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

26 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE, twelve players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors, one player is on the 15-DAY IL, and one player is on the 10-DAY IL

Last updated 4-18-2024
 
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PITCHERS: 13
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Colten Brewer
Ben Brown
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Mark Leiter Jr
Hector Neris 
* Drew Smyly
Jameson Taillon 
Keegan Thompson
* Jordan Wicks

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

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* Michael Busch 
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Christopher Morel
Dansby Swanson
Patrick Wisdom

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Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman 

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Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
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Brennen Davis, OF 
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* Miles Mastrobuoni, INF
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Daniel Palencia, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 
Hayden Wesneski, P 

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Seiya Suzuki, OF

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Caleb Kilian, P 
Julian Merryweather, P
 




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Sol-Era Begins with a Whimper at HoHoKam Park

Submitted by Arizona Phil on
Making his professional debut after signing a reported nine-year $30M contract with the Cubs, Cuban defector Jorge Soler went 0-3 as the DH, and the AZL Mariners pushed across a run in the top of the 12th to edge the AZL Cubs 4-3 in Arizona League action tonight at HoHoKam Park in Mesa.

box score

Soler hit a two-bouncer to the shortstop on a 2-1 pitch leading-off the bottom of the 2nd, a one-bouncer back to the pitcher on the first pitch he saw leading off the bottom of the 5th, and lined-out to the pitcher on a 3-2 pitch with no outs and a runner at 1st in the bottom of the 7th (the runner was doubled off 1st base for a DP) after taking a close 2-2 pitch just off the outside corner for ball three. Soler was removed for a PH in the bottom of the 9th. (He was pre-scheduled to get just three AB in the game and then be replaced).

There is (surprise) a mistake in tonight's "official" milb box score (see link above).

Cubs 2012 1st round Supplemental draft pick RHP Paul Blackburn (selected by the Cubs with 2012 Rule 4 Draft slot #56, the slot awarded to the Cubs when Article XX-B Type "B" FA Carlos Pena signed with TB last off-season) did indeed start the game for the AZL Cubs, but he pitched only one inning (20 pitches - 11 strikes), allowing one run on two hits (both doubles) and a walk. (The second double was a two-out RBI double that was actually a routine pop up that RF Yasiel Balaguert apparently lost in the twilight sky).

Then Cubs 2012 12th round pick RHP Justin Amlung (who is not presently listed in the box score) worked the 2nd & 3rd innings (22 pitches - 14 strikes), allowing a single and no runs, with one strikeout.

Cubs VP of Player Personnel Oneri Fleita was at the game tonight.

Tags
AZL Cubs
Jorge Soler

Comments

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Submitted by Arizona Phil on Fri, 07/20/2012 - 07:28 am

Fri, 07/20/2012 - 5:54am — The E-Man Thanks PHIL. What is it with the scorer over there? Anyway, I guess you would have to literally say it is still a small sample size on Soler. ==================================== E-MAN: The main problem is that the official scorer has to call the Minor League Baseball HQ every half-inning by phone to verbally recite the play-by-play from the previous inning so it can be posted on the milb.com web-site, and this recitation often spills-over into the start of the next half-inning, and so the official scorer misses lineup changes and sometimes even game action because he isn't paying attention. Why they do it this way, I have no idea. There was even one game where the box score did not show a run scoring in the top of the 9th (the run did not have a bearing on who won the game, but still the runner did plainly and clearly score). I don't know how the scorer missed that one, but he did. One thing I would say about Soler's debut was that he appeared very antsy in the dugout between ABs. Maybe it would have been better for him if he had played RF instead of being the DH in his first pro game. As it was, Soler tried to find things to do when he wasn't hitting, like playing catch with RF Yasiel Balaguert (Soler's buddy from the Cuban Junior National Team) when Balaguert was warming up prior to the start of the top of each inning, and jogging up & down the RF foul area to stay loose between innings.

Submitted by Jace on Fri, 07/20/2012 - 07:31 am

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120720&content_id=35… Reading this article makes me wonder how much thought goes into how prospects might get along when they are thinking about draft picks. Obviously, it shouldn't come too much into play, unless the guy is a notorious d-bag, but in this case, it strikes me as a real positive that the biggest international signing made this year and the club's top pick have so much in common...

