Cubs MLB Roster

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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 

 



 

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Game 153 Thread/Reds @ Cubs (3 of 3)

Game Chat : BR Preview : Game Notes Tom Shearn vs. Ted Lilly Lineups:
N. Hopper CF A. Soriano LF
J. Keppinger SS R. Theriot SS
K. Griffey RF D. Lee 1B
B. Phillips 2B C. Floyd RF
A. Dunn LF A. Ramirez 3B
E. Encarnacion 3B M. DeRosa 2B
J. Votto 1B J. Jones CF
D. Ross C G. Soto C
T. Shearn P T. Lilly P
Time for the Cubbies to take a big bite out of that .00027 winning-percentage-point lead the Brewers have built in the National League Central. Lilly takes the mound on three days' rest following a well-pitched ND against the Cardinals. The lefty is 1-1 against the Reds this season, but in 18 IP, Lilly has allowed a mere 11 hits, striking out 24 and walking just 4. As for the Reds starter... When Rick Ankiel was implicated in baseball's ongoing HGH mess and went from being MLB's Feel-Good Story of 2007 to just another suspect, 30-year-old righthander Tom Shearn shot to the top of the Feel-Good list. In case you haven't heard them, the facts are these: Taken in the 29th round of the 1996 amateur draft by the Astros, the Columbus, Ohio-native toiled in the minors for a good, long time, eventually making it to AAA in 2002. Shearn pitched well in AAA in '02 before blowing out his arm, which required Tommy John surgery and caused him to miss all of 2003. Houston released Shearn, and in November of '03, he signed with the Reds. He was still pitching in the Reds minor league system, at AAA Louisville, in late August of this year, when he was summoned to the big club to assume the roster spot of Kirk Saarloos. When Shearn took the phone call informing him of the promotion, he was living in a camper outside the Louisville ballpark, so he could save on rent. Of the call-up, Shearn said, "Even if it's only for one day, I can smile." The aged rookie made his Major League debut on August 26th against Florida and is now 3-0, with wins over the Marlins, Mets, and last Thursday, the Brewers. He is the first Reds pitcher to begin his career 3-0 since Tom Browning back in 1985. (One reason for his 3-0 record: in Shearn's four big-league starts, the Reds have scored 15 first-inning runs.) All told, an inspiring tale about the rewards of passion and commitment. Now let's kick his ass back to Cincinnati.

Comments

ankiel also probably just handed his "comeback player of the year" award to his teammate percival. meh...

In June, Josh Hamilton was the feel good player of the year. Not sure Hamilton metaphysically qualifies for comeback because "comeback" implies that you were "there" before. So, yeah, Percival in the NL and Lester in the AL...

Damn, I missed the HR... Cubs 1-0, Soriano leadoff HR.

Cecil Cooper and the Astros could not be more FOS. So much for the speech about the "integrity of the game." So much for putting his "A" team out against playoff contenders. Tonight he's starting Cody Ransom 16 AB J.R. Towles 11 AB Josh Anderson 25 AB and, of course, the ace of the Astros staff, "Rocky" Gutierrez 10.1 IP Go minor leagues!

Well, now we at least know what disgruntled Cubs fans will be using as the excuse if they don't make the playoffs. The Billygoat...Steve Bartman... and now...Cecil Cooper. Damn him!!!!

Cecil Cooper isn't a scapegoat. He's a hypocrite. But if Milwaukee makes the playoffs it will be thanks to Houston. The Brewers are 9 games over .500 vs the 'stros and 3 games under vs the rest of major league baseball.

Go 3 Days rest! 1-1 Ted Lilly has an ERA over 4.75 in the first three innings this year. Go facts!

We might want to send a big thank you card to the CINC 3rd base coach after that horrible send.

That sucks, Theriot could have crawled home. Quade stopped them, but waved him and Theriot didn't hear/see him. DAMN!!!!!!!!

3-2 !!!

Dunn caught that ball, not that it mattered as Theriot would have scored anyways. But nice to see us get a break... HOU tied it up 2-2...Damn Cecil Cooper!!!

