Results tagged ‘ Javier Baez ’
March 11, 2013 – Cubs Lineup vs D-Backs
The Cubs take on the Diamondbacks today, Jeff Samardzija will get the start and we will hopefully see the longest start of the Spring. MLB.com has a free webcast of today’s game with Len Kasper handling the broadcast (audio only) beginning at 3:10 PM CST. Here is how the Cubs will get things started, the ever exciting Javy Baez gets the start at shortstop today.
DeJesus CF
Barney 2B
Schierholtz RF
Soriano LF
Valbuena 3B
Castillo C
Baez SS
Clevenger 1B
Samardzija P
Thanks for reading,
- George
Cubs Edge A’s Behind 12 Hit Attack
The Cubs got back to basics this afternoon and also back into the win column, that’s not a coincidence. After yesterdays game, which was one to forget, the Cubs pitching shut the A’s down all day while the offense pounded out twelve hits, and the defense was solid making no errors, a complete ballgame. Scott Feldman got the start for the Cubs, his first as a North Sider, and 
struggled a bit with his command but was able to pitch around some self-imposed trouble. Feldman worked two innings giving up one run on two hits while walking two and striking out two. Travis Wood followed Feldman out of the pen, and ended up with the victory as he also went two innings, he gave up one run on two hits while walking none and striking out two. Kyuji Fujikawa had his second straight strong outing as he worked a scoreless inning giving up one hit and striking out one, he now has three strikeouts in two innings of work this Spring. Jensen Lewis made things interesting in the ninth inning as he allowed one run on three hits, but got a couple of clutch strikeouts to earn the save.
The Cubs sprayed the ball all over the field offensively today, registering twelve hits with zero leaving the ballpark. Junior Lake had an impressive day at the plate going 2-for-3 with a double, and an RBI, he is now hitting .300 on the Spring (3-for-10). Darnell McDonald had a strong day at the plate as well going 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI, and a run scored. Jorge Soler flashed some of his tools in the game today, he finished 1-for-3 at the plate with two strikeouts, but gunned down Josh Reddick at 3rd base from right field. Javier Baez got the start at shortstop today while Starlin Castro nurses a tight hamstring, and went 1-for-3 with a run scored, he didn’t endanger any infielders’ lives today, which is good I guess. I know it’s early, and it’s only Spring, but it’s nice to see a Cubs team competitive from the start.
Thanks for reading,
- George
Cubs Pitching, Castro, Beat Up Against Dodgers
Now THAT is an early Spring Training game if I’ve ever seen one, and I didn’t even see this one. It was a long, messy game that ended with the Cubs on the losing end of an 11-7 final, and holding their breath about a potential injury to their franchise shortstop, more on that later. It was a tale of two games for both teams really as seventeen of the eighteen runs scored in the game crossed the plate in the first five innings. 
Cubs pitching finally had a rough day, and it started with Brooks Raley. Raley was really knocked around, he was able to go one plus inning giving up four runs on five hits while walking one and striking out one. Thanks to an early surge by the Cubs offense Raley wasn’t on the hook for the loss, that honor went to Trey McNutt. McNutt didn’t pitch terribly in his outing, but he was hung with the loss as he couldn’t bail out Raley after he left and allowed an earned run of his own in an inning of work on two hits. Jaye Chapman, and Alberto Cabrera were also beat up pretty bad today as they combined to give up five runs, four earned, on six hits over three innings. Chapman was particularly bad as he only lasted a third of an inning giving up three runs, two earned, on two hits while walking two. The foursome of Michael Bowden, Hisanori Takahashi, Shawn Camp, and James Russell stopped the bleeding but it was too little too late.
As I mentioned the Cubs bats were alive and well early this afternoon as they held a 4-1 lead and pushed across seven runs in the first four innings. Both Nate Schierholtz and Darwin Barney had two hits, and they were productive as Schierholtz knocked in one with Barney driving in two. Javier Baez drew some oohs and aahs with a screaming line drive base hit that almost decapitated the Dodgers shortstop, the hit had twitter abuzz, and drew comparisons to Gary Sheffield after the game from Dale Sveum. Back to the Cubs holding their breath, Starlin Castro was 1-for-3 on the day, but had to leave the game after pulling up lame crossing first base after grounding out. Castro said after the game that he was worried when he first felt it, but he is confident it’s more tightness then a pull, he’s feelings were echoed by Sveum as well after the game, fingers crossed.
