May 11 Off Day Notes: Former Cubs, Minor League Updates, and More!

Here's your update on the 2008 (or '09) Chicago Cubs that are no longer with the team:

• Mark DeRosa (CLE): .238 AVG, 6 HR, 21 RBI
• Kerry Wood (CLE): 1-1, 6.55 ERA, 11 IP, 5 SV
• Felix Pie (BAL): .183 BA, 1 HR, 2 RBI
• Rich Hill (BAL): Has not made season debut, is on rehab. Pitched 6 innings, gave up 2 hits, and had 7 Ks for AAA yesterday.
• Ronny Cedeno (SEA): .138 AVG, 1 HR, 1 RBI
• Jason Marquis (COL): 4-2, 3.92 ERA, 41.1 IP
• Henry Blanco (SD): .176 AVG, 3 HR, 4 RBI
• Bobby Howry (SF): 0-2, 3.38 ERA, 13.1 IP
• Michael Wuertz (OAK): 2-1, 1.53 ERA, 17.2 IP
• Chad Gaudin (SD): 0-2, 4.08 ERA, 17.2 IP, will start against Cubs on Thursday.
• Joey Gathright (BAL): Has yet to make O's debut.
• Daryle Ward: Has signed with the White Sox on May 4, sent to AAA. Hitting .310 with 2 HR at AAA.

Iowa Cubs: 17-13, 2nd in PCL American North

Hitters Stats:

• Jake Fox: .338 AVG, 12 HR, 34 RBI
• Jason Dubois: .382 AVG, 4 HR, 12 RBI
• Chris Robinson: .373 AVG, 1 HR, 18 RBI
• Brad Snyder: .318 AVG, 8 HR, 25 RBI
• Bobby Scales: .303 AVG, 1 HR, 3 RBI
• Andres Blanco: .297 AVG, 2 HR, 15 RBI
• Luis Rivas: .281 AVG, 1 HR, 3 RBI
• Doug Deeds: .281 AVG, 1 HR, 6 RBI
• So Taguchi: .259, 0 HR, 4 RBI
• Sam Fuld: .230, 0 HR, 8 RBI
• Matt Camp: .214 AVG, 0 HR 7, RBI
• Nate Spears: .158, 0 HR, 7 RBI
• Matt Matulia: .125 AVG, 0 HR, 0 RBI
• Mark Johnson: .108 AVG, 0 HR, 3 RBI
• David Macias: 0-6
• Kyle Reynolds: 0-4

Pitchers:

• Mitch Atkins: 2-3, 6.98 ERA
• Esmalin Caridad: 3-2, 3.77 ERA
• Jose Ascaino: 1-1, 1.01 ERA
• Randy Wells: 3-0, 2.77 ERA
• J.R. Mathes: 4-3, 3.81 ERA
• Greg Reinhard: 1-0, .040 ERA
• Jesse Estrada: 1-1, 7.04 ERA
• Jeff Samardzija: 0-0, 4.20 ERA
• Kevin Hart: 0-2, 6.91 ERA
• Jeff Stevens: 0.00 ERA
• Jason Waddell: 0-1, 3.09 ERA
• Chad Fox: 1-0, 1.59 ERA
• Vince Perkins: 1-0, 5.40 ERA
• Justin Berg: 1-0, 5.40 ERA
• Jayson Ruhlman: 14.73 ERA

Tennessse Smokies: 14-12, 2nd in the SOU North

Daytona Cubs: 13-16, tied for 3rd in FSL North

Peoria Cheifs: 16-13, 3rd in MID Western

NL Central Standings:

• 1. St. Louis, 20-12
• 2. Mil, 2 GB
• 3. Cubs, 2.5 GB
• 4. Cin, 2.5 GB
• 5. Hou, 5.5 GB
• 6. Pitt, 7.5 GB

The Cubs did have a winning road trip at 3-2. So far this year they have scored 149 runs, and allowed 148 runs.

