Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

40 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (roster is full) 

28 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE, and twelve players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors. 

Last updated 3-26-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 15
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Jose Cuas
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Caleb Kilian
Mark Leiter Jr
* Luke Little
Julian Merryweather
Hector Neris 
* Drew Smyly
* Justin Steele
Jameson Taillon
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

INFIELDERS: 7
* Michael Busch 
Nico Hoerner
Nick Madrigal
* Miles Mastrobuoni
Christopher Morel
Dansby Swanson
Patrick Wisdom

OUTFIELDERS: 4
* Cody Bellinger 
Alexander Canario
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman 

OPTIONED: 12 
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Ben Brown, P 
Alexander Canario, OF 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, P 
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Daniel Palencia, P 
Keegan Thompson, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 
Hayden Wesneski, P 

 



 

Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Kubs Korean Konnection Keeps Klickin'

Hak-Ju Lee stroked RBI singles in the 6th and the 8th to help carry the Cubs to a 6-2 victory over the A’s Split Squad #1 in AZ Instructional League action at Fitch Park Field #3 in Mesa this morning.

Korean bonus baby Jin-Yeong Kim got the start for the Cubs, making his professional debut. The 18-year old right-hander showed no evidence of nervousness or inexperience, as he displayed pinpoint control while mixing a 91 MPH two-seam sinking fastball with a curve and a change-up, keeping the A’s hitters off-balance through the first two innings (K-s, K-s, 1-3 in the 1st, then K-s, 2B, 3-1, 4-3 in the 2nd). Kim received a reported $1.2M signing bonus earlier this year, believed to be the second-largest bonus ever given to an international player to date by the Cubs. (Only RHP Jae-Kuk Ryu got more)

Cubs 2010 9th round pick RHP Kevin Rhoderick also made his professional debut this morning, pumping mid-90’s gas and a killer slider at the A’s while striking out the first four men he faced, the first two after he entered the game with runners at 2nd & 3rd and one out in the 6th. Rhoderick was the closer at Oregon State the past three seasons, and was a first-team Freshman All-American in 2008. He suffered from inconsistency this past season, but If he can continue to throw the ball in subsequent outings as he did today, he will be racing fellow fireballin’ 2010 draft pick RHP Aaron Kurcz (10th round selection out of the College of Southern Nevada) to see who can move up the pipeline the fastest.

In addition to the fine debut outings by Kim and Rhoderick, RHPs Austin Reed (Cubs 2010 12th round pick out of Rancho Cucamonga HS - Rancho Cucamonga, CA) and Matt Loosen (Cubs 2010 23rd round pick out of Jacksonville U.) threw two shutout innings a piece. Reed was recently named one of the Top 20 Prospects (#11) in the Arizona League (AZL) by Baseball America, the only AZL Cub to make the list.

The Cub defensive play of the day was a run-saving running catch on the warning track in the right-centerfield alley by CF Evan Crawford to close out the top of the 4th. (Possibly the fastest player currently in the Cubs system, Crawford was the gazelle the Cubs got back from the Giants in exchange for Mike Fontenot this past August).

17-year old 3B Dustin Geiger (2010 24th round pick out of Merritt Island HS - Brevard County, FL) was hit on the hand by a pitch in the bottom of the 5th and had to leave the game. Hopefully nothing is broken.

Here is today’s abridged box score (Cubs players only):

LINEUP:
1. Evan Crawford, CF: 1-4 (2B, F-9, K, 1-5 FC, R)
2. Hak-Ju Lee, SS-DH: 2-4 (L-5, K, 1B, 1B, 2 RBI, 2 R)
3. Justin Bour, 1B: 2-4 (K, K, 1B, 1B, RBI)
4. Max Kwan, C-DH: 0-3 (K, HBP, L-4, K, CS)
5a. Dustin Geiger, 3B: 0-1 (K, HBP)
5b. Willson Contreras, PR-3B: 0-2 (4-3, E4, R)
6. Micah Gibbs, DH-C: 1-3 (K, 1B, BB, K)
7a. Wes Darvill, 2B: 0-2 (6-3, 6-4 FC, RBI, SB)
7b. Gioskar Amaya, 2B: 0-2 (F-8, 5-3)
8. Reggie Golden, RF: 0-3 (BB, 4-3, K, K, CS)
9a. Chris Huseby, LF: 1-3 (6-3, K, 1B)
9b. Pin-Chieh Chen, PH: 0-1 (5-3)
10. Marco Hernandez, DH-SS: 1-3 (K, E4, 1B, 2 R)

