Results tagged ‘ Jed Hoyer ’
6/6 Draft day
Cubs GM Jed Hoyer said they were pleased with their selections in the First-Year Player Draft, which wrapped up Wednesday.
“We feel really good about it,” Hoyer said. “It went according to plan. We talked about adding pitching depth to the system and we really pounded at pitching after we took [outfielder Albert] Almora with the first pick. I thought we’d take a hitter at the top and take a lot of pitching, and that’s exactly what we did. I think every team feels good about their Draft today, everyone had a good Draft and we’ll find out in five years if we were right.”
– Carrie Muskat
6/6 Lesson learned for Castro
When Dale Sveum was interviewed for the Cubs manager’s job, he was asked how he would have handled Starlin Castro after the shortstop was revealed to not be paying attention during a nationally televised game, and criticized on air by Bobby Valentine. Obviously, Cubs GM Jed Hoyer liked Sveum’s response, because he was hired. Hoyer said neither he nor Theo Epstein influenced how Sveum handled Castro when the shortstop made a defensive gaffe in San Francisco. It was all Sveum.
“That was something we talked about in the interview process,” Hoyer said Wednesday. “[Castro] had already had that Bobby Valentine moment and missed that pitch. We were hoping he’d never have another incident and he did. That’s why you hire a manager — that’s the manager’s job. Dale did that on his own, and I think it was a perfect tone.”
Sveum told Castro that the lapses in concentration would not be tolerated, and on Tuesday, the shortstop played what Hoyer thought was his best game of the season.
“As far as how he fits in our plans, he’s a huge part of our plans,” Hoyer said of Castro. “He’s a shortstop who can hit, who can run and he’s getting better defensively. Those are hard to find. You look around baseball and almost every time we play another team, we have the better shortstop on the field and that’s a great feeling to have. We do have to address those [lapses] and I think Dale has struck the perfect tone with Starlin – ‘Hey, I like you, I get it, but it’s got to stop.’ That’s a big part of why we hired Dale, he can strike that balance. I don’t think Starlin resents him for it, I think Starlin understands. Maybe that was a good thing to happen in the long run. I hoping that’s the case. Maybe that’s the straw that broke the camel’s back from Dale’s perspective, maybe that ends up being a big positive.”
– Carrie Muskat
4/4 It’s almost Opening Day
Dale Sveum’s first Opening Day as a player was April 6, 1987, and 25 years later, he’ll experience the same butterflies and excitement he did on that day when he takes the field as the Cubs manager for the start of the regular season.
“There’s nothing like Opening Day as a player,” Sveum said. “It’ll be special.”
He got to Wrigley Field on Wednesday’s workout day around 8 a.m. for the afternoon session. The sun was out but it was much chillier than it had been in Mesa, Ariz., all spring. Sveum is hoping the Cubs can continue to play as they did in Cactus League games.
“We probably could say we were one of the few teams, if the only team, that went through all Spring Training and ran out 99 percent of the balls,” Sveum said. “As spring kept going on, the preparation of the defensive work was exceptional and the buying into some of the positioning stuff we’re going to do [was well received]. Just the constant effort and preparation is what you want to see on an every day basis. That’s all you can ask for. They’re Major League players, they’ve had success in the big leagues. Some of them are stil trying to prove themselves, some of the guys are trying to rebound from sub-par seasons. We’re trying to make sure everybody’s on the same page as far as effort, that’s all you’re looking for.”
Cubs GM Jed Hoyer saw the same positive atmosphere in camp. This will be Hoyer’s first Opening Day with the Cubs as well after being lured to the team by Theo Epstein after he was named president of baseball operations.
“Just looking around, it looks so much different here in the spring than it does in the winter,” Hoyer said of Wrigley Field. “The whole place is fantastic. It’s such a magical place, a place I loved coming here as a visitor. It’s the first time it feels real and I’m sure it’ll be more so tomorrow. I get to watch 81 games here and that’ll be pretty special.”
– Carrie Muskat
3/29 Cubs complete Theo comp
The Red Sox sent 19-year-old first baseman Jair Bogaerts to the Cubs to complete the compensation deal for Theo Epstein. Bogaerts has played the last two seasons in the Dominican Summer League. He’s a right-handed hitter.
The Cubs sent pitcher Chris Carpenter to Boston earlier, but Carpenter is headed for surgery on his right elbow to remove bone spurs.
“It’s certainly something we had no knowledge of,” Cubs GM Jed Hoyer said Thursday. “I don’t think he had any elbow issues for the last two years. It’s unexpected and unfortunate.
“It’s obviously something you never want to happen,” Hoyer said. “With any trade, you want both sides to feel good. It’s not a great thing to have happen both for Chris or the Red Sox.”
– Carrie Muskat
3/11 Hoyer likes energy in camp
Cubs GM Jed Hoyer says he likes the way Spring Training camp has gone so far.
“I think Dale [Sveum] has a lot of energy in camp,” Hoyer said Sunday. “Guys have played really hard so far. As far as results go, I don’t think anyone is all that concerned about it. You want to stay healthy and you want guys to play hard. Later in the spring as we get close, you want them dialing in their focus and start making pitches to get outs. Right now, the pitchers need to stretch themselves out, and the hitters need to get their timing.”
Sveum has been a stickler for detail in camp.
“One of the things he focused on in the interview is that Spring Training is a tone setter,” Hoyer said. “That’s how you build up the makeup of your team by having that attention to detail and creating some camaraderie, too. It’s not only about being a drill sergeant but you also want to make sure guys are enjoying themselves and get to know each other. That was a big focus of the interview process is that this is the time you establish those things.”
Sveum has watched how other teams handle spring camps. Now, it’s time for him to do it his way.
“What I’ve seen so far, he’s done an excellent job with it,” Hoyer said.
– Carrie Muskat
3/2 Hoyer: New format could change dynamics
Major League Baseball is considering expanding the playoff format in 2012. The proposal is to add two additional Wild Card teams and create a one-game first-round playoff in each league.
“I think it’s great for the game,” Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer said. “I don’t think we know all the ramifications yet, such as will there be fewer players available at the [trade] deadline. I think how it plays out will be interesting.”
There could be more teams interested as buyers than sellers at the Trading Deadline.
“I think the new [playoff] system will change a lot of the dynamics, and how that evolves will be fascinating to watch,” Hoyer said. “I like the fact that there will be a lot of teams involved. October baseball is a great thing and I do think they did a good job in that now winning the division means that much more and there’s a clear advantage in that. It gives a lot of teams a lot of hope, and when you have a 162-game schedule, hope is a good thing.”
– Carrie Muskat
2/10 Hoyer: Soriano “unlikely” to be traded
Alfonso Soriano has been mentioned in trade rumors this offseason but he was expected to be back in left field at the start of the 2012 season for the Cubs. GM Jed Hoyer said it was “unlikely” that Soriano would be dealt by Opening Day.
“I know Sori’s been working really hard this offseason … our hope is obviously you want him to get on base a little more,” Hoyer said during an interview on ESPN 1000 on Thursday. “The power was there last year, the RBIs were there. Obviously, it really comes down to defense and we’re hoping with some better conditioning and some better health that he can be a little better out there. We don’t want to do anything to hurt our pitchers but we do believe there’s something left in Sori.”
Soriano, who turned 36 in January, hit 26 homers and drove in 88 runs last season but batted .244.
– Carrie Muskat
1/10 Hoyer on Maholm, Wood & Samardzija
Cubs GM Jed Hoyer says free agent Paul Maholm wanted to pitch for the Cubs, partly because he wanted to stay in the NL Central. The lefty is a guy who “takes the ball, eats a lot of innings and really has kept his team in games his whole career,” Hoyer said. Maholm was shutdown in August because of shoulder soreness but passed the physical on Monday and says he’ll begin throwing off the mound soon.
Are the Cubs done now as far as their rotation?
