Snakes Ambush Cubs at Ramada Field

Submitted by Arizona Phil on Sat, 10/05/2013 - 10:24 pm

Sergio Alcantara belted a two-run triple, Daniel Palka ripped an RBI triple, and Jose Munoz laced an RBI double to highlight a five-run 8th, Chuck Taylor doubled, singled twice, stole a base, and scored three runs, and Brad Keller and four relievers combined to throw a three-hit shutout, as the Diamondbacks blanked the Cubs 7-0 in Arizona Instructional League action this morning at Ramada Field at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick Resort east of Scottsdale.  

After Keller threw three scoreless innings (allowing two doubles and three walks with three strikeouts), RHP Joe Martinez (3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K), LHP (ex-OF) Wagner Mateo, RHP Thomas Brendel, and RHP Jimmie Sherfy (1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K) totally stifled the Cubs hitters, collectively retiring 17 of the last 18 men they faced, with seven strikeouts.

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

CUBS LINEUP:
1. Shawon Dunston Jr, CF: 1-4 (4-3, 2B, K, L-6)
2. Danny Lockhart, 2B: 1-4 (2B, K, K, E-6, SB)
3. Jeimer Candelario, 3B: 0-4 (3-1, 4-3, K, K)
4. Yasiel Balaguert, RF: 0-4 (6-3, K, F-8, K)
5. Ben Carhart, 1B: 0-3 (BB, P-4, 4-3, 6-3, CS)
6a. Gleyber Torres, SS: 0-3 (K, 6-3, F-9)
6b. Carlos Penalver, SS: NO AB
7. Jose Dore, LF-DH: 0-2 (BB, K, F-7)
8a. Cael Brockmeyer, C: 0-1 (BB, K)
8b. Mark Malave, C: 0-1 (F-7)
9. Charcer Burks, DH-LF: 1-3 (F-9, 1B, F-9, PO) 

CUBS PITCHERS:
1. Daury Torrez: 3,0 IP, 3 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 0 K, 1 GIDP, 6/3 GO/FO, 32 pitches (26 strikes)
2. Jose Rosario: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 3 K, 4/2 GO/FO, 42 pitches (27 strikes)
3. Trevor Graham: 1.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R (3 ER), 0 BB, 2 K, 1/0 GO/FO, 31 pitches (17 strikes)   
4. Zack Godley: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R (2 ER), 0 BB, 1 K, 1 WP, 2/0 GO/FO, 20 pitches (13 strikes)

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

CUBS CATCHERS DEFENSE:
Cael Brockmeyer: 0-1 CS

ATTENDANCE: 33 

WEATHER: Sunny, cloudless, and breezy, with temperatures in the 80's 

 

Tags
AZ Instructional League

Comments

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Submitted by crunch on Sat, 10/05/2013 - 10:43 pm

even though it'd be nice to see him do well out of the gate, he does still have the handicap of being 16 (17 in December). he's playing against a lot of guys 2-6+ years older than him. it's hard enough to gauge players before they're out of A-ball...it's almost impossible with a guy this young aside from his raw tools, which you can learn a lot more about from watching him do drills than in-game stuff when your competition is so skewed in experience and age. i can't imagine he's seen much quality breaking stuff in his short life. it's kinda weird to have a semi-high-profile signing like this and knowing it'll probably be 6-8 years before we have a handle on if he'll be a MLB impact player...and whether that will be as a starter or bench player.

Submitted by Cubster on Sun, 10/06/2013 - 10:12 am

AZ Phil: What does Wes Darvill eventually project to in your opinion. Why do you think they put him on the AFL roster (what are THEY looking for wrt him).

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Mon, 10/07/2013 - 10:28 am

CUBSTER: The Cubs drafted Wes Darvill as a 17-year old off the Canadian Junior National Team in the 5th round of the 2009 draft. The pick was considered a bit of a reach at the time, and Darvill struggled (especially as a hitter) his first four seasons in the organization. But he finally began to show some improvement as a hitter in 2013. 

I think Darvill got the AFL gig (which is a spot on the Mesa Solar Sox "Taxi Squad," meaning he can play in games only on Wednesdays and Saturdays) mainly to prepare him for AA in 2014. I would think right now he probably projects as the Tennessee Smokies Opening Day 2B in 2014, although once Steve Bruno is ready to go (he had TJS this past summer and might have to begin 2014 at Extended Spring Training) Darvill will probably slide over to SS or even more-likely move around the IF and the OF to help him develop as a LH-hitting "super-sub."

Darvill is a very good defensive middle-infielder. He has decent range and enough arm to play SS, although he is better at 2B. He has slightly above average speed and is a good base-runner, but he isn't quite as fast as he was a couple of years ago after bulking up at Camp Colvin last off-season. He is a patient hitter and has developed has some power to go along with his added weight & muscle, although he struggles to hit LHP.  

I once thought Darvill's ceiling was a LH-hitting version of Nate Samson, but now I think he might have a chance to make it to MLB as an IF-OF super-sub. He probably epitomizes the "Cubs Way," in that he is VERY coachable, he rarely make mental mistakes, he participates annually in the voluntary off-season strength & conditioning program, he has re-worked his approach at the plate (he used to be an extremely passive hitter and pitchers could knock the bat out of his hands, but now he has more of a "selectively aggressive" mentality and he can actually drive the ball). and his defense just keeps getting better. 

