Bleed Cubbie Blue - Cubs vs. Rockies and Mariners Saturday game threadsA Chicago Cubs Fan Community Since February 9, 2005https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47557/cubbieblue.png2018-03-25T08:00:02-05:00http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/rss/stream/168943352018-03-25T08:00:02-05:002018-03-25T08:00:02-05:00Cubs 3, Rockies 0: Pitching and power
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/TduYO8XSnFRI66XJW4nSiLV6-7c=/0x0:2946x1964/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59150833/usa_today_10728032.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Cubs pitchers shut down a good-hitting Rockies team and won the game with long balls.</p> <p id="wBD6WK"><strong>MESA, Arizona</strong> — Saturday night’s <a href="http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2018_03_24_colmlb_chnmlb_2">3-0 Cubs win over the Rockies</a> was the type of game we hope we see much more of throughout the 2018 season.</p>
<p id="w6rnCA">Solid pitching? Check. Good defense, especially in the infield? Check. Home runs leaving the yard? Check.</p>
<p id="EftYJZ"><span>Mike Montgomery</span> and four relievers allowed the Rockies just three singles and a pair of walks. Just four Rockies baserunners got past first base, one of those on defensive indifference in the ninth inning.</p>
<p id="Csq3oZ">Montgomery struggled with his control a bit in the early innings with the two walks, but also got seven ground-ball outs among his 12 batters retired, a solid outing. And between him, <span>Steve Cishek</span>, <span>Pedro Strop</span>, <span>Carl Edwards Jr.</span> and <span>Kyle Ryan</span>, they retired 18 straight Rockies from the third through the ninth inning, when Ryan allowed a one-out single.</p>
<p id="TOIuVc">After <span>Ben Zobrist</span> reached on a rare error by <span>Nolan Arenado</span> in the fourth inning, <span>Anthony Rizzo</span> sent a baseball deep into the Mesa night:</p>
<div id="Zf9UBN">
<blockquote class="twitter-video">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Man on 3rd, one out.<br><br>OK, Rizz. Just put it in play. <a href="https://t.co/QrVzfD51o5">pic.twitter.com/QrVzfD51o5</a></p>— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cubs/status/977745038947094528?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 25, 2018</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="xBRIcl">That would turn out to be all the Cubs would need. It was Rizzo’s third home run of the spring. Jason Vosler, who’s probably going to have to go to another organization to get a major-league chance, homered in the eighth to complete the scoring. Vosler, who’s 24, is a third baseman, obviously blocked with the Cubs. He had a pretty good year at Double-A in 2017 and also played in the Arizona Fall League last year. He’ll likely be the third baseman at Iowa this year.</p>
<p id="DmRrWi">If this seems like a short summary, well, that’s pretty much intentional. Not much else happened in this quick game, which ended in a snappy two hours, 30 minutes. </p>
<p id="BCTeAz">Strop looked sharp and solid and was hitting 95 and I’d say he appears ready to start the season; there’s been some question about whether he might start the year on the disabled list, but I don’t see any reason for that. I’d guess Strop gets one more spring appearance, in one of the games vs. the Red Sox, and then should be ready to go for the regular season.</p>
<p id="bXhb6h"><a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-cubs-pedro-strop-20180324-story.html">This article</a>, though, says the decision won’t be made until Monday or Tuesday, and that <span>Eddie Butler</span> is still in the mix.</p>
<p id="JuDg9K">Ryan, who’s had a good spring (1.80 ERA, 1.100 WHIP in 10 innings), probably isn’t going to get the last spot in the pen, but is a strong candidate for the Iowa shuttle this summer, especially because he’s lefthanded. Ryan had a 3.87 ERA and 1.336 WHIP in 86 appearances (seven starts) for the <a href="https://www.blessyouboys.com/">Tigers</a> over the last four seasons.</p>
<p id="VaxwZQ">In addition to Ryan, <span>Justin Hancock</span> and <span>Anthony Bass</span> are still in contention for a bullpen spot.</p>
<p id="tWQq1Q"><strong>Attendance watch</strong>: 15,844, the second-largest crowd in Sloan Park (and Cactus League) history, paid to see this game. (The record, 15,849, was set in another night game, March 13 vs. the <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">Giants</a>.) The final spring total attendance at home for the Cubs was 222,023, or 13,876 per date. Also:</p>
