The Cubs had a good weekend in DC and will spend Monday’s off day in Detroit. The Cubs open a two-game series with the Tigers on Tuesday.
The First-Year Player Draft begins Monday night. The Cubs have the ninth pick in the first round and are being linked to several players, including LHP Brady Aiken.
In between discussions about the draft, the Cubs’ brass is expected to address possibly making changes to the big league roster Monday.
Joe Maddon said he would be talking to Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer about “tweaking the roster” for the stretch of Interleague games that begins Tuesday. The Cubs have seven games in American League parks over the next two weeks (two in Detroit, two in Cleveland and three in Minneapolis).
Javier Baez was expected to be part of those conversations before he broke the ring finger on his left hand sliding headfirst into second base Sunday. Baez is out at least four weeks and he could be sidelined for two months.
Maddon did not rule out Kyle Schwarber being called up. Schwarber is not on the Cubs’ 40-man roster, which currently stands at 39 players, and would have to be added to the Major League reserve roster. Schwarber was drafted around this time last year and has been putting up Kris Bryant-like numbers for Double-A Tennessee. Maddon said he thinks Schwarber will be part of the conversations.
Calling Schwarber up at this point of his development would go against how this front office has handled its prospects for the last three years.
ESPN Chicago does not think the Cubs will call-up Kyle Schwarber. Jesse Rogers reported, prior to the Cubs losing Javier Baez as an option that OF Chris Denorfia would likely be the only move the Cubs will make prior to Tuesday’s game in Detroit. In other words, with Denorfia being activated from the DL prior to Sunday’s game, ESPN Chicago is not expecting the Cubs to make another roster move prior to the two-game series with the Tigers.
Injuries are taking its toll on the Cubs and quickly erasing some of the depth the front office has built. The search for offense could lead to calling up Kyle Schwarber earlier than the Cubs had anticipated in the spring. It just doesn’t seem likely based on the way Theo Epstein has gone about player development in the past.
Neil Ramirez, Tommy La Stella and Mike Olt
Joe Maddon provided updates on RHP Neil Ramirez and INF Tommy La Stella prior to Sunday’s game.
Maddon said Ramirez is “inching closer” to beginning a rehab stint while “nothing much has changed” with La Stella.
Neil Ramirez has been on the disabled list since April 17 with right shoulder inflammation. Ramirez has thrown off a mound at the Cubs facility in Mesa.
Tommy La Stella has been dealing with a right cage inflammation/oblique injury since the beginning of the season. La Stella suffered a setback while on a rehab assignment with Double-A Tennessee on May 17. La Stella is not close to going on another rehab assignment.
INF Mike Olt could be getting close to going out on a rehab assignment. Olt tweeted a video of batting practice with the caption, “Another day closer.” Olt is eligible to come off the 60-day DL on June 17 but he would need a time on a minor league rehab before he could be activated from the disabled list.
Buster’s Top 10
The Cubs made it back in Buster Olney’s top 10, even with dropping two of three in Miami. Olney ranked the Cubs No. 10 for the week.
Buster Olney’s top 10: Cardinals, Dodgers, Astros, Giants, Twins, Rangers, Royals, Pirates, Yankees and Cubs.
The Cubs will spend the off-day five games above .500 after a 4-3 week through Miami and Washington DC.
Carl Edwards Jr.
Carl Edwards Jr. pitched a scoreless inning out of Iowa’s bullpen on Sunday. Edwards did not give up a hit but he issued a free pass and struck out two batters.
In three outings for Triple-A Iowa, Edwards Jr. has allowed three runs on three hits with four walks and five strikeouts in four innings (6.75 ERA, 1.75 WHIP).
The Des Moines Register talked to Edwards Jr. about why he asked to be called by his given name and the changes he has made pitching out of the bullpen this season.
News, Notes and Rumors
• ESPN Chicago reported Joe Maddon’s decision to go with closer by committee pays off. And the team’s offense found its April touch in the series win over the Nationals.
• The Cubs know they can play with the big boys according to a report from the Sun-Times.
• According to a report from Ken Rosenthal, players made two requests to have additional protective netting installed at ballparks … the owners said no.
• The Cubs released LHP Daniel Schlereth. The lefty signed a minor league contract with the Cubs on April 26 and appeared in three games for the Iowa Cubs. Schlereth was charged with four runs, one earned, on two hits with six walks and three strikeouts in three innings (3.00 ERA, 2.67 WHIP).
• Double-A Tennessee’s skipper Buddy Bailey said Sunday that he expects 1B Dan Vogelbach to be activated from the 7-day DL prior to Monday’s game. Vogelbach has been on the DL since May 28 with a hamstring injury.
• The Cubs see RHP Corey Black as a big league reliever according to a report from the Knoxville News Sentinel.
And the Cubs are fifth in the big leagues in getting called third strikes out of the zone.
This Day In Cubstory
2010 – Cubs selected Matt Szczur in the fifth round of the draft. Szczur signed July 5.
2010 – Cubs selected Eric Jokisch is the 11th round of the draft. Jokisch signed June 10.
2002 – Cubs released Leo Estrella
1995 – Cubs released Joe Magrane
1981 – Cubs selected Joe Carter in the first round (second overall pick) of the draft.
1981 – Cubs selected Vance Lovelace in the first round (16th pick) of the draft.
1981 – Cubs selected Darrin Jackson in the second round of the draft.
1976 – Cubs purchased Joe Coleman from the Tigers
1976 – Cubs selected Herman Segelke in the first round (seventh overall pick) of the draft.
1976 – Cubs selected Karl Pagel in the first round (20th overall pick) of the draft.
1976 – Cubs selected Kurt Seibert in the third round of the draft.
1976 – Cubs selected Keith Drumright in the fourth round of the draft.
1976 – Cubs selected Greg Keatley in the fifth round of the draft.
1976 – Cubs selected Odie Davis in the seventh round of the draft.
1976 – Cubs selected Steve Davis in the 14th round of the draft.
1971 – Cubs selected Burt Hooton in the first round (second overall pick) of the draft.
1971 – Cubs selected Dennis Lamp in the third round of the draft.
1971 – Cubs selected Rob Sperring in the fifth round of the draft.
1971 – Cubs selected Jim Tyrone in the seventh round of the draft.
1971 – Cubs selected Dave Bergman in the 12th round of the draft.
1965 – Cubs selected Rick James in the first round (sixth overall pick) of the draft.
1965 – Cubs selected Ken Rudolph in the second round of the draft.
1965 – Cubs selected Ken Holtzman in the fourth round of the draft.
1965 – Cubs selected Garry Jestadt in the seventh round of the draft.
1965 – Cubs selected Joe Decker in the ninth round of the draft.
1965 – Cubs selected Tom House in the 11th round of the draft.
1965 – Cubs selected John Hairston in the 16th round of the draft.
1965 – Cubs selected Jim Williams in the 20th round of the draft.
1957 – Cubs selected Chuck Tanner off waivers from the Milwaukee Braves.
1913 – Cubs purchased Roger Bresnahan from the Cardinals