Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

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 

 



 

Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Starlin Castro's Independence Day Connection

 

I am so happy for the kid.
The lone Cub All-Star for 2011, Starlin Castro.

Kinda weird that it happens during the 4th of July weekend, though.
Independence Day.
I'm not a conspiracy guy or anything, but there are some weird similarities here.
Indesputable facts, if you will.
For instance, how many American colonies told the British Empire to bugger off when the Declaration of Independence was signed?
That would be thirteen, right? 
Starlin Castro's number?
Uh, thirteen. 
The date?
July 4.
Starlin's first game?
He went 4 for 4 with a 4-bagger in his first at bat. 
What is it that adorns the American Flag?
Stripes and...Star(lins).
Crazy, right?
The colors of said flag and the colors of Starlin's hat?
Red, White, and Cubby Blue.
Did you know that the name of Paul Revere's trusty steed was Castro?
Little known historical fact, my friend.

Coincidence?
You tell me.

Here's what I do know: Starlin Castro is carrying on a not-so-proud Solo-Cub All-Star tradition.
If I counted right, in 11 of the last 15 years the Cubs have been represented by one, lonely guy on the All-Star team.
4 of those years were Solo Sammy.
The rest were Steve Trachsel in '96, Mark Grace in '97, Big Z in '06, D. Lee in '07, Ted Lilly in '09, Marlon Byrd last year and now...Starlin Castro. 

Still, pretty awesome for Starlin, not so awesome for the team.

Well... at least they didn't get swept by the Sox yesterday.

Comments

This has always been my critique of Ozzie Guillen- when you use so many guys out of the bullpen, all it takes is one guy to have a bad day for the game to get away. Today it was Wood. Got out of it with a tie game.

From the I-Cubs website...sunday Jay Jax finally pitched a good game.
RH Jay Jackson flirted with a complete game shutout, but settled for a victory in the Cubs' 8-1 win over the New Orleans Zephyrs at Principal Park last night. Jackson allowed one run on eight hits in 8.1 innings in the team's longest outing of the year. Jackson also contributed an RBI single to the offense that was led by homers from Fernando Perez and Bryan LaHair along with three hits from Marwin Gonzalez.

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In reply to by Paul Noce

Mateo hurt his pitching elbow. MRI to follow in Chicago. http://tinyurl.com/636224q
When manager Mike Quade noticed Marcos Mateo shaking his hand after a 3-2 pitch to Jayson Werth on Monday, he wondered what was going on. When he visited the mound one pitch later...
So I ask, why didn't someone go out to the mound if Quade noticed it one pitch earlier? Couldn't be much worse if Mateo was rounding third base and he saw DeJesus wavin' him home...
Mateo injured his elbow, and it is serious enough to warrant an MRI, most likely in Chicago. Quade did not know the extent of the injury when he met with the media after the Cubs' 5-4 loss to the Nationals, but appeared prepared for a difficult prognosis.
chalk up Mateo's arm as one more notch on the belt of our gunslinging (BB gun, as in birdbrain?) manager.

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In reply to by George Altman

