Throughout the 2013 baseball season, the Smokies on Radio staff will be rolling out all the Cubs, Smokies, and baseball news each weekday. To stay current with all the latest news, follow Smokies on Radio on Twitter and like the Smokies on Radio Facebook page.
Cubs’ Samardzija expects Garza to challenge for Opening Day start despite setback.
Carrie Muskat / Cubs.com
The Cubs and Samardzija both hope Matt Garza returns healthy enough to compete for the Opening Day start. Photo Courtesy: Getty Images
“To sit and count Garza out wouldn’t be the smartest thing to do. I want that competition,” Samardzija told reporters Tuesday. “I want me and Garza and Edwin [Jackson] to go out and compete for that spot. It’s only going to make us better and build us as a core of the rotation.”
Samardzija was listed atop the Cubs’ depth chart headed into Spring Training, but the 28-year-old is looking for competition to push him this spring after his training partner Ryan Dempster was traded to the Texas Rangers in July and then signed with Boston this offseason. The Cubs announced Tuesday that pitcher Matt Garza will be sat down for a week after an MRI revealed a mild lat strain on his left side.
Starlin Castro aiming for a Gold Glove award in 2013.
Carrie Muskat / MLBlogs Network
Starlin Castro’s .964 fielding percentage ranked 10th among NL shortstops in 2012.
“I know that God gave me [the ability to] hit,” Castro said on Tuesday. “That’s why when I went to the Dominican, I worked hard every day on my defense. I want to be like [Darwin] Barney and win a Gold Glove.
Castro committed 27 errors last season, the most among all shortstops in the National League, and ranked 10th in fielding percentage (.964). Cubs second baseman Darwin Barney won his first Gold Glove last season after improving his defense with former infield coordinator Pat Listach.
“It’s one thing I challenged him to do,” said Cubs manager Dale Svuem. “[I said] ‘Your next step now is to win a Gold Glove,’ and obviously that takes a lot of focus and hard work and being focused for 150 pitches a game and 162 games.”
Cubs’ Epstein says he’s pleased with progress of the organization.
David Kaplan / CSN Chicago
Theo Epstein characterized the Cubs rebuilding plan as being 30 percent complete. Photo Courtesy: Getty Images
“We feel great about where we are going. It was a huge year for the farm system and everything that happened behind the scenes,” said Epstein. “We don’t want to keep talking about it. We can’t wait for the season to start so we can go out and do it so our prospects can continue to develop. I think we are going to surprise some people at the major-league level with the quality and depth of our pitching staff.
However, Epstein said if the major league club looks to be struggling half way through the season, things could “get ugly for the last couple of months.”
Changes expected to the Cubs’ seventh inning stretch after listening to fan feedback.
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune
Vince Vaughn sings “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” during a 7th inning stretch in 2012. Photo Courtesy: John Gress/WireImage
Cubs in-game programming director Jim Oboikowitch announced Tuesday the team will bring in less “A listers” and will instead focus on brining in those with Chicago ties.
“They should know something about the Cubs. They should know the background of Harry Caray and what we are doing, and I think it will be a little more teaching them and exposing them,” said Oboikowitch.
Reds’ manager Dusty Baker still frustrated by the way things ended in Chicago.
David Kaplan / CSN Chicago
Baker admitted Monday that he wishes he’d been give a better opportunity in Chicago. Photo Courtesy: Steve Grayson/WireImage
Baker gathered with media Monday as part of the Cactus League media day at Chase Field in Phoenix. While Baker discussed the excitement surrounding his Cincinnati Reds team, he also admitted he views his four years in Chicago as a period he tries to forget.
“I’ve made (it) invisible, like that was a part of my life that never was,” Baker said. “When I get back to Chicago, then it hits me front and center. You know, in life you can make anything invisible, because if you don’t then, you know, some of the pain that you might have felt will always be there and you don’t need that.”
Baker told reporters he was not ready to go in 2006 after the Cubs did not renew his contract.
“At the time when I was sent out I wasn’t ready to go then. When I was there they quit spending money and they quit reloading,” he said. “Then right after I left they started spending money again.”
Cubs new Mesa Riverview Stadium only a year away.
East Valley Tribune / Mike Sakai
The Cubs will begin next spring by playing their games in the new Mesa Riverview Stadium. Photo Courtesy: City of Mesa
The Cubs new 125-acre spring training facility will resemble Wrigley Field and seat 15,000 fans. The complex will have 70 percent of its seating in the shade, a large concourse with a party deck over left field and state-of-the-art weight and training rooms.
“It marks a new beginning,” Cubs CEO Tom Ricketts said last year. ““The Chicago Cubs are a part of the City of Mesa and we look forward to being a good neighbor.”
Nick Roark is a Broadcast & Media Associate for Smokies Radio Network. You can follow Nick on Twitter here: @NickRoark4.
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