I do apologize if the headings to these split-squad days have giving you headaches, but, for whatever reason, they make me smile. No worries, though – today was the last split-squad day. And split it was, as the Cubs beat the A’s handily, but lost a close one to the Rockies. On to what matters…
I said it the last time they pitched, and I’ll say it again today: Randy Wells and Andrew Cashner should be this team’s 4th and 5th starters. Nothing they did today changes my mind.
Cashner had a good day, giving up one earned in 3.1 innings, walking three and allowing two hits. He struck out two, and, by all accounts, looked good.
Wells also had a good day in his longest outing of the Spring, going five innings, giving up three runs (two earned) on three hits and one walk. He also struck out two.
Justin Berg, who remains in competition for a bullpen spot, got an extended look today, going 1.2 innings. Unfortunately he gave up an earned run on a couple walks and a hit.
Speaking of pitchers, a number of the recently-cut youngsters were in action today, including Chris Carpenter, Kyle Smit, Trey McNutt and Robert Coello, and generally all pitched well.
Brett Jackson and Josh Vitters – also cut today – had nice games, punctuated by Jackson’s first homer of the Spring.
Fernando Perez went hitless and is doing little to run away with the competition that Reed Johnson is practically handing to him. I know it’s only the fifth outfielder spot, but the prospect of the “winner” being the one who sucks less is far from exciting.
Jeff Baker went 1-2, raising his Spring average to .400. Blake DeWitt, on the other hand, went 0-4, dropping his Spring average to just .176. Mike Quade would be pulling his hair out about second base if, well, you know. Scott Moore upped his Spring average to .367 with a 1.077 OPS, for what it’s worth.
Hey, guess what? Welington Castillo went 2-2 with a homer. Max Ramirez went 1-3 with an RBI. Koyie Hill went hitless. Again. Organization fail.