PITCHERS:
1. Jin-Yeong Kim: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 28 pitches (20 strikes), 3/0 GO/FO
2. Austin Reed: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 25 pitches (16 strikes), 1/5 GO/FO
3. Hunter Ackerman: 1.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R (2 ER), 1 BB, 3 K, 31 pitches (19 strikes), 0/1 GO/FO
4. Kevin Rhoderick: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K, 25 pitches (17 strikes), 1/0 GO/FO
5. Matt Loosen: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 GIDP, 28 pitches (18 strikes), 2/3 GO/FO

ERRORS: NONE

CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Max Kwan: 0-1 CS

=================================================

ATTENDANCE: 28

WEATHER: Hot and sunny, with temperatures in the 90’s

==================================================

2010 CUBS INSTRUCTIONAL LEAGUE ROSTER:

FIELD COORDINATOR:
Dave Bialas

INSTRUCTORS:
Jeff Fassero
Franklin Font
Dave Keller
Greg Maddux
Carmelo Martinez
Marty Pevey
Tom Pratt
Mark Riggins
Min-Kyu Sung

GAME MANAGER:
Juan Cabreja

ACTIVE LIST (47):

* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS (22):
* Hunter Ackerman
* Brent Ebinger
Dustin Fitzgerald
* Cam Greathouse
* Casey Harman
Ryan Hartman
Jin-Yeong Kim
Aaron Kurcz
Luis Liria
Matt Loosen
Robinson Lopez
* Jeff Lorick
Tarlandus Mitchell
Amaury Paulino
Starling Peralta
Austin Reed
Kevin Rhoderick
Jhon Rodriguez
* Brian Smith
Alvaro Sosa (ex-C)
Charles Thomas (ex-3B)
Ben Wells

CATCHERS (5):
* Sergio Burruel
# Micah Gibbs
Max Kwan
Chad Noble
# Engel Santana

INFIELDERS (12):
Gioskar Amaya
* Justin Bour
Willson Contreras
* Ryan Cuneo
* Pin-Chieh Chen
* Wes Darvill
Dustin Geiger
* Marco Hernandez
* Hak-Ju Lee
D. J. Lemahieu
Josh Vitters
* Logan Watkins

OUTFIELDERS (8):
* Delbis Arcila
Xavier Batista
Evan Crawford
Reggie Golden
Jae-Hoon Ha
Chris Huseby (ex-P)
* Kyung-Min Na
# Oliver Zapata

Comments

Phil, I know Juan Cabreja has been working in the Cubs organization for a few years now, but I've been unable to find out anything about his previous background. Where did he play ball? When? What position did he play? After retirement, what other organizations (if any) has he worked for? In what capacities? Thanx!

[ ]

In reply to by Hook

Submitted by Hook on Sat, 09/25/2010 - 6:03pm. Phil, I know Juan Cabreja has been working in the Cubs organization for a few years now, but I've been unable to find out anything about his previous background. Where did he play ball? When? What position did he play? After retirement, what other organizations (if any) has he worked for? In what capacities? Thanx! ================================================== HOOK: Juan Cabreja did not play pro ball. He began coaching at the Cubs Dominican Academy when he was about 25 and he was down there for several years before he was moved up to Fitch Park in 2009. He wasn't with any other MLB organization prior to that. I don't know what position he played prior to coaching.