Thanks for reading,
- George
Edwin Jackson Strong in Cubs Debut
If the Cubs can bottle this Spring pitching and take in North when they break camp they will be more than just an improved team in 2013. The pitching this afternoon 
was fantastic, and it all started with Edwin Jackson making not only his Spring debut, but his Cubs debut. Jackson was stellar, tossing two scoreless innings while pounding the strike zone. He surrendered two hits, didn’t walk anyone and didn’t strike out anyone, you have a defense behind you, use it! Drew Carpenter followed Jackson and was the eventual winning pitcher for the Cubs as he also went two innings giving up one run on two hits while walking one and striking out one. Chris Rusin, Zach Putnam, and Nick Struck combined to closed out the final five innings for the victory. Both Rusin and Struck went two innings, Struck picked up the save giving up one run on two hits, while striking out one. The Cubs didn’t knock out too many hits on the day (6) but they made them count as they were able to push across four runs. Christian Villanueva got the Cubs on the board in the third inning with a solo home run off of Jorge De La Rosa. Dave Sappelt had a strong day at the plate going 2-for-2 with a home run of his own, an RBI, and he scored two runs. Starlin Castro doubled, Javier Baez and Logan Watkins rounded out the hits for the Cubs, and Baez recorded his first stolen base as well.
Thanks for reading,
- George
Let There Be Baseball! Pitchers and Catchers Report; Day One Notes: Campana DFA’d
It seems to come earlier and earlier every year, but today Cubs’ pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report, you know what that means…BASEBALL!! Well, soon enough there will be baseball, but today marks the beginning of the 2013 baseball season, and players actually on the field to report on. Over the next few days we will hear about minor muscle strains, a hamstring issue here and there, and maybe a groin problem, if we’re lucky. But it’s baseball news, and that is glorious. What else is glorious is daily blog posts, which will begin again, hooray for all of us. Here are a few notes from the first day of the 2013 baseball season.
Carrie Muskat gives us updated uniform numbers, of course we need this.
40-man roster
Pitchers
32 – Scott Baker
46 – Scott Feldman
71 – Trey McNutt
56 – Hector Rondon
57 – Carlos Villanueva
41 – Arodys Vizcaino
67 – Robert Whitenack
Catchers
4 – Dioner Navarro
Infielders
61 – Christian Villanueva
74 – Logan Watkins
Outfielders
19 – Nate Schierholtz
68 – Jorge Soler
**
Non-Roster Invitees
Pitchers
76 – Drew Carpenter
77 – Dayan Diaz
60 – Jensen Lewis
85 – Barret Loux
50 – Blake Parker
63 – Zach Putnam
81 – Nick Struck
47 – Hisanori Takahashi
59 – Cory Wade
Catchers
79 – J.C. Boscan
78 – Michael Brenly
82 – Rafael Lopez
Infielders
70 – Javier Baez
6 – Alberto Gonzalez
20 – Brent Lillibridge
65 – Edwin Maysonet
75 – Brad Nelson
Outfielders
66 – Brian Bogusevic
80 – Johermyn Chavez
16 – Darnell McDonald
Sorry, but I can’t help but get excited to see Javier Baez, and Jorge Soler’s name on this list.
The other “big” news (you’ll get it in a second), is Tony Campana has been DFA’s by the Cubs today to make room for Scott Hairston who was signed by the Cubs in the off-season. The Cubs now have 10 days to trade, release, or waive Campana. 
I have no problem with this, as Campana has not been able to fully utilize his number one asset, his speed. He has game changing speed, that is a real thing, and I think he has a place on the 25 man roster here or somewhere else, but improvement in his all around game needs to be there before that can happen, the whole “can’t steal first base” thing applies here. I hope that all the Campana lovers can get over this quickly as I think this makes the most sense for the Cubs at this point, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Cubs work out a deal with a team, and no Campana is not really going to fetch anything that is going to knock your socks off, it’s just a numbers game right now.
Make sure to visit the blog daily as our Spring Training coverage is unmatched, from spring stories to box scores and recaps for every game. Hope you are as excited as I am.
Thanks for reading,
- George
Mesa Solar Sox Update/Stats
Not much has gone right for the Mesa Solar Sox as they currently sit at 6-16 which is good for dead last in the AFL East. Wanted to bring you up to speed on how the Cubs prospects are doing, it’s been a rough go of it.
