Cubs Split EXST Games with Giants at Fitch Park
Ryan Keedy had three hits including two RBI doubles, but the Giants edged the Cubs 4-3 in an eight-inning Extended Spring Training game on Fitch Park Field #3 this morning. Meanwhile, another squad of Cubs blanked a second squad of Giants 11-0 in a seven-inning game on Field #2, as Larry Suarez and Carlos Rojas threw lights-out shutout ball over the seven innings. (The Giants brought their entire EXST squad to Mesa today--which is unusual--so there were enough players for two games).
I could have tried to watch & score both games simultaneously, but I opted to score only the game on Field #3, so here is the abridged box score (Cubs players only) from that game:
LINEUP:
1. Hak-Ju Lee, DH #1: 2-4 (6-3, 2B, 1B, K - 1 R, 1 CS)
2. George Matheus, 2B: 1-3 (2B, K, K, HBP - 1 R)
3. Ryan Keedy, 1B-DH #2: 3-4 (2B, 2B, 1B, GIDP - 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 CS)
4. Kevin Soto, CF: 0-2 (F-9, BB, K)
5. Sean Hoorelbeke, DH #2-1B: 1-3 (1B, P-4, GIDP - 1 RBI)
6. Kurt Calvert, RF: 0-3 (4-3, P-4, K)
7a. Juan Medina, C 1-1 (2B, BB)
7b. Alvaro Sosa, C: 1-1 (1B)
8. Robert Bautista, SS: 0-3 (1-3, 1-3, L-7)
9. Jose Made, 3B: 0-3 (P-5, 3-1, K)
10. Sean Williams, LF: 2-3 (6-3, 2B, 1B)
PITCHERS:
1. Tarlandus Mitchell - 2.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 2 K, 1/1 GO/FO
2. Yohan Gonzalez - 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 2/1 GO/FO
3. Eduardo Figueroa - 2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R (0 ER), 1 BB, 0 K, 6/0 GO/FO
4. Dumas Garcia - 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 2 K, 1 HR, 3/1 GO/FO
ERRORS (3):
RF Kurt Calvert misplayed a line single, allowing batter-runner to take an extra base, 1B Ryan Keedy bobbled a grounder allowing batter to reach 1st base, and SS Robert Bautista missed a grounder (went off his glove into short left-center) with two outs and the bases loaded in the top of the 5th allowing two runs (including the tying run) to score.
CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Juan Medina - 1-3 CS
BASERUNNING
Sean Williams was thrown out 9-6-5 trying to stretch a double into a triple leading off the bottom of the 5th.
The EXST Cubs lineup for the other game went something like: Francisco Guzman CF, Matt Cerda DH #1, Chris Weimer 1B, Jake Opitz 3B, Logan Watkins SS, Jericho Jones DH #2, Jae-Hoon Ha RF, Jesus Morelli LF,John Contreras/Jose Guevara C, and Dwayne Kemp 2B, with Larry Suarez the SP.
EXST NOTES: 23-year old utility INF Jose Made (selected by the Cubs in the 20th round of the 2007 Rule 4 draft out of Dominican College) is learning to switch-hit (he used to hit only right-handed).
24-year old RHP Josh Lansford (ex-3B drafted in 6th round out of Cal Poly in 2006 draft), 23-year old LHP Ryan Sontag (drafted as OF out of Arizona State in 23rd round of 2008 draft), and 19-year old Dominican RHP Gian Guzman (ex-SS) are being converted to pitcher. (Lansford's brother is a pitcher in the A's organization, and his father and uncles were MLB 3rd basemen).
2008 4th round pick 18-year old Matt Cerda was moved from catcher to 2B for a while recently when his defensive problems behind the plate were affecting his hitting, but he has apparently been moved back to catcher (at least for the time-being), although he was a DH today. Whether he will end up as a catcher or a second-baseman is still TBD.
18-year old Korean bonus baby Hak-Ju Lee (2008 Tommy John surgery) is being eased back to SS, although he was a DH today. He has put on some weight since last year and looks a lot stronger, but he also may be outgrowing SS.
Fellow 18-year old Korean Jae-Hoon Ha has been the most-impressive position player so far at EXST, displaying plus-power while playing mostly RF. He is a converted catcher
Also, 20-year old speedy switch-hitting Dominican OF Jose Valdez is out of action with a leg injury, and RHP Cedric Redmond (signed as a Draft & Follow in May 2007 after being selected in the 27th round of the 2006 draft out of Oakton Community College) has a broken finger on his pitching hand.
Comments
Re: Cubs Split EXST Games with Giants at Fitch Park
Re: Cubs Split EXST Games with Giants at Fitch Park
Re: Cubs Split EXST Games with Giants at Fitch Park
Hey AZ Phil,
Sounds like you're going to have a full day of baseball, assuming you've got tickets for tonight's game.