[ ]

In reply to by Raisin101

Submitted by Raisin101 on Sat, 09/25/2010 - 6:28pm. Thanks, AZ Phil. How does Jin-Yeong Kim compare to Dae-Eun Rhee and Su-Min Jung in their initial Instructs debut? Is he further along? ============================================ RAISIN: Dae-Eun Rhee had an eye-popping pro debut at Instructs in 2007. His slider/splitter was Bugs Bunny unhittable, and the scouts who were seeing him for the first time were projecting him as possibly a big league closer down the line just because of that pitch. But then Rhee had TJS in 2008, and when he came back at Instructs last year he wasn't throwing the splitter, and he wasn't throwing it in Minor League Camp this past March, either. Instead he was throwing a straight-change and a curve. I don't know if he has completely junked the slider-splitter, but if he has he probably isn't anything more than a run-of-the-mill minor league pitching prospect. His fastball tops out at about 89 and it probably isn't going to get him to the big leagues. Su-Min Jung has similar stuff as Jin-Yeong Kim, but just based upon the one game I saw him pitch, Kim is more polished and poised, and has better command. He can throw all of his pitches for strikes. And it's not like Kim "pitches-to-contact," either, because he got eight or nine swings & misses (including Michael Choice, who is one of the best hitting prospects I have seen down here in a while) during the course of his outing yesterday. Kim just seems to be more mature and more polished than one would expect an 18-year old to be. I would compare him more to how I remember Jae-Kuk Ryu when I first saw him at Fitch Park, rather than to Su-Min Jung at a similar point in development. But I do like Jung and think he could develop into an MLB pitcher. It's just that Kim is probably a tick better, mainly because of the polish and the command.

[ ]

In reply to by George Altman

Submitted by George Altman on Sun, 09/26/2010 - 3:30pm. AZ Phil, Ricketts quoted today as saying Cubs 2011 payroll will 'dip slightly' from the $144m in 2010. How would you read that? What amount is a dip? Also, if Dunn re-signs with Washington, would Adam LaRoche be a more likely 1B replacement? Thanks ================================== GEORGE A: Because the Cubs saved about $7M in payroll this season by restructuring Dempster's contract and trading D. Lee, Lilly, and Theriot, I would think that Hendry will have about a $130M payroll in 2011. At present, including players who are already signed, projected likely salaries for the arbitration-eligibles, and the salaries (including split salaries) for auto-renewals, the Cubs presently have an estimated projected $118M payroll for 2011, minus somewhere around $1.5M if Guzman and K. Hill get non-tendered on 12/12, and perhaps another $4.5M if the Cubs can find a taker for Fukudome (this is presuming the Cubs would have to eat 2/3 of his 2011 salary). So if the payroll is at $130M and salary commitments are presently at $118M, that would leave only $12M in 2011 payroll for players added to the team during the off-season. But if the additional $6M in savings from non-tendering Guzman and K. Hill and trading Fukudome is added to that $12M in available payroll, Hendry would have about $18M to spend, enough to sign a FA 1B and a RH 8th inning set-up guy/back-up closer. As for who Hendry would target if Dunn is not available, I would think Aubrey Huff and Adam LaRoche would be next on the list. And I don't think Ricketts would allow Hendry to offer any FA contracts longer than three years (for Dunn) or two years (for Huff or LaRoche).

[ ]