I would compare Darvill somewhat to Ryan Flaherty, because both project as LH-hitting multi-positional guys who struggle to hit LHP. However, Flaherty was already 21 when the Cubs drafted him (Darvill just turned 21), and Flaherty has a LOT more HR power and was a better hitter in the minor leagues, while Darvill is better defensively (although Darvill could still develop HR power).  

Submitted by The E-Man on Mon, 10/07/2013 - 10:39 am

Liriano - Was there any discussion last off-season or rumor that the Cubs were going to make a play on Francisco Liriano? He certainly is a bargain for the Pirates. And fucking good. Seems like not only did he fit TheoCorp's budget parameters, but could have been a nice upgrade to Scott Baker (well, I could have been an upgrade to Scott Baker) or some of the non-existing starting AAA pitchers.

Submitted by jacos on Mon, 10/07/2013 - 10:58 pm

WSCR Bernsein tweeting Girardi "saying family considerations will out weigh money" If his wife is like any other she won't let him leave that much money on the table that Cubs are offering over the Yanks.

Submitted by Cubster on Mon, 10/07/2013 - 10:17 pm

Jose Ceda released by the Marlins today. You may recall the Cubs sent him to FLA for Kevin Gregg in Nov 2008. ...and got him for Todd Walker from Padres in July 2006. He was a power arm back in the day. He turns 27 in January.

Submitted by crunch on Mon, 10/07/2013 - 10:26 pm

"Andrew Marchand of ESPNNewYork.com reports that that Yankees are "prepared to give Joe Girardi as much time as he needs" to make a decision about their contract offer. Girardi's contract officially runs out at the end of the month, and Marchand says the club is willing to wait that long. The Yankees have reportedly offered the skipper a three-year deal in the $12-15 million range, but they could get into a bidding war with the Cubs, who have set their sights on Girardi." cubs get into a bidding war...for someone who isn't going to swing a bat or throw a ball. wtf... hopefully there's more rumor than truth to all this girardi stuff. sure, he's good, but if it comes at the expense of a top relief arm or the difference between an anibal sanchez and an edwin jackson type contract for playing talent...well, wtf? i saw a lot of things wrong with the 2012 + 2013 cubs and the "fix list" didn't start with the guy in the dugout.

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Submitted by crunch on Mon, 10/07/2013 - 10:09 pm

i think it's an absolutely brilliant use of money. the team would have to spend 3x as much on an actual player to get the amount of fan-love return on it. he's shown that if you give him $1,600,000,000 worth of team to manage, he'll get 1 WS out of it...so the cubs should sign him to a 16 year deal. that's simple swordmetrics (Some Wacky Obtuse Random Determination). besides, if they don't sign him a cubs player might yell at a reporter or smash a boom box or something. though, i'm sure joel sherman won't mind.

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Submitted by VirginiaPhil on Tue, 10/08/2013 - 10:42 am

It strikes me that players are overpaid relative to managers, probably because players have agents and a union. The Yankees have been paying Girardi Theriot money. Managers work for GMs, who also don't have agents and a union. In theory, a manager should not make more than the GM (let alone the president of baseball operations). It's interesting that Girardi will be pushing up against what Cashman and Epstein make.

Submitted by John Beasley on Mon, 10/07/2013 - 10:28 pm

bit.ly/1cnkiLP I'm dubious the Cubs will trade for Price - two years of work building up the farm system would be practically undone overnight for one high-paid player with two years of club control? Even if the endgame is to give Price a nine-figure extension - Seems unlikely.

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Submitted by Rob G. on Mon, 10/07/2013 - 10:43 pm

Trade Samardzija for prospects, use those prospects and a few current ones not named Soler, Almora, Baez, or Bryant to get Price would probably be the play.

 

Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

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

30 players are on the MLB ACTIVE LIST (26-man limit in effect on MLB Opening Day)

7 players signed to minor league contracts are Spring Training NON-ROSTER INVITEES (NRI) 

CUBS MLB SPRING TRAINING ACTIVE LIST: 37 

Last updated 3-25-2023
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 15
Adbert Alzolay
Javier Assad 
Brad Boxberger
Michael Fulmer
Kyle Hendricks
* Brandon Hughes
Julian Merryweather
Michael Rucker
* Drew Smyly
* Justin Steele 
Marcus Stroman
Jameson Taillon 
Keegan Thompson
Hayden Wesneski
Rowan Wick

NRI PITCHERS: 5 
* Ryan Borucki  
Tyler Duffey 
* Roenis Elias  
* Anthony Kay  
Mark Leiter Jr 

CATCHERS: 2 
* Tucker Barnhart 
Yan Gomes

NRI CATCHERS: 1  
Luis Torrens 

INFIELDERS: 9
Nico Hoerner
* Eric Hosmer
Nick Madrigal
* Miles Mastrobuoni
* Zach McKinstry
Christopher Morel
* Edwin Rios
Dansby Swanson
Patrick Wisdom

NRI INFIELDERS: 
NONE   

OUTFIELDERS: 4 
* Cody Bellinger 
# Ian Happ
Trey Mancini 
Seiya Suzuki 

NRI OUTFIELDERS: 1
* Mike Tauchman   

OPTIONED: 10
Keven Alcantara, OF 
Miguel Amaya, C 
Ben Brown, P 
Alexander Canario, OF 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Jeremiah Estrada, P 
Ryan Jensen, P 
Caleb Kilian, P
Adrian Sampson, P 
Nelson Velazquez, OF 

60-DAY IL: 2 
Codi Heuer, P 
Ethan Roberts, P
  


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