Lilly on 3 days rest, Howry 2 inning save. Lou rolled the dice, but he didn't crap out. Woo!!!!!!!!!!

For those of us in central IL, we were too close to Chicago to get the ESPN broadcast but too far away to get WCIU...so we get nuttin. That sucks.

I got the same treatment in Toledo, Ohio. We don't get FSN Ohio, but got blacked out of ESPN. Definitely sucked, unless you really like ESPN News.

RBI single for Lee! 3-2 Houston, bottom 8, still only 1 out, runners on 1st and 2nd.

3-2

Dunn caught that ball, not that it mattered as Theriot would have scored anyways. But nice to see us get a break… how did the Cubs "get a break" there? it didn't matter whether or not it was a catch or a trap - you would have had the exact same outcome.

I was blacked out on ESPN too, but I lucked out with the Cinci coverage on FSN Indiana. Mine's on cable, but my dad's FSNI was blacked out on the dish. We have the same zip code. Can't figure that one out.

So changing closers with less than 2 weeks to go in the season? WOW!!! Were you watching the game manny? Dempster was "under the weather." If Dempster lost the job, he wouldn't have closed the last two opportunities.

dave: "how did the Cubs “get a break” there?" It was a break because Dunn caught the ball and the ump bad a bad call in the Cubs favor. But I did say "not that it mattered".

CWTP: "the “all important” loss column" Good call...all important loss column.

Same here, IN JJ. The broadcasting on FSN sucks huge balls, but it's better than nothing.

dave: "Were you watching the game manny?" Yes I was, on ESPN. The announcers didn't say anything about it. In fact they were questioning why it was happening.

Astros score 2 in the eighth to go up, 4-2. Fourth run scores because Turnbow falls asleep, lets C-Lee and Berkman double-steal without a challenge. Then Lee scores on a sac fly by Pence. Ueck sounded sad.

LNL: "Dempster is sick. Received two IV’s before the game. No change in closer." Thanks for the update, makes sense.

Yes I was, on ESPN. The announcers didn’t say anything about it. In fact they were questioning why it was happening. ==================================== It must not have been common knowledge around the park cuz the Cinci guys had no clue either. They thought maybe it was cuz Dempster had struggled lately.

turnbow!

Yes I was, on ESPN. The announcers didn’t say anything about it. In fact they were questioning why it was happening. It is ESPN... they don't know about anything happening west of NY. And think about it - how would Dempster lose his job after converting his last two save opportunities?

Indiana JJ: "It must not have been common knowledge around the park cuz the Cinci guys had no clue either. They thought maybe it was cuz Dempster had struggled lately." Yeah, same with the ESPN guys, guess it wasn't only ESPN.

shit

That loud phizzzz you just heard was the air being let out of the balloon in the Cubs clubhouse as that Weeks ball went out. DAMN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

what was the "injury delay" i was getting on gameday? hopefully fielder ate one too many big macs and exploded.

what was the “injury delay” i was getting on gameday? hopefully fielder ate one too many big macs and exploded. Pence was hurt after crashing into wall... looks like he stayed in the game though.

i feel so weird rooting for the astros, but go astros. 4-4 going to the bottom of the ninth.

Look on the bright side... maybe the HOU/MIL game will stretch into extra innings, depleting the Brewers' BP. They don't have any days off for the rest of the season. Then again, expanded rosters...

It's only a tie. I'm more worried by the fact that DLee seems to be unable to hit a ball to the right of the first baseman. Or left, depending on which way you look at it. He can't pull the ball is what I'm getting at.

Bottom of nine. To quote Jack Brickhouse - "Any old kind of run wins it for the Cubs!"

Since Houston and Milwaukee are tied, I hope it goes a few more innings and then Houston wins. Make them Brewers tired!

