Wrigley Rat

Iowa: - Iowa Cubs activated 3B Donnie Murphy from the 7-day disabled list. - Iowa Cubs activated LF Darnell McDonald from the 7-day disabled list. - Iowa Cubs released RHP Cory Wade. Tennessee: - Chicago Cubs sent RHP Kyuji Fujikawa on a rehab assignment to Tennessee Smokies. - Tennessee Smokies placed CF Jae-Hoon Ha on the 7-day disabled list retroactive to May 5, 2013. - 2B Tim Torres assigned to Tennessee Smokies from Iowa Cubs.

Chicago: - Kameron Loe was designated for assignment by the Chicago Cubs. Iowa: - Matt Garza assigned to Iowa Cubs from Tennessee Smokies. - Chicago Cubs optioned Dave Sappelt to Iowa Cubs. - Chicago Cubs selected the contract of RF Ryan Sweeney from Iowa Cubs. - Chicago Cubs recalled Rafael Dolis from Iowa Cubs. An article on Ian Stewart: http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2013/05/04/where-oh-where-is-ian-stewart/article Another article on Stewart: http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/16712/stewart-takes-surprise-break-from-i-cubs

According to the twitter feed on CCO, Stewart has yet to report to Iowa since the "demotion" and hasn't been seen since Friday. I wonder if the FO has finally cut bait and is going to stick with Valbuena/Ransom. I believe he can opt out of his contract, but would lose whatever is left on the $2 million he is owed. That would seem like a bad idea! My guess is that he is just taking the "allowable days" to make his decision of whether of not to report.

Iowa: - Chicago Cubs sent RHP Kyuji Fujikawa on a rehab assignment to Iowa Cubs. BA (might be old news): Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Barret Loux, RHP Yao-Lin Wang, 2B Donnie Murphy, OF Darnell McDonald Reinstated from DL: RHP Starling Peralta, 3B Josh Vitters, OF Tim Torres

Iowa: - Iowa Cubs placed CF Brett Jackson on the 7-day disabled list retroactive to May 1, 2013. Turf toe. - Chicago Cubs optioned 3B Ian Stewart to Iowa Cubs. Daytona: - Daytona Cubs activated C Taylor Davis from the 7-day disabled list. - Daytona Cubs placed 3B Stephen Bruno on the 7-day disabled list retroactive to May 3, 2013. From Chicago Tribune:

Tennessee: - Chicago Cubs sent RHP Matt Garza on a rehab assignment to Tennessee Smokies.

Iowa: - Iowa Cubs placed LF Darnell McDonald on the 7-day disabled list. Sprained left thumb. - Iowa Cubs activated 3B Josh Vitters from the 7-day disabled list. - RHP Guillermo Moscoso assigned to Iowa Cubs from AZL Cubs. Daytona: - Daytona Cubs activated RHP Starling Peralta from the 7-day disabled list. - Daytona Cubs placed RHP Yao-Lin Wang on the 7-day disabled list.

for a guy who doesn't hustle out ground balls, he has gotten a ton of infield singles this season. Looks like Jorge Soler is finally being called out for his lack of hustle by the Cubs organization: http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/16487/cubs-minor-league-notes-soler-benched

Iowa: - Iowa Cubs placed 3B Donnie Murphy on the 7-day disabled list. Sprained left knee. - Iowa Cubs activated 2B Tim Torres from the 7-day disabled list.

Tennessee: - LF Ty Wright assigned to Tennessee Smokies from Iowa Cubs. Daytona: - Anthony Giansanti assigned to Daytona Cubs from Tennessee Smokies. - Daytona Cubs placed RHP Ryan Searle on the 7-day disabled list.

Tennessee: - Tennessee Smokies placed 1B Justin Bour on the 7-day disabled list. - Tennessee Smokies activated SS Elliot Soto from the 7-day disabled list.

Iowa: - Iowa Cubs activated 2B Brent Lillibridge. - Iowa Cubs placed 2B Tim Torres on the 7-day disabled list. Daytona: - Daytona Cubs activated SS Timothy Saunders from the 7-day disabled list. - David Cales assigned to Daytona Cubs from Cubs Extended Spring Training. - Daytona Cubs placed C Taylor Davis on the 7-day disabled list. Kane County: - Kane County Cougars placed RHP Jose Arias on the 7-day disabled list. inflammation in right elbow - LHP Matt Iannazzo assigned to Kane County Cougars from Cubs Extended Spring Training. EST: - David Bote assigned to Cubs Extended Spring Training from Daytona Cubs. BA: Signed: RHP Kevin Gregg, C Jose Morales Released: RHP Jensen Lewis Recalled: RHP Rafael Dolis Added to 40-man roster: RHP Kevin Gregg Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Rafael Dolis Removed from 40-man: LHP Hisanori Takahashi (outrighted to Triple-A) Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Jaye Chapman, RHP Starling Peralta, RHP Dae-Eun Rhee, SS Tim Saunders Reinstated from DL: RHP Esmailin Caridad, RHP Casey Coleman, RHP Matt Loosen, LHP Hunter Cervenka, 2B Ronald Torreyes, OF Anthony Giansanti

