Cubs Outlast Angels at Fitch Park

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Wed, 06/05/2013 - 3:13pm

Yasiel Balaguert doubled twice, singled twice, walked, drove-in two runs, and scored three more, Junior Lake stroked a double and an RBI single, walked, and scored two runs, Rony Rodriguez singled twice, doubled, knocked-in three runs, and scored another, and Xavier Batista belted an RBI triple and a single and scored a run, helping the Cubs defeat the Angels 10-8 in Cactus League Extended Spriung Training action this morning at Fitch Park Field #4 in Mesa, AZ.  

RHP Trey Lang (Cubs 2012 6th round draft pick) got the start and had another rough outing, allowing six runs (all earned) on six hits (three singles, two doubles, and a triple), two walks, and an HBP, plus three wild pitches, in 4.1 IP (72 pitches). He did strike out five (all five swinging), but he was bouncing his breaking ball and had difficulty throwing his fastball for strikes.

In EXST Cubs roster news, catcher Neftali Rosario (Cubs 2011 6th round draft pick) has been moved up to Kane County. It's probably just a temporary thing, however, because Rosario was hitting just 091/167/136 in 11 EXST games (24 PA), and had missed some time with an ankle injury. Rosario was doubtful to even make the Boise roster, much less a permanent promotion to KC.  

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



CUBS LINEUP:
1. Kevin Encarnacion, LF: 1-5 (E-3, L-4, 4-3, 2B, P-6, R)
2. Junior Lake, CF: 2-4 (6-4-3 DP, K, 2B, 1B, BB, 2 R, RBI)
3. Yasiel Balaguert, RF: 4-4 (BB, 2B, 1B, 2B, 1B, 3 R, 2 RBI)
4. Xavier Batista, 1B: 2-5 (K, 1B, 3B, 1-3, K, R, 2 RBI)
5. Rony Rodriguez, DH: 3-5 (1B, 2B, 4-3, 1B, K, R, 3 RBI)
6. Jesse Hodges, 3B: 1-4 (3B, L-5, F-7, 4-6 FC, R, RBI)
7. Danny Lockhart, 2B: 0-3 (F-7, 6-3, 4-3, HBP)
8. Carlos Penalver, SS: 0-4 (K, F-7, 5-3, K)
9. Jose Morales, C: 0-2 (BB, 4-3, BB, 3-6-3 DP, R)

CUBS PITCHERS: 
1. Trey Lang: 4.1 IP, 6 H, 6 R (6 ER), 2 BB, 5 K, 1 HBP, 3 WP, 72 pitches (42 strikes), 5/3 GO/FO
2. Orbandy Rodriguez: 1.2 P, 3 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 2 K, 27 pitches (22 strikes), 1/2 GO/FO
3. Carlos Martinez: 2.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 2 K, 33 pitches (20 strikes), 1/2 GO/FO  
4. Mike Hamann: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 12 pitches (9 strikes), 1/0 GO/FO

CUBS ERRORS: 1
1B Xavier Batista - E-3 (fielding error on infield single allowed batter to advance to 2nd base)

CATCHERS DEEFENSE:
Jose Morales: 1-1 CS

ATTENDANCE: 13

WEATHER: Sunny with temperatures in the 90's 

Tags: 
EXST Cubs Spring Training
Yasiel Balaguert
Xavier Batista
Junior Lake
Rony Rodgriguez

Comments

Submitted by Rob G.  on Wed, 06/05/2013 - 5:29pm  

Midwest League All-Stars

http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/rosters...

Dan Vogelbach, Bijan Rademacher(DL), Rock Shoulders, Tayler Scott, Felix Pena(DL) & Nathan Dorris

Submitted by VirginiaPhil  on Thu, 06/06/2013 - 9:20am  
Go figure: three Kane County pitchers in Midwest League all-star game, and not one of them named Pierce Johnson.

Submitted by QuietMan  on Thu, 06/06/2013 - 10:18am  
Expecting him to be promoted before the game anyway?

Submitted by Rob G.  on Wed, 06/05/2013 - 6:13pm  

I'm sure you're all aware of this, but at some point the Cubs went from a terrible offense to a middle of the road one (7th in runs scored in NL, 8th in OPS).

Overall, 3rd in SLG, 12th in OBP...meet the new boss, same as the old

today they have Barney & Ransom batting 1st and 2nd versus the lefty Vargas...sure.

Submitted by Rob G.  on Wed, 06/05/2013 - 6:22pm  

I think the sight of Cubbie Blue woke Pujols up.

Submitted by John Beasley  on Wed, 06/05/2013 - 6:26pm  
Castro seemed unsure what happens after ball four.

Submitted by Rob G.  on Wed, 06/05/2013 - 7:27pm  

"Eh, ball what?"

"Ball Four son, get your ass to first"

"Eh shit, I lost count, not suppose to let ball four go by. Alfonso tell me you only hit home runs if you swing. Plus me and Castillo have a bet on who will swing at more bad pitches."

Submitted by Rob G.  on Wed, 06/05/2013 - 7:28pm  

bad Matt Garza tonight...

Submitted by Rob G.  on Wed, 06/05/2013 - 7:32pm  

Addison Reed blows a 5-0 lead in the bottom of the 14th against the Mariners.

After 0-0 through 13, WSox get 5 in the top of the inning. Reed gets the first guy and then 4 straight singles, before K'ing Jason Bay and giving up a tying grand slam to Kyle Seager.

To the 15th...

