The Cubs head to Glendale today to take on the Dodgers at Camelback Ranch (where they’ll play the White Sox tomorrow).
Ian Stewart is not in the lineup today, but that’s because he’s going to play in a minor league game (a controlled environment, potentially more at bats). Josh Vitters is back and available off the bench, but he’s expected to start tomorrow.
Chris Rusin starts for the Cubs and will look to extend his nice Spring. He’s hoping to land in the bullpen as the lefty/long-man (well, I suppose he’s “hoping” to land in the rotation, but, absent yet another injury, that’s not likely to happen).
The game is available (audio) via Cubs.com/MLB.com.
The lineup:
1. Darwin Barney, 2B
2. Brent Lillibridge, 3B
3. Nate Schierholtz, RF
4. Welington Castillo, C
5. Dave Sappelt, CF
6. Luis Valbuena, SS
7. Darnell McDonald, LF
8. Brad Nelson, 1B
9. Chris Rusin, P
at what point do the cubs start getting their regulars some consistent playing time? castro, hairston, soriano need to get some time, don’t they?
Pretty much next week you’ll start seeing more consistent regulars. Rizzo comes back tomorrow, I believe.
We are, just now, getting into the meat of when a normal ST schedule would be.
WOW !!!!!!!!!!! That line-up will strike fear into most jr. legion teams, maybe.
Swap Castillo for Navarro and that would be a lineup we could easily see for a day game before the start of a road trip or a day game after a late running night game.
Yuck! Sadly, most of these guys are going to be on the 25. I wish that when they roll out a lineup like this they would at least throw in either Soler or Baez for a little fun.
I will say, I think Castillo will surprise people and become at least a big league average catcher. Also, I think Sappelt quietly had a nice year last year. Solid 4th prob 5th OF against lefties
I agree about Sappelt, Rebuilding, but I don’t think it would be much of a surprise if Castillo become an average big league catcher. I think that’s more than expected by most Cub fans at this point, isn’t it?
I think you’re right about his bat, maybe above average. Hopefully Navarro can teach him how to catch. He improved last year, but at times it looked like American Legion ball behind the plate
Yes – I must agree with you on that, my friend!
That is the starting lineup for the 2013 World Series champions, my friends.
Other than Barney I think you have hit the proverbial nail squarely on the head.
Well done.
Great game for Rusin.
5 IP 1 H 0 ER 1BB 1SO.
He has given it everything this spring
Agreed, always good to see guys push the issue especially when you don’t really expect them to. Could provide that little extra depth outside of the MLB roster…unless he makes it of course.
Rusin did this against the Dodgers studs. 0.69 era
this spring. Iowa starters: Struck,Rusin,Raley,
Coleman,Cabrera and eventually Vizcaino. That will
be very good AAA staff. then bowden,dolis,parker,
mcnutt,chapman,wade,lewis and putnam in bullpen
Hopefully Castillo can learn how to receive better. He robbed our pitching of a lot of strikes last year.
I spammed. Go vampires!
eh, i’m getting tired of V-Diaries. A bunch of twenty somethings playing high schoolers. Can they go to college already and quit organizing school dances? And why did Jeremy have to die?? Is Silas going to bring him back? Speaking of Silas, what a lame ending for “The Five” hunters saga…