Xavier Nady May Finally Play on Thursday
Chicago Cubs outfielder Xavier Nady is still working his way back from Tommy John surgery last year, and was expected to be ready to do some DH’ing this past weekend. The throwing program he’s on, however, wore him down, and he wasn’t ready to risk jacking up his arm at the plate.
By Thursday, the Cubs think he’ll be ready.
Lou Piniella said they considered using a designated hitter on Wednesday against the Giants so Nady could play. But Carlos Zambrano is starting that day for the Cubs.
“The only problem [with Wednesday] is the ‘Big Z’ is pitching,” Piniella said. “Thursday might be a good day to start [Nady]. Give Big Z an at-bat or two and he’ll be very happy.” Muskat Ramblings.
It’s still not a concern that Nady isn’t batting, but he’ll need to start soon, if only to get his rhythm back. This isn’t just a guy needing Spring Training to get ready for the season - Nady hasn’t faced Major League pitching since April of 2009.
ShareThe Chicago Cubs 2010 Television Schedule
The Chicago Cubs have announced their broadcast schedule for the 2010 season, and it will feature the lowest number of games on WGN in a long, long time - just 58 games. And that, of course, does not include Opening Day, which will be on WCIU. The Cubs will be on Fox eight times, and ESPN at least twice. There are six games that could wind up on ESPN or WGN.
Enough summarizing, let’s check out the full schedule. The full Cubs TV schedule is after the jump.
ShareThe Chicago Cubs Will Scout Noah Lowry
The Cubs continue to search for low risk pitching options, and now will scout former San Francisco Giant starter Noah Lowry. The soft-tossing lefty always gave the Cubs fits, but hasn’t pitched in the Major Leagues since 2007.
Lowry, 29, suffered from thoracic outlet syndrome (nerve problems in the neck, shoulder, and arm), and now is just hoping to land an incentive-laden one-year deal to prove he can pitch again. When he did pitch, he was acceptably good - posting an ERA right around 4 in his four years with the Giants.
Lowry will throw next Tuesday for interested teams - who will not want to stay very late, as next Tuesday is the premier of the final season of LOST.
ShareA Couple of Minor League Deals for the Cubs
Apologies to recently re-signed minor league veterans Mark Johnson and Scott “John” McClain. They were signed to minor-league deals earlier this week, and we were remiss in reporting it. Each got a Spring Training invitation, but to the minor league portion.
The Cubs have signed a couple of familiar faces to minor-league deals and invited them to spring training but without invites to big-league camp. Catcher Mark Johnson was in big-league camp last year as nonroster guy, and he played 22 games at Class AAA Iowa.
Third baseman Scott McClain is back, too, after spending last year with Hiroshima in Japan. McClain was a spring-training sensation a couple times earlier in the decade, and it seemed like he might damn near make the club one year out of camp. He did get into 13 games with the Cubs in 2005. He went to Japan last year after opening the season with the Giants’ Class AAA club. A nicer guy you won’t meet, and it’s possible both McClain and Johnson will be starting their “second careers” (read coaches) in the Cubs system. DailyHerald.com Blogs.
It goes without saying that neither is expected to make any contributions to the big league club this year. Still, good to know the Cubs are committed to bringing in good, knowledgeable veterans to help guide the youngsters.
ShareIn Case You Were Hoping for Mark DeRosa
You can stop hoping. And you probably shouldn’t have been hoping in the first place; not because Mark DeRosa is not a fine player, but instead because the Cubs haven’t been meaningfully connected to a Mark DeRosa rumor since they dealt him to the Cleveland Indians last year.
A person with knowledge of the negotiations tells The Associated Press that the San Francisco Giants have reached a preliminary agreement with veteran infielder Mark DeRosa on a two-year contract.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement has not been finalized. According to SI.com’s Jon Heyman, it’s believed to be two year deal with $12 million for the ex-Cub. Chicago Breaking Sports.
