The I-Cubs will receive a little boost for Tuesday’s game with the additions of C Kyle Schwarber and RHP Neil Ramirez to the roster.
The Cubs optioned C Kyle Schwarber to Iowa following Sunday’s game as planned. Schwarber boarded a plane for Des Moines while the big league team flew to Chicago to host the Dodgers for four days before going to St. Louis and New York.
RHP Neil Ramirez is expected to have his rehab transferred from Double-A Tennessee to Triple-A Iowa. Ramirez will report to Principal Park Tuesday to continue his rehab as he nears a return to the Cubs’ bullpen.
Before he helped the Cubs beat the Twins, Kyle Schwarber said he was grateful for the opportunity and he feels like he learned a lot in a short time, including the preparation it takes to compete at the highest level.
Joe Maddon said that he is proud of the way Schwarber handled his brief call-up, or pit stop between Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa as Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer labeled it.
Schwarber said all of the right things. He is not disappointed he was optioned to Iowa and thanked his teammates for letting him play with them. Schwarber is expected in Iowa’s starting lineup Tuesday at Principal Park against Omaha. The I-Cubs are off Monday.
Kyle Schwarber finished his first six games in the big league going 8-for-22 with a triple, a home run, a walk, eight strikeouts, six runs scored, six RBI and 13 total bases.
Neil Ramirez
RHP Neil Ramirez made his second rehab appearance Sunday for the Smokies. And according to reports from the park, Ramirez threw the ball extremely well.
Ramirez struck out the side in the seventh inning on 16 pitches, 12 for strikes. In two rehab outings for the Smokies, Ramirez has not allowed a hit or walked a batter while striking out three of the six batters he has faced.
According to a report from Carrie Muskat, Neil Ramirez will report to Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday to continue to his rehab assignment. Ramirez “could be close to joining the Cubs.”
Ian Happ
The Cubs’ first round draft pick has gotten off to a good start. Ian Happ started in center field and batted third for the third straight game Sunday. Eugene ended up on the wrong end of a 9-8 game.
Ian Happ went yard for the second time in as many games.
In three games, Happ is 4-for-13 (.308/.400/.846/1.246) with a double, two home runs, two walks and three strikeouts.
Mike Olt
Mike Olt batted third and played third for the Smokies Sunday, his third rehab game in as many days. Olt just missed a home run in his first at bat was 1-for-3 on the afternoon with a double, two runs scored, two walks and two strikeouts.
Mike Olt is 4-for-9 in three rehab games with two doubles, a triple, three walks and four strikeouts.
Billy McKinney
OF Billy McKinney stayed hot in Sunday’s 9-2 win over the Mississippi Braves. McKinney was 1-for-3 with a double, a walk, two RBI and a run scored.
McKinney doubled to right and plated Mike Olt, it was his ninth hit in 11 at bats (single, single, double, single, single, double, home run, single, flyout, pop out, double). McKinney drove in Olt again with a sac fly in the sixth inning.
Over his last 17 games, Billy McKinney is batting .309/.369/.527 with six doubles, two home runs, seven walks and five strikeouts for a .897 OPS.
Buster’s Top 10
A week after slipping to No. 9 on Buster Olney’s power rankings, the Cubs did not crack the top 10. The Cubs went 3-3 in the six games during the week, 3-2 on the five-game, two-city trip in American League parks.
Buster Olney’s top 10: Cardinals, Royals, Astros, Rays, Pirates, Giants, Dodgers, Yankees, Blue Jays and Orioles.
News, Notes and Rumors
• The Cubs have not provided a timetable on when Jorge Soler will begin a rehab assignment. Soler “did some agility work on the field” prior to Sunday’s game and was scheduled to hit in the batting cage.
• Following Sunday’s game, Jason Hammel tweeted, “Two numbers: 4-9. Wow. Jake Arrieta. That about sums it up I would think. #dontworryfellasigotthis #Whiff #FathersDay #LetGo #Cubs.”
• LHP Cole Hamels threw his scheduled bullpen Sunday. Hamels said everything went fine as expected. Hamels missed his start last Friday with a mild right hamstring strain. He is slated to make his next start Wednesday in New York.
• Ken Rosenthal examined the trade between the Braves and Diamondbacks that was announced Saturday night in which Atlanta bought another young arm.
• Dexter Fowler’s daughter really enjoyed his Grand Slam.
• Chris Coghlan has become an unheralded contributor for the Cubs according to Comcast SportsNet.
• ESPN Chicago reported Jake Arrieta’s rebound performance shuts down the Twins.
And last, but not least, Joe Maddon continued stating a case for Anthony Rizzo to be on the NL All-Star squad. After Sunday’s game Maddon said, “He’s gotta be on the All-Star team. Put him at shortstop, I don’t care. He needs to be on the team.”
This Day In Cubstory
2013 – Rockies purchased Hisanori Takahashi from the Cubs
2002 – Joe Girardi announced to the crowd at Wrigley Field that Darryl Kile had been found dead in his hotel room and the game between the Cubs and Cardinals would not be played that afternoon.
1993 – Cubs signed free agent Mike Walker
1990 – Cubs signed free agent Mike Clear
1982 – Jason Motte, born
1980 – Cubs signed free agent Bill Landrum
1971 – Brant Brown, born
1966 – Cubs purchased Curt Simmons from the Cardinals
1966 – Cubs traded Billy Cowan to the Phillies for Norm Gigon
1926 – Cardinals selected Grover Cleveland Alexander off waivers from the Cubs
1912 – Cubs beat the Cardinals 10-2 behind five RBI from Heinie Zimmerman. The Great Zim hit two doubles, a triple and a single.
1914 – Jim Asbell, born
1902 – Jack Taylor went the entire way in a 3-2 win over the Pirates in 19 innings at West Side Grounds. Bobby Lowe drove in the game winner. Pirates’ starter Deacon Phillipe also pitched a complete game, but took the loss.