Wrigley Rat

Roster moves: Iowa: Matt Matulia activated from the 7-day DL David Macias returned to Peoria Peoria: Kevin Kreier placed on the 7-day DL Chris Siegfried promoted from EST

Vince Perkins roughed up in his first AAA appearance this year: 1 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 HR (all runs coming off the home run)

Roster Moves: Iowa: So Taguchi to the DL retroactive to May 2nd David Macias (infielder/outfielder) promoted from Peoria (will likely only stay a short time) Jeff Samardzija returned from Chicago Chad Fox promoted to Chicago Bobby Scales promoted to Chicago Matt Camp promoted from Tennessee Tennessee: Todd Blackford activated from the DL Daytona: Dan McDaniel activated from the DL Steve Vento to the DL Jake Opitz promoted from EST Drew Rundle sent to Peoria Tony Campana promoted from Peoria Peoria: None

Daytona: Steve Vento to the DL (strained calf). Dan McDaniel reinstated from the DL. Drew Rundle demoted to Peoria. Peoria: Tony Campana promoted to Daytona.

Additional moves: Matt Matulia - DL (Iowa) Cliff Andersen - DL (Peoria) Mario Mercedes - activated from DL (Peoria)

Never hear of him. Is he from the DeRosa trade? No - he's been in the Cubs system since 2005 (23rd round draft pick). He has been a solid lefty reliever everywhere he's been, but because of his draft status and slightly older age, he hasn't gotten much attention. He will turn 25 in August which is the right age to be pitching in AAA (24-25). http://cubsminors.wikispaces.com/RuhlmanJ Keep your fingers crossed, but he might be Neal Cotts' replacement next year (if Cotts makes it that long).

Jayson Ruhlman was promoted to Iowa (to take Samardzija's roster spot). He pitched in tonight's game (0.1 IP, 1 H, 1 SO). Marcos Mateo moved from Daytona to Tennessee (Maybe into their rotation? Maybe moving Russell to the bullpen?). Jose Pina promoted from Peoria to Daytona (his last chance). (Not sure who will go to Peoria.)

Not sure of the true answer, but my guess is that the Cubs were a bit disappointed in Gaudin since we acquired him. Once a player is in Lou's doghouse, it's hard to get out of it. Cotts seems to be next.

Glad to hear that's why Mateo started at Daytona - I have had high hopes for him for awhile. Lambert starting seems to be a bad idea, but I'm glad they gave it a try (now we know). I think he can become a nice relief pitcher, though. Why isn't Russell getting any bullpen time? I don't see him making it as a starter, but I wonder if he could pitch in relief - who knows? Chen sounds like a right-handed Pignatiello.

Bob Brenly said during today's game that Luis Vizcaino had "tardiness issues" in addition to his stuff being essentially worthless and that he was getting guys out "with smoke and mirrors." I have no problem with the Cubs' decision to DFA Vizcaino. Calling up Samardzija was probably a promise they made to him to keep him from whining from the demotion. I would have prefered a call-up of Jason Waddell, the Cubs have 40-man roster spots available, and a need for a lefty, but... With Samardzija's poor outing today, I'm not sure he was as ready as the Cubs had hoped.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/prospects/?p=3538 This has to be a week old, since Deeds was reinstated from the DL today.BA's transcations cover a 7-14 day period. It doesn't include the recent reinstatement of Deeds and the DL'ing of Luis Rivas. The interesting part for me was the release of O'Donnell and Willis (not surprising, but interesting).

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=287822

http://blogs.dailyherald.com/node/1830

http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/prospects/?p=3538

3B Nate Spears missed a catch (error) that cost the I-Cubs three unearned runs. Ascanio still sports a 0.00 ERA as a starter this year!

Luis Rivas - DL hamstring Doug Deeds - activated No backup SS for Iowa (except maybe Bobby Scales or Nate Spears). Down to 3 true infielders on the team (Scales, Spears, and Andres Blanco). Doug Deeds, Jake Fox, and Jason Dubois all can play 1B. Maybe Fox will get some more time at 3B over the next 7 days? Maybe the Cubs will finally sign a free agent infielder to play at Iowa? EDIT: Oops - forgot about Matt Matulia, never mind.

Iowa: Mitch Atkins 0-1, 14.00 Tennessee: Postponed Daytona: James Leverton 0-0, 8.22 Peoria: Postponed

Justin Berg on the DL with right shoulder soreness. Doug Deeds on the DL as well. Jason Dubois and Matt Matulia activated.