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Submitted by johann on Fri, 07/20/2012 - 07:57 am

For the most part, I doubt comes into play, but I imagine Soler is under a lot of pressure to succeed with the added stress of not speaking the language of his teammates and being in such a different culture. It's gotta be nice for him to actually be around someone he likes. I think sometimes we lose focus on how difficult it's gotta be actually being a defector trying to succeed in such a high pressure environment.

Submitted by QuietMan on Fri, 07/20/2012 - 07:02 am

Blue Jays acquired LHP J.A. Happ, RHPs Brandon Lyon and David Carpenter from the Astros in exchange for OF Ben Francisco, RHPs Francisco Cordero, Asher Wojciechowski and Joe Musgrove, LHP David Rollins and C Carlos Perez. per Rotoworld.

Submitted by Cubster on Fri, 07/20/2012 - 07:12 am

per mlbtr...Jonathan Sanchez (who was DFA'd) to the Rockies for Jeremy Guthrie (to KC). I wonder what went wrong with Sanchez, but I doubt Colorado will cure that. ugly for ugly trade. Guthrie, 33, posted a 6.35 ERA with 4.5 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9 in Colorado. He allowed a league-leading 21 home runs in 90 2/3 innings. He earns $8.2MM this year.

Submitted by crunch on Fri, 07/20/2012 - 07:05 pm

hooooooooooooly crap. tim mccarver without "tv makeup" on REALLY shows his age. i mean...wow. he was being interviewed on a WGN piece about R.Santo's HOF induction. he barely looked like the person most of us know.

Submitted by Cubster on Fri, 07/20/2012 - 07:45 pm

Former Cub farmhand, Lefty Donnie Veal enters the game in the 8th for the WSux. Men on 1st-2nd, 1 out. K's Ryan Rayburn and Alex Avilla. Tigers ahead 4-2. I don't like the WSox but do hope Veal succeeds.

Submitted by QuietMan on Sat, 07/21/2012 - 07:24 am

Okay, so maybe she's not the best baseball sourse out there. But still... peggy kusinski‏@peggykusinski Hearing holdup of #Cubs #Dempster to #Dodgers could be his desire for a 2 year extension... Wait & see! @nbcchicago http://twitter.com/peggykusinski/status/226662971743539200 Now this from Rosenthal: Ken Rosenthal‏@Ken_Rosenthal Source: #Dodgers "very unlikely" for #Cubs' Dempster. Prefer not to trade better prospects for rentals. Garza (thru 13) more logical target.

Submitted by Cubster on Sat, 07/21/2012 - 07:39 pm

http://muskat.mlblogs.com/ Muskat Ramblings...including:
The Dodgers haven’t given up on landing Ryan Dempster, although the tone of rumors cooled noticeably Saturday...Meanwhile, the Dodgers reportedly are refusing to deal pitching prospect Zack Lee for Dempster because Dempster would essentially be a two-month rental as an upcoming free agent and the Dodgers invested $5.25 million to sign Lee in 2010...The Cubs are believed to be holding out for Lee.
Dustin Geiger hit his ninth home run and Taiwan Easterling hit his fourth in Peoria’s 9-6 win over Western Michigan. Javier Baez extended his hitting streak to 15 games, and Geiger and Easterling each finished with two hits.
Rock Shoulders went 4-for-4, including his fifth home run...
Jorge Soler was scheduled to start in the outfield Saturday for the Cubs’ Mesa Rookie League team in his second pro game.
(I eagerly await Az Phil's report on Soler in the OF)

Submitted by crunch on Sat, 07/21/2012 - 07:56 pm

8 run bottom 7th...and counting...2 out...ugg. ...make that 9 runs ...make that 10 runs ...make that 12 runs (7 doubles this inning, 1 triple) 61 pitches, 4 pitchers...and it's finally f'n over. 12 runs ties franchise records for the most runs scored in an inning for STL, as well as most runs given up in an inning for CHC.

