Cubs’ Steve Clevenger swears remorse after ump-cursing ejection
BY TONI GINNETTI tginnetti@suntimes.com August 10, 2012 8:54PM
Outfielder Alfonso Soriano (left) and shortstop Starlin Castro can’t make a play on a single hit by the Reds’ Brandon Phillips in the ninth inning of the Reds’ victory Friday. | Nam Y. Huh~AP
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The facts: 3:05 p.m., CSN, 720-AM.
The starters: Bronson Arroyo (7-7, 4.05 ERA) vs. Travis Wood (4-8, 4.77).
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Updated: September 12, 2012 6:10AM
Rookie catcher Steve Clevenger is learning about major-league demeanor as much as hitting and working behind the plate.
Clevenger apologized to manager Dale Sveum Thursday night after being ejected by umpire Jeff Nelson when he cursed in response to a ball/strike call while batting in the fifth inning. His expletive, directed at Nelson, who had called a strike on one pitch and a ball on the next in the same location, was caught on the broadcast audio.
‘‘Dale was right. I can’t get ejected in that situation, and I apologized,’’ said Clevenger, who has seen more playing time since Geovany Soto was traded to the Texas Rangers. ‘‘It won’t happen again. It can’t happen again.’’
Clevenger also expects to mend fences with Nelson.
‘‘He had a [strike] zone, and that was it,’’ Clevenger said. ‘‘I have to get over it. You can’t dwell on it. It was the heat of the moment, and you say things you might regret later.’’
Sveum said the Cubs’ young players are learning all aspects of the majors.
‘‘Down the stretch, whether it’s tough times or not, it’s part of the maturation process and part of the evaluations about character we’ll be doing,’’ he said.
Front-office moves
The Cubs promoted veteran scouting director Tim Wilken to special assistant to team president Theo Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer and hired Jaron Madison from the San Diego Padres as the director of amateur scouting.
In his expanded role, Wilken will continue to scout players for the amateur draft, but he’ll add major-league, international and professional scouting responsibilities. He also will contribute to player evaluations throughout the organization. Wilken has been with the Cubs for seven years.
Madison, 36, has spent the last three years with the Padres as their director of amateur scouting. He served with Hoyer, who was the Padres’ general manager the last two seasons.
Castillo returning
Reliever Lendy Castillo, out since May with a groin strain, returned Friday to be evaluated by the Cubs’ medical staff. He has been on a rehab assignment with Class AA Tennessee and is expected to be activated this weekend.
