16 invited to Cubs spring training camp

Sean Gallagher, Ryan O'Malley, Jake Fox, Eric Patterson, Tyler Colvin, Randy Wells, Carmen Pignatiello, Adam Harben, Mike Kinkade, Casey McGehee, Chris Walker, Jason Anderson, Ben Howard, John Webb, Les Walrond and Koyie Hill.

As noted by Arizona Phil at The Cub Reporter here and here, ahead of December Rule 5 draft, the Cubs have added relief pitchers Clay Rapada and Rocky Cherry to the 40-man roster, while dropping starting pitcher Ryan O'Malley and outfielder Miguel Negron.

Previous releated posts:
The Injuries Pile On: Izturis to DL; O'Malley Exits in 5th (8/22/2006)
Ryan O'Malley Gets His Shot (8/16/2006)
Cubs Add Miguel Negron to 40-Man Roster (6/13/2006)

The Cubs are going to have a little less time to see their apparent 2007 starting shortstop. They placed Cesar Izturis on the disabled list today with a strained right hamstring. Ronny Cedeno will take back over at shortstop and the Cubs have recalled OF/IF Buck Coats from triple-A Iowa to take Izturis's place on the roster. Coats has hit .277/.336/.366 for Iowa this year.

Meanwhile, Ryan O'Malley, the starting pitcher in tonight's game, left in the 5th inning after recording the first two outs. His injury is currently unknown. Glendon Rusch replaced him and allowed 3 runs in 0.2 innings.

Izturis has hit just .233/.292/.267 since coming over from the Dodgers on July 31.

I'm not sure this is what Jim Hendry envisioned when he was calling triple-A manager Mike Quade at midnight last night asking him who he could send to Houston real quick to start today's game. The answer was Ryan O'Malley. The Cubs' exciting 18-inning win last night (I stayed up, did you?) included the use of today's scheduled starter, Rich Hill, for the final two innings. Angel Guzman also threw three innings. In an attempt to avoid using Hill, Dusty Baker also used Ryan Dempster -- pitching for the third straight day -- for three innings. (Astros manager Phil Garner used poor Dave Borkowski (longest outing of the year: four innings) for six innnigs.)

Scott Eyre, who strained his right hamstring in last night's game, was placed on the 15-day DL to make room for O'Malley.