Cubs Convention Recaps: The Day in the Life of a Major Leaguer

John Williams of WGN Radio hosted this session with guests Bobby Dernier, Jody Davis, Geovany Soto, and Jeff Samardzija to talk about the life of a professional baseball player. Here is the full recap of the session, which was a week ago today:

• Geovany confirmed that he has lost 40 pounds this offseason. (Some sites had reported 80)
• He was a little disappointed with '09 and is ready to get off on the right foot in 2010.
• Soto says that if being too light becomes a problem in the summer, gaining weight is the easy part.
• The winter has been great for The Shark thus far. He's been watching some football this offseason.
• Jeff is a big Bears fan, and he admitted that he'd love to help him out. He loves where he's at and what he does, so no change is on the way.
• Samardzija usually cuts his hair around Spring Training.
• Jody said that it's hard for people to understand how time consuming and grueling the life of a major league baseball player can be.
• You spent 24 hours a day trying to get ready for game time. When the game's over, there's not a hole lot of down time until you have to get ready for the next game.
• Dernier says that each year you go through the grind, you become more accustomed to it.
• When Bobby and Jody played, guys took lots of time off in the winter. Now a days, baseball is all year around.
• On the road, players get cash to spend on food and expenses.
• On the plane, the guys use the money to bet some money.
• Davis is not a card player, but Bobby enjoys to play cards.
• Jeff said that in baseball, you are allowed more freedom than football players.
• Current players can't go out and have fun after games because of cell phone cameras. Bobby said that guys could go out a lot more when he played.
• Soto said that you kind of get tired of the people wanting your autograph every where you go, but when you think about it that's a really cool feeling.
• Samardzija says that he loves Chicago because people are great. He lives in the city, and everyone is nice in public. This city is very respectable. Jeff has been other places where people are not like that.
• Soto is fine with people asking him for an autograph or picture in public, but he thinks people should be understanding if he doesn't have time.
• Jeff also has no problem with signing autographs.
• Geo says in 2008 he felt like a rock star. He said the Cub fans are "true, loyal, and the best fans in the world."
• Shark doesn't mind being booed.
• Dernier says that when he played there was not as much booing.
• Davis said that there was no booing when they were stinking because there was nobody there.
• Bobby said that people mostly boo because of lack of effort. If you give a good effort at Wrigley, you will not get booed that much.
• Jody could see where Mark McGuire wanted to get the situation off his chest, but a lot of the things he said like "it didn't help" and "I didn't know it would make me stronger" doesn't seem true.
• Dernier says that amphetamines were prevalent in baseball during his era. Today, guys are more educated on what not to do.
• Samardzija says they have unlimited amounts of totally random testing for steroids.
• Geo wanted to lose some weight because he was starting to feel wear and tear on his knees.
• Jeff usually cleans his hair with whatever they have in the hotel.
• Soto thinks that you have to hit the gym more after catching 9 inning, you will feel better late in the season. Instead of resting after games, it's better to flush them out.
• Davis said that having your legs in shape and strong is the best thing you can do as a catcher.
• The best thing for a pitcher to keep your arm in shape, is to do some cardio and running the next day.
• Soto doesn't think at all about how it costs him money when he does bad. For him, it more about pride. He was born to win.
• Geovany said you always want to play good for the fans everyday.
• Shark says it's a "balancing act". It's amazing to find people who still act the same after making all the money. For Samardzija, "the better you play, the more you get payed" works as a good incentive.
• Samardzija feels like he has a long way to go. He's happy that he's in the situation where he can just worry about getting better and see how things go.
• Jody thinks that one of the incredible things about the 1984 team was that the team truly got along on and off the field. Ryno and Hawk had amazing work ethics and served as quiet team leaders similar to Derrek Lee.
• Jeff said that a lot of guys on the current team came through the system together as good friends and teammates. He called the "ra-ra leader guy with pump up speeches" B.S., and would rather have a guy like D-Lee lead the team.
• Geo liked a fans idea of making a Soto workout DVD to help people lose wait.
• Samardzija is excited about how things are going, and he's very happy with his situation. He's looking forward to having a chance to win a spot in the starting rotation.
• On October 19, Soto started training. Once he started eating better, the pounds started coming off. He stuck with the diet for 3 1/2 months.
• Geovany just got tired of hearing about his weight. He's a professional athlete, so he decided he wanted to look like a pro athlete.
• Soto hasn't worked out that much this winter, the weight loss came totally from eating right.
• Samardzija likes visits from Geo and Koyie on the mound. It's fun because you never know what you're going to get when they go out there.
• Lou is very "to the point" when he comes out to the mound.
• Jody says that the biggest thing as a catcher is to know your pitching staff. Certain guys need to calm down, but others need to get pumped up.
• Soto has never asked for a day off. Even if you can barely stand up, if Lou asks if you can go today, you say yes.
• Good footwork is key for a catcher to get the ball to second base better. Geo suggested practicing in front of a mirror to a young softball player. Davis added that long toss could help to make your arm stronger.
• Soto is happy that he doesn't have to hit against Zambrano.
• Jeff thinks he can handle any hitter, but guys that are very good at making last second adjustments are tough.
• The first day Shark was called up, he struck out the first batter on an inside fastball and was like, "Wow, that was awesome." In the second inning, he throw a great pitch, but Cantu (of the Marlins) nailed it down the line.
• Dernier thinks the Blackhawks are looking good. "Get ready to party with the Hawks," he said.
• When Williams asked how many games the Cubs would win this year, Bobby got the last words of the session saying, "Just win the last one."

