Bleed Cubbie Blue - Cubs vs. Rangers Wednesday Game ThreadsA Chicago Cubs Fan Community Since February 9, 2005https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47557/cubbieblue.png2013-03-06T18:36:48-06:00http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/rss/stream/38331852013-03-06T18:36:48-06:002013-03-06T18:36:48-06:00Cubs Lose Again; Bowden, Rondon, Clevenger Impress
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<figcaption>Al Yellon</figcaption>
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<p>The Cubs lost to the Rangers, but might have found a couple of good big-league relief pitchers.</p> <p><b>SURPRISE, Arizona</b> -- You know how I have criticized virtually every Rule 5 pick the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> have made over the last several seasons, no matter who the GM was who made it?</p>
<p>Maybe, just maybe, the Cubs finally have a keeper.</p>
<p><span>Hector Rondon</span> threw the eighth inning of <a href="http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2013_03_06_chnmlb_texmlb_1" target="_blank">a 3-2 loss to the Texas Rangers</a> Wednesday afternoon. And unlike <span>Lendy Castillo</span>, Hector Rondon <i>does</i> appear "ready for prime time." Yes, I know. One appearance, and facing mostly minor leaguers and NRI guys (including two former Cubs, <span>James Adduci</span> and <span>Jeff Baker</span>; <span>Geovany Soto</span> also played, so the only former Cub now in <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lonestarball.com/">Rangers</a> camp we didn't see was <span>Randy Wells</span>). But Rondon made quick work of the first two hitters he faced with easy ground balls. The next hitter, Baker, smacked a ball to deep center field. <span>Matt Szczur</span> turned the wrong way on it, but nearly caught it anyway. A good major-league center fielder catches that ball; Baker wound up with a double. And then Rondon threw a nasty bender to get <span>Aaron Cunningham</span> on a called third strike.</p>
<p>As I said, one outing. So far, I like what I see.</p>
<p>I can't say the same about <span>Hisanori Takahashi</span>, who's trying to make the bullpen as the second lefty behind <span>James Russell</span>. He threw three innings, and some of it was good -- four strikeouts, and three of them of very good hitters (<span>A.J. Pierzynski</span> once, <span>Adrian Beltre</span> twice). But he also gave up a long home run to <span>Lance Berkman</span> -- it took one bounce off the berm and nearly bounced into the parking lot before someone ran it down -- and issued two walks in the first inning.</p>
<p>Maybe Takahashi still makes it. But he didn't help himself with this outing.</p>
<p>The rest of the Cubs pitchers, in addition to Rondon, did quite well. <span>Michael Bowden</span> threw two solid scoreless innings -- I think he's a lock for the pen in a middle relief role unless he really flops the rest of the spring. <span>Jaye Chapman</span> and <span>Trey McNutt</span> also threw scoreless innings; I suspect both are headed to Iowa this season.</p>
<p>And a word about <span>Steve Clevenger</span>, who was the only Cub to play the entire game Wednesday. He went 1-for-3 and played first base flawlessly. I've heard that Dale Sveum might even try Clevenger at <i>second</i> base in a split-squad game, to see if he can handle other infield positions. Clevenger always hit in the minor leagues, and got off to a tremendously hot start with the Cubs last year before his oblique injury ruined most of his season. If he can hit anywhere near his minor-league numbers, I think he's got a real good shot at making this team as a utility guy. The fact that he can catch helps a lot, as does this:</p>
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<p><a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23Cubs">#Cubs</a> <span>Brent Lillibridge</span> sidelined with strained groin. It's minor, and he could be back next week</p>
— Carrie Muskat (@CarrieMuskat) <a href="https://twitter.com/CarrieMuskat/status/309386573349269504">March 6, 2013</a>
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<p>So, the Cubs are looking at guys like Clevenger and <span>Brian Bogusevic</span>, who doubled to deep right-center and drove in a run as the second DH Wednesday, for bench roles. I know, spring stats mean nothing and everything and <span>Joe Mather</span> looked this good last spring, but the more guys vying for those bench roles, the better.</p>
<p><span>Scott Hairston</span> homered to deep center field in the first inning for the Cubs' first run, the first run of the game, and the first time I've seen them with a lead this spring. That lasted until Takahashi got hit pretty hard in the second inning.</p>
<p>Perhaps the Cubs will win a game this spring. I'm pretty sure of it, in fact. But that doesn't matter as much as the team has several players step up to reserve and bench roles that still need to be filled.</p>
<p>Thursday, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.southsidesox.com/">White Sox</a> make their only 2013 visit to Mesa; <span>Carlos Villanueva</span> takes the mound for the Cubs against <span>Jose Quintana</span>.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2013/3/6/4072922/cubs-lose-michael-bowden-hector-rondon-steve-clevengerAl Yellon2013-03-06T15:30:02-06:002013-03-06T15:30:02-06:00Overflow Thread: Cubs vs. Rangers, Wednesday 3/6
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<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>This is a place for more comments about the Cubs game!</p> <p>Go <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Cubs</a>!</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2013/3/6/4069164/overflow-thread-cubs-vs-rangers-wednesday-3-6-2-05-ctAl Yellon2013-03-06T14:00:07-06:002013-03-06T14:00:07-06:00First Pitch Thread: Cubs vs. Rangers, Wednesday
