Hill wins catching job
MESA, Ariz. _ There is news before we make the long drive over to Surprise for today's Cubs-Royals game. The Cubs have released catcher Paul Bako and relief pitcher Mike Stanton, a veteran lefty.
That means Koyie Hill has won the backup catcher's job.
The Cubs signed Bako to a major-league deal on Jan. 30 and told him he would compete with Hill to be the backup to Geovany Soto. Neither Bako nor Hill has hit much in their big-league careers. Bako brought 745 games of big-league experience to camp, including two years with the Cubs, in 2003-04. He's a respected handler of pitchers who caught Greg Maddux in Atlanta and with the Cubs.
Hill, 30, has been the good soldier the last two seasons, spending most of them at Class AAA Iowa while getting into 46 games with the Cubs. The Cubs like his handling of the pitching staff and say he's not afraid to go out and upbraid even Carlos Zambrano at times. Hill also helped to mentor Soto at Iowa in 2007 before Soto came up and dazzled in September of that year. Soto won Rookie of the Year honors last year.
For the spring, Hill has batted .381 (16-for-42) with a homer and 8 RBI. Bako batted .364 (12-for-33) with a homer and 5 RBI. He was batting .231 until having a 4-for-4 game on March 21, when he entered the game late in a Cubs rout of Oakland.
Stanton didn't seem to have much of a chance from the get-go. The Cubs brought the 41-year-old lefty in as a nonroster man. Stanton ranks second on the all-time appearances list with 1,178 games. He began his big-league career in 1989 with Atlanta. He did not pitch last year after being let go by the Reds.
The spring roster is now at 28. The final three cuts will be pitchers, which means that, barring a trade, Micah Hoffpauir officially has made the team, as has Joey Gathright.
Bruce, it's great to read that Hoffpauir and Hill have made the team. However, I for one am a bit concerned to read that the team is set with 13 position players. Hoffpauir, Hill, Johnson, and Miles are givens and Gathright is still with the team. It would seem that the team needs another middle infielder much more than they do another outfielder, and I wonder if Esteban German is still being considered for the 25th roster spot. Since he's played mostly 2B and 3B, as well as LF and CF and even a little SS, and bats from the right side, he seems like a perfect fit. Without the addition of another middle infielder, Lou won't be able to pinch hit with Miles for fear of injury because he'd have no middle infield option if Miles and Theriot/Fontenot were to get hurt. I thought that Bobby Scales might be the 25th man but know that he was already assigned to the minors. What's the latest word on the 25th spot?
German was sent back to minor-league camp Sunday. The 13 position players are set. The Cubs say they're confident right now that Miles and Fontenot can handle third base in an emergency. This can all change, of course, and help is only a phone call away if the Cubs need it. Rosters change several times throughout the year.
Bruce, would you agree with their decision to keep Gathright instead of an extra infielder? Seems like a risky proposition to me, to keep a guy that mostly offers the speed factor and not much else, instead of adding an infielder who can play up the middle as well as 3B. If Fontenot is playing 3B, that means that Miles and Theriot are also in the lineup and there is no room for an injury. And if Miles is the only middle infielder on the bench, he won't be available to pinch hit because if Theriot or Fontenot were to get hurt (or Miles was used as a pinch hitter and replaced Theriot or Fontenot and Miles or Theriot/Fontenot were to get hurt) they would have no other middle infield options. If they are set on keeping Gathright, the only logical solution is going with only 11 pitchers IMO. What do you think of their decision Bruce? Is that the route you'd go if you were in Lou's shoes?
If I were going to keep an outfielder, it would have been Taguchi. Gathright seems superfluous, but the Cubs keep saying they're not worried about the infield situation. The only thing you can say on their behalf is that help is only a phone call away at Iowa if something comes up, and they do have spots open on the 40-man. But in game, yes, they can be hampered and have to scramble. I'd rather have the infielder myself. But Gathright is here to stay.
At least one of which will never see the light of day. I just don't understand why that's necessary.
As good as Piniella is, he goes through the bench like Dr. Greg House goes through vicodin . . . then he wonders why there are no position players available in extra innings.
Why not carry 11, since they only actually USE 11?
Soriano, LF
Fukudome, CF
Hoffpauir, 1B
Bradley, DH
Ramirez, 3B
Fontenot, 2B
Johnson, RF
Hill, C
Miles, SS
Harden, P
Looks like Heilman, Marmol, Guzman and Samardzija to follow Harden.
NIIIIICE. I like it.
He has 3 singles, a double and a walk today. His OBP and OPS are off the charts this spring.
That was supposed to be an evil laugh.
Just bring it to MMP one week from tonight.
I see big Jim has been following my memos I sent him..(HA!)
Seriously, very glad that Hill made it. We know, and have known, what Bako brings to the table for many years.
Thank god. Even if Hill isn't the BEST option to be a backup , this way I can save myself from my blood pressure rising when Bako would have started on a Thursday and gone 0-3 and hit .215 all year.
Bruce, what are you hearing about Gaudin, and Guzman for the last few spots? Any word on a favorite or possible trade?
It may go down to New York this weekend. More on today's upcoming blog.