Cubs Top Angels at Diablo Park

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Thu, 05/15/2014 - 05:52 pm

Elliot Soto tripled, singled, walked, and scored a run, and Eloy Jimenez singled twice, scored a run, and drove-in another, leading the Cubs to a 9-5 victory over the Angels in Cactus League Extended Spring Training action this morning at Diablo Park Field #7 in Tempe, AZ. 

Raul Linares reached base four times (RBI triple, two singles, and a walk) for the Angels.

In 18 Cactus League Extended Spring Training games (72 PA), Eloy Jimenez is hitting 221/250/279, with a team-leading nine RBI, plus four doubles and 3/19 BB/K. He has yet to homer in a Cactus League EXST game, although he has in Intrasquad games. 

Unlike the other top international prospect signed by the Cubs in 2013 (SS Gleyber Torres), Jimenez has no chance to make the Boise Hawks Opening Day roster, but he does stand a good chance to be in the AZL Cubs Opening Day lineup next month. 

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


CUBS LINEUP:
1a. Rashad Crawford, CF: 1-3 (1-3, 1B, K, R, SB)
1b. Charcer Burks, CF: 0-1 (BB, F-9, R)
2. Zak Blair, 2B: 0-3 (2-3, L-8, BB, BB, K, 2 R, RBI)
3a. Kevin Brown, LF: 0-2 (1-3, E-7)
3b. Ricardo Marcano, LF: 1-2 (BB, 1B, F-7, R, RBI)
4. Eloy Jimenez, DH #1: 2-5 (1B, F-9, 1B, K, K, R, RBI, CS)
5. Rony Rodriguez, 1B: 0-1 (P-2, BB, F-7 SF, BB, R, 2 RBI)
6. Shamil Ubiera, RF: 1-4 (K, F-7, 2B, 4-3, 2 RBI)
7a. Varonex Cuevas, SS: 0-1 (E-9, CS)
7b. Bryant Flete, SS: 0-1 (BB, F-8, HBP)
8. Erick Castillo, C: 0-4 (4-3, P-4, K, K)
9. Adonis Paula, 3B: 0-3 (K, BB, E-4, 5-3, R)
10. Elliot Soto, DH #2: 2-3 (L-6, BB, 1B, 3B, R)

CUBS PITCHERS:
1. Trevor Graham: 4.0 IP, 5 H,1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 6 K, 1 WP, 4/1 GO/FO, 68 pitches (45 strikes)
2. Victor Salazar: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R (2 ER), 3 BB, 1 K, 1/3 GO/FO, 48 pitches (22 strikes)
3. Yomar Morel: 3.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R (2 ER), 0 BB, 1 K, 1 WP, 2/6 GO/FO, 51 pitches (34 strikes)

CUBS ERRORS: 1
3B Adonis Paula - E-5 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely) 

CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Erick Castillo: 1-1 CS, 1 PB

CUBS OUTFIELD ASSISTS:
RF Shamil Ubiera - runner thrown out 9-4-2 trying to score from 1st base on a double

ATTENDANCE: 7

WEATHER: Sunny & breezy with temperatures in the 90's

 

Tags
Cubs Extended Spring Training
Eloy Jimenez
Elliot Soto

Comments

Submitted by Rob G. on Thu, 05/15/2014 - 05:09 pm

some of you are more experienced with this...but if I wish to try and not go bankrupt getting Game 1 tickets for Blackhawks @ Ducks on Sunday (if Ducks win), where would you look besides the normal online ticket resellers? Or any other suggestions?

Currently cheapest price is about $150 a ticket on stubhub for the nosebleeds.

 

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Submitted by Tito on Fri, 05/16/2014 - 05:39 am

Try Craigslist. Look at the ads from sellers that aren't brokers. Also post an ad saying you want tix but don't want to spend a shitload. You'll get people emailing you with "bargains" (i.e., not bargains) but sometimes they just want to get rid of the tickets. You can also maybe find some other hot deals, if you know what I mean.

Submitted by Old and Blue on Thu, 05/15/2014 - 05:28 pm

Today's Olt Watch: I only saw one AB, the walk, and that was a nice At bat. They were trying to get him to fish for stuff low and away and he wouldn't bite. Obviously it would have been better if he had connected on that one he took a swing at that was right down the pipe, and he did leave three on base. But with Baker batting behind him, then SureOut replacing Baker, he wasn't gonna see much in that AB with men on.

Submitted by crunch on Thu, 05/15/2014 - 05:37 pm

with tonight's 0-4 (2Ks)...baez's OPS drops sub-.500. ouch. 4 hits in his last 10 games/40ab (3 came in 1 game)...20Ks...4bb...

Submitted by Old and Blue on Fri, 05/16/2014 - 05:17 am

From the tweet box: "Soler made a great catch to take away an extra base hit in the 4th then seemed bothered by the Hamstring. He then left the game." Seriously? Did they run any medicals on this guy before they signed him?

Submitted by The E-Man on Fri, 05/16/2014 - 05:33 am

And...do we have a Back-Up Catcher?? Considering Baker has the lowest BA in baseball, whay are the TheoJed "stashing" the 26 year old, lefty-hitting Rafael Lopez catcher in AA? Are we loaded with catching prospects in Iowa? I mean when else are you going to give guys a shot other than when you are 26, having a nice year at your competitive level, and your parent team is the worst in the NL?

