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

Let's Play Two!

In a nice bit of serendipity, the Cubs start off the Cactus League schedule with a doubleheader..of sorts. Split squad action on the "road" versus San Francisco and a home game versus the revamped Oakland A's. The home game will start with this: Fowler, Rizzo, Castro, Montero, Baez(2B), Coghlan, Olt, Sweeney (DH), Lake(RF) and Travis Wood on the mound. The Giants will see La Stella (2B), Denorfia, Alcantara (CF), Soler, Castillo, Bryant, Schwarber (DH), Valaika, Russell and Turner taking the mound.

It doesn't appear the game is being video broadcasted anywhere, but you might be able to find a radio feed, otherwise twitter and MLB.com Gameday are your best bets.

Spring fever, catch it!

PS - Cubs signed LHP Phil Coke to a minor league deal to further complicate the pitching overflow.

Comments

Football stuff

P. Manning takes pay cut, will make less than Jay Cutler next year...and his brother.

B. Marshall on the market, Bears want a mid-round pick. Want it done by March 12th.

V. Wilfork released by Pats, not a young man, but sure a good 3-4 fit.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

If Marshall is on the market, I wonder if the verdict on Cutler is in, and he's out. Maybe completely unrelated but they are good buddies - I don't think Marshall's little anti-Cutler rant changes that.

[ ]

In reply to by Old and Blue

well if not this year, certainly after next season...just hard to justify taking a $20M cap hit or whatever it is and getting nothing and going with an even more terrible QB.

I have no doubt they'd trade him in a heartbeat for a 5th or 6th round pick if someone took the salary off their hands.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Agreed, there's not much out there, nothing better than Cutler this year unless they pull a rabbit out of their hat in some Theo gets Maddonesque kind of way.Maybe Cutler can be Fox's Edwin Jackson, who in turn will be Maddonini's Cutler and they will both reach that great potential they have. With thoughts of Kool Aid running through my head, I'm off to watch another game.

According to Len Kasper game will be on Cubs.com "Pretty excited for @Cubs baseball in 2015. Starts today on http://Cubs.com . Free webcast. Here's to...8 more months of baseball."

j.turner hits a guy in his 1st action this spring...the umpire...in the hand...because it's spring training for welly (though he got a hand on it), too. umpire is very hurt, game delayed...and dale scott leaves the game for xrays. hell of a 1st pitch. there is no home plate ump...j.joyce is calling the game from behind the pitcher near 2nd. they're getting another ump ready to take over, but playing in the meantime...because spring. CUBS BASEBALL!

One of these are not quite like the others lineup vs SF Soler Bryan Schwarber Valakia Russell

It begins.... Bruce Levine ‏@MLBBruceLevine 2m2 minutes ago Mike Olt hits the Cubs first Spring home run off Barry Zito .

[ ]

In reply to by jacos

I'm trying to find a satellite drone video feed but apparently a happy little man ran in and stole Mike Olt's batting gloves and Wilson A2000 after he returned to the bench. So he's gotta sit out for a bit.

alright, no one seems to be paying attention to double posts, so I'm gonna hang up and listen.

[ ]

In reply to by jacos

Probably not...bigger crowd on twitter. Usually just crunch in there and some hit and runners that are in and out after an inning or two. Just not worth the time.

Maybe I'll find an embeddable chat solution for the front page for any Sunday night national games (all 2 or 3 of them).

they're not even trying on MLB gameday, Cubs vs Giants stuck in 2nd inning pre-Schwarber's AB.

Corey Black nailed Hunter Pence with a pitch in the hands...Pence out. Hopefully just a flesh wound.

http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chat/_/id/51629

Fastest bat speed you've ever seen? KLaw: Javier Baez, Clint Frazier, Justin Upton when he was a little younger. Also saw a HS kid named Billy Flamion who had insane bat speed but couldn't hit. He's now a pitcher in the Dodgers' system.

Who are the best college bats in the draft this year? I'm trying to get a sense for the options for the Cubs at 9. Klaw: It's a terrible draft for a college bat. Ian Happ at Cincinnati might be the best. Dansby Swanson at Vanderbilt is another top ten type, but that's more based on the potential for him to play shortstop. I saw Richie Martin at Florida the other night - there's a blog post on him somewhere in turnaround at the moment - and he's not at this level. I love Alex Bregman's bat, but he's not a SS long-term.

With Rizzo being penciled into the two slot for the 1st spring training game, why don't more teams bat their best hitter number two like the numbers says they should? Klaw: Because (argument from tradition).