Matt Szczur
I’m actually happy with what Szczur has done with the Solar Sox so far. He’s not driving the ball much, but he is getting on base at a .353 clip, and is stealing bases, something a good lead off hitter does.
Javier Baez
What a weird season for Baez, his average was way down and so was his OBP. His power numbers were through the roof however, as he blasted four home runs and drove in 16 during his injury shortened AFL season. Not thrilled with the OBP, but it’s hard not to be impressed with his production.
Rubi Silva
It’s been a tough AFL season for Silva, but I expected that as he is not playing every day and is finding it hard to find a groove. Silva is not making enough contact, but that’s why these players are here, to learn and develop.
Logan Watkins
Watkins was a late addition to the AFL roster, he was summoned after Javier Baez was injured. Watkins is showing outstanding plate discipline early, something he has done all year, and what a year it was for the Cubs minor league player of the year. It’s nice to see the patience, I know the organization is loving that too.
Dae-Eun Rhee
Really like the innings Rhee has been able to throw down in Arizona, the results, not so much. Command has been spotty for Rhee, and it shows with the 6 walks and 22 hits in just under 17 innings.
Nick Struck
Struck has been able to wiggle off the hook many times already during the AFL season. Command has gotten him in trouble as he as walked 8 guys in just 12 innings. However, his ERA hasn’t really taken a hit as it sits at a respectable 3.75 for the season.
Tony Zych
Zych has been really good down in Arizona, he has given up more hits than innings pitched but he doesn’t walk guys. Zych has only walked one guy in 10 innings of work, and sports a sparkling 2.70 ERA on the season.
Kevin Rhoderick
Rhoderick has been very good for the Solar Sox, his 4.82 ERA might suggest otherwise, but he’s been dominant at times. In just over nine innings of work Rhoderick has stuck out 14 and only walked two, he’s only given up seven hits. The long ball has hurt him as he has given up two home runs which have accounted for the majority of the runs he has given up.
Thanks for reading,
- George
October 22, 2012 AFL Recap
Mesa came storming back to tie the game in the ninth with a two-out single off the bat of Matt Szczur. Unfortunately Salt Lake won the game in the bottom of the 10th. Szczur ended the game 2-for-5 with an RBI and two stolen bases. Rubi Silva was back in the lineup, hitting second and playing RF. Silva did not have a hit, but stole his third base of the season. Javier Baez also got another start and went 1-for-5 with a run scored. Both Kevin Rhoderick and Nick Struck pitched scoreless innings, with Rhoderick striking out two.
Thanks for Reading,
-Mark
October 20, 2012 AFL Recap
Mesa gave up 14 runs in the first two innings and would up losing to Surprise 16-10. The Cub’s prospects did ok for themselves as Javier Baez connected on his third home run of the AFL season. He ended the night 1-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Matt Szczur led off and went 1-for-4 with a run scored and two RBIs. Tony Zych was the only Cubs pitcher to have an appearance allowing one run on two hits in one inning of work.
Thanks for Reading,
-Mark
October 19, 2012 AFL Recap; Solar Sox Get Smacked Around
It usually goes like this when you are struggling as a team, once the hitting picks up the pitching disappears, and that’s exactly what happened in this one. It was also a terrible day for Cubs prospects not named Kevin Rhoderick, Rhoderick tossed a scoreless inning of relief in this one. Nick Struck wasn’t so lucky as he battled command issues all day, he gave up three runs on two hits it just .2 innings while walking three. It didn’t get much better at the plate, Javier Baez had another 0-for-4 performance which drops his average to .212 in the AFL this season. Matt Szczur returned to the lineup and finished the day 0-for-5, Rubi Silva was productive in a back up role today going 1-for-2 with a triple and an RBI. The Solar Sox can’t buy a win right now, with the loss they drop to 3-7 on the year.
Thanks for reading,
- George
October 18, 2012 AFL Recap; Solar Sox Continue to Struggle
It was a quiet day for the Cubs prospects in this one, not just based on production but playing time as only Baez and Silva made appearances. The Solar Sox fell behind early, by the 5th inning it was 8-0 and all but over, luckily no Cubs pitchers worked in this one. Javier Baez was back in the lineup at SS today and had a very rough afternoon. Baez was 0-for-4 at the plate, he did score a run, but he also made two errors which brings his 2012 AFL total to four. Rubi Silva got the start in RF in this one and went hitless in three at bats, all in all not a good day as the Solar Sox continue their losing ways and the Cubs prospects in action struggled, mightily.
Thanks for reading,
- George
