Bleed Cubbie Blue - Cubs vs. Royals Saturday 3/13 game threadsA Chicago Cubs Fan Community Since February 9, 2005https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47557/cubbieblue.png2021-03-13T16:40:28-06:00http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/rss/stream/220929772021-03-13T16:40:28-06:002021-03-13T16:40:28-06:00Royals 10, Cubs 2: The Adbert Alzolay conundrum
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<figcaption>Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Cubs still aren’t sure where the Venezuelan-born righthander will wind up this year.</p> <p id="VRSVR5">The Cubs have a dilemma regarding Adbert Alzolay, and it isn’t all under team control.</p>
<p id="0ssUGs">I’ll explain, but first I’ll tell you that the <a href="https://www.mlb.com/gameday/cubs-vs-royals/2021/03/13/642071#game_state=live,game_tab=play-by-play,game=642071">Cubs lost to the Royals 10-2</a>, which is largely irrelevant. It appears, incidentally, that it was warmer in Chicago this afternoon (58 degrees) than it was at this game (56 degrees at first pitch).</p>
<p id="raw14M">The Cubs took a 2-0 lead in the first inning thanks to this two-run homer by Ildemaro Vargas, who is looking like he might turn into a decent bench player:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Home run hugs >>> <a href="https://t.co/hplE4ik1Pj">pic.twitter.com/hplE4ik1Pj</a></p>— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cubs/status/1370836739674288130?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2021</a>
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<p id="IxNjR3">Alzolay had a pretty good first inning. He got two easy outs, then allowed a couple of baserunners but got out of the inning after a mound visit. His second inning wasn’t nearly as good. First, he served up a long home run to former Cub Jorge Soler:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">When you wear a big chain you hit a big homer.<br><br>Those are the rules.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RoyalsST?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RoyalsST</a> <a href="https://t.co/IpOHdBRkBW">pic.twitter.com/IpOHdBRkBW</a></p>— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) <a href="https://twitter.com/Royals/status/1370842088103833600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2021</a>
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<p id="PdF6ZO">Then Alzolay got in trouble thanks to some sketchy defense by Willson Contreras, who let a wild pitch get by, then made a throwing error on a stolen-base attempt that allowed two runs to score.</p>
<p id="HJVtUO">Alzolay was lifted with two out in the second inning. It really doesn’t appear to me that he’s going to make the rotation, but I doubt the Cubs want him to be the swingman doing both bullpen and starting duty either.</p>
<p id="VtM3jS">Alzolay’s status could be decided as the result of a case regarding service time <a href="https://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/birdland/what-gives-with-williams-fourth-option-year-why-dont-cardinals-know-yet-if-he-has/article_3df75c46-ff4c-5b90-a0ee-3b67149801c8.html">currently before an arbitrator</a>:</p>
<blockquote><p id="suunew">Major League Baseball and the union must agree with the teams that last season’s shortened schedule does not count as a full season because it falls shy of the required 90 days. That decision, which is before an arbiter along with other service time disputes, is expected in mid-March, according to an MLB official.</p></blockquote>
<p id="5GRxcp">If the arbitrator rules that 2020 doesn’t count as a “full season,” a number of players will be eligible for a fourth option year. One of those players is Alzolay. If that’s the case, I would think the Cubs would likely option him. He’d probably start the year at the alternate site to get regular work in and eventually head to Triple-A Iowa once the minor league season begins in early May. Teams need clarity on this soon. The linked article says “mid-March,” which is pretty much... now. </p>
<p id="FTlM1x">I’d love for Alzolay to succeed, but for now, he appears to need more work.</p>
<p id="TaGuXy">Anyway, Dillon Maples, who relieved Alzolay, looked like he might get out of the third with no runs, but he allowed a long double by Soler that scored Salvador Perez to make it 4-2. Maples is out of options and must either make the Opening Day bullpen or be exposed to waivers. I have always liked Maples but he might be running out of chances.</p>
<p id="M3N3Fs">None of the other Cubs pitchers in this game will be anywhere near the Opening Day roster, as they were all in the first round of roster cuts on Friday. Collectively, they wound up giving up four more runs — two off Kohl Stewart in the fourth, another off Stewart in the fifth (home run by Nick Pratto) and three more off Michael Rucker in the sixth including a long home run. Eventually David Ross had mercy on Rucker and flipped the inning.</p>
<p id="VOJ6TW">I wouldn’t be concerned about any of that.</p>
