05-27-2010, 02:22 PM
<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->Cashner could be in line for Cubs' bullpen berth
May 27, 2010 1:17 PM | No Comments
By Paul Sullivan
The Cubs have moved top prospect Andrew Cashner to the bullpen for Thursday night's game at Triple-A Iowa, fueling speculation he may be called up to fill Carlos Zambrano's vacancy in the bullpen next week.
Cashner will pitch one inning Thursday night and one inning Saturday before the Cubs decide what to do next. Jay Jackson, another starter who was switched to the bullpen, will move back into the Iowa rotation.
"The reasons are as follows," player development director Oneri Fleita said. "Jackson has had a chance he can throw out of the pen, and he did a great job. And now we'd like to know what Cashner can do out of the pen because these kids are young kids.
"They've pitched for two years and I'd hate to know that they (couldn't come) up here because we had a need for our bullpen."
Cashner, a first-round draft pick in 2008, was a closer at Texas Christian.
"Cashner is a little different because he was a reliever in college," Fleita said. "It's a little different when you're asked to get up, get loose when you've been starting your whole life and starting the whole year. You'd hate it to be the first time here. We're just making sure we're covered."
Fleita said the decision was made as "an organization" last week, but wouldn't speculate on what it means for the immediate future of the Cubs bullpen. If Tom Gorzelanny is demoted, the Cubs would not have a need for four lefties in the pen, and could send rookie James Russsell down to make room for a riight-hander.
Cashner and Jackson are first in line if that happens.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
May 27, 2010 1:17 PM | No Comments
By Paul Sullivan
The Cubs have moved top prospect Andrew Cashner to the bullpen for Thursday night's game at Triple-A Iowa, fueling speculation he may be called up to fill Carlos Zambrano's vacancy in the bullpen next week.
Cashner will pitch one inning Thursday night and one inning Saturday before the Cubs decide what to do next. Jay Jackson, another starter who was switched to the bullpen, will move back into the Iowa rotation.
"The reasons are as follows," player development director Oneri Fleita said. "Jackson has had a chance he can throw out of the pen, and he did a great job. And now we'd like to know what Cashner can do out of the pen because these kids are young kids.
"They've pitched for two years and I'd hate to know that they (couldn't come) up here because we had a need for our bullpen."
Cashner, a first-round draft pick in 2008, was a closer at Texas Christian.
"Cashner is a little different because he was a reliever in college," Fleita said. "It's a little different when you're asked to get up, get loose when you've been starting your whole life and starting the whole year. You'd hate it to be the first time here. We're just making sure we're covered."
Fleita said the decision was made as "an organization" last week, but wouldn't speculate on what it means for the immediate future of the Cubs bullpen. If Tom Gorzelanny is demoted, the Cubs would not have a need for four lefties in the pen, and could send rookie James Russsell down to make room for a riight-hander.
Cashner and Jackson are first in line if that happens.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->