Bleed Cubbie Blue - Cubs vs. Brewers Sunday game threadsA Chicago Cubs Fan Community Since February 9, 2005https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47557/cubbieblue.png2019-03-10T20:55:27-05:00http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/rss/stream/180201512019-03-10T20:55:27-05:002019-03-10T20:55:27-05:00Brewers 7, Cubs 5: A trip to Brewers country
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<figcaption>Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Cubs lost, and a few comments about the Brewers’ “new” park.</p> <p id="DN2xf0"><strong>PHOENIX, Arizona</strong> — I’ll have some comments on “American Family Fields of Phoenix” (which <a href="https://www.brewcrewball.com/">Brewers</a> beat writers have dubbed “AFFOP”) later, but first, a few comments on the baseball side of <a href="http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2019_03_10_chnmlb_milmlb_1">the Cubs’ 7-5 loss to the Brewers</a> Sunday afternoon.</p>
<p id="waOEfQ"><span>Kyle Hendricks</span> was throwing typical Kyle. He topped out at 86-87, and got three called strikeouts in the first two innings. Meanwhile, the Cubs fashioned a 5-0 lead. The first run scored on <a href="https://mediadownloads.mlb.com/mlbam/mp4/2019/03/10/2523512983/1552250995134/asset_1800K.mp4">this RBI double by Willson Contreras [VIDEO]</a>.</p>
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<p id="iYDTJQ">Then, in the third inning, <span>Corbin Burnes</span> loaded the bases full of Cubs on a couple of hits, an error and a hit batsman, scoring one run, and then <span>Cristhian Adames</span> cleared the bases <a href="https://mediadownloads.mlb.com/mlbam/mp4/2019/03/10/2523516283/1552254127669/asset_1800K.mp4">with this triple [VIDEO]</a>.</p>
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<p id="RLa4qG">The Brewers scored one off Hendricks with two out in the third, and then after a bloop single and a walk in the fourth, Joe Maddon pulled Kyle, likely due to a pitch count.</p>
<p id="lcFQMK">Dakota Mekkes was summoned, the first time he’s thrown in the early innings when major leaguers are still in the game. Work to be done, Dakota, because the second pitch thrown by Mekkes was slammed for a three-run homer by <span>Orlando Arcia</span>, making it 5-4.</p>
<p id="x2lKUY">The Cubs could manage just four baserunners after that, a pair of walks, <span>Albert Almora Jr.</span> reaching on an error, and a ninth-inning, two-out single by <span>Wynton Bernard</span>. Meanwhile, the Brewers took the lead off <span>Brian Duensing</span> in the sixth on back-to-back homers by <span>Ben Gamel</span> and Tyler Saladino. Duensing didn’t look good at all, and neither did <span>Brad Brach</span>. Brach hit the first batter he faced with his first pitch, gave up a booming triple to <span>Ryan Braun</span>, walked <span>Jesus Aguilar</span> and you’re thinking this is going to be a huge inning. Thanks to Contreras, who caught <span>Yasmani Grandal</span> stealing, and a line-drive double play that ended the inning, Brach wasn’t charged with any runs. Brach’s velocity tops out at 90 and he just doesn’t seem quite ready to go. It would not surprise me if he started the year on the injured list.</p>
<p id="poAu2V">After that it was all minor leaguers, and that gives me a story to tell. I was seated behind the plate at AFFOP for this game, and standing behind me the entire game was Jason Grey, whose credential identified him as a scout for the <a href="https://www.draysbay.com/">Tampa Bay Rays</a>. (<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jegrey/">Here’s his LinkedIn profile.</a>) He was making notes throughout, but when Nico Hoerner came to bat, his interest was piqued. Unfortunately for Grey, someone walked right in front of him while Hoerner was batting, so he missed seeing Nico hit a line drive to right-center that was caught. It was nicely hit to the opposite field, but it ended Nico’s on-base streak of eight consecutive appearances. Then when <span>Dillon Maples</span> entered to finish up the eighth after <span>Junichi Tazawa</span> got two quick groundouts, Grey was interested again, enough to take some photos of Maples, who was all over the place, issuing a pair of walks before getting a called third strike to end the inning.</p>