Submitted by George Altman on Mon, 07/04/2011 - 7:01pm. With an injury DL move, they could recall Carpenter without waiting the 10 days. I imagine they will option Coleman after selecting Ortiz's contract tomorrow. =========================================== GEORGE A: I agree with you about the Cubs likely recalling Chris Carpenter if Marcos Mateo is placed on the DL. Also, since Casey Coleman is starting in Ryan Dempster's slot, the Cubs could option Coleman to Iowa today to create a roster slot for Ramon Ortiz, but have Coleman remain with the Cubs and prepare in the usual manner to start (if necessary) on Saturday if Dempster is not ready to go. If Dempster is not ready to make the start on Saturday, the Cubs could place Dempster on the DL retro to 6/30 and "recall" Coleman from his Optional Assignment to make the Saturday start (although he actually wouldn't have left), and then Dempster could be reactivated as early as Friday 7/15 (second game after the All-Star Break). And Carlos Zambrano is eligible to be reactivated from the DL on Saturday 7/16. If Dempster is ready to pitch on Saturday, the Cubs could send Coleman back to Iowa to make his next start there. But I would hope that the Cubs would be smart enough to not have Coleman actually go to Des Moines until they know for sure that Dempster can make the start on Saturday at Pittsburgh. Meanwhile RHP Nick Struck has been moved up to Iowa from Tennessee to replace Ramon Ortiz in the I-Cubs starting rotation, and will make his AAA debut tonight, although if it wasn't that Trey McNutt was struggling to come back from his blister & rib injuries, I think it would have been McNutt rather than Struck going up to AAA. Matt Loosen (who was hands-down the #1 starter at Extended Spring Training) gets jumped from Peoria to Tennessee to replace Struck, and RHP Starling Peralta and LHP Frank del Valle (the top two pitchers at AZL Cubs) get jumped up to Peoria. Also, RHP Pete Levitt (Cubs 2011 32nd round pick out of Mt. Olive College) gets moved up to Peoria from the AZL Cubs, RHP Larry Suarez gets bumped up to Daytona from Peoria, and RHP Marcus Hatley has been promoted to Tennessee from Daytona. The Cubs will have another opening at AAA if Chris Carpenter gets recalled to replace Mateo, and if Carpenter does get recalled, I would think that veteran AAA RHRP Jeff Stevens will get moved back up to Iowa from Tennessee, with either RHP Oswaldo Martinez, RHP Juan Yasser Serrano, or LHP Casey Harman going up to Tennessee from Daytona. I would also think that LHP Austin Kirk (who threw a complete game nine inning no-hitter for Peoria yesterday) will (finally) get his Letter of Transit to Daytona, and probably very soon. Kirk had three really bad starts before yesterday's gem, so he really needed to show the Cubs that he was back in the saddle again. (Which he did with an exclamation point!). One other Cubs minor league roster move of note is that 3B Marquez Smith has been reactivated from the DL at Iowa. Smith injured his hand a couple of weeks ago and went to see a specialist, but apparently it wasn't as bad as was originally feared. With M. Smith coming off the Iowa DL, it could mean the end of the road for Augie Ojeda, especially with Marwin Gonzalez hitting like he has since getting promoted from Tennessee to Iowa (.524 in seven games since getting moved-up to AAA). Supersub Jonathon Mota can also play SS (in addition to every place else on the diamond), so the I-Cubs would be well-covered at SS even if Ojeda gets released. I would also think that OF Evan Crawford (acquired from SF for Mike Fontenot last year) will be getting a promotion to Tennessee before much longer. He is one of the fastest players in the organization (he is a 440 relay-type long-strider) and is a good base-stealer (20/25 SB at Daytona in 2011), is an outstanding flyhawk (but with a below-average arm), and has developed into a very good hitter (330/395/431 at Daytona) with lots of doubles and triples (albeit without HR power). His major problem going into this season was a lack of plate discipline (too many K, not enough BB), but he has improved in that area. BTW, Crawford and Jae-Hoon Ha were the co-MVPs at Cubs AZ Instructs last fall, and Crawford is a much better prospect than a lot of Cub fans realize. (He played college ball in the Big Ten at Indiana U.).

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In reply to by The Real Neal

Prior to last Thursday when Marcos Mateo threw 5.0 IP and 57 pitches versus SF in relief of Carlos Zambrano, the most IP Mateo had thrown in a game this season was 3.2 IP (once - 5/24 - 35 pitches - for Iowa) and the most pitches he had thrown in any one game was 40 (once - 6/10 - 2.0 IP - also for Iowa). Mateo was used as the co-closer (with Scott Maine) at Iowa after being sent down to AAA on May 17th, and was not stretched-out to be used in long relief. Same thing when Quade allowed Jeff Stevens to throw 89 pitches over 3.1 IP versus LAD on April 22. You can't just expect a AAA late-inning reliever to suddenly and magically be able to throw multiple innings and a boat-load of pitches without stretching him out first.

