Cubs Spring Training 2013 Preparation and Game Thread

[Rice Cube]

Pitchers and catchers report February 10. Position players are in camp on the 16th and first full workouts start on February 17th.

Cubs spring training schedule below:

DATE -- OPPONENT -- SITE

Saturday, February 23 -- Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim -- Tempe

Sunday, February 24 -- San Francisco Giants -- Mesa

Monday, February 25 -- Los Angeles Dodgers -- Glendale

Tuesday, February 26 -- Colorado Rockies -- Mesa

Wednesday, February 27 -- Los Angeles Dodgers -- Mesa

Thursday, February 28 -- Oakland Athletics -- Mesa

Friday, March 1 -- Arizona Diamondbacks -- Mesa

Saturday, March 2 -- San Francisco Giants -- Scottsdale

Sunday, March 3 -- Milwaukee Brewers (ss) -- Mesa

-- Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (ss) -- Tempe

Monday, March 4 -- Cleveland Indians -- Mesa

Tuesday, March 5 -- Colorado Rockies -- Scottsdale (1:10 p.m.)

Wednesday, March 6 -- Texas Rangers -- Surprise

Thursday, March 7 -- Chicago White Sox -- Mesa

Friday, March 8 -- Cincinnati Reds --Goodyear (7:05 p.m.)

Saturday, March 9 -- Cleveland Indians -- Mesa

Sunday, March 10 -- San Diego Padres -- Mesa

Monday, March 11 -- Arizona Diamondbacks -- Scottsdale (1:10 p.m.)

Tuesday, March 12 -- OFF DAY

Wednesday, March 13 -- Colorado Rockies -- Mesa

Thursday, March 14 -- Los Angeles Dodgers -- Glendale

Friday, March 15 -- Chicago White Sox -- Glendale (12:05 p.m.)

Saturday, March 16 -- Kansas City Royals (ss) -- Mesa

-- Texas Rangers (ss) -- Las Vegas (Game Time TBD)

Sunday, March 17 -- Oakland Athletics (ss) -- Phoenix

-- Texas Rangers (ss) -- Las Vegas (Game Time TBD)

Monday, March 18 -- San Diego Padres -- Peoria

Tuesday, March 19 -- Texas Rangers -- Mesa

Wednesday, March 20 -- OFF DAY

Thursday, March 21 -- Seattle Mariners -- Peoria

Friday, March 22 -- Milwaukee Brewers -- Maryvale

Saturday, March 23 -- Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim -- Mesa

Sunday, March 24 -- Cleveland Indians -- Goodyear

Monday, March 25 -- San Francisco Giants -- Mesa

Tuesday, March 26 -- Cincinnati Reds -- Mesa (7:05 p.m.)

Wednesday, March 27 -- Kansas City Royals -- Surprise (6:05 p.m.)

Thursday, March 28 -- Seattle Mariners -- Mesa (12:05 p.m.)

 

[daddies3angels]

I will listen to 95% of them on my phone. I have MLB atbat app

 

[waldo7239117]

Lendy Castillo cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple A. No surprise at all!

 

[Jntg4]

You are missing March 15 vs. WBC team

 

[Rice Cube]

You are missing March 15 vs. WBC team

Ah, wasn't on the Cubs.com schedule. Good call.

 

[Anno Catuli]

Cubs play Team America?

 

[dabynsky]

Cubs play Team America?

fuck yay

 

[Rice Cube]

fuck yay

Tickets cost a buck-oh-five...

 

[Jntg4]

It doesn't say what team (and it is/has been on Cubs.com schedule haha), could also be Italy, Canada, Mexico (most likely one of the teams in our pool as those are the only ones with games scheduled vs. Cactus League teams)

 

[Rice Cube]

Mayo's top Cubs prospects:

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/minorleagues/affiliates/index.jsp?c_id=chc

 

[Rice Cube]

Bonus article re: Cubs' farm system...

