Results tagged ‘ Dave Sappelt ’
5/12 Minor matters
Guillermo Moscoso gave up one run on six hits and struck out seven over seven innings in Iowa’s 4-1 victory over Reno. Dave Sappelt hit a two-run homer and Brett Jackson had two hits and two RBIs. Ian Stewart was 0-for-3 with a walk. Blake Parker picked up his fifth save.
Matt Garza gave up three hits and walked two over 3 1/3 innings in Tennessee’s 5-4 win over Birmingham. Matt Szczur had two hits, two RBIs and two stolen bases, and Christian Villanueva had three hits, including two doubles, and one RBIs. This was Garza’s third rehab start, second with the Smokies, and he threw 66 pitches, 40 for strikes.
Daytona’s doubleheader against Dunedin was canceled because of unplayable field conditions.
Wilson Contreras had three hits, including his fourth home run, to help Kane County beat Clinton, 7-4. Michael Heesch picked up the win, giving up four runs on 12 hits over six innings. Pin-Chieh Chen had two hits.
5/6 Sweeney, Dolis called up
The Cubs promoted outfielder Ryan Sweeney and pitcher Rafael Dolis from Triple-A Iowa, and optioned outfielder Dave Sappelt to the Minor League team. Reliever Kameron Loe was designated for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster for Sweeney.
Sweeney was pulled from the second game of Iowa’s Sunday doubleheader and told by manager Marty Pevey that he was headed to the big leagues. Sweeney, 28, has played for the White Sox, Athletics and Red Sox, and has a career .280 batting average over seven seasons in the big leagues. Last season, he appeared in 63 games for the Red Sox, batting .260 with 16 RBIs. Boston released him on March 30, and he signed with the Cubs on April 2. A left-handed hitter, he was batting .337 in 23 games with six home runs, two doubles, two triples and 16 RBIs.
Sappelt was used in manager Dale Sveum’s platoon against left-handed pitchers. In 20 games with the Cubs, Sappelt was batting .178 (8-for-45). On Sunday, Loe gave up one run on one hit and two walks in one inning against the Reds, and has a 5.40 ERA in seven games.
In eight games with Iowa, Dolis has given up three runs on six hits and three walks over 7 2/3 innings, striking out seven.
– Carrie Muskat
5/5 Roster moves
The Cubs were expected to call up outfielder Ryan Sweeney from Triple-A Iowa and option Dave Sappelt to the Minor Leagues on Monday. Sweeney was pulled from the second game of Iowa’s Sunday doubleheader and told by manager Marty Pevey that he was headed to the big leagues.
“It’s a good feeling,” Sweeney told the Des Moines Register. “I put in some hard work down here and hopefully, I’ll go up there and transfer it over.”
Sweeney, 28, has played for the White Sox, Athletics and Red Sox, and has a career .280 batting average over seven seasons in the big leagues. Last season, he appeared in 63 games for the Red Sox, batting .260 with 16 RBIs. Boston released him on March 30, and he signed with the Cubs on April 2.
A left-handed hitter, he was batting .337 in 23 games with six home runs, two doubles, two triples and 16 RBIs. Sappelt was used in manager Dale Sveum’s platoon against left-handed pitchers. In 20 games with the Cubs, Sappelt was batting .178 (8-for-45).
The Cubs would have to make a roster move to open a spot on the 40-man for Sweeney. One option may be tweaking the bullpen, and sending right-hander Kameron Loe to Iowa. On Sunday, Loe gave up one run on one hit and two walks in one inning against the Reds, and has a 5.40 ERA in seven games. The team could promote a pitcher from Iowa or decide Kyuji Fujikawa is ready after one rehab outing. The Japanese right-hander, on the disabled list with a strained right forearm since April 13, threw 21 pitches Sunday in one inning for Iowa and struck out two.
– Carrie Muskat
4/15 Cubs to wear No. 42 Tuesday
On Tuesday, the Cubs will celebrate Jackie Robinson Day, and all uniformed personnel will wear No. 42 to commemorate the 66th anniversary of his breaking baseball’s color barrier. Cubs outfielder Dave Sappelt is looking forward to that.
“It’s a day that everybody should respect and at least put some kind of thought to — even if you don’t agree with it — change is what America is about,” Sappelt said. “I think it’s an important day. It’s in the back of my mind and I’m grateful.”
As part of the pregame ceremony, Cubs Hall of Famers Ernie Banks and Billy Williams will be recognized. Williams broke into the Majors not long after Robinson and Banks, and credits Robinson with being the pioneer who opened the door for all baseball players of color.
Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Jr., founder and president, Rainbow Push Coalition, will throw one of the ceremonial first pitches. Jackson gave the eulogy at Robinson’s funeral in Brooklyn, N.Y.
John C. McGinley will join Jackson for a first pitch assignment. McGinley stars as the Brooklyn play-by-play announcer Red Barber in the movie, “42: The True Story of An American Legend.” Barber was affectionately known as the voice of the Dodgers from 1939 to 1953. McGinley also will serve as the guest conductor for the seventh inning stretch.
Sappelt planned on seeing the new movie “42″ which tells the struggles Robinson had to deal with.
“In school, they try to teach you about everything,” Sappelt said. “This is something important in history that everybody needs to know. It’s something I think everybody should know how the world once was, and the steps we took forward together. It wasn’t just black or Latin, Chinese, Japanese, it was everybody who took that step of acceptance. I think it’s definitely good.”
– Carrie Muskat
3/24 Extra bases
* The competition for the last bulllpen spot is down to three pitchers after Rafael Dolis was optioned to Triple-A Iowa. It’s now down to Hisanori Takahashi, Zach Putnam and Cory Wade.
* Cubs outfielder Dave Sappelt was scratched from Sunday’s lineup because of a stiff neck. The outfielder was struck on the right side of his neck by a ball on the fly while sliding into third during Saturday’s game, and had a large bruise to show for it.
“They got me,” Sappelt said. “As soon as I peeked back, it hit me.”
He was expected to be sidelined two to three days.
* Brett Jackson, who has been sidelined because of inflammation in his right shoulder, was expected to resume playing this week, although it could be in a Minor League game.
“They’ll be smart about easing me back into it,” Jackson said.
He doesn’t have any problems hitting, and was able to hit off a batting tee on Saturday, and planned on doing the same Sunday.
* Ian Stewart was examined on Sunday by the team orthopedic specialist, and will begin a rehab assignment in two weeks if he continues to progress. Stewart has been sidelined with a sore left quad since Feb. 21.
– Carrie Muskat
3/23 Extra bases
* Scott Baker was to be examined Sunday by team orthopedic specialist Dr. Stephen Gryzlo. Baker was shut down after his one Cactus League start last Sunday because of discomfort in his right elbow. He’s coming back from Tommy John surgery and expected to open the year on the disabled list.
“I’m happy with the progress it’s made,” Baker said of his elbow. “Obviously, we’re doing something right as far as treatment and the medication is helping and there’s nothing wrong with taking it easy either.”
Baker will likely stay in Mesa for extended Spring Training. Scott Feldman also was expected to stay in Mesa and start March 31 before joining the Cubs, throwing 50 pitches in a game. He will start the Cubs’ fourth game, April 5 in Atlanta.
* The decision for the final spot in the Cubs bullpen may not be determined until the last weekend in Houston. Four relievers are competing, including Hisanori Takahashi, Zach Putnam, Rafael Dolis and Cory Wade. Dolis has been bothered by a blister. There’s no favorite, Sveum said.
“It’s completely undecided now,” Sveum said. “We’ll sit down and weigh all the options and everything, and the teams and durability. All that stuff comes into play.”
* The Cubs are monitoring the waiver wire to see who is available. They’re looking for some backup infield help. Javier Baez was not an option. This spring, Baez batted .389 against left-handed pitchers, but was 7-for-29 (.241) against right-handers.
“He’s so far away from the big leagues, the defense and everything,” Sveum said. “The guy has to develop. I know he hit all the home runs and everything, but he’s still premeditated swinging. He’s got a lot to learn yet. There was never a thought he’d be on this team.”
* Brett Jackson, bothered by soreness in his right shoulder, was able to throw on Friday and took about 20 swings off a batting tee. The Cubs hope he can play in a Cactus League game this week.
* The Cubs have three more games at HoHoKam Stadium. On Friday, officials with the Athletics toured the facility to consider changes for 2015 when Oakland moves in. There will be a new scoreboard and an updated clubhouse. The bleachers in left and right field will be removed, as will the seats. New, wider seats will be installed.
* Dave Sappelt was picked for the Cubs’ 25-man roster because of his ability to play center field. That’s his preferred position.
“I was defensive player of the year two years with the Reds in center,” Sappelt said. “I bounced around when I got here. I don’t have a problem with it. The corners are easy. You can make a lot of good, cool plays. Center is kind of wide open, you can catch them standing up; the corners you can dive, run into the wall.”