Other Notes:

• Cubs VS Padres tomorrow night at 7:05. Jake Peavy against Rich Harden.
• The commissioner's office is going to review the Ryan Braun at bat against Ryan Dempster where Demp was accused of throwing at him. The Cubs don't expect the pitcher to be penalized, and if he is they will put up a fight. A fine is possible, but a suspension is unlikely according to Paul Sullivan.
• Derrek Lee will not need a stint on the DL. He could be back in the lineup this week.
• Jake Fox sat out this weekend after getting hit in the leg by shards of a broken bat. His leg required 5 stitches.
• Ryan Freel, Milton Bradley, Geovany Soto, Mike Fontenot, Aaron Miles, and Ryan Theriot all used a pink bat on Sunday because of the Mother's Day Going to Bat Against Breast Cancer that MLB has every year. The bats are sold online, $10 from each sale goes to the Komen foundation.

Cubbie Birthdays:

Dewey Adkins (91)

Gene Hermanski (89)

Trenidad Hubbard (43)

Jerry Martin (60)

Milt Pappas (70).

This Date in Cubs History:

2000- The Cubs and Brewers broke the NL record for the longest non-extra inning game. The contest lasted 4 hours and 22 minutes. The Cubs lost 14-8.

2003- With the Cards leading the Cubs 11-9 at Wrigley Field in the top of the 5th inning, the game is called on account of rain. Starters Matt Clement and Brett Tomko give up all the runs, but they won’t count against their ERA’s. The 23-MPH wind helped Albert Pujols hit a grand slam and boosted homers by Tino Martinez (2), Moises Alou, Corey Patterson, Troy O’Leary, and Alex Gonzalez. (thanks to baseballlibrary.com.)

Don't forget to vote on our poll!

Remember you can email me anytime it's cubsblogmailbag@aol.com.

I'll have a post just like this on every Cubs off day all season long! The next off day is a week from today, Monday the 18th.

Cubs Win, Injury Updates

The Cubs managed to salvage something in the Brewers series with the win yesterday. The Cubs got some timely hitting, including a game-tying 2-run homer that sparked a rally.

Derrek Lee is scheduled to have an MRI today. He could be placed on the DL, joining Zambrano, Ramirez, and Fox on that list. I would expect Jake Fox would get called up if Lee goes down. Fox is a good pinch hitter and can backup 1B and 3B.

I'll have my usual full off day post later on!

Cubs Not playing well

• The Cubs have the 14th best ERA in the NL out of 16 teams!
• Now Ryan Theriot is out after being hit with the pitch in yesterday's loss.
• Lee still out with neck issues. I wouldn't be surprised to see him starting on Tuesday or Wednesday.
• Aramis Ramirez is not yet on the DL, but could be out for awhile, we'll see.
• Chad Fox has been placed on the 15-Day DL. Jose Ascaino called up from AAA.
• Sean Marshall struggling early in the game today.
• Cubs are trailing 2-0 trying to avoid a horrible sweep to the Brewers.
• The heart-breaker on Friday night really turned things around for the worst for the Chicago Cubs, when the Cubs wasted a great outing by Randy Wells in his first big league start.
• Cubs bullpen having all kinds of problems. The have Gregg and Marmol, but there's nobody else that anyone really trusts in key spots.
• Kosuke hit a triple with 2 outs in the first, but was left on 3rd today. Fukudome is the only one hitting well.
• Geovany Soto has continued to struggle, we REALLY need him to start swinging it!
• The Padres and Astros will be in on the next homestand.

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there today! Here are the Cubbie Birthdays on this Mother's Day:

Jim Hickman (72)

Tim Hosley (62)

Merritt Ranew (71)

This Date in Cubs History:

2003- The Cubs best the Cardinals‚ 3-2‚ in 10 innings on Alex Gonzalez's walk-off HR. It is the 3rd extra-inning‚ game-winning homer this month for Gonzalez‚ tying the team's single-season record held by Ron Santo and Ernie Banks. Gonzalez hit extra-inning homers on May 1 and May 4. The only other player to hit 3 in one calendar month was Ron Gant‚ in 1995. Starter Kerry Wood throws 141 pitches but the win goes to reliever Mike Remlinger.

