Cubs Caravan Attendees Announced
December 28, 2008 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release
PEORIA, IL- The Chicago Cubs and Peoria Chiefs have announced the players and coaches who will make up the Peoria stop of the Cubs Caravan which is scheduled for the RiverPlex on Thursday, January 15 at 5:00 PM. Possible closer-in-waiting Carlos Marmol along with rookie sensation Jeff Samrardzija highlight the panel which also consists of pitchers Sean Marshall and Kevin Hart and 2008 Chiefs outfielder Brandon Guyer.
In addition to the five players, Cubs Assistant General Manager Randy Bush, Vice President of Player Personnel Oneri Fleita, Pitching Coach Larry Rothschild, Bench Coach Alan Trammell, Hitting Coach Gerald Perry and Third Base Coach Mike Quade will be on the Caravan as well. Radio broadcaster Cory Provus will emcee the event.
Marmol is expected to be among the candidates to replace Kerry Wood as the Cubs closer in 2009 after going 2-4 with a 2.68 ERA in 82 games last season. The young right-hander recorded seven saves and struck out 114 batters in 87 1/3 innings. He made his MLB debut in June 2006 and is 12-12 with a 3.43 ERA and eight saves in 160 career outings. Marmol pitched in the Midwest League as a starter with the Lansing LUgnuts in 2004 going 14-8 with a 3.20 ERA and 154 strikeouts in 154 2/3 innings.
Samardzija made his MLB debut with the Cubs on July 25 and went 1-0 with a 2.28 ERA in 26 relief outings. The former Notre Dame football standout struck out 25 and walked 15 in 27 2.3 innings while also securing his first career save. The 23-year-old pitched for the Chiefs twice in 2006, once in Lansing and once at home. He was 0-1 in those two starts with a 3.28 ERA and four strikeouts in 11 innings. He made Minor League stops in Boise, Daytona, Tennessee and Iowa before making his MLB debut. Samardzija was primarily a starter in the minors going 14-19 with a 4.26 ERA in 56 games. He struck out 166 and walked 114 in 285 MiLB innings.
Marshall went 3-5 with the Cubs last season posting a 3.86 ERA in 34 games and seven starts. The lefty struck out 58 and walked 23 in 65 1/3 innings while also recording a save. Drafted out of Virginia Commonwealth in the 6th round of the 2003 draft, Marshall made his MLB debut in April 2006. He pitched in the Midwest League with Lansing in both 2003 and 2004 going a combined 3-0 in eight starts with a ERA of 0.98. Marshall made 54 career MiLB starts in the Cubs system going 15-14 with a 2.40 ERA. For the Cubs he has gone 16-22 with a 4.62 ERA in 79 outings and 50 starts.
Hart was acquired by the Cubs from Baltimore on December 7, 2006 in exchange for Freddie Bynum. After a 34-27 Minor League record, Hart made his Cubs debut in September 2007. He pitched for both the Cubs and Triple-A Iowa in 2008 going 2-2 with a 6.51 ERA in 21 games for Chicago.
Rothschild, Trammell, Bush, Fleita and Provus all return to Peoria after attending last year's caravan. The two newcomers on the coaching staff are Perry and Quade. Both Perry and Quade joined Lou Piniella's staff in 2007. Perry played in the majors from 1983-95 and was a 1988 N.L. All-Star. He also worked for Piniella in Seattle from 2000-02 and this will be his 10th consecutive season as a Major League Hitting Coach. Quade managed in the Minors for 17 seasons and compiled 1,213 wins including a Triple-A Championship in Vancouver in 1999 and a Midwest League Title in West Michigan in 1996. He is an Evanston, IL native who played college ball at the University of New Orleans and played five seasons in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. Quade also served as the Oakland A's first base coach from 2000-02 and managed the Triple-A Iowa Cubs from 2003-06.
The event at the RiverPlex on Thursday January 15 will begin at 5:00 PM with doors opening at 3:45 PM. All Cubs personnel will sign ONLY 200 autographs each. Each person attending the Caravan will be given a lottery ticket, chosen at random, entering the facility. This ticket will indicate the line they should enter to receive an autograph. This policy has been set by the Chicago Cubs and will be strictly enforced.
Following the 45-minute autograph session, the program will begin promptly at 5:45 PM. The program will include a question and answer segment with the Cubs players and front office members, videos highlighting the Cubs and Chiefs 2008 seasons, ticket information for the Cubs and Chiefs, information on the Cubs and Chiefs Booster Clubs and a dinner. Tickets are available at O'Brien Field for $15 each payable by cash or check only. Checks should be made out to the Central Illinois Cubs Boosters. Tickets are also available at Bergners in Pekin and the Sheridan Village Bergners in Peoria, Sports Corner in Peoria Heights, Brunk's Sports Center in Washington, Bartonville Bank, and Morton Community Bank. No tickets will be sold at the door. All proceeds from the event go to the Cubs Boosters benefiting local Little League programs. Hot dogs, chips, beer and soda will be served at the RiverPlex.
Parking for the event at the RiverPlex will be limited. Event goers are encouraged to use the A2 CAT lot located on the corner of Hamilton and Water after 5:00 PM or the Riverfront parking lots. The Chiefs will provide shuttle transportation to and from the parking lot to the RiverPlex.
Midwest League Stories from December 28, 2008
- Cubs Caravan Attendees Announced - Peoria Chiefs
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