Bleed Cubbie Blue - Cubs vs. Athletics Thursday 3/2 game threadsA Chicago Cubs Fan Community Since February 9, 2005https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47557/cubbieblue.png2023-03-02T17:30:00-06:00http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/rss/stream/233856382023-03-02T17:30:00-06:002023-03-02T17:30:00-06:00Cubs 6, Athletics 1: Nick Madrigal makes his case
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<figcaption>Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Cubs might have another third base candidate.</p> <p id="TU9BP8"><strong>MESA, Arizona</strong> — Most of you know I’ve been kind of down on Nick Madrigal after his injury-filled 2022 season. Then, we heard that the team was going to try him at third base and I got even more skeptical. I didn’t think he had the arm nor the range for the position.</p>
<p id="wbcZYy">If and when Madrigal becomes a starter at third for the 2023 Cubs and produces, I’ll happily admit I’m wrong. So far in Spring Training, Madrigal has made all the plays that have come his way at third — though I still want to see him make a backhand throw or two — and he’s hitting. Madrigal doubled in a pair of runs Thursday, went 2-for-2, scored a run and stole a base, helping lead the Cubs to <a href="https://www.mlb.com/gameday/athletics-vs-cubs/2023/03/02/719312/final/box">a 6-1 win over the Athletics</a>.</p>
<p id="xOMkpe">Marcus Stroman, in his final start before he leaves to play for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic, threw 2⅓ scoreless innings, striking out four. Now he’ll get to play some real competitive innings before returning to the Cubs later this month.</p>
<p id="nYiQ4f">The Cubs put up a pair in the top of the first thanks to Madrigan. With one out, Ian Happ and Cody Bellinger singled. Eric Hosmer struck out, <a href="https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2023/2023-03/02/9ad8eaeb-350cc508-d12e8c4b-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">and Madrigal batted next [VIDEO]</a>.</p>
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<p id="bbvTiR">Madrigal’s double made it 2-0 and he took third on the throw in.</p>
<p id="rFEmyp">The Cubs made the score 3-0 in the third. Nico Hoerner led off with a double and <a href="https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2023/2023-03/02/f98e22e3-965bdec1-f88de261-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">Happ drove him in [VIDEO]</a>.</p>
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<p id="8gDq8j">Two more Cubs runs scored in the fourth. Madrigal led off with a single and stole second. After a groundout advanced Madrigal to third, <a href="https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2023/2023-03/02/ce3c970b-7e67210d-1682fd7b-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">Mike Tauchman singled him in [VIDEO]</a>.</p>
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<p id="QXCrMM">Tauchman stole second and scored on a single by Zach McKinstry to make it 5-0. The final Cubs run scored on a pair of walks, a ground out and a wild pitch in the fifth.</p>
<p id="QUjSiE">Meanwhile, Cubs relievers were doing a fine job of keeping A’s off the basepaths. After Stroman departed, Michael Fulmer, Rowan Wick, Anthony Kar, Tyler Duffey and Julian Merryweather combined for five shutout innings, allowing just two hits and three walks, with six strikeouts. Ryan Borucki allowed the A’s a consolation run in the ninth.</p>
<p id="CEFz0C"><a href="https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2023/2023-03/02/514b5fa3-efc4d219-babe5e98-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">Wick was called for the only pitch clock violation of the game [VIDEO].</a></p>
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<p id="0q8JWs">So far, the clock is doing an excellent job. In games I’ve attended or watched, there have been very few violations, but the pace has quickened and as a result, overall game times are shorter. This game ran 2:35; I estimate a similar game last year, with 15 hits, nine walks and seven total runs, would have run between 2:55 and 3:00. It’s noticeable without taking away from the game action.</p>
