[adinserter block=”2″]It was so good to finally see some Cubs baseball again yesterday. Sure, it was only Spring Training, but it really starts getting the energy buzzing for the coming season.
And that’s especially true when the Cubs are crushing homers, and winning the game 3-0 on the strength of some nice pitching performances.
The Cubs’ pitchers, of course, got plenty of help, because the defense was making tremendous plays left and right behind them.
Ben Zobrist got action early at second base, at one point having to range far to his left to make a snag and a spinning throw to first, where Javier Baez then had to make a snag of his own on a tough hop:
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Not a crazy, over-the-top amazing play, but a very solid, tough play at both ends, completed buy guys in new spots (for the Cubs, anyway). It was cool to see.
The defensive play of the day, though, was unquestionably David Ross showing off instincts and quickness behind the plate, making a diving catch on a pop and then gunning down a runner at second:
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That’s an incredible play if you’re 21. Apparently Ross, who’s been lovingly chided by his teammates about his age, immediately got up to say into the dugout, “Who’s grandpa now?” (Cubs.com)
In the 9th inning, Iowa outfielder John Andreoli, who could factor into the Cubs’ outfield depth picture at some point, made a leaping catch to help close out the game:
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