Spring Training Miscellany: Cubs 4, Diamondbacks 14 – March 26, 2014

cactusThat was something like a windy day at Wrigley Field, except many of the homers weren’t wind-aided, and they were pretty much all from the other team. The Diamondbacks homered six times today. (They had five doubles, too, and 20 hits in total. Oof.)

  • Jeff Samardzija went just three innings today with his 50 pitches, giving up one earned run on four hits and no walks. Samardzija struck out two, and he’ll head into the season as the Cubs’ number one. His performance out of the gate is, as you well know, very, very important. For many reasons.
  • Chris Rusin followed Samardzija, and he was not particularly sharp. Four of those six homers came off of Rusin, who was tagged for nine earned runs in 2.2 innings of work (10 H, 0 BB, 0 K). Rusin’s ability to work in the zone is generally a good thing, but today was a reminder that, when the conditions aren’t right, things can go very, very badly. I don’t know that today’s performance decided the fifth starter spot, because I’ve always given the edge to Carlos Villanueva. Today couldn’t have helped, though.
  • Bullpen hopefuls Alberto Cabrera and Justin Grimm each gave up a homer, too. Cabrera (2 ER, 2 H, 1 K) has a rough couple outings after looking so good for most of Spring Training, and Grimm (1 ER, 2 H, 1 K) has had a rough Spring all around. Their jobs will likely be decided based on what the coaches and front office have seen, and also Cabrera’s no-options-left situation. Hector Rondon has probably pretty much locked up a bullpen job at this point.
  • MIKE OLT! celebrated kinda-sorta-probably making the roster today with a fine performance at third, dropping a double in his four at bats, and driving in two.
  • Javier Baez took a walk today! Video soon.
  • Chris Coghlan – whom you’ve probably noticed I mention very little around here, despite him still being in big league camp – is trying to win that final bench job, and he went 2-4 today with a double and a homer. In the end, I suppose I could fathom the Cubs keep Coghlan up and sending Ryan Kalish to Iowa to get in some more come-back time before coming up, but I don’t see it as all that likely. I think that final spot is probably down to Ryan Roberts and Ryan Kalish.
  • Roberts, by the way, was o-3 while playing second, but he did have at least one nice defensive play.
  • Junior Lake was 0-4 today with a strikeout. Can’t hit a homer every day, I guess.
  • written by

    Brett Taylor is the Lead Cubs Writer at Bleacher Nation, and you can find him on Twitter at @BleacherNation and on LinkedIn here. Brett is also the founder of Bleacher Nation, which opened up shop in 2008 as an independent blog about the Chicago Cubs. Later growing to incorporate coverage of other Chicago sports, Bleacher Nation is now one of the largest regional sports blogs on the web.

    more cubs news

    Cubs Have Some Elite Bat Speed, PCA Elite in Center Field, Elite Injury Rates, and Other Cubs Bullets

    We had a very nice Mother's Day with the kids, who were very kind to her and each other, and sometimes that's all you're looking for. They got a good mom. Starting in 2024, Statcast has begun tracking bat speed,...

    Let’s See How They Measured Up in Atlanta: Cubs vs Braves Series Preview

    Cubs vs Braves — Six of the Cubs next ten games come against the Atlanta Braves, and the first three are on the road starting tonight. And while the Cubs did recently get Seiya Suzuki, Cody Bellinger, and Justin Steele...

    Cubs Announce (Part of) the Rotation for Atlanta

    Meaning no offense to Kyle Hendricks, but if you had to choose a veteran right-handed in the Cubs' rotation to face the Atlanta Braves this week, you're probably going with Jameson Taillon. We may never know if that was part...

    Wake Up and Watch the Cubs Make Their Mothers Proud

    There is something about seeing Cubs players homer with pink bats that makes me smile extra wide. I suppose it's PROBABLY at least a little because this is one of my favorite Cubs memories: https://twitter.com/ChiSportsDay/status/1788291377333170611 Javy Báez, with the pink...

    Enhanced Box Score: Cubs 5, Pirates 4 – May 12, 2024

    It's Mother's Day. I'm hanging with the family. I don't feel like being as pissed off as a game like that threatened to make me. So I am QUITE relieved by that 10th inning (and the fact that the Cubs...

    Christopher Morel Kicks Off Mother’s Day With Some Love

    I'll just presume he was sending this one out for mom. And I'll also presume that the knee is indeed feeling good. Home run number nine on the season for Christopher Morel: https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1789713524052087082

    Pre-Gamin’: Cubs at Pirates (12:35 CT) – Lineups, Broadcast Info, Game Thread

    CUBS LINEUP — The Cubs have played thirteen series so far this season, and this is already their eighth rubber match. Let's see if Kyle Hendricks and the Cubs can bring this one in. Chicago Cubs Lineup: Nico Hoerner, SS...