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Submitted by WISCGRAD on Fri, 05/16/2014 - 05:00 am

Well, Lopez has had a good 100 ABs in AA. Prior to that he hit .247 in a full season at AA last year, .269 in A+ and .265 in A the year before. Moving people without stellar track records up to the majors after a hot streak of 6 weeks in AA is probably not the best idea. You would have to add him to the 40-man, start burning service time, he'd get infrequent ABs because he would be a back-up, and he'd be overwhelmed by big league pitching. I doubt he has much of a career shot anyway, but you'd kill any he does have. I'd actually look at it the opposite way. If the Cubs were in a pennant chase and even a slight upgrade over Baker at the back-up catching position might lead to a win or two more, then you think about making changes. But the Cubs are the worst team in the NL, so why stunt anyone's development in the minor leagues and burn service time in hopes of improving from very very shitty to just very shitty? At this point, the only call-ups should be guys who have proven themselves over an extended period at high levels in the minors and can get a month or two of major league experience under their belts leading into next year.

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Submitted by The E-Man on Fri, 05/16/2014 - 05:33 pm

...why stunt anyone's development in the minor leagues and burn service time in hopes of improving from very very shitty to just very shitty? I suppose you are right. There is not much upside from "very, very shitty", to just plain "very shitty". If they have control over him, even at his "advanced age", it probably is best as you say. He may just run out of time, however, unless he breaks free. Catcher's position mortality rate peaks at 29-31.

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Fri, 05/16/2014 - 05:24 am

Whenever people talk about the Cubs possibly leaving the Florida State League after the 2014 season because of too many rain-outs (the PDA between the Cubs and Daytona expires after this season), the  possibility of the Cubs moving their Hi-A affiliate to the California League is often dismissed because it is believed by some that the California League is too much of a "hitter's league" and so therefore MLB clubs with their Hi-A affiliate in the California League often just have their better pitching prospects skip Hi-A to avoid having to pitch in the California League. 

A partial list of pitchers who spent their "Hi-A" season in the California League over the years:

Nick Adenhart
Andrew Bailey
Madison Bumgarner
Trevor Cahill
Matt Cain
Patrick Corbin
John Danks
Jeff Francis
Rich Harden
Felix Hernandez
Derek Holland 
Ubaldo Jimenez
John Lackey
Pedro Liriano
Justin Masterson
Wade Miley
Jake Peavy  
Francisco Rodriguez  
Ervin Santana
Joe Saunders
James Shields
Tyler Skaggs 
Pedro Strop
Chris Tillman
Brandon Webb
Zack Wheeler

Maybe pitching in a "hitter's league" is actually a good thing for a pitcher's development.

Submitted by rokfish on Fri, 05/16/2014 - 05:51 am

I saw this on bleacher report five trades that make sense. Benafacio to Braves for either SP Aaron Northcraft or RP Shea Simmons. Samardzija to Yankess for top prospect and catcher Gary Sanchez and pitchers Chase Whitley and Ty Hensley.

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Submitted by Sonicwind75 on Fri, 05/16/2014 - 05:37 pm

Suggested that myself a few days ago. With McCann signed, Sanchez should be available, especially with another good catching prospect behind him in the Yankees system. Not sure if the arms are premium enough. I guess it depends on if you believe Welington Castillo is a long term solution or not.

Submitted by jacos on Fri, 05/16/2014 - 05:15 pm

Overheard in Clubhouse Cpt Happy- "Shark all the pieces are in place for your first win today!" Shark- "Great!" Shark reads lineup, no Olt. Sureoutz and Barney playing. Shark - " Hey Skip, can ask a favor?" Cpt Happy- " sure" Shark- " Can I bat 7th?"

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Submitted by crunch on Fri, 05/16/2014 - 05:54 pm

unfortunately, they still have chris russo on the payroll because some idiot decided he should have a show. fortunately, it's only on in middle of the day and doesn't replay at night. i have no idea how he has a job in radio talking about anything...or why anyone would listen to it...or why someone thought it would be a good idea to put him on TV...much less a baseball network. the guy's sports knowledge consists of reading the morning paper and screaming about what he read without much insight until it's time to go home. on the subject of mitch williams on MLB network...he has had some epic moments...such as his opinion on extra innings during spring training games... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1Qu9-xS4Hg

Submitted by crunch on Fri, 05/16/2014 - 05:30 pm

no braun, no gomez, no aram...cubs still lose. this team is killing me. they have a very legit shot at the 1st round pick next year...and 105+ losses this year. at least k.hendricks looks like he's MLB-ready when the mid-season trades start rolling in. none of the promising bats look like they're ready, but the bats likely to be traded aren't exactly doing anything worth mentioning.

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Submitted by Carlito on Fri, 05/16/2014 - 05:56 pm

I will say two things: 1.) as a fan if the rebuild I will say that this year is a clustercuss of chaos. The ugliest of the years because there is some talent in the field Rizzo/Castro/Pitchers and then a rotating cast of weirdness that I assume 2.) is coming from the front office. I'm not sure Mr Happy is a good or bad manager, I know he is not a great orator, but I'm starting to think his lineup choices are determined with pressure from the front office and that after the trade deadline we'll see the beginning of the true youth movement.

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Submitted by crunch on Fri, 05/16/2014 - 05:07 pm

if his lineup is formed by the front office he would be an even worse manager than he's showing and chances are his locker room would be in revolt. the last thing players want to hear is a bunch of guys in suits are micro-managing their day-to-day playing time. you gotta have a "paid off" type setup like the yanks for stuff like this to go down...a team where you understand going into it that you're a paid gunman doing what your "boss's boss" wants you to do. since the elder steiny died this is less of an issue for them, though.

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40 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (roster is full), plus three are on the 60-DAY IL

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Nick Madrigal, INF 
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