MLB
The Cubs finalized their Opening Day roster this morning. As expected, three players open the year on the 10/15-Day IL, but one of the three was a surprise to me. I did not realize Alec Mills had suffered a lower back strain late in ST. His stint, along with Wade Miley (elbow inflammation) and Andrelton Simmons (shoulder inflammation), have been back dated to April 4th. This means reliever Mychal Givens is ready to pitch this first week of the season, and Michael Rucker has also made the team as a multi-inning reliever. Rosters have been expanded to 28 players for the month of April.
This is a good reminder that the new CBA pushed minimum IL stints for pitchers back up to 15 days (position player IL remains 10 days) in an effort to combat the roster manipulation several teams undertook last year to rotate fresh arms through their bullpen on a regular basis. Along the same lines, players no longer have an unlimited number of options to the Minor Leagues throughout the year. Teams will only be allowed to send a player down a maximum of 5 times during a season.
The Opening Day lineup has also been posted:
Here is today's #Cubs Opening Day lineup! pic.twitter.com/RRi6XLut1T
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) April 7, 2022
AAA
Game Recap
An extra base hit barrage by the Cubs built an early 5-2 advantage. Rain began to fall around the 4th inning and runs became difficult to come by for both teams the rest of the way despite some pitchers struggling a bit with control. Dixon Machado reached base five times and stole two bases out of the leadoff spot. Trent Giambrone scored three times. Iowa native Matt Dermody earned the win as he breezed through his first three innings of work in relief of starter Conner Menez.
Top Performers
- Dixon Machado: 2-3, 2 R, RBI, 3 BB, 2 SB (1, 2) (.333)
- Trent Giambrone: 2-4, 2B, 3 R, RBI, BB, SB (1) (.500)
- Levi Jordan: 1-5, HR (1), 2 R, 2 RBI (.200)
- Robel García: 2-5, 2B (.444)
- Zach Davis: 1-4, 2B, RBI, BB (.250)
- Matt Dermody: 3.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, BB, K (W, 1-0)
- Erich Uelmen: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
- Aneuris Rosario: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, K (S, 1)
Injuries, Updates, and Trends
The first home run in the Cubs organization this season came off the bat of Levi Jordan as he managed to cut a two-run shot through the rain in the 7th. The utility infielder had a nice 1st half in Tennessee last year before injuries cut short his opportunities with Iowa in the latter half of the season. He’s got a bunch of veterans in front of him this year, but I expect the Cubs will still try to give him opportunities early to see if he can displace one of them.
Levi Jordan hits an oppo taco in the rain to give Iowa a 7-2 lead pic.twitter.com/LJJGHjkPLk
— Jordan Miller (@Miller_MiLB) April 7, 2022
Brennen Davis struck out three times for the second straight game, but also walked twice.
Robel García already has three doubles through two games in his return to the Cubs organization.
The Cubs received 1.1 solid innings from former 4th round pick Erich Uelmen. The righty has mostly featured a sinker-slider mix from a low three quarter arm slot during his career which has always left him susceptible to left handed batters. He’s continued to work on a changeup over the years in an effort to combat this deficiency, and at least for his first game this season was able to work in several solid ones as he tossed 1.1 perfect innings of relief. If he can master that pitch this season he could offer the Cubs depth behind Scott Effross in the coming years.
Filed under: Daily Cubs Minors Recap
I sure hope Davis gets it figured out. He's never been a high-strikeout guy, although his Ks increased last year against AA pitching. I'm hopeful he can get it under control and spend some time at Wrigley this year.
Well, I'll be the first to comment. Cubs win! Cubs win!
A great win for the Cubs. Doesnt mean much in the overall scheme. But this lineup (ortega, wisdom, happ, contreras, schwindel, etc) scored more runs than the old (baez, bryant, rizzo) lineup last year.
So as always it comes down to pitching and how good are Steele, Smyly & Miley.
Great day at wrigley. If it would have been warmer that would have been nice.
Agreed - a great win and a good way to start out the season. I was especially happy to see Hendricks go 5+ solid innings with 80 or so pitches and a bunch of Ks. Defense generally looked OK - and even Heyward got a couple of hits.
Let's see what Steele can do today.
Javy has a flare for the dramatic. I love it. Sorry Sox fans.
You are gonna have to throw strikes to this Cubs team. They arent going to go out of the strike zone to swing at the ball.
Welcome back Michael. Looking forward to the upcoming DCMR. Can't wait to see how the Cubs prospects play out this year. System seems loaded with plenty of guys to watch at every level. Wishing them all good health this season. The current SB starters should be a fun group to root for wow lots of talent there.
I like Levi Jordan. Maybe the next ‘David Bote’?