Any idea why Hoorelbeke isn't in Peoria?
Hope that Cerda can stick with catching and Lee can stay at short... When was the last time we had a really good shorstop, DeJesus?
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REAL NEAL: I'm in heaven today, because I get baseball all day and all night long (we are going to the Cubs-D'backs game, too).
There was a five-way battle for the 1B job at Peoria in Spring Training, and Rebel Ridling won, Sean Hoorelbeke and Ryan Keedy were assigned to EXST, and Bryan Jost and Luis Bautista were released. Personally, I like Hoorelbeke better than Ridling or Keedy.
I also hope Lee can stay at SS. He was really scrawny looking last year and was an opposite field singles hitter, but he has apparently been spending a lot of time in the weight room (or at Muscle Beach) while rehabbing from the TJS. He still has plus-speed, but he is hitting the ball with a lot more authority this year. I can't say much about his arm strength (yet) at this point, although it should be OK eventually.
Re: Cubs Split EXST Games with Giants at Fitch Park
Wow, great. Thanks Phil! I've been wondering about a few of these guys. So, if Lee outgrows SS, where would he be moved? 2B? or 3b?
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JACE: I would think 2B, although with his speed, CF is another possibility.
Speaking of Racists...
Re: Speaking of Racists...
Re: Speaking of Racists...
the best part is he made them roll the tape back just to make the joke (okay, it's not tape anymore, it's all digital)
the other best part was the stunned silence on set....
Re: Speaking of Racists...
Clay Rapada called back up by Tigers...
Re: Cubs Split EXST Games with Giants at Fitch Park
Re: Cubs Split EXST Games with Giants at Fitch Park
Re: Cubs Split EXST Games with Giants at Fitch Park
Re: Cubs Split EXST Games with Giants at Fitch Park
Crash Davis
MLB draft moves to prime time...
Re: MLB draft moves to prime time...
Re: MLB draft moves to prime time...
Re: MLB draft moves to prime time...
Lineup for Wed
Re: Lineup for Wed
Re: Lineup for Wed
Re: Lineup for Wed
Re: Lineup for Wed
Re: Cubs Split EXST Games with Giants at Fitch Park
Looks like Hoffpauir stays...
Re: Looks like Hoffpauir stays...
Re: Cubs Split EXST Games with Giants at Fitch Park
Re: Cubs Split EXST Games with Giants at Fitch Park
Re: Cubs Split EXST Games with Giants at Fitch Park
Re: Cubs Split EXST Games with Giants at Fitch Park
Re: Cubs Split EXST Games with Giants at Fitch Park
Re: Cubs Split EXST Games with Giants at Fitch Park
Re: Cubs Split EXST Games with Giants at Fitch Park
Re: Cubs Split EXST Games with Giants at Fitch Park
Re: Cubs Split EXST Games with Giants at Fitch Park
Re: Cubs Split EXST Games with Giants at Fitch Park
Re: Cubs Split EXST Games with Giants at Fitch Park
Re: Cubs Split EXST Games with Giants at Fitch Park
Do Sean Williams and Ja-Hoon Ha bat left or right-handed?
It would be nice to have some right hand hitting power outfielders for a change. Follow-up q: Is Ha still also trying catching?
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HOOK: 18-year old Australian OF Sean Williams throws & bats left-handed and has a smooth line-drive stroke, and 18-year old Jae-Hoon Ha bats right-handed with much more of a power stroke. And Ha is being used exclusively in the outfield at this time. Cubs Player Development Director Oberi Fleita is something of an expert when it comes to spotting catchers (he was a catcher himself, playing for Jim Hendry at Creighton and then later in the Orioles organization), so if Oneri saw any potential for Ha to advance as a catcher, he would not have been moved to the outfield so quickly.
Re: Cubs Split EXST Games with Giants at Fitch Park
Re: Cubs Split EXST Games with Giants at Fitch Park
Great recap Az Phil. What's your take on Rebel Ridling? I know he's big..6'4", 230 or so. It's only 54 at bats, but he's off to a good start at Peoria: .315/.400/.556...7 doubles, 2 HR, 18 RBI.
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DUSTY B: Of the five guys who batled for the 1B job at Peoria last month at Minor League Camp (Bautista, Hoorelbeke, Jost, Keedy, and Ridling), Ridling has the most pure power, and for a classic "Big Lug" first-baseman, hitting home runs is the #1 most-important thing he can do. That's why Ridling won the job, because otherwise Keedy and Hoorelbeke are better hitters, and Jost is (was) the best fielder.
Ridling reminds me a bit of Brian Dopirak, who had a great year the season he was at Peoria, but then could not duplicate it once he got to higher levels.
Re: Cubs Split EXST Games with Giants at Fitch Park
Re: Cubs Split EXST Games with Giants at Fitch Park
Re: Cubs Split EXST Games with Giants at Fitch Park