In reply to by Rob Richardson

Submitted by Rob Richardson on Mon, 09/27/2010 - 10:33am. Phil can I assume that you think that the Cubs basically stand pat with only minor free agent signings? ====================================== ROB: Yes. Other than signing a FA 1B and RHRP, I think the Cubs will sign a few players (including 2010 MLB players) to minor league contracts with an NRI to ST. But there really isn't much need for FA "roster filler" at the minor league level. Perhaps a SS with MLB experience to compete with Darwin Barney for the back-up middle-infield back-up job (with the ST loser becoming the starting SS at Iowa), and maybe an OF with MLB experience who can play at Iowa. Sam Fuld, Jeff Gray, Micah Hoffpauir, Jeff Samardzija, and Brad Snyder are the auto-renewal guys who will be out of options next season, so it's very possible that the Cubs will trade one or more of them (but probably not Samardzija, because he has "no trade" rights) during the off-season. Also, James Adduci and Bobby Scales are likely outright candidates post-2010 (and if they get outrighted, both can be a 6YFA), and Jason Dubois and Bryan Lahair are minor league free-agents, so with Fuld, Hoffpauir, and Snyder out of options, Adduci and Scales likely to get outrighted (and probably become FA), and Dubois and Lahair eligible to be minor league FA, roster slots will be opened up at Iowa for Tony Campana, Brandon Guyer, Matt Spencer, and Tony Thomas next season. BTW, Guyer, Campana, and Wright will be playing Winter Ball in Venezuela on a team with Jody Davis as the manager, Barbaro Garbey as hitting coach, and David Rosario the pitching coach. (Davis was the manager at Boise in 2010, and Garbey and Rosario were coaches at Peoria). Robinson Chirinos will also likely be playing winter ball in Venezuela.

[ ]

In reply to by Arizona Phil

Phil: This isn't the first time you've mentioned LaRoche and Huff are Dunn alternates, presumably because of their power and lefthandedness. (And unlike trade candidate Prince Fielder, they're much more affordable.) But what about Carlos Pena, whose batting average is likely going to scare away some teams? Any chance he's one of those Dunn alternates? I don't even know who this guy's free agent comparables would be, and I have no idea what he's going to earn, but he does sport a good SLG and OBP (relative to his BA). Coming off a bad 2010 and in a crowded 1B market, my presumption is he might end up being a bargain and that the league switch could benefit him.

[ ]

In reply to by George Altman

Submitted by George Altman on Mon, 09/27/2010 - 1:32pm. Thanks, Phil....one last question: Is Soriano completely untradeable? If not, any guess on the max amount Ricketts would be willing to pick up? My thoughts would be to unload him at almost any cost and keep Fukudome. At least he can play the OF and what you loose in SLG you pick up in OBA ==================================== GEORGE ALTMAN: The only way the Cubs trade Alfonso Soriano is maybe to Toronto for Vernon Wells, who has a similar contract as Soriano's (worse, actually). But for that to happen, Soriano and Wells would both have to agree to waive their NTCs, plus the Cubs would probably have to send a second player of some value (probably somebody who can play CF, like Tyler Colvin or Brett Jackson) to the Jays as part of the deal. FWIW, Alfonso Soriano plus Marlon Byrd for Vernon Wells would actually be an almost exact salary-wash over the next four years (Wells makes $86M 2011-14, while Soriano+Byrd make a combined $84M)...

[ ]

In reply to by Dr. aaron b

Soriano had 362 total bases in 2006. In four of the last five seasons (not counting this year), Pujols had fewer TBs than that. This year, Pujols is at 346, so I guess this weekend he's likely to go over 362. Anyway, Soriano had pretty good production back then. Everything is slipping away, not just his speed. Age is the problem. I wouldn't want Holliday's contract in my safe, and I might even feel the same way next year about Pujols' new contract. The dumbest thing Hendry ever said had to do with Neifi and latching onto guys who could catch the ball; but the second dumbest might have been when he said that wristy hitters age well. I'm not sure who he meant, but my recollection is that Banks aged quickly. I notice that the last time he hit 40 HRs, he was 29.

[ ]

In reply to by VirginiaPhil

Soriano always had poor plate discipline. His whole game was wrist and bat speed. So you could reasonably expect that any slippage would be quite noticeable. The thing is, Soriano is STILL a good player. Just not worth 18 Million dollars. He wasn't worth that kind of money in 2007 really either though. He had a career year and we bought at the highest possible value. The guy Lost his arbitration battle with Washington heading into 2006. He asked for 12 and the arbitrator have him 10. How that equaled 18 over 8 just 9 months later I don't really know?

Brad Snyder hits the ball pretty hard. I wonder if there isn't some way we could see more Snyder and less Nady. Or at least more Hoffpauir--give him a chance to demonstrate some sort of value to the club. I'd like to see more Castillo and less Hill while we're at it.

