Wrigley Rat

Kirk isn't rehabbing at extended, he's fully healthy and didn't make Peoria's roster. Chris Carpenter is the biggest name amongst the rehabbers. He pitched 1.2 innings a few days ago. Here is AZ Phil's full lineup from a few days ago (the list doesn't include 1B Matt Spencer who should be ready to go up to Tennessee really soon): INJURY REHAB (12): Justin Bristow (unknown) Chris Carpenter, RHP (shoulder soreness) Julio Castillo, RHP (unknown) Angel Guzman, RHP (March 2010 shoulder surgery) Marcus Hatley, RHP (2009 TJS) Dylan Johnston, RHP (2009 TJS) Dong-Yub Kim, OF (unknown) * Casey Lambert, LHP (2009 TJS) Toby Matchulat, RHP (broken foot) Rebel Ridling, 1B (appendectomy) Melvin Rosa, RHP (unknown) Adam Spencer, RHP (unknown) Carpenter was activated today. http://www.northsidebaseball.com/bridge/index.php?p=2418636&rb_v=viewtopic#p2418636

Tennessee: Tennessee Smokies activated RHP Christopher Carpenter from the 7-Day disabled list. Marcos Mateo assigned to Iowa Cubs from Tennessee Smokies. Daytona: Daytona Cubs placed LHP Christopher Rusin on the 7-Day disabled list. Matthew Spencer assigned to Daytona Cubs from Tennessee Smokies. Peoria: LHP Ted Lilly assigned to Peoria Chiefs (on rehab assignment). Notes: http://cubs.scout.com/a.z?s=260&p=2&c=962460&ssf=1&RequestedURL=http%3a%2f%2fcubs.scout.com%2f2%2f962460.html http://www.news-journalonline.com/sports/baseball/2010/04/15/jays-complete-sweep-of-cubs.html http://www.thecubreporter.com/2010/04/19/giants-sweep-cubs-split-squad-double-bill-fitch-park

Peoria: Jonathan Nagel was placed on the 7-day DL retroactive to 4/16/10 James Leverton was assigned to Peoria from Daytona's DL

Purely speculating - I think the Cubs intentions for signing McClain were to use him as a player-coach. They used Matt Matulia that way last year, keeping him on the DL until they needed another body on the roster. I assumed Jason Dubois was signed for that role as well, but he is active and it looks like the Cubs need his power in the lineup. Arizona Phil thought the same might be true about Jose Contreras and Mario Mercedes as well.

Released: C Garrett Maines, OF Jason James Placed on suspended list: C Luis Flores Recalled: RHP Jeff Gray Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Justin Bristow, RHP Chris Carpenter, RHP Manolin DeLeon, RHP Marcus Hatley, RHP Dylan Johnston, RHP David Patton, LHP Casey Lambert, C Mark Johnson, 1B Rebel Ridling, 3B Scott McClain, SS Matt Matulia, OF Matt Spencer The Cubs signed both Maines and James out of the independent Frontier League in the offseason, but neither will suit up for a Chicago affiliate this spring. James, in particular, has an interesting backstory. Drafted in consecutive years out of Kishwaukee (Ill.) JC, in ’03 and ’04, he opted to attend NAIA Lindenwood (Mo.) instead of turning pro. James signed on with the Rockford Riverhawks of the Frontier League in July ’06 after being passed over in the draft. He then proceeded to string together four remarkable seasons in a row, batting a cumulative .355/.420/.524 in 306 games for Rockford. James' hitting exploits had some calling him the Ted Williams of the Frontier League.

Fuld is now on the 7-Day DL due to a wrist or finger problem. Mark Johnson was activated.

Thanks Tim! Players who started the year injured: Ted Lilly, LHP (shoulder surgery and knee injury) Angel Guzman, RHP (March 2010 shoulder surgery) Chris Carpenter, RHP (shoulder soreness) * Casey Lambert, LHP (2009 TJS) Matt Spencer, OF (broken toe) Rebel Ridling, 1B (appendectomy) Toby Matchulat, RHP (broken foot) Marcus Hatley, RHP (2009 TJS) Dylan Johnston, RHP (2009 TJS) Justin Bristow (unknown) Julio Castillo, RHP (unknown) Dong-Yub Kim, OF (unknown) Melvin Rosa, RHP (unknown) Adam Spencer, RHP (unknown) Players currently learning new positions in EST: Alvaro Sosa (from C to RHP) Drew Rundle (from OF to LHP) Jonathan Mota (from IF to C) Gian Guzman (from IF to RHP) Dylan Johnston (from IF to RHP) Julio Castillo likely to be released in the coming days... http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=373217&src=152

David Patton sighting in Daytona - he relieved Cabrera's excellent outing. 1 K in 1 IP so far (might be done).

