Bleed Cubbie Blue - Cubs vs. Diamondbacks Thursday 3/23 game threadsA Chicago Cubs Fan Community Since February 9, 2005https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47557/cubbieblue.png2023-03-23T18:25:00-05:00http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/rss/stream/234166332023-03-23T18:25:00-05:002023-03-23T18:25:00-05:00Cubs 11, Diamondbacks 1: Good pitching and patient hitting
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/qqSO-PTqZ1EW_XpPrN2bFDAeM5k=/0x200:3025x2217/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72108382/usa_today_20304069.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Cubs took advantage of Arizona pitchers’ wildness and got some solid pitching as well.</p> <p id="J59meR"><strong>MESA, Arizona</strong> — Cubs hitters were very, very patient in <a href="https://www.mlb.com/gameday/d-backs-vs-cubs/2023/03/23/718991/final/box">Thursday’s 11-1 win over the Diamondbacks</a> on a coolish, but sunny day at Sloan Park.</p>
<p id="BEjC1g">They turned a close game into a rout by drawing eight overall walks, six of them in a pair of four-run innings in the seventh and eighth that put the game away.</p>
<p id="81OuuV">The Cubs’ first run scored after two walks in the second inning with one out. After Edwin Rios struck out, <a href="https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2023/2023-03/23/7d7cef9c-71540100-e2634791-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">Tucker Barnhart singled in a run [VIDEO]</a>.</p>
<div id="hT1BIL">
<div><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://cdn.iframe.ly/api/iframe?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com%2FFORGE%2F2023%2F2023-03%2F23%2F7d7cef9c-71540100-e2634791-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4&key=9ef4a209439e42bc59783ba959d50197" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" allow="encrypted-media *;"></iframe></div></div>
<script async="" src="https://cdn.iframe.ly/embed.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="Vak7OO"></p>
<p id="Ipb5Ub">The Cubs scored two more in the fifth on <a href="https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2023/2023-03/23/e924a815-af113604-4d7c96d7-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4">a single by Miles Mastrobuoni [VIDEO]</a> after a sacrifice bunt by Barnhart advanced a pair of runners. </p>
<div id="9hq2kJ">
<div><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://cdn.iframe.ly/api/iframe?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com%2FFORGE%2F2023%2F2023-03%2F23%2Fe924a815-af113604-4d7c96d7-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4&key=9ef4a209439e42bc59783ba959d50197" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" allow="encrypted-media *;"></iframe></div></div>
<script async="" src="https://cdn.iframe.ly/embed.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="F9bNjZ"></p>
<p id="dalJQT">That was just the second sac bunt of the spring for the Cubs and honestly I don’t remember the other one. In all, the 30 MLB teams have combined for 22 sacrifice bunts this spring. It’s a strategy that’s going out of favor, and I think for good reason. Giving up that out is usually too much when trying to score runs.</p>
<p id="gD4UhH">Hayden Wesneski had another fine outing, allowing four hits and an unearned run, walking two and striking out five. The run scored when Eric Hosmer couldn’t handle a pickoff throw that was right in his mitt; the error was charged to Wesneski. I am hopeful that Hosmer will play better defense than that, but... </p>
<p id="7LcHVU">Keegan Thompson also looked good in this game, retiring all six hitters he faced, two by strikeout. Also, his velocity ticked up:</p>
<div id="rdH06f">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Keegan Thompson checks off his first multi-inning outing of spring. Trending upward velo-wise, fastball sitting 92 in his first inning.</p>— Maddie Lee (@maddie_m_lee) <a href="https://twitter.com/maddie_m_lee/status/1639020615104606210?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 23, 2023</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="7olM4i">That’s good news.</p>
<p id="nwmANr">The pair of four-run innings in the seventh and eighth were mostly courtesy of Cubs minor leaguers, as well as a couple of bases-loaded walks drawn by Dansby Swanson and Ian Happ. Trey Mancini also had an RBI single.</p>
