Spring Training Miscellany: Darvish Too Nasty, Almora Homers, Morrow Brings the Heat, More

Social Navigation

Spring Training Miscellany: Darvish Too Nasty, Almora Homers, Morrow Brings the Heat, More

Chicago Cubs

It was an eventful Spring Training debut for Yu Darvish, who introduced himself to the Cubs with the following first inning:

Walk
Wild pitch
Strikeout
Stolen base
Walk
Wild pitch
Strikeout
Strikeout

He would go on to pitch a clean second inning with another strikeout. Most importantly, his arm did not fall off at any point, so it was a successful first go. I’m going to assume he was just too nasty out there, and Willson Contreras will adjust (in terms of those wild pitches).

  • As for the rest of the game, the Cubs exploded on the Dodgers for six in the first inning – still pissed about the NLCS, apparently – including an RBI double by Javy Baez, and a two-run homer by Albert Almora. After that, they added two runs in the fifth (the first of which came after a walk, a stolen base, a throwing error, and a fielders choice) and another in the seventh.
  • The Dodgers rallied for a run in the 9th (on an inside-the-parker, no less), but it wasn’t enough, and the Dodgers fell to the Cubs 9-5.
  • I see Yu:

  • Albert Almora departed the game in the fourth inning after suffering an apparent injury in the outfield. Hopefully this is all it was:

  • Almora also made a spectacular catch in center field (video hopefully at some point):

  • Brandon Morrow made his Cubs debut in this one, and he was bringing the gas:

https://twitter.com/realcubsinsider/status/971135394556264448

  • He gave up a couple hits and a run in his inning, but the “keep that arm healthy” caveat applies. Steve Cishek got blown up a bit in his inning of work, and the walks and homer suggest his command wasn’t there.
  • Elsewhere in the bullpen, Pedro Strop could soon make his Spring Training debut:

  • The full story on Tommy La Stella’s polo-and-khaki practice, courtesy of the front office:

  • The Cubs got a little motivation this morning from Al Pacino. I would have gone with “If anything in this life is certain, if history has taught us anything, it is that you can kill anyone,” but maybe that doesn’t translate quite as well to baseball:

  • Carl:

  • Also, if you’re *really* desperate to watch more Cubs baseball-ish stuff:

Filed to: Chicago Cubs
Latest from Bleacher Nation:

Cubs Send Frank Schwindel to Triple-A Iowa
Enhanced Box Score: Cubs 6, Nationals 3 – August 8, 2022
Nelson Velázquez *and* Christopher Morel Have Homered!
Pre-Gamin’: Nationals at Cubs (7:05 CT) – Lineups, Broadcast Info, Game Thread
Jason Heyward’s Time Playing for the Chicago Cubs is Over
Chicago Cubs Lineup: Chris Morel Is Back
Chicago Cubs Reportedly Adding Outfielder Franmil Reyes from the Guardians (UPDATE: Official!)
The Cubs’ Farm System is Now Either Amazing or Terrible, Depending on Your Ranking Preference
Bulls Were Apparently Hesitant to Have Goran Dragic Play in EuroBasket
Could Equanimeous St. Brown Become Justin Fields’ OTHER Favorite Receiver This Season?
ESPN’s Eastern Conference Projections Aren’t Too High on the Bulls This Year
What Does Jonathan Toews Owe Blackhawks Fans? And What Do Fans Owe The Captain?
Uh, Wow: Kevin Durant Reportedly Wants the Nets to Trade Him or Fire Steve Nash and Sean Marks
No, This Is *NOT* a Make-or-Break Year For Justin Fields
Ravens Make Justin Tucker the Highest-Paid Kicker in NFL History
World Junior Championship: Game Schedules for the 5 Blackhawks Prospects
Eberflus is a Nerd, LB Shuffle, Heart and Hustle, and Other Bears Bullets
New NBA Beef, LaVine Talks Fatherhood, Terry’s Turn to Take the Court, and Other Bulls Bullets

Author: Brett Taylor

Brett Taylor is the Editor and Lead Cubs Writer at Bleacher Nation, and you can find him on Twitter at @BleacherNation and @Brett_A_Taylor.