According to a report on Cubs.com, Chad Fox was placed on the 15-day DL following Monday night's win against the Astros with ulnar neuritis. The report indicated Fox "felt some tingling in his right arm from the elbow to his fingers while playing catch Monday." The Cubs recalled Jose Ascanio from Triple-A to take his place in the bullpen.
Here is more on the roster move and other news from the Cubs' farm system....
Jose Ascanio was 1-0 in 17 games for Iowa this season with 9 saves. Ascanio struck out 23 batters and walked 8 in 21 2/3 innings while holding opponents to a .179 batting average.
Minor League News
Rich Hill was placed on the 7-day minor league DL on Monday with back spasms. Hill left his previous start with the Iowa Cubs last Friday with tightness in his back in the 3rd inning. Hill has fallen behind Kevin Hart and Sean Marshall on the Cubs' depth chart according to a report from the Chicago Tribune.
Jason Dubois rejoined the Cubs' organization on Monday after being released by the Washington Nationals on May 18th. Dubois played for the Cubs in 2004 and 2005 before being traded to the Indians for Jody Gerut on July 18, 2005. Dubois was the 14th round pick of the Cubs in 2000.
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Jason DuBois, Hendry's great scouting find!!
Call him up immediately, hes a masher
Only advice for ascanio I have is
THROW STRIKES
Pinella will only be so patient.
Another thought that I had last night watching teh game.
Soto is a god.
At the start of the season I had my reservations about him because I only saw him hit against left handed pitching. Which he did very well. But could he hit right handed too. The answer is yes.
Soto is helped by a very strong lineup with the RBI's. Hits with alot of people on base. But any other lineup he could hit 4th or 5th.
Final thought, Soto is teh Best prospect for the Cubs since Kerry Woods and if he keeps going the way he is, should be the rookie of the year.
Well Neil...here is your chance to root for Ascanio whom I know you like. He has the opportunity to be the guy who takes the mound before Howry when we have the lead. Hope he sticks!
I think he has a good chance to stick, if he throws strikes. Which it looks like he was doing a good job of in the minors.
I know a lot of people aren't big Matt Murton fans here, but the guy is tearing the cover off the ball in iowa. Since our current roster doesn't seem like there's any room for him, I say we trade the guy for another lefty in the 'pen.
Another thought... what do we do with Pie? I think we have 3 options:
1) Play him everyday at the major league level, shrug your shoulders when he strikes out, applaud when he makes spectacular defensive plays, and assume he will hit .200 for the rest of his life.
2) TRADE HIM now while his value is somewhat still high (like bobby hill) and get another starter, reliever, left-handed bat, pinch-runner, WHATEVER it takes to improve this team. I hear San Diego is on the verge of another fire-sale...
3) Let him play out his career in the minors.
I choose option #2.
I say we just sit Soriano's butt down, but Dubois in left, and watch him roll... :)
Murton can be a major leaguer. But he will only be an average player. .270 15hr 70rbi type guy. I like Murton but I don't think he will develop into anything more then he already has shown. So yes, he would be good trade bait.
Pie I don't know. I haven't been much impressed, and I know he's young. But, I haven't seen him even have glimpes of anything. I would be up to trade him if someone wants him. Keep in mind, We have Ty Colvin too. They can't both play center in the future.
Bobby Cox said we would like Ascaino. My guess is that, if it's Ascaino or Fox, we have seen the last of Fox. I'm happy for Fox having one more chance, but I don't understand why he got it. My take has been that somehow it relates to Fox becoming a minor league pitching coach.
Some of the above posts relate to trades. Today, Kevin Towers, the San Diego GM said he is likely soon to make wholesale changes to the Padres roster--because the team has the worst record in baseball. So we likely can get Chris Young (29) as a strong 2-3 righty starter--if we want to and if we think he is a top of the rotation guy. I'd pitch him in the 4 slot until there's a reason to move him up.
Young's contract calls for $4.5 mil, $6.25 mil and $8.5 mil for '09-'11 and the third year is a team option. In his three full years in the bigs he has pitched 517 IN with an ERA of about 3.65, given up 414 hits, walked 186 and struck out 468. At 6' 10", we would have our own big flipper.
Murton, Pie, Hill OR Marshall and Petrick probably gets us Young and a decent prospect like lefty corner OF, Kellen Kulbacki (22)(Hi A). I'm assuming Petrick is healthy, and that he would pick up some of the slack that Hoffman will leave next year. If Petrick isn't healthy, maybe a solid prospect like Russell has to go. Any takers on Young in Cubs blue?
Chris Young's a 6-7 IP solid 3 SP.
His BABIP has led MLB the last 2 years. Pitching in Petco helps.
A double-hit haven like Wrigley plus who-knows how our fielding will become with an aging DeRosa and A-Ram will make him look bad.
I would say trade for Greg Smith (*A's) or some major-ready prospect pitcher to add to our pen.