Zambrano Rehab Start Sun 12pm CT (p. 5)

[Bull]

FWIW: Rich Harden is probably the second best runner on the team (behind Gathright's 75/80 speed). Harden's a 65 or 70 runner.

 

FWIW #2: Give Guzman the start.

 

I'm all for giving Guzman the start. I think they should have stretched him out in relief of Zambrano instead of using Marmol. I know he's brittle, but its not like they'd be asking him to throw 200 innings. Just a couple starts.

[mred]

I read somewhere that ESPN just sent out a text alert that Zambrano was placed on the 15-day DL. No idea if it's accurate, but it wouldn't be surprising.

 

If it's true, it'll probably be on the ESPN main page pretty soon.

[haubrich91]

I read somewhere that ESPN just sent out a text alert that Zambrano was placed on the 15-day DL. No idea if it's accurate, but it wouldn't be surprising.

 

http://espn.go.com/chicago/columns/blog?name=levine

 

Bobby Scales called up.

[jersey cubs fan]

I'm only speculating here, but what the Cubs might be doing is putting Big Z on the DL, bringing up Scales (and going, sensibly, with 11 pitchers instead of 12) until Friday, when they can bring up Randy Wells or another pitcher to start.

 

http://blogs.dailyherald.com/blog/18

[Little Slide Rooter]

This makes sense in 2 scenerios:

 

A. Ramirez is not as ready as they thought, but hes still too close for a 12 day DL stint, and the want another infielder

B. Scales is auditioning for Gathrights roster spot, and if he does well between now and when Zs spot would come up next, Gathright goes and Wells comes up, and if Scales cant cut it, he goes back down for Well.

 

Rotoworld seems to think that Wells os Ascanio will be called up

 

Carlos Zambrano-S- Cubs May. 4 - 5:14 pm et

 

Cubs placed RHP Carlos Zambrano on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left hamstring.

 

Zambrano is expected to miss two to three weeks. He was injured while trying to beat out a bunt single in Sunday's victory against the Marlins. Randy Wells and Jose Ascanio look like the best to replace him in the rotation with Mitch Atkins struggling in Triple-A. Ascanio has a 1.25 ERA at Iowa, but the Cubs probably have more faith in Wells.

 

Either way, when Zs spot rolls around, one of them will be called up and Scales or Gathright will be gawn.

[haubrich91]

I hope Scales gets it over Gathright, if Piniella has a competition going.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Id prefer Fox over either, but whatever.

[Pushfrog98]

Whats the dirt on Scales?

[Pushfrog98]

FWIW: Rich Harden is probably the second best runner on the team (behind Gathright's 75/80 speed). Harden's a 65 or 70 runner.

 

Maybe on a straight speed basis, but what about baserunning? He looked pretty confused out there.

He's canadian, what do you expect?

[Pushfrog98]

Also, Gathright is HORRIBLE running the bases. he's been picked off and over-slid 2nd...

[Soul]

Whats the dirt on Scales?

 

30-ish AAA player, been hanging around that level for a long time. Had a nice year at the plate last year @ Iowa.

[Outshined_One]

Whats the dirt on Scales?

 

30-ish AAA player, been hanging around that level for a long time. Had a nice year at the plate last year @ Iowa.

 

Basically one of those guys who will get a soft-focus lens special on Outside the Lines if he ends up sticking with the Cubs and doing well.

[BCVM22]

Scales wearing no. 24.

[BigSlick]

I don't see why Scales never got a shot in the bigs, by age 25 he was putting up great numbers in AAA

 

I guess he must have been blocked by someone in San Diego? I dunno, dude seems like we never should have signed Aaron Miles. I have much more confidence in this career minor leaguer than him

[big_shooter17]

I don't see why Scales never got a shot in the bigs, by age 25 he was putting up great numbers in AAA

 

I guess he must have been blocked by someone in San Diego? I dunno, dude seems like we never should have signed Aaron Miles. I have much more confidence in this career minor leaguer than him

 

Yeah, I was looking at his career minor league numbers and I don't get why he hasn't even had a cup of coffee at some point. The guy hits 275-300 and has some pop in his bat. Looks almost like Theriot minor league numbers with a bit more power and a little less speed, but he just never got a chance. He might actually be able to do something.

[Little Slide Rooter]

For what its worth, if anything, Channel 5 news just reported that Randy Wells will be called up to replace Zambrano, but does that mean the Scales will be called up for now and they'll deal with that on Friday?