“We’re very comfortable with the names that we have,” Hoyer said. “You never know what will happen over the course of the winter, what’s going to be available to us. A huge priority was building depth and we feel we’ve done that. You can never have enough pitching; the minute you think you have enough pitching, you don’t. We’re happy with the depth we’ve built up over the course of the winter. It’s a dangerous thing to say you’re ever done.”
That said, what about reports that the Cubs are talking to the Tigers about dealing Matt Garza? Hoyer would not comment specifically on the rumors. But he did say just because they’ve added Maholm does not mean they are automatically dealing Garza.
“This Maholm contract, and the fact you can look and say we have six starters now, this deal is not a precursor to anything,” Hoyer said.
* As for negotiations with free agent Kerry Wood, Hoyer said the two sides are still talking.
“We continue to want Kerry back in Chicago and we’ve offered him a substantial raise and we certainly hope it gets done,” Hoyer said.
* With the addition of Maholm, the Cubs starting candidates now include Garza, Ryan Dempster, Maholm, Chris Volstad, Randy Wells, Casey Coleman and Travis Wood. Where does that leave Jeff Samardzija? Hoyer said the right-hander will prepare this spring as if he were going to start.
“I think that’s important not only for the possibility that he could be in the rotation but also for his development,” Hoyer said. “If you prepare as a starter in Spring Training, it helps with your command and with your secondary pitches. We do see Jeff as a guy who can start. With the depth, he may wind up being a quality bullpen arm for us but we are going to prepare him in Spring Training as a starter.”
* The Cubs do need to make a roster move to open a spot on the 40-man for Maholm. Hoyer said it’s a procedural thing, and they will announce the move later Tuesday.
– Carrie Muskat
1/10 Cubs sign Paul Maholm
The Cubs have signed free agent Paul Maholm to the rotation, a move first announced by the left-handed pitcher on Twitter.
“I hope to get to continue some things when I visit [Pittsburgh] during the year and start some great things as I start my Cubs career,” wrote Maholm on Monday.
Maholm, 29, will receive $4.25 million this year with a club option of $6.5 million in 2013, or a $500,000 buyout. The lefty, who has spent his entire career with the Pirates, gives the Cubs more depth, something GM Jed Hoyer has said they’re trying to do. The team does not want to be short-handed as it was last season when both Andrew Cashner and Randy Wells were hurt after their first starts of ths season.
“Depth has been a focus of this winter,” Hoyer said on Friday.
The candidates for the rotation now include Maholm, Matt Garza, Ryan Dempster, Travis Wood, Chris Volstad, Randy Wells and Casey Coleman. Wood is the only lefty in that group. However, there has been interest in Garza this offseason by teams such as the Tigers, Yankees and Blue Jays.
– Carrie Muskat
1/8 Cubs Convention kicks off Friday
Many Cubs fans will get their first chance to talk to Theo Epstein, Jed Hoyer, Dale Sveum and many of the newest players at the 27th annual Cubs Convention, which opens Friday at the Hilton Chicago. Opening ceremonies will begin at 5 p.m. CT in the Grand Ballroom.
Players scheduled to attend include Starlin Castro, Marlon Byrd, David DeJesus, Ian Stewart, Chris Volstad, Travis Wood, Ryan Dempster, Carlos Marmol, Darwin Barney, Tony Campana, Brett Jackson, Matt Szczur and Josh Vitters. In total, more than 80 current and former members of the Cubs, coaches and prospects are scheduled to interact in the three-day fan fest.
After the opening ceremonies Friday, there will be the Autograph Treasure Hunt, Cubs Bingo and a chance to sit in on WGN Radio’s live two-hour broadcast of “WGN Sports Night” featuring some of the players and staff.
On Saturday, Epstein, the new president of baseball operations, will kick off a “Behind the Scenes” seminar at 9 a.m. CT in the Grand Ballroom, followed at 10 a.m. CT by “Meet Cubs Baseball Management” featuring Sveum, Hoyer and assistant GM Randy Bush in the Continental Ballroom.
Additional Saturday sessions include:
* “Player Development: From the Dominican Republic to Mesa,” featuring Starlin Castro, Welington Castillo and Jeff Samardzija discussing their experiences in the Dominican Republic and Mesa, AZ, as well as front office leadership providing an update to the progress of each site.
* “From the Field to the Booth,” featuring host Dave Otto talking with Bob Brenly, Todd Hollandsworth, Gary Matthews, Keith Moreland and Rick Sutcliffe about the benefits and challenges of taking the player perspective to the broadcast booth.
* “For Kids Only Press Conference,” presented by Advocate Health Care, with Darwin Barney, Tony Campana, Reed Johnson, Todd Walker and newcomer David DeJesus facing questions from a room of pint-sized reporters.
* “Ron Santo: Beyond the Game,” featuring host Pat Hughes talking with widow Vicki Santo, son Ron Santo Jr., and friends and teammates Glenn Beckert, Randy Hundley and Billy Williams about the late broadcaster and third baseman and his recent Hall of Fame election.
* “Coaches’ Den,” featuring Sveum, new bench coach Jamie Quirk, new pitching coach Chris Bosio, new first base coach Dave McKay, hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo and bullpen coach Lester Strode discussing their coaching philosophies, moderated by Bob Brenly.
* “Outside the Foul Lines,” featuring Tony Campana, Ryan Dempster, Geovany Soto and Randy Wells sharing their personalities and experiences beyond the game.
* “The Ricketts’ Family Forum,” featuring Ricketts family members Tom, Laura, Pete and Todd discussing their journey as team owners and what they hope to accomplish in the coming years.
* “When Super Fans Unite,” a session dedicated to the fans and their questions targeted to members of the legendary 1984 team, including Bob Dernier, Gary Matthews, Keith Moreland and Lee Smith.
* “The Scouting Formula,” featuring Jason McLeod, senior VP of scouting and player development; Oneri Fleita, VP of player personnel; Tim Wilken, director of amateur scouting; and Joe Bohringer, director of professional scouting, discussing their secrets behind scouting and player development.
* “Meet Cubs Business Management,” offering a look toward the future of the Cubs and Wrigley Field with Crane Kenney, Cubs president of business operations; Wally Hayward, executive VP, chief sales & marketing officer; Mike Lufrano, VP of community affairs; Carl Rice, VP of stadium operations; Colin Faulkner, VP of ticket sales; Alex Sugarman, VP of business development; and Jahaan Blake, director of fan experiences.
Saturday’s programs will conclude with a live two-hour broadcast of WGN Radio’s Sports Central from 4-6 p.m. CT, featuring a variety of current, former and new Cubs players. Guests can then head over to the “Rock ‘n’ Roll Revue” for a night of dancing, singing and plenty of laughter during a live show from Rod Tuffcurls & The Bench Press.
* On Sunday, the sessions include “Down on the Farm,” which highlights each team in the Minor League system with players Jeff Beliveau, Brett Jackson, Junior Lake, Matt Szczur and Josh Vitters. Former Cub Shawon Dunston and his son Shawon Dunston Jr. will be joined by Bob Brenly and his son, prospect Michael Brenly, and Cubs scout Keith Lockhart and his son, prospect Daniel Lockhart, to discuss the pros and cons of “The Father-Son Connection” in Major League Baseball.
Among the new activities this year:
* The LEGOLAND® Discovery Center is a LEGO building area that will feature Master Model Builder Jayson Mueller as he constructs impressive creations, shows different building techniques and answers questions from fellow builders of all ages.
* The Best Buy Experience will allow fans to try their hand at a number of gaming consoles with the latest sports titles; discover their musical talents at an interactive DJ station; and connect at a computer cyber bar and charge their mobile devices.
* The Baseball Interactive Zone, hosted by Illinois Baseball Academy, provides an opportunity for fans to learn a few tricks of the game in a live setting. Professional instructors and special Cubs guests will give lessons to fans of all ages in designated areas for baseball skills, batting and pitching.
Proceeds from the Convention benefit Chicago Cubs Charities. The Cubs Convention has helped generate more than $4 million for charity since its inception in 1986.
– Carrie Muskat
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