Chicago: - Chicago Cubs designated 2B Alberto Gonzalez for assignment. - Chicago Cubs claimed Julio Borbon off waivers from Texas Rangers. Iowa: - Iowa Cubs activated RHP Casey Coleman from the 7-day disabled list. - Iowa Cubs placed RHP Jaye Chapman on the 7-day disabled list retroactive to April 16, 2013. - Iowa Cubs released RHP Jensen Lewis. - Chicago Cubs sent Brent Lillibridge outright to Iowa Cubs.

any word on what pitcher got axed from AAA? Jensen Lewis

Chicago: - Chicago Cubs activated RHP Kameron Loe. - Chicago Cubs activated 2B Darwin Barney from the 15-day disabled list. - Chicago Cubs designated 2B Brent Lillibridge for assignment. - Chicago Cubs designated LHP Hisanori Takahashi for assignment. - Chicago Cubs claimed Cody Ransom off waivers from San Diego Padres. - Chicago Cubs selected the contract of Kevin Gregg from Iowa Cubs. Tennessee: - Tennessee Smokies placed RHP Dae-Eun Rhee on the 7-day disabled list retroactive to April 15, 2013. - Matt Loosen assigned to Tennessee Smokies from Cubs Extended Spring Training. Daytona: - Daytona Cubs activated RF Jorge Soler.

I believe that he was just at EST to start the year, then placed on the DL officially a week or so ago, then activated when he was assigned to Tennessee. BA is always a little behind with DL moves.

Iowa: - Chicago Cubs optioned Rafael Dolis to Iowa Cubs. Daytona: - Daytona Cubs placed RHP Starling Peralta on the 7-day disabled list. BA: Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Casey Coleman, RHP Carlos Gutierrez, LHP Hunter Cervenka, 2B Ronald Torreyes, 3B Josh Vitters, SS Junior Lake, SS Elliot Soto, OF Anthony Giansanti

Chicago: - Chicago Cubs recalled Rafael Dolis from Iowa Cubs. Iowa: - Tim Torres assigned to Iowa Cubs from Tennessee Smokies. - Iowa Cubs activated RHP Esmailin Caridad from the 7-day disabled list. - Iowa Cubs placed 3B Josh Vitters on the 7-day disabled list retroactive to April 9, 2013. - Iowa Cubs placed RHP Casey Coleman on the 7-day disabled list retroactive to April 10, 2013. - Chicago Cubs sent 2B Darwin Barney on a rehab assignment to Iowa Cubs. - Chicago Cubs sent 3B Ian Stewart on a rehab assignment to Iowa Cubs. Tennessee: - Tennessee Smokies activated IF Anthony Giansanti from the 7-day disabled list. - Tennessee Smokies placed SS Elliot Soto on the 7-day disabled list retroactive to April 10, 2013. - 2B Ronald Torreyes assigned to Tennessee Smokies from Cubs Extended Spring Training. Daytona: - RF Jorge Soler roster status changed by Daytona Cubs. - David Bote assigned to Daytona Cubs from Cubs Extended Spring Training. - Daytona Cubs placed SS Timothy Saunders on the 7-day disabled list retroactive to April 11, 2013.