Yeah, I don't want to stay up either, but I can't help myself. I want to go to sleep knowing that the Brewers lost.

what's keeping lidge from being an elite closer? his stuff is filthy but he seems get get rocked pretty regularly. is it pitch location or a mental thing? he doesn't seem to be the same since those pujols homers last year.

lilly didn't get the win tonight but i'm not sure if the "9-1 after a loss" stat going into this game was based on the teams record or lilly's personal record.

calling that griff injury a "lower abdominal strain" judging by where he was grabbing on himself could that be some "nice talk" for hernia or something? *shrug*

I saw Junior's injury on Sportscenter. Honestly it reminded me a lot of Nomar's groin/lower ab tear. Hopefully it's not that bad for Griffey.

I personally hope Junior's injury last at least two weeks... it'd be nice to not see him again this year.

Even the Cubs trainer went out to Jr, as I heard on the radio. the guy was hurting that much- he's out for the year

Game!

Yesss!!!

Yes!

Ryan Braun may have something to say about that... Yeah. See my following comment. After that AB though, Pence gets my vote!

Yeah. See my following comment. Ha... missed that. And Pence - Cubs' MVP? :)

Ok back up a game....guaranteed another day in first place at least...sweet.

Don't look now but the Brewers face another rookie tomorrow...Jeff Bennet from Atlanta.

Don’t look now but the Brewers face another rookie tomorrow…Jeff Bennet from Atlanta. WHAT?!?!? Atlanta needs to stop disrespecting the game.

A couple of days teetering on the edge, and hopefully the team realizes "HEY WE'RE ON THE FUCKING EDGE" and pushes it into overdrive. Close enough now to smell the post season, here's hoping. And here's hoping that LouPa can lead with the way-- can someone give us a rundown of the stretch drives he's experienced at the helm, and their outcomes?

the cubs should still be in first on friday, hope they enjoy day off,and derrick lee enjoys his short acting career.

# 101 pat and ron were talkin about lilly being 9-1 after a cub loss,i guess he has picked up zambrano quie a bit, also i am all for soto experiment to continue.

Well, I guess Lou knew he was going to need 2 out of Howry, which is why he asked the Ted to go back out for the seventh. The pitch count wasn't high, but I thought he looked like he was running on empty. (runnin' on! - Jackson Browne drop-in for you young kids). At the time I just couldn't understand why Lou didn't have anybody up or hadn't already gone and got him. What a great effort from Ted tonight. Got it done and got a big punchy when he had nothing left. Just awesome.

Re; Lefties - just don't start Craig Monroe and we'll be fine. Esp. with The Soto! Think the Cubs can win 6 more?

What a bad night to have a rehearsal from 7:30-10:00. Dammit! Sounded fantastic. Go Ted Lilly! By the way, I think I realized why the Cubs didn't trade for Griffey.

Sheets started on three days' rest on Tuesday Go! 3 Days Rest!

Overall the 3 days rest thing is a non story...Zambrano was the same he had been in half his starts all year...shaky early then settled down a bit....Lilly had a great start and kept us in the game and made the win possible. Worked out fine.

Sunday is a "dream sports day" (hopefully the outcome will justify) for my birthday my Bro asked me to go to the Bears game @ night with him, and during the day I'll be at the Cubs/Pirates finisher. Livin' large for one day. Maybe Z will be the "Good Z".. And, I'll be using CTA as the designated driver.

E-man, That's freakin' sweet! Make sure you bring back Ws from both events. I did that one time a couple of years ago during a rare weekend when the Cubs and Sox were both at home, and suffice it to say...the Red Line is ridiculously clutch. Good times all around!

didn't hear about Dempster being sick until I read the comments so when I heard it on the radio I thought Lou was just playing the numbers. The Reds had 2 lefties coming up that inning and Dunn was 3/6 vs Dempster but 1/6 vs Howry. Also Howry 200/268/312 vs lefties this year and Dempster 252/342/417. So sort of lucked into a slight statistical advantage on that one. I wonder if Lou will exploit the righty/lefty difference between the two as the season winds down and if we make the playoffs. OPS Against: Dempster vs R: 574 Howry vs R: 747 Howry vs L: 580 Dempster vs L: 759

ha...mulder getting his shoulder cut, cuff issues... looks like the cards will be lucky to have mulder back for even a 1/2 season in 08. here's hoping mulder's 08 is as good as his 07.