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In reply to by Arizona Phil

Marcos Mateo threw 5.0 IP and 57 pitches versus SF in relief of Carlos Zambrano, the most IP Mateo had thrown in a game this season was 3.2 IP (once - 5/24 - 35 pitches - for Iowa) --- AzPhil: I couldn't agree more on this point (Jeff Stevens included). Quade should be fired for a lot of reasons but ruining young arms is way beyond his stoopid intra game strategy failures. This is exactly how to ruin a pitching career (no matter how marginal it might have been in the case of Stevens and Mateo). I hope Quade gets a reputation as a pitcher-killer. Just look at what Dusty did to Aaron Harang's career. Chad Fox was already on the duct tape trail and never blamed Dusty but we all know better.

21 year old Peoria starting LHP Austin Kirk with a no-hitter thru 6IP, score tied 0-0. Kirk continuing a solid campaign, notwithstanding 4-5 WL record. Daytona Cubbies put a 10 spot (including 1 grand slam, no other HRs) up in the 5th inning against the Tampa Yankees, leading 12-2 in the 7th. Notable: Michael Brenly with 2 doubles tonight - had only 4 extra base hits (all doubles) going into tonights game. Battling with Micah Gibbs as biggest player, least amount of power in the farm system.

MiLB.com has a new feature article on Rebel Ridling up today. http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110705&conten… And elsewhere, Chairman Ricketts is pressuring cash-strapped Boise to build him a new $23 -$30 million stadium. He's on his way to tour the 22 year old facility which Oneri Fleita describes as falling apart. Boise shelled out $20,000 for a study but having spent that they say they're out of money to do anything more.

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In reply to by crunch

All of the Cubs minor league Player Development Contracts (PDC) expire in September 2012, so that's when the Cubs can change affiliates. I have heard that the Cubs will likely try to change their Hi-A affiliate from Daytona in the Florida State League to someplace in the California League. The Cubs and Brewers are the only two MLB clubs with Hi-A affiliates in the Florida State League (Cubs in Daytona and Brewers in Brevard County) that do not have Spring Training in Florida, and the Astros are the only MLB club with a Hi-A affiliate in the California League (Lancaster) that does not have Spring Training in Arizona. So the Cubs could just switch places with Houston, exchanging the rain-outs and hurricanes of the Florida State League for the dry desert of the California League (while also trading a pitcher's league--the FSL--for a hitter's league--the CAL). As for Boise, the Cubs had their Short Season-A (SS-A) affiliate in Eugene (also in the Northwest League) before they moved to Boise ten years ago, and I would think they would just find another home in the NWL if things don't work out in Boise. No big deal. There is another eight-team league called the Pioneer Baseball League (PBL) that has teams in Montana-Wyoming-Utah-Idaho, but it is rated as a Short Season - Rookie (SS-R) league (like the Arizona League, Gulf Coast League, etc). All of the parent clubs in the PBL are Arizona Spring Training teams, but six of the eight MLB clubs that have teams in the PBL actually use it as their one and only SS-A team (despite the SS-R classification). So the Cubs could switch their SS-A affiliate to someplace in the PBL. The Rockies are one of only two MLB clubs that use the PBL as an SS-R (the Diamondbacks are the other one), with a PBL affiliate in Casper, WY. The Rockies also have an SS-A affiliate in the NWL (Tri-City), but they haven't established an affiliate in the Arizona League (AZL) yet despite moving their Spring Training and Minor League Operations from Tucson to the Phoenix metro area (Scottsdale - Talking Stick), so perhaps the Cubs could move their SS-A affilate from Boise in the NWL to Casper in the PBL, with the Rockies moving their Casper affiliate to the AZL (the Rockies and the White Sox are the only teams that have Spring Training and their Minor League HQs in Arizona that do not field a team in the AZL). Then the the PBL could be re-designated as an SS-A league. The Toronto Blue Jays are the only MLB club that has Spring Training and it's minor league HQ in Florida that also has an SS-A affiliate in the Northwest League (Vancouver), so if the Cubs did leave the NWL for the PBL, the Jays could maybe move their SS-A affiliate from the NWL to the New York-Pennsylvania League (NYP), which would be closer to the Jays' Spring Training & Minor League HQ in Florida, keeping the NWL with an even number of teams (albeit six instead of eight). Actually, the Arizona Diamondbacks have affiliates in both the Pioneer Baseball League AND the Northwest League as well as a Short Season - Rookie (SS-R) team in the AZL, so it's possible that the Cubs could (like the D'backs) establish an affiliate in the PBL IN ADDITION TO the ones in the NWL and AZL to help accomodate all the extra players they now have coming to the U. S. from their two Dominican teams (70 players combined on the two Cubs DSL teams each season since DSL Cubs #2 was established in 2008). That would be consistent with the Ricketts stated desire to spend more money on Scouting and Player Development. (Despite signing only 14 of their 2011 draft picks, the AZL Cubs and Boise rosters are already full, making a third Short Season team in the PBL more than just a luxury).

