Cubs get busy with September call-ups
The Cubs will waste no time getting September call-ups to Wrigley Field.
They made one move Friday, the last day of August, optioning lefty Brooks Raley to Class AAA Iowa and recalling left-handed reliever Jeff Beliveau from Iowa.
The Cubs shut Raley down for the season after Thursday’s game, so the move was procedural, especially considering that Iowa’s season ended Friday. The I-Cubs had their remaining three games, scheduled for New Orleans, canceled by the Pacific Coast League because of Hurricane Isaac.
Beginning Saturday, the Cubs will add infielder Adrian Cardenas as well as outfielders Tony Campana and Dave Sappelt.
On Sunday, they’ll recall reliever Miguel Socolovich from Iowa. Left-hander Chris Rusin will come up and start Tuesday at Washington. Catcher Anthony Recker will join the team Tuesday, as well.
Relief pitcher Rafael Dolis, who did a short stint as the Cubs’ closer earlier this season, also will rejoin the big club at some point.
The Riot returns:Former Cub Ryan Theriot, who played on the Cardinals#146; world-championship team last year, came to town Friday with the Giants, who appear playoff bound.With the Cubs, Theriot was on playoff teams in 2007 and 2008.#147;I guess that#146;s a good trait to have,#148; he said. #147;I#146;ve been fortunate to be on some clubs, a lot of clubs, that have had success. This is nothing different this year. We#146;ve got a really nice team and are playing good.#148;Theriot was asked about Cubs left fielder Alfonso Soriano not wanting to be traded to San Francisco because of the chilly climate.#147;You very rarely find yourself sweating during a game,#148; he said. #147;It is a chill in the air, there#146;s no doubt about that. It#146;s windy. It#146;s a challenge. It#146;s something you have to get used to. It#146;s big ballpark. The NL West pitching pretty dang good, too.#147;From a hitter#146;s standpoint, there are a lot of things that are kind of stacked up against you when you go out there. You do get used to it. You all saw what Barry (Bonds) did for so long out there. So it is possible to hit homers there.#148;Walk this way:Center fielder Brett Jackson drew his 15th walk since his call-up from Class AAA Iowa Aug. 5. That#146;s as many walks as first baseman Anthony Rizzo, who came up June 26.In September, Jackson also may catch Darwin Barney (24) and Starlin Castro (27) in walks, and both have been here all year. Jackson has a hitting line of .208/.337/.455. He has 37 strikeouts in 77 at-bats.#147;Right now, we#146;re going to deal with some of the strikeouts and the at-bats,#148; manager Dale Sveum said. #147;You#146;re still seeing a kid that fortunately is not a deer in headlights. He#146;s going up there with the intention of doing some damage all the time and swinging the bat and getting some good swings.#147;He#146;s getting quite a few walks. With the strikeouts, he#146;s got an .800 OPS. You don#146;t want to live with it, but you can live with it as long as the OPS and walks are there, getting on base and doing some stuff.#148;