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Submitted by Jumbo on Sat, 07/21/2012 - 07:22 pm

Posted this on another site earlier, here's my comments from tonight's Peoria game: I went tonight with my family and had to leave after the 5th, so I managed to see Baez homer, single, and triple. Zapata was in left and had a good at bat with an RBI opposite field single. I'll probably go tomorrow and Monday, too. A few notes: Baez: First inning, first pitch HR to dead center out of the park. The fence is (guessing) 12' tall and the batters eye is probably 20' tall above the fence. 405' to center field and it cleared it easily. Second at bat he took a few pitches and eventually went back up the middle for a single. He made a delayed steal of second, the catcher's throw was to the 3rd base side of the bag, but had it been accurate would have made it a close play. The throw went into CF and Baez moved over to 3rd. Third at bat he went with the pitch and hit the wall on the fly (maybe 5' shy of another homer) in right center. He was looking triple all the way and slid into third head first, though he could have went in standing up. He was eventually stranded at third, but he put continuous pressure on the catcher by starting for home on every ball in the dirt. I'm not sure if there was a ball hit to him while I was watching, but in the 4th he chased a blooper/pop-up into left center and caught it on the run over his shoulder. Both outfielders were running at him and he never quit running to get to it. Very impressive play. It was obvious that he was by far the best player on the field tonight. The opposing pitcher was nothing special, throwing 89-90 mostly. Cates: He looked to have a very deliberate delivery/motion, even in warmups. That said, he didn't look like he was max-effort guy. The first inning really screwed him with two errors (a throwing error by Darvill at third and a fielding error by DeVoss with the bases loaded). He threw a lot of pitches that inning. He was 90-92 throughout. Also threw a 73 mph curve and I believe a 81 mph change up. Shafer: 2 K's in his first inning of work. Looked very fluid/loose compared to Cates. DeVoss and Zapata both showed a good plate approach, taking a lot of pitches and eventually making solid contact. Darvill hit the hardest non-Baez ball of the night. He continues to intrigue me, but his odds seem slim of getting to MLB level. If any questions or requests for what to look for tomorrow/Monday, let me know.

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Submitted by Charlie on Sat, 07/21/2012 - 07:56 pm

I'm psyched about Baez so far, too, but let's not jump the gun. Remember, this is what Corey Patterson did in the Midwest League in his age 19 season: .320/.358/.592 20 HR 17 3B 35 2B 33 SB. So far I'll give Baez that he's having a great season, that the reports on his bat speed are glowing, and that he is apparently extremely competitive and driven. He'll clearly be the Cubs #1 prospect going into next year. But "real deal" is a title he'll have to earn by repeating (or improving upon, especially in the area of plate discipline) this performance as he proceeds through the system.

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Submitted by WISCGRAD on Sun, 07/22/2012 - 07:09 am

In many ways, Patterson was the real deal. He was the youngest player in the majors when he made his debut at age 20 in 2000. He has played in over 1,200 games, has played solid CF defense (career .987 fielding percentage), stolen bases at a solid clip--218 stolen bases with 64 CS (77%)--and hit for some power (career .400 slugging percentage) Patterson was rushed, probably had some bad managing, hit some injuries, and also ran into some tough luck/timing. When I look back, I think we ended up seeing the worst Corey Patterson. That was the Corey Patterson that flamed out, and he still has played in 1200+ big league games. You give me another Midwest League Corey Patterson today, and I take him in a heartbeat. I figure like he has a 1/3 chance of being a serviceable bench guy/spot starter at worst, probably a 1/3 chance of being a Mike Cameron good defense/decent power/decent speed guy, and probably a 1/3 chance of being a Bobby Bonds/Cesar Cedeno type all-star speed-power guy.

