:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/48993593/GettyImages-512088634.0.jpg)
SCOTTSDALE, Arizona -- Javier Baez says he just needs to relax:
"I took a bad read, that's all," Baez said. "I took a bad read and missed the ball. I don't feel bad. I haven't missed one ball in Spring Training. It's a good thing it happened now and not later. We'll see -- we'll see what happens."
Later in the linked article he says that he's too "hyper" to be "back there," meaning in the outfield. There could be something to that for someone who's played infield his entire career. An infielder is always closer to the action and Baez likely has to get into an "outfield" mindset. Fortunately, he has good outfield teammates who should be able to help him with this. I am still convinced that his speed and athleticism will make him at least a competent outfielder, and with Dexter Fowler on board, he won't have to play as much of it as we might have previously thought.
Baez gets to try a different position today!
Cubs lineup:
Fowler CF, Zobrist 2B, Heyward RF, Baez 1B, Victorino DH, Russell SS, La Stella 3B, Ross C, Perez LF
Angels lineup:
Escobar 3B, Calhoun RF, Trout CF, Cron 1B, Simmons DH, Pennington SS, Perez C, Gentry LF, Johnson 2B
Pierce Johnson will start for the Cubs. Other pitchers on the Cubs schedule for today: Carl Edwards Jr., Edgar Olmos, Stephen Fife, Andury Acevedo, Neil Ramirez, Brandon Gomes and Felix Pena.
Jered Weaver gets the call for the Angels. Others scheduled for the Angels: Jose Alvarez, Ramon Ramirez, Fernando Salas, Javy Guerra and Kyle McGowin. Former Cub Geovany Soto is in Angels camp but he is not on today's travel list.
Today's game is on cubs.com with Len Kasper and Mick Gillispie. If you have MLB.tv you can watch via the Angels broadcast on Fox Sports West. It will be on MLB Network on tape delay, starting at 3 p.m. CT.
Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.
Please visit our SB Nation Angels site Halos Heaven. If you do go there to interact with Angels fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.
Please note that during spring training, Gameday doesn't usually go pitch-by-pitch as it does during the regular season -- usually, it will update after each at-bat.
For spring-training games, we'll have a first-pitch thread at five minutes to game time and one overflow thread, 90 minutes after game time (because I know how you all like overflow threads!). For today, that will be 2 p.m. CT and 3:30 p.m. CT.
These threads will not post individually onto the front page; instead, you can find links to them in the box marked "Chicago Cubs Game Threads" at the bottom of the front page. There will also be a StoryStream on the front page with all the game thread links, as well as the recap after the game is over. The pitcher boxes and regular-season stats will return on Opening Day.
Discuss amongst yourselves.