<p id="URlzyo">Maples has talent and a good slider, but he’s got to learn to throw it for strikes to stay in the big leagues.</p>
<p id="Su49wJ">The ninth inning was thrown by <span>Jay Jackson</span>, a former Cubs farmhand who’s spent the last three years in Japan, and done well there. He allowed that two-out single but threw a scoreless ninth for his second save of the spring. I had kind of hoped the Cubs would sign Jackson; he might actually be able to help the Brewers.</p>
<p id="xOCnC9">Now, about AFFOP. The Brewers, expecting a big crowd, sent out this tweet on Saturday:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Headed to <a href="https://twitter.com/AmFamFieldsPHX?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AmFamFieldsPHX</a> tomorrow?<br><br>We're expecting a near-record crowd, so plan ahead as traffic, parking and security screening lines will be busy.<br><br>Gates will be opening 30 minutes earlier than normal (11am), so please arrive early.<a href="https://t.co/v2TXdIZLS5">https://t.co/v2TXdIZLS5</a> <a href="https://t.co/JycPDfjrih">pic.twitter.com/JycPDfjrih</a></p>— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) <a href="https://twitter.com/Brewers/status/1104426624198467585?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 9, 2019</a>
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<p id="MrSyNr">Okay, so that’s useful info and I did arrive early — only to find one of the parking attendants being quite rude, pushing me to “get out of the way” of incoming cars, even though there were only a couple behind me, while I was trying to park. If you have been to Maryvale Baseball Park (its former name) previously, you likely remember an entrance to the ballpark behind first base near the parking lot off 51st Avenue. That entrance is no longer there — it’s been replaced by some Brewers practice fields and a building.</p>
<p id="X0owZm">This was an enormous mistake. Here’s why:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">It's the bottom of the first inning and this is still the line to get in to see <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cubs</a> vs <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Brewers?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Brewers</a> <a href="https://t.co/WqmVtgnuV6">pic.twitter.com/WqmVtgnuV6</a></p>— Al Yellon (@bleedcubbieblue) <a href="https://twitter.com/bleedcubbieblue/status/1104839250946809856?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 10, 2019</a>
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<p id="ykFAVN">That line went well beyond where you see in this photo. It didn’t clear until the third inning! Attendance was 9,989, which was announced as a sellout, but the Brewers folks didn’t seem to have any idea how to handle that many people with one less entrance. On a typical sellout day at Sloan Park, there are 5,500 more people and the Cubs can generally get everyone in by first pitch.</p>
<p id="0Qv4y4">Lastly, there weren’t really any major changes inside AFFOP itself, other than some larger concession stands, a bigger team store, a new video board and a paint job. Otherwise it looked exactly the same as it did a year ago when I went there.</p>
<p id="M9TBai">Simply put: If you’ve been to Maryvale Baseball Park previous to 2019, and were thinking about going there to see what’s been changed, don’t bother — the changes are mainly behind the scenes for Brewers players.</p>
<p id="EB8Q5r">The Cubs will have Monday off, one of two off days this spring, and will resume the Cactus League schedule with the first Sloan Park night game of the year, against the <a href="https://www.redreporter.com/">Reds</a> Tuesday, March 12 at 9:05 p.m. CT. Yes, like a West Coast game, since Arizona is now on the same time as California. No TV Tuesday night, there will be an audio webcast on <a href="http://cubs.com">cubs.com</a>. <span>Tyler Chatwood</span> will get the start Tuesday against Cincinnati’s <span>Tyler Mahle</span>.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/3/10/18259332/cubs-brewers-recap-kyle-hendricks-dakota-mekkes-mlb-scoresAl Yellon2019-03-10T16:30:00-05:002019-03-10T16:30:00-05:00Overflow thread: Cubs vs. Brewers, Sunday 3/10, 3:05 CT
