It was a bizarre and busy day at Cubs Camp today, with workouts pushed back due to testing delays, though the tests from Sunday finally did come back (a day late), and all Cubs tested negative.
Moreover, the testing issues delayed the start of the Cubs’ *other* summer camp over in South Bend, but that group is finally now together:
Welcome to South Bend Summer Camp!#Cubs #OnlyInTheBend #SBCubs pic.twitter.com/IiOtPNRO9k
— South Bend Cubs (@SBCubs) July 7, 2020
Hopefully we get some updates from there soon, but things just got underway.
Meanwhile, at Wrigley Field, the Cubs put on Intrasquad Game number three, a 2.5-inning affair for relievers to get in their work. Tonight’s game saw Craig Kimbrel, Dillon Maples, Jeremy Jeffress, Brad Wieck, and Danny Hultzen take the ball.
Kimbrel led things off, allowing a single to Kris Bryant, striking out Ian Happ and Kyle Schwarber, and then giving up a two-run oppo shot to Willson Contreras. Jason Heyward grounded out to end that frame.
Crowd noise pumped into Wrigley for Kimbrel v. Bryant. Single for the Cubs third baseman to lead things off. pic.twitter.com/PD2gdychBr
— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) July 7, 2020
Contreras follows Schwarber K with 2-run shot to RCF. pic.twitter.com/t8VKqMPPhh
— Gordon Wittenmyer (@GDubCub) July 7, 2020
I know, I know. But really, you can’t take much away from a Cubs hitter knocking a homer off of Kimbrel in his first intrasquad appearance. He’s out there pumping strikes per the eyes-on, and Contreras is a good hitter. I take nothing away from this right now.
Dillon Maples got the first pitching coach visit of Summer Camp, because of course, and then he did the Maples thing:
Maples in midseason form. Walks first two batters, works out of jam with strikeouts of Miller and Happ.
— Mark Gonzales (@MDGonzales) July 7, 2020
The Cubs did all the normal sights and sounds of the game in this one, including a special birthday message to their bench coach:
A special birthday message: pic.twitter.com/Zg6ze2ZLO0
— Maddie Lee (@maddie_m_lee) July 7, 2020
Fun with fake crowd sounds:
https://twitter.com/mikealexbolling/status/1280658608208961538
An annual thing, and not something to be concerned about yet:
Rizzo wasn't in the intrasquad game tonight because his lower back was a little tight. They decided there was no reason to risk it. Rizzo's back usually keeps him down for short periods of time every season.
— Sahadev Sharma (@sahadevsharma) July 8, 2020