Spring Training Miscellany: Strop and Brach Debut, ChatWow Again, Darvish and Cedeño News, More
The Cubs beat the Royals today behind plenty of good pitching, and most of it came from pitchers who’ll be around on Opening Day, so that’s neat.
Cubs win!
Final: #Cubs 4, Royals 1. pic.twitter.com/GfLkA5vWUp
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) March 6, 2019
Jose Quintana started, throwing his three innings of scoreless ball, allowing just one walk and one hit, while striking out two.
- Pedro Strop made his Spring Training debut today, getting his work in over 21 pitches. The results, for a guy like Strop, matter pretty much not at all … unless the result in funny moments among old friends:
Strop done after 21 pitches (12 strikes) to four batters. Allowed a single, walk and stolen base. Recorded one groundout and one strikeout. The K was swinging by Soler, who dropped to a knee after flailing.
— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) March 6, 2019
- Steve Cishek worked another inning as he ramps up, and Brad Brach also made his long-awaited debut (scoreless, one hit, one strikeout). No word on how Brach looked or what his velocity was like just yet. (He dealt with mono earlier this offseason, we just learned.)
- I’m very sorry for what follows, but it is a thing that happened and the people must be informed:
- For now, I’ll stick to what I said earlier:
Even absent an injury in the rotation, I can see ways Tyler Chatwood gets starts this year … for the Cubs or otherwise. https://t.co/jREZUSeSLP
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) March 6, 2019
- A little Rizzo clip:
Rizzo single to right pic.twitter.com/2BMeXK4jJg
— Jesse Rogers (@ESPNChiCubs) March 6, 2019
- Victor Caratini went deep in this one.
- Good news, in my opinion, on Yu Darvish:
Cubs planning on having Yu Darvish throw in a sim game at the team's complex in Mesa on Friday rather than sending him to Peoria to face the Mariners.
— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) March 6, 2019
And if the Cubs are doing this with Darvish, it suggests they feel completely fine about where he is in his readiness/prep for the season, and have been confirmed that, yeah, he's normal and good to go. It's a really good sign. I wrote this three days ago after his last outing: pic.twitter.com/uRaHadFBI5
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) March 6, 2019
- Not so good news on lefty Xavier Cedeño:
Lefty Xavier Cedeno (left wrist) still shut down from throwing, but PC Tommy Hottovy said there is still time to get him in enough games this spring, barring any other setbacks. Hasn't reached red zone part of the spring calendar yet.
— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) March 6, 2019
- Given the bullpen crunch and his lack of options, it seems overwhelmingly likely that Cedeño starts the season on the Injured List at this point.