DeRosa is expected to become the full-time third baseman for the Giants. As a utility player, there isn’t a better one in the game than Mark DeRosa. As a full-time third baseman, he’s probably going to look a bit overmatched, as he did in St. Louis.
ShareChicago Cubs Looking at Kelvim Escobar
When it comes to pitchers, Chicago Cubs general manager Jim Hendry has shown a penchant for loving two things: middle relievers and reclamation projects.
So when an opportunity to combine his two passions came along, he simply couldn’t pass it up.
The Cubs sent a scout to watch Kelvim Escobar throw in Venezuela. The right-hander had surgery in 2008 to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder. He won 18 games in 2007 but has been limited to one game over the last two in the big leagues because of shoulder problems. Other teams watching Escobar throw included the Rays, Brewers, Giants, Pirates, Tigers, Mariners and A’s. Muskat Ramblings.
I’m a bit too hard on Hendry in this instance. Escobar is not expected to get a Major League deal, and so if he wants to join the Cubs on a minor league deal with a Spring Training invite, so be it. Just don’t expect much: Escobar, for all intents and purposes, has not pitched in over two years. A torn labrum is a notoriously difficult injury for a pitcher to overcome.
But he is still just 33, and when he was able to pitch, he was always very good.
ShareDon’t Cry, But Mark DeRosa Isn’t Coming Back
For those Chicago Cubs fans holding out hope that the team would take interest in signing free agent Mark DeRosa - you’re going to have to get used to disappointment.
Of the Dodgers’ interest in DeRosa, Grunewald said, “The interest is mutual.” But the agent said that the Dodgers are one of a dozen teams that have asked about DeRosa, identifying the others as the Cardinals, Mariners, Nationals, Giants, Phillies, Orioles, Rangers, Yankees, Mets, Twins and Braves. Los Angeles Times.
That the Cubs are not interested in signing DeRosa, who is looking for a multiyear deal, is unsurprising. He was appreciated here in Chicago, but even though he brings versatility, the Cubs simply don’t have a spot for him. Between Jeff Baker, Mike Fontenot, Jake Fox, Andres Blanco, and (sigh) Aaron Miles, the Cubs have the coverage that DeRosa offers, if not quite the bat.
Besides, the team has to make sure and reserve $7 million to drop on John Grabow.
ShareThe Chicago Cubs 2010 Spring Training Schedule
The Chicago Cubs just released their 2010 Spring Training schedule. And, well, here it is:
March 4 vs. Oakland Athletics
March 5 vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
March 6 vs. Chicago White Sox
March 7 vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (ss) and at Chicago White Sox, Glendale, Ariz.
March 8 at Oakland Athletics, Phoenix
March 9 vs. Milwaukee Brewers
March 10 vs. San Francisco Giants
March 11 at San Diego Padres, Peoria
March 12 at Milwaukee Brewers (ss), Maryvale; vs. Chicago White Sox, Las Vegas
March 13 vs. Cincinnati Reds (ss); vs. Chicago White Sox, Las Vegas
March 14 at Los Angeles Angels, Tempe
March 15 at Colorado Rockies, Tucson
March 16 vs. Texas Rangers
March 18 at Los Angeles Dodgers, Glendale
March 19 at Chicago White Sox, Glendale
March 20 vs. Kansas City Royals (ss); at Oakland Athletics, Phoenix
March 21 at Cincinnati Reds, Goodyear
March 22 vs. Cleveland Indians
March 23 at Kansas City Royals, Surprise
March 24 at Texas Rangers, Surprise
March 25 at Arizona Diamondbacks, Tucson
March 26 vs. Oakland Athletics
March 27 vs. San Diego Padres
March 28 at Seattle Mariners, Peoria
March 29 vs. Cincinnati Reds
March 30 at San Francisco Giants, Scottsdale
March 31 vs. Los Angeles Angels (ss); at Milwaukee Brewers (ss), Maryvale
April 1 vs. Colorado Rockies
April 2 at Arizona Diamondbacks, Chase Field
April 3 at Arizona Diamondbacks, Chase Field
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