March 2010 Archives

Game Twenty-Nine - Cubs (ss) 0 Angels 11
WP - Jered Weaver (1-1) LP - Carlos Zambrano (1-2) Save - None

Game Thirty - Cubs (ss) 7 Brewers 12
WP - Zach Braddock (2-0) LP - Alex Maestri (0-1, BS 1) Save - None

As the Spring Training cliché goes, the Cubs got their work in on Wednesday ... and that was about all.

The Cubs lost the "A-Team" game at HoHoKam Park to the Angels. A starting lineup full of regulars was held to one-hit over the first eight innings. The Angels pitching staff, led by Jered Weaver, dominated the Lou Piniella's crew. Xavier Nady managed the only hit until Russ Canzler singled in the ninth. While the Cubs could not reach base, the Angels "B-Team" took batting practice against the Cubs staff.

Carlos Zambrano allowed four runs on six hits in four innings with two walks and three strikeouts. Mike Napoli hit a long two-run homer off Zambrano in the first inning ... and the Angels offense never looked back. Of the six pitchers Piniella ran out, Sean Marshall was the only one that did not allow at least a run.

While the Lou's crew was struggling in Mesa, the split squad led by Alan Trammell took a 6-4 lead into the eighth against the Brewers. Tyler Colvin doubled in a run in his 2-for-4 afternoon and Chad Tracy ended up with two singles in four trips to the plate. But Alex Maestri, a call-up from minor league camp, could not hold the lead in the eighth.

After a perfect seventh, Maestri struggled in the eighth. The Brewers sent 13 to the plate and scored eight runs against Maestri, Brian Schlitter and Ryan Butcher.

With the split-squad losses, the Cubs spring record slipped to 16-11-3 ... with only three games remaining on the Cactus League schedule.

Spring Training Game Twenty-Nine: Cubs (ss) (16-9-3) vs. Angels (9-14-4)
Game Time - 3:05pm CDT
Coverage - TV: None - Radio: MLB.com (Angels Feed)
Location - HoHoKam Park, Mesa

Carlos Zambrano (1-1, 3.15/1.15) vs. Jered Weaver (0-1, 8.03/2.11)

Spring Training Game Thirty: Cubs (ss) (16-9-3) vs. Brewers (13-13-2)
Game Time - 3:05pm CDT
Coverage - TV: None - Radio: MLB.com (Brewers Feed)
Location - Maryvale Baseball Park, Maryvale

TBA (0-0, -.--/-.--) vs. Yovani Gallardo (2-1, 5.29/1.35)

It is the Cubs last split-squad day of the spring. Carlos Zambrano and company will stay at home and face the Angels while a roster full of call-ups from minor league camp will travel to Maryvale.

Carlos Zambrano is expected to throw no more than three or four innings this afternoon in his last outing before Opening Day.

Xavier Nady is expected to play in the outfield on Wednesday. One report indicated Nady would play in a minor league game at Fitch Park while another one said Nady would suit up for the game against the Angels.

In other news ... Ted Lilly pitched three scoreless innings in a minor league game on Tuesday. Lilly threw 45 pitches and will make his final start in Arizona on Sunday. Lilly will begin his rehab stint, likely with the Daytona Cubs, next week.

This guy can bring the heat.

Andrew Cashner was the Chicago Cubs first round (19th overall pick) in the 2008 draft. The 6'5", 185 pound right-handed Texan turned 23 last September 11. Andrew Cashner features a mid-90's fastball (that can touch 97-98 mph) and a plus slider (at 87-88 mph) in his arsenal. Cashner was dominant for TCU (Texas Christian University) after switching to the closer's role. He was projected as a top-tier reliever, who might be able to make it as a starter in the majors. Baseball America listed Cashner as the fourth best prospect in the Cubs' system and the 95th best prospect in all of baseball.

Game Twenty-Eight - Cubs 5 Giants 3
WP - Tom Gorzelanny (2-1) LP - Guillermo Mota (1-1) Save - John Grabow (2)

The Cubs made a tough decision on Tuesday and chose Chad Tracy over Kevin Millar for the final spot on the Opening Day roster. Tracy came off the bench in relief of Derrek Lee and in his only at bat lifted the Cubs to a 5-3 victory over the Giants.

With the game tied at three with two outs in the eighth, Guillermo Mota replaced Dan Runzler. Tyler Colvin (2-for-4 with a triple, a run scored and a RBI) reached on a single to center. Chad Tracy followed and launched a two-run homer to center ... 5-3 Cubs.

Carlos Marmol and John Grabow closed out the last game of the spring for the Giants at Scottsdale Stadium.

Tom Gorzelanny put together a solid outing in his last start of the spring. Gorzelanny pitched seven innings and allowed three runs on eight hits with two strikeouts and no walks. Mark DeRosa hit a two-run homer off Gorzelanny in the fourth ... the big blow of the afternoon for the Giants. During the regular season, Gorzelanny would have been credited with a quality start.

Tyler Colvin was in the middle of the action in the Cubs' two-run third inning. Ryan Theriot singled home Mike Fontenot with two outs then scored on Tyler Colvin's triple to center.

Four of the Cubs' five runs were scored with two outs.

With the win, the Cubs improved to 16-9-3 on the spring. Just five games remain on the Cubs' Cactus League schedule.

