Second baseman Darwin Barney’s record-setting errorless play will make him a contender for Gold Glove honors, something manager Dale Sveum will subtly remind managers about as they consider their votes for the post-season awards.
“You hope it does [help] just talking in passing,” he said. “You try to do the best you can, but the actions on the field and that streak itself are impressive enough.”
While post-season honors reflect well on the organization, Sveum said they are more about the players.
“It would be a great accomplishment to get a Gold Glove or the other accomplishments [post-season awards], but it’s the players who have put themselves in those positions.”
REVOLVING ROSTER
Outfielder Tony Campana returned Saturday for his second term with the team–still tied for 10th in the National League in stolen bases (20) despite being sent back Aug. 5.
“I knew I needed to go down to get at-bats,” he said. “I wasn’t getting them here so it was nice to get close to 100 at-bats for a month.
“I’ll come off the bench and do my thing and run around a little bit.”
Outfielder Dave Sappelt, 25, also joined the team for the first time after coming as part of the off-season trade sending Sean Marshall to Cincinnati for Travis Wood.
“It’s something brand new,” said Sappelt, who made his major league debut last season in 38 games for the Reds. “My goal whenever I play is to show I can come off the bench and hit. I think that’s going to be my contribution–like Reed Johnson [who was traded to Atlanta]. We have a couple of guys who are going for that role, so the competition will be in September.”
Infielder Adrian Cardenas, 24, also rejoined the team.
CAMP-ING OUT
Reliever Shawn Camp has made a major league-high 68 appearances and is on pace to finish with 84. That would exceed his career high of 75 set in 2006 when he was with Tampa.
It also would match the single season Cubs record held by three pitchers: Ted Abernathy (1965), Dick Tidrow (1980) and Bob Howry (2006).
“Camp has done a great job for us all year long,” Sveum said, Camp getting a key out in Friday’s eighth inning with he got Pablo Sandoval looking at a third strike with two runners on base.
CLOSING OUT
Carlos Marmol has converted 16 straight save opportunities dating to May 2 when he returned to the closer role. His ERA in those games is 0.59 ERA compared to 3.83 overall.
“Marmol has done a phenomenal job since he’s been back in the closer role,” Sveum said.
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