Intrasquad Day in Mesa

The Cubs minor league team knocked off the "big league" team 8-6 at HoHoKam Park on Wednesday afternoon, although both teams were filled with minor leaguers by the time the game concluded.

For the major league team, it was a final tune-up for the regular season, which starts at Wrigley Field on Friday. The cost of a ticket was $10 and all proceeds benefited Cubs charities. For all of the prospects that were invited to take part in the game, it was a chance to open the eyes of the Cubs coaching staff.

Randy Wells worked three innings in his tune-up for his first start of the season, which will come against the D'backs on Monday. Wells allowed one run to cross but looked sharp overall.

Marlon Byrd, who is day-to-day with some soreness, sat out for the third straight day. Geovany Soto and Aramis Ramirez also missed the intrasquad contest. Alfonso Soriano and Carlos Pena received one at-bat each, serving as designated hitters.

Blake DeWitt got the start at third base, where he is expected to backup Ramirez this season. Jeff Baker started at first base, where he and Tyler Colvin will serve as backups to Pena. Baker delivered an RBI for the Cubs first run of the game, on a play where Steve Clevenger dropped the ball on what would have been a close play at the plate.

Second baseman Darwin Barney delivered a two-run homer in the bottom of the fourth inning, which was the highlight of the game. Barney is expected to see regular playing time this season. All of the regulars on the Major League team left the game after the fourth inning, except for Koyie Hill.

Hill stayed in the game to catch the remaining big league pitchers that needed to work. John Grabow retired the side in order in the fourth, before James Russell put another zero on the board in the fifth. Marcos Mateo, who was surprised last week when he found out that he had made the Cubs bullpen, was a little wobbly in the sixth. He surrendered two runs on three hits in the frame. Hill, who slumped at the plate all spring, went 1-for-3 with a single and a strikeout against the farmhands. Hill was the final Cub to depart when Michael Brenly took his spot behind the plate in the seventh. Bob Brenly was in attendance to watch his son play.

Left hander J.R. Mathes got the nod for the minor league team, managed by Iowa skipper Bill Dancy. Mathes worked five inning, allowing five runs on ten hits. J.R., a longtime minor leaguer, will start the season at Triple-A Iowa. Trey McNutt, rated the top pitching prospect in the organization, was the only other hurler to work for the minor league team. He went four innings, surrendering only one run on three hits.

Justin Bour (grounder), Ryan Flaherty (single) and Marquez Smith (double) all drove in runs for the Major League team to extend the lead. The minors chipped away as Tony Campana scored on a double play bouncer and Sergio Durrell rapped a run scoring single in the sixth. Josh Vitters, who started at third base and then moved across the infield to first, cranked a triple to drive in a run in the eighth.

In the top of the ninth, Evan Crawford delivered an RBI triple to tie the game at six. Then Campana put the minor squad in front with a single and DJ LeMahieu tacked on an insurance tally with a double. Frank Batista was the pitcher who allow the minors team to grab the lead. He was charged with four runs in 0.2 innings. Mike Quade came to the mound to make a pitching change, bringing in RHP Justin Berg to notch the final out. McNutt sent the "big league" team down quickly in the bottom of the ninth to secure the victory.

The final totals-
Minor League Cubs: 8 runs, 16 hits, 3 error
Chicago Cubs: 6 runs, 13 hits, 2 errors
Winning Pitcher: Trey McNutt
Losing Pitcher: Frank Batista

After the game, Mike Quade's squad got on the bus to head to the airport, where they will fly to Chicago!

Blogging from Mesa (#2)

The Cubs picked up a win over the Rangers today and made some big time roster decisions. Here's the latest:

• Andrew Cashner was named the Cubs fifth starter today. Carlos Silva was told that he will not make the team.
• Silva was not happy with the way the Cubs handle the competition and the way Mark Riggins informed him about the decision.
• Jim Hendry is trying to work out a trade for Silva, but if that does not happen he will be given the option of going to Triple-A Iowa or becoming a free agent. Silva said today that there is "no chance" of him going to Triple-A.
• Marcos Mateo has made the team. Mike Quade announced today that Mateo has won the final spot in the bullpen. Jeff Stevens and Casey Coleman were both sent to minor league camp today.
• There are currently only 27 guys in big league camp. The two extra players are both catchers trying to recover from injuries- Welington Castillo (finger) and Max Ramirez (wrist). Carrie Muskat reports that they are in camp for insurance and Koyie Hill is still expected to make the roster.
• Ramirez will take BP tomorrow and if it goes well he could get in a Cactus League game before camp breaks.
• Q expects Mateo, Russell and Samardzija to all be able to go 2+ innings on some days.
• Augie Ojeda, who was already sent to Fitch Park, is dealing with more back spasms.
• Jeff Baker is day-to-day and expects to play in Goodyear on Monday.
• Randy Wells will start the Cubs intersqaud scrimmage on Wednesday, while Cashner gets his final tune-up on Thursday in a minor league game.
• On a personal note, today I saw a game at Surprise Stadium for the first time. I was very impressed with the field, which is a bit smaller than HoHoKam. It's a good place to take in a ballgame.
• This morning I watched early batting practice at HoHoKam Park before the team left on the bus. It's a great idea if you would like to get close to the players and have a shot at an autograph or two in addition to seeing some extra BP.

That's it for now, but I'll keep you posted!

Countdown to Cactus League Baseball: 2 Days

Chicago Cubs baseball will be on the air on Sunday! David Kaplan starts it off with Cubs Insider at 1:00, Judd Sirott has Cubs Central Pregame at 1:30 and Pat and Keith will have the call at 2:05.

Mike Quade has announced his starting lineups and batting orders for the first three Spring Training games.

Sunday VS Oakland
Kosuke, RF
Starlin Castro, SS
Marlon Byrd, CF
Aramis Ramirez, 3B
Carlos Pena, 1B
Alfonso Soriano, LF
Geovany Soto, C
Blake DeWitt, 2B
Carlos Zambrano, P
Also playing Sunday: Darwin Barney (SS), Fernando Perez (CF), Bryan LaHair (1B), Tyler Colvin (RF), Brett Jackson (LF), Jeff Baker (2B), Josh Vitters (3B). The starters are expected to play five innings.

Monday VS Brewers
Reed Johnson, CF
Darwin Barney, SS
Tyler Colvin, RF
Alfonso Soriano, LF
Caros Pena, 1B
Jeff Baker, 2B
Marquez Smith, 3B
Koyie Hill, C
Randy Wells, P

Tuesday VS Giants
Kosuke, RF
Starlin Castro, SS
Marlon Byrd, CF
Aramis Ramirez, 3B
Geovany Soto, C
Blake DeWitt, 2B
Reed Johnson, LF
Bryan LaHair, 1B
Ryan Dempster, P

Other Updates

• The Cubs will moved down to HoHoKam Park after today's workout. They will practice there tomorrow.
• Angel Guzman will face hitters in a live BP session next Wednesday.
• Today would have been Ron Santo's 71st birthday.
• Mike Quade likes Kosuke in the lead-off spot.

That's it for now, but I'll keep you posted on Everything Cubs as always!