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In reply to by navigator

if you're wondering how Rebel stacks up against Kyle Russell this year comps: Rebel Ridling AA .309 .360 .494 .855 12HR 48RBI 74games Kyle Russell AA .274 .341 .544 .885 16HR 50RBI 79games

Cubs Minor League Strikeout Leaders: 1. Austin Kirk - 82 (PEORIA) 2. Ramon Ortiz - 81 (IOWA) 3. Nick Struck - 73 (DAYT/TENN) 4. Matt Loosen - 68 (EXST/DAYT/PEORIA) 5. Robert Coello - 66 (IOWA/TENN)

The Russ Ortiz experience, oddly familiar... First 3 hitters with singles, bags loaded. Randy Wells smiles. Dud Davis smiles. Rog Lopez smiles. Jeff Russell smiles. Casey Coleman smiles. Pat Hughes: Perfect double play ball, "Baker goes to Barney and throws the ball away..."

When was Quade promoted to a 2 star general? He has two gold stars on the back of his hat tonight.

Has anyone heard anything about Ty'Relle Harris since his accident?

Just talked to Kevin Slowey. He reiterates that he'll likely be pitching for another club before long. He wants to start, and Twins know it. hopefully Casey Coleman, Rodrigo Lopez and Randy Wells aren't blocking his way to the Cubs. ~sigh~

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In reply to by big_lowitzki

Actually, they don't. Speak for yourself. This is a game you like to play. A player who starts a game, as Reed Johnson did in this case, gets a "presumption of competence," or whatever you want to call it, whenever his turn at bat comes up, even late in a game. There is an obvious exception to this rule in the case of lefty-lefty matchups: the defense wants to arrange this matchup, the offense wants to avoid it. But it is generally assumed that a righty hitter (yes, even Jeff Baker) can hit a righty pitcher--as was true in the instance in front of us. I could give numerous examples of this (some of them of course involving Koyie Hill), but then you and others would say, Quade is stupid.

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In reply to by VirginiaPhil

I recall you saying that a lot of GMs are stupid or incompetent. Not sure those were my exact words, but even so, I am pretty sure that Mike Quade is not a GM, is he? And that business on this thread about Ricketts deserving to be flogged Which has absolutely nothing to do with this specific conversation. But if you have refrained from joining the "Quade is stupid" chorus on TCR then that's good, and I appreciate it I have been very unimpressed with Quade, but I sure haven't said that he is stupid. I just think that he makes a lot of stupid decisions. By the way, a good example of managing not being chess was that Castro was in the on-deck circle, waiting for the pitcher's turn to bat, when the game ended last night. What... Castro was going to PH for Pena?

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In reply to by VirginiaPhil

jeebus... Reed Johnson is the short side platoon outfielder with a career 264/322/384 line versus righties. The Cubs need to remember that. Fukudome is 275/406/469 in his career with RISP (467 PA) to Reed's 293/355/430 (794 PA) and the Cubs were down 1. Throw in the rightly/lefty advantage and Fukudome has a much better shot of keeping the inning going as the Cubs needed to at least tie the game and hopefully take the lead and the same, if not better odds of getting a hit there. It wasn't Dusty terrritory stupidity, I just get annoyed by Cubs managers willingness to overlook Reed's shortcomings cause he dives for balls in the field. Q-Ball I'm sure was thinking might as well save Fukudome for later in case he's needed, it's just the 7th, but I always find that line of thinking foolish. Take the opportunities when they come, you might not get another chance and the Cubs didn't last night. But considering how well Q-Ball has done this year, I should just shut up I guess.

