Results tagged ‘ 1000 Words ’
1000 Words: He’s Back!
(Photo by Stephen Green)
In his first game back since Feb. 27, when he injured his hamstring, shortstop Starlin Castro was 1-for-1 with a single and a walk. He’s now batting .500 in four Spring Training games.
1000 Words: The Cubs undisputed bunt king
(Photo by Stephen Green)
This weekend, Cubs outfielder David DeJesus successfully defended his Spring Training bunt tournament title, beating video staffer Nate Halm of the front office in the final. Halm played baseball at Miami of Ohio and semi-pro ball in Germany before joining the Cubs staff.
1000 Words: Let the countdown begin
(Photo by Stephen Green)
We are officially one month away from Cubs baseball at Wrigley Field. The Cubs home opener is slated for April 8 against the division rival Brewers. What’s your favorite memory from Opening Day at the Friendly Confines?
1000 Words: Cubs catchers meeting
(Photo by Stephen Green)
Staff assistant Mike Borzello (center, crouched) leads a catchers meeting in Mesa, Ariz. Welington Castillo is projected to be the Opening Day starter, with new signee Dioner Navarro acting as his backup. Steve Clevenger, who broke camp with the team in 2012, is also in the hunt for an Opening Day spot.
1000 Words: The more things change…
The more things change in Chicago, the more they stay the same. This is Wrigley Field after a snowstorm hit the area in 1938. As hard as it is to believe, Opening Day is just 26 days away.
1000 Words: Barney takes the field
(Photo by Stephen Green)
In just two short years, Cubs second baseman and converted shortstop Darwin Barney has established himself as one of the premier defensive players in the game. This season, the Gold Glover is expected to anchor what should be a strong—and much improved—defensive infield.
“We feel like we’re much deeper in a lot of aspects of the game that we need to be, and hopefully that pays dividends in the long run,” said Barney in the early days of spring camp in Mesa, Ariz.
1000 Words: For starters …
(Photo by Stephen Green)
On Sunday, the Cubs announced that right-hander Jeff Samardzija will get the Opening Day start on April 1 at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, as Matt Garza is still sidelined with a lat issue. Samardzija, 28, was a full-time starter for the first time in 2012 and finished the season with a compete-game victory over the Pirates in his last outing on Sept. 8. Overall, he went 9-13 with a 3.81 ERA in 28 starts before being shut down to limit his innings.
“From jump street, [Samardzija] had that look in his eye, that determination,” said pitching coach Chris Bosio of the Shark’s transition to the starting rotation. “There was no indication for me that he couldn’t handle it. Conditioning, the way he was talking, video breakdown, things to try, different pitches, being able to adjust into what he wanted to be and what we were looking for—a lot of credit goes to him for working his tail off.”
1000 Words: Rizzo flashes the leather
(Photo by Stephen Green)
First baseman Anthony Rizzo shows off his glove to fellow slugging first baseman Adrian Gonzalez during Wednesday’s game with the Dodgers. Entering his first full major league season, the 23-year-old Rizzo will try to join Gonzalez as one of the top first basemen in the game. Rizzo hit .285/.342/.463 (AVG/OBP/SLG) with 15 home runs and 48 RBI in 87 games in 2012. Gonzalez, a four-time All-Star, hit .299/.344/.463 with 18 home runs and 108 RBI in 159 games.
1000 Words: Behind the scenes with David DeJesus
(Photo by Stephen Green)
David DeJesus works on his approach with hitting coach James Rowson in the HoHoKam clubhouse video room. The 33-year-old outfielder, who hit .263 with a .350 on-base percentage in 2012, will likely play center field this season with the additions of Nate Schierholtz and Scott Hairston.
1000 Words: Is this the future?
(Photo by Stephen Green)
Second baseman Darwin Barney gets to know (from left) Jorge Soler, Javier Baez and Christian Villanueva. Soler, a Cuban defector who turns 21 years old today, has impressed with his all-around game early in camp. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound outfielder has shown patience at the plate, ridiculous bat speed, strong defense and solid baserunning.
Shortstop Baez has been named by many publications as the No. 1 prospect in the system, and third baseman Villanueva was a key piece of the Ryan Dempster deal last season.
