When Phil Nevin was acquired Wednesday, manager Dusty Baker called it a “much-needed deal” for the Cubs.
“We needed some right-handed sock, and he can play first base, third base, and I haven’t seen him in the outfield, but we’ll probably work him out there,” Baker said.
Nevin hit a 410-foot home run Saturday but sat Sunday for the second time in three games. He isn’t being considered for a corner outfield spot, and Aramis Ramirez is an everyday player at third, so Nevin will play first or sit.
“We’ve only got so many spaces,” Baker said Sunday. “Plus (Cardinals starter Jason Marquis) is real tough on righties.”
Nevin, who makes $10.4 million, hit .197 against right-handers in 132 at-bats with Texas. Baker hinted Nevin would play primarily against left-handers.
“You wish he played a number of positions,” Baker said. “It’d make it a lot easier.”
Stargazing
While the Cubs are unlikely to have a starter in the All-Star Game–no player is anywhere near the top of the voting at his position–the top two candidates to make the squad as reserves are catcher Michael Barrett and right fielder Jacque Jones. Barrett leads all Cubs with 182,309 votes but ranks fifth among NL catchers. Carlos Zambrano ranks second in the NL in strikeouts but, with a 3-3 record, is a long shot.
New blood
The Cubs brought up Double-A right-hander Carlos Marmol to take the spot of reliever Scott Williamson, who went on the disabled list with a strained right elbow. Marmol, 23, was a starter at West Tenn, going 3-2 with a 2.33 ERA in 11 starts. Baker said Marmol was throwing the best of any Cubs prospect and would be used as a long reliever. He pitched two scoreless innings in his debut Sunday, striking out three.
Extra innings
Baker, on whether the Cubs are playing as well as they have all season: “We played pretty good in the beginning when we had our whole team. Most people have forgotten that. They just remember May, which we’re trying to forget.”… Veteran Cubs clubhouse man Yosh Kawano celebrated his 85th birthday Sunday.
