Googling the Cubs Latest Rookie Pitcher

Gordon Wittenmyer tweeted that the Cubs called up the 10th Cubs rookie to make his major league debut in the 2010 season.  Most Cub fans responded with an overjoyed and boisterous declaration of, "Who the hell is Scott Maine?"

Cubs fans are so stupid.  He is obviously a rookie who will be playing for the Cubs at some point in the near future. 

Luckily, my trusty research assistant, Googly McGooglequist was on the job and was also able to determine that Scott Maine is left-handed, has pitched in both Tennessee and Iowa this year and apparently has no middle name.  I need a new research assistant.

In digging deeper into the dark recesses of Scott Maine's mysterious background (clicking the next link in the Google machine's results), I found he also went to Miami (of Florida) University, so I am automatically pre-disposed to not like him.  However, their site provided a bit more filler to his background:

Named to the 2007 Roger Clemens Award Preseason Watch List ... ended the 2006 season as UM's leader in wins and innings pitched despite missing the first 10 games due to injury ... went 12-3 with a 4.57 ERA and one complete game ... will compete for the No. 1 spot in the rotation in 2007... has command of four pitches ... live arm who is expected to go very high in the 2007 draft ... a lot of movement on his fastball ... fields his position well and is tough to run on because he is so quick to the plate ... wore a protective mask while pitching for most of the 2006 season ... selected to the Cape Cod League Eastern All-Star Team in 2006 after going 3-1 with a 1.80 ERA in 25.0 innings ... selected in the 23rd round of the 2006 MLB Draft by the Colorado Rockies but elected to return to school ... was not enrolled in school in the fall 2005 semester while recovering from a head injury suffered in automobile accident during the summer ... steadily improved throughout his seven appearances in 2005 ... had a great 2005 summer in the Clark Griffith League in Maryland, going 1-1 with a 1.65 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 27.1 innings for the Herndon Braves ... missed the 2004 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in January ... considered by the Miami coaching staff to be one of the best prospects to come to school during head coach Jim Morris' time in Coral Gables ... Baseball America's No. 7 prospect coming out of high school in 2003 ... he elected to come to school after being selected in the 15th round of the 2003 MLB Draft by the Seattle Mariners.

So right there is proof that Miami runs a dirty program.  They have a Roger Clemens Award.  It also lists him at 6' 4" while Baseball-Reference.com has him at 6' 3".  Case closed.

So how did the Cubs end up with Mr. Maine (if that is his real name)?  Remember that guy in the bullpen last year who sucked?  No, not that one.  No, not that one either.  No, try again.  No... No...

OK, maybe I should just tell you that the sucky reliever I speak of is Aaron Heilman.  When the Cubs traded away his pyrotechnic wonder to the Arizona Diamondbacks, one of the non-descript players they received back was none other than Scott Maine.  Suddenly, I have a fondness in my heart for him.

Upon his acquisition by the Cubs, Matt Swain at Wrigley Bound had the following to say:

The 24-year-old was converted to a relief pitcher by the D-Backs and rose fairly rapidly through the system, reaching AAA Reno in 2009. Along the way, Maine threw 120.1 innings with a 3.30 ERA, 134 Ks and 55 BBs, including a 2.90 with 61 Ks and 22 BBs this year.



I haven't been able to dig up much scouting information on him, but R.J. Anderson at Fangraphs tells us "Maine throws from a low arm slot and has a fastball that breaks into the low-90s as well as a slurve."

Whatever he does at the major league level, he doesn't have a very high bar to clear to be better than Justin Berg, whom he replaces on the roster...or Aaron Heilman now that I think about it.