TODAY: The Cubs have officially announced the move. Alzolay tells 670 The Score’s Bruce Levine and other reporters that he was informed by the team that he’ll be pitching tonight.
YESTERDAY: The Cubs have designated reliever Tim Collins for assignment, per Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times. His 25-man roster spot’s going to promising pitching prospect Adbert Alzolay, who’s coming up from Triple-A Iowa.
The more notable move here is the call-up of Alzolay, a 24-year-old who rates as one of the Cubs’ best farmhands. Now 24, the right-handed Alzolay joined the Cubs as an international free agent out of Venezuela for just $10K in 2012. MLB.com currently ranks Alzolay fourth on the Cubs’ list of prospects and notes the team’s of the belief he could develop into a mid-rotation starter.
Alzolay has thrived this year at the Triple-A level, where he has pitched to a 3.09 ERA/3.10 FIP with 12.94 K/9 and 1.69 BB/9 in six starts and 32 innings. However, even though key starter Kyle Hendricks is on the injured list, the Cubs aren’t planning to have Alzolay join their rotation immediately. He’ll instead back up No. 5 starter Tyler Chatwood, who’s set to take the ball Thursday against the Mets.
Collins, meanwhile, has gone back and forth between Chicago and Iowa since the club signed him to a major league deal in late March. The 29-year-old lefty has thrown 7 2/3 innings this season in Chicago, with which he has allowed three earned runs on nine hits and three walks (with four strikeouts). Collins also owns a 2.12 ERA (with a far less encouraging 5.45 FIP) and 9.53 K/9 against 4.76 BB/9 in 17 Triple-A frames this season.
Nice!! I really like this kid and looks like he finally put it all together in AAA this season and staying healthy. He could be a solid rotation piece for the Cubs
cant wait to hear Cubs fans calling Chicago sports radio to talk about this Albert kid
Adbert not Albert. I’m guessing you’re either an Indians fan, brewers fan or white Sox fan.
I’m guess you’ve never had the privilege of listening to Chicago sports talk radio…
That’s not possible for me. I live in Las Vegas.
The Radio.com app has 670 The Score. You’ll hear some sports talk and what seems to be a lot of weed talk.
Hey Einstein, you think, just for a second, maybe, just maybe he knew that, and that was the point?
Tip: Read. Pause. Re-read. Pause. THEN type.
You’re so cool, Clepto. I bet you own(ed?) that third grade playground.
O’Doyle Rules!
Inept ?? A fitting screen name…
I see the scouting reports have him as a potential 4/5 starter but he more than passes the eye test. His breaking pitches have a sharp bite and his fastball has that late giddy-up. I see a 2/3 guy. Last but not least, the dude attacks the zone which makes his stuff play up even more.
glad you arent a scout
How many scoreless innings did Giolito throw against the Cubs?
1. The same number as the amount of wins the Cubs got at home against a team hovering just below .500. Congratulations on your team’s major achievement.
Glad you are an internet troll.
Scouting reports are often wrong or outdated.
well they compare hendricks to maddux im curious on what hall of famer cubs fans compare him too
I may be wrong, but I believe the comparisons of Hendricks and Maddux are more due to the style of pitching and not the same success. Hendricks is not Greg Maddux, but he’s also not a bad pitcher. In my opinion he’s been consistently in the 2/3 tier range of starters since his debut, with a season where he’s been considered a real possibility for a Cy Young. Either way though, I doubt many real Cub fans believe Hendricks is as good as Maddux, and the comparisons are more towards the low velo, and high IQ pitching type.
^this
Some people are really tough on hear!
What’s that? I couldn’t here you. (Sorry couldn’t help myself)
I don’t know why people always assume Maddux was a low velo guy. He came into the league throwing 95, and consistently remained in the 92-93 zone.
Didn’t come into the league throwing 95, but more in the 92 range until the second half of his career. Then more in the upper, and eventually, the mid 80s.