#schaudenfreude

Submitted by crunch  on Wed, 06/05/2013 - 7:40pm  
woo...scrubbies tie in the 5th. ransom 3r HR.

Submitted by crunch  on Wed, 06/05/2013 - 7:46pm  
lulz...cubs pull off a double steal with soriano+hairston with 2 outs and soriano the lead runner. that's keeping them off guard.

Submitted by crunch  on Wed, 06/05/2013 - 8:00pm  
cubs take the lead in the top 6th...3 hits to start the inning...men on 1st/2nd, 0 out...vargas is done.

Submitted by Rob G.  on Wed, 06/05/2013 - 8:44pm  

Cubs up 1 in the bottom of the 7th...I'm sure this will go smoothly.

Wonder where the 8th inning bullpen roulette wheel will land?

Submitted by crunch  on Wed, 06/05/2013 - 9:10pm  
we have a winner. j.russell blows it in the 8th. tie game.

Submitted by Rob G.  on Wed, 06/05/2013 - 9:10pm  

James Russell's turn to eff it up.

Submitted by crunch  on Wed, 06/05/2013 - 9:34pm  
hector rondon...tie game in the 9th...this could be interesting, aka, over soon.

Submitted by crunch  on Wed, 06/05/2013 - 9:46pm  
2 outs, man on 3rd...here comes the cubs uber-closer...keven "really?" gregg ...and it's to the 10th with a K.

Submitted by crunch  on Wed, 06/05/2013 - 10:03pm  
rizz-OH! with a 3 run, 2 out, double. cubs lead 8-5.

Submitted by jacos  on Wed, 06/05/2013 - 10:06pm  
Tony Two Sacks Hollansworth sounds like like Jason Bateman from " dodgeball" /on the Ocho

Submitted by Hagsag  on Thu, 06/06/2013 - 5:02am  
AZ Phil, do you know the extent of Jae-Hoon Ha's injury? Is he in Arizona? Thanks. Also how agout his partner Dae-Eun Rhee?

Submitted by Old and Blue  on Thu, 06/06/2013 - 6:35am  
Ask for something around here... And you get it. Yesterday I wondered out loud how many pitchers picked in the first round have had a decent career that has lasted 3 years, and, sure enough, you morans came up with more than one list. I'm still not really sure I'd like to see a top three pick spent on a pitcher. I'm not so interested in whether or not they actually live up to potential - that's always a crap shoot whether they are pitchers or position players. My only reason for not wanting to take a top three pick on a pitcher is the injury factor. I wouldn't expand that to an entire first round, though. If the Cubs were picking, say, 15th in the first round, and they chose a pitcher, I really wouldn't care either way. One thing seems clear - there don't seem to be any can't misses. I wanted Bryant until I saw Rob's point about him, now I'm not so sure (I'm easily swayed by anything close to a reasonable argument, especially by people who know a lot more than I do about something). I do wonder though, and I'm way too lazy to research it, if Bryant isn't considered special now because he simply got bigger and stronger in college. Could be in high school he had some pop but nothing overwhelming. Somebody mentioned - maybe crunch, that Bryant was a no field third baseman. Whoever they pick, I really want somebody who can come in and help the team this year. Bring him up!!

Submitted by QuietMan  on Thu, 06/06/2013 - 8:05am  
I don't think this article was linked yesterday. http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft/top-100-...

Submitted by Rob G.  on Thu, 06/06/2013 - 11:58am  

I'm sure Bryant will have a perfectly reasonable career. I'd be more stoked about him if batted from the left side and was a good bet to stay at third base. But I think Gray and Appel will also have perfectly reasonable careers, with Gray having the most upside of the 3. And the Cubs could use some immediate help in the rotation of course. Plus, despite the fact that TheJedi are on a 5-year plan, by Year 5, they need to be contending for a playoff spot or I don't even think Ricketts will be that patient.

If the Cubs were playing the long game, I'd say go with Frazier or Meadows. But for the immediate needs, I'd definitely go Grey if he's available. 100 mph fastballs have a high rate of having major league careers. Although I do think Gray will need a few seasons in the minors to work on his control, while I believe Appel should be in the majors by 2014. I'd say even 2013, but they'll probably let his arm take a break.

Submitted by crunch  on Thu, 06/06/2013 - 2:34pm  
"no field" 3rd is a bit strong, but a lot of people believe he won't stick there. i imagine he'll get a chance to try it out, but a lot of people doubt he'll be able to stick there. his reaction time there is supposedly a bit slow and he's racked up a concerning amount of errors there in college...but they use aluminum bats there and college is a place where (thanks to those bats) people look more at the footwork/reaction-time/arm more than the errors. my main concern about bryant is that he's a junior...so he's going to want to get paid...his power is off-the-charts and he's going to demand top loot with an extra year of college to leverage. given the cubs slot it's not that much of a concern, though...the worst that could happen is he'd want same/similar loot as gray/appell.

Submitted by John Beasley  on Thu, 06/06/2013 - 7:38am  
http://espn.go.com/mlb/standings ESPN's playoff odds calculator still gives the Cubs an 11% chance of making the playoffs this year. That's better than 11 other teams, despite the Cubs being in a division with three teams on pace for the playoffs. It's roughly the same odds as the Phillies, who are at .500 in a weak division despite poor play. I've been the first to admit this year's Cubs are OK and not terrible, but the record is what it is, and the sell-off is pending. If ESPN wants 10-to-1 that the Cubs make the playoffs, I'll happily take that.