Pujols might be done for the year too. Not so good since they're playing the Brewers next week.

Happy New Year Ryan Braun...please remember to go to Temple for the Yom Kippur Services on Friday after sunset and all day Saturday services. L'shana Tova to you too Jason Marquis. I know you pitch friday, but that's fine since you will be done before the Yom Kippur services start (after sunset).

in the post game interview LouPa said that he told Howry before the game that he expected him to be needed for a couple of innings (due to Dempster's flu symptoms, Piniella had the flu bug the last day of the StL trip)

Mulder is definitely signed for 2008. Carpenter has an even longer term contract. Now all they need is Jason Schmidt.

SD with a 3 run homer with 2 outs in 9th to win 5-3. Up 2.5 in the Wild Card. We really don't need them clinching a playoff spot before Brewers series.

Whoa-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo - Whoa-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo - Whoa-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo -

"Dunn said the outfield at Wrigley Field is dangerous. "I'm surprised more people don't get injured out there. It's as bad as there is," he said. "It's worse than playing in a parking lot. It looks like they had a monster truck rally. It's terrible. There's potholes. It's bad. It's unsafe."

Ha, block! Postgame interview comment of the year there from Dunn. Prick.

Adam Dunn with a mitt is dangerous. Just go DH you big dummy. Jack Wilson, Pirates hottest hitter, will miss Friday and Saturday due to wife giving birth. There is also another Pirate with a expecting mother missing games, not the Cubs. But Tracey would not give them the same time off or more than two days because the Pirates next three series are against close play off teams. Thanks for the Wilson gift. Can't these guys bang their wives in October when they get home so they can have their kids during All Star Break?

Ha, block! Postgame interview comment of the year there from Dunn. Prick. Except it is true. Wrigley IS a mess, and it IS unsafe. When I was at the Cubs/Cards makeup game last week, I was amazed at how bad of shape the field was in.

E-man, Dusty would have the Cubs about 6 1/2 games behind the Brewers now with Izturis still at SS, Theriot on the bench, and Barrett catching. Rokfish, I'm not sure if Lilly is their 'Ace'.........I'm not saying he isn't..........but he is what they call our 'Stopper'.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=jp-cubs092007&prov=yhoo&type=lgns An ominous, yet fair article posted last night from Passan on Y!: "We have a lot of talent here, but we're not in the playoffs yet," Soriano said. "There are nine games left. And no matter how much talent we have, that's not going to get us in." That, of course, is the season-long conundrum with the Cubs: How can a team with such talent – so much more than the rest of the division – not pull away? How did they slum near last place for much of the first half, finding themselves at 22-31 on June 2 and 8½ games behind the Brewers on June 23? Why can't they win extra-inning games (2-8) or use the Wrigley advantage to more than a 40-36 home record? What will it take to separate themselves – for good?

E-Man: "How would Dusty have handled this game?" Nobody knows and who cares??? How would have Don Baylor, Rene Lachemann, Bruce Kim, Don Baylor, Jim Riggleman, Tom Trebelhorn, Jim Lefebvre Don Zimmer, etc. handled this game? Again, who knows and who cares!!

Dunn is a horrible fielder but he made a really nice sliding catch last night that the ump blew the call. And the field does look horrible. Our field here is in better shape. Whoever the groundskeeper is should be fired. Like the above poster said I was amazed how bad it was when I was this summer. There is usually very little difference in minor league and MLB fields, but one would think the MLB field should be better with a larger staff and larger budget. Not in the Cubs case...

Look... I know Dunn is not, and probably never will be, a gold glove outfielder. But how is that related to what he said? What did he say that wasn't true?

Lou is treating these last two weeks like they are the playoffs. I think more than anything, this team will be better prepared to handle the playoffs than they would otherwise.