Don’t bother dewssox with details. He’s still trying to figure out where the caps and periods are supposed to go.
Shh…this is a logical post. You need to incorporate more namecallling, hatred, and irrational claims. That is what the mlbtr board is for!
Yeah bro, Cubs fan here, style but not success. Hendricks is good, not obviously close to that level though. Maddux May literally be the best pitcher in history.
I’d take Pedro over any pitcher in baseball any day of the week.
And twice on Sunday.
Double header!
Fans are making the hall of fame?!?
Maddux career 3.16 era
Hendricks career 3.10 era
just saying
Only 4100 innings to go.
hopefully Collins gets to tye Phillies. we could really use him.
What would you trade for him?
A 2081 draft pick that has been adequate ought to move them to the front of the line
Did they intend to name him that or was it a typo and they just went with it?
I’m not aware of the 1000 most popular names in Venezuela 23 years ago.
Side note here but does anyone have any idea why Contreras has only played 5 out of last 9 games? He obviously doesn’t look hurt judging by his play last night. The only thing I can think of is the Starbucks midgets are trying to hold his arbitration figures down. I have Willson on my fantasy team and he was on a tear to start year but he literally sat every other game in past 9?!?!?
I’ll do the honors…”NOBODY CARES ABOUT YOUR FAnTASY TEAM!!!”.
Just kidding. Just wanted to get that out of the way before the trolls exploded. But to your original point, I was wondering the same thing because I have him on mine as well.
Because Contreras was beat down by midseason last year and took a nosedive at the plate. Maddon’s said he’s trying to avoid repeating that. Also, Caratini has caught Darvish and Hamel’s last several solid games.
Ok well Caratini is 1 for his last 11 and he only has like 60 ABs so relax with his BA (.295) on such a small sample size. I understand not burning out Contreras but sitting him every other game makes no sense in mid June?!?!?
Contreras put up more stats last night than Caratini did in like literally last month.
This. They need to stop running Descalso and Caratini out there, and it’s pretty much time for CarGo to be CarGone. They need to play the consistent players like Willson, Almora and Bote and stop trying to force what’s not there from others.
If Willson can only play 55% of the games, they need someone who can provide similar punch to play the other 45%.
So they need Gary Sanchez to play the other 45% of the games?
Who the heck do you think they can get to play the other half of the games and “provide a similar punch” that isn’t a major piece for another team? I don’t know if you know this, but there aren’t very many good catchers in baseball… Caratini has more than held his own in a limited sample size.
I’m with you on Descalso, but have no problem seeing Caratini in the lineup and Cargo for Heyworthless on occasion. Might be overdoing it with giving rest to Willson, but don’t want to see the second half disappearance we saw last season.
Says a guy with obviously zero clue how difficult it is to play MLB 162 times a year…
I didn’t see the need for Descalso in the first place. If a guy like him actually improves your team then you’re not playoff worthy anyway. Any number of minor league guys could’ve done this. Happ could have done this with power. I love the Cubs but they wasted money on this guy.
Caritini is hitting nearly .300. they can afford to give Contreras a bit more rest tgen your average starter.
Isn’t Tim Collins the guy who did some interviews or blogs or something giving his perspective as a player?
Not that that is particularly relevant here I just can’t remember if it is the same guy
Tim Dillard
Ah yep that’s who I’m thinking of. Thanks.
I hope the Cubs call up Tim Collins brother Tom Collins… I need a nice cold drink.
I’m wondering when Tim Collins is going to get reimbursed for paying for Bobby Crosby’s liver transplant.
Next up for DFA-Daniel Descalso. I hope.
Agreed. Happ can do what he’s not doing, or at least hit a homer every now and then. No disrespect to him but I hate that the team spent that money.
4 ip 1 run 1 hit 2bb 5 k. Pretty sharp
Happ is hitting .229 in AAA. He needs to play everyday if the Cubs have any hope of reviving his career
I agree, better than descalso