Spring Training Miscellany: Cubs Fall to Red Sox, Darvish is Fun, Almora Highlight, More

Although the Cactus League slate is over, Spring Training still has a couple days left for the Cubs, who traversed the country and kinda joined the Grapefruit League for a couple games against the Red Sox. Tonight’s edition saw the Cubs lose 4-2.

• Yu Darvish pitched just 3.0 innings in his final regular season tuneup (not unusual), as his pitch count inflated rapidly. He did not record a strikeout, which – even in an exhibition – seems impossible. I am wholly unmoved by that fact, however. Because exhibition. Also, he was still doing some fun stuff:

Yu Darvish, Filthy Slider causes Mookie Betts to briefly contemplate becoming a switch hitter. pic.twitter.com/pfBUczK8Jz

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) March 27, 2018

https://twitter.com/PitchingNinja/status/978405547421700098

• Speaking of Yu and fun:

Whoa, new Yu Darvish shirt just popped up on Fanatics and it's on sale for the next 2 hours, too. Jump on it: https://t.co/IxPJxuE9Pe pic.twitter.com/sjjRHnghsP

— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) March 27, 2018

• Victor Caratini had the honors of catching Darvish in this one, fresh off being named the Cubs’ backup catcher. It wasn’t a great night behind the plate, though, as Caratini had some visible goofs, including the cardinal sin for a catcher – tossing one over the pitcher’s head:

• Steve Cishek continued his near-flawless spring with another scoreless, two-strikeout inning. You are reminded: he was absolutely brilliant last year after a midseason trade to the Rays, where he worked with now-Cubs pitching coach Jim Hickey.
• Justin Wilson rebounded from some recent outings with a scoreless, two-strikeout frame of his own.
• Carl Edwards Jr. had gone all of Spring Training without issuing a walk – quite a feat for him – but unfortunately that control left him tonight, with two walks (to go with three hits and a couple runs given up). It would have been another run or more if not for Albert Almora nailing a runner at the plate:

• Ian Happ had one hit in four tries, which was just enough to maintain his OPS lead (1.234) over Kyle Schwarber (1.119), who had a couple hits in three tries. None of that “matters,” mind you. It’s just kinda fun.