2001- The Brewers defeat the Cubs‚ 11-1‚ as OF Jeromy Burnitz hits 3 HRs and drives in 6 runs. Devon White adds a grand slam‚ while Sosa does the only Cubs damage with his 398th career HR.

1955- Dodger ace Don Newcombe one-hits the Cubs 3-0. Gene Baker‚ who singles in the 4th and is caught stealing‚ is the only base runner.

Cubs are rallying, Soriano just hit a 2-run homer to tie it up! I'll keep you posted!

Ramirez to DL

Aramis Ramirez has been placed on the 15-day DL. No sure what is going on with the injuries this year! Aramis has a shoulder injury and will miss 4-6 weeks. Ryan Freel has been activated. He was in the original starting lineup, but was scratched due to hamstring tightness.

I'll keep you posted!

Cubs Trade for Ryan Freel

Big news! The Cubs and Orioles have made a trade that brings versatile Ryan Freel to the Cubs for OF Joey Gathright. Gathright had accepted an assignment to AAA Iowa earlier today. Randy Wells has also been called up from AAA. I'm not yet sure who will be send down to make room for both Freel and Wells on the roster. Ryan is expected to join the Cubs before the game tomorrow night. This is the 3rd trade the Cubs and O's have made this already this year.

Ryan Freel:

• Has played for Blue Jays (2001), Reds (2003-2008), Baltimore (2009), and now the Cubs.
• 33 years old
• B/T: Right
• .272 career batting average.
• Hitting .133 with 1 RBI so far in 2009.
• Career Games by position: CF- 216, RF- 107, 3B- 89, 2B- 101, LF- 75

I like giving Freel a chance because we need depth in the infield who can also play some OF, but I don't think Gathright was given a fair chance to prove what he can do.

Cubbie Birthdays: None Today!

This Date in Cubs History:

1973- After Cubs manager Whitey Lockman was ejected in the 11th inning, Ernie Banks took over for the final few innings of 3-2 12 inning win. Technically, Banks became the first black manager ever in a big league game.

Game 1 of the 3 at Miller Park between the Cubs and Brewers is about an hour away! Go Cubs Go!

Gathright to be Sent Down?

As I mentioned yesterday the Cubs need to make room on the roster for tonight's starting pitcher Randy Wells. Well, the Chicago Sun-Times is reporting that the Cubs are planning on sending Joey Gathright to the minors today, and due to service time, he could refuse the assignment and become a free agent. The Cubs have also talked about putting Gathright on waivers. It looks like Bobby Scales might stay with the club after all.

Thanks to Chicago Cubs Online for bringing this to my attention.

I don't like this move at all. I'm actually a fan of Gathright, I think he brings a lot to the table with his amazing speed and solid defense. I don't think Lou have been using him in the way we expected. He should be appearing at least once every game late in the game as a pinch runner. It always helps to add a run late, and stealing second, or having better speed on the bases always helps. Bobby Scales hasn't proved that he is a way better hitter than Gathright, so it just makes more sense to send Scales down so they can keep both of them in the organization.

What do you think? Let me know in the comments!

I'll keep you posted on this possible roster move!

In Game 5-7 Notes

Some Notes:

• Derrek Lee sat out for the second game in a row tonight with neck stiffness. The bulging disk in his neck could be serious, but the Cubs are not planning on placing him on the DL.
• The Cubs will have to make a roster move before tomorrow's game. Randy Wells, the scheduled starter, is not yet on the big league roster. Either Bobby Scales or someone else will have to be sent down.
• If the bullpen continues to look like they need help, they might get some. Jeff Stevens could be called up from AAA according to the Tribune.
• According to some sources, the Indians have signed Luis Vizcaino. Not sure about this, but I'll keep you posted on it.

Cubbie Birthdays: John Flavin is 67!

This Date in Cubs History:

2008- Jon Lieber became the second Cub in franchise history to allow 4 home runs in one inning! Votto, Dunn, Bako, and Hairston Jr. all go deep in the Reds 9-0 win.

Cubs lead in a nail biter, I'll keep you posted!