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130206&content_id=41430416&vkey=news_chc&c_id=chc

 

[waldo7239117]

The Chicago Cubs announce that pitcher Lendy Castillo has cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple A Iowa. Castillo was designated for assignment on January 26th to make room for pitcher Carlos Villanueva on the 40-man roster.

The Cubs acquired Castillo last off-season in the Rule V draft. I thought Castillo pitched well to start the year, but struggled after his good start. Castillo was eventually placed on the DL with an "injury".

I can't say for certain if Castillo actually suffered an injury last season. As you see Rule V picks go down with injuries all the time. So, the team can keep the them and not send them back to their original team.

We saw that a couple years ago with David Patton. He was a Rule V draft pick and suffered injuries throughout the season. But we all knew the injuires were made up and not there. It was too obvious!

Castillo was taken off the DL in September when the rosters expanded. Castillo continued to struggle when he returned.

The Cubs transaction page has Castillo outrighted to Triple A, but he's expected to open the season in Double A., If anything, retaining Castillo is good depth for the minors and majors.

I'm not shocked at all that Castillo cleared waivers. I knew he would and him being DFA was an obvious choice.

The Cubs still have to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for OF Scott Hairston.

 

[Rice Cube]

http://muskat.mlblogs.com/2013/02/08/28-spring-training-update/

Just about everyone has reported. First workout pushed back to Tuesday so physicals can be doneo Monday.

 

[dabynsky]

http://muskat.mlblogs.com/2013/02/08/28-spring-training-update/

Just about everyone has reported. First workout pushed back to Tuesday so physicals can be doneo Monday.

Got to figure that something is done with Hairston in the next week because otherwise he can't work out with the team in spring training.

 

[Rice Cube]

Buntfest returns with a twist. A look at the front-office play-in spot:

http://worldseriesdreaming.com/2013/02/09/buntfest-2013-front-office-analysis/

 

[dabynsky]

AZ Phil on the Hairston signing and what he can and can't do until officially signed:

The Cubs will have to drop another player from the MLB 40-man roster whenever Scott Hairston is added. Like Carlos Villanueva, Hairston was an MLB Article XX-B FA, and thus the Cubs do not have to add him to the 40 until the contract is filed with the MLB Office. And the Cubs have up to 20 days to file the contract after Hairston signs on the line which is dotted. So depending on when Hairston actually signed, it's very possible that the Cubs will be able to wait to add Hairston to the 40-man roster until after the start of Spring Training, and then place either Arodys Vizcaino orScott Baker (both TJS rehab) on the 60-day DL at the same time.

TJ: An unsigned player can take BP and participate in drills and an unsigned pitcher can throw bullpen sessions and throw "live" BP (just like when an unsigned player is brought in by a club for a workout), but he can't play in Cactus League or Grapefruit League Spring Training games until he is officialy signed and the contract is filed with MLB.


That's why the Yankees had to sign Billy Crystal to a Uniform Minor League Player Contract before he could bat in a Grapefruit League game. The Padres did that with Garth Brooks a few years ago, too

 

[Rice Cube]

I guess that means the 60-day DL is available for that purpose during spring training then, I thought it wouldn't be available until after Opening Day.

 

[dabynsky]

I guess that means the 60-day DL is available for that purpose during spring training then, I thought it wouldn't be available until after Opening Day.

Yeah that was always my understanding as well, but that would make it seem likely that Vizcaino starts the year on the 60 day DL and then Campana and Sappelt both get to stay on the roster for now.

 

[waldo7239117]

I doubt Baker is placed on the DL, it will have to be Vizcaino. That's prolly the likely move. And if shown to be healthy, he'll return around late June early July. I say he'll pitch in the 'pen this year and be stretched out for a SP spot next season.

 

[dabynsky]

I doubt Baker is placed on the DL, it will have to be Vizcaino. That's prolly the likely move. And if shown to be healthy, he'll return around late June early July. I say he'll pitch in the 'pen this year and be stretched out for a SP spot next season.

Agreed. I think Baker starts the year on the 15 day DL though.