Thanks a ton for these reports, AZ Phil. I couldn't wait to hear some more news about Reggie Golden and Kim. Good stuff. It's nice to see Rhoderick show some flashes as well. He and Kurcz would look awfully nice in the 7th and 8th innings, setting up Marmol.

"According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Rangers have inked a 20-year, $3 billion television extension with FOX Sports Southwest." WTF really? 150m a year for baseball TV rights to a medium-sized market with in-state competition? woah.

via ye olde liberal brainwashing illuminati-controlled media, aka Reuters: "SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) -- A jury convicted a drunken driver of murder Monday in the deaths of promising rookie Los Angeles Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart and two of his friends. Andrew Gallo, 23, held white rosary beads and occasionally looked up at jurors as they returned convictions on three counts of second-degree murder and single counts of drunken driving, hit-and-run driving, and driving under the influence of alcohol and causing great bodily injury." he's looking at 50 years to life...Dec. 10 sentencing...appeals expected

[ ]

In reply to by Dr. aaron b

better lawyer? Stallworth pleaded guilty and his insurance company made a nice payment to the family and the prosecution seemed willing to accept a lower sentence. Also, the victim allegedly wasn't in a crosswalk when struck as he was trying to catch a bus, and the entire burden of the accident wasn't on Stallworth. I believe this is somewhat unique to Florida law that if the lawyers can partially blame the victim for the accident, there's a lesser sentence. Not really justifying that he got just 30 days, but that appears to be what happened.

Recent comments

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Javier Assad started the Lo-A game (Myrtle Beach versus Stockton) on the Cubs backfields on Wednesday as his final Spring Training tune-up. He was supposed to throw five innings / 75 pitches. However, I was at the minor league road games at Fitch so I didn't see Assad pitch. 

  • crunch (view)

    cards put j.young on waivers.

    they really tried to make it happen this spring, but he put up a crazy bad slash of .081/.244/.108 in 45PA.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Seconded!!!

  • crunch (view)

    another awesome spring of pitching reports.  thanks a lot, appreciated.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Here are the Cubs pitchers reports from Tuesday afternoon's Cardinals - Cubs game art Sloan Park in Mesa:

    SHOTA IMANAGA
    FB: 90-92 
    CUT: 87-89 
    SL: 82-83 
    SPLIT: 81-84
    CV: 73-74 
    COMMENT: Worked three innings plus two batters in the fourth... allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits (six singles and two doubles) walked one, and struck out six (four swinging), with a 1/2 GO/AO... he threw 73 pitches (52 strikes - 10 swing & miss - 19 foul balls)... surrendered one run in the top of the 1st on a one-out double off Cody Bellinger's glove in deep straight-away CF followed one out later by two consecutive two-out bloop singles, allowed two runs (one earned) in the 2nd after retiring the first two hitters (first batter had a nine-pitch AB with four consecutive two-strike foul balls before being retired 3 -U) on a two-out infield single (weak throw on the run by Nico Hoerner), a hard-contact line drive RBI double down the RF line, and an E-1 (missed catch) by Imanaga on what should been an inning-ending 3-1 GO, gave up another run in the 3rd on a two-out walk on a 3-2 pitch and an RBI double to LF, and two consecutive singles leading off the top of the 4th before being relieved (runners were ultimately left stranded)... threw 18 pitches in the 1st inning (14 strikes - two swing & miss, one on FB and the other on a SL - four foul balls), 24 pitches in the 2nd inning (17 strikes - three swing & miss, one on FB, two SPLIT - six foul balls), 19 pitches in the 3rd inning (13 strikes - seven swing & miss, three on SL, two on SPLIT, one on FB - three foul balls), and 12 pitches without retiring a batter in the top of the 4th (8 strikes - no swing & miss - four foul balls)... Imanaga throws a lot of pitches per inning, but it's not because he doesn't throw strikes...  if anything, he throws too many strikes (he threw 70% strikes on Tuesday)... while he gets a ton of swing & miss (and strikeouts), he also induces a lot of foul balls because he doesn't try to make hitters chase his pitches by throwing them out of the strike zone... rather, he uses his very diverse pitch mix to get swing & miss (and lots of foul balls as well)... he also is a fly ball pitcher who will give up more than his share of HR during the course of the season...   
     
