[adinserter block=”1″]Had the Cubs won the game 500 to nothing, I swear I would have said the same thing: it’s just practice. I probably would have said it more gleefully, but the message would have been the same.
The Cubs lost 2-1 to the Brewers today, with the lone run coming on an opposite-field Dan Vogelbach ground rule double. Cubs pitchers were very good today, if you’re looking for something to smile about (from the very first Spring Training game (we’re all crazy people)).
The first Brewers run came during a tough debut inning for Javy Baez in center field, where he couldn’t track down a tough deep one, couldn’t quite throw out there running tagging on a sac fly, and couldn’t quite squeeze a fly ball he should have caught. Long-term, I doubt it means much for his chances of being a back-up in center field, but it’s a reminder that it’ll be a process, even for a naturally-gifted athlete like Baez.
On his adventures:
Baez on E in CF: "I took a bad read. That's all. I took a bad read and missed the ball."
Said it was the 1st ball he's missed all spring.
— Tony Andracki (@TonyAndracki23) March 3, 2016
Baez on CF issues today (joking) : "I think I'm too hyper to be back there."
— Jesse Rogers (@ESPNChiCubs) March 3, 2016
Video: Javier Baez on his mishap in center field (via @MDGonzales) https://t.co/U8cTUAUwaq pic.twitter.com/ZV3ZQEcWOP
— ChicagoSports (@ChicagoSports) March 3, 2016
Elsewhere in the game, Miguel Montero had a couple hits, including a double. Cubs pitchers struck out 13(!) Brewers batters in just 8 innings of work, so I guess the adage about pitchers behind ahead of hitters is true … especially when the pitchers (Travis Wood, Kyle Hendricks, Clayton Richard, Rex Brothers, C.J. Riefenhauser, and Spencer Patton) are all big leaguers facing a lineup without many of them.
A Kyle Schwarber single:
Schwarber w a base hit up the middle. Was followed by Bryant single to left https://t.co/DYEfdW5B6y
— Jesse Rogers (@ESPNChiCubs) March 3, 2016
The Cubs had some more fun at David Ross’s expense.
If you want to see the upcoming broadcast schedule (tomorrow’s game is televised, and also, Michael will be there!):
Here's the full Cubs broadcast schedule for Spring Training, for those wondering. pic.twitter.com/p7P1z3ET9z
— Brett Taylor (@BleacherNation) March 3, 2016