View of the field from Sloan Park press box

Random Cubs Practice Game Thread Until Further Notice

In Game Threads by Rice Cube49 Comments

I would do one for every game, but that first game of spring training was special and the rest are just like whatever at this point as long as no one (else) gets hurt. It was just nice to have a “normal” spring training again after a pandemic (still going, technically), a lockout, and even with the World Baseball Classic looming.

The Not So Good News

I was looking forward to the “regular” lineup, but alas, Seiya’s oblique was not cooperating:

The fact that nobody has said anything other than that he’s under further observation is troublesome, suggesting this might not be of the “we’re just being precautionary because the games don’t matter” variety, but this time of year being the best time for overreaction, maybe it’s just that and we will find out more in short order. But anytime you see an oblique issue, it’s no fun at all, no matter how mild it turns out to be. At least Brennen Davis played reasonably well and it’s good to see him out there doing normal baseball things in a game setting after his issues with injuries last year.

N = 1 for the New Rules

This is the first game I watched (most of, anyway) and I was only realizing it had been three hours at the end when we were all wondering whether the Cubs could make it under that magic mark. The average time of game for spring training so far through a dozen or so games is two hours and thirty minutes, and the Cubs ended up taking three hours and six minutes, which is actually not too bad considering all the pitching changes they forced SF to make within an inning and the number of baserunners and runs scored by both sides. I hopped out for a spell in the middle but as far as I could tell, the only clock violations were by Giants personnel, which I guess bodes well for the Cubs. The game didn’t end on a clock violation, unlike this one:

If you click in, Passan goes on to note that MLB said the call was made correctly (and of course they would, but per the rule and how much time was on the clock etc, yeah they did) and it’s good they did this during the preseason rather than a game that counted, but the rule is pretty explicit. They’ve been told. Get in the box and pay attention, the clock’s running whether you think it is or not. So even if something like this (DeRosa forbid) happened to the Cubs, I wouldn’t have sympathy for it. I think they’ll hide the big ass clock on the side of the backstop from the broadcast view in the regular season, but I do like the clock in the score bug ticking down like the shot clock in the NBA broadcasts, I think it helps the fans keep track and gives everything a sense of urgency that makes things more fun, at least for me because I’m weird.

I did see a couple of Giants steal off Yan Gomes so I think the Cubs will have to work with their batteries to hold runners better in the confines of the new rules, but I missed Pete Crow-Armstrong’s steal unfortunately. The Cubs defense didn’t appear to be hindered by being forced to stay within the dirt, as here’s a nice double play from early in the game:

This also happened while I was out for a bit but I think it’s nice that David Bote still has pop and is just a bus ride away in Iowa if they need him and he doesn’t suck:

Cubs pitchers not named Marcus Stroman (and therefore not who I care too much about) gave up a bunch of dingers and Cubs batters only hit that one, but scoring 10 runs with just one bomb is pretty cool and I liked all the running. It really was a smooth game despite topping three hours, and I didn’t feel the slag because it was such a brisk pace. But this is just N=1 so let’s see what happens next.

Games Coming Up

As usual you can keep tabs yourself using the Cubs schedule, and for the time being at least, most of the spring training games seem to be available for free on MLB.tv but of course they’ll make you pay come the regular season.

There’s a Cubs away game at wherever it is the Dodgers play now, with Justin Steele slated to start that one. Then on Monday, there’s split squad action with Jameson Taillon starting at home against Cleveland while Caleb Kilian draws the start against the Dbacks at the place they share with the Rockies that’s really nifty. I’ll try to post lineups and crap if I get the time but the weekends be busy, but hopefully I’ll get to tune in for a few innings.

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  8. Author
    Rice Cube

    Madrigal in the dugout interview, I don’t think I’ve ever heard him talk at length but he seems to feel comfortable at 3B (did reps say 2B as well) and feels good and better overall so hopefully he doesn’t break and can have an extended stretch to show what he can do.

    A Bote RBI double during the interview was cool too.

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  12. Author
    Rice Cube

    Cubs lose, season’s over…

    But at least everyone who played left healthy and there were some decent defensive plays, still finished under 3 hours despite the last few innings when the prospects forgot how to throw strikes

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  16. Author
    Rice Cube

    The comments are disappointing but when are they not…but I think even Joe Buck was waiting for the sun to engulf him by the second lame pickoff attempt

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  22. Author
    Rice Cube

    I don’t see a pitch clock ticking down on the Bally broadcast for the away game with the Dbacks but it seems a good pace by Kilian, who obviously has experience already in the minors anyway.

    It is nice to see Pitchf/x stuff in this park though, too bad Marquee/Sloan doesn’t do it being the (pun) marquee park in the Cactus League

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  27. Author
    Rice Cube

    Lots of random injuries happening…Dodgers losing Gavin Lux for a while with his baserunning knee injury, now Joe Musgrove dropped weights on his toe or something

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  29. Author
    Rice Cube

    Straining my side from coughing fits when I got a non-COVID cold vs. oblique injury from baseball…consensus is that both suck

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  32. Author
    Rice Cube

    Listening to Starkville and they’re talking about the game-ending clock violation for BOS-ATL the other day. I think if the rule is as set in stone as the umps are calling it, do what Glanville suggested, which is to just get in the box and stare at the pitcher no matter if he’s ready to pitch, the catcher is doing cartwheels, or the world is about to end because at least you won’t be called for an auto-strike (dying laughing)

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  37. berselius

    Another annual tradition – will whatever random permutations that mlb.tv made this year be blocked by my work firewall.

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  42. berselius

    berselius:
    berselius,

    Success, though after taking several minutes to load as usual (dying laughing).

    It’s spring training for bamtech too I guess, I’ve already had two occasions where the feed has jumped back to the beginning of the game when an inning starts.

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