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In reply to by VirginiaPhil

If you are looking at only their numbers with RISP and only this year, then Reed Johnson is going to come out on top every time. Of course, he only has 30 PA this year with runners in scoring position, so you're putting a lot of stock in 12 hits and 2 BBs. Johnson's had a great 126 plate appearances with the Cubs this year, largely due to a BABIP that is .064 higher than his career average despite the fact that just about all of his other numbers are in line with what you would typically expect from Reed Johnson. big's point about the career numbers is valid. The difference between their averages is is .018 in favor of Johnson, but the difference between their OBPs is .051 in favor of Fukudome and the difference between their slugging is .039 in favor of Fukudome. If you look at it that way, you're trading a slightly higher chance that Johnson would get a hit for a more increased chance that he would make an out. But, more importantly, since we're talking about these two batters facing Clippard, a RHP, why are we looking at RISP numbers instead of vs. righty splits? You'll find that for their careers, their AVG vs. Righties are identical, .264, but Fukudome's OBP and SLG are both higher. If you look at 2011, Johnson has had great numbers in his 77 PAs whereas Fukudome has been pretty much in line with his own averages in his 258 PAs.

Happy 10-year-anniversary month, TCR. You've been a steady staple in my dailyish reading rotation since the best-on-paper 2003-04 offseason. I wish we could celebrate under more fortuitous circumstances. Thanks to Rob G., AZ Phil, Mike W., and the rest for keeping it going based on the love (?) for a team that frankly doesn't really deserve it anymore. Watching this team has become like a slow-motion ballbust, but it's still great to enjoy the banter in the comments; the differing but informed and informedish opinions; the funny shit everyone has to say; my new favorite fantasy baseball league with other guys from this place; and of course the unbeatable articles on Spring Training, the Draft, Des Moines, AFL, etc. If I only had the opportunity to think about and discuss this team with SportsCenter-watching analysis-punters, I'd probably have lost a lot more interest a while back amid my busy life. For me at least, this blog is, without any doubt, the single best marketing tool that the sport and franchise have to me. It enhances my experience in being a baseball fan and a Cubs fan to a much greater degree because it's stimulating in a way that Muskat, Sullivan, etc., can't or won't be. Sorry if this was weird. I just wanted to take this opportunity to express my gratitude for TCR. Thanks again for everything, and here's to another 10 years, a better product, and hopefully getting around to snapping that pesky 8-year, 8-game playoff losing streak.

Do you need any help digging out?

Jim Callis Chat over at Baseball America: http://www.baseballamerica.com/chat/?1309968835 Norman (San Jose): at midseason, have any players moved up significantly in your top 100 prospects? Jim Callis: .... I also was trying to be conservative on Cubs outfielder Matt Szczur, and I've got him No. 44 on my personal Top 50 right now... Navin (Pasadena, CA): With Brett Jackson scuffling at AA, would you rate Szczur or Baez (when he signs) as the Cubs top prospect? Thank you! Jim Callis: Jackson was off to a very good start before he got hurt. I'd still give him the nod over Szczur, but it's close. I'd go Jackson, Szczur, Baez for now. Nils (Stamford): Hi Jim, Austin Kirk's no hitter this week seemed to put his already good season on the radar. Is he this good or are we looking at more a case of smoke and mirrors? Jim Callis: Nice accomplishment, but I still see him more as a reliever in the majors. He's 21, which isn't young for low A, he's not very projectable at 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds, and his stuff is fringy to average. He's lefthanded and throws strikes, which helps. Tom (Chicago): The Cubs have yet to sign any of their top 15 draft picks. What are your thoughts? Are they signing them to overslot bonuses which is holding up the announcements? Jim Callis: I don't think it means anything--they'll sign their share of their top picks. Rumors are that Zeke DeVoss (third round) is on the verge of signing. None of the early first-rounder has signed yet, so don't worry about Javier Baez, and second-rounder Dan Vogelbach was seeking $1.65 million. Fourth-rounder Tony Zych fell further than expected, so he'll probably be over-slot too.

