Gloomy Skies Produce Sunny Result for Cubs at Riverview Park

LHP Jose Paulino tossed three innings of no-run/no-hit ball, Ho-Young Son belted an RBI triple, an RBI double, and a single, Tim Saunders reached base three times (a walk, an RBI single, and a triple) and scored two runs, Ricardo Marcano hammered a solo home run and an RBI single and scored twice, and Andrew Ely stroked an RBI double and a single, stole a base, and scored a run, leading the Cubs to a 6-3 victory over the Angels in Cactus League Extended Spring Training action this morning on Field #6 at Mesa CubTown at Riverview Park.

In EXST Cubs roster news, Jordan Hankins has completed the Catcher Conversion Program course at the Under Armour Performance Center at Riverview Park and has been assigned to Hi-A Myrtle Beach. Hankins takes the place of C-1B Alberto Mineo, who moves down to Extended Spring Training from Myrtle Beach.

The left-handed swinging Hankins was drafted by the Cubs as an infielder in the 11th round of the 2013 MLB First-Year Player Draft (MLB Rule 4 Draft) out of Austin Peay University, and after playing 3B-2B with the AZL Cubs and Boise his first year of pro ball, he received initial catcher training at Instructs post-2013, and then again at Minor League Camp in 2014. But he was moved back to 3B once the 2014 minor league regular season started, and was good enough to be selected to the Midwest League All-Star game as a third-baseman while assigned to Kane County (he hit 322/361/461 in 50 MWL games). That earned Hankins a June promotion to Daytona (he and a struggling Jeimer Candelario changed places), but he was unable to find the same success at Daytona that he had found at KC (218/323/318 in 33 games at Daytona). He got a second opportunity to try catching at Instructs last fall, continuing the process into this season, first at Minor League Camp, and then at Extended Spring Training.

The 23-year old Hankins has been the best hitter on the 2015 EXST Cubs squad, putting up a 462/481/654 line (plus an eight-game hitting streak) with three doubles and a triple, four RBI, five runs scored, and only one strikeout in nine Cactus League EXST games (27 PA), while simultaneously learning the finer points of the receiving arts. (He also hit two home runs in EXST intrasquad games). Hankins likely projects as an "offense-first" left-handed hitting 3B-2B-1B-C bench guy at the higher levels (sort of a left-handed hitting version of Ben Carhart), but adding catcher to his "tool box" should make him more valuable as he moves up through the pipeline.

Also, 24-year old RHP Jose Rosario underwent an elbow UCL transplant ("Tommy John surgery") last month and will miss the 2015 season. Rosario is the second Cub minor leaguer to undergo TJS since the start of Spring Training (catcher Will Remillard was other one).  

Born in New York City, Rosario was signed by the Cubs as a 17-year old international free-agent out of the Dominican Republic in April 2008. He was eligible to be an MLB Rule 55 minor league free-agent (so-called "six-year minor league free-agent") after the 2014 World Series, but he signed a 2015 minor league successor contract with the Cubs before being declared a free-agent. In 115 career minor league games 2008-14, Rosario has compiled a rather ugly 5.06 ERA and 1.56 WHIP, while allowing 489 hits (including 32 HR) and 192 walks in 437.2 IP, with 378 strikeouts.

Although he has plus-stuff, Rosario has been unable to harness it and has battled command issues throughout his career, He failed to reach AA in seven minor league seasons, and yet the Cubs saw enough in him to offer him a 2015 contract rather than allowing him to walk away as a free-agent. But he continued to struggle with his control at Minor League Camp this season, before being shut-down with a sore elbow the last week of Spring Training. Rosario is eligible to be a minor league 6YFA again post-2015, but since the TJS rehab process takes at least a year, I would not be surprised if he signs another minor league successor contract for 2016 so that he can continue his rehab with the same training staff.  

It wasn't a Cactus League EXST game, but the Cubs did play an EXST intrasquad game on Field #5 yesterday (Thursday). 29-year old veteran MLB and ex-Red Sox RHRP Daniel Bard threw an inning in the game, and while he continues to have difficulty throwing strikes (24 pitches - only 9 strikes, with one walk and two WP in the one IP), he did manage to retire the side without allowing a hit or a run. Known as a hard-throwing late-inning reliever, Bard didn't show it yesterday. His fastball consistently sat at 91-92 MPH, and touched 93 only once.

Cubs Minor League Infield Coordinator Jose Flores is at Extended Spring Training this week, working with the young Cub infielders on the finer points of infield play. (He also throws a mean BP).    

Here is the abridged box score from today's Cactus League EXST game (Cubs players only), followed by the box score from yesterday's EXST Cubs intrasquad game.