<div id="CUKOZI">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">In 5 seasons at Sloan Park, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cubs</a> have drawn 1,111,349 fans (that's more than 1 million)</p>— Carrie Muskat (@CarrieMuskat) <a href="https://twitter.com/CarrieMuskat/status/977757503529271296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 25, 2018</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="IeGEVQ">That’s an average of 222,270 per season. There have been 76 total dates over the five seasons, so that’s 14,623 per date. (The international exhibitions last year vs. Italy and Japan don’t count in this total or average.)</p>
<p id="7U2oD8">There was another game Saturday night; a split squad of Cubs traveled to Peoria and <a href="http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2018_03_24_chnmlb_seamlb_1">lost to the Mariners 7-3</a>. The only truly notable thing about that game was this:</p>
<div id="EkXHhz">
<blockquote class="twitter-video">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/ihapp_1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ihapp_1</a> took the first pitch of the game and, well, you can guess what he did with it. <a href="https://t.co/Jm5GMVz0fm">pic.twitter.com/Jm5GMVz0fm</a></p>— MLB (@MLB) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLB/status/977731204043636737?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 25, 2018</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="c47pwX">Yes, that’s another <span>Ian Happ</span> home run — his seventh of the spring, tying him for the major-league spring training lead with <span>Yonder Alonso</span> of the <a href="https://www.letsgotribe.com/">Indians</a> and Frank Schwindel of the Royals — and also another leadoff homer, his fifth this spring. That one was on the first pitch of the game, off <span>Felix Hernandez</span>.</p>
<p id="l4V6gX">You might not see Happ in the leadoff spot every single day... but at this point I’m guessing it’ll be most days. Happ is hitting .333/.418/.875 (16-for-48) this spring.</p>
<p id="PgE8M3">One more Cactus League game before the Cubs head to Florida for a pair of practice games vs. the <a href="https://www.overthemonster.com/">Red Sox</a>. Sunday afternoon, the Cubs travel to Surprise to face the <a href="https://www.royalsreview.com/">Royals</a>. Kyle Hendricks goes for the Cubs, though I wouldn’t expect him to throw more than about 60 pitches, maybe 3-4 innings. <span>Ian Kennedy</span> starts for the Royals. Radio coverage today is on 670 The Score, and the game will be televised on WGN-TV. Game time is an hour earlier than recent days, 2:05 p.m. CT. The game preview will post at 12 noon CT.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2018/3/25/17161002/cubs-rockies-recap-anthony-rizzo-jason-vosler-mlb-scoresAl Yellon2018-03-24T22:00:02-05:002018-03-24T22:00:02-05:00Overflow thread: Cubs vs. Rockies and Mariners, Saturday 3/24
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/j_OVgdlzgOuOmw-LAkT7ApZ4aoU=/1510x200:3727x1678/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59143293/usa_today_10728665.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="nqhm4X">——</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2018/3/24/17130288/overflow-thread-cubs-vs-rockies-and-mariners-saturday-3-24Al Yellon2018-03-24T20:30:02-05:002018-03-24T20:30:02-05:00First pitch thread: Cubs vs. Rockies and Mariners, Saturday 3/24
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Wm1Ahyox79RD5LqXZvzy7NyI7ZY=/0x0:3723x2482/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59128879/921621956.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="nqhm4X">Go get ‘em, Eddie and Mike.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2018/3/24/17130284/first-pitch-thread-cubs-rockies-and-mariners-saturdayAl Yellon2018-03-24T18:30:02-05:002018-03-24T18:30:02-05:00Cubs vs. Rockies at Mesa (9:05) and Cubs vs. Mariners at Peoria (8:40) preview, Saturday 3/24
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/tuJFNhwWkmTo7FWodAN4H_ooDeQ=/0x210:3636x2634/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59143257/usa_today_10728669.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Cubs play their final split-squad contests of spring 2018 under the lights.</p> <p id="hEX5SN"><strong>SCOTTSDALE, Arizona</strong> — Well, this is different — a spring-training split-squad game with both games being night games. Since the away game begins about half an hour before the home game, today’s threads are timed for the away game start at 8:40 p.m. CT.</p>
