|
Cubs Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)
Despite an early burst of good performance and despite the calls of some teammates to bring him north at the end of spring training, phenom shortstop Starlin Castro appears destined to start the season at Class AAA Iowa.
Through March 12, Castro was off to a .471 start (8-for-17 with a homer), and he was playing solid defense.
The Cubs reiterated their stance that the best course of action is to have Castro begin the season at Class AAA so he can play every day. As of now, Ryan Theriot is still the starter at shortstop for the Cubs. With backup Andres Blanco on the shelf due to a sprained knee, questions arose as to whether Castro could be kept as a backup.
The team has been reluctant to go that route because of the playing-time issue.
Cubs edge White Sox 8-7 (AP)
Ryan Dempster and the Chicago Cubs handled a stiff breeze to slip past their rivals from the Windy City. Dempster, who is expected to grab a spot as one of the Cubs' top three starting pitchers, allowed one hit in three innings. He struck out two, walked none and allowed no earned runs and the Cubs earned an 8-7 win over the White Sox on Saturday.
Cubs not worried after Ramirez leaves game (AP)
Cubs manager Lou Piniella says he's far more concerned about what his pitching staff will look like in three weeks than about Chicago third baseman Aramis Ramirez having to leave a spring game with right triceps soreness. "There's nothing wrong," Piniella said of Ramirez, who missed nearly two months last season with a separated left shoulder.
Derrek Lee still out with bruised foot (AP)
The Chicago Cubs' Derrek Lee will miss a few more spring training games with a left foot injury that the first baseman says isn't serious. Manager Lou Piniella on Saturday called the injury "just a bone bruise." Lee was injured Wednesday when he fouled a ball off the top of his foot.
Cubs' Gorzelanny has strong outing (AP)
Tom Gorzelanny proved he could pitch out of a jam, even though it was one of his own creation. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound left-hander held the Chicago White Sox to no hits over the first three innings of the Cubs' 6-5 victory Friday night. Gorzelanny, who joined the team last season, left after three innings with the Cubs leading 3-1.
Cubs have big plans under Ricketts (AP)
The Chicago Cubs will listen to manager Lou Piniella if he wants to return when his contract runs out after this season. "If he feels well and wants to keep going, we'll have an interesting conversation," team president Crane Kenney said this week at spring training. "He has done a great job.
Edmonds impressive in Brewers' win over Cubs (AP)
Jim Edmonds hit a two-run homer to strengthen his case for making Milwaukee's opening-day roster and the Brewers beat a Chicago Cubs split-squad 12-3 on Friday. Edmonds, who finished with two hits and scored twice, agreed to a minor league deal with the Brewers on Jan. 28. The 39-year-old outfielder with eight Gold Gloves is a career .284 hitter with 382 homers and 1,176 RBIs in 16 seasons, but...
Piniella and Cubs parting ways? (Yahoo! Sports)
Chicago Cubs manager Lou Piniella's contract is up at the end of this year and he apparently hasn't...
Yankees favorite to sign Cuban shortstop (Yahoo! Sports)
Cuban shortstop Adeiny Hechevarria defected from his home country back in July and has apparently gotten a ton...
Silva throws 3 scoreless innings in Cubs win (AP)
Carlos Silva looks forward to coming to the ballpark these days. Silva threw three scoreless innings after making an adjustment during a bullpen session, helping the Chicago Cubs beat the San Diego Padres 8-7 on Thursday. Silva, acquired from Seattle for Milton Bradley and cash in December, allowed four hits, walked one and struck out none.
Sandoval hits grand slam as Giants beat Cubs 5-1 (AP)
Pablo Sandoval now has bragging rights over Carlos Zambrano, the pitcher he grew up idolizing back home in Puerto Cabello, Venezuela. Still, the Giants third baseman isn't ready to boast just yet. "I'm not going to tell him anything," Sandoval said Wednesday after his grand slam off Zambrano led San Francisco to a 5-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs.
Cubs GM Hendry lashes out at OF Milton Bradley (AP)
Cubs general manager Jim Hendry says Milton Bradley should stop blaming the team, manager and fans for his failure to produce during his tumultuous season in Chicago. "I think it's time maybe Milton looked himself in the mirror," an agitated Hendry said Wednesday in response to Bradley's latest charges that he was mistreated by the Cubs.
Inglett's HR in 9th lifts Brewers over Cubs 5-3 (AP)
It took Randy Wells seven years to stick with the Chicago Cubs. Only seven years? Joe Inglett wishes he had been so lucky. Inglett, an 11th-year pro trying to win the final spot on Milwaukee's 25-man roster, hit a two-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning Tuesday, lifting the Brewers to a 5-3 victory over the Cubs.
Smoltz and Pedro signing in-season with N.L. clubs (Yahoo! Sports)
Don't think probable Hall of Fame pitchers John Smoltz and Pedro Martinez are finished with their careers...
Cubs' Dempster pitches 2 perfect innings (AP)
Ryan Dempster tossed two perfect innings in his spring debut and the Chicago Cubs beat the Oakland Athletics 10-3 on Monday. Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez each drove in a run for the Cubs. Ryan Theriot had two hits, walked once and scored twice. Brett Anderson pitched 1 2-3 scoreless innings and Kurt Suzuki homered for the A's.
ModernTube: New Cubs ad leaves one jonesing for Opening Day (Yahoo! Sports)
I know I'm not the only one who experiences this, but every March there are a couple of times where I...
Guzman considering another surgery (AP)
Chicago Cubs reliever Angel Guzman is considering whether to have shoulder surgery even though he has been told the procedure won't necessarily save his career. "It's pretty sad, but what can I do? I'm still breathing," the right-hander said Sunday, one day after learning he had a torn ligament that could sideline him for the season.
Dodgers-Cubs spring game rained out (AP)
The Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs game Sunday has been rained out. The game at HoHoKam Park will not be made up. The Cubs were to field a split-squad team. The other half of their team was to play the Chicago White Sox, but that game, at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, also was canceled. It was to be a full-squad game for the Dodgers.
Cubs-White Sox spring game washed out (PA SportsTicker)
The Chicago White Sox's spring training game against the Chicago Cubs has been rained out.
Fresh start for Soriano (Yahoo! Sports)
Alfonso Soriano's knee seems healed. Now he hopes rabid Cubs fans still have his back.
Quentin homers twice as White Sox beat Cubs (AP)
Carlos Quentin reminded everybody back in Chicago just how dangerous he can be when he's pain-free. Quentin homered on his first two at-bats and drove in five runs Saturday, leading a White Sox split squad to a 15-3 victory over the Cubs in the first of five spring exhibitions between the intracity rivals.
Marcum strong in 1st Jays outing since '08 (CBC.ca)
Shaun Marcum began his comeback to a Big League mound on Saturday, throwing two strong innings against the New York Yankees in Florida.
Shoulder injury sidelines Cubs reliever Guzman (AP)
Angel Guzman, who overcame years of injury problems to finally have the kind of season the Chicago Cubs had envisioned, is out indefinitely with a torn ligament in his pitching shoulder. GM Jim Hendry said Saturday there was no timetable for Guzman's return. "You just feel terrible for the kid," he said.
Upton slams but D-Backs lose to Cubs (AP)
Thanks to freshly minted Arizona Diamondbacks multimillionaire Justin Upton and a slew of Chicago Cubs prospects, it was an afternoon for youth at HoHoKam Park. Upton's sixth-inning grand slam, his first hit since signing a $51.25 million, six-year contract, wasn't enough for the Arizona Diamondbacks in an 8-7 loss to Chicago on Friday.
|
