Roberto Lopez laced a double into the LF corner to knock-in the tying run, and Drew Heid hit a sacrifice fly to RF to drive-in the winning run, as the Angels scored six runs in the bottom of the 9th and edged the Cubs 9-8 in AZ instructional League action at Diablo Park Field #3 in Tempe this afternoon.
Five Cub pitchers combined to throw a no run, no hit game, but the Angels threw a three-hit shutout of their own right back at the Cubs, as the two teams played to a scoreless tie in AZ Instructional League action at Fitch Park Field #3 in Mesa this morning.
Rolando Gomez hammered a two-run home run and a two-run triple to help overcome an early seven-run deficit, as the Angels rallied to edge the Cubs 10-9 in AZ Instructional League action at Fitch Park Field #3 in Mesa this afternoon.
Cubs 2010 2nd round draft pick Reggie Golden slugged a two-run HR over the LF scoreboard and onto 8th Street to give the Cubs a 5-3 lead in the bottom of the 6th, but the Brew Crew rallied for four in the 8th as the Cubs and Brewers played to a 7-7 tie in the Cubs 2010 AZ Instructional League opener at Fitch Park Field #3 in Mesa this afternoon.
There are 47 Cubs minor leaguers participating in Instructs at Fitch Park (22 pitchers, five catchers, 12 infielders, and eight outfielders), including eight players who are making their U. S. debut after spending the 2010 season playing in the Dominican Summer League, four draft picks and one non-drafted free-agent who signed too late to get into game action in August, and one Korean bonus baby. Also among the 47 is Cubs 3B prospect Josh Vitters, who is at Instructs rehabbing his broken hand and preparing for play in the Arizona Fall League next month.
Two of the newcomers made their pro debut in today's game, as LHP Casey Harman (2010 29th round draft pick out of Clemson) threw 1.1 IP of hitless shutout ball, walking one while striking out two, and catcher Max Kwan (2010 NDFA - U. of Washington) went 1-3 with a single and an RBI.
Harman was Clemson's #1 starter ("Friday night starter") in 2010 and beat #1 ranked Arizona State at the College World Series in June. Although he was selected in the 29th round, Harman received a $150,000 bonus (equivalent to "5th round" money) when he signed with the Cubs at the August 16th deadline.
Kwan suffered through an injury-plagued college career at Tulane and then later at Washington, but he has good size for a catcher (6'3 220), and helps provide depth at the catching position going into the 2011 season.
The Cubs will be playing a 21-game AZ instructional League schedule, with the last game on October 16th (they play every day Monday-Saturday up through 10/16, with no games on Sundays).
Here is today's abridged box score (Cubs players only)
Recent comments
Mike Wellman 09/25/2023 - 09:24 pm (view)
Playoffs essentially start tomorrow for Cubs. Better pack for a week in Milwaukee.
Arizona Phil 09/25/2023 - 09:34 pm (view)
azbobbop: If Stroman does not opt out, the Cubs can trade him without any restrictions.
Stroman will make $21M in 2024 if he does not opt out, and Hendricks will make $16M if the Cubs exercise the club option.
Also, it would cost the Cubs a $1.5M buy-out if they decline the Hendricks club option, so they would only be saving $14.5M by declining the option, not the full $16M.
azbobbop 09/25/2023 - 09:08 pm (view)
Phil, if Stroman opts in, does have any trade protection?
Arizona Phil 09/25/2023 - 09:52 pm (view)
CRUNCH: Unfortunately all of the tie-breakers work against the Cubs in the case of a tie with AZ, MIA, and/or CIN.
Arizona Phil 09/25/2023 - 09:48 pm (view)
CUBSTER: The Cubs are expected to be "in" on Yoshinobu Yamamoto, but so will about a dozen other clubs.
Arizona Phil 09/25/2023 - 09:54 pm (view)
Childersb3: I suspect the Cubs will pick-up the Hendricks $16M 2024 option rather than pay the $1.5M buy-out, and then depending on what else might happen during off-season (Stroman opt-out now not likely, Smyly to the pen permanently, might or might not sign Yamamoto), Hendricks will either be in the Cubs starting rotation on Opening Day, or else he will be traded.
So while I don't think the Cubs will decline the club option, I do think he could be traded if it becomes clear during the course of the off-season and Spring Training that there is no place for him in the 2024 rotation.
With the need for SP being what it is throughout MLB, Hendricks still has value (especially on a one-year contract for reasonable money), whether it be with the Cubs or with another club (presuming he stays healthy, of course).
Arizona Phil 09/25/2023 - 09:30 pm (view)
Cubs are pitch types / velo from the game:
Alfredo Romero: FB 88-91 and CV 77-79
Shane Marshall: FB 92, SL/CT: 87-88, CV: 79-81
Mason McGwire: FB 93-95, SL/CT 85-88, SPLIT 76-78
Kevin Valdez: FB 92-93, SL 80-83, CV 74
Koen Moreno: FB 89-92, SL/CT 84-85, CH 79-81, CV 73-74
crunch 09/25/2023 - 09:17 pm (view)
ARZ lost. going into the last week of play ARZ + CHC are tied for the last 2 WC spots...MIA -1, CIN -2.5
Cubster 09/25/2023 - 09:17 am (view)
Tell us more about the chances of a Yamamoto?
Didnt Jed just scout in Japan?
Childersb3 09/25/2023 - 09:47 am (view)
Phil,
USA Today is reporting that Stroman is more likely now to take his option for next year rather than hit FA market.
21mil in hand and hope for a reset year in '24 a better outlook for him?
Does this mean Hendricks gets let go?
Smyly will opt in to his last year for sure.
So, Steele, Taillon, Stroman, Wicks, Assad, Brown, maybe Horton, with Smyly in the pen.
Will there be enough cash and spots for Hendricks to return?
I was hoping for a Steele, Taillon, Wicks, Assad, Brown and Yamamoto rotation.