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Submitted by Old and Blue on Sun, 07/22/2012 - 07:58 am

When I watched Patterson play I saw a natural athlete, but I didn't really see a baseball player. He seemed to have absolutely no instincts for the game. He had a horrible vision of the strike zone, flailing away at anything low and away in a waythat made the early Shawon Dunston look like a master of the strike zone. His outfield play was pretty poor, with bad routes and no apparent ability to know how and when to hit a cutoff man. His base running was poor. I don't know how much of that has changed since leaving the Cubs. He's managed to cling to a job somewhere all this time, and the guy deserves some credit for perseverance. It has to be tough hearing about what a great star you'd be and end up with a career line like he has. I get the sense that Baez doesn't lack those same baseball instincts. It would be interesting to hear AZ's take on that, however.

Submitted by Cubster on Sun, 07/22/2012 - 07:00 am

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/13919835-573/matt-garza-le…
Garza, who has a screw near his elbow from a childhood injury, went on the DL for 21/2 weeks last season with tightness in the same area. It was diagnosed as a bone contusion. ‘‘Anything to do with your elbow area as a pitcher, you get nervous,’’ he said. ‘‘I’m still young. I wanted to take the precaution, so I said something. Usually I wouldn’t say anything and go out there and muscle up.’’ Manager Dale Sveum said Garza would be evaluated again in the next couple days to determine his status for his scheduled start Friday against the Cardinals at home. Garza, who said he had trouble fully extending his elbow after the third inning, didn’t sound especially certain. ‘‘I’m more of an optimist,’’ he said. ‘‘I hope so. I hate missing starts. ‘‘I don’t know how it happened. I’m just pissed off and frustrated because it felt like I was throwing the ball well.’’

Submitted by QuietMan on Sun, 07/22/2012 - 07:45 am

Quote from a Cafardo article: “Some of the demands out there are ludicrous,” said one NL adviser. “We asked about a lefty pitcher and they asked us for our best pitching, best hitting, and a couple of other established players. I said, ‘Are you kidding me?’ That’s why I’m thinking despite all the talking, I’m not sure much is going to get done.” ------------------------------------------- Francisco Liriano, Wandy Rodriguez, Jason Vargas, Paul Maholm? Or probably Cole Hamels.

Submitted by Cubster on Sun, 07/22/2012 - 07:12 am

more sourpuss from the Cafardo Sunday Baseball notes:
7. Matt Garza, RHP, Cubs — Is he really what the Red Sox want? Garza has only pitched seven or more innings five times in 18 starts, has allowed 7.9 hits per nine innings, and came out of Saturday night’s game with cramping in his right triceps. He’s also allowed 15 home runs, and occasionally has the yips while throwing to bases. He’s 5-7 with a 4.02 ERA, but did pitch very well July 15, in which he went seven innings, allowed five hits, one walk, and struck out seven. Garza has a year remaining on his contract after this season. The Cubs could be interested in Daniel Bard. Theo Epstein, Jed Hoyer, and Jason McLeod obviously have a strong history with Bard.
http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2012/07/22/trades-may-involve-sticker…

Submitted by Cubster on Sun, 07/22/2012 - 07:45 pm

len/bob said the Garza update is that "it's not a DL-able injury" also Beliveau, when he gets into a game will be his mlb debut. otherwise, bad Travis Wood on the mound today. 0-4 and just got out of the 1st.

Recent comments

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    Indeed they do TJW!

    For the record I’m not in favor of solely building a team through paying big to free agents. But I’m also of the mind that when you develop really good players, get them signed to extensions that buy out a couple years of free agency, including with team options. And supplement the home grown players with free agent splashes or using excess prospects to trade for stars under team control for a few years. Sort of what Atlanta does, basically. Everyone talks about the dodgers but I feel that Atlanta is the peak organization at the current moment.

    That said, the constant roster churn is very Rays- ish. What they do is incredible, but it’s extremely hard to do which is why they’re the only ones frequently successful that employ that strategy. I definitely do not want to see a large market team like ours follow that model closely. But I don’t think free agent frenzies is always the answer. It’s really only the Dodgers that play in that realm. I could see an argument for the Mets too. The Yankees don’t really operate like that anymore since the elder Steinbrenner passed. Though I would say the reigning champions built a good deal of that team through free agent spending.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    The issue is the Cubs are 11-7 and have been on the road for 12 of those 18.  We should be at least 13-5, maybe 14-4. Jed isn't feeling any pressure to play anyone he doesn't see fit.
    But Canario on the bench, Morel not at 3B for Madrigal and Wisdom in RF wasn't what I thought would happen in this series.
    I was hoping for Morel at 3B, Canario in RF, Wisdom at DH and Madrigal as a pinch hitter or late replacement.
    Maybe Madrigal starts 1 game against the three LHSP for Miami.
    I'm thinking Canario goes back to Iowa on Sunday night for Mastrobuoni after the Miami LHers are gone.
    Canario needs ABs in Iowa and not bench time in MLB.
    With Seiya out for a while Wisdom is safe unless his SOs are just overwhelmingly bad.