Ryno, I didn't really care for that article. He had to stretch the truth to fit his "same old Cubs" theme, which really didn't apply to yesterday's great game. Yes, Lee and DeRosa made errors and either one could have been the goat in a demoralizing loss, but the real story was that their teammates--espy Lilly, Howry and Soriano--picked them up. It's not the same old Cubs if they overcome their mistakes. Also, it's dishonest to report on that Dunn play in left, where the ump may have made the wrong call, and not mention that it made absolutely no difference to the run scoring, since Theriot was tagging up anyway. The ESPN guys did the same thing.

it’s dishonest to report on that Dunn play in left, where the ump may have made the wrong call, and not mention that it made absolutely no difference to the run scoring, since Theriot was tagging up anyway. The ESPN guys did the same thing. I completely agree. (see... we can agree sometimes). People here made the same point about "catching a break." But the "missed" call had zero impact on the game.

VA Phil: "Also, it’s dishonest to report on that Dunn play in left, where the ump may have made the wrong call, and not mention that it made absolutely no difference to the run scoring, since Theriot was tagging up anyway. The ESPN guys did the same thing." Exactly, I said the same thing previously in this thread. The Cubs technically caught a break as the ump screwed up the call, but it didn't matter as Theriot was going to score anyways.

The Cubs technically caught a break as the ump screwed up the call I don't get this. How do you catch a break if the call doesn't help you?

dave: "I don’t get this. How do you catch a break if the call doesn’t help you?" It should have helped us, but it was just bad baserunning by Lee to get thrown out at 2B. He had a clear view of the play in front of him with the 3B ump making the safe sign and Dunn throwing the ball to the third baseman. Lee should have been 3/4 teh way to 2B and if Dunn caught it, he could have easily ran back to 1B. If he dropped it, like the ump ruled, he could have jogged to 2nd base. Pretty simple actually.

Cubster, That link is blocked for me at work. What's the gist? How is the TBS coverage screwing the fans?

Here you go:
One big change this year - any wild card playoff game, plus the division series, and the National League Championship Series will be airing on TBS. THERE IS NO OVER THE AIR television of these games. Unlike previous years, where WGN would air ESPN's version of some of these games, if you or someone you know cannot watch TBS, you will not be able to watch these games. This decision was made by Major League Baseball and TBS. WGN and the Cubs had nothing to do with it.

Thanks

Here is the HDTV schedule for the 2007 MLB Playoffs: Division Series NLDS A Game 1 Wed., Oct. 3 TBS NLDS B Game 1 Wed., Oct. 3 TBS ALDS B Game 1 Wed., Oct. 3 TBS NLDS A Game 2 Thurs., Oct. 4 TBS NLDS B Game 2 Thurs., Oct. 4 TBS ALDS A Game 1 Thurs., Oct. 4 TBS ALDS A Game 2 Fri., Oct. 5 TBS ALDS B Game 2 Fri., Oct. 5 TBS NLDS A Game 3 Sat., Oct. 6 TBS NLDS B Game 3 Sat., Oct. 6 TBS ALDS A Game 3 Sun., Oct. 7 TBS/TNT ALDS B Game 3 Sun., Oct. 7 TBS/TNT NLDS A Game 4 Sun., Oct. 7 TBS/TNT NLDS B Game 4 Sun., Oct. 7 TBS/TNT ALDS A Game 4 Mon., Oct. 8 TBS ALDS B Game 4 Mon., Oct. 8 TBS NLDS A Game 5 Tues., Oct. 9 TBS NLDS B Game 5 Tues., Oct. 9 TBS ALDS A Game 5 Wed., Oct. 10 TBS ALDS B Game 5 Wed., Oct. 10 TBS League Championship Series NLCS Game 1 Thurs., Oct. 11 TBS NLCS Game 2 Fri., Oct. 12 TBS ALCS Game 1 Fri., Oct. 12 FOX ALCS Game 2 Sat., Oct. 13 FOX NLCS Game 3 Sun., Oct. 14 TBS ALCS Game 3 Mon., Oct. 15 FOX NLCS Game 4 Mon., Oct. 15 TBS ALCS Game 4 Tues., Oct. 16 FOX NLCS Game 5 Wed., Oct. 17 TBS ALCS Game 5 Thurs., Oct. 18 FOX NLCS Game 6 Fri., Oct. 19 TBS ALCS Game 6 Sat., Oct. 20 FOX NLCS Game 7 Sat., Oct. 20 TBS ALCS Game 7 Sun., Oct. 21 FOX World Series WS Game 1 (AL host) Wed., Oct. 24 FOX WS Game 2 (AL host) Thurs., Oct. 25 FOX WS Game 3 (NL host) Sat., Oct. 27 FOX WS Game 4 (NL host) Sun., Oct. 28 FOX WS Game 5 (NL host) Mon., Oct. 29 FOX WS Game 6 (AL host) Wed., Oct. 31 FOX WS Game 7 (AL host) Thurs., Nov. 1 FOX

