While the Cubs are searching for a way to salvage their season and right the ship, there have been several interesting news reports to come out and some tidbits worth mentioning. First, the Cubs have not announced the roster move necessary to have Jae Kuk Ryu pitch on Sunday; the move should be announced soon. Will it be Roberto Novoa or Michael Wuertz optioned back to Iowa?
Several reports out of Chicago on Saturday stated that Jim Hendry will stick with Dusty Baker through this stretch and see what he can do once the team is at full strength. There were also some interesting reports about Micah Hoffpauir and a first baseman in the Colorado Rockies organization by the name of Ryan Shealy….
Updated – 12:19pm C.T. with Roster Move – Ryu Called Up – Wuertz Optioned After a 3 for 4 night on Friday against the Nashville Sounds, Micah Hoffpauir added a 1 for 3 night on Saturday that included another home run. Hoffpauir has hit safely in 5 of his 8 games with the Iowa Cubs that includes a double, 4 home runs and 6 RBI’s. This season in 48 games with the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx and the Iowa Cubs, Hoffpauir has 14 home runs, 37 RBI’s, is 47-170 (.276) and has struck out 38 times. With the I-Cubs, he is hitting .310 with a .300 OBP and a .655 SLG.
According to a report on Saturday in the Denver Post, the Cubs are among a few teams that have inquired about a trade for AAA first baseman Ryan Shealy. The Cubs are offering low-level prospects and the Colorado Rockies are holding out for more. Shealy was drafted twice by the Rockies, once in 1998 and again in 2002, the 26-year old right hander hit .330 in 36 games last season with the Rockies with 2 home runs, 16 RBI’s, a .413 OBP and a .473 SLG. In 22 games this season with the Colorado Spring Sky Sox he is hitting .325 with 7 home runs and 20 RBI’s with a .385 OBP and a .651 SLG. He is on Colorado’s 40-man roster and has not played with the Rockies this season. He hit 26 home runs with the Sky Sox last season and was the team’s MVP. Shealy missed the first month of the season with an elbow injury….with Todd Helton a cornerstone for the Rockies at first base and Carlos Rivera, another first base prospect for the Rockies, there is a logjam at that position in the organization. Here are Ryan Shealy’s stats from the Baseball Cube.
Did anyone notice that Jim Hendry mentioned speaking with Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman on Saturday while he was being interviewed on Fox?
During the Braves remarkable run of 14 straight Division Titles, the Cubs home attendance has averaged 8,000 more per game home game than the Braves.
On a personal note, while writing this article the movie ‘Major League’ was on Comedy Central. Is there anything or anyone that can spark the Cubs like the Charlie Sheen led Cleveland Indians? Where is Joboo when you need him?
Well that’s the news (and tidbits) and I’m sticking to it….
Update – The Cubs optioned Michael Wuertz to AAA Iowa to make room on the active roster for Jae Kuk Ryu