Talkin’ Cubs Live – Cubs Split Squad – 03/15/11

March 15, 2011 By 31 Comments

Spring Training Game Twenty: Cubs (ss) (8-11) vs. A’s (ss) (7-10)
Game Time – 3:05pm CDT
Coverage – TV: None – Radio: MLB.com Webcast
Location – Phoenix Municipal Stadium, Phoenix

Andrew Cashner (1-1, 4.50/1.65) vs. Brett Anderson (1-1, 6.48/1.56)

Spring Training Game Twenty-One: Cubs (ss) (8-11) vs. Rockies (12-6)
Game Time – 3:05pm CDT
Coverage – TV: None – Radio: Cubs.com Webcast
Location – HoHoKam Park, Mesa

Randy Wells (1-0, 0.00/0.88) vs. Esmil Rogers (0-0, 6.00/1.44)

Updated – 12:12pm CDT – Cubs Announced 18 Roster Cuts Tuesday morning Chris Carpenter, Jay Jackson, Brett Jackson, Josh Vitters, Trey McNutt, Steve Clevenger, Chris Robinson, Bryan LaHair, Marquez Smith, James Adduci, Luis Montanez, Scott Rice and Brad Snyder all received NRIs to big league camp and were reassigned to minor league camp Tuesday. The Cubs also optioned Robert Coello, Rafael Dolis, Kyle Smit, Alberto Cabrera and Thomas Diamond to minor league camp

Today is the last of four split squad days for the Chicago Cubs … and it is an important one. Randy Wells and Andrew Cashner, who are the leaders in the clubhouse to fill the final two spots in the rotation, both pitch this afternoon … Wells in Mesa and Cashner in Phoenix.

After these two games, the Cubs hit the home stretch of the Cactus League schedule. Only 13 games remain with a big second round of roster cuts expected at some point over the next 24 hours.

The Cubs face the Rockies for the second and last time this spring … and an A’s split squad in Phoenix. The other half of Oakland’s roster will face the Royals in Surprise. Spring Training Game Twenty: Cubs (ss) (8-11) vs. A’s (ss) (7-10)
Andrew Cashner vs. Brett Anderson in Phoenix

Andrew Cashner is coming off his only win of the spring. Cashner put together a very good outing in relief of Randy Wells. Cashner gave up only one run (a solo homer by Jayson Nix) in four innings of work.

Cashner has allowed four runs on nine hits with four walks and four strikeouts in eight innings of work.

Brett Anderson has had a rough spring. Anderson has allowed six runs on 10 hits with three walks and 11 strikeouts in 8 1/3 innings. Anderson will make his four appearance of the spring, third start.

The A’s had a rough Monday after they saw their closer Andrew Bailey grab his right elbow and have to leave the game. Bailey is expected to make a follow-up visit to Dr. James Andrews Tuesday.

Spring Training Game Twenty-One: Cubs (ss) (8-11) vs. Rockies (12-6)
Randy Wells vs. Esmil Rogers in Mesa

Randy Wells has not allowed an earned run all spring and reportedly has locked up the fourth spot in the Cubs’ rotation. Wells has been focused all spring but more importantly, he’s thrown strikes.

Wells has allowed one unearned run on six hits with two walks and six strikeouts in nine innings of work. Today will be Wells’ third start, fourth game, of the spring.

Esmil Rogers is competing for the fifth spot in Jim Tracy’s rotation. Rogers will make his four appearance of the spring, third start. Rogers has allowed seven runs, six earned, on 11 hits with two walks and six strikeouts in nine innings. Rogers has also hit a pair of batters and served up a home run.

After Rogers, Matt Belisle, Matt Lindstrom and Huston Street are expected to see action for the Rockies.

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  • http://chicagocubsonline.com/ Neil

    Starting lineup in Mesa:

    Matt Camp – SS
    DeWitt – 2B
    Byrd – CF
    Ramirez – 3B
    Pena – 1B
    Soriano – LF
    Soto – C
    Adduci – RF
    Wells – P

    Note: James Adduci was cut and assigned to minor league camp Tuesday morning

  • http://chicagocubsonline.com/ Neil

    Starting lineup in Phoenix:

    Perez – CF
    Castro – SS
    Baker – 2B
    Colvin – RF
    Max Ramirez – C
    Montanez – LF
    LaHair – 1B
    Smith – 3B
    Brett Jackson – DH

    Note: Montanez, LaHair, Smith and Brett Jackson were cut Tuesday morning and sent to minor league camp

  • http://chicagocubsonline.com/ Neil

    Wells with a 1-2-3 first in Mesa

  • http://chicagocubsonline.com/ Neil

    Wells hit a batter in the second. Wells just sat down the Rockies in order in the third.

    Cubs down 1-0 against the A’s.

  • http://chicagocubsonline.com/ Neil

    In the fifth … Rogers hit sac fly to Soriano in LF, whose throw goes to visitor’s dugout for error, allowing another run to score

  • http://chicagocubsonline.com/ Neil

    Offenses being shutdown again … only 3 total hits in both games.

  • roguesqr09

    Lovely. At least wells is looking good. Though with all the roster cuts, aren’t we sending down the only guys that are coming up with big hits?

