Sweet Sixteen Gets Rushed by Cubs
GM Jim Hendry, Player Personnel & Player Development Director Oneri Fleita, all of the Cubs minor league hitting & outfield coaches, and any Cubs scout anywhere near Mesa, Arizona, were at Fitch Park today, personally scouting & evaluating OF Wagner Mateo, who stopped by for some pre-game BP, and then stuck around and played RF for AA Tennessee in a Minor League Spring Training game played on Field #2.
Some of you may remember Mateo as the 16-year old Dominican left-handed hitting (and throwing) right-fielder who got a $3.1M bonus from the St. Louis Cardinals during the International Signing Period in 2009, only to have the contract voided a couple of months later when Cardinals team doctors discovered what they believed was a career-limiting vision problem during a routine physical.
Well, based upon what I saw today, Mateo can see just fine. He hit ropes all over the place in BP, and then went 1-5 in the game, including a line-drive single to left and two hard-hit line-drive outs to LF, one requiring a spectactular diving catch by the Angels LF. The one big negative was a throw from RF that missed the cut-off man by a mile, but otherwise he looked pretty good for a 16-year old. I got the impression the Cubs are VERY interested in signing Mateo, although other clubs probably are as well (like maybe the Angels for instance, who got a good look at him today, too).
As for the AA Tennessee game, 20-year old Australian RHP (and 2009 Florida State League All-Star) Ryan Searle started and worked two innings (25 pitches – 18 strikes), getting tagged for two runs (a single, an RBI triple, and an RBI single with one out in the 1st). RHP Josh Whitlock got nailed for two more runs (two walks and two RBI hits in the 7th), and LHP James Leverton also was charged with two runs (a single, a triple, and a sacrifice fly), also in the 7th.
RHP James Archer had a wild outing, walking the first two men he faced on eight pitches, before striking out the next two batters, at which point he was pulled out of the game after have thrown 24 pitches (12 balls & 12 strikes).
Then RHP Alberto Cabrera came into the game, and proceeded to strike out five in just 2.1 IP (30 pitches – 21 strikes), allowing just one hit and no walks. Cabrera was definitely the most impressive Tennessee pitcher today. He was just plain dominating
Tennessee trailed 6-0 going into the bottom of the 7th, but the first seven men reached. Mark Reed walked, John Contreras singled, and Jordan Petraitis walked to load the bases, and then 2009 Cubs #1 draft pick Brett Jackson ripped a two run single to CF to plate the first two runs of the inning (Jackson also made a fine running catch in lerft-center earlier in the game). Then Brandon May drew a walk to re-load the bases, before ex-Rockford RiverHawks (Frontier League) All-Star OF Jason James and Marwin Gonzalez each plated a run with an RBI single to the outfield (James also doubled off the RF fence earlier in the game).
And just like that, the Smokies had cut the Arkansas lead to 6-5. But then the side was retired on a DP grounder and an F-8 fly ball to CF, and the Smokies mounted no further threats.
And that’s the way the game ended, with Arkansas defeating Tennesee 6-5.
Meanwhile, over on Field #3, Salt Lake (the Angels AAA squad) drubbed Iowa (the Cubs AAA squad) 10-3, with the I-Cubs runs scoring on a dropped infield pop up with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of te 9th.
Here is the abridged box score frrom today’s game between the Cubs AA squad (AKA “Tennessee”) and the Angels AA squad (AKA “Arkansas”) at Fitch Park:
NOTE: Wagner Mateo played RF and hit lead-off in every inning 1-6 (so six PA total), after-which he left the game and was not replaced in the batting order (the #1 slot in the order was skipped in both the bottom of the 7th and the bottom of the 8th).
Also, Brandon May and Jordan Petraitis were added to the Tennessee roster just for today’s game (both are presently assigned to the Boise/Mesa squad). It’s not unusual for players from the Boise/Mesa squad to provide the late-inning replacements in minor league Spring Training games.