BA: Signed: 2B Donnie Murphy (released by Brewers, March 27), OF Ryan Sweeney (released by Red Sox, March 30) Released: RHP Jay Jackson, RHP Hayden Simpson, RHP Brett Wallach, RHP Joe Zeller, LHP Casey Harman, LHP Dontrelle Willis, C Mike Brenly, OF Evan Crawford Added to 40-man roster: LHP Hisanori Takahashi, SS Alberto Gonzalez, OF Brent Lillibridge Optioned to Triple-A: OF Brett Jackson Option transferred: RHP Alberto Cabrera, RHP Trey McNutt (both Triple-A to Double-A) Removed from 40-man: RHP Guillermo Moscoso (outrighted to Rookie-level Arizona League) Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Esmailin Caridad, RHP Marcelo Carreno, RHP Dayan Diaz, RHP Michael Jensen, RHP Chang-Yong Lim, RHP Matt Loosen, RHP Jose Rosario, RHP Casey Weathers, LHP Kyler Burke, LHP Jeff Lorick, LHP Andrew McKirahan, C Yaniel Cabezas, C Carlos Escobar, 1B Greg Rohan, 3B Brad Zapenas, OF Albert Almora Jay Jackson looked like a ninth-round find out of the ’08 draft when he reached Triple-A the following year, but after three full seasons at Iowa produced a 5.27 ERA and 1.47 WHIP, he’ll try to latch on with a new organization. Jackson’s strikeout rate perked up—8.7 SO/9—after moving to the bullpen last season, so the second act of his career may include waiting by the bullpen phone. Poor health sabotaged Hayden Simpson’s career. The 16th pick in the ’10 draft suffered from mononucleosis and an elbow tear before he even got going, but Cubs correspondent Phil Rogers lays the blame for Simpson’s failure at the feet of a previous front-office regime that didn’t want to spend in the draft. Nonetheless, Simpson (6.42 ERA in 161 innings) joins an ignominious list of pitchers selected by Chicago with its top pick: ’02 first-rounder Bobby Brownlie, ’04 second-rounder Grant Johnson and ’05 first-rounder Mark Pawelek. Cubs No. 2 prospect and the sixth pick in last year’s draft Albert Almora begins on the disabled list after breaking the hamate bone in his left hand.

Kane County lost 13-10. 19 hits by the Cougars (4 2Bs, 2 3Bs, 1 HR). 7 batters with 2 or more hits! - C Wilson Contreras with 4 SB's against and an error, but got 3 hits (1 2B) and a walk. - RF/CF Oliver Zapata with three hits (1 3B, 1 HR) and 5 RBIs batting eighth. - DH Rock Shoulders with four hits and 2 RBIs. - SS Marco Hernandez and CF Trey Martin go a combined 0-for-11 with 3 Ks.

Iowa: - Iowa Cubs placed RHP Esmailin Caridad on the 7-day disabled list. - 3B Donnie Murphy assigned to Iowa Cubs. - Iowa Cubs released RHP Jay Jackson. Tennessee: - RHP Trey McNutt assigned to Tennessee Smokies from Cubs Extended Spring Training. - Tennessee Smokies placed IF Anthony Giansanti on the 7-day disabled list. Kane County: - David Bote assigned to Cubs Extended Spring Training from Kane County Cougars. - Kane County Cougars placed C Yaniel Cabezas on the 7-day disabled list. hamstring - Sergio Burruel loaned to Tabasco of the Mexican League Boise: - Reggie Golden assigned to Boise Hawks from Kane County Cougars.

Here is the official announcement from BA: Released: RHP Jason Berken, RHP Ty’Relle Harris, RHP Scott Weismann, LHP Matt Spencer, 1B Paul Hoilman, 3B Dustin Harrington, OF Elieser Bonne, OF Nelson Perez Optioned to Triple-A: RHP Rafael Dolis, LHP Chris Rusin

Arizona Phil said this on 3/10: "Urban threw the ball very well, and this was actually the first time I've ever seen him throw to hitters. He's been on the DL for his entire Cub career prior to this season with a back injury (he was drafted out of an Iowa JC in 2011 and got an "overslot" bonus to sign), and has yet to pitch in a game of any kind." I don't know if anyone saw this, but Arizona Phil said: "And FWIW, Dan Vogelbach is assigned to the Kane County squad, and has been taking grounders at 3rd base."

Arizona Phil: The Cubs signed (P) William Hill last week. William Hill (2012 NDFA - Chicago State). Hill is the grandson of Cub great Billy Williams. Back in February, AZ Phil: Cubs have signed 29-year old switch-hitting "supersub" OF-IF Tim Torres to minor league contract (post-2012 Rule 55 6YFA). No NRI, but he'll probably get some occasional ad hoc opportunities in MLB Cactus League games. Torres is a 257/355/389 hitter with 103 SB (27 CS) in 710 minor league games over seven seasons. Played college ball at Oral Roberts. Has AAA experience but played in AA in 2012. Could make the AAA Iowa roster, but more-likely projects as the #1 OF-IF utility guy at AA Tennessee in 2013.

Boise Hawks Radio: I believe Izaac Garsez has been released or has retired (haven't seen anything on BA...he did not go to Spring Training and was seen at his alma-mater's baseball games over the weekend. I believe he is finishing up his schooling. Arizona Phil: Thanks for the info regarding Garsez. That would explain why he's not in Minor League Camp.