Dale Sveum Supports More Night Games for Baseball Reasons and Other Bullets

February 15, 2013, by Brett Taylor Chicago Cubs

MLB Network is starting its 30 Clubs in 30 Days program today, and, what do you know? It kicks off with the Cubs at 5pm CT as part of MLBN’s “MLB Tonight.” It repeats at 7pm and 10pm, in case you don’t do the DVR thing.

As the Cubs continue to battle the City and the neighborhood for more night games for business reasons, Dale Sveum says he’d like to see more night games for baseball reasons. “I think it’s something that’s always going to help, to have more night games,” Sveum said, per the Sun-Times. “The [big] thing you just try to stay away from is the different start times four or five days in a row. That’s what throws your time clock off.” We’ve debated the day game issue here before many times, and the point I keep coming back to is this: the fact of playing day games (or even a day game after a night game) is not the issue. Players can adjust, and, as everyone who favors day games like to point out, the visiting team has to adjust to day games when they come to Wrigley, too. But that’s not the problem. The problem is the constant resetting of the body clock that Cubs players face more than any other team in baseball. As several former Cubs have conceded, by August and September, that constant resetting can really take its toll on you. So, for me, more night games = more revenue = slightly better players in August and September = good for Cubs.
Like Jeff Samardzija, setup man Kyuji Fujikawa is apparently already throwing like it’s the World Series. I’m sure he’s eager to prove himself to the new guys, but let’s save some of that for the season.
Rule 5 pick Hector Rondon, the lone remaining pitcher who has yet to arrive in camp (pitcher Dayan Diaz made it yesterday), is expected in camp today after finally resolving visa issues.
Matt Garza and Dioner Navarro, who scraped earlier in their careers, are now buddies.
A scouting story featuring former Cubs pitcher (now scout) John Koronka and Albert Almora.
A couple more Spring Training previews at Vine Line, courtesy of podcast-mate Sahadev Sharma: a look at the catching situation, and a look at the bullpen.
Tim Sheridan got video of Dan Vogelbach hitting in the cage, and looking trimmer than he’s looked in the past. He’s still a big boy, but – just based on body – he doesn’t look too big to field a position (or two). He also looks like he could snap me in half like a twig: