Cubs pitcher Looper retires at 36
MESA, Ariz. — The competition for the Cubs’ pitching staff got reduced by one Friday as veteran right-hander Braden Looper announced his retirement after being told he would not make the club.
Looper, 36, was in camp as a nonroster man.
“After taking a year off, he came in and gave it a good shot,” general manager Jim Hendry said. “We just felt in the end he wasn’t going to be able to break with the 12 (pitchers). He certainly had an outstanding career. We felt it was a good, sound idea. I’m glad we did it. He handled himself like a true professional and was very helpful to the young pitchers in camp and was very appreciative of the opportunity and certainly understood why he could not break with the 12.”
The retirement of Looper could pave the way for the Cubs to name veteran Carlos Silva their No. 5 starting pitcher. Silva is battling for a roster spot with youngsters Casey Coleman, Jeff Stevens and Marcos Mateo. Stevens, however, seems a long shot to make the club.
Young right-hander Andrew Cashner has made the club. Cashner has been working as a starter this spring, but the Cubs could slide him back into the bullpen and start Silva, who is not as well suited to relief duty.
On top of that, Silva is the lone veteran among the pitching hopefuls.
“It could,” manager Mike Quade said of Silva’s veteran status playing a part in the final decision. “We think so much of the two kids (Coleman and Mateo) that are in that mix, too. That’s what makes it so difficult.”
Silva may have redeemed himself with a strong start earlier this week. The Cubs will go no later than Sunday, and perhaps Saturday, before announcing their decision.
The kid is playing:Second-year shortstop Starlin Castro rallied the Cubs from a 3-2 deficit with a 3-run double in the seventh inning to help them beat the Mariners 6-3. Castro#146;s 15 RBI lead the team. He has a hitting line of .351/.383/.649. Looking poised, he addressed reporters without an interpreter, one day after his 21st birthday.#147;I feel very good,#148; he said. #147;I#146;m seeing the ball very good right now. And I#146;m working with Rudy (hitting coach) Jaramillo every day in the cage#133;I#146;m ready, for sure. The last couple of games, I#146;ve played like (it#146;s) the season.#148;#147;He#146;s having a good spring; keep it going,#148; said manager Mike Quade. #147;I#146;d like to send him to Chicago right now. I#146;m not superstitious at all, but it looks like he#146;s grown up real quick. He#146;s much more calm defensively, much more in control. I hope he continues to grow up and becomes a (darn) monster.#148;Opening-day doings:Actor Robert Redford will throw out a ceremonial first pitch at next Friday#146;s season opener at Wrigley Field. Ron Santo Jr., son of the late Cubs third baseman, will lead the crowd in singing #147;Take Me Out to the Ballgame#148; during the seventh-inning stretch. The Ricketts family, which owns the team, also will select a family to throw out a ceremonial first pitch. Wayne Messmer will sing the national anthem with the national 9/11 flag on display. The flag was rescued from the wreckage of New York#146;s World Trade Center, destroyed in a terrorist attack on Sept. 11, 2001.