  • cubtex

    In 3 1/3 innings Cashner walked 3 and hit a batter. It is a lot different going from the pen to being a starter where you need more than 2 pitches. Hopefully, his command will improve with more work!

  • http://chicagocubsonline.com/ Neil

    Brett Jackson homered and Max Ramirez knocked a go ahead RBI single, Cubs ahead of A’s 2-1 in the sixth.

    In Mesa, Blake DeWitt just committed another error. Cubs down 3-0. Only 3 hits, 2 baserunners for the Cubs in six innings.

    • Dorasaga

      Too bad Brett will leave us tonight with his winner’s bat.

      • http://www.facebook.com/people/Richard-Hood/100000706523521 Richard Hood

        He’ll be back just wait till June/ July. We move Byrd and hand over a CF’s spot for the next 7 to 10 years. Well he may be a corner OF by then if Sczur is what Hendry thinks he is.

        • Dorasaga

          Please don’t tell me what Hendry thinks about the future of the Cubs. That stopped my heart for 0.2 seconds–about how soon would need to react in front of a speeding automobile, whether by the pedal or by the tsunami.

  • http://chicagocubsonline.com/ Neil

    Colvin just homered off A’s pitching, Cubs up 3-1.

    The other half, still being shutout. Berg is on the mound in the 8th.

  • http://chicagocubsonline.com/ Neil

    Welington Castillo just homered in Phoenix. Cubs up 4-1

    • gocubs

      They need to take Castillo with them to Chicago as another bat off the bench and Geo’s backup. Hill has zero upside, and really isnt even that good defensively.

      • gocubs

        Its looking to me like Barney is deserving of the starting job over DeWitt. Does anyone think we are trying to trade him?

        • http://chicagocubsonline.com/ Neil

          Trade DeWitt?

        • http://www.facebook.com/people/Richard-Hood/100000706523521 Richard Hood

          Nope if we trade DeWitt then we are acknowledging that Maddox is not very good at player identification. So Hendry will not move him. But god forbid we even hint that Maddox should stick to pitching and leave player evaluations to the professionals.

      • http://www.facebook.com/people/Richard-Hood/100000706523521 Richard Hood

        No Castillo doesn’t he needs AB’s in AAA. Ramirez needs the back up job. If Hendry thinks that Castillo is ready mark my words Geo will be gone.

  • http://chicagocubsonline.com/ Neil

    Welington Castillo just doubled in two more runs. Cubs up 8-1 over A’s in 9th.

  • GaryLeeT

    Cubs were mounting a furious 9th inning rally against the As. Then, it was up to K. Hill…….WHO LOOKS AT 3 STRAIGHT STRIKES TO END THE GAME!

    • paulcatanese

      What did you expect from Hill? Thats standard procedure for him,and will be all year. If there was a tenth spot in the lineup,thats where he should hit,(and I use that term lightly) . He’s a waste of time to watch,period.

  • http://chicagocubsonline.com/ Neil

    Cubs (ss) beat A’s (ss) 8-1 in Phoenix. Cashner’s line: 1 R, 2 H, 3 BB, 2 K, HBP, 3.1 IP. B.Jackson, Colvin w/ HR, Welington Castillo 2-for-2, 2B, HR, 3 RBI

    Trey McNutt picked up the exhibition win.

  • http://chicagocubsonline.com/ Neil

    Cubs (ss) lose 4-2 to Rockies Tuesday in Mesa. Randy Wells’ line: 3 R, 2 ER, 3 H, BB, 2 K, 5 IP. Cubs offense 8 hits, Steve Clevenger & Jae-Hoon Ha w/ RBI

  • The Maven

    It’s very early, but we may have another player to add to the Angel Pagan-Casey McGehee legacy. Presently, Jake Fox is hitting .341 with 5 Home Runs for the Orioles.

    • Dorasaga

      And I watched a game with J.Fox a few days ago. He could hit.

      Too bad the Cubs directed Lou to bench him to Neverland for the rest of 2009, even when DLee was out a few weeks. Oh, yeah, Jeff Baker was a better first baseman than Fox, that’s why forget about the bat, let’s leave gOld gLove Baker out there as the suber-pub.

      • http://www.facebook.com/people/Richard-Hood/100000706523521 Richard Hood

        Remember he could not catch on with the A’s last year and they had a need for him so lets not get carried away with a strong spring training.

        • The Maven

          Like I said, it’s very early.

        • Dorasaga

          I was talking about first base. While the #s don’t lie, let’s ask ourselves if Baker has ever been above average at 1B.

  • Tony_Hall

    From the CCO Twitter feed –

    (@jimcallisBA) Would be a stretch @tmicmiller: Can Scott Moore play 2B for #Cubs? Lefty bat, w pop, having a good spring..can D stick at 2B? 8 minutes ago

    Wouldn’t that be something, but I doubt JH would ever do it.

    • Aaron

      Offensively at this point, there’s 3 moves that make all too much sense:
      1) Cut Koyie Hill, and replace him with either Castillo or Ramirez
      2) Option DeWitt, and go with Moore, who happens to be left-handed as well, but far more versatile than DeWitt
      3) Go with Matt Camp as your back-up infielder

      There’s no way the Cubs do any of these moves, as it’d require a good amount of common sense (of which NONE exists in Cubs management)