Isn't TBS on just about everybody's cable package, though? They'd be screwing more people if they covered it on CSN, wouldn't they?

Isn’t TBS on just about everybody’s cable package, though? Right... but not all people have cable. In the past, they have allowed local markets to broadcast the games.

Yeah Wes, CSN would be far worse. But it's true, if you don't have cable you are flat out of luck. And I think that the NLCS should be available to everyone for free. It's the great American Pastime! What I wonder is this: who does the TBS broadcasts?

Chip Caray bad, Tony Gwynn harmless, Skip Caray good, Joe Simpson above average. As for the studio guys, it's nice to see Ernie Johnson recover from cancer, but he probably wouldn't know baseball if it beaned him in the forehead. And Cal Ripken Jr. is just a dullard and very removed from the game. Even though he just retired five years ago, he'll sound like he last played baseball in 1947. Johnson and Ripken will make Jeanne Zelasko and Kevin Kennedy sound edgy and smart. Why couldn't they bring in an opinionated stathead and an opinionated old-school guy and have them clash at every opportunity? That might be interesting ... ("What do you mean there's no such thing as clutch hitting ... ?)

Did anyone see this bit from Muskrat's story? Sorry if it's 3/44. ------ And that little hop Soriano does before he catches a fly ball? "Sometimes with a routine fly ball, I drop it," Soriano said. "I don't like to make it routine, I like to make it a little tough, and that makes me more relaxed."

Why couldn’t they bring in an opinionated stathead and an opinionated old-school guy and have them clash at every opportunity? That might be interesting … (”What do you mean there’s no such thing as clutch hitting … ?) They should hire Chad and I - that would be fun! Or Wes and Horatio!

Cubster: "TBS covering the postseason…mlb screws the fans again." Unfortunately, this should come to no surprise to baseball fans. MLB, especially under Selig, has shown time and time again that they are more interested in making a dollar than catering to their fans.

I don't know if anyone has actually stood inside the Cubs dugout at Wrigley, but when my company became a sponsor we got a walk thru on the field. It is physically impossible to see any base from the dugout unless you were 8 Ft. 6 in. tall. Even then, it would be tough. Lou never has any clue if a runner is safe or out. You can only see the OF's when they're about 200 feet from the dugout. The field needs SERIOUS work.

"There is usually very little difference in minor league and MLB fields, but one would think the MLB field should be better with a larger staff and larger budget. Not in the Cubs case…" Oh - I see, you had the Police play in your dinky minor league park, right? You think it is so simple based on your Single A or whatever ballpark, and it is really not comparing apples to apples. Who cares - it is not applicable here!!

BTW - The re-sodding plan which was scrapped, apparently is back on the board again - but this year the Police toll was greater than the club had anticipated by far.

I believe the entire field at Wrigley is being ripped up and replaced during the offseason, as it's the only field in MLB without a drainage system. I read that somewhere so it has to be true.

As for the studio guys, it’s nice to see Ernie Johnson recover from cancer, but he probably wouldn’t know baseball if it beaned him in the forehead. Actually, Ernie called Braves baseball with his old man in the early 90's. Wiki tells me Ernie Johnson Sr. was a reliever for the world champion 1957 Milwaukee Braves.

On Weeks's ninth-inning homer, Hunter Pence (not the smoothest fielder), playing right field, smashed into the wall and was flat on the ground when the ball landed in the first row. Otherwise he might have caught it. I'm glad he was able to get up and stay in the game!