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In reply to by The Real Neal

Submitted by The Real Neal on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 12:34pm. On Kirk when drafted: "Has overpowering fastball (at least on high school terms) that was clocked at 95 MPH in state semi-finals, as well as a sharp breaking ball and solid change-up." ============================ REAL NEAL: From what I have seen of Austin Kirk over the last three seasons (and I've seen him throw a lot), I would describe him as a curve ball pitcher who uses his fastball to set-up his breaking ball. His curve is definitely a plus-pitch. His fastball is OK, but it's just not a go-to pitch. He uses his change-up against RH hitters, but he is inconsistent with it. Hopefully he can master his change-up and remain a starting pitcher, because he is a horse and has the stamina to throw deep into games. He also is a good hitter (although he won't have a chance to show it until he reaches AA), which is a plus for an N. L. starting pitcher. BTW, Kirk is the 5th-youngest player on the Peoria roster, and if he were to get promoted to Daytona he would be the 5th youngest player with the D-Cubs, too, so don't believe it if you read someplace that he is "not young" for his league. If he had gone to college (he signed an NLI with the U. of Oklahoma) instead of signing with the Cubs out of HS, he would have been eligble for the Rule 4 Draft again for the first time since HS last month, and if he signed he would be at Boise right now.

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In reply to by Arizona Phil

Thanks. I wonder if his fastball is still there, or if he's permanently lost a bit. My dad, who's been constantly frustrated with pitcher's inability to hit in the majors, and I were discussing why pitchers don't better hit this weekend. If it's merely a issue of practice, why don't they practice more? If a team hired a special batting instructor and pitcher, and opened up their park early to get their pitchers more work, what would that cost, maybe $1 million per year. If you could get your pitchers to hit .040 higher - and compare that cost to how much it would cost to sign a .300 hitter versus a .260 hitter, it seems like a pretty good deal.

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In reply to by The Real Neal

Submitted by The Real Neal on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 1:10pm. Thanks. I wonder if his fastball is still there, or if he's permanently lost a bit. My dad, who's been constantly frustrated with pitcher's inability to hit in the majors, and I were discussing why pitchers don't better hit this weekend. If it's merely a issue of practice, why don't they practice more? If a team hired a special batting instructor and pitcher, and opened up their park early to get their pitchers more work, what would that cost, maybe $1 million per year. If you could get your pitchers to hit .040 higher - and compare that cost to how much it would cost to sign a .300 hitter versus a .260 hitter, it seems like a pretty good deal. ============================================= REAL NEAL: An N. L. starting pitcher who can hit gives his team another legitimate bat in the lineup, and that's why I always give a National League starting pitcher added value if he can hit. And that's one of the reasons I have rated Jay Jackson as high as I have the last couple of years. J. Jackson may be the best-hitting pitcher in the minor leagues. And that's why J. Jackson loses much of his value if he is moved to the bullpen. The pitchers at Fitch Park (EXST Cubs, AZL Cubs, etc) take BP about once a week even though they don't hit in games, and there's always a couple of them who can really hit. Most can't, though. And I don't see the ones who can't hit ever showing much improvement. One element of batting a pitcher should be able to master (with practice) is bunting, and yet a lot of pitchers can't lay down a bunt even after spending several seasons in the minor leagues. There is no excuse for that. The Cubs do have a roving minor league infield & bunting instructor, but it doesn't seem to matter.