Cubs Announce Minor Leauge Coaching Staff

As announced at the Winter Meetings, Ryne Sandberg will move up to coach AAA Iowa. Bill Dancy, another former big pro, will take over Sandberg's previous position as the manager of the AA Tennessee Smokies. Dancy spent most of his playing career in the Phillies organization as a middle infielder. In 2005 and 2006, he was the Philliles' third base coach. Last year he coached in the Royals system.

Dennis Lewallyn will be on Dancy's staff as the Smokies pitching coach. Tom Beyers is their hitting coach.

Jody Davis, a former Cub catcher will return to managing as he takes over at Class A Boise. Davis managed the Class A Daytona Cubs in 2008, before becoming the organizational catching instructor in 2009. Davis will be joined on Boise's staff by Jeff Fassero, who pitched for the Cubs in 2001-2002. Over his major league career, Fassero played for the Expos, Mariners, Rangers, Red Sox, Cubs, Cardinals, Rockies, D'backs, and Giants. He finished with a record of 121-124 over 16 seasons with an ERA of 4.11.

Fassero and Davis will be joined on the Hawks' coaching staff by Ricardo Medina, who previously coached in the Dominican Summer League. Medina will serve as the Boise hitting coach.

Mark Riggins, Dave Keller, Franklin Font and Bobby Dernier all return as organizational coordinators. Carmelo Martinez will return as Latin American field coordinator, and Marty Pevey, who was the Blue Jays first base coach from 2005-2008, will take over for Davis as catching coordinator.

Buddy Bailey will return for his second year managing Class A Daytona. Tom Pratt (pitching) and Richie Zisk (hitting) will return as coaches for the D-Cubs in 2010.

Casey Kopitzke will move up to Class A Peoria next season. He managed for the Boise Hawks in 2009. David Rosario and Barbaro Garbey will join Casey's staff as the pitching and hitting coaches, respectively.

Rookie League manager Juan Cabreja will return for his second straight year in Mesa. Rick Trone has been a fixture as the Mesa Cubs pitching coach since 2001. He will return for his 10th season, while Desi Wilson joins the Mesa staff as the hitting coach. Wilson was with Peoria in 2009.

Manuel Callado, Leo Hernandez, Alberto Garcia, Anderson Tavares, and Leo Perez will coach for the Cubs' Dominican Summer League clubs.

Link from Cubs.com.

Other Cubs Notes, News, & Links:

• Carrie Muskat gives us an update on Cubs Spring Training.
• The Cubs sent a scout to see Kelvim Escobar throw. Esobar was also watched by the Rays, Brewers, Pirates, Tigers, Mariners, Yankees, Twins, and A's.
• Ryan Dempster is teaming up with D'Agostino's restaurant to throw a pizza party for a great cause. The money raised will go to Di George syndrome.
• Paul Kinzer told Ken Rosenthal that Matt Capps would accept a job as a set-up man for a contending team. This gives the Cubs some hope of landing him to bolster the bullpen. He plans to set 5 or 6 finalists by the weekend, and then announce his decision soon after.
• Bleed Cubbie Blue has been putting together a great historic photo series. Click the links to see them part-by-part: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4
• TCR Reviewed the 2000 Cubs season
• Interesting bit from AZ.Central.com: "We don't think it's in the best interest of the citizens of Mesa to make this kind of investment when we have no commitment at all as to whether the Cubs are even going to negotiate to be here," Mayor Scott Smith said.