TENNESSEE LINEUP:
1a. Wagner Mateo, RF: 1-5 (6-3, 1B, BB, Kc, L-7, L-7)
1b. SKIPPED after 6th inning
2a. Kyler Burke, 1B: 1-2 (P-6, 1B)
2b. Jordan Petraitis, 1B: 1-1 (BB, 1B, R, CS)
3. Brett Jackson, CF: 2-4 (1B, 6-3, 1B, Ks, R, 2 RBI, SB)
4a. Josh Vitters, 3B: 0-2 (F-8, 4-3)
4b. Brandon May, 3B: 0-1 (BB, Ks, R)
5. Jason James, DH-RF: 2-4 (4-6-3 GIDP, 2B, 1B, 1-3, RBI)
6a. D. J. Lemahieu, SS: 0-2 (L-4, Ks)
6b. Marwin Gonzalez, SS: 1-1 (1B, RBI)
7a. Ryan Flaherty, 2B: 0-1 (4-6 FC, PO)
7b. Jonathan Mota, 2B: 1-2 (1B, 6-4-3 GIDP).
8. Kevin Soto, LF: 0-3 (P-3, 6-4-3 GIDP, F-8)
9a. Marquez Smith, DH #2: 1-1 (1B)
9b. Mark Reed, PH-DH: 0-1 (BB, 6-3, R)
10a. Luis Flores, C: 0-1 (Ks)
10b. John Contreras, C: 1-2 (1B, 6-3, R)
TENNESSEE PITCHERS:
Ryan Searle – 2.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R (2 ER), 0 BB, 1 K, 3/1 GO/FO, 25 pitches – 18 strikes)
Chris Archer – 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K, 24 pitches (12 strikes)
Alberto Cabrera – 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K, 1/1 GO/FO, 30 pitches (21 strikes)
Josh Whitlock – 1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 0 K, 1 GIDP, 3/0 GO/FO, 25 pitches (14 stiikes)
James Leverton – 2.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R (2 ER), 0 BB, 2 K, 2/2 GO/FO, 30 pitches (21 strikes)
Dan McDaniel – 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 0 K, 1/2 GO/FO, 22 pitches (9 strikes)
ERRORS: NONE
CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Luis Flores 1-4 CS
Here are the Cubs minor league rosters at Fitch Park as they were this morning (3/19). RHPs Blake Parker and Jeff Stevens and catcher Welington Castillo were optioned to Iowa today and were in uniform, and NRI LHP J. R. Mathes, RHPs Andrew Cashner, Casey Coleman, and RHP Thomas Diamond, and 1B Bryan Lahair were also sent down to Minor League Camp by the Cubs. This brings the Cubs Spring Training roster down to 42 (MLB Active Lists must get down to 25 by MLB Opening Day on April 3rd).