Chris Rusin suffered an ankle injury in yesterday's game which caused him to be removed after only 5 batters. No word on how serious it is just yet. Update: Daytona's Facebook says its sprained. http://cubs.scout.com/a.z?s=260&p=2&c=962460&ssf=1&RequestedURL=http%3a%2f%2fcubs.scout.com%2f2%2f962460.html

I'm hoping we can have this as its own thread - it would be nice to have a somewhat comprehensive collection of transactions to look back at. Otherwise feel free to merge it with the game discussion... Daytona: Chris Huseby sent to Extended Spring Training (due to control problems???) David Patton activated and assigned to Daytona Iowa: Jeff Gray promoted to Chicago Ted Lilly on rehab assignment Mark Johnson activated Sam Fuld placed on 7-Day DL retroactive to 4/13/10 Notes: CF Sam Fuld left the game in the fourth inning on 4/13/10. He's been bothered by soreness in the webbing of his left hand between his thumb and forefinger. http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100413&content_id=9268960&vkey=pr_t451&fext=.jsp&sid=t451 Fuld on Sunday aggravated a minor wrist injury he suffered making a catch in Los Angeles two weeks ago and is limited for now to playing defense, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. http://www.fantasysp.com/player/mlb/Sam_Fuld/514660 4/15/10 - Sam Fuld left this game in the fourth inning with soreness in the webbing between his fingers. He saw a hand specialist yesterday in Chicago to try to get the problem figured out. http://chicagocubsonline.com/archives/2010/04/cubsminors41510.php#more

Cashner just lost his no hitter in the 7th.

Signed: 1B Micah Hoffpauir* Released: RHP Todd Blackford, RHP Dan McDaniel, RHP Arismendy Mota, RHP Julio Pena, RHP Jake Schmidt, 1B Kevin Millar, 3B Derek Helenihi Added to 40-man roster: LHP James Russell, 1B Chad Tracy Optioned to Triple-A: 1B Micah Hoffpauir, OF Sam Fuld Option transferred: RHP Rafael Dolis and RHP David Patton (Double-A to high Class A); RHP Marcos Mateo (Triple-A to Double-A) Of all the additions to 40-man rosters in the run-up to Opening Day, perhaps none caught me by surprise as much as that of big lefty James Russell. He enjoyed a terrific spring training, working 13 innings over 11 games, while allowing just nine hits (zero home runs) and sporting an 11-to-4 strikeout-to-walk ratio. The 24-year-old Russell pitched with similar effectiveness in the Arizona Fall League last year. A 14th-round selection from Texas in ’07, he features a high-80s—touch a 91 mph—cut fastball and the full array of offspeed pitches to avoid living life in a match-up millieu. Our ’08 Prospect Handbook notes that Russell "worked with independent pitching coach Tom House [after the Longhorns' ’07 campaign] to shape up his curveball before heading to the Texas Collegiate League." The Cubs signed Helenihi in December as a nondrafted free agent from Louisiana State, where he played alongside Cubs' second-rounder D.J. Lemahieu. Chicago acquired Arismendy Mota in the rare trade for a minor league Rule 5 pick. For more on the righthander, as well as a refresher on the minor league Rule 5 draft, click here.

Sorry if already posted, but Tim Clubb has been assigned to Peoria.

really? Our beat writer and I were just talking about how stacked this roster looks on paper with seven players who have been ranked in top 30 before. I dont know if he can actually catch, but Rosa is the best hitting catcher we have had here since Daric Barton. Then you have Lee/Watkins very solid up the middle can hit and have speed. A speed demon in center with Valdez. Two big power guys in Bour/Jones. Ramirez's bat intrigues me in a corner OF. Then you have McNutt, Antigua and Jung to start with on the roster. Whitenack is intriguing with his knuckle-curve and Latham was unhittable here in 2008 though no one has any clue what the year layoff will do to his stuff. Looks like Morla is ready to break out. Im nearly as excited about this team as I was last year even though we clearly had bigger names last season. I think this team is going to score some runs and be fun to watch. Just have to pitch it and play defense. Should be fun to see. And yes I think you will see Raley on Daytona's roster. Not sure about Kirk. And the article I posted the link to above said that there is still one pitcher yet to be added. My guess is it could be Raley or someone else from Daytona who gets moved down.