According to reports from the Sun-Times and Tribune, Chad Tracy received the Cubs' final roster spot on Tuesday ... over Kevin Millar.

Jim Hendry said it was a "tough decision" to release Kevin Millar.

The Cubs also optioned Sam Fuld and Micah Hoffpauir to Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday.

Spring Training Game Twenty-Eight: Cubs (15-9-3) vs. Giants (20-9)
Game Time - 3:05pm CDT
Coverage - TV: None - Radio: MLB.com (Giants Feed)
Location - Scottsdale Stadium, Scottsdale

Tom Gorzelanny (1-1, 3.07/1.36) vs. Todd Wellemeyer (3-0, 1.35/1.20)

Counting this afternoon's contest in Scottsdale against the Giants, only six Spring Training games remain on the Cubs 2010 Cactus League Schedule.

Derrek Lee, Alfonso Soriano and Aramis Ramirez are all expected back in Lou Piniella's lineup this afternoon. The regulars should get a bulk of the playing time for the remainder of camp and on Friday against the Diamondbacks at Chase Field ... look for the B-team against the Brewers in Maryvale on Wednesday (split squad) and on Saturday at Chase Field.

Expect another record crowd this afternoon for the Chicago Cubs. Today is the final game of the Cactus League for the Giants at Scottsdale Stadium. The Giants are expected to play a majority of their Opening Day lineup in their home finale ... San Francisco is 10-4 in Scottsdale this spring.

According to multiple reports, the Cubs are expected to trim their roster to 25 players on Tuesday ... or early Wednesday. Who will take the final spot on the Cubs roster? Kevin Millar or Chad Tracy? According to a report from Bruce Levine, Millar and Tracy do not have long-term commitments to stay in the minor league deals they signed over the winter.

Sam Fuld and Micah Hoffpauir will begin the year in Iowa with Ryne Sandberg.

Lou Piniella announced the order of his starting rotation on Monday. The Cubs will begin the season with Carlos Zambrano, Ryan Dempster, Randy Wells, Carlos Silva and Tom Gorzelanny.

Ted Lilly pitch in a minor league game on Tuesday. Lilly is expected to throw 45 pitches in his second outing of the spring. After Tuesday, Lilly will increase his pitch count and throw every five days for the next three starts ... if everything goes as planned. 'The Bulldog' will increase his pitch count to 60 on April 4, 75 on April 9 and 90 on April 14.

The Cubs are targeting April 19 (on the road against the Mets) or April 23 (in Milwaukee) as a return date for Ted Lilly.

Here's the rest on decision day ...

Game Twenty-Seven - Cubs 8 Reds 1
WP - Randy Wells (3-0) LP - Carlos Fisher (0-1) Save - None

Lou Piniella's crew began the last week of games in Arizona with a win over division rivals the Cincinnati Reds. It was a bullpen day for the Reds as Dusty Baker used seven different pitchers to get through nine innings ... while Homer Bailey pitched in a minor league game.

Dusty ran out his B-Team of pitchers, but Baker's starting lineup on Monday was similar to the one he will begin the season with next week.

Randy Wells put together a solid outing against Major League hitters. Some outings during the spring a pitcher can pad their stats against players trying to make a team, that was not the case for Wells on Monday at HoHoKam Park.

Wells held the Reds to one run on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings with a walk and five strikeouts. If Lou Piniella had left him in, Wells would have qualified for a 'quality' start.

The bullpen did a good job in relief of Wells. Justin Berg threw only one pitch to close out the sixth. Sean Marshall threw two innings of shutout ball and James Russell allowed only one hit in the ninth. Over the final 3 1/3 innings, Cubs' pitching allowed two hits, one walk and struck out five ... 10 total k's on the afternoon for the Chicago Cubs.

Tyler Colvin drove in the game's first run with a double to center in the first inning. Colvin added another RBI in the seventh and finished the game 1-for-4 with a run scored and two RBI.

Marlon Byrd hit his fourth home run of the spring in the first inning that gave the Cubs a 3-0 lead.

Mike Fontenot and Jeff Baker each hit longballs in the eighth off of Matt Maloney.

With the win on Monday, the Cubs improved to 15-9-3 ... only six more practice games.

Spring Training Game Twenty-Seven: Cubs (14-9-3) vs. Reds (9-12-2)
Game Time - 3:05pm CDT
Coverage - TV: None - Radio: XM Channel 184, MLB.com (Reds Feed)
Location - HoHoKam Park, Mesa

Randy Wells (2-0, 5.68/1.42) vs. Carlos Fisher (0-0, 6.75/2.63)

Lou Piniella's crew opens the 2010 season one week from today in Atlanta. Spring Training is coming to an end and the last available roster spot is supposed to be announced on Tuesday or Wednesday ... Chad Tracy or Kevin Millar will break camp with the Chicago Cubs.

The Cubs play the Reds in Cincinnati during the first weekend of the season. Wells will not face the Reds during that series but do not expect him to show much to Dusty Baker's offense this afternoon.

Derrek Lee is expected back in the starting lineup today after being scratched from Sunday's lineup with a sore foot.

Today, we continue our look at the coaches in the Cubs minor league system. Be sure to check out Part 1 and Part 2 of the series if you haven't yet. So far, the coaches that we've profiled stay with one team throughout the year. There are other coaches in the system, called roving instructors, who travel to all the different affiliates to check in. These guys are the coordinators for their area for the entire organization.