Mackowiak off to rough start
Editor's note: Post-Tribune correspondent Tom Van Buskirk catches up on some of the local players from the White Sox and Cubs as well as some of the prospects he reported on during spring training.
Rob Mackowiak of the White Sox is really struggling with a batting average of about .170 and one home run and two RBI.
He's a guy who is really hard on himself when he's not going well. He'll probably get squeezed out of the left field /right field picture if something doesn't happen soon.
Chris Bootcheck had a very good spring and rather unexpectedly made the Angels roster. Probably because of injuries to several pitchers on their staff, they are carrying 12 pitchers now. He's 0-0 with a 3.65 ERA in eight appearances with 121⁄3 innings pitches and six strikeouts.
LaTroy Hawkins was put on the 15-day disabled list on April 21 with right elbow inflammation. He was off to a miserable start with the Colorado Rockies, giving up three runs in the first game and overall was 0-3 with a 8.59 ERA in 9 games with 11 hits in 7 innngs pitched.
Carmen Pignatiello is off to a great start.
While with Double-A Tennessee, in five appearances he was 1-0 with two saves a 0.00 ERA in seven innings, allowing two hits and striking out six.
He was promoted to Iowa on April 21 and in three Triple-A games he has pitched three innings with a 0.00 ERA, yielding two hits and three strikeouts.
Iowa had only one lefty reliever before Pignatiello was brought up, Clay Rapada, who is on the Cubs 40 man roster, and Rapada did not pitch well early on.
Jacob Fox is hitting well for Tennessee.
He is averaging .319 with a club-leading four homers and 18 RBI.
He has hit either third or fourth and has played catcher about one in three days as well as left field, right field, first base, and one game at third.
He continues to struggle defensively at catcher so he's either going to have to improve or play a corner outfield position if he ever expects to reach the majors with the Cubs.
Jeff Samardzija has been a bit of a mystery so far. He's supposed to be a power pitcher with movement but his numbers reflect anything but that.
First of all, it appears the Cubs are really protecting his arm.
In the first three of his five starts, he pitched five innings each time, and in the last two he has worked 51⁄3 innings.
He has been quite effective with a 2.45 ERA, but in 26 innings he has given up 30 hits and has stuck out only 11 while walking 10.
His hits per innings pitched and strikeouts are not reflective of a power pitching prospect.
Wes Whisler has pitched well for Double-A Birmingham but hasn't received much support. His record is 0-3 with a 2.48 ERA with five starts and 29 innings and 29 hits and 14 strikeouts.
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