Spring Training Battle Watch: March 24, 2010

The Cubs mollywhopped the Rangers today 12-1, behind a strong effort from…

  • Sean freaking Marshall. He threw four innings without giving up an earned run, striking out five, walking one, and giving up three hits. As I said yesterday, if this guy does not land a rotation spot, he never had an actual chance to grab one. He’s outpitched everyone else in Spring Training, and if Spring were the measure by which the fifth starter (and temporary fourth starter) would be chosen, then clearly, Marshall would be the guy. So if he gets shipped off to the bullpen, then that was always going to happen.
  • Jeff Gray finally got into some Spring game action, throwing a scoreless frame. With just one bullpen spot up for grabs, it will be interesting to see how the Cubs handle Gray, who has missed almost all of Spring Training with a strained groin. Despite the thin Spring Training, he does have some Major League experience, having had success in Oakland’s pen last year.
  • Speaking of the bullpen competition, Rule Five pick Mike Parisi had a much needed good outing, tossing a hitless, scoreless frame, giving up a walk and recording a strikeout. His main competition for the last bullpen spot (assuming Jeff Samardzija sticks with the Cubs in the pen) is lefty James Russell, and if the Cubs decide they don’t want three lefties in the pen, Parisi could get the nod despite a lackluster Spring.
  • Andres Blanco is making the most of the limited time he has to try and win a bench spot – he played short, and went 2-2 with a walk. Kevin Millar DH’d and had just a single in four at bats, plus a walk. Chad Tracy, however, had a couple doubles in three at bats, and a walk. He drove in five, and again I say, he’s the leader in the final bench spot competition. Though, he did have a throwing error at third base…
  • 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.

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