    JOE NAHAS
    FB: 90-92 
    SL: 83-85 
    CV: 80-81 
    COMMENT: Was called up from the Hi-A South Bend group at Minor League Camp for the day... relieved Imanaga with runners at first and second and no outs in the top of the 4th, and after an E-2 catcher's interference committed by Miguel Amaya loaded he bases, Nahas struck out the side (one swinging & two looking)... threw 16 pitches (11 strikes - two swinging)...   

    YENCY ALMONTE
    FB: 89-92 
    CH: 86 
    SL: 79 
    COMMENT: Threw an eight-pitch 5th (five strikes - no swing & miss), with a 5-3 GO for the first out and an inning-ending 4-6-3 DP after a one-out single... command was a bit off but he worked through it...   

    FRANKIE SCALZO JR
    FB: 94-95
    CH: 88 
    SL: 83
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and worked the 6th inning... got the first outs easily (a P-5 and a 4-3 GO) on just three pitches, before allowing three consecutive two-out hard-contact hits (a double and two singles), with the third hit on pitch # 9 resulting in a runner being thrown out at the plate by RF Christian Franklin for the third out of the inning... 

    MICHAEL ARIAS
    FB: 94-96
    CH: 87-89
    SL: 82-83
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and allowed a hard-contact double on the third pitch of the 7th inning (a 96 MPH FB), and the runner came around to score on a 4-3 GO and a WP... gave up two other loud contact outs (an L-7 and an F-9)... threw 18 pitches (only 10 strikes - only one swing & miss)... stuff is electric but still very raw and he continues to have difficulty commanding it, and while he has the repertoire of a SP, he throws too many pitches-per-inning to be a SP and not enough strikes to be a closer... he is most definitely still a work-in-progress...   

    ZAC LEIGH: 
    FB: 93-94 
    CH: 89 
    SL: 81-83 
    CV: 78
    COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and tossed a 1-2-3 8th (4-3 GO, K-swinging on a sweeper, K-looking on another sweeper)... threw 14 pitches (11 strikes - one swing & miss - eight foul balls)... kept pumping pitches into the strike zone but had difficulty putting hitters away (ergo a ton of foul balls)... FB velo is nowhere near the 96-98 MPH it was a couple of years ago when he was a Top 30 prospect, but his secondaries are better...   

    JOSE ROMERO:  
    FB: 93-95
    SL: 82-84
    COMMENT: Was called up from the Hi-A South Bend group at Minor League Camp for the day and worked the 9th (14 pitches - only six strikes- no swing & miss) and allowed a solo HR after two near-HR fly outs to the warning track, before getting a 3-1 GO to end the inning... it was like batting practice when he wasn't throwing pitches out of the strike zone...

  • crunch (view)

    pablo sandoval played 3rd and got a couple ABs (strikeout, single!) in the OAK@SF "exhibition"

    mlb officially authenticated the ball of the single he hit.  nice.

    he's in surprisingly good shape considering his poor body condition in his last playing seasons.  he's not lean, but he looks healthier.  good for him.

  • crunch (view)

    dbacks are signing j.montgomery to a 1/25m with a vesting 20m player option.

    i dunno when the ink officially dries, but i believe if he signs once the season begins he can't be offered a QO...and i'm not sure if that thing with SD/LAD in korea was the season beginning, either.

  • crunch (view)

    sut says imanaga getting the home opener at wrigley (game 4 of the season).

  • crunch (view)

    cubs rolling out the who's who of "who the hell is this guy?" in the last spring game.

  • videographer (view)

    AZ Phil, speaking of Jordan Wicks having better command when he tires a bit, I remember reading about Dennis Lamp 40 years ago and his sinker that was better after 3 or 4 innings when he would tire a bit and get more sink with a little less speed on the pitch.  The key for Lamp was getting to the 4th inning.