By Mark Gonzales
Tribune reporter
1:17 p.m. CDT, July 9, 2014

CINCINNATI -- It will be a two-day audition, at most, for Arismendy Alcantara.

But this could be the start of more than just a peek at what could be a special piece to the Chicago Cubs' future.

Alcantara will make his major league debut Wednesday night at Cincinnati at second base and will bat second.

At least one National League scout concurred with the assessment of Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer that Alcantara, who will fill in while second baseman Darwin Barney is on the paternity list, is "underappreciated" in the Cubs' minor league system.

"He's an every-day guy for me," said the scout, who requested anonymity.

The sense is that Alcantara, 22, who batted .307 with 25 doubles, 11 triples, 10 home runs, 41 RBIs and 21 stolen bases, ''plays under the radar'' with the hype shifted toward Javier Baez and Kris Bryant at Triple-A Iowa.

Alcantara was described as a ''winner'' who possesses surprising power, puts balls in play consistently and has the ability to play shortstop as well as second. Alcantara also played center field and displayed exceptional athletic instincts.

"This will help him get a leg up on next season," the scout said.

Here's the Cubs' lineup:

Coghlan LF

Alcantara 2B

Rizzo 1B

Castro SS

Valbuena 3B

Ruggiano CF

Sweeney RF

Castillo C

Beeler P

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

This little tidbit was buried in another Cub thread,but I feel it warrants commentary from JORR and his traveling band of Sox syncophants.

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

enjoy your 48 hours of Alcantara Jimmy!

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Reality is your friend, not your enemy. -- Seacrest

Im excited. I hope he goes 10 for 10 and they keep him up

I can understand why you'd be offended by those who complain about everything about the Cubs.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

They can't keep him up. That would hurt their prospect rankings.

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Reality is your friend, not your enemy. -- Seacrest

Cooperstown better get a head start on building the Theo Era Cubs wing. Gonna need to build out a pretty large space.

Cant possibly take time from the great Barwin Darney.

not for long

It's surprising how often I have heard of this guy for being the guy nobody talks about.

Anyway, I'm sure he'll do well but the Cubs will lose

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Since you're all so damn cynical, you should have said, "They can't keep him up because it would expose how crappy their highly touted minor league prospects are."

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Hawaii (fuck) You

hey, don't lump me in that crowd.

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Reality is your friend, not your enemy. -- Seacrest

Then don't make such cynical claims!!!!

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Hawaii (fuck) You

they have been playing him in CF, so they are going to play Alcantara at 2B now?

Friend of mine, who I have mentioned here before played OF at a high level, AA and at UIC with granderson, always hates when I say "You can always stick him in the OF" as I do think it is the easiest position to play. This doesnt mean it is easy, but if the issue in the cubs minors is too many good bats at the same position, the OF can work for anyone.

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"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

I"m not cynical about the Cubs

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Reality is your friend, not your enemy. -- Seacrest

I hope Barney channels his inner meatpants and takes a month of paternity leave. I would recommend going the stay at home dad route too.

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That's my purse! I don't know you!

I"m a liberated man, but if I'm playing in the majors I am not voluntarily pulling out of a game EVER. Especially if I'm a career .220 hitter.

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Reality is your friend, not your enemy. -- Seacrest

How's the kid looking?

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Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

Nothing much to speak of offensively (fly out/ground out) so far but he has made 2 nice defensive plays. Cut down a runner trying for a triple and threw out the slowest guy on the team on a 50 ft high chopper. Beeler has looked good pitching. Much better than some of this shit in this rotation and pen now.

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That's my purse! I don't know you!

Not CF

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

crowning right now

10 months ago a guy would have paid for that view. Today, it is a scene from a horror movie

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Congrats on getting your own version of Beckham!

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Yea, for 4% of shithead's salary Beeler provided the same production.

Wada was tearing up AAA, pitched well in his MLB debut and got sent down. WTF?

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Reality is your friend, not your enemy. -- Seacrest

It's great how at a time when teams like the A's, Reds, Cardinals, Braves, Brewers et al are winning with pitching and defence the Cubs are saying "fugg that" and going with minimal pitching, out-of-position defence and pleasantly average hitting.

why does this board carp about spelling defense "defense" but approve of "defence" -- language might be set to "English/UK"? " Behavior Behaviour " " Color Colour. " " Cig burrito " "Jrunk Pissed " " Gurl Bird " " Yep. Brilliant. "

There seems to be an organizational mantra with the Cubs that pitching is no longer the commodity and that there is plenty of good to great pitching to go around the league. I don't think that position is true but I am sure they have stats for support. It certainly isn't true in this city. If it were true, why would Beane have flipped top prospects for middle of the rotation starters?

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

That's your browser, not the board I believe.

The Cubs have collapsed since the trade but the ironic part is the 2 guys from AAA (Wada & Beeler) have pretty much done their jobs. I guess everybody else decided time to kick back.

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

obviously this guys is all or nothing each day

100 K if he sticks with the team this year

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Damn...Alcantara hit the ball too hard. Sadness.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

The great ones always do.