Silva released from Cubs, Garza update

This past weekend the Chicago Cubs released Carlos Silva and the management of the Cubs didn’t mince words describing the verbal attack that Silva unleashed on the Mark Riggins the pitching coach and the organization.  In a statement addressed by Cubs General Manager Jim Hendry, he said “Silva is not willing to face the facts and what has he really done and accomplished as a player, outside of the two months that he pitched well in the 2010 season.”  When Carlos Silva learned on Saturday that he wouldn’t make the Cubs’ 25 man roster, the outraged Silva blasted Riggins and said that Riggins wasn’t honest with him on the role he would play on the team.  Silva also said that the competition for the fifth starting position was always against him.  Hendry defended the decision saying that “Silva basically wasn’t good enough to make the team and backed up by saying that from July 10^th of last year he had an ERA (Earned Run Average) of over 14 and came to spring training thinking he would have the fifth and final starting position handed to him. 

Hendry added:  “Silva’s comments about pitching coach Riggins were inappropriate and unacceptable.  It’s a sign of weakness for somebody that doesn’t perform up to standards to blame someone else on the way out.”

On Sunday morning, the Cubs manager Quade said that it was his decision and only his decision to cut Silva from the 12 man pitching staff.

The 2011 spring training has been quite rough for newly acquired Matt Garza and the Chicago Cubs will be forgotten quickly come Sunday when he pitches the final game of the Cubs and Pirates.  The team’s third starter ended his 2011 spring training by giving up seven runs in three innings in a 15-8 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks.  Garza, who won a career high 15 games last in Tampa Bay had a Carlos Silva like ERA of 10.38.  While be asked if he had any concerns going into the 2011 season, he seemed more happy to leave Arizona more than anything.  Garza said his struggles were griping his pitches in Arizona.  He also said that he was still used to the heavy air in Florida, since spring training was in Florida for his previous team.  Garza said that coming from Tampa Bay was a huge transition.  His last spring game was more of a diagnostic checkup than a final tune up for his Sunday start.  The opening day is April 1^st on Friday, until then GO CUBS GO.