First it was Cecil Cooper, who said he started a rookie against the Brewers to see what he could do, 'forgetting' that he had already seen what AA pitcher Paulino could do against Milwaukee two weeks earlier(3 home runs in 3 innings) and now it's Bobby Cox not even recognizing the minor leaguer he's starting tonight against Milwaukee. Cox encountered Jeff Bennett yesterday and, thinking he was a Marlin who had lost his way, tried to escort him back to the visiting clubhouse. Why is Bobby Cox giving Mr. Nobody his first major league start against Milwaukee? "We want to win," Cox said. okay.... http://www.ajc.com/braves/content/sports/braves/stories/2007/09/19/brav… yeesh

I don't like this focus on who other teams are starting. It's there for the Cub's to take. They are playing shitty teams the rest of the year. Just execute, do your job, beat teams you are supposed to beat. If you don't execute, you don't deserve the playoffs anyways.

BTW, I looked at the replay of Dunn's catch of Murton's drive in the 8th on the video at the Cubs' website -- and the ump got the call right. He did trap it. Dunn has his glove held open vertically (backhanded w/ fingers down) and you can see that the ball hits the ground first and pops up into the glove before he closes the glove. The position of the glove makes it almost impossible for him to catch it cleanly -- he was going for a trap/block of the ball, not a catch. FWIW.

E-Man: "You think it is so simple based on your Single A or whatever ballpark, and it is really not comparing apples to apples." Firstly, it is AA. Secondly we have events all the time on the field, not just one concert a year. We have band competitions, car shows, etc. On top of fantasy camps, clinics, etc. that I am sure the Cubs have also. But yeah, you are sorta right, it is not the same. The Cubs have a staff of people working on the field with what I am sure is a bigger budget, with better equipment. We have 1 full time guy with a very small hourly staff only during the summer with equipment that breaks down all the time. And why so defensive of the Cubs poor field, is the groundskeeper your brother? The field is in poor condition, and for a MLB team, there should be no excuses for that.

pujols done for the year? and they still have to play the brewers 3.

Joe Pepitone: "BTW, I looked at the replay of Dunn’s catch of Murton’s drive in the 8th on the video at the Cubs’ website — and the ump got the call right." ESPNHD had the game last night and they showed it 5-7 times from a few different angles and I think it was pretty clear he caught it. All the announcers agreed and with high def it made it much clearer as to the ball's flight. Again, it still doesn't change Theriot scoring and Lee's bad baserunning on that play.

I think it's funny... Card fans who bought tix, thinking they might see the Cards clinch a division or something... No Carpenter No Pujols Suck it Card fans.

#165 manny- And the field does look horrible. Our field here is in better shape. Whoever the groundskeeper is should be fired. manny you may not have been around this summer when it was revealed by tribune that the field will be entirely removed and replaced. to take palce at end of baseball 2007. the contract for this was given to roger bossard (the so called "sodfather") who is head groundskeeper at us cellular. i do not recall if the groundskeeper at wrigley is terminated, or if he will return in 2008 to maintain an entierly new surface with entirely new drainage system.

Manny, I'm not sure you saw the stage the Police brought with them but it was like constructing a building in the outfield. It was taller than the centerfield bleachers. Not that I give a damn if the grass at Wrigley Field is in good shape or not. It's just that the Police concert did a lot more damage than a band competition or car show could. If Dunn doesn't like the field now he should have played at Wrigley a few decades ago. There were a few years back in the 70s when there was more dirt than grass in the outfield.

I really don't get the justification of the shape of the field at Wrigley. It is an AWFUL shape. I don't recall ever seeing Wrigley look so bad. It really is an embarrassment. It may be in worse shape than the New England Pat's field was in last year.

Maybe they should buy some of that "Scott's Turf Builder Plus" that is advertised on WGN every other inning. That family sure loves their yard...

Roger Brosard is my brother. He does not take kindly to Truck Pulls, or Band Competitions. You see this stuff in po-dunk, minor league ballparks. But the Police Concerts at Wrigley were the highest grossing concerts on their US Tour. The field was going to be replaced anyway - as others have noted.

