The Cubs won one and lost one on the first of back-to-back split squad days. And while half the roster picked up a win in Las Vegas, the other half struggled in Mesa and Tsuyoshi Wada left the game with an injury in the first inning. The Cubs play two more games Saturday before squaring off against the Reds on Sunday afternoon back in the valley. Paul Sullivan caught up with Theo Epstein and asked for an update on contract extension. Tom Ricketts was expected to extend Theo Epstein’s … [Read more...]
Cubs Minor League Roster Moves
With Opening Day for the minor league teams on Thursday, the Cubs have just about finalized the Opening Day rosters for the top four teams in the system … Iowa Cubs, Tennessee Smokies, Daytona Cubs, and Kane County Cougars. And with setting the rosters, several players throughout the organization have been released. Hayden Simpson, Dontrelle Willis and Michael Brenly made headlines for obvious reasons over the weekend when they were released, but several other minor league players were also … [Read more...]
Hayden Simpson and Dontrelle Willis Among Minor Leaguers Released by the Cubs
As Opening Day approaches for minor league baseball, the Cubs have released several players from the system, including 2010 first round pick Hayden Simpson. According to reports, the Cubs released Simpson, along with C Michael Brenly, RHP Brett Wallach, knuckleballer Joe Zeller, LHP Casey Harman and LHP Dontrelle Willis. The Cubs released RHP Ryan Hartman and RHP Su-Min Jung earlier this spring. … [Read more...]
Talkin’ Cubs Live – Cubs vs. Giants – 03/02/13
Spring Training Game Eight: Cubs (4-3) vs. Giants (SS) (2-2) Game Time - 2:05pm CST Coverage – TV: None – Radio: 720 WGN Location – Scottsdale Stadium, Scottsdale Carlos Villanueva (0-0, 27.00/4.50) vs. Tim Lincecum (0-0, 20.25/3.00) The Cubs make the short trip from Mesa to Scottsdale this afternoon to take on the Giants. Jeff Samardzija and the Cubs beat Matt Cain in the Giants, 4-3, in the HoHoKam Park opener last Sunday. The Cubs have one more match-up on the spring schedule … [Read more...]
Arodys Vizcaino to Stay Back in Extended Spring Training and Other Cubs News Bits
As expected, Arodys Vizcaino will not begin the season on an active roster. According to a report from Carrie Muskat, the Cubs have told Arodys Vizcaino that he will be held back in Mesa for Extended Spring Training when camp breaks at the end of March. Vizcaino is recovering from Tommy John surgery, and is scheduled to throw his first bullpen session on Tuesday. Vizcaino could stay in Arizona for a couple of months and is not expected to pitch in any Cactus League games. The move of keeping … [Read more...]
Too Many Walks, Dontrelle Willis and a Spring Loss – Cubs 6, Dodgers 7
Spring Training Game Three – Cubs 6, Dodgers 7 WP – Paco Rodriguez (1-0) LP – Dontrelle Willis (0-1) Save – Blake Johnson (1) The Cubs dropped their first game of the spring on a beautiful afternoon in Glendale to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Cubs jumped on Chad Billingsley in the first inning and scored a pair of runs on a Luis Valbuena (1-for-2 with a double and a run scored) double, a Darwin Barney (1-for-2 with a double, a RBI, a walk and a run scored) double and a Nate Schierholtz … [Read more...]
Day Eleven of Cubs Camp: Rainy Days and Spring Training
The Cubs received a little breathier on Wednesday when rain and bad weather in the Phoenix area shortened practice. Wednesday was the big league team’s last full day of Spring Training at Fitch Park. The Cubs moved down the street to HoHoKam Park to prepare for the start of the Cactus League schedule. The organization will continue to use Fitch Park until their new Spring Training home is ready later this year. But Wednesday was the last full squad practice for the big leaguers and will be … [Read more...]
Weekend Update … Cubs Off-Season Is Not Over
Jed Hoyer said Thursday that the Cubs off-season is not over yet and while the Cubs’ GM did not drop any hints as to what they are working on, it could be a very interesting couple of weeks leading up to the Cubs Convention. Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer have to make at least one roster move in the near future in order to officially add Carlos Villanueva ... the Cubs’ roster currently stands at 40 players. They are believed to be looking for an outfielder, a utility infielder and could still add a … [Read more...]
Cubs Sign Dontrelle Willis to a Minor League Deal
According to a report from Jon Heyman, the Cubs signed veteran lefty Dontrelle Willis to a minor league contract. The deal does not include a non-roster invite to big league camp, this is strictly a minor league contract. Dontrelle Willis turns 31 on January 12 and was originally selected by the Cubs in the eighth round of the 2000 draft. … [Read more...]