Sappelt’s nickname is “Mighty Mite,” and he got that from Dusty Baker.
“Whatever I’m listed at, I’m probably not that height, and I can probably hit the ball pretty far,” said the 5-foot-9 Sappelt.
– Carrie Muskat
3/18 Cubs 5, Padres 2
Edwin Jackson was the first Cubs pitcher to get three at-bats in a game. He cruised through a nearly effortless outing on Monday, throwing 76 pitches over six innings in the Cubs’ 5-2 win over the Padres. Dave Sappelt hit a three-run homer to lift the Cubs.
“I’m just trying to progress as the season goes on,” Jackson said. “I’m just trying to get closer to game mode as we get closer to the end of March, and I’m just trying to keep the ball rolling in a positive direction right on into the season.”
His goal is to make his infielders work.
“It’s hard to hit a home run on the ground so you try to keep the ball down,” Jackson said.
One thing he does have to work on is packing. Jackson wore jersey No. 82, not his assigned No. 36. He forgot that one.
“I was coming out as a new person to try out,” he said, joking about the mistake. “I had my bag packed an hour before, too. The number didn’t do me too bad.”
Usually No. 82 is reserved for Minor Leaguers or non-roster invitees. Will Jackson wear it again?
“I don’t know about that,” he said.
– Carrie Muskat
2/26 Cubs 4, Rockies 2
Dave Sappelt and Christian Villanueva each hit solo home runs to lift the Cubs to a 3-2 victory Tuesday over the Rockies. Edwin Jackson, making his Cubs’ Cactus League debut, gave up two hits over two scoreless innings.
“Today was pretty much evaluation, and see where I am,” Jackson said. “It’s all mental. You keep the ball down and you execute pitches and everything is pretty much good and you can have a lot of success with the ball down in the zone.”
Rockies starter Jhoulys Chacin faced the minimum over two innings in his first Cactus League start. The Rockies athletic trainer had to check on the right-hander after he got Alfonso Soriano to line out for the first out in the second but Chacin stayed in the game. Apparently, he’s been bothered by a sore toe on his left foot, injured in pitcher’s fielding practice.
Villanueva hit a solo home run with one out in the Cubs third but the Rockies tied the game in the fourth as Carlos Gonzalez walked, stole second, moved up on a ground out and scored on Ben Paulsen’s single.
Starlin Castro doubled to lead off the Chicago fourth and scored two batters later on Brett Jackson’s sacrifice fly. Sappelt led off the sixth with his home run. DJ LeMahieu tripled to lead off the Rockies eighth and scored on Tim Wheeler’s sacrifice fly.
* On Wednesday, left-hander Brooks Raley will start when the Cubs play host to the Dodgers at HoHoKam Stadium. Raley was 1-2 with an 8.14 ERA in five starts with the Cubs last season, and 4-8 with a 3.62 ERA in 14 starts for Triple-A Iowa. This will be his first Cactus League start. The game will be broadcast on Cubs.com.
– Carrie Muskat
12/11 Winter League updates
Junior Lake was 2-for-4 on Saturday with two RBIs for Estrellas de Oriente in the Dominican Republic. Lake was batting .336 in 38 games with four home runs and 19 RBIs. He’s hitting .579 (11-for-19) against left-handed pitchers.
Updating Michael Bowden’s last outing for Aguilas Cibaenas in the Dominican: the right-hander gave up three runs on seven hits and one walk over 4 2/3 innings on Saturday. He’s now 3-3 with a 3.62 ERA in seven starts.
Dave Sappelt was batting .324 in 18 games with Bravos de Margarita in Venezuela.
Hector Rondon, whom the Cubs acquired in the Rule 5 Draft from the Indians, has a 4.26 ERA in 21 games in relief for Leones del Caracas in Venezuela. He’s given up nine earned runs on 13 hits and five walks, while striking out 11 over 19 innings. Teams were batting .197 against him.
Tony Campana was batting .205 with seven stolen bases in 14 games with Leones del Caracas.
– Carrie Muskat
12/10 Winter ball update
Luis Valbuena went 2-for-4 with five RBIs, hitting his fifth home run and a double for Cardenales de Lara in Venezuelan winter league. Valbuena was batting .312 in 40 games. Meanwhile, Dave Sappelt has five straight multi-hit games, and was batting .324 in 18 games total for Bravos de Margarita in Venezuela.
– Carrie Muskat
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