Rick Renteria announced Monday that Starlin Castro will miss 7-10 days with a mild right hamstring strain. Castro suffered the injury Sunday trying to steal second base in the first inning. Following the game against the Royals, Castro downplayed the injury and said it was not as bad as the one that cost him around two weeks last spring. Renteria said Monday the injury is "similar to what happened to him last year." Castro strained his left hamstring last spring. While Castro is out, the … [Read more...]
Cubs Working on the Big League Roster, Focus on the Minors and Other News and Rumors
Weekend Update It could be a very busy 72 hours throughout the game leading up to Christmas, especially if the Rakuten Eagles finally make a decision, one way or the other, to post Masahiro Tanaka. Players prefer to know where they will be playing prior to the holidays and there are several free agents still unsigned for next season. The last high-dollar, long-contract, free-agent position player of the off-season came off the board on Saturday when Shin-Soo Choo agreed to a seven-year, $130 … [Read more...]
The Tanaka Watch Continues and Other Cubs News and Notes
Despite the reports on Thursday morning, the Rakuten Golden Eagles have not made a decision on whether or not they will post Masahiro Tanaka this winter. Most still think he will be made available to Major League teams this off-season, but it is pretty clear that no one, not even Tanaka, knows at this point. Yozo Tachibana indicated on Thursday the team is still discussing the matter internally, but promised on Friday the decision would not be delayed much longer. Masahiro Tanaka is doing his … [Read more...]
Cubs Announce Minor League Managers, Staffs and Coordinators for the 2014 Season
The Cubs announced the coaching staffs for all minor league levels and field coordinators on Wednesday. There was very little turnover or changes made to the coaching staffs that were in the Cubs' system a year ago with the exception of the pitching coaches. Marty Pevey (Triple-A Iowa), Buddy Bailey (Double-A Tennessee), Dave Keller (High-A Daytona), Mark Johnson (Low-A Kane County) and Gary Van Tol (Short-Season, Low-A Boise) were retained to run the five upper level teams in the Cubs' … [Read more...]
Carlos Marmol, Front Office Changes and Other Cubs News, Notes and Rumors
Carlos Marmol was accused in a Dominican Republic court on Wednesday of domestic assault. Miledys Mejia Cepeda, 24, accused Marmol of violating articles 309-1, 309-2 and 333-2 of the Dominican Republic criminal code which are violence against women and filed a criminal complaint. The police have not filed charges according to the Tribune and he Sun-Times was unable to reach Marmol or his agent, Paul Kinzer, for comment. Carlos Marmol’s attorney, Nelson Pimentel, denied the allegation and … [Read more...]
Cubs Announce Minor League Managers, Staffs and Field Coordinators for 2013
The Cubs announced the coaching staffs for all minor league levels and field coordinators on Tuesday morning. The Cubs retained several coaches and reassigned a few of them to different levels of the system as well as added a few new coaches to the organization. Marty Pevey will manage the I-Cubs after serving as the minor league catching coordinator for the last three seasons. Brian Harper, as expected, was named hitting coach of the I-Cubs. Harper managed the Smokies in 2011 and the D-Cubs … [Read more...]
The Unofficial Opening Day … It’s Time for the Cubs Convention
Harry Caray referred to it as the "unofficial opening day", some refer to it as the "kick-off to spring training", call it what you want but the bottom line is baseball is just around the corner. The 27th Annual Cubs Convention officially begins this afternoon at the Hilton Chicago. Pat Hughes will once again have the honor of introducing the Cubs past, present and future during the Opening Ceremonies but this convention will be a little bit different than previous years. Theo Epstein, Jed … [Read more...]
2012 Cubs Convention Schedule and Attendees
The schedule for the 27th Annual Cubs Convention was released Sunday night and Monday morning. The three-day event begins Friday afternoon at the Hilton Chicago. The Cubs' new front office will be in attendance and the Saturday morning session with Theo Epstein figures to have the biggest crowd of the weekend. Cubs past and present, the entire front office including Jed Hoyer and Jason McLeod will be in attendance. The Ricketts family will hold their question and answer session on Saturday … [Read more...]
Two Minor Signings, A Front Office Hiring … and Other Cubs News, Notes and Rumors
Three announcements came out of the offices of 1060 West Addison on the final Friday of Twenty-Eleven ... and more rumors on what the Cubs next move, or moves, might be. According to a report from Baseball America, the Cubs signed two Cuban prospects ... but not the ones that have been in the headlines of late. The Cubs inked 18-year old (turns 19 on January 9) outfielder Yasiel Balaguert and 20-year old right-hander Carlos Martinez. Both players are represented by Jamie Torres, the same … [Read more...]
Cubs Announce Minor League Managers, Coaching Staffs and Coordinators for 2012
The Cubs announced their 2012 Minor League managers, coaching staffs and coordinators on Wednesday. Dave Bialas moved from minor league field coordinator to manager of the Iowa Cubs. The I-Cubs will also have a new hitting coach. Dave Keller, who was on Mike Quade's staff last season will replace Von Joshua as Iowa's hitting coach. Jeff Fassero received a promotion to the Double-A Tennessee Smokies. Fassero was pitching coach in Peoria last year. The Cubs also shifted Bill Dancy for the third … [Read more...]