Series Preview: Marlins v. Cubs, April 30 – May 3, 2009
The Chicago Cubs welcome the Florida Marlins to town and hope to stop the madness. A refresher on the series preview here at Bleacher Nation:
The idea is to hook you up with the bare minimum of what you need to know about every series this year. That way you can look like a genius, hardcore fan in front of all your friends, with minimum effort. Oh, and there will be pictures of hot chicks, too.
Check out the Marlins series preview, after the jump
If Aramis Ramirez Goes on the DL Today, Bobby Scales Will Get the Call
The Chicago Cubs might place Aramis Ramirez on the 15-day disabled list with a strained calf today. Which would suck.
But if they do, never fear, because there’s a 31-year old journeyman minor leaguer on the way to replace him: Bobby Scales.
More on the prospective move, after the jump
Enhanced Box Score: Cubs 0, Diamondbacks 10, April 29, 2009
That was unpleasant.
Koyie Hill to Get More Starts Over Geovany Soto?
Koyie Hill spelled Chicago Cubs starting catcher Geovany Soto last night, and came up with three hits, bringing his season average up to .318. Soto, by contrast, is hitting just .119.
But there’s no way there’s any kind of catcher controversy, right? I mean, Soto is the reigning Rookie of the Year, and Hill is the reigning…um… guy who couldn’t make the Majors until he was, like, 30… of the year.
Lou Piniella weighs in, and it’s kind of surprising, after the jump
God’s Wrathwatch: Aramis Ramirez May Be Headed to DL
Milton Bradley is back, Carlos Marmol is back, and Derrek Lee is set to be back tonight.
But third baseman Aramis Ramirez is still out with a strained calf. And it’s not getting better.
“Ramirez was out here early to run, but he couldn’t accelerate at all,” Piniella told reporters. “The plan is for it to try it again Thursday, and if it isn’t better, we’ll have to weigh all our options.” Daily Herald.
So that means Ramirez is definitely out for tonight’s finale in Arizona. He’s a maybe for Thursday, but it isn’t difficult to read the tea leaves.
If Ramirez can’t go tomorrow, the Cubs will consider putting him on the disabled list. Ramirez has been out since Sunday, so if he does go on the disabled list, he’ll be eligible to come back a week from Monday.
Enhanced Box Score: Cubs 11, D-Backs 3, April 28, 2009
It’s really nice to see the Cubs spreading the offense among several games instead of using it all up in a just a handful of wins. Oh. Wait.
So What’s Going to Happen With Luis Vizcaino?
The Chicago Cubs designated reliever Luis Vizcaino for assignment four days ago. Recall that when a player is designated for assignment, a team has 10 days to trade or release him.
Alternatively, if the team placed the player on waivers within the first seven days (i.e., gave the rest of the ML teams the chance to claim the player – and his entire contract, which was never going to happen), the player can be assigned to one of the team’s minor league teams.
If Vizcaino is assigned to the minors, he still gets his full contract with the Cubs (approximately $4 million over the course of this and next year (a buyout)). If he’s released, he gets his full contract minus the league minimum, which will be paid by whatever team signs him (if he’s signed).
But what about the possibility of a trade? After the jump
God’s Wrathwatch: Ramirez, Bradley, Marmol, Lee – Holy Crap That’s a Lot of All Stars
Yes, the Cubs have stunk with a capital F over the last week, losing five of six. But it’s not as though they’ve been playing full strength. that is, of course, not an excuse – it just helps me sleep at night.
So how are the hundreds of injured Chicago Cubs doing? First up, the injuriest of the injured, Milton Bradley.
Right fielder Milton Bradley, the Cubs’ Opening Day cleanup hitter who has made only one start since suffering a strained groin April 12 in Milwaukee, struck out in a pinch-hitting appearance Monday and is expected to start tonight. CHICAGO SUN-TIMES.
It will be nice to have Bradley back in the lineup, but of course, that’s no guarantee that he’ll (a) hit, or (b) remain in the lineup for more than a few innings.
Updates on Aramis Ramirez, Carlos Marmol, and Derrek Lee, after the jump