CUBS LINEUP: 
1. Kevonte Mitchell, CF: 0-3 (BB, 5-3, F-7, 4-3, SB) 
NOTE: SLOT WAS SKIPPED FIFTH TIME THRU BATTING ORDER
2. Alberto Mineo, 1B: 0-5 (P-4, L-4, K, K, 4-3) 
3. Carlos Sepulveda, 2B: 1-3 (BB, 6-3, 1B, K, 2 SB)
4. Eloy Jimenez, RF: 1-4 (P-4, F-8, K, 1B)
5a. Tyler Alamo, C: 0-3 (F-9, 6-3, F-8) 
5b. Tyler Pearson, C: 1-1 (2B, R) 
6. Andrew Ely, 3B: 2-4 (4-3, 1B, P-4, 2B, R, RBI, SB)
7. Ricardo Marcano, LF: 2-4 (4-3, 1B, HR, 3-U, 2 R, 2 RBI)
8. Tim Saunders, DH #1: 2-3 (BB, 1B, 3B, F-9, 2 R, RBI, CS) 
9. Ho-Young Son, SS: 3-3 (3B, 1B, 2B, 2 RBI, CS)
NOTE: SLOT WAS SKIPPED FOURTH TIME THRU BATTING ORDER
10. Varonex Cuevas, DH #2: 0-3 (4-3, K, K) 
NOTE: SLOT WAS SKIPPED FOURTH TIME THRU BATTING ORDER

CUBS PITCHERS: 
1. Jose Paulino: 3.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 4/4 GO/FO, 43 pitches (27 strikes) 
2. Scott Frazier: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 1/1 GO/FO, 18 pitches (7 strikes) 
3. John Michael Knighton:1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 2/0 GO/FO, 9 pitches (5 strikes) 
4. Dillon Maples: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 1/1 GO/FO, 15 pitches (9 strikes) 
5. Andin Diaz: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 1 K, 1 HR, 2/0 GO/FO, 9 pitches (6 strikes) 
6. Daniel Lewis: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 2 R (1 ER), 4 BB, 1 K, 2 GIDP, 2/1 GO/FO, 44 pitches (19 strikes) 

CUBS ERRORS: 2 
1. 3B Andrew Ely - E-5 (throwing error allowed batter to reach base safely) 
2. 1B Alberto Mineo - E-3 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely) 

CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE: 
1. Tyler Alamo: 1-2 CS
2. Tyler Pearson: 1 PB

WEATHER: Mostly cloudy and very breezy with temperatures in the 70's 

ATTENDANCE: 14 

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

THURSDAY (5-7-2015) -  INTRASQUAD GAME ON FIELD #5

Adonis Paula belted a solo HR and Kevin Encarnacion drilled a double and an RBI single. 

The game was called after 6-1/2 innings.  

CUBS SQUAD "B" LINEUP: 
1. Roberto Caro, CF:1-2 (4-3, 1B, BB, R, SB)
2. Andrew Ely, 2B: 0-1 (F-9, BB, BB, R, RBI)
3. Kevin Encarnacion, RF: 2-3 (2B, 1B, 4-3 DP, RBI, CS)
4. Adonis Paula, 3B: 1-3 (K, HR, 6-3, R, RBI)
5. Yohan Matos, C: 0-3 (K, F-9, K)
6. Ricardo Marcano, LF: 0-3 (6-3, 6-3, K)
7. Carlos Jimenez, DH: 1-3 (F-9, 1B, F-8, PO)
8. Miguel Rico, 1B; 0-2 (F-8, BB, F-8, R)
9. Andruw Monasterio, SS: 1-3 (F-8, 2B, F-9, R)

CUBS SQUAD "A" LINEUP: 
1. Kevonte Mitchell, CF: 1-2 (2B, 4-3, R)
2. Frandy de la Rosa, DH #1: 1-2 (1B, 4-3, RBI, CS)
3. Carlos Sepulveda, 2B: 1-1 (BB, 2B, 2 SB)
4. Eloy Jimenez, LF: 0-2 (4-3, F-8) 
5. Tyler Alamo, 1B-DH: 0-2 (6-3, 5-3) 
6. Jose Paniagua, DH #2: 0-2 (F-9, K) 
7. Tyler Pearson, C: 1-2 (1B, K) 
8. Ho-Young Son, SS: 0-2 (K, L-9)
9a. Tim Saunders, DH #3: 0-1 (F-9)
9b. Wladimir Galindo, 3B: NO AB 
10. Roney Alcala, DH-1B: 0-1 (BB, 5-3)
11. Robert Garcia, DH #5: 0-1 (4-3)
12. Varonex Cuevas, 3B-DH: 0-1 (6-2 FC)
13. Jenner Emeterio, RF: 0-1 (K)

CUBS SQUAD "B" PITCHERS:
1. Mark Malave: 2.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 1 K, 2/2 GO/FO, 41 pitches (22 strikes)
2. Daniel  Bard: 1.0 IP, 0H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K, 2 WP, 2/0 GO/FO, 24 pitches (9 strikes) 
3. Santiago Rodriguez: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 3/1 GO/FO, 23 pitches (14 strikes) 
4. Yomar Morel: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1/1 GO/FO, 9 pitches (6 strikes) 

CUBS SQUAD "A" PITCHERS: 
1. Adbert Alzolay: 3.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 2 K, 1 BALK, 2/4 GO/FO, 45 pitches (28 strikes) 
2. Enrique de los Rios: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R (3 ER), 3 BB, 0 K, 1 HR, 1 PO, 1 GIDP, 2/1 GO/FO, 34 pitches (14 strikes) 
3. Sam Wilson: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 1/0 GO/FO, 13 pitches (10 strikes) 
4. Greyfer Eregua: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 0/3 GO/FO, 10 pitches (6 strikes) 

CUBS SQUAD "B" ERRORS: NONE 

CUBS SQUAD "A" ERRORS: 1 
P Adbert Alzolay - E-1 (errant pick-off attempt at 1st base allowed runner to advance to 2nd and a runner to score from 3rd)

CUBS SQUAD "B" CATCHERS DEFENSE: 
Yohan Matos: 1-4 CS 

CUBS SQUAD "A: CATCHERS DEFENSE: 
Tyler Pearson: 1-2 CS