Somebody sent me an e-mail asking me to post the list of Cubs minor leaguers who have received Drug Suspensions over the years. This is the complete list. CUBS MINOR LEAGUE DRUG SUSPENSIONS SINCE 2005: NOTE: All are PED-related 50-game suspensions unless otherwise noted E. Castillo, A. Reyes, and G. Robles are presently serving their suspensions and are on the Restricted List. 2011: Erick Castillo, C Amalis Reyes, P 2010: Gregorio Robles, OF (2nd time - 100 G) 2009: Wilson Contreras, 3B Eric Martinez, P Gregorio Robles, OF Ramon Reyes, P 2008: Carlos Galvez, P Robert Hernandez, P Jesse Lebron, P Alexander Mejias, 1B Francoris Pineda, P Jhon Rodriguez, P Jose Tineo, P 2007: Scott Taylor, P (Drug of Abuse) 2006: NONE 2005: NOTE: All 2005 suspensions were for 15 games Oscar Bernard, P (ex-C) David Cash, P Robinson Chirinos, 2B Matt Craig, 3B Jesse Medrano, P Kevin Reinking, C Carlos Vasquez, P

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In reply to by QuietMan

I think that article was written by the Cubs P.R. department and handed to Kaplan. Hopefully it's all true...
The Cubs are starting to receive rave reviews from other organizations because of their commitment to spending on amateur signings which is far more more than had been committed under the previous ownership group. In fact, one baseball source says that the Cubs could end up spending more than double what the organization has ever laid out in the amateur ranks.
Other baseball execs are also paying attention to the Cubs willingness to upgrade their farm system both in players and in facilities with one current executive stunned that he saw Tom Ricketts on multiple trips to the Dominican Republic. Another executive put it this way: "The Ricketts family is sure putting their money where their mouth is. They said that they want to build a tremendous farm system and this is the right way to go about doing it. There are a lot of very envious organizations that wish they had the level of commitment that the Cubs do," a former GM who is now a major league scout told me.

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In reply to by springs

Submitted by springs on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 7:16pm. Interesting that Vogelbach might not sign....I was surprised by the pick to begin with (he is very much DH material), so I would assume we had gotten a good idea on what would be needed to sign him prior to the draft. That still may be true, and because of the high demands he likely won't sign til mid-August. But if we do not sign him, that would be quite a poor job by our scouting department. =================================== SPRINGS: The Cubs will get a 2nd round compensation pick in the 2012 Draft (one slot lower than where they picked in the 2nd round in 2011) if Vogelbach does not sign, and the Cubs will get a compensation pick in the 1st round of the 2012 draft (one slot lower than where they selected in the 2011 draft) if #1 pick Javier Baez does not sign. And if #3 pick DeVoss does not sign, the Cubs get a compensation pick between the 3rd & 4th rounds (although DeVoss apparently has signed or will be signing soon). It's failing to sign a #4, #5, #6, etc, that really hurts, because a club doesn't get a mulligan for those picks if they don't sign, and you can usually find some decent prospects (albeit maybe with a wart or two) in the top 20 rounds.

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In reply to by springs

Submitted by springs on Thu, 07/07/2011 - 12:55pm. Exactly...following Ricketts plan doesn't mean drafting players who said they will not sign for any reason, but rather paying higher than slot for players. Of course, because of MLB, this likely would mean a slew of players signing around August 15th. ======================================= SPRINGS: Exactly. Last year the Cubs signed four draft picks on the last day (Ben Wells, Kevin Rhoderick, Casey Harman, and Brian Smith), and I wouldn't be surprised if they end up signing twice as many as that on or just before the 8/15 deadline this year. A number of the Cubs draft picks will likely require an over-slot bonus to sign, and the Commissioner has supposedly asked clubs to not sign draft picks to over-slot bonuses until most of the players who are willing to sign for essentially "slot money" have signed. In the case of Taiwan Easterling, although he got a reported $200K bonus, it can be spread over five seasons because he is a two-sport guy. So it's really a $40K bonus as far as this year is concerned. While it's good to get a player's pro career going as soon as possible, having a player make his pro debut at AZ Instructs is actually not a bad thing. He can get intense instruction from the minor league instructors for about a month without developing any additional bad habits at Boise before he gets there.

Rangers designated Dave Bush. His numbers aren't that awful compared to most of the guys on the Cubs roster. He's making $1 million this season. The Cubs should try and pick him up. His K/BB ratio isn't bad, and his BABIP suggests he might have been a tad unlucky. (Career BABIP is .291, it's .333 this year). But to be honest, if he just pitched like he has for Texas this year it would be an improvement over some of the stiffs we've been running out there. http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bushda01-pitch.shtml He was drafted by Toronto in 2002, does that mean he has ties to Tim Wilken? If Bush was once seen eating pie in New Orleans I would say there would be an excellent chance we go after him.

