Carmen Pignatiello is getting called up to the big club. About time if you ask this Cubs fan! Congradulations Carm and best of luck!
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I remember watching him pitch @ the 15U CABA World Series, then get selected to the 16U USA Youth National Team.....Seems like yesterday! Good Luck to Carmen!!!
Congrats to Carm and his family and friends.
Nice kid...Was a star of stars at Providence.
Nice kid...Was a star of stars at Providence.
'Piggy' gets call from Cubs
August 14, 2007
By Jeff Vorva sun-times news group
Back in mid-February, when blizzards hit the Chicago area, Carmen Pignatiello was at his locker at Fitch Park in Mesa, Ariz., mulling over his chances of finally making the big-league club after seven long and sometimes disappointing years of toiling in the Cubs' minor league system.
"It's a new year and a new start," the left-handed relief pitcher said. "I just want to come out and do well in front of a new coaching staff. There is a lot of excitement around here. It's a good opportunity."
» Click to enlarge image
Carmen Pignatiello, shown here in his days as an ace for the Providence Celtics back in 1999, is expected to join the Chicago Cubs major league squad today.
(HERALD NEWS FILE PHOTO)
RELATED STORIES
• Cards make a move
• Division races good fanfare
• Young D-Backs surprising
He wasn't kidding.
Six months later, the former Providence Catholic High School standout appears to be ready for his shot. Sources say Pignatiello will be called up from Triple-A Iowa to the parent squad today. Right-handed pitcher Sean Gallagher likely will be sent back to Iowa.
The Cubs won't make an official roster move until tonight, before they take on the Cincinnati Reds. Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said Monday night that the Cubs had not made a decision on any roster moves.
Attempts to reach Pignatiello were unsuccessful Monday night. Iowa was playing a road game at Oklahoma.
Pignatiello's high school coach, Joe Rodeghero, heard there was a chance Pignatiello would get the nod and was ecstatic.
"I want to be at Wrigley Field (tonight) whether he pitches or not," Rodeghero said. "By hook or by crook, I'm going to be there. I've always been a White Sox fan and this gives me a reason to like the Cubs."
Cubs manager Lou Piniella has been shuffling his roster around like a riverboat gambler shuffles cards. Seven Cubs farmhands have made their major league debuts this year.
It looks like Pignatiello is going to be the eighth.
The 24-year-old started the season on a down note when he was sent to Double-A Tennessee rather than Iowa. He was 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA in five relief appearances for the Smokies before being promoted to Iowa, where he has gone 1-0 with a 2.72 ERA, two saves and 11 holds in 43 games.
Heading into this season, Pignatiello was 47-43 with a 3.75 ERA in 190 games (112 starts) since the Cubs drafted him in the 20th round in 2000. During a trip to Wrigley Field shortly after Pignatiello signed, Hendry, then the farm director, introduced Pignatiello to left-handed major league pitcher Scott Downs and said "Scott, this is the new you."
For Rodeghero, the chance to see a former Celtic pitch on a major league mound is going to be a kick.
"I have goosebumps," he said. "Just to see all of his hard work and effort over the years pay off makes me feel great. He never lost confidence in himself. He doesn't throw 94 mph. But everywhere he has gone, he has gotten the job done."
Rodeghero also was an assistant at Joliet Catholic Academy and coached Kevin Cameron, who made his major league debut with San Diego and has been a mainstay in the Padres bullpen.
August 14, 2007
By Jeff Vorva sun-times news group
Back in mid-February, when blizzards hit the Chicago area, Carmen Pignatiello was at his locker at Fitch Park in Mesa, Ariz., mulling over his chances of finally making the big-league club after seven long and sometimes disappointing years of toiling in the Cubs' minor league system.
"It's a new year and a new start," the left-handed relief pitcher said. "I just want to come out and do well in front of a new coaching staff. There is a lot of excitement around here. It's a good opportunity."
» Click to enlarge image
Carmen Pignatiello, shown here in his days as an ace for the Providence Celtics back in 1999, is expected to join the Chicago Cubs major league squad today.
(HERALD NEWS FILE PHOTO)
RELATED STORIES
• Cards make a move
• Division races good fanfare
• Young D-Backs surprising
He wasn't kidding.
Six months later, the former Providence Catholic High School standout appears to be ready for his shot. Sources say Pignatiello will be called up from Triple-A Iowa to the parent squad today. Right-handed pitcher Sean Gallagher likely will be sent back to Iowa.
The Cubs won't make an official roster move until tonight, before they take on the Cincinnati Reds. Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said Monday night that the Cubs had not made a decision on any roster moves.
Attempts to reach Pignatiello were unsuccessful Monday night. Iowa was playing a road game at Oklahoma.
Pignatiello's high school coach, Joe Rodeghero, heard there was a chance Pignatiello would get the nod and was ecstatic.
"I want to be at Wrigley Field (tonight) whether he pitches or not," Rodeghero said. "By hook or by crook, I'm going to be there. I've always been a White Sox fan and this gives me a reason to like the Cubs."
Cubs manager Lou Piniella has been shuffling his roster around like a riverboat gambler shuffles cards. Seven Cubs farmhands have made their major league debuts this year.
It looks like Pignatiello is going to be the eighth.
The 24-year-old started the season on a down note when he was sent to Double-A Tennessee rather than Iowa. He was 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA in five relief appearances for the Smokies before being promoted to Iowa, where he has gone 1-0 with a 2.72 ERA, two saves and 11 holds in 43 games.
Heading into this season, Pignatiello was 47-43 with a 3.75 ERA in 190 games (112 starts) since the Cubs drafted him in the 20th round in 2000. During a trip to Wrigley Field shortly after Pignatiello signed, Hendry, then the farm director, introduced Pignatiello to left-handed major league pitcher Scott Downs and said "Scott, this is the new you."
For Rodeghero, the chance to see a former Celtic pitch on a major league mound is going to be a kick.
"I have goosebumps," he said. "Just to see all of his hard work and effort over the years pay off makes me feel great. He never lost confidence in himself. He doesn't throw 94 mph. But everywhere he has gone, he has gotten the job done."
Rodeghero also was an assistant at Joliet Catholic Academy and coached Kevin Cameron, who made his major league debut with San Diego and has been a mainstay in the Padres bullpen.
Any Carmen sightings? 
Cubs RP Carmen Pignatiello, from the Chicago suburbs, made his major league debut by pitching a scoreless eighth inning Thursday against the Reds. He's the 11th rookie to appear for the Cubs this season and the eighth player to make his major league debut for the team.
(Updated 08/17/2007).
(Updated 08/17/2007).
Not so lucky today......
(1) pitch top of 7th to Ankiel = Homerun
Ouch!.....Better days ahead.
(1) pitch top of 7th to Ankiel = Homerun
Ouch!.....Better days ahead.
unfortunately for him; he was optioned out today by Cubs....but i would bet you he will be back sept 1st