CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs today activated outfielder Alfonso Soriano from the 15-day disabled list and optioned outfielder Matt Murton to Triple-A Iowa.
Soriano returns after straining his right calf at the end of the top of the first inning on April 15 and landing on the disabled list the next day. His stay on the disabled list lasted the minimum 15 days and did not include a rehab assignment. Soriano is batting .175 (10-for-57) with two home runs and five RBI in his first 13 games this season.
Murton, who was recalled from Triple-A on April 19, batted .214 (3-for-14) with four RBI in eight games with the Cubs. He is hitting .317 with five runs scored and two RBI with 10 walks to contribute to a .462 on-base percentage in 13 games with Iowa this season.
So is Murton gone soon? Now that his value is as low as it has ever been…not too happy about the Murton Situation. Is there something I am missing? Is he a punk in the clubhouse?
I’ll be the 1st to say that not bunting Soto in the 9th was a horrible move! Cedano has a really nice at bat and walks. Soto comes up and Sweet Lou doesn’t have him bunt? Why? It makes no sense.
You bunt Cedano over, giving him a chance to steal 3rd, and to stay out of the double play.
Terrible managing decision by Lou! Why baseball players today can’t/don’t bunt is beyond me. And please, spare me the “Soto is hitting well”. Doesn’t matter. You still do the right thing and bunt!
Kerry…Kerry…Kerry.
When does Lou make the switch to Marmol?
Should I panic?
I can’t live this way everytime Kerry goes in.
I think with the wind blowing out and Soto having the hot bat have no proble with him swinging away to win the game. none at all.
Pie is staying up…not that he is over deserving of it. And you have to wonder how screwed up is Murton’s mind to not take advantage of his call up to get a few key hits he had laid out in front of him.
He had a chance to shine..stay up perhaps …and at the very least increase his value out there to a team he could play full time for.
Nothing but wasted opportunies during his stay.
Letting Soto swing away is bad baseball. Just because he got a hit last time, gives no garuntee for the next. But, if you’re a professional baseball player and can lay down a bunt; it allows a manager the ability to excute a stragety that should increase your chance to tie.
If Soto bunts, Cedano goes to 2nd. You then give Cedano the green light to steal. Worst case, Pie grounds out, and Cedano is still at 2nd with Soriono up. Best case, Cedano steals 3rd, and Pie knocks him in. Drives me nuts!
I was at the game today and I think the turning point for Wood was the 0-2 double by Gabe Kapler. Wood had just thrown two fastballs right past Kapler and made him look helpless. He comes 0-2 with a hanging curve, and Kapler pokes it over Soriano’s head. Should have come with more heat.
I agree with Bill H? Three blown saves out of seven isn’t exactly a good percentage for a closer. I’m also more than a little concerned about Bob “Home Run” Howry. What has happened to the relief pitching that everyone thought was going to be so good?
Bill, do you realize that Wood had a 0.93 WHIP coming into today’s game? That is outstanding, and second on the staff to Marmol. Yes, he’s blown three saves now, but it’s very early and he’s new to the closer role. Plainly put, it’s a very small sample size on which to base a decision. Besides, Marmol lead the league in stranding runners last year and has proven his ability to enter games in tough situations and get big strikeouts, as well as go more than one inning when needed. If you move him to closer, you lose that in your bullpen, and you put a young kid into a very tough situation. Trying to close for the Cubs, with all the negative comments from the media and fan base as a result of their history of losing, is not a job for the faint of heart. Wood has the experience and mindset, so why not give him some time to prove he can do the job?
Jeff, if you would green light Cedeno to steal third, why not just let him steal second base instead of sacrificing? Soto has been hot, but the Cubs haven’t been hot with runners in scoring position. Giving up an out doesn’t make much sense to me in that situation, especially when you have a hot hitter at the plate. Besides, the sac bunt doesn’t always work, so you could give up an out for nothing, or worse yet, line out on the bunt into a double play. Now, if you have an ice cold player like Pie at the Pie, then the sac-bunt makes sense.
Dan, Sample sizes work both ways this early in the season. My primary concern with Wood is exactly what you allude to, he is getting used to the closer role. Unfortunatley losing a three game set with the Brewers during the regular season is not a good time to be getting the feel for the role. Since he was coronated the closer (second week of spring training I think…but wasn’t it always known?) Wood has yet to show that “closer’s mentality” professional BB men speak of. Panicing…me…no…concerned that he still has the mind of a starter and is not blowing it by people or using his experience and guile like a closer should concern everyone. 50% “blow” rate is not what anyone was expecting from Kerry who appears very healthy with plenty of velocity etc.
I am hoping like all Cub fans everywhere he buckles it down and takes us to the promise land.
I could live with either decision of bunting or not bunting Soto, as there are good points on both sides. I will say that any talk of stealing 3rd is crazy. Cedeno is fast, but I wouldn’t call him a great base stealer, and in this day and age, you have to have a very particular set of circumstances to steal third, much of which has to do with a very savvy player at second base who can get a read on the pitcher and get a running start. Let’s also keep in mind that a Pie/Cedeno combo is not going to result in a GIDP combo too often. There’s just too much speed there. It was just a freak occurrence in the worst possible situation.
As for Wood, I agree that he’s still getting used to the role. I think he’s still in the starter’s mindset where he’s pitching like he will be facing batters more than once in a game. He needs to come in there thinking fastball to get 2 strikes and then slider in the dirt or fastball at the letters. Let’s keep in mind that 2 of his BS have been against the Brewers, so I think it’s time for the Cubs to do a little research on whether Wood is tipping his pitches and the Brewers found it. There are 2 former Cubs’ catchers on the Brewers’ team right now, so hmmm…
Putting Marmol in that role is a recipe for disaster. He’s still young, and Wrigley is not a forgiving place. Also, in the bigger scheme of things, I think it is better for Wood in the closer’s role where his spots are predictable for the most part, and he will have plenty of warm-up time to get ready. Marmol is a little more rubbery, and he seems able to warm up quickly and pitch whenever needed. I’ve always maintained that his role may be as important or more so. He’s the guy you bring in when you need a K, such as yesterday with men on first and third, less than 2 outs. Wood is a strikeout pitcher as well, obviously, but not at the same rate as Marmol.
Two things: What the hell is Soriano doing back when the team was doing great without him? This guy is daydreaming out in left field and approaches fly balls like he’s ready to go to sleep. Soriano, if you don’t want to put forth the effort, get lost!
On a slightly different note, why do managers take out pitchers when they’re doing well and not tired? Example: Taking out Marmol for Wood.
What are you thinking Pinella?! My grandma has more sense than you.
Perhaps when the Cubs get on another eventual losing streak, you’ll get wise.