<p id="mBVNd5">As is the case for all split-squad games that are played at (essentially) the same time, there will be just one set of threads for these games.</p>
<p id="qAWV8t"><a href="https://www.mlb.com/cubs/news/cubs-willson-contreras-player-to-watch-in-2018/c-269496354">Here’s an article</a> about <span>Willson Contreras</span> and how “the sky’s the limit” for him. I’m pretty sure you agree; to me, the most interesting thing about that article is the headline reminding us that he’s only in his second full season in the major leagues. Considering what he’s accomplished already, that’s just a reminder of how young this roster still is.</p>
<p id="9z71Qw">Here are today’s particulars.</p>
<p id="NIhSkF"><a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> lineup vs. <a href="https://www.lookoutlanding.com/">Mariners</a> at Peoria:</p>
<blockquote><p id="GerhRs">Happ CF, La Stella 2B, Navarro 1B, Almora LF, Freeman SS, Gimenez C, Court 3B, Zagunis DH, Hannemann RF</p></blockquote>
<p id="E6KRtk">Mariners lineup:</p>
<blockquote><p id="Z68wg5">Gordon CF, Segura SS, Cano 2B, Cruz DH, Seager 3B, Healy 1B, Haniger RF, Zunino C, Heredia LF</p></blockquote>
<p id="5DgF4Y">Cubs lineup vs. <a href="https://www.purplerow.com/">Rockies</a> at Mesa:</p>
<blockquote><p id="Z3vgaW">Zobrist RF, Bryant 3B, Rizzo 1B, Schwarber LF, Russell SS, Heyward CF, Baez 2B, Caratini C, Montgomery P</p></blockquote>
<p id="W8N8XM">The Rockies lineup was not available at posting time.</p>
<p id="JObcqa"><span>Eddie Butler</span> will start for the Cubs in Peoria. <span>Alec Mills</span> is on the reliever list for this game.</p>
<p id="qVY5Nw"><span>Felix Hernandez</span> goes for the Mariners. Relievers for Seattle tonight: <span>Ariel Miranda</span>, <span>Marc Rzepczynski</span> and <span>Dan Altavilla</span>.</p>
<p id="SdITpf"><span>Mike Montgomery</span> will start for the Cubs in Mesa. <span>Steve Cishek</span>, <span>Carl Edwards Jr.</span>, <span>Pedro Strop</span> and <span>Kyle Ryan</span> will be the relievers for this game.</p>
<p id="Adv7D2"><span>Jon Gray</span> gets the call for the Rockies. Colorado relievers tonight: <span>Jake McGee</span>, <span>Adam Ottavino</span>, <span>Brooks Pounders</span>, <span>Jairo Diaz</span> and Harrison Musgrave.</p>
<p id="c3F1gH">Tonight’s game in Peoria has no Cubs radio or TV. TV coverage is being provided by the Mariners network Root Sports Northwest and will be available on MLB.tv.</p>
<p id="GKsvUh">Today’s game in Mesa vs. the Rockies is on 670 The Score. TV coverage is via NBC Sports Chicago, and this game will also be live on MLB Network outside the Chicago market.</p>
<p id="MNoeEF"><a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2018_03_24_chnmlb_seamlb_1">MLB.com Gameday for Cubs/Mariners</a></p>
<p id="FSned3"><a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2018_03_22_colmlb_chnmlb_1">MLB.com Gameday for Cubs/Rockies</a></p>
<p id="0b0ENG"><em>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.</em></p>
<p id="duh5N2"><a href="https://www.mlb.com/live-stream-games/2018/03/24">Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.</a></p>
<p id="77FG6H">Please visit our SB Nation <a href="https://www.lookoutlanding.com/">Mariners</a> site <a href="http://www.lookoutlanding.com/">Lookout Landing</a> and <a href="https://www.purplerow.com/">Rockies</a> site <a href="http://www.purplerow.com">Purple Row</a>. If you do go there to interact with Mariners or Rockies 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.</p>
<p id="fnbMtI">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 tonight, that will be 8:30 p.m. CT and 10 p.m. CT.</p>
<p id="eDrZXV">These threads will <em>not</em> post individually onto the front page; instead, you can find links to them in the box marked <a href="http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/chicago-cubs-game-threads">"Chicago Cubs Game Threads"</a> at the <em>bottom</em> 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.</p>
<p id="k1f23a">Discuss amongst yourselves.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2018/3/24/17130128/cubs-rockies-mesa-mariners-peoria-saturdayAl Yellon