With just over a week left until Christmas, Jim Hendry his better start shopping!

Rule 5 Draft Preview

Tomorrow is the 2009 Rule 5 Draft. Every year, players that meet certain Rule 5 requirements could be lost by each organization and drafted into a different organization. Let's start with an overview of some of the rules for the draft:

• The Rule 5 draft has been a staple of the Winter Meetings Since it started.
• Major league teams must protect player on their 40-man rosters within 3 or 4 years of their original signing.
• Those left unprotected are available for other teams to select.
• Players who were 18 or younger on June 5 before the signing of their first contract must be protected after 4 minor league seasons.
• Players 19 and older must be protected after 3 seasons.
• Each Rule 5 pick must be kept in the big leagues the entire following season, or they will be offered back to their former team for half of the $50,000 selecting price.
• Teams had to add player to their 40 man roster by November 20 to protect them from the draft.
• Teams select in reverse order of that season's finish.
• AA and AAA sections of the Rule 5 drafts cost teams $4,000 and 12,000 respectively to pick.
• Roberto Clemente is the only Rule 5 draft pick to go on to become a Hall of Famer.

Now let's take a look at what the Cubs have done in the draft in recent years:

• 2008- Lost Donald Veal to Pittsburgh
• 2008- Traded for David Patton after he was drafted by Cincinnati from Colorado. Patton would spend all of 2009 with the Cubs.
• 2007- Traded for Tim Lahey after he was drafted by Tampa Bay from Minnesota. Claimed off waivers by the Phillies on March 28, returned to Minnesota on April 12.
• 2007- Lost Randy Wells to Toronto, but he was returned on April 16.
• 2006- Drafted Josh Hamilton from the Tampa Bay Rays. He was later traded to Cincinnati for cash.
• 2006- Lost Edward Campusano to Milwaukee. Eventually was returned to the Cubs on October 10, 2007
• 2006- Lost Lincoln Holdzkom to Houston, but he was returned to the Cubs on March 11.
• 2006- Lost Jason Smith to Toronto
• 2005- Lost Juan Mateo to St. Louis
• 2004- Lost Andrew Sisco to Kansas City
• 2004- Lost Luke Hagerty to Baltimore
• 1980- In the best Cubs Rule 5 Pick up ever, they drafted Jody Davis from St. Louis. Davis would go on to win a gold glove and make two All Star teams.

So big names, like Davis and Hamilton, can be drafted in the Rule V. Who are the Cubs at risk of losing this year?

• Matt Camp, INF/OF: .282 AVG in 98 games at AAA this season
• Steve Clevenger, C: .265 AVG in 67 games at AAA, .364 AVG in 26 games at AA
• Alessandro Maestri, P: 4-2 with 3.69 ERA in 54 games at AA in 2009
• Thomas Diamond P: Picked up by the Cubs late in the season. Playing well in Mexican Winter League
• J.R. Mathes, P: 12-8 wti a 3.62 ERA in 26 games (21 starts) for AAA Iowa
• Greg Reinhard, P: 2-4 with a 5.38 ERA in 41 games (5 starts) at AAA Iowa

The Cubs left these guy out there when they protected John Gaub, Blake Parker, Rafael Dolis, Welington Castillo, and James Adduci on November 20. The Cubs will not feel heartbroken if they lose any of those guys, although there was some surprise that Camp and Diamond were left unprotected.

Draft Order

• 1. Nationals
• 2. Pirates
• 3. Orioles
• 4. Royals
• 5. Indians
• 6. D'backs
• 7. Mets
• 8. Astros
• 9. Padres
• 10. Athletics
• 11. Blue Jays
• 12. Reds
• 13. White Sox
• 14. Brewers
• 15. Cubs
• And so on...

Any team can take a pick in the draft, but no team is forced to.

I'll post a recap sometime after the draft...