The field was going to be replaced anyway - as others have noted. That really isn't the point. The field, right now, is in terrible shape. Is/was there something that Cubs' ground crew could have done? Possibly, but I find that unlikely. I am not blaming the ground crew. I do blame Cubs management that allowed something like a Police concert on the field, though I also don't think that the police concert is the only thing that has caused the damage to the field. But there is no reason to completely destroy a field mid way through a season simply because the field is going to get replaced anyway.

I'm sure rolling the OF is something they've tried and seen little success at. Past that, there just isn't much that can be done. That's the extent of my knowledge from my days as an indy league broadcaster/groundskeeper/clubhouse manager/media relations director/merchandise designer/fill-in umpire.

The E-Man — September 20, 2007 @ 11:29 am Roger Brosard is my brother. ------------------ Do you mean Roger Baird?

Yeah the field sucks but as mentioned the team knew it. They had a plan to fix it that Trib nixed hoping the new owner would foot the bill. Blame Trib if you want.....

Its Roger Bossard, I meant. WES: "...as an indy league broadcaster/groundskeeper/clubhouse manager/media relations director/merchandise designer/fill-in umpire." Funny! The man of many hats - awesome!

Blame Trib if you want….. Agreed... when I said "Cubs mangement," I meant to include the Trib folk in that.

CWTP, For most of the year the Braves rotation has been Hudson, Smoltz, and pray for lightening bolts. So its not like Cox is holding anyone back who is that much better than Bennett

when murton was here in des moines he raved about the playing surface [which was ripped up and replaced a couple off-seasons ago] versus the one @ wrigley...i spoke w/ him about it during an interview for 'road to wrigley' the same week that alan trammel's comments about the sad shape of wrigley were in the tribune-interestingly, murton wanted his remarks at the time to be off-the-record; probably our of fear of being driven deeper into lou's doghouse-i think he's out now!

DC: "manny you may not have been around this summer when it was revealed by tribune that the field will be entirely removed and replaced. to take palce at end of baseball 2007. the contract for this was given to roger bossard (the so called “sodfather”) who is head groundskeeper at us cellular. i do not recall if the groundskeeper at wrigley is terminated, or if he will return in 2008 to maintain an entierly new surface with entirely new drainage system." Thanks for the info, I was not aware of that. The way the field looked, I don't think the Trib had any choice in the matter. The fact that they are using "The Sodfather", would not be a good sign for the Cubs head groundskeeper, IMO, but makes sense. Thanks!!

The fact that they are using “The Sodfather”, would not be a good sign for the Cubs head groundskeeper, IMO, but makes sense. This guy has done numerous fields in MLB. He is well known for re-doing fields. The Cubs' head groundskeeper's job may on the line, but not because they are using the "Sodfather."

Further... I believe that the guy re-doing the field's job is to re-do fields. Not maintain the fields.

dave: "This guy has done numerous fields in MLB. He is well known for re-doing fields." Yep, and that is why I said it makes sense. He is the best... It is one thing the White Sux got going for them....:)

Yep, and that is why I said it makes sense. He is the best… Right... and I am just saying that I don't think it says anything about the Cubs' grounds keeper.

I was at the game last night sitting in the second row of the upper deck down the right field line, and was absolutely floored by how bad the field looked. You can't really tell from the lower level or watching it on tv, but with that bird's eye view, it just looked like a vast sea of brown spots. I wonder why the Police concert f'ed it up so bad and the Buffett concert last year didn't. Maybe because Buffett was on Labor Day and the Police were in early July? I don't know, but I doubt there will be any more concerts there in the future.

Comcast has no TBS HD channel, at least not to my knowledge (if it's on my system, I haven't seen it). Too bad they're not on TNT.

Comcast has no TBS HD channel, at least not to my knowledge (if it’s on my system, I haven’t seen it). Too bad they’re not on TNT. Tito... last I heard (a week or two ago) was that Comcast was supposed to add TBS HD to their offerings by the time that the playoffs started.

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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.