Spring Training Thread

[Guest]

So... Almora broke his hamate bone.

 

Albert Almora ‏@albertalmora

Not a good day! Broke my Hamate bone!

[davell]

I put it in the minor league forum too. [expletive] [expletive].

[Butterscup1679666578]

so almora broke his hamate bone

[Cubswin11]

[expletive] [expletive] [expletive], that's in the wrist.

[Tryptamine]

Not a big deal at all other than him missing a month. Markakis came back just find last year and Sandoval came back just fine a couple years ago.

[Banedon]

Not sure the best place to put this, but if anyone is interested in a wallpaper with the schedule on it...

 

http://i.imgur.com/dZ8qvLb.jpg

[Old Style]

This is the bone most commonly fractured when an amateur golfer hits the ground hard with a golf club on the downswing. The fracture is usually a hairline fracture, commonly missed on normal X-Rays. Symptoms are pain aggravated by gripping, tenderness over the hamate and symptoms of irritation of the ulnar nerve. This is characterized by numbness and weakness of the pinky finger with partial involvement of the ring finger as well, the "ulnar 1½ fingers."

 

It is also a common injury in baseball players. Several professional baseball players have had the bone removed during the course of their careers. This condition has been called "Wilson's Wrist".

Notable cases

Jose Canseco, Oakland Athletics outfielder (1989)

Ken Griffey, Jr., Seattle Mariners outfielder (1996)

Jim Thome, Cleveland Indians first baseman (1996)

Eric Hinske, Atlanta Braves first baseman (2003)

Ryan Kalish, Boston Red Sox outfielder (2007)

Dustin Pedroia, Boston Red Sox second baseman (2007)

Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado Rockies shortstop (2010)

Domonic Brown, Philadelphia Phillies outfielder (2011)

Pablo Sandoval, San Francisco Giants third baseman (2011, right; 2012, left)

Nick Markakis, Baltimore Orioles outfielder (2012)

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamate_bone

[Little Slide Rooter]

Rusin has given up one run in 13 innings. Have to think he's getting the 2nd lefty out of the pen spot, at this point.

I'd have to think so and probably the long man/spot starter spot.

 

As far as the greater good goes, he'd be best in Iowa as depth. While we may be deep in starting pitching, with the exceptions of Jackson and maybe Shark, there are no sure things.

[Cubswin11]

John Arguello‏@CubsDen

We're hearing that the Cubs have received Starlin Peralta back from the Diamondbacks. Peralta showed a live arm but was awful this spring.

[Tryptamine]

John Arguello‏@CubsDen

We're hearing that the Cubs have received Starlin Peralta back from the Diamondbacks. Peralta showed a live arm but was awful this spring.

 

Nice, there's still some potential in that arm but he just wasn't anywhere near MLB ready.

[Guest]

Surprised Arguello doesn't know his name is Starling.

[Guest]

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130315&content_id=42795408&notebook_id=42795692&vkey=notebook_chc&c_id=chc

 

Stewart feels 'really good' after Minors scrimmage

 

MESA, Ariz. -- It was only a Minor League game, and Ian Stewart didn't play in the field, but he couldn't believe how good he felt at the plate. That could be great news for the Cubs.

 

Stewart got his first in-game at-bats since Feb. 21 when he led off every inning Thursday for both teams in a Minor League game at Fitch Park.

 

"By my count, I was 2-for-5, maybe 1-for-5," he said. "I maybe gave myself one [hit]."

 

That didn't matter. What did was that Stewart's wrist passed all tests. He was limited to 55 games last season before undergoing surgery on his left wrist. He spent the offseason rehabbing and hitting with Hall of Famer Rod Carew, and this spring, Stewart doubled in his first at-bat in an intrasquad game on Feb. 21. But he felt tightness in his left quad as he ran to first, and had not played since.

 

If he's healthy and can provide the Cubs with the offense he put together in 2009 with the Rockies, they could have a 20-plus home run hitter who can drive in 70 RBIs.

 

"I still think I will be [that guy], and I think I will be this year," Stewart said. "It's just been such a relief for me knowing that the surgery that I had worked and I have no lingering issues in my wrist, and my bat speed feels back.

 

"The toughest part for me last year was I could hit [batting practice] all day because they were throwing it down the middle and you could control everything," he said. "Once the game came, and pitches were moving and breaking, and I just couldn't adjust because the wrist was holding me back. Now there's none of that.

