Spring Training - Final Week 3/21 - 3/29

[Sammy Sofa]

Because Reed Johnson made a couple of amazing catches.

[davell]

And because Koyie Hill has some very incriminating pictures of someone.

[CubColtPacer]

Just out of curiosity, whats the difference between being optioned to AAA and reassigned to minor league camp?

 

And I really hope that they find a space for Max Ramirez. I really dont like our bench which has been somewhat of a strength in the past.

 

I have a feeling we'll find a way to hide Ramirez. Probably DL him to start the year.

 

He could play [Tom Hanks' voice] BACKUP CATCHERRR!

 

But wouldn't want to waste his potential in that spot he'd get more at bats on the DL.

 

I dont see why he cant just be a bat off the bench. We carried both Cliff Floyd and Daryl Ward who essentially had no position. Why not Ramirez, who can be given looks at 1B, outfield, and emergency catcher?

 

Has Ramirez played any OF? Floyd of course had a position since he was the starting RF. Ward was both a backup IF/OF which helped his case and also was a proven major league hitter. Ramirez is just an 1B/C who hasn't had success in the majors and hasn't had much success in the minors in a couple years. He's a pure upside play.

[Guest]

Ward played 97 innings in the OF in 2 years with the Cubs, and I can't imagine Ramirez being less equipped to handle a few OF innings than he was.

[Little Slide Rooter]

The fact is, we dont know what Ramirez can do with the bat, but otherwise, coming off the bench we'll have:

 

DeWitt/Baker

Colvin/Fukudome

Barney

Reed Johnson

Koyie Hill

 

Aside from maybe Colvin, not a lot of power going on there. The fact that we have 4 outfielders suggests that we're better off with Ramirezes bat than Reed Johnson crashing into walls when he comes in as a defensive replacement for Soriano in the 8th inning. Whether you like Reed Johnson or not, and I did, at least in 2008, he has little to no chance of staying healthy for extended periods of time.

[otis89]

This ESPN broadcast has been abysmal. Why do they think they need 3 announcers? 2 is more than enough, yet they bring in a guest almost every inning. Believe it or not, a few seconds of silence is acceptable. Also, I don't need to see the guy being interviewed to know he's being interviewed. How about showing me the darn game? And finally, would it kill you to actually talk about the game once in a while?

[ctcf]

Uh... Who the heck is Marwin Gonzalez?

[Fred Hornkohl]

CUBS leading the white sox 4-3 in the bottom of the 5th inning. After Castro draws a one out walk and takes second on a wild pitch, Byrd singles him home. After Ramirez walks, the white sox bring in Will Ohman to face Carlos Pena, who promptly strikes out swinging for the 3rd time in the game. Soriano then singles to drive in Byrd, and Darwin Barney triples to score Ramirez and Soriano. After a walk to Koyie Hill, Marwin Gonzalez (?) pinch hitting for Matt Garza grounds into a force out to end the inning. CUBS score 4 and extend their lead to 8-3 at the end of 5 innings.

 

 

Go CUBS !!

[CubColtPacer]

Uh... Who the heck is Marwin Gonzalez?

 

Marwin is a minor leaguer who can play just about any position on the field. He's not any good but the major league team likes to bring players like that to ST games as insurance.

[hawkeyecub]

This ESPN broadcast has been abysmal. Why do they think they need 3 announcers? 2 is more than enough, yet they bring in a guest almost every inning. Believe it or not, a few seconds of silence is acceptable. Also, I don't need to see the guy being interviewed to know he's being interviewed. How about showing me the darn game? And finally, would it kill you to actually talk about the game once in a while?

 

It's spring training, that's necessary.

[davell]

Uh... Who the heck is Marwin Gonzalez?

 

Marwin is a minor leaguer who can play just about any position on the field. He's not any good but the major league team likes to bring players like that to ST games as insurance.

 

Actually, he had such a good offseason playing winter league ball, they're very hopeful he's just a slightly late developer. He just turned 22, if I remember and he's slated for AAA or AA at worst. I think it's likely he'll at least MAKE the majors at some point, maybe even start for a small market team. AZPhil has been pretty impressed with him in the past too.

 

In winter league ball, he had alot more patience and hit .324/.412/.419 in 251 plate appearances. May never amount to anything obviously, but there IS hope for him at least in that he may have turned a corner.

[Fred Hornkohl]

.... and the CUBS hang on to win 8-7 !!

 

 

Go CUBS !!

[NCCubFan]

Unless my mind was playing tricks on me one of the ESPN announcers talked about Will Ohman being back with the Cubs when he was pitching for the Sox.

[otis89]

Unless my mind was playing tricks on me one of the ESPN announcers talked about Will Ohman being back with the Cubs when he was pitching for the Sox.

 

That broadcast was just pathetic. I don't think any of them knew what they were talking about. It's hard to follow them when it's a constant stream of babbling about stuff completely irrelevant to the game.

[wvcbxl]

After a walk to Koyie Hill,

 

:shock:

Someone didn't do his homework.

[Guancous]

Aaron Laffey broke the record for going from 'borderline prospect' to 'crafty veteran'. That's what happens to injured lefties with fringe stuff.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Looks like Jake Fox is having another monster spring training. 9 HR, .328/1.175. I'm rooting for him. If nothing else, he has a decent chance to be a solid 1 dimensional power hitter.

[Guancous]

Braden Looper retires. Starlin with a 3 RBI double but got picked off 2nd. Vitters has a solid double as well.

[Vinestal]

Mateo sure looked good again today, sure would rather have him on the team than Silva honestly.

[davell]

Mateo sure looked good again today, sure would rather have him on the team than Silva honestly.

 

 

Damn right. I was really pulling for him in the 9th and he looked excellent. 2 K's and a nice bare handed play on a chopper by Vitters to end it.

[RammyFanny]

Don't know how they have been doing it with Spring Training games, but it's a couple minutes after 3 and the game today is not blacked out on 676.

[sweetpeteman]

Gavonny Sato is now batting for the Cubs. This PBP man, I don't know what his name is, should quit now, cause he is horrible.

[InconspicuousZ28]

Gavonny Sato is now batting for the Cubs. This PBP man, I don't know what his name is, should quit now, cause he is horrible.

 

I was just coming in to post something similar. I know this PBP guy has been around, I remember hearing him last season. But that was an absolutely brutal butchering of Soto's name. I almost couldn't tell who he was talking about.

[Old Style]

WTF was that? It sounded like he said Gee-AH-va-knee Suh-toe.

[MWV]

Tough 1st so far for Cashner. 1 out 3 hits (1B, 2B and a HR), 4 runs and a missed catch error on Cashner.