I feel like Soler is both simultaneously under and over rated by analysts now. Chances he settles in somewhere between Puig and Cespedes-like production without the arm and fielding? Solid regular, borderline all-star? Over maybe Adam Jones as a ceiling? Klaw: I think he's an All-Star.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

fwiw, maddon said he was batting rizzo 2nd because he might see time there "if" he bats the pitcher 8th on occasion. props to rizzo for not letting his ego get in the way of batting 2nd. i hate how that slot is handled by so many managers. jim edmonds is one of my all-time favorite #2 hitters...more managers should look for guys like him in the 2 slot rather than shoving them to the 5 slot just because "he's got power"/"provides protection"/"more rbi chances"/etc...

no-name bullpen gave up the lead in Oakland game

B. McKinney hit a HR off H. Strickland in Giants game

Listening to MLB radio today and there was much talk of 6 man rotation particularly by the two NYC teams. Yankees have a lot of pitchers and Tanaka came from 6-man. The Mets probably because they are deep in young powerful arms and want to keep innings down? Either way it's curious - easy to say there are already not enough pitchers, and that they go less innings than in the past with the 7-8-9inn power relievers. On the flip side the torque on these guys arms seems to be at an all time high as the game becomes modern and specialized. Who knows ... but interesting considerations.

It was fun watching ambidextrous switch-pitcher Pat Venditte throw for the A's in today's game at Sloan Park.

He pitched one inning, and when he got to the mound he threw four warm-up pitches right-handed, then he threw four warm-up pitches left-handed, and then he stood on his head and farted. (I am making up the last part, but he could certainly drive a splits-crazy manager even more crazy).

[ ]

In reply to by Carlito

CARLITO: When a switch-pitcher is throwing to a switch-hitter, first the pitcher has to indicate whether he will throw right-handed or left-handed, and then the batter is allowed to respond. The pitcher can switch from one arm to the other once during an AB, and the batter gets to switch if there is a change. 

If a manager puts up a PH during an AB, there is a reset and it's like a new AB, with one additional switch allowed during the PH's AB.  

Instead of replying to various comments I thought I'd post here in case anybody actually cares what I say (and if you do, heaven help you) I looked for you, too, AZ. I saw about 10,000 clones of you, but when I tested their baseball knowledge they came up quite short, so I realized it was like finding a needle in a haystack. I'll be at Friday's, Sunday's, and Monday's game if you'd like to share a cold one at one of the booths. The Olt homer: That was why I was excited about him last year. I realize it's Arizona, but man, he clubbed it good, got all of it, deep to, what? Left center? But his second at bat was almost better. If he had won that battle I'd have been like a proud papa. He fell behind on an 0-2 count and fought back to 3-2 and fouled off a lot of pitches. It was a classic battle of pitcher vs batter and the pitcher won, but Olt got a nice round of applause from some knowing fans as he headed to the bench - If I had scanned the audience during the clapping I am sure that would have narrowed down the field for my AZ Phil search. I couldn't tell much about Baez. It looked like his hands may have been lower when he had a count against him but I don't think they were appreciably different on, say, the first pitch. Vogelbomb made an appearance and the woman behind me was going, "who is that guy? He doesn't look like a baseball player". "He's not fat" said the guy with her, "he's just built like a fire plug". He didn't have to do much but he looked fine with the one fielding thing I saw, a foul pop in a high sky sun. I think I'll have to move here. Everyone is older than me.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

decent compromise. the way he loads up his swing and unleashes it, it'll take away a big part of his batting game without it. that said, if that big part of his game plays out like last season he might have to adjust full-time at the expense of his power to simply stay in the big leagues.

Lineup vs Reds: Denorfia (9), Alcantara (4), Baez (6), Olt (3), Ross (2), Lake (7), Valaika (5), Beef (DH), Szczur (8). Lester (SP) Olt in back to back games? Will wonders never cease?

