Results tagged ‘ Tyler Colvin ’
2/15 Cubs spring notebook
Tyler Colvin and Brad Snyder were both taking grounders at first base on Tuesday. Colvin will get some action there in Cactus League games. The Cubs want to see if he can backup Carlos Pena.
* Fernando Perez, Augie Ojeda, Darwin Barney, Brett Jackson, Josh Vitters, Blake DeWitt and Reed Johnson were among the other position players working out at Fitch Park. They don’t have to report until Friday.
* A motorist driving down Center Street near the Cubs’ Fitch Park complex was surprised when a baseball struck his windshield. Apparently, Jackson put a good swing on a pitch during batting practice.
* The Cubs could leave camp with three left-handers in the bullpen, and possibly four. They also could have four right-handed starters if James Russell doesn’t make the rotation.
* With Matt Sinatro gone, Mike Quade will work with the catchers this season. Quade did that in the Minor Leagues.
* Ivan DeJesus said he had a good week with shortstop Starlin Castro in the Dominican Republic this offseason. They stressed throwing mechanics. Minor League infield coordinator Franklin Font also spent a week with Castro in the Dominican.
* Quade lobbied the media to root for the rottweilers in the Westminster Dog Show to win.
– Carrie Muskat
2/14 Cubs notebook – UPDATED
Here’s an updated notebook:
* Angel Guzman threw off the mound for the third time Monday since undergoing surgery on his right shoulder. Guzman, who has a 3.15 career ERA in 74 relief appearances, will hopefully be able to pitch in a simulated game by mid March.
“It’s a long shot,” manager Mike Quade said. “He’s here, he’ll work, you know he’ll do that, and modern medicine is unbelievable. A quick Tommy John, and you’re throwing 94 to 98 [mph]. If he gets involved in this sometime, someday, it’ll be great. Right now, it’s a long way off.”
* Carlos Silva went home Monday with a 103-degree fever. It’s early. He was slated to throw off the mound on Tuesday at Fitch Park. Others scheduled to throw include Braden Looper, Casey Coleman, Trey McNutt, Thomas Diamond, Todd Wellemeyer, Randy Wells, Andrew Cashner, Kerry Wood, Justin Berg, Jay Jackson and Marcos Mateo.
* Quade made sure to talk to Tyler Colvin on Monday. On Sunday, Quade said the Cubs want to see Colvin at first base, but hadn’t talked to the youngster first. “It’ll be more than just a glimpse,” Quade said of Colvin’s playing time at first this spring. “He’ll play some games over there.” Carlos Pena is the everyday first baseman but the Cubs need to find out whether they can count on Colvin as a backup at first if necessary. Jeff Baker is the only backup.
* James Russell threw off the mound Monday. He’s a candidate for the rotation, and if he made it, would be the only lefty. If it doesn’t work, Russell can easily be inserted back in the bullpen. Pitching coach Mark Riggins has pitchers throwing in groups of four, and is having the sessions filmed for review. Quade stayed away.
“I don’t want to be around when these guys are throwing sides right out of the chute,” Quade said. “You ask guys to come to camp, take their time, get ready to compete for the games. You’re not going to make the club today. [You might think] ‘You know what, the skipper’s around, he’s watching on the side,’ and they don’t need that. The veteran guys, it probably doesn’t affect.”
* When Quade was managing the Cubs’ Triple-A Iowa team, he could tell how the big league team was doing by listening to Ron Santo on the radio. Quade didn’t need to know the score, but could tell by Santo’s tone.
“We’ll miss him and let’s win one for him, and I’m not talking about Opening Day,” Quade said.
* Quade made a new friend when he tossed a ball to a woman walking a dog near the Fitch Park facility.
– Carrie Muskat
2/13 Colvin and 1B
Tyler Colvin better dust off his first baseman’s glove. Cubs manager Mike Quade said Sunday he will have Colvin get some work in there this spring. Right now, Jeff Baker is the only backup first baseman on the depth chart.
– Carrie Muskat
1/4 Cubs Convention update
Still trying to decide whether to go to the Cubs Convention? There are
still rooms available at the Hilton Chicago for the event, Jan. 14-16.
Staying at the host hotel is much easier than staying somewhere else in
Chicago — you might even bump into Sean Marshall or Kerry Wood in the
elevator. Plus, you get a weekend pass to the Convention for $20 each.
There is a limit of four passes per room. In addition, the Cubs are
offering a special autographed item to everyone who books a room under
the Cubs Convention rate. There will be one item per room while supplies
last. Hotel reservations can be made by calling the Hilton Chicago at
(312) 922-4400.
Among the other players scheduled to attend are new first baseman Carlos
Pena, Carlos Zambrano Aramis Ramirez, Marlon Byrd, Carlos Marmol, Tyler
Colvin, Starlin Castro, Chris Archer, Jay Jackson, Chris Carpenter and
DJ LeMahieu. Also, Cubs manager Mike Quade and his staff will be there
to answer questions.
