Talk about an impressive relay. When Mark Prior left Monday night’s game, he handed the ball to Juan Cruz.
This exchange was straight out of the pages of Baseball America. It figures to happen more than a few times the rest of this season.
Cruz’s two-inning outing in the 3-2, 10-inning loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates encouraged Cubs manager Don Baylor that Cruz has the mind-set to work important innings out of the bullpen. “I was thrilled with the way Cruz attacked,” Baylor said. “It was impressive.”
Prior, who was making his second start, has taken Cruz’s spot in the starting rotation. Cruz might eventually work his way back, but Baylor believes he can be a very valuable reliever.
“We’re all kind of thinking about another young right-hander who started out that way–Pedro Martinez,” Baylor said. “He came out of the bullpen [for Los Angeles] just like that. Juan’s the same way. He’s got a great changeup, a great fastball. It would probably help him learn to pitch. He’s going to help us, no doubt. He’s going to help us a lot.”
Cruz, who had made only eight relief outings as a pro, gave up a solo home run to Chad Hermanson. He struck out two and walked one. His fastball was clocked as high as 97 m.p.h.
Baseball America ranks Prior and Cruz 1-2 on the Cubs’ list of prospects. This is saying something for those arms, as it also ranks the Cubs’ farm system as baseball’s best.
Status report: Jason Bere saved his spot in the rotation by working six scoreless innings in Sunday night’s 7-5 loss in Houston. While Baylor says he doesn’t want Bere “looking over his shoulder,” he has committed to him only through Friday’s start against Houston. But Cruz’s work out of the bullpen should buy time for Bere.
Baylor does not second-guess himself for pulling Bere with a 5-0 lead Sunday. “We talked it over before the game,” Baylor said. “We talked it over one other game too, when I let him go one inning too long and he really got himself into trouble. It was time to take him out of the game. I looked at the tape, and it was time to take him out.”
Pine time: After sitting Corey Patterson against Houston lefty Carlos Hernandez on Sunday, Baylor held him out of Monday’s lineup against Pirates lefty Dave Williams. Patterson had started both previous outings against Williams, going 0-for-10 with four strikeouts.
“I don’t want him to get in bad habits with his swing,” Baylor said of Patterson, who was 2-for-8 with two walks and three strikeouts in the series in Houston. “Today’s not the day [to start him].”
It was a great night to bring him off the bench. Patterson’s leadoff homer in the eighth tied the score 1-1. It was his second homer, the first since April 28.
Hundley watch: Todd Hundley was 1-for-4 with two RBIs in Triple-A Iowa’s loss to Calgary on Monday. In three games of a rehab assignment, Hundley is 2-for-9 with one home run.
Iowa was traveling to Oklahoma City after its game Monday. It is possible that Hundley will instead travel to Pittsburgh, re-joining the Cubs.
Old Cubs never die: The Ft. Worth Cats of the independent Central League have a Chicago flavor.
Mel Hall, 41, is trying to make a comeback after last playing in the major leagues in 1996. Along with Joe Carter, Hall was traded to Cleveland in the Rick Sutcliffe deal in 1984. Jose Guzman, who pitched for the Cubs in 1993 and ’94 in an injury-shortened career after being signed to replace Greg Maddux, and former first-round draft pick Jackie Davidson also play for the Cats.