    Cubs Roster Move: Kyle Hendricks Activated to Start Today

    No surprises here, as the decision to start Kyle Hendricks this afternoon against the Pirates was made yesterday, but the news has officially hit the wire, and here it is. Kyle Hendricks Activated Kyle Hendricks is returning from his short...

    Horrible History, Morel’s Knee, Almonte’s Shoulder, Hoerner, Wesneski, Hendricks, Mervis, and Other Cubs Bullets

    Happy Mother's Day to the mothers among you, and to the mothers in my life! I'll be doing some extra family stuff today, so I'm gonna cruise through these Bullets ... Up front, because this was certainly the thing most...

    Kyle Hendricks Will Start for the Big League Cubs Tomorrow

    The Sunday TBD has been D'd, and it's going to be Kyle Hendricks coming back an outing early. Instead of making another rehab start at Iowa, Hendricks is going to be activated from the IL to rejoin the rotation tomorrow:...

    Latest News

    Nationals vs. White Sox Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Monday, May 13, 2024

    The Washington Nationals (19-20), led by the red-hot Eddie Rosario and his two-game homer streak, are -135 favorites to pick up a win over the Chicago White Sox (12-29) Monday at 7:40 PM ET, live from Guaranteed Rate Field and...

    Rangers vs. Guardians Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Monday, May 13, 2024

    The Texas Rangers (22-20) and Cleveland Guardians (25-16) meet Monday at Globe Life Field, with first pitch at 8:05 PM ET on BSSW. The Rangers are -117 moneyline favorites for the contest, however, the Guardians are favored against the spread...

    Brewers vs. Pirates Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Monday, May 13, 2024

    The Pittsburgh Pirates (18-23) will look to Connor Joe, with homers in two straight games, to pull off an upset win over the Milwaukee Brewers (24-16) Monday at American Family Field. The Brewers are -145 moneyline favorites for the game,...

    Astros vs. Athletics Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Monday, May 13, 2024

    Two of the league's top power hitters meet Monday when the Houston Astros (15-25) and Oakland Athletics (19-23) take the field at 8:10 PM ET, live on SCHN. Kyle Tucker has 13 home runs for the Astros (-183 favorites on...

    Jayson Tatum Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Cavaliers – Conference Semifinals Game 4, Monday, May 13, 2024

    The Boston Celtics meet the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday at 7:00 PM ET in Game 4 of the second round of the NBA playoffs, and if the Celtics' Jayson Tatum connects on three 3-pointers, he'll beat his prop.Jayson Tatum's Three-Pointer...

    Derrick White Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Cavaliers – Conference Semifinals Game 4, Monday, May 13, 2024

    The Boston Celtics meet the Cleveland Cavaliers at 7:00 PM ET on Monday, in Game 4 of the second round of the NBA playoffs, and one of the 3-pointer over/unders available for this matchup requires three triples from Derrick White.Derrick...

    Donovan Mitchell Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Celtics – Conference Semifinals Game 4, Monday, May 13, 2024

    The Cleveland Cavaliers play the Boston Celtics on Monday at 7:00 PM ET in Game 4 of the second round of the NBA playoffs, and if the Cavaliers' Donovan Mitchell makes four 3-pointers, he'll beat his prop.Donovan Mitchell's Three-Pointer Prop...

    Jaylen Brown Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Cavaliers – Conference Semifinals Game 4, Monday, May 13, 2024

    Jaylen Brown needs to make two 3-pointers to beat his prop when the Boston Celtics meet the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday at 7:00 PM ET, in Game 4 of the second round of the NBA playoffs.Jaylen Brown's Three-Pointer Prop Odds...

    Orioles vs. Blue Jays Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Monday, May 13, 2024

    The Toronto Blue Jays (18-22) enter Monday's matchup with the Baltimore Orioles (26-13) following their 1-2 series defeat to the Twins. The Orioles, coming off of a series win against the Diamondbacks, are listed as -176 favorites for Game 1....

    Tigers vs. Marlins Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Monday, May 13, 2024

    The Detroit Tigers will take the field against the Miami Marlins (11-31) on Monday. The game begins at 6:40 PM ET on BSDET, with the Tigers listed as -173 favorites on the moneyline.Matt Manning takes the mound for Detroit while...

    more cubs news

    Latest News