– Carrie Muskat
12/21 Wood, Z, Pena at convention
Kerry Wood, Carlos Zambrano and new first baseman Carlos Pena will be among the players attending the 2011 Cubs Convention, Jan. 14-16 at the Hilton Chicago. Wood, who signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract last Friday to return to the Cubs, will be among the players attending the winter fan fest and will be joined by Zambrano, Aramis Ramirez, Marlon Byrd, Carlos Marmol, Tyler Colvin and Starlin Castro.
Cubs manager Mike Quade will answer fans questions, and attendees will get to meet prospects Chris Archer, Jay Jackson, Chris Carpenter and DJ LeMahieu.
A limited number of convention passes are available for purchase by visiting http://www.cubs.com or by calling 1-800-THE-CUBS. Each weekend pass is $60 plus convenience fees, with proceeds to benefit Chicago Cubs Charities. Passes include access to all autograph/photo opportunities, question and answer sessions, memorabilia and vendor booths, as well as interactive areas for fans of all ages.
– Carrie Muskat
12/9 Cubs notebook
Camp Colvin is up and running in Mesa, Ariz. The offseason workout camp, named after Tyler Colvin because of the success he had last winter, has about a dozen players participating. Colvin gained 25 pounds last year, improved his flexibility and running speed and got stronger.
“He’s proud of it and he’s embraced it,” Cubs player development director Oneri Fleita said Thursday.
Among the players in camp are Colvin, Ryan Dempster, Jeff Samardzija, DJ LeMahieu, Darwin Barney, Brandon Guyer, and Tony Campana.
“It’s a nice chance for some of these guys to spend time together outside of the season in a different format,” Fleita said. “It helps them bond and reach the ultimate goal.”
Right now, the goal is to improve their strength and conditioning. After Jan. 1, they’ll start adding baseball activities.
“I think at the end of the day there will be a bond — you sweat together, you work together,” Fleita said. “Hopefully, down the road, it pays dividends.”
* Fleita said shortstop Hak-Ju Lee is working out with a personal trainer in Korea and has added 10 pounds. The Cubs he’ll report at least 15 pounds heavier this spring.
“It will be fun to see that kind of weight on that kind of body,” Fleita said of the slender infielder.
* First-round Draft pick Hayden Simpson was to report Sunday to Mesa to join the workouts. Simpson was unable to do anything after he was drafted in June because the pitcher came down with mononucleosis.
* Third baseman Marquez Smith has returned home after playing Winter Ball in Venezuela. The Cubs were worried Smith would be taken in the Rule 5 Draft on Thursday. He batted .247 in 30 games for Aragua.
“He had a nice first half, nice experience first time out of the country,” Fleita said. “I’m always anxious to see how that works out. Normally, you gain a greater appreciation for life at the very least, and you understand what some of your teammates had to go through to get to the big leagues.”
* Starlin Castro went 3-for-4 with a triple and an RBI for Escogido on Wednesday. He’s now batting .200 in eight games. Fleita said he hopes Castro can help Escogido get to the playoffs. Former Cubs outfielder Moises Alou is the team’s GM and his team won the Caribbean World Series last year.
* The Cubs are expected to announce their Minor League staff assignments
next week. Big leaguer Mariano Duncan was to be named Double-A hitting
coach.
– Carrie Muskat
12/7 Can Colvin play 1B?
Can Tyler Colvin handle first base? Mike Quade thinks so.
“I know [the front office] is trying to be creative and keeping an open mind on all of these things,” Quade said of the Cubs’ pursuit of a first baseman this offseason. “Who knows? Fooling around with [Colvin] out there last year may come in handy. He’s a good athlete and he’s got good hands. We said it last year, even though we didn’t play him in a game [at first], the fact he spent time around there and looked comfortable doing it, yeah, he would lack experience and he’d have a lot to learn still but you’d feel like the fundamentals of catching and doing some things, he’d be fine.”
– Carrie Muskat
12/6 Cubs notebook
Hayden Simpson, the Cubs’ No. 1 pick in last June’s First-Year Player Draft, was expected to begin workouts in Mesa, Ariz., later this month if he passes all medical checkups. Simpson did not report to a Minor League team after the Draft because he was sidelined with a severe case of mononucleosis. The right-handed pitcher from Southern Arkansas University, who was the 16th overall selection. Simpson was to get a head start on his workouts before Christmas, take time off for the holidays, and then return to Mesa.
* Camp Colvin has begun in Mesa. The workout program, which helped outfielder Tyler Colvin gain 25 pounds last season, is run by strength and conditioning coach Tim Buss. Colvin is among the participants and reports are that he’s doing well after having his season cut short prematurely when he was hit in the chest by a broken bat.
– Carrie Muskat
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