Baez up with man on 3rd and less than 2 outs, let's see that new approach

Ball 1

Ball 2

Swing, Swing, K on high fastball

0 sellouts 8 hours after tickets go on sale, including an Opening NIght vs. the Cardinals featuring no bleacher availability. (That game plus the Saturday game vs. the White Sox are limited availability now.) So it seems fan enthusiasm hasn't quite caught up yet. 10 years ago, by this point, you would have two dozen sellouts. We still have a ways to go before the casual fans are back on board.

mlb network "cubs predictions" from some of their studio guys. it's far from scientific and pretty much based on how they feel, fwiw... dan o'dowd "cubs on fringe of a wild card race" john smoltz "cubs reach play-in game" dan plesac "cubs in the wild card hunt"

[ ]

In reply to by Carlito

what injuries? Wainwright? They won a World Series last time he missed the season with TJ surgery and I think J. Heyward is a helluva lot better than Taveras.

anyway, most of the projection systems have them, Dodgers and Nationals as the easy top 3, everyone else in the low 80's range of wins.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

I'm gonna go with Pirates and put Cardinals in the scrap heap based on my own highly probably top secret algorithm. I'm also excited to see if San Diego has any chemistry. (Yes Wainwright. Plus they traded away some pitching). However my real point is what a massive awesome dogfight the entire AL is going to be.

Az Phil or O&B- Saw on MLB tonight a Cub player with dread locks talking to Maddon? Know who he is? /first cub with dreads?

[ ]

In reply to by jacos

I didn't see that - I was on the first base side yesterday and wasn't able to see much in the dugout with these old eyes. I'd say Manny, but I thought last I saw him he got a buzz.

Olt Watch: One walk, a nice one where he fell behind in the count again 0-2. Second time in two days he's worked the count back to 3-2, this time he won the battle. Didn't foul off as many pitches as last time, but didn't need to. Struck out, too, looked pretty bad doing it. I can't remember if he swung really early or really late on it, but he just looked fooled on the pitch. Harkened back to last year a bit, but overall he looks really comfortable and confident out there. He also looked pretty good at first although he stabbed at a liner that went off his glove that Rizzo may have gotten. I kind of didn't see it though because I was chattering, so I only saw the attempt. But he's a very acceptable backup to Rizzo. This should bode well for his chances for sticking after Bryant kicks him off third. Baez Watch: Very Baezish at the plate. But he made a great play on - gosh I can't remember if it was an attempted steal or a pick off attempt at second, or what, maybe AZ Phil was there and can say - but I had a really good view of how he swept down to tag the guy and it was pretty slick. Seeing him at the plate, though, well, I'm concerned. Time will tell I guess, but this bleeding heart optimist isn't so optimistic. Honestly, pitchers seem to enjoy facing him right now. "hurry up and get that ball back to me so I can get at this mo fo" EDIT: This is why I'd be a terrible baseball blogger. I forget half of what I see, and talk too much at games!

[ ]

In reply to by Old and Blue

...I kind of didn't see it though because I was chattering... O/B while I appreciate the p-by-p...what the heck, man! We had thought your mission was to catch every nuance of every AB?! And...you were "chattering"?? Oh well - you know Brandon Marshall got traded, right? :)

I love today's Maddonini tweet in the sidebar. Julius Szcur is going to play his way onto this team if he keeps this up. I wouldn't mind seeing him push out one of the journeymen (you know who you are, Sweeney). Just for doing that whole bone marrow thing alone, it would just be good karmic stuff to see him win a roster spot, but he actually looks like a pretty good player.

Does anyone care to venture a guess as to what is going to happen with the Rays' tampering charges against the Cubs? I feel like it's not going to go the Cubs' way. But I don't necessarily think it will be very costly. It's just the fact that it hasn't gone away ...

I'm a little slow, but yesterday I noticed the main approach to the parking lot here in Mesa is called "Cubs Way". I'm not sure why they left off the "The"

[ ]

In reply to by Dusty Baylor

Excellent. Get him out of the division. Not a big fan of football free agency, so I'm not upset at all he didn't go with the Bears - I saw one or two brief, flying rumors that he liked the idea of coming to Chicago. EDIT: Some football free agents do make sense, more so than a lot of baseball ones, although I sure am not complaining about the Lester acquisition.

what the hell is with this lame ass no-TV thing? i know it's early and all, but it seems like every other team out there has been televised at least once so far.

"Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale on Sunday named Josh Collmenter the team's Opening Day starter." woo. a victory for junkballers everywhere. the guy has been "overperforming" for years and ARZ didn't even trust his stuff enough to let him settle into a starter role full time. good for him.

baez 0-3, 3Ks. 2ip 1h 3bb 2k for arrieta wada pitched a single inning of relief 1ip 0h 0bb 0k

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

Pressure. Its real. I would be surprised (save a Baez sustained hitting "tear") if he does not start the season in AAA. As has been said here over the years, it really doesn't seem like hitting coaches make a goddamn bit of difference.

