roberto Caro
Dylan Cease
Daniel Schlereth
Jacob Turner
Trey Masek
Erling Moreno

Comments

Submitted by crunch on Tue, 05/19/2015 - 05:58 pm

in addition to m.baxter up... lake up, wada up, shitter down, coke dfa'd, d.beeler activated from DL and promptly optioned to AAA. lake/wada/baxter here...welly/shitter/coke gone.

Submitted by billybucks on Tue, 05/19/2015 - 05:04 pm

Castro with an absolutely horrible AB following Rizzo's leadoff double. Trying to pull everything, then a big swing and miss on an 0-2 slider that was way out of the zone and should have been expected. Then, of course, Montero hits what would have been a sac fly if Castro ever learned situational hitting (I know, Shields might have pitched him differently with Rizzo at 3rd, but still...). Talented, but still so clueless about the game.

Submitted by crunch on Tue, 05/19/2015 - 05:43 pm

this pen is not THIS bad...but it keeps doing stuff like THIS. also, sigh...infield errors.

Submitted by crunch on Wed, 05/20/2015 - 05:01 am

baxter's first appearance is vs kimbrel...cold. really weak infield groundout...so weak that it was almost an infield hit. also, cubs lose. boo.

Submitted by Old and Blue on Wed, 05/20/2015 - 05:16 am

Well, that was a game Hammel deserved to win. That was enough to make me side with the Castro haters, at least for a day, who now have been refueled enough to keep their rants going for a few months. He has to make that play in the eighth inning. But I don't want to rekindle the Castro debate - no pun intended. It's boring. Maddon said it after the game better than I can. Good teams don't lose those kind of games. I don't know if this team really is serious about honestly believing they are a playoff contender, but they're not until they stop playing games like that. It was enough to make me wish they could just move Russell to shortstop instead of learning how to play 2B at the MLB level. I didn't see the double off Strop but it seems this year's Strop is not last year's Strop. The Cubs need a stopper in the bullpen, too, and they don't really have one except for Rondon, and even he has been providing way too much 9th inning adventure lately. A .500 team is about what I predicted, and it's probably what we've got.

[ ]

Submitted by Tito on Wed, 05/20/2015 - 05:42 am

I've always been on Team Castro and am not really off that team yet, but there are definitely times when I think I'd be in favor of him being the SS that gets dealt. Would this team be worse off if he got traded, Russell moved to SS and Baez called up to play 2B? (Obviously, this assumes a good return and Baez panning out.) If Castro were dealt, how much would he really be missed? Again, I like him, but I think I'd get over it pretty quickly.

[ ]

Submitted by Old and Blue on Wed, 05/20/2015 - 05:49 pm

I think the patient approach is best. I get a little riled when I see sloppy play late in a game. Overall I've enjoyed Castro, and he probably gained a thousand points in my book when he mimicked Bryant. I think the Castro hate is disproportional to his play. But he can be maddening sometimes. But Baez needs a good two months down there of hitting consistently before I can trust he won't strike out 40% of the time again, or whatever it was. This coming from the guy who is always saying "bring em up!"

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