Roster already features key call-ups
The Cubs probably won’t make a whole lot of September call-ups. Most of those players already are here.
Major-league teams may expand their rosters beyond 25 beginning Sept. 1. But the Cubs began the process of bringing young players up after the July 31 trading deadline.
Outfielder Brett Jackson and third baseman Josh Vitters are the most prominent players called up. Pitchers Brooks Raley and Chris Rusin have made starts.
“The way the roster is and everything, I don’t know how many we will (call up),” said Cubs manager Dale Sveum on Saturday. “I don’t think it’s going to be an overwhelming amount, but just enough to help us out in September to where we can do some things roster wise during the game and pinch hit, obviously, 3-4 pitchers to help out and all that stuff.”
Speedy outfielder Tony Campana is a likely call-up, as is infielder Adrian Cardenas and reliever Jeff Beliveau.
Rusin was sent back to Iowa on Saturday as Raley was called up to start the Cubs’ 4-3 loss to the Rockies. It’s likely Rusin will get some September starts.
“I’m sure Campana will be one of them,” Sveum said. “He just need to go down and play, and that’s what he’s done. He’s a guy that can help us win a ballgame in September with his speed, too.”
Watching the innings:Brooks Raley worked 5 innings of Saturday#146;s 4-3 loss to Colorado, throwing 80 pitches in his fourth big-league start. The Cubs are trying to limit the innings pitched of the young starters they call up. #147;I felt good,#148; Raley said. #147;Obviously, I never played the Rockies before, and I tried to do the same thing as always: Try to attack the zone, get ahead in the count. That#146;s when good things happen.#148;Raley seemed to understand coming out, but he also would have loved to go longer.#147;Absolutely,#148; he said. #147;Who doesn#146;t want to go 7,8 innings and give their team a chance to win? I felt like I gave us a chance to win through 5 today.#148;Making progress:Center fielder Brett Jackson doubled in the second inning, hit a 2-run homer in the fourth and walked in the seventh. He homered for the second game in a row and had his third multihit game. #147;Some good swings on fastballs again,#148; said Dale Sveum. #147;That#146;s got to be helping him out confidence wise. With the strikeouts and everything, you look up and even with the strikeouts in what whatever at-bats he#146;s had, right now he#146;s got a .700 OPS. It#146;s not what you want, but with those strikeouts, he#146;s still hit 3 home runs. He#146;s got a few doubles and a triple. That#146;s the kind of center field you#146;re asking for. Cut down the strikeouts, it (the OPS) will even get higher and higher.#148;Jackson has struck out 31 times in 61 at-bats and has a hitting line of .197/.279/.426.