[ ]

In reply to by The E-Man

I think the plan all along was for Baez to start in Iowa, baring the afore mentioned hitting tear. While hitting coaches clearly have some value (see Rizzo), it seems that learning plate discipline is very hard (if possible at all), and there is little reason to expect Baez to change his stripes in one offseason.

This has got to be messing with Baez's head. Makes some prescribed changes, then he performs miserably in winter ball, and now he can't even make contact in spring training. Seems likely to be "demoted" to AAA, which will further mess with the head of a proud young man who has always had success. Given the "we're gonna win now" vibe that's building, Javy may get left behind. Russell at SS, Castro at 2B. Not now, but soon, perhaps.

[ ]

In reply to by billybucks

Its an excellent point BB. However, as we all know the big picture odds are that if two from this hot-shot group become stud major leaguers, we'll be lucky. That said, because Baez is still so young it would be short-sighted to throw in the towel on the kid yet. However, as you say, it may be an uphill climb as far as expecting any plate discipline from him moving forward.

Bears start spending

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/ravens-insider/bal-pernell-mc…

Ravens veteran outside linebacker Pernell McPhee is joining the Chicago Bears on a five-year contract worth nearly $40 million, according to league sources. The deal includes nearly $16 million in guaranteed money, according to a source. 

McPhee, 26, emerged as one of the top under-the-radar pass rushers last season with 7.5 sacks despite playing behind Pro Bowl outside linebackers Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumervil. McPhee played roughly half of the Ravens' defensive snaps.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

rumoring on Kaepernick began yesterday, 49ers completely denied, then this came out;

@957thegame Follow .@JaysonBraddock reiterates: "100% true that the #49ers have put Kaepernick on trading block..." & #Niners are "pissed that they got caught"

allegedy Eagles are the other team possibly interested.

other than a hopeful change of scenery type boost, seems like deck chair shuffling.

Edwin pitching today, 1-2-3 first, then 2 errors in 2nd (himself and Castro) and then a HR and a couple of singles...

‘Fifteen years ago there weren’t that many teams specializing in the statistical model to succeed,’’ he says. ‘‘You could really get an advantage using it. In the offseason of 2002, into 2003, the Red Sox needed to improve our offense, and we needed to get on base more. So we could sign Davey Ortiz to a one-year deal, Bill Miller to a two-year deal, and also sign Kevin Millar, whom no one wanted and was going to Japan, based largely on the numbers, on the things you could learn from the statistical analysis.  Now the world is so flat — everyone’s doing that!’’

~snip~

‘‘I think the real competitive advantage now is in player development—understanding that your young players are human beings,’’ says Epstein, whose sky-blue shirt and sky-blue cap made this reporter mistake the now-41-year-old at first for a beer salesman. ‘‘Understanding them physically, fundamentally, and mentally — investing in them as people — and helping them progress. And there’s no stat for that.’’

http://chicago.suntimes.com/baseball/7/71/421350/theo-epstein-fleshing-…

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

seems to be a false alarm...good for him. "Padres manager Bud Black said Monday that Andrew Cashner isn't dealing with any health issue. Cashner walked off the mound with Black and a trainer after a three-inning appearance Monday, but it's apparently because he was told of a personal matter back in Texas"

Hey, guys! Look, olt just walked and homered! Better pull him immediately and sit him down for at least 2-3 days.

[ ]

In reply to by jacos

I really don't think Olt would be very good in the OF. He almost has a penguin running style and (lack of) flexibility and I think he is a badass defender at 3B. Bryant seems more adept at OF and played there some in college.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob Richardson

Agreed. Honestly it's very likely Olt will be DH and reserve 1B/3B if he's pkaying well. Bryant should be starting 3B this year. For 2015 I don't think either will be out there much. Career wise I thinj Olt will suck at OF and Bryant appears 50/50 to end up there based on speculation.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob Richardson

The Cubs will obviously prioritize Bryant's development over Olt's, as well they should, but if both are starting and you are trying to optimize your defense, it seems like Olt at 3B and Bryant in LF gives you a better alignment. Neither is a wizard at third but I pretty much like what I saw from Olt there last year. As for Bryant, all the reviews are middling at best. In the long run, I still believe Baez is the Cubs' 3B of the future.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

yow...hate it when it happens to kids just getting a taste of their careers. cubs need less SP going down and more C going down. ARZ is more than willing to wait out TOR vs CHC...though DET is starting to peek their head into the mix because of their own catching concerns (though they're looking a backup, unlike ARZ).

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.