Spring Training Game 5

The Texas Rangers play at Surprise Stadium, a baseball stadium that seats over 10,000 people! Sloan Park, home of the Cubs, can seat 15,000. These numbers are just crazy to me but speak to baseball's enduring popularity that for one month out of the year there will be 10-15,000 people watching a baseball game that doesn't really matter.

In any event, the Cubs traveled to Surprise to play the Rangers. How did they fare?

Looking at this lineup, I was most intrigued how Happ and Bote would make out, considering their quiet-ish Spring so far and of course, how Hamels looked.

Cole was an absolute revelation last year and singlehandedly kept the pitching staff afloat after being traded from the Rangers. Sure his final record was 4-3 with a 2.36 ERA but he was crucial I tells ya.

Hamels picked up where he left off pitching 2 innings of shutout baseball scattering 2 hits. Sure is he 35 years old and just one of several aging pitchers on this staff? Yes but I think he is going to be very solid going forward.

Happ once again did next to nothing in this game going 0-3 but Bote had his breakout game, going 2-3 with 2 runs scored. And yes Contreras had a great game with a homer and other Cubs played well in the 9-5 win but I am intrigued by Bote who had a great season last year and seems to be a jack of all trades on the field (something very valuable in Maddon's defensive schemes).

In any event, another day, another win and the Cubs offense seems to be alive this preseason. Whether that translates into the regular season, we will see. 

Spring Training Game 4

The big question mark going into today's game was one Mr. Yu Darvish. Yu signed a 6 year, $126M dollar deal (hatchi matchi!) and really hasn't delivered on the deal in any form due to his arm injury. Spring is a renewal of all things so will Yu-renew?

This lineup is slowly starting slowly resemble the regular season, how did everyone do? Well the catchers went a collective 0-3 with a walk so that's "good". Darvish gave up 2 runs and 4 walks in 1.1 innings of work. Also "good"! 

What is truly good is Almora who has been tearing it up this pre-season. So far he is averaging .400 with an OPS of 1.000 which is fantastic. Granted it is a small sample size but with the Cubs as offensively challenged as they were last year, anyone showing signs of hitting prowess needs to be cradled like a baby bird by this team. 

Spring Training Games 2-3

Whew, only 3 days into spring training and already 2 games behind! Life comes at you pretty fast as F. Bueller used to say so let's dig right into this!

Game 2 vs. San Fran

While there are a few minor leaguers in this lineup, this game definitely has more of the major league team seeing action today than game 1. The less said about Russell the better. For me it is all about Happ and Bote, two key role players I think for this season and seasons to come (unless Theo trades em). Do how did it turn out?

https://www.mlb.com/gameday/cubs-vs-giants/2019/02/24/566453/final/video

Well, another day another win!  Chatwood improbably picks up the W (pitching 2 innings) which the Cubs have to be happy with. The more arms they can throw at opposing teams this year with good results, the better for the team, they need to take some of the pressure off the offense.

It is tough to read much into any spring training game but it is good to see Almora, Rizzo and Schwaber picking up RBIs.

Game 3 (Split Squad) vs. Dodgers/Padres:

The Cubs got their heads bashed in by the Dodgers (11-2!) and salvaged some dignity with a win over the Padres (6-4).

Bergman and Clarkin got hit hard and often giving up 3 runs each. The fun thing about the box score for the Dodgers game? 3, yes 3 Cubs pitches had a ERA of 13.50 after the game, so good!

Lester looked good in his side of the split with 3 Ks and my boy KB scored a run.

Contreras had 3 RBIs which is awesome. Word on the street from Ivy Envy was that he ran out of gas last season (which seems plausible looking at his All Star game splits) and man, catcher is a tough position to play. Hopefully he has enough gas in the tank come September this year.

 I also can't wait to see what Amaya brings to the table. He is only 20 but could be bringing a lot to the table in a year or 2.

Ok that's it for the night, more soon as the games keep on coming !

Spring Training Game 1

Well well well, the Chicago Cubs are playing the first game of 2019, who is pumped?!?

The offseason has been, well, a little off-putting. Tons of relief arms added, no major free agent signings, Russell still on the team, etc. However, hope always springs eternal and as is the slogan of my family's team the Brooklyn Dodgers goes, "wait till next year".

Next year is this year and there is a lot to be hopeful for. This team was run ragged by the schedule, had a crazy amount of injuries (especially to Kris Bryant) and the team STILL won 95 games. With everyone rested and some starting pitching coming back healthy, big things could be in store for the Cubs.

The Cubs came out with a mix of the starters and the...not starters. Seriously, Adduci, Field, Tseng? Still, it will be interesting to see how these guys do but I am much more interested to see 1) Does KB look healthy and does Heyward look like a baseball player (not to bag on the guy but he is clearly the reason the Cubs didn't pursue Harper both salary-wise and positionally)?

Cubs 8 - Brewers 4

Well that was a heck of a start! KB went 2-2 with a HR and looked great!

https://www.mlb.com/cubs/news/kris-bryant-starts-spring-with-homer

Heywood was looking pretty good as well with a 1-2 start with a run. Tseng gave up 2 earned in 2 innings.

A whole bunch of bodies did things but honestly, first game of preseason, I am not going to develop any passion one way or another. Still, a win is a win, especially against the Brew Crew. 2019 is under way!