http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3985130

Parisi will be a starter at Iowa: http://muskat.mlblogs.com/archives/2010/03/328_parisi_decides_cubs_best_f.html

As explained by Parisi himself. Everyone knows that curve balls just don't break at altitude like they do everywhere else. Arizona is notorious for making curve ball pitchers nuts! I say let him pitch in five games for Chicago. If he is not looking like he belongs, return him and call up whomever they would have called up instead (I assume it is James Russell). Russell would need to be added to the 40-man anyway and Parisi's spot would be his for the duration. Mike Parisi is this season's David Patton (read: ineffective pitcher we hide in our bullpen at the expense of a roster spot)? But how much does it hurt the team to give him a 5-game tryout? Surely Russell can wait that long! He's no Starlin Castro!

Not sure where to post this, but I am personally hoping that the Cubs at least bring Mike Parisi north with the team rather than return him to the Cardinals. His repertoire is as follows: As explained by Parisi himself. Everyone knows that curve balls just don't break at altitude like they do everywhere else. Arizona is notorious for making curve ball pitchers nuts! I say let him pitch in five games for Chicago. If he is not looking like he belongs, return him and call up whomever they would have called up instead (I assume it is James Russell). Russell would need to be added to the 40-man anyway and Parisi's spot would be his for the duration.

http://hometeam.tampabay.com/blog/2010/feb/25/former-riverview-standout-maines-signs-cubs/ http://www.tampaspartans.com/profile.asp?playerID=233 2009 Stats: 2008 Stats: 2007 Stats:

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/35494215/ns/sports-player_news/

Not sure how true this is, but the Cubs may be offering Jonny Gomes a minor league deal with a decent chance to stick with the big league club. If he were to be signed, it would almost assuredly cost Sam Fuld his job and Piniella has all but guaranteed him a spot. http://blogredmachine.com/2010/01/31/jocketty-offers-gomes-a-contract/ I'd like to see him sign a minor league deal, start the year in AAA, and fill in for an injury or be a PH off the bench if a Chad Tracy type doesn't work out. His defense is terrible, but his power is impressive & he "really wants to play in Chicago."

amazingly well? he hits a bunch of singles 2009 vs RHP - .291/.344/.360 2008 vs RHP - .298/.355/.413 2006 vs RHP - .292/.339/.399 fontenot has a career OPS of like 35 points higher than inglett Say what you want, but for $500,000 a year, I would be very happy with those numbers for my left-handed #2 hitter against RHPs. Mike Fontenot might hit .236/.301/.377 again (last year's numbers) and get paid twice that.

Joe Inglett has been designated for assignment by the Rangers. He hits righties amazingly well and would seem to make an excellent platoon with Jeff Baker at 2B. He is a good defender, can play LF in a pinch, and is paid next to nothing. Although Baker is pretty good against both lefties and righties, Inglett's left-handed bat would look nice in the #2 spot, moving Fukudome down to 5th or 6th and breaking up the righties in the middle of the lineup. Baker would also make the bench a lot stronger. Trade Fontenot for a low-level prospect and be done with it. :)

My only thoughts on players getting their first major league experiences this year is that we can only have so many people on the 40-man roster. Jim Hendry has been criticized relentlessly by people on this board who claim he is "terrible at managing the 40-man roster." If Hendry puts Castro, Jackson, Cashner, Carpenter, etc. all on the 40-man, we will end up losing several players in the Rule 5 Draft and end up having to trade away some of our depth in order to sign free agents next off-season. If I were the Cubs, I wouldn't call a player up until I was forced to put them on the 40-man as protection against the Rule 5 Draft, or until they force me to do it with outstanding play in AAA, or if there is a pressing need for that person's position. I imagine Castro may force the Cubs hand with an outstanding first half in AA and/or AAA.

ok, but then i don't think it makes sense to have flaherty at #9 and not even make mention of carpenter. flaherty is two levels lower than carpenter and had a worse season, and he's only 7 months younger. Fair argument, but I do have a response! :) Flaherty was a first round pick which tells me that he has a slightly better pedigree than 3rd round Carpenter. You can't teach power and Flaherty seems to have that. An infielder (perhaps a SS) with power is much more valuable than a 4th starter (although he may become more). The question with Flaherty is whether he will stick at SS. Still, it becomes less important with Castro coming up as a SS. Flaherty could play 2B and be valuable there. If he plays 3B, he will need to continue to develop power. 20 HR's in his first full season of professional ball is something to be excited about. And he's lefty! :) I accept your comment, but would not put Carpenter ahead of Flaherty until I see Flaherty diminish in some of his skills, or see Carpenter excel better at his.