Results tagged ‘ lineups ’
Cubs send reliever Carpenter to Red Sox
After months of back-and-forth, the Theo Epstein compensation issue has finally been settled with the Boston Red Sox. The Chicago Cubs today assigned right-handed pitcher Chris Carpenter and a player to be named to the Red Sox for a player to be named.
“I am relieved that this process is over and particularly pleased that the teams were able to reach agreement on their own without intervention from MLB,” Epstein said. “I truly hope and believe that this resolution will benefit both clubs, as well as Chris, who is an extremely talented reliever joining a great organization at a time when there’s some opportunity in the major league bullpen.”
Last season, Carpenter combined to make 42 relief appearances between Double-A Tennessee, Triple-A Iowa and the Cubs, his first major league action. The 26-year-old right-hander spent most of his time with Iowa, going 2-3 with one save and a 6.53 ERA (22 ER/30.1 IP) in 22 relief outings. Carpenter posted no record and a 2.79 ERA (3 ER/9.2 IP) in 10 relief outings in the majors.
The Red Sox and Cubs have been locked in a disagreement over the Epstein compensation package for months, ever since he left the Red Sox shortly after the end of the 2011 season to become the Cubs president of baseball operations. The Red Sox initially asked for some of the Cubs’ top major and minor league talent, including pitcher Matt Garza and outfielder Brett Jackson.
“More than anything, I’m excited that we can all move forward and focus exclusively on getting ready for the season,” Epstein said. “I wish Chris and the Red Sox nothing but the best in 2012 and beyond.”
Cubs invite 21 non-roster players to major league camp
With only a few weeks to go until pitchers and catchers report to Mesa, Ariz., on Feb. 18, the Cubs have invited 21 non-roster players to major league Spring Training camp. The invitees include veterans who have had success in the major leagues, such as Manny Corpas and Alfredo Amezaga, and top prospects, such as Brett Jackson and Trey McNutt. The Cubs’ first full-squad workout is scheduled for Fri., Feb. 24.
The Cubs 2012 non-roster invitees:
Pitchers – right-handers Marco Carrillo, Manuel Corpas, Jay Jackson, Rodrigo Lopez, Trey McNutt, Blake Parker and Dae-Eun Rhee, and left-handers Trever Miller and Chris Rusin
Catchers – Michael Brenly, Jason Jaramillo and Blake Lalli
Infielders – Alfredo Amezaga, Edgar Gonzalez, Jonathan Mota, Bobby Scales and Matt Tolbert
Outfielders – Jim Adduci, Jae-Hoon Ha, Brett Jackson and Joe Mather
Back home
Nice to have some baseball back at Wrigley Field! The Cubs start a seven-game homestand today, including the July 30 makeup date against the Astros.
Fukudome, CF
Theriot, SS
Lee, 1B
Ramirez, 3B
Bradley, RF
Soriano, LF
Fontenot, 2B
Hill, C
Wells, RHP
Right-hander Aaron Harang (5-10, 4.17 ERA) pitches for the Reds.
Chicago sights
All-star left-hander Ted Lilly attended last night’s PAWS Chicago 2009 Beach Party on North Ave. All proceeds benefitted PAWS Chicago’s humane efforts.
Putting on the big show
You can still get great seats from just $5 to this year’s Road to Wrigley game, pitting the Triple-A Iowa Cubs against the Las Vegas 51s on Sunday, Aug. 9 at 1:20 p.m. There will be loads of mascots, food and drink specials, inexpensive parking and, of course, kids run the bases after the game.
Fourth of July lineup
Happy Independence Day!
Today also marks the 70th anniversary of Lou Gehrig’s “Luckiest Man” speech, and all MLB teams wil be honoring Gehrig’s legacy by wearing “4 ALS” patches and running clips of the speech throughout their broadcasts.
Today’s lineup includes some changes that Lou Piniella alluded to after yesterday’s game — namely the dropping of Alfonso Soriano to sixth in the order.
Fukudome, CF
Theriot, SS
Lee, 1B
Bradley, RF
Fox, 3B
Soriano, LF
Soto, C
Fontenot, 2B
Harden, RHP
Braden Looper (6-4, 4.90 ERA) pitches for the Brewers.
Closing out the Twinkies
Soriano, LF
Fukudome, CF
Bradley, RF
Lee, 1B
Soto, C
Fontenot, 3B
Theriot, SS
Miles, 2B
Lilly, LHP
Right-hander Scott Baker (4-6, 5.59 ERA) takes the hill today for the Twins.
Coaching shakeup
The Cubs today relieved hitting coach Gerald Perry of his duties, after two and a half seasons with the club. He’s replaced by Von Joshua, who was hitting coach for Triple-A Iowa the last four seasons. Joshua was last a big-league hitting coach with the 1998-2001 Chicago White Sox.
Did you know?
Cubs assistant general manager Randy Bush played 12 seasons for the Minnesota Twins and faced right-handed pitchers in 96 percent of his plate appearances (3361-of 3480). As you can guess, he was a left-handed hitter.
His experiences as a player and, now, decision-maker are the subject of my July “Leading Off” column in Vine Line. Get the insider perspective by subscribing today.
– Sean Ahmed
Good to be home
We have an exciting slate of interleague games for this homestand, as we invite the Twins, White Sox and Indians into the “Friendly Confines.” We’ll have tons of game-day photos all week and some sneak peeks at our next publications.
Soriano, LF
Fontenot, 3B
Bradley, RF
Lee, 1B
Soto, C
Fukudome, CF
Theriot, SS
Miles, 2B
Wells, RHP
Right-hander Kevin Slowey (8-2, 4.21 ERA) takes the mound for the Twins.
Bonus “Matchups”
Cubs special assistant Dave Littlefield on today’s Twins starter:
“Kevin Slowey gives up hits but, simply put, keeps guys off base. He’s not just a finesse guy. He has a solid fastball with some sink and a cutter that gets the ball going in different directions to the hitter.”
You can get a full-page breakdown of the Twins by purchasing our Scorecard EXTRA, still just $2 at Wrigley Field.
Dodgers, Game 2
Soriano, LF
Scales, 3B
Fukudome, CF
Lee, 1B
Hoffpauir, RF
Fontenot, 2B
Hill, C
Blanco, SS
Lilly, LHP
Right-hander Chad Billingsley (6-2, 2.82 ERA) will take the mound for the Dodgers.
Here’s a preview of Billingsley, from the “Matchups” section in our Scorecard EXTRA (still just $2 at Wrigley Field!):
This is Cubtown
Soriano, LF
Theriot, SS
Bradley, RF
Lee, 1B
Johnson, CF
Soto, C
Fontenot, 3B
Blanco, 2B
Wells, RHP
Left-hander Randy Wolf (2-1, 3.02 ERA) pitches for the Dodgers.
Hello, goodbye … hello
The Cubs recalled Bobby Scales today, as Ryan Freel hit the disabled list with a left hamstring strain. That comes one day after he was optioned to Iowa …
(Typically, players cannot be recalled for 10 days after being sent down, but that does not apply in cases of injury.)
Well enough
Notes from our media relations department:
Randy Wells Saturday night in San Diego tossed 3.0 scoreless frames before allowing the first runs of his major-league career in the fourth inning … the runs allowed capped a couple of impressive streaks for Wells, as he went 19.1 innings to start his major-league career and 18.1 innings to start his Cubs career without allowing a run.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Wells is the only pitcher on record to toss 18.1 innings to start his Cubs career … the previous longest run on record to start a Cubs career was Vern Olsen with 15.1 scoreless frames covering the 1939-40 seasons.