<p id="dAqYtI"><a href="https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2023/2023-03/02/b960eb2a-33dfe03d-6de4ea11-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">Jed Hoyer made some comments on Seiya Suzuki’s injury during the day Thursday [VIDEO].</a></p>
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<p id="R1PrER">Attendance watch: 9,374 paid at Sloan Park this afternoon. That makes the season total for four dates 42,210, or 10,553 per date.</p>
<p id="yZNhN5">It was COLD in Mesa Thursday. The 51 degree game time temperature is the coldest I can remember for a game in the nine-plus years the Cubs have played at Sloan Park. It was less windy, though, after strong storms blew through the area Wednesday evening. The sun came out late in the day and that made the afternoon feel tolerable. Temperatures are supposed to warm up over the weekend, but the Cubs will play in likely frigid conditions in the 40s Friday night at Peoria against the Padres. Justin Steele will make his spring debut against Julio Teheran for San Diego. Remember — a night game Friday, game time 7:40 p.m. CT, TV coverage via Marquee Sports Network.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2023/3/2/23622885/cubs-athletics-recap-nick-madrigal-marcus-stroman-mlb-scoresAl Yellon2023-03-02T15:30:00-06:002023-03-02T15:30:00-06:00Overflow thread: Cubs vs. Athletics, Thursday 3/2, 2:05 CT
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<figcaption>Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p id="8z8yTh">——</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2023/3/2/23621595/overflow-thread-cubs-vs-athletics-thursday-3-2-2-05-ctAl Yellon2023-03-02T14:00:00-06:002023-03-02T14:00:00-06:00First pitch thread: Cubs vs. Athletics, Thursday 3/2, 2:05 CT
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<figcaption>Allan Henry-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p id="8z8yTh">Go get ‘em, Marcus.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2023/3/2/23621591/first-pitch-thread-cubs-vs-athletics-thursday-3-2-2-05-ctAl Yellon2023-03-02T12:00:00-06:002023-03-02T12:00:00-06:00Cubs vs. Athletics at Mesa preview, Thursday 3/2, 2:05 CT
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<figcaption>Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Cubs go for two in a row at Sloan Park.</p> <p id="mNgveK">Here are today’s particulars.</p>
<p id="d9YeVE">Cubs lineup:</p>
<blockquote><p id="kOdXQu">Hoerner 2B, Happ LF, Bellinger CF, Hosmer 1B, Madrigal 3B, Barnhart C, Tauchman RF, Velázquez DH, McKinstry SS</p></blockquote>
<p id="1uO95r">Athletics lineup:</p>
<blockquote><p id="qcNUci">Kemp 2B, Diaz SS, Brown LF, Aguilar 1B, Noda DH, Langeliers C, Peterson 3B, Bleday RF, Ruiz CF</p></blockquote>
<p id="NoQAqJ">Marcus Stroman will start for the Cubs. Other Cubs pitchers today: Ryan Borucki, Tyler Duffey, Michael Fulmer, Bailey Horn, Anthony Kay, Julian Merryweather and Rowan Wick. </p>
<p id="Qz2rXa">JP Sears will start for the A’s. Other Oakland pitchers today: Domingo Acevedo, Zach Jackson, Dany Jiménez, Sam Moll and Freddy Tarnok.</p>
<p id="AkDNhJ">Today’s game is on Marquee Sports Network. <a href="https://www.marqueesportsnetwork.com/providers/">Here’s a list of providers currently carrying Marquee.</a> There is an audio broadcast online with the A’s announcers. If you miss the live TV broadcast, there wil be a rebroadcast on Marquee at 7 p.m. CT. Outside the Cubs market territory, there will be a rebroadcast on MLB Network at 3 a.m. CT Thursday.</p>
<p id="g93npv"><a href="https://www.mlb.com/gameday/athletics-vs-cubs/2023/03/02/719312/preview">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/2023/03/02">Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.</a></p>
<p id="aj8DqM">Please visit our SB Nation Athletics site <a href="https://www.athleticsnation.com/">Athletics Nation</a>. If you do go there to interact with A’s 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">As we have done in the past, we’ll have a first-pitch thread at five minutes to game time and one overflow thread, 90 minutes after game time. 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/2023/3/2/23619557/cubs-athletics-mesa-preview-thursdayAl Yellon