[TruffleShuffle]

I don't see why Scales never got a shot in the bigs, by age 25 he was putting up great numbers in AAA

 

I guess he must have been blocked by someone in San Diego? I dunno, dude seems like we never should have signed Aaron Miles. I have much more confidence in this career minor leaguer than him

 

Yeah, I was looking at his career minor league numbers and I don't get why he hasn't even had a cup of coffee at some point. The guy hits 275-300 and has some pop in his bat. Looks almost like Theriot minor league numbers with a bit more power and a little less speed, but he just never got a chance. He might actually be able to do something.

 

if he could play shortstop he'd have been given a shot at a utility role, a la jeff keppinger, but since he's 2B/3B/OF he's basically a guy who doesn't have enough power to stick in the bigs.

 

hopefully he will get a pinch hit or something, i'd like to see him rewarded since he's been farting around the minors for 10 years without a single call up.

[treebird]

this comes from the locked thread in transactions

 

give it a rest on the Hendry Hate. We are talking about a guy who has paid his dues in the Minors and deserves at least cup of coffee at this point over a veteran nomad like a Graffino or something.

 

agreed, the cubs standard for deciding who gets to be on the team should be whatever would make for the best story

 

 

goodbye aramis ramirez and derrek lee (raised in poverty in dominican republic? son of a guy who worked in baseball? i think we've heard these before.)

 

hello whoever played first and third for the 2000 lsu tigers (entire infield reunited 9 years later, PRINT IT)

[CubbieBum]

It seems to me it might be an opportunity to give Theriot a day off.

[Mephistopheles]

hello whoever played first and third for the 2000 lsu tigers (entire infield reunited 9 years later, PRINT IT)

Blair Barbier was the 3B for that team. He was the guy who hit the home run. Guess what organization drafted him. He burned out in Double A and is a coach for LSU Baseball nowadays. Their 1B was a man by the name of Brad Hawpe. You might have heard of him.

[Soul]

I know OPS isn't the end-all, be-all of baseball existence, but Scales has been on a steady climb since '05. That kind of caught my eye during Spring.

 

It would be nice to see him get something for his MLB stat line before he heads back to Iowa.

[Cynosure]

Why was Zambrano even bunting in that situation?

 

It was an amazing bunt... but come on... you don't try to leg out a bunt as a thick pitcher.

 

Just think the uproar this would have caused if that was a PH AB :-D

 

Thanks for the "ONE TOTAL BASE" and "FOUR-FIVE MISSED STARTS"!

[Outshined_One]

Why was Zambrano even bunting in that situation?

 

It was an amazing bunt... but come on... you don't try to leg out a bunt as a thick pitcher.

 

Just think the uproar this would have caused if that was a PH AB :-D

 

Thanks for the "ONE TOTAL BASE" and "FOUR-FIVE MISSED STARTS"!

 

It's not much of a different situation from Zambrano hustling over to cover first while pitching. He got on base and started a big rally. Plus, frankly, that was a perfect bunt.

 

You can argue that a big man like him should be swinging away, but with the massively awkward swings he takes, it's a miracle he hasn't torn an obique muscle in his career.

 

In my mind, there's not a whole lot worth arguing about with his bunt.

[weis21]

Why was Zambrano even bunting in that situation?

 

It was an amazing bunt... but come on... you don't try to leg out a bunt as a thick pitcher.

 

Just think the uproar this would have caused if that was a PH AB :-D

 

Thanks for the "ONE TOTAL BASE" and "FOUR-FIVE MISSED STARTS"!

 

It's not much of a different situation from Zambrano hustling over to cover first while pitching. He got on base and started a big rally. Plus, frankly, that was a perfect bunt.

 

You can argue that a big man like him should be swinging away, but with the massively awkward swings he takes, it's a miracle he hasn't torn an obique muscle in his career.

 

In my mind, there's not a whole lot worth arguing about with his bunt.

 

This.

 

It's the NL so he has to bat and run after the ball is batted. Who here doesn't think Z would have run that hard if it was a "swinging bunt" that happened to be in the same place? He's an athlete. He made an intelligent baseball decision and happened to get hurt. It's just bad luck and nothing more. Don't over-analyze the situation.

[badnews]

You know who I wonder why they never got a longer shot in the majors, Graham Koonce.