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<img alt="Zack Short" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/cXz1--ebzQOtKblVKnqVIpGMdIQ=/0x302:3749x2801/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63213288/usa_today_12315991.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p id="jVJKhy">——</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/3/10/18256108/overflow-thread-cubs-vs-brewers-sunday-3-10-3-05-ctAl Yellon2019-03-10T15:00:00-05:002019-03-10T15:00:00-05:00First pitch thread: Cubs vs. Brewers, Sunday 3/10, 3:05 CT
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<figcaption>Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p id="jVJKhy">Go get ‘em, Kyle.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/3/10/18256103/first-pitch-thread-cubs-vs-brewers-sunday-3-10-3-05-ctAl Yellon2019-03-10T13:00:00-05:002019-03-10T13:00:00-05:00Cubs vs. Brewers at Phoenix preview, Sunday 3/10, 3:05 CT
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<figcaption>Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Cubs head west to face their divisional rivals.</p> <p id="t3WxRK"><strong>PHOENIX, Arizona</strong> — Hello, people who changed your clocks last night or early this morning! (You did, right?) This is your reminder that Arizona does not observe Daylight Saving time. Thus, today’s game (and most of the rest of the spring afternoon games) will begin in the 3 p.m. hour Central time, instead of in the 2 p.m. hour. Check each day’s game preview <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/2/5/17942908/cubs-announce-2019-spring-training-broadcast-schedule">or this schedule</a> for spring game times.</p>
<p id="9zJtaw"><strong>SITE NOTE:</strong> After today’s game I am heading to Sloan Park, where the Cubs are hosting an open house for spring season ticket holders. Thus the recap of this game will be delayed until this evening.</p>
<p id="4w5FRh">Here are today’s particulars.</p>
<p id="NIhSkF"><a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> lineup:</p>
<blockquote><p id="R8qVgV">Almora CF, Happ 2B, Bote 3B, Contreras C, Adames SS, Evans LF, Court 1B, Field RF, Giambrone DH</p></blockquote>
<p id="P10EWw">Nico Hoerner is on the reserves list today, so you’ll get a chance to see him in a televised game.</p>
<p id="PYBNFM"><a href="https://www.brewcrewball.com/">Brewers</a> lineup:</p>
<blockquote><p id="mnTOuM">Cain CF, Grandal C, Braun LF, Aguilar 1B, Spangenberg 2B, Arcia SS, Gamel RF, Saladino 3B, Hiura DH</p></blockquote>
<p id="jJ0aQw"><span>Kyle Hendricks</span> will start for the Cubs. Cubs relievers today (in alphabetical order): <span>Brad Brach</span>, <span>Brian Duensing</span>, <span>Brandon Kintzler</span>, <span>Dillon Maples</span>, Dakota Mekkes and <span>Junichi Tazawa</span>.</p>
<p id="YxyOyo"><span>Corbin Burnes</span> will go for the Brewers.</p>
<p id="OC139U">Today’s game is on WGN-TV. It’s also on 670 The Score. If you are in the Brewers market territory you can watch via FSN Wisconsin.</p>
<p id="MNoeEF"><a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2019_03_10_chnmlb_milmlb_1">MLB.com Gameday</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/2019/03/10">Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.</a></p>
<p id="77FG6H">Please visit our SB Nation <a href="https://www.brewcrewball.com/">Brewers</a> site <a href="http://www.brewcrewball.com/">Brew Crew Ball</a>. If you do go there to interact with Brewers 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 today, that will be 3 p.m. CT and 4:30 p.m. CT. (This time for sure!)</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="mI6dIM">Discuss amongst yourselves.</p>
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https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/3/10/18256089/cubs-brewers-phoenix-preview-sundayAl Yellon