Quade named to All-Star Game staff
Cubs manager Mike Quade wasn’t in much of a mood to talk about the All-Star Game after a 13-7 loss to the San Francisco Giants in Game 1 of a day-night doubleheader Tuesday at Wrigley Field.
But Quade said he felt honored to be named to the coaching staff of the National League by Giants manager Bruce Bochy, who will lead the NL next month in Phoenix.
Quade replaces Jim Riggleman, who resigned as manager of the Washington Nationals last week (Riggleman will be in town this weekend as an analyst for the Cubs-White Sox games on Comcast SportsNet.)
“Wonderful honor,” said Quade, in his first full year as a major league manager. “Really wonderful honor. Wish I was calling (Bochy) to come with me. That’s what I’d like to do someday. That was a real nice surprise.”
Quade added he does not know Bochy well but that the Giants were very happy last September when the Cubs knocked off the San Diego Padres, paving the way for the Giants to make the playoffs and eventually win the World Series.
Roster move: Between games of the doubleheader, the Cubs optioned infielder DJ LeMahieu to Class AAA Iowa and recalled right-handed reliever Marcos Mateo from that club.Mateo opened the season with the Cubs and was optioned May 17. LeMahieu came up from Class AA Tennessee on May 30 for this first big-league action. He was 9-for-37 (.243) with 1 double and 1 RBI in 23 games #147;I think he#146;s handled himself extremely well,#148; Mike Quade said. #147;He hasn#146;t been in awe. I#146;ve really been impressed with him defensively. Maybe I shouldn#146;t be because I was told he can play. He#146;s a bigger kid. He moves around well. He turns the double play well. It looks like he handles third base well.#148;LeMahieu, a second-round pick out of LSU in 2009, figures to be part of the Cubs#146; future, either at second base, third base or in a utility role. Quade likened him to rookie second baseman Darwin Barney, who will come off the disabled list Wednesday.#147;Somebody you can count on,#148; Quade said. #147;The thing that you like when you see him are the little things. I think it#146;s similar in many respects to Barney. You see all the little things that he does.#147;It boils down to how much he can give you offensively. Where is he going with the bat? He puts the ball in play. He#146;s a contact kind of guy. When they do the other things, how good they#146;re going to be is how well they#146;re going to hit.#148;Rehabbers a hit:Marlon Byrd hit a 3-run homer Tuesday for Class AAA Iowa as he rehabs from facial fractures. Byrd likely will come off the disabled list next week.Darwin Barney was 2-for-3 with a run scored for Iowa on Tuesday. He has been rehabbing a sprained left knee and will wear a brace when he comes back. Cubs manager Mike Quade expects Barney to start Wednesday night.Reliever Kerry Wood remains on the DL with a blister on his right index finger. He may throw a side session Wednesday. The Cubs aren#146;t sure when Wood will return as he still needs to toughen up the skin on the finger, according to Quade.