Dang. He was just starting to play well for the bulls :wink: Oops - fixed! :oops: At least I know that someone reads what I write! :)

Chris Huseby - 1 IP - 0 BB - All balls in play were hit on the ground - I'm hoping his control problems are behind him. Nate Spears played 3B - only had 1 defensive opportunity and wasn't able to throw the runner out on a slow roller. Jose Ascanio started and pitched 4 scoreless innings. Almost all outs were ground outs or strikeouts. Jeff Stevens struck out the side in the 7th. He hit a batter, walked one, and witnessed a passed ball, but managed to escape without anyone scoring. He faced the 7-8-9-1-2 hitters. Tony Thomas had an outstanding day at the plate hitting 2 solo HR's, a 2B, and a 1B. 3 flawless defensive plays. Matt Camp had some time at 3B again today, but did not handle the ball. He did hit a SF, though. Blake Lalli got the start at 1B today and went 2-for-5 with a run scored and an error. Steve Clevenger started at catcher and had a single. Darwin Barney hit a homerun. Jonathan Mota only played half the game, but walked and got a single, and scored both times. Hung Wen Chen had a very nice outing. He gave up one run in the 2nd inning on back-to-back doubles. His only other run scored in the 6th inning after he was taken out of the game - Chen walked the leadoff hitter and gave up a line drive single after a line drive out, when John Gaub came in. Gaub struck out his first batter, but threw a wild pitch that allowed a run to score before striking out the next batter. Gaub struck out two of the three lefties he faced (the other walked). It was a right handed PH who doubled off Gaub. Marwin Gonzalez played in LF today. He had 3 balls hit to him (2 hits and 1 line drive caught). Marcos Mateo started, but only pitched 2 innings. 1 hit - 1 K. Ryan Searle piggy-backed and had some bad numbers - maybe we should rush him to Iowa - all kidding aside, he did very well in his first three innings (all ground balls), but had no defense around him (2 errors). In Searle's 4th inning of work, either he was tired or the third Daytona error shook Searle up a bit because he gave up 4 straight hits before being pulled.

Thanks Karen - good to hear about Shafer and Kreier. I know the Cubs were high on Kreier as they gave him a $100,000 signing bonus (or something like that). Maybe he can put it together this year.

Some notes/comments from today's games: - Ryan Buchter gets the save for Peoria. Could he be groomed as a closer? If the Cubs can turn his left-handed arm into a valuable relief pitcher for the cost of Matt Avery (IIRC), that would be something. - Some interesting position choices at Daytona: (1) Russ Canzler played the whole game at 3B (no errors). Canzler playing 3B on a team with 3 or 4 other players who can play 3B is interesting. I pictured him as a 1B/LF (Hoffpauir type with less power). Now he looks more like a corner infield type down the road. (2) Drew Rundle was in CF. Good to see - if he can stick there. I don't have a lot of hope for Jonathan Wyatt, so I would love to see Rundle do well in CF since he appears to be the only player on the team besides Wyatt who can play there. (3) Steve Vento blew the save opportunity. If he is the closer on a team that has Hank Williamson, Dan McDaniel, and Marcos Mateo then I'm thinking those three are in the rotation. In my opinion, those three rank higher than Vento as future closers (but could have a future in the rotation as well - they did say they are putting the best arms in the rotation this year). - Sad to see Blake Lalli backing up 1B and C again this year at Tennessee. I was hoping he would get more AB's (and he still might). He came into the game as a PH and got a double in his only AB. He seems to have better offensive skills than Kyle Reynolds, but Reynolds got the start at 1B. (Clevenger also seems to be a better option there.) - Matt Camp got some time at 3B - his versatility is becoming very valuable (2B, SS, 3B, and the OF). Let's see if he can develop even though he is getting older (25). - Welington Castillo had a passed ball and a catcher's interference (error). Good thing he wasn't rushed to Iowa.

Carrie Muskat says Samardzija was supposed to relieve this game, but will start his next appearance.

Craig - Everything you've said has merit. I appreciate your thoughts and insight. The only thing I hesitate to agree with is: I think their level has a strong influence on their progress. If they progress levels without skipping, you can sort of see when someone is ready for the next level, and occasionally can reverse those decisions if they become overwhelmed. By skipping levels, it has sometimes had the effect of shocking a player and causing them to doubt their abilities and sometimes make major changes to their delivery, arm slot, etc. These can have lasting effects. I am not trying to convince everyone that I am right, but I sure wish the Cubs would at least give every player a small amount of time at every level and try to make it somewhat age-appropriate. Searle in Daytona really bugs me - why do it? What is so wrong with him in Peoria? If he can't handle the cold spring, what makes the organization so sure he can handle the cold Chicago spring? Ramble, ramble, soap box...

Or it could backfire if they all do poorly. I think the odds are against most of them excelling since they've been rushed. I think a few of them should have started at a lower level and moved up after they showed success. I'm still waiting to see which free agents the Cubs sign to minor league contracts. I know they need a RH 3B at Iowa, so that should come soon. Matulia should be deactivated, either Taguchi or Dubois will likely be released, and a pitcher like Reinhard or Estrada will likely either be released or sent to Tennessee.