UPDATED 2010 CUBS MINOR LEAGUE CAMP ROSTERS – FRIDAY MORNING 3/19:
IOWA (39):
PITCHERS (23):
Mitch Atkins
Austin Bibens-Dirkx
David Cales
Marco Carrillo
Andrew Cashner
Hung-Wen Chen
Casey Coleman
Thomas Diamond
Jay Jackson
Jeff Kennard
* Casey Lambert (Limited Activity Only - TJS rehab)
Alessandro Maestri
* Scott Maine
Oswaldo Martinez
* J. R. Mathes
Jake Muyco
Blake Parker
* Jeremy Papelbon
Vince Perkins
Gregory Reinhard
* Dustin Sasser
Brian Schlitter
Jeff Stevens
CATCHERS (3)
Welington Castillo
* Steve Clevenger
* Mark Johnson (Inactive – player/coach)
Mario Mercedes
INFIELDERS (9)
* Matt Camp
Russ Canzler
Jason Dubois
* Bryan Lahair
* Blake Lalli
# David Macias
* Jake Opitz
Nate Samson
Tony Thomas
OUTFIELDERS (4)
Smaily Borges
* Tony Campana
Brandon Guyer
Ty Wright
TENNESSEE (36):
PITCHERS (21)
Chris Archer
Todd Blackford
* Ryan Buchter
Alberto Cabrera
Chris Carpenter (Limited Activity Only – Injury Rehab)
Rafael Dolis
Kevin Kreier
Josh Lansford
* James Leverton
Dan McDaniel
Craig Muschko
David Patton
Mike Perconte
* Brooks Raley
Dae-Eun Rhee
* Chris Rusin
Ryan Searle
* Chris Siegfried
* Luke Sommer
Josh Whitlock
Hank Williamson
CATCHERS (3)
John Contreras (ex-3B)
Luis Flores
* Mark Reed
INFIELDERS (8)
* Ryan Flaherty
# Marwin Gonzalez
D. J. LeMahieu
Jonathan Mota
Rebel Ridling (Limited Activity – appendectomy rehab)
Marquez Smith
* Matt Spencer
Josh Vitters
OUTFIELDERS (4)
* Kyler Burke
* Brett Jackson
* Jason James
Kevin Soto
DAYTONA (33):
PITCHERS (20)
* Jeffry Antigua
* Jeffrey Beliveau
Justin Bristow (Limited Activity Only – injury rehab)
Rogelio Carmona
Marcus Hatley (Limited Activity Only – TJS rehab)
Robert Hernandez
Chris Huseby
Dylan Johnston (Limited Activity Only – injury rehab)
Su-Min Jung
Danny Keefe
Jordan Latham
Corey Martin
Trey McNutt
Ronny Morla
Jon Nagel
Dionis Nunez
Julio Pena
Andres Quezada
Aaron Shafer
Robert Whitenack
CATCHERS (3)
Michael Brenly
Jose Guevara
# Alvaro Sosa
INFIELDERS (6)
* Justin Bour
Dwayne Kemp
Junior Lake
# Matt Matulia (Inactive – player/coach)
George Matheus
Greg Rohan
* Ryne White
OUTFIELDERS (4)
* Francisco Guzman
Jesus Morelli
* Nelson Perez
# Jose Valdez
PEORIA (29):
PITCHERS (15):
Tim Clubb
Eduardo Figueroa
Jesse Ginley
Yohan Gonzalez
Steve Grife
* Austin Kirk
Luis Liria
Toby Matchulat (Limited Activity – Leg injury rehab)
Tarlandus Mitchell
Carlos Rojas
Jose Rosario
Larry Suarez
Nick Struck
Tzu-An Wang
Yao-Lin Wang
CATCHERS (3):
Jae-Hoon Ha (ex-OF)
* Richard Jones
Jovan Rosa
INFIELDERS (8):
# Robert Bautista
* Matt Cerda
* Wes Darvill
D. J. Fitzgerald
* Hak-Ju Lee
Charles Thomas
* Bobby Wagner
* Logan Watkins
OUTFIELDERS (3):
Runey Davis
* Alvaro Ramirez
Cody Shields
BOISE/MESA (23):
PITCHERS (10):
Frank Batista
Diego Encarnacion
Gian Guzman (ex-SS)
* Cody Hams
* John Mincone
* Marcos Perez
Melvin Rosa
* Drew Rundle (ex-OF)
Jake Schmidt
Adam Spencer
CATCHERS (4):
* Sergio Burruel
Garrett Maines
Brandon May (ex-3B)
Carlos Romero
INFIELDERS (5):
# Arismendy Alcantara
* Pin-Chieh Chen
# Rafael Disla
Derek Helenihi (Limited Activitty Only – injury rehab)
Jordan Petraitis
OUTFIELDERS (4):
# Vismeldy Bieneme
Dong-Yub Kim
* Kyung-Min Na
Blair Springfield
NOTE: The Boise/Mesa squad becomes the Cubs Extended Spring Training (EXST) team at Fitch Park April-May-June.
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