    My real issue with the lineup isn't Madrigal. I'm not a fan, but I've given up on that one.
    It's Tauchman getting a large number of ABs as the de factor DH and everyday player.
    I didn't realize that was going to be the case.
    We need a better LH DH. PCA or ONKC need to force the issue in about a month.
    But, even if they do so, Jed doesn't have to change anything if the Cubs stay a few over .500!!!

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Totally depends on the team and the player involved. If your team’s philosophy is to pay huge dollars to bet on the future performance of past stars in order to win championships then, yes, all of the factors you mentioned are important.

    If on the other hand, if the team’s primary focus is to identify and develop future stars in an effort to win a championship, and you’re a young player looking to establish yourself as a star, that’s a fit too. Otherwise your buried within your own organization.

    Your comment about bringing up Canario for the purposes of sitting him illustrates perfectly the dangers of rewarding a non-performing, highly paid player over a hungry young prospect, like Canario, who is perpetually without a roster spot except as an insurance call up, but too good to trade. Totally disincentivizing the performance of the prospect and likely diminishing it.

    Sticking it to your prospects and providing lousy baseball to your fans, the consumers and source of revenue for your sport, solely so that the next free agent gamble finds your team to be a comfortable landing spot even if he sucks? I suppose  that makes sense to some teams but it’s definitely not the way I want to see my team run.

    Once again, DJL, our differences in philosophy emerge!

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    That’s just kinda how it works though, for every team. No team plays their best guys all the time. No team is comprising of their best 26 even removing injuries.

    When baseball became a business, like REALLY a business, it became important to keep some of the vets happy, which in turn keeps agents happy and keeps the team with a good reputation among players and agents. No one wants to play for a team that has a bad reputation in the same way no one wants to work for a company that has a bad rep.

    Don’t get me wrong, I hate it too. But there’s nothing anyone can do about it.

    On that topic, I find it silly the Cubs brought up Canario to sit as much as he has. He’s going to get Velazquez’d, and it’s a shame.

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    Of course, McKinstry runs circles around $25 million man Javier Baez on that Tigers team. Guess who gets more playing time?

    But I digress…

  • Sonicwind75 (view)

    Seems like Jed was trying to corner the market on mediocre infielders with last names starting with "M" in acquiring Madrigal, Mastroboney and Zach McKinstry.  

     

    At least he hasn't given any of them a Bote-esque extension.  

  • Childersb3 (view)

    AZ Phil:
    Rookie ball (ACL) starts on May 4th. Do yo think Ramon and Rosario (maybe Delgado) stay in Mesa for the month of May, then go to MB if all goes "solid"?
     

  • crunch (view)

    masterboney is a luxury on a team that has multiple, capable options for 2nd, SS, and 3rd without him around.  i don't hate the guy, but if madrigal is sticking around then masterboney is expendable.

  • TarzanJoeWallis (view)

    I THINK I agree with that decision. They committed to Wicks as a starter and, while he hasn’t been stellar I don’t think he’s been bad enough to undo that commitment.

    That said, Wesneski’s performance last night dictates he be the next righty up.

    Quite the dilemma. They have many good options, particularly in relief, but not many great ones. And complicating the situation is that the pitchers being paid the most are by and large performing the worst - or in Taillon’s case, at least to this point, not at all.

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Wesneski and Mastrobuoni to Iowa

    Taillon and Wisdom up

    Wesneski can't pitch for a couple of days after the 4 IP from last night. But Jed picked Wicks over Wesneski.

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