NEWSLETTER
The Cubs beat the A’s 6-1 today at their old stomping grounds, Hohokam Stadium in Mesa. With all due love and respect to the old place, it’s truly unbelievable how much more fan-friendly Sloan Park is. Be glad the Cubs made that move.
Zach Davies was great again today (allowing his first run of the spring, unearned), and he’s definitely been an example of “pitchers are ahead of the hitters,” because he’s just executing so well. We’ll see how well it translates to the regular season, but obviously there were reasons to be optimistic about him this year anyway.
It was another very strikeout-heavy day for the relievers, with Rex Brothers striking out two (no walks, either … I’m just saying, the guy is locked in right now), James Norwood striking out two (after he was cut), Ryan Tepera striking out two, and Brad Wieck striking out three (in his second appearance ramping up – two walks, though). If Tepera is ready to go on Opening Day, he’ll make the bullpen. Brothers and Wieck might be in direct competition for the second lefty job in the pen (behind Andrew Chafin), and you could make a roster-related argument for each: Wieck is already on the 40-man roster … but he’s got an option left. Brothers would require a 40-man spot … but if he doesn’t make the team, he might have an opt out that could take him out of the organization entirely.
On Wieck:
FYI: Brad Wieck was sitting 92-93 and touched 94 mph during his inning of work against Oakland today. He did walk two, but also struck out the side.
He might not be ready to break camp with the #Cubs, but the stuff looks like it's close.
— Russell Dorsey (@Russ_Dorsey1) March 19, 2021
For reference, when he broke out with the Cubs in that part of the 2019 season, Wieck was sitting 94 mph with the fastball.
Ian Happ is heating up at just the right time. He scored again twice on a walk and a double, which also happened to clear the bases.
Seems like a good time to extend this man, who had three hits on the day:
https://twitter.com/WatchMarquee/status/1373020828061736961
It sounds like things went well for Adbert Alzolay in the B game today, as we await word on whether he’s got an option year left (yup, still waiting):
So in the "second" inning of the #Cubs B-Game, Adbert Alzolay faced five hitters, striking out four.
Why?
It's a B-Game lol
— Russell Dorsey (@Russ_Dorsey1) March 19, 2021
In that game, Manny Rodriguez got some help behind him:
Brennen Davis just made a sweet diving catch in CF during the "B" game, eliciting a loud "—- yeah!!" from one of his coaches.
— Tony Andracki (@TonyAndracki23) March 19, 2021
.@BrennenDavis__ with the diving catch! pic.twitter.com/ldfmJDpfK7
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) March 19, 2021
Old friend alert:
Two taters for Billy McKinney today. His three-run line drive just gave the Brewers the lead in the bottom of the eighth. He's out of options and vying for a bench job.
— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) March 19, 2021
Incidentally, McKinney might be competing with fellow old friend Dan Vogelbach for the final Brewers bench job.
Adorable:
David Ross kept his word to his daughter Friday, sporting a birthday sash during his press conference. pic.twitter.com/LZre2ggHaL
— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) March 19, 2021