<p id="Eui58b">As is the case for many games across the valley this spring, few regulars made the trip, instead doing their work in a “B” game at Sloan Park. Here’s some info and video from that game:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jake Marisnick sighting at today’s B game vs. Merrill Kelly and the D-backs. Marisnick DH’ing, as he works back from a calf issue. <a href="https://t.co/g9WeNkb51R">pic.twitter.com/g9WeNkb51R</a></p>— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBastian/status/1370783007481589761?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2021</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Rizzo attempts a bunt to beat the shift. Double play, but gave Marisnick (on first) a good test for his calf/legs. <a href="https://t.co/SdrTT88tWq">pic.twitter.com/SdrTT88tWq</a></p>— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBastian/status/1370795349581819904?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2021</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Zach Davies ends his B game 1st inning with a swinging K. Threw 14 pitches (9 strikes). Groundout, popout (catcher) and strikeout. <a href="https://t.co/L7bHeHS0Aq">pic.twitter.com/L7bHeHS0Aq</a></p>— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBastian/status/1370784803172151298?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2021</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Zach Davies logged 61 pitches (38 strikes) in this morning’s B game. Faced 16 batters. Three K’s, no walks. Recorded 12 outs (3.1 IP plus Merrill Kelly working on bunting twice). Three runs on four hits (one homer).</p>— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBastian/status/1370799371948761089?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2021</a>
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<p id="kghEZq">Sunday, the Cubs return to Sloan Park to take on Joe Maddon’s Angels. Trevor Williams will start for the Cubs and Dylan Bundy will go for the Angels. Game time — reminder, Daylight Saving time starts tonight — will be 3:05 p.m. CT. TV coverage will be via Marquee Sports Network (Pat Hughes on the TV call) and the game will also be on 670 The Score (Zach Zaidman on the radio call).</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2021/3/13/22329307/cubs-royals-recap-adbert-alzolay-ildemaro-vargas-mlb-scoresAl Yellon2021-03-13T14:00:01-06:002021-03-13T14:00:01-06:00First pitch thread: Cubs vs. Royals, Saturday 3/13, 2:05 CT
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<figcaption>Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p id="Mcv3Xe">Go get ‘em, Adbert.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2021/3/13/22328929/first-pitch-thread-cubs-vs-royals-saturday-3-13-2-05-ctAl Yellon2021-03-13T12:00:00-06:002021-03-13T12:00:00-06:00Cubs vs. Royals at Surprise preview, Saturday 3/13, 2:05 CT
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<figcaption>Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Cubs head to the west valley to face Kansas City.</p> <p id="FlBAo8">Here are today’s particulars.</p>
<p id="NJYOeJ"><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/mlb/teams/chicago-cubs">Cubs</a> lineup:</p>
<blockquote><p id="n2wfSD">Sogard 2B, Contreras C, Hoerner SS, Maybin CF, Vargas 3B, Ortega DH, Duffy RF, Martini LF, Rivas 1B</p></blockquote>
<p id="1uO95r">Royals lineup:</p>
<blockquote><p id="0X2mKQ">Merrifield RF, Benintendi LF, Mondesi SS, Santana 1B, Perez C, Soler DH, Rivera 3B, Dyson CF, Lopez 2B</p></blockquote>
<p id="pBsd3p">Lots of Royals regulars in today’s game, not so much for the Cubs.</p>
<p id="7m253a">Adbert Alzolay will start for the Cubs this afternoon. Other Cubs pitchers today: Dillon Maples, Tommy Nance, Michael Rucker, Kohl Stewart, Robert Stock and Jerry Vasto. Of those, all but Maples were reassigned off the spring roster on Friday.</p>
<p id="mLO6IH">Daniel Lynch will start for the Royals. Other Kansas City pitchers today: former Cub Brad Brach, also Austin Cox, Grant Gavin, Carlos Hernandez, Alec Marsh, Gabe Speier and Kyle Zimmer.</p>
<p id="iekH8V">Gabe Speier’s uncle is former Cubs player and coach Chris Speier.</p>
<p id="L89g0V">Today’s game is on KCSP 610, the Royals radio station. No TV today.</p>
<p id="g93npv"><a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2021_03_13_chnmlb_kcamlb_1">MLB.com Gameday</a></p>
<p id="OISCKL"><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="MUK4nn"><a href="https://www.mlb.com/live-stream-games/2021/03/13">Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.</a></p>
<p id="nvoKBS">Please visit our SB Nation Royals site <a href="https://www.royalsreview.com/">Royals Review</a>. If you do go there to interact with Royals 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="S6oxx0">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.</p>
<p id="1zlN3d">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 photos and regular-season stats will return on Opening Day.</p>
<p id="9g9Jqo">Discuss amongst yourselves.</p>
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https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2021/3/13/22325335/cubs-royals-surprise-preview-saturdayAl Yellon