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In reply to by Rob G.

Sounds familiar. 18 games under and a long half-season to come. Speaking of underproduction, Hayden Simpson started at AZ tonight -- 2.1 ip, 5 H, 5 R, 2BB, 0 K. Perhaps he will recover and become a good pitcher, but what a terrible 1st round pick. I know its extremely early, and I am frustrated from this season at the major league level and lack of development for key minor league players (along with the Garza trade), but Wilken has yet to prove to me that he knows better than others with regard to players. Rather than have Wilken make a first round selection, from now on I'd prefer we just pick a reputable ranking site like Baseball America and select the highest remaining player.

Since Randy Wells is not scheduled to start again until after the All-Star Break, the Cubs should option Randy Wells to the minors (doesn't matter which affiliate, because Wells would not actually leave the team) prior to Thursday's game and recall a bullpen arm (maybe give John Gaub a look) for the last four games prior to the ASB and the first three games after the ASB, and then "recall" Wells to start the game on Sunday 7/17. (Even if Dempster can't make his next start on Saturday and is placed on the 15-day retro to 6/30 with Coleman getting recalled to make the start in Pittsburgh, Dempster will be eligible to be reactivated from the DL on Friday 7/15, and Zambrano will be eligible to reactivated from the DL on Saturday 7/16, with Lopez, Coleman, or Ortiz available to start the game on 7/15 if Dempster can't pitch, and the same three available to start on 7/16 if Zambrano isn't ready to come off the DL). By optioning Wells and recalling a reliever, the Cubs would not waste a roster slot with Wells for the next seven games when they could have an extra bullpen arm around to help out, and being on Optional Assignment for ten days won't affect Wells' MLB Service Time since he would not be optioned for 20 days or more (players who are on Optional Assignment for less than 20 days in a given season get credit for a full season of MLB Service Time).

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In reply to by The Real Neal

Therefore Ronny Cedeno is an all-star. WTF are you talking about? How is Ronny Cedeno relevant to the conversation? It's not just how you play at AAA that gets you a chance to play in the majors, Yup - I am well aware of that. And how is that relevant? but you know that, it's just more of your typical douchebaggery. Look - you made an absurd comparison, implying that Carlos Pena's mlb experience is somehow similar to Bryan LaHair's experience. They are not remotely similar. But you already know that, but it's just more if your typical douchebaggery. But go ahead and keep defending the indefensible.

As I have mentioned before, there are a number of "4-A" players over the years who got a chance and developed into a decent (or sometimes even better) MLB player. It doesn't happen a lot, but it does happen. A couple of recent examples of note among 4-A position players are Ryan Ludwick and Garrett Jones, who were minor league 6YFAs when they signed with MLB clubs (Ryan Ludwick with STL post-2006, and Garrett Jones with PIT post-2008). Ex-Cub RHRP Alberto Alburquerque was a minor league 6YFA when he signed with the Tigers last off-season. Any club could have signed him. The most-famous Cub example is Hall of Famer Hack Wilson, but there have been many, many others over the years who had shorter and less-significant (but still decent) MLB careers after being labeled "career minor leaguer." Again, it doesn't happen a lot, but it does happen often enough that it shouldn't be discounted. One problem with a 4-A guy who fights his way to the big leagues and becomes an established player is that often-times the guy has a relatively short MLB shelf-life. Also, it's serendipitous, so you can't plan for it to happen, and then if it does happen, there is no way to know if what the player does after getting a chance is a fluke or will continue into the next season and beyond. In the case of Bryan Lahair, it wouldn't surprise me one bit if he comes up to the big leagues and plays OK. And if he does he will probably be the off-season roster "place-holder" at 1B (as Micah Hoffpauir was last off-season) until the Cubs acquire a 1B via trade or free-agency (presuming they do).

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.