Former Cubs in Independent Leagues

Most Independent Leagues are getting their seasons underway sometime in the next week or so. In honor of the start of the Indy ball season, we take a look at this list of former Cubs who are on Independent League rosters to start 2010:

• Kevin Millar, 1B: Well there's a name from the not so distant past. Millar, who was with the Cubs in Spring Training this year and lost the final roster battle to Chad Tracy, signed with the St. Paul Saints of the American Association last week. Kevin was going to serve as an MLB Network analyst, but he decided that he still wants to play some baseball.
• Antonio Alfonseca, RHP: Most known for having six-fingers on one hand, Alfonseca pitched out of the Cubs bullpen in 2002 and 2003. Now he is in the Atlantic Leauge, hurling for the Bridgeport Bluefish.
• Adam Greenberg, OF: Greenberg is now a teammate of Alfonseca's with the Bluefish. His sadly on had one Major League Baseball at bat. In a 2005 game against the Marlins, he pinch hit and was beaned in the head with a fastball. He suffered a minor concussion and has never seen the MLB field again to date. It's good to see that Adam is playing baseball once again.
• Ryan Freel, INF: Another name from the recent past, Freel played in 14 games for the Cubs last season. He came over in the trade that sent Joey Gathright to Baltimore, but then was dumped by the Cubs and finished the year with Kansas City. Freel is now playing for the Somerset Patriots.
• Bobby Hill, 2B: This is the guy you can thank for Aramis Ramirez. Hill was the main guy sent to Pittsburgh in the deal that brought Ramirez and Kenny Lofton to Chicago in 2003. A top prospect that never panned out, Bobby hit .262 in 4 seasons of big league ball split between the Cubs and Pirates. He is now playing for the Newark Bears, another Atlantic League club.
• Daryle Ward, 1B: Ward was a key part of the Cubs' bench in 2008, but he joined the Newark Bears last year after he finished a short stint in the White Sox organization. Ward is an 11 year big league vet.
• John Ford-Griffin, OF: Griffin is not a former Chicago Cub, but an interesting name to included non the less. He hit .265 for AAA-Iowa last year in 104 games with the club. He spent just one year in the Cubs' organization and signed with Newark when they did not bring him back this offseason.
• Jeff Kennard, P: Kennard signed with the Cubs as a minor league free agent this offseason with an invite to big league camp. When he was released from the Cubs after Spring Training didn't pan out too well for him, he was picked up by the Somerset Patriots.
• Matt Craig, 1B: Played 8 years in the Cubs' system but never made it up to the big league club. Now he's with the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs.
• Francis Beltran, P: Beltran pitched 11 games for the Cubs in 2002 then 34 more in '04. He posted a 5.36 ERA in his Cub career. He was apart of the 4-team trade that helped the Cubs net Nomar Garciapara and Matt Murton. Beltran went to Montreal in that deal. Now he's with the York Revolution.
• Randall Simon, 1B: Simon hit .282 for the Cubs in 2003 then played with the Pirates in 2004 before dissappearing from the big league seen for awhile. In 2006 he resurfaced with the Phillies. He started playing Indy ball in 2008. He is signed with the Rockford Riverhawks of the Northern League for this coming season.
• Billy Petrick, P: Petrick pitched in 8 games for the Cubs in 2007. His ERA was well over seven. Petrick pitched for Windy City last year and was traded to the Joliet Jackhammers of the Northern League last month.

Best of luck to the former Cubs this season!

Spring Training Preview: Non Roster Pitchers

Today we begin our first look at what we will see this March, when the Cubs take the field for the first time in 2010. When the Cubs are in Arizona, there we'll be some position battles, comebacks, stories, and injuries to watch regarding the big league players in camp, but that preview will come later. Today we take a look at the minor league pitchers that have been invited to big league camp.

Andrew Cashner

• RHP
• Was drafted by the Cubs in the first round (19th) of the 2008 MLB June Amateur draft.
• Rated the top pitcher prospect in the Cubs organization by Jim Callis of Baseball America.
• Cubs #4 prospect overall.
• Rated best fastball and slider by Baseball America
• Rated "Best Mechanics", and "Best Slider" in the Cubs system by Vineline.
• Started 12 games with Class A Daytona last year, his 1.50 ERA earned him a promotion.
• Then started 12 games at AA Tennessee, going 3-4 with a 3.39 ERA.

Casey Coleman

• RHP, bats left handed
• Drafted by the Cubs in the 15th round of the June 2008 draft
• Rated "Best command" by Vineline
• Rated best changeup and control by Baseball America
• 14-6 with a 3.68 ERA with AA Tennessee in 2009

Thomas Diamond

• RHP
• Aquired by the Cubs on September 4, 2009 after he was DFA'd by the Rangers 3 days prior
• Underwent Tommy John and missed the entire 2007 season
• Went 2-3 with a 4.20 ERA in 38 games between AA and AAA last year (32 in AA)
• Went 2-0 with an 0.64 ERA in 3 games in winter ball in Mexico this offseason

Jeff Kennard

• RHP
• Signed a minor league contract with the Cubs on January 12, 2010
• Has spent time in the Yankees (2001-2007), Angels (2007-'08) and Reds (2009) organizations
• Has yet to make big league debut
• 3-1 with a 2.83 ERA in 40 games for AAA Louisville in 2009
• 0-1 with a 3.86 ERA in 6 games in Dominican Winter League this offseason
• An interesting name to watch this spring

J.R. Mathes

• LHP
• Drafted by the Cubs in the 16th round of the 2004 draft
• Real name is Alfred George Mathes
• Born in Granger, IN
• good command
• 12-8 with a 3.62 ERA in 26 games (21 starts) for AAA Iowa in 2009
• 1-2 with a 5.08 ERA in 6 games in the Venezuelan Winter League this offseason

Vince Perkins

• RHP (bats left handed)
• Has spent 8 seasons in the minors
• Has been in the Tonorto ('01-'05), Milwauke (2007) and Cubs (2009) organizations
• Played for team Canada in the 2006 and 2009 World Baseball Classics
• 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA in 6 games for the Smokies last year, before being moved up to AAA where he went 6-2 with a 3.48 ERA

James Russell

• LHP
• Drafted by the Cubs in the 14th round of the June 2007 draft
• Struggled as a starter, found new life in the bullpen
• 2-3 with a 5.11 ERA in 11 games (6 starts) at AA Tennessee in 2009
• 3-3 with a 3.43 ERA in 26 games (7 starts) for AAA Iowa
• 0-1 with a 1.26 ERA in 11 games in the Arizona Fall League for the Mesa Solar Sox last fall

Guy to Watch for the Future: Andrew Cashner

Best Chance to Make the Club: J.R. Mathes

Most Underrated: Thomas Diamond

Up Next: The Non Roster Hitters