[Spring Training Miscellany is a bullet-style post offering what I consider to be the most important bits from that day’s game – it focuses heavily on players who are fighting for a roster spot, or fighting for a particular role on the team. In other words, for example, you’re not going to read too much about Starlin Castro in this feature.]
The Cubs opened up Cactus League play with a blown lead, a comeback, and a late loss. Most of the damage – both good and bad – came after the youngsters had come into the game.
Adrian Cardenas had a bases-clearing triple in a couple at bats. He’s fighting for a bench job after being claimed by the Cubs on waivers from these Oakland A’s.
Dave Sappelt, who doesn’t get enough talk when it comes to a reserve outfielder spot (he’s gotta beat out Tony Campana or Reed Johnson, at least), had a hit and a walk in two plate appearances, and scored twice.
Welington Castillo, one of three primary competitors for the back-up catcher job (together with Jason Jaramillo and Steve Clevenger), had a homer in two at bats.
Rodrigo Lopez was perfect in his two innings of work, though, absent a rash of injuries, I’m not sure a perfect Spring would get him a job out of camp. Bullpen candidates Rafael Dolis and Trever Miller also threw perfect innings (ok, 1.1 innings in Miller’s case).
Various younger bullpen hopefuls had a tough go of it. Rule 5 pick Lendy Castillo (whom you know the Cubs would love to be able to stash at the back of the pen) gave up an earned run on a hit and a walk in his inning, and Marcos Mateo (who’s out of options, so that’ll help his case slightly) gave up a couple earned runs on a walk and two hits in his inning of work. Lefty Jeff Beliveau (the Cubs’ Minor League pitcher of the year in 2011) had the worst day of the hopefuls, giving up four earned on three walks and a hit. He simply didn’t have control today, which is unfortunate – it was his dramatic improvement in control in 2011 that made him breakout. It’s just one outing, but it was a really ugly one.
Darwin Barney and David DeJesus, each of whom otherwise had a nice day, were picked off of first base … in the same inning … by the catcher. Fundamentals and all that.
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.
Just three starts into his San Francisco Giants career, Blake Snell is heading to the injured list with a left-adductor strain. Oof. You hate to even say it — and who really knows if this was related — but early...
In 1997, I was a miserable Chicago Cubs fan. I mean, that was true a lot of the time, but I mean it in a very specific way that year: the Cubs had started the season 0-14. They had literally...
Cubs rookie starter Jordan Wicks has been impressing us all season long with his apparent offseason transformation (which led to more velocity on his heater and movement on his slider). But last night against the Astros? That was a whole...
The pitching staff has undergone a lot of changes over the past few weeks, and at the center of it all is Ben Brown, the Cubs No. 2 pitching prospect, who's been used out of the 'pen and rotation so...
I recently stumbled onto this live cover of Linger by The Cranberries and I can't stop listening to it. Give it a go. I bet you like it. In case you missed it last night, Cody Bellinger exited last night's...
The big league Cubs last night beat the Astros largely on the strength of the long ball, scoring six of their seven runs that way. Cody Bellinger kicked things off with a monster two-run shot, and Mike Tauchman followed with...
The Cubs cannot catch a break this year, man. They've already dealt with injuries to Jameson Taillon, Justin Steele, Kyle Hendricks, Drew Smyly, Julian Merryweather, Seiya Suzuki, and Ian Happ (did I forget anyone?). And tonight, it seems maybe something...
Well there was one big thing not to like about tonight's game - Cody Bellinger was lifted with a right rib contusion after colliding with the outfield wall - and about a million things that were great. And since we...
Nothing like a little insurance late. Mike Tauchman, who already hit his first home run of the season earlier in this game, just hit his second home run in the 8th! Another opposite field blast for Tauchman, who's been hitting...
Just three starts into his San Francisco Giants career, Blake Snell is heading to the injured list with a left-adductor strain. Oof. You hate to even say it — and who really knows if this was related — but early...
The San Diego Padres (13-13) are set to take on the Colorado Rockies (6-18) Wednesday at 8:40 PM ET, airing on SDPA. The Padres are listed as -157 favorites by bookmakers, while the underdog Rockies have +132 odds for the...
The Houston Texans killed the NFL Draft last year, selecting the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and Defensive Rookie of the Year with back-to-back picks, and they also drafted a solid wide receiver in Tank Dell. Houston also had...
We have a new highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL! According to a report from NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport, the Lions have made Amon-Ra St. Brown the richest wideout in the NFL with a four-year, $120 million contract extension...
The Toronto Blue Jays (13-11) visit the Kansas City Royals (14-10) at 7:40 PM ET Wednesday for a sluggers' duel between two of the best home-run hitters in baseball. Daulton Varsho has racked up six homers this season (No. 7...
The Chicago White Sox (3-20) will try to end their five-game losing streak when they visit the Minnesota Twins (9-13) on Wednesday at 7:40 PM ET on BSN. Sportsbooks consider the Twins to be -200 favorites for the contest, while...
The Houston Astros (7-17) are the underdogs on the moneyline (-105) in Wednesday's contest versus the Chicago Cubs (14-9). Game time is set for 7:40 PM ET on SCHN. The Astros are favored against the spread in this one (1.5)...
The Seattle Mariners (12-11) are the underdogs on the moneyline (+101) in Wednesday's contest with the Texas Rangers (12-12). First pitch is at 8:05 PM ET on BSSW. The Mariners are favored against the spread in this one (1.5) with...
Jaylen Brown must make three 3-pointers to beat his over/under when the Boston Celtics play the Miami Heat on Wednesday at 7:00 PM ET, in Game 2 of the opening round of the NBA playoffs.Jaylen Brown's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs....
Jayson Tatum must make three 3-pointers to beat his prop when the Boston Celtics play the Miami Heat on Wednesday at 7:00 PM ET, in Game 2 of the opening round of the NBA playoffs.Jayson Tatum's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs....
NEWSLETTER
[Spring Training Miscellany is a bullet-style post offering what I consider to be the most important bits from that day’s game – it focuses heavily on players who are fighting for a roster spot, or fighting for a particular role on the team. In other words, for example, you’re not going to read too much about Starlin Castro in this feature.]
