Cubs make roster moves
MILWAUKEE — The Cubs made some roster moves Friday, and the way manager Mike Quade sees it, he went into the weekend series against the Brewers with a full and rested bullpen.
Pitchers Randy Wells (forearm) and Andrew Cashner (rotator cuff) officially went on the 15-day disabled list. The Cubs recalled right-handed reliever Jeff Stevens from Class AAA Iowa. They’ll call up righty Casey Coleman to start Sunday’s series finale. Lefty James Russell will come out of the pen to start Tuesday at Houston.
“It gives us eight rested guys,” Quade said. “We’ll monitor this thing day to day to see how it sets up with Casey. We’ll see how we have to use the pen the next couple days.”
Quade was honest about what kind of chance Russell has to get stretched out to start on short notice.
“A little bit at a time,” he said. “He doesn’t. I ask him to give me 45 of his best pitches. Turn the lineup over once. Give me nine outs. I don’t want him to pace himself or anything else.”
Hoping to stay:Jeff Stevens was back before he could even get into a game with Iowa, which opened its season Thursday. #147;We were in Round Rock,#148; Stevens said. #147;We traveled on Tuesday, had a practice on Wednesday, and they told me I was going up Wednesday night. I flew Thursday morning, and the first game for Iowa was last night. So didn#146;t start the season at Triple-A. I guess this will be the closest to breaking with the team that I could have been without breaking with the team.#148;Stevens, 27, pitched in 18 games for the Cubs last year and in 11 in 2009. #147;I threw well all spring,#148; he said. #147;I was competing, and my arm started to bother me a little bit. But then I got back. I just missed some innings. I went down to minor-league camp and was fine. I kept the same approach. I#146;m just happy to be back here. I#146;ll do what I can to stick this time.#148;No steals, no problem:Mike Quade said he#146;s not bothered by the Cubs being the only team in the majors without a stolen base heading into Friday. #147;We only took one shot,#148; he said of an opening-day attempt by Darwin Barney. #147;We#146;ve talked about the fact that we haven#146;t been blessed with speed. We#146;ve seen some left-handed starters, which makes it equally as tough. I would love to have 20 stolen bases. #147;We#146;re going to pick our spots. But that#146;s not playing on my mind.Shaking their heads:Cubs outfielder Alfonso Soriano seemed disappointed to hear that the Rays#146; Manny Ramirez retired, with a possible substance-abuse suspension looming. #147;He thinks that he is smart to use it, and they won#146;t find out,#148; Soriano said. #147;Now, they found out. He looks bad.#148;