 

"My confidence is really sky high right now, as far as my hitting and everything goes. I was really surprised at how I was able to feel in the box [Thursday] and tracking pitches and some swings I put on the baseball."

 

 

Stewart being a remotely productive player would go a long way toward any hopes of surprise contention.

[Sammy Sofa]

I've got more action than my man John Woo

And I've got mad hits like I was Rod Carew

[Gmoney08]

I've got more action than my man John Woo

And I've got mad hits like I was Rod Carew

 

Greatest band of alltime!

[Tracer Bullet]

Son got Soler's autograph. And I'm pretty sure I know which of a group of about 5 college girls E Jackson is going to be with tonight.

[Clem Fandango]

Pure sex...

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=25752323&topic_id=&c_id=chc&tcid=vpp_copy_25752323&v=3

[Sammy Sofa]

That is a beautifully hideous monster of a swing.

[Guest]

Javy is tied four fourth in MLB this spring with his four home runs.

 

Of course, that doesn't count his two against Japan or HR by anyone else in international play.

[bhogg]

I'm admittedly dumb on team control rules, etc.

 

Does Baez have a shot at 3b this year or is that one of those things where he needs more time in the minors--- to develop at third and to keep him under control longer?

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I'm admittedly dumb on team control rules, etc.

 

Does Baez have a shot at 3b this year or is that one of those things where he needs more time in the minors--- to develop at third and to keep him under control longer?

 

The simple version is that they get him for six years, with the first year possibly not counting if you hold him down for part of it. When you want to start that clock is up to you.

 

But he's not close to ready. He was last seen in a competitive environment struggling with A+ and the AFL. He's still two years away, easily.

[Guest]

I'm admittedly dumb on team control rules, etc.

 

Does Baez have a shot at 3b this year or is that one of those things where he needs more time in the minors--- to develop at third and to keep him under control longer?

 

For the foreseeable future and until anyone says otherwise, he's a shortstop.

 

It wouldn't have anything to do with team control. He needs a lot more development as a hitter. He hasn't had success at a level higher than low A yet. He's nowhere near the majors yet. At the very least, he needs to succeed at two more levels.

[Guest]

I'm admittedly dumb on team control rules, etc.

 

Does Baez have a shot at 3b this year or is that one of those things where he needs more time in the minors--- to develop at third and to keep him under control longer?

 

The simple version is that they get him for six years, with the first year possibly not counting if you hold him down for part of it. When you want to start that clock is up to you.

 

But he's not close to ready. He was last seen in a competitive environment struggling with A+ and the AFL. He's still two years away, easily.

 

Not two full years, easily. Definitely not.

[Guest]

I'm admittedly dumb on team control rules, etc.

 

Does Baez have a shot at 3b this year or is that one of those things where he needs more time in the minors--- to develop at third and to keep him under control longer?

 

The simple version is that they get him for six years, with the first year possibly not counting if you hold him down for part of it. When you want to start that clock is up to you.

 

But he's not close to ready. He was last seen in a competitive environment struggling with A+ and the AFL. He's still two years away, easily.

 

Not two full years, easily. Definitely not.

He will play a significant amount of 2014 in the majors.

 

Soler, too, most likely.

[Sammy Sofa]

I'm admittedly dumb on team control rules, etc.

 

Does Baez have a shot at 3b this year or is that one of those things where he needs more time in the minors--- to develop at third and to keep him under control longer?

 

The simple version is that they get him for six years, with the first year possibly not counting if you hold him down for part of it. When you want to start that clock is up to you.

 

But he's not close to ready. He was last seen in a competitive environment struggling with A+ and the AFL. He's still two years away, easily.

 

Not two full years, easily. Definitely not.

 

So what's the likely plan position-wise? Moving him to 2B?

[USSoccer]

I'm admittedly dumb on team control rules, etc.

 

Does Baez have a shot at 3b this year or is that one of those things where he needs more time in the minors--- to develop at third and to keep him under control longer?

 

The simple version is that they get him for six years, with the first year possibly not counting if you hold him down for part of it. When you want to start that clock is up to you.

 

But he's not close to ready. He was last seen in a competitive environment struggling with A+ and the AFL. He's still two years away, easily.

 

I'd put money on him being a September callup this year. He's going to be on the full team for good after whatever that date is in May 2014 that gives us an extra year of control.