Tennessee Smokies Release 2013 Opening Day Roster

The Tennessee Smokies released their 2013 Opening Day roster on Tuesday. The Smokies open the season on Thursday, April 4 in Pensacola against the Blue Wahoos. Buddy Bailey will call the shots for the Smokies this season. Jeff Fassero (pitching coach), Desi Wilson (hitting coach) and Carlos Figueroa round out Bailey’s coaching staff. The Smokies’ [...]

Cubs Down on the Farm Report – 03/25/13

Minor League Preview: Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa Good Morning to everyone at the CCO! Today is the last of a three part installment previewing the 2013 minor league season.  We will be discussing each level’s strengths, weaknesses, and things to look for. Please note that the previews are based on current roster assignments and [...]

Baez, Soler and Vitters Among Fourth Round of Cubs Spring Roster Cuts

The Cubs announced the fourth round of spring roster cuts on Sunday. The Cubs sent seven players to minor league camp, and reduced their spring roster to 46 players. The Cubs optioned Jorge Soler to High-A Daytona, where he is expected to begin the season. Josh Vitters and Junior Lake were optioned to Triple-A Iowa [...]

Cubs Hammered Late in Baker’s Spring Debut – Cubs 6, Athletics 12

Spring Training Game Twenty-Five – Cubs (ss) 6, Athletics 12 WP – Sean Doolittle (2-0) LP – Jason Berken (0-1) Save – Mike Ekstrom (1) The Athletics played longball on Sunday afternoon in Phoenix. Oakland hit four home runs, two by Adam Rosales, off Cubs’ pitching on Sunday afternoon and scored 12 runs on 15 [...]

Baez and Soler Among Minor Leaguers Expected to be Sent Down on Monday

The Cubs are expected to announce the fourth round of spring roster cuts on Monday, and both Javier Baez and Jorge Soler will reportedly be among the minor leaguers sent down. Dale Sveum said on Saturday that at least 10 players will be cut from the Cubs’ spring roster, which currently stands at 52 players. Dale [...]

Baez, Soriano and the Cubs Bash the Royals – Cubs 8, Royals 3

Spring Training Game Twenty-Three – Cubs (ss) 8, Royals 3 WP – Hisanori Takahashi (1-1) LP – Bruce Chen (1-1) Save – None While Jeff Samardzija was the story in Las Vegas, the Cubs bats were the show at HoHoKam Park on Saturday afternoon. The Cubs completed the split squad sweep with a spring win [...]

Baez and the Cubs Walk-Off Team Japan – Cubs 7, Team Japan 5

Spring Training Game Twenty-One – Cubs (ss) 7, Team Japan 5 WP – Jensen Lewis (1-0) LP – Tekeru Imamura (0-1) Save – None In what was technically an exhibition game in which none of the stats will count, the Cubs walked off with a win over Team Japan on Friday afternoon at HoHoKam Park. [...]

A Spring Shut Out – Cubs 0, Rockies 2

Spring Training Game Eighteen – Cubs 0, Rockies 2 WP – Jorge De La Rosa (1-1) LP – Edwin Jackson (0-2) Save – Will Harris (2) The Cubs wasted two bases loaded opportunities in the first three innings of Wednesday’s game before the bats went cold. The Cubs were shut out for the first time [...]

Tim Saunders Wins the CCO’s Fan Poll

The results of this year’s minor league fan poll are in … and the 86 players nominated surpassed last year’s poll by 16. With 362 votes cast, it easily outdistanced last season’s total of 236. In the end, infielder/ outfielder Tim Saunders pulled ahead of RHP Dillon Maples, OF Reggie Golden, and a last minute surge by [...]

The Cubs Offense Does the Talking at Salt River Fields – Cubs 7, Diamondbacks 5

Spring Training Game Seventeen – Cubs 7, Diamondbacks 5 WP – Hector Rondon (1-0) LP – David Holmberg (0-1, BS 1) Save – Blake Parker (1) The Cubs posted back-to-back wins for the second time this spring with Monday’s victory over Arizona. The Cubs battled back against the Diamondbacks’ bullpen and scored six of their [...]