Baez Keeps on Rehabbin', but AZL Cubs Rally Falls Short at Fitch Park
Shane Conlon belted an RBI double and an RBI single and scored a run, and Mike Martin singled twice, reached base on an HBP, and scored two runs, helping the AZL Athletics edge the AZL Cubs 5-4 in Arizona League action Friday night at Fitch Park Field #4 in Mesa, AZ.
Jose Paniagua lined a bases-clearing, bases-loaded three-run double into the LF corner with two outs in the top of the 9th to bring the Cubs within one run, but after Varonex Cuevas walked and Roberto Caro reached base on an infield single to load the bases, Yohan Matos struck out (swinging) on three pitches (his third punch-out of the game) to end the rally and give the A's the victory.
LHP Manny Rondon (acquired from the Los Angeles Angels for catcher Rafael Lopez earlier this month) got the start for the AZL Cubs, and was tagged for two runs in the very first inning, allowing two singles and a double to the first three men he faced. But then Rondon retired 14 of the next 15, and in fact it would have been 15 in a row except for an E-5 that got in the way.
Javy Baez (on AAA Iowa 7-day DL - broken finger) continued his AZL rehab, hitting third in the batting order for the second night in a row, and playing 2nd base for seven innings. (He played shortstop for five innings Thursday night).
Baez went 1-3 at the plate, and handled several chances flawlesly in the field.
He reached base on an HBP (upper left shoulder) on a 3-2 pitch with two outs and the bases empty in the top of the 1st inning, grounded a single sharply past the pitcher, over second base, and into centerfield on a 3-2 pitch with a runner at 1st and two outs in the top of the 3rd, flied out to the warning track in CF on a 2-2 pitch with one out and runners at 1st & 2nd in the 5th, and popped out to the second-baseman in short RF on an 0-2 pitch with runners at 1st & 2nd and one out in the top of the 7th. Baez showed frustration on the pop out, angrily slamming his bat into the ground as he trotted toward 1st base.
The Tampa Bay Rays and the Boston Red Sox are the only two MLB clubs who presently have scouts following the AZL Cubs on a daily basis. The Rays and the Red Sox scouts showed up at Dylan Cease's start Thursday night and at both of Javy Baez's rehab games (Thursday night at Sloan Park and Friday night at Fitch Park), and the Rays scout (in particular) is apparently so focused on Baez that he left the park as soon as Baez left the game, both times.
So if Baez gets moved in a deadline deal, could it be to Tampa Bay? More importantly, do the Rays have what the Cubs would probably want back in a deal right now (presumably a long-term club-controlled MLB starting pitcher)? ANSWER: They certainly do. And could Dylan Cease possibly be involved? Would Billy McKinney also be part of such a deal, if it were to go down? Time will tell.
Here is the abridged box score from Friday night's game (Cubs players only):
AZL CUBS LINEUP:
1. P. J. Higgins, 3B: 1-5 (K, 5-3, F-9, 1B, E-4, 2 R)
2. Carlos Sepulveda, SS: 1-3 (4-3, BB, BB, 1B, K)
3a. Javy Baez, 2B: 1-3 (HBP, 1B, F-8, P-4)
3b. Andruw Monasterio, 2B: 0-1 (L-3)
4. Michael Foster, RF: 2-4 (K, BB, F-9, 1B, 1B, R, RBI)
5a. Jose Paniagua, 1B: 2-5 (6-3, F-9, E-5, 1B, 2B, 3 RBI)
5b. Robert Garcia, PR: NO AB
6. Varonex Cuevas, DH: 0-4 (6-3, K, F-9, K, BB)
7. Roberto Caro, CF: 2-5 (3B, K, P-4, 5-3, 1B)
8. Yohan Matos, C: 0-5 (K, 5-3, F-7, K, K)
9. Donnie Cimino, LF: 1-3 (3-U, BB, L-5, 1B, R)
AZL CUBS PITCHERS:
1. Manny Rondon: 4.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R (2 ER), 0 BB, 4 K, 3/3 GO/FO, 58 pitches (42 strikes)
2. Matt Brazis: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 2/1 GO/FO, 7 pitches (6 strikes)
3. Trey McNutt: 2.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R (3 ER), 0 BB, 0 K, 1 HBP, 3/3 GO/FO, 35 pitches (21 strikes)
4. Carlos Rodriguez: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K, 1 GIDP, 1/1 GO/FO, 10 pitches (5 strikes)
AZL CUBS ERRORS: NONE
AZL CUBS BASERUNNING MISADVENTURES:
Michael Foster was thrown out 9-2-4-6 after he attempted to take 2nd base on a throw to the plate on a two-out RBI single to RF, but (for some unknown reason) Carlos Sepulveda failed to advance to 3rd base on the hit and was standing on 2nd base when Foster arrived, so Foster attempted to return to 1st base, was caught in a rundown, and was tagged out.
NOTE TO CUBS: Think about maybe hiring a full-time dedicated baserunning coach for Extended Spring Training and AZL Cubs, whose sole job would be to teach proper baserunning fundamentals, technique, theory, tactics, strategy, and best practices on a daily basis. Every day. Using both baserunning drills & classroom training. The Cubs are hands-down THE worst baserunning team down here, and it didn't just start with AZL play, either.
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