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<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Here is where you put comments for this game until 3:30 CT.</p> <p>Go get 'em, Hisanori.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2013/3/6/4069156/first-pitch-thread-cubs-vs-rangers-wednesday-3-6-2-05-ctAl Yellon2013-03-06T12:00:10-06:002013-03-06T12:00:10-06:00Cubs vs. Rangers Preview, Wednesday 3/6, 2:05 CT
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<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Wednesday afternoon, the Cubs will be giving a long look at a relief candidate by giving him a start. Ah, spring training. How I love your ways.</p> <p><b>SCOTTSDALE, Arizona</b> -- As all of you in Chicago dig out from the biggest snowstorm of the season (what a weird winter, an almost-snowless January followed by a big snowfall in March), it's another gorgeous, sunny day in the Phoenix area with temperatures headed to near 80.</p>
<p>A few notes from baseball today:</p>
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<li> <span>Anthony Rizzo</span> <a href="http://muskat.mlblogs.com/2013/03/06/36-rizzo-homers-for-italy/" target="_blank">smacked a home run for Team Italy</a> in an exhibition game against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.athleticsnation.com/">Athletics</a> at Phoenix Muni Tuesday night. It reportedly hit the scoreboard in deep right-center field; I've been to Phoenix Muni many times and have never seen a ball hit that board before. </li>
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<p>Jeff Passan of Yahoo, who has been beating the drum for replay review as much as I have, <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/news/mlb-should-sprint--not-jog--to-full-instant-replay-022747048.html" target="_blank">sums up exactly how and why replay is a necessity</a>:</p>
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<pre>First, and most important, is accepting the impetus behind replay. Get. The. Call. Right. Do everything you humanly can to get it right. Even without perfect technology – some calls will be inconclusive and others, yes, still blown despite video – its presence allows us to correct enough errors to make it worthwhile. Torre and his ilk must get past romanticizing the "human element" – the idea that because people are fallible, their screw-ups are somehow acceptable – and recognize that all of the systems, from super-slo-mo video to camera and radar ball-tracking systems, are eminently human: designed by us and tweaked by us with purpose.
"It's to get the thing right," Torre said, and he was on the right track until he fell back into the usual trap. "But again, do we want to get every single thing right?"
Yes. Yes! Yes, yes, yes!!!</pre>
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<p>I couldn't agree more.</p>
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<p><a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-chicago-cubs-ian-stewart-20130305,0,7966647.story" target="_blank">It doesn't look like Ian Stewart's going to make the team</a>:</p>
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<pre>“I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a big question, because there just aren’t that many at-bats (once he returns)” manager Dale Sveum said. “You have to be very productive in those at-bats. (Luis) Valbuena has been playing and doing a really good job.”
Valbuena is hitting .417 this spring, playing all around the infield. If Stewart is cut before opening day, the Cubs save $1.5 million on his $2 million salary.</pre>
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<p>Is there someone available by trade? Could Junior Lake step up? Lake probably doesn't have enough minor-league experience to be a starting big-league 3B now. But I'd rather see the Cubs go after someone than have <span>Luis Valbuena</span> play there every day again (and I do think Valbuena is a valuable bench player).</p>
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<p>Cubs lineup:</p>
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<pre>DeJesus CF, Barney 2B, Hairston RF, McDonald LF, Sappelt DH, Navarro C, Baez SS, Lake 3B, Clevenger 1B</pre>
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<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lonestarball.com/">Rangers</a> lineup:</p>
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<pre>Kinsler 2B, Gentry CF, Berkman DH, Beltre 3B, Murphy LF, Pierzynski C, Moreland 1B, Olt RF, Profar SS</pre>
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<p>This afternoon, the Cubs will send lefthanded reliever <span>Hisanori Takahashi</span> to the mound to start. Takahashi has thrown four decent innings in three relief appearances so far and, because the Cubs have only <span>James Russell</span> as a bullpen lefty, Takahashi does have a chance to make the 25-man roster. He'll go against the Rangers' <span>Robbie Ross</span>.</p>
<p><a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013_03_06_chnmlb_texmlb_1&mode=gameday" target="_blank">MLB.com Gameday</a></p>
<p>Today's game at Mesa is a webcast on cubs.com (and via the MLB At Bat app) with Len Kasper and Mick Gillispie. The webcast will be online starting approximately 1:50 p.m. CT.</p>
<p><a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mediacenter/index.jsp?date=2/28/2013#date=3/6/2013" target="_blank">Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.</a></p>
<p>For spring-training games, we'll have a first-pitch thread at game time and one overflow thread, 90 minutes after game time (because I know how you all like overflow threads!). For today, that will be 2 p.m. CT and 3:30 p.m. CT. These threads will <i>not</i> post individually onto the front page; instead, you can find links to them in the box marked "<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Chicago Cubs</a> Game Threads" at the <i>bottom</i> of the front page. They will also appear in this StoryStream™. The pitcher box and regular-season stats will return on Opening Day.</p>
<p>Discuss amongst yourselves.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2013/3/6/4069136/chicago-cubs-texas-rangers-preview-wednesdayAl Yellon