Baseball is back. That’s the key thing, right? We’re not worried, right?
I kid, I kid. The results of a couple split-squad 7-inning games on the first day of Spring Training tells you absolutely nothing. So it actually is true that it’s just nice to have baseball back. Cubs lost the Camelback game 5-2, and lost the Sloan game 4-3. Not much in the way of highlights or notable performances, but I was happy to be in the moment. If you’d told me last Wednesday that I’d be sitting here on the following Thursday flipping back and forth between two games, I never would’ve believed it.
It was nice to see Kyle Hendricks out there again, because it’s simply enjoyable to see Hendricks on the mound in a Cubs cap (albeit green for the holiday):
Kyle Hendricks, Nasty Changeup. 👌 pic.twitter.com/vscwU25ztJ
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) March 17, 2022
It was nice to see Cubs prospects in the flesh:
Lotsa youngsters. pic.twitter.com/34yjFSSWPk
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) March 17, 2022
Nice to see the return of action shots:
What an effort by Pete Crow-Armstrong in today's #SpringTraining opener. #Cubs pic.twitter.com/VlmV5fRo7H
— Scott Changnon (@ScottyChags) March 17, 2022
Grateful for baseball! ☘️⚾️ pic.twitter.com/smVOK1SeG4
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) March 17, 2022
Cubs first rounder Jordan Wicks got an inning, and although he was overthrowing the fastball quite a bit (hyped), the sweeping slider was looking nasty:
Jordan Wicks, Wicked Slider…and Sword. ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/q8tdGRn7FG
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) March 17, 2022
Wicks struck out two and walked one in his scoreless inning. Can’t wait to see how he fares this year at … Double-A Tennessee, I suspect?
He was safe:
Called out, but PCA shows off some wheels. pic.twitter.com/uHWXSGAyb9
— Matt Clapp (@TheBlogfines) March 17, 2022
Back-up, back-up catcher John Hicks hit the Cubs’ first homer of the Spring:
The first #Cubs home run of Spring Training belongs to @JohnHicks08! 💪🏼
(📸: @WatchMarquee) pic.twitter.com/7lW8tECVPB
— Cubs Zone (@CubsZone) March 17, 2022
Kevin Made got the start in the game at Camelback:
Over in the other game, Kevin Made just SMOKED a single to left. That's one thing he can do well – it was a mistake pitch, and he sent a laser by the shortstop. (The questions are whether he can elevate and also make good swing decisions at pitches TO elevate.)
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) March 17, 2022
Made doing Made things, 2022 edition. pic.twitter.com/Jeg5ITdnfT
— Itsacon (@thats_so_cub) March 17, 2022
Ben Holmes (a 30-year-old lefty at Iowa that the Cubs have worked with on a reclamation basis last year and this offseason), got the start at Camelback and gave up a trio of homers:
It runs in the family.
Yoelqui Céspedes, Yoenis's younger half-brother, with a Spring Training 💣 for the @WhiteSox. pic.twitter.com/op5E7cn342
— MLB (@MLB) March 17, 2022
Willson Contreras didn’t play today, but he was taking care of the fans:
New year, same @WContreras40. #ManOfThePeople #Cubs pic.twitter.com/txwON5kTak
— Taylor McGregor (@Taylor_McGregor) March 17, 2022
The Cubs were decked out in gear from our friends at Obvious Shirts before the game, celebrating the trio of nice things today:
Best Day Ever ☘️@obvious_shirts pic.twitter.com/MBU9vWQwBS
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) March 17, 2022
A very happy #StPatricksDay indeed! pic.twitter.com/7r9xnXIOPi
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) March 17, 2022