<p id="MtNWLr">That’s about all I’ve got for this one. In case you missed this:</p>
<div id="DtCPzZ">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Cubs announce they have traded minor league infielder Esteban Quiroz to Philadelphia for a cash consideration.</p>— Maddie Lee (@maddie_m_lee) <a href="https://twitter.com/maddie_m_lee/status/1639006840859279360?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 23, 2023</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="ezj4Q6">Quiroz was not on the 40-man roster and unlikely to make the team, so the proverbial “cash consideration” is probably better at this point.</p>
<p id="59O7sp">Friday, the Cubs will have their final split squad of the spring, but the games will be at different times.</p>
<p id="3QAMz0">At 3:05 p.m. CT at Sloan Park, Marcus Stroman, in his first start since returning from the World Baseball Classic, will face the Rangers, who will start Andrew Heaney. TV coverage will be via Marquee Sports Network.</p>
<p id="ezTCpg">At 8:05 p.m. CT at Goodyear, Adrian Sampson will start for the Cubs against the Guardians, who will go with Zach Plesac. Marquee will also carry this game via the Cleveland announcer feed.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2023/3/23/23654268/cubs-diamondbacks-recap-hayden-wesneski-keegan-thompson-mlb-scoresAl Yellon2023-03-23T16:30:00-05:002023-03-23T16:30:00-05:00Overflow thread: Cubs vs. Diamondbacks, Thursday 3/23, 3:05 CT
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/OdBlvThEeYgnXT3HNCWty4Vnaq4=/20x0:4624x3069/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72107957/1475389072.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="MN0K8b">——</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2023/3/23/23652591/overflow-thread-cubs-vs-diamondbacks-thursday-3-23-3-05-ctAl Yellon2023-03-23T15:00:00-05:002023-03-23T15:00:00-05:00First pitch thread: Cubs vs. Diamondbacks, Thursday 3/23, 3:05 CT
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ebJW0wqgSh5orXGPlzQZfeVqzF8=/1457x101:3292x1324/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72107627/1470591702.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="MN0K8b">Go get ‘em, Hayden.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2023/3/23/23652589/first-pitch-thread-cubs-vs-diamondbacks-thursday-3-23-3-05-ctAl Yellon2023-03-23T13:00:00-05:002023-03-23T13:00:00-05:00Cubs vs. Diamondbacks at Mesa preview, Thursday 3/23, 3:05 CT
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/aKPjnWKieVj6mJ6pfbXBF7Oo9UE=/130x0:4716x3057/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72107081/1475389007.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Cubs return to Sloan Park this afternoon.</p> <p id="MBSaqB">In case you were wondering:</p>
<div id="N80dkW">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">LHP Brandon Hughes said he's dealing with "a little bit of a knee issue" (left knee). That's why he hasn't appeared in a game since last Thursday.</p>— Maddie Lee (@maddie_m_lee) <a href="https://twitter.com/maddie_m_lee/status/1638939863767715844?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 23, 2023</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="hI8M20">Doesn’t sound too serious. (Hopefully.)</p>
<p id="OAQb1k">Here are today’s particulars.</p>
<p id="d9YeVE">Cubs lineup:</p>
<blockquote><p id="kOdXQu">Hoerner 2B, Swanson SS, Happ LF, Mancini DH, Bellinger CF, Wisdom RF, Hosmer 1B, Rios 3B, Barnhart C</p></blockquote>
<p id="Q0T2M0">D-Backs lineup:</p>
<blockquote><p id="qcNUci">Carroll RF, Longoria 3B, Gurriel LF, Rivera 1B, Higgins DH, Thomas CF, Perdomo SS, Hager 2B, Herrera C</p></blockquote>
<p id="sdxO8t">Hey, look! It’s old friend P.J. Higgins DH’ing for the Diamondbacks, who are a split squad today.</p>
<p id="KVSol5">Hayden Wesneski will start for the Cubs. Other Cubs pitchers today: Keegan Thompson, Tyler Duffey and Nick Burdi.</p>
<p id="NoDxgB">Ryne Nelson will start for the D-Backs.</p>
<p id="F2a00n">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>. If you miss the live TV broadcast, there will be a rebroadcast on Marquee at 7 p.m. CT. No radio/audio today.</p>
<p id="g93npv"><a href="https://www.mlb.com/gameday/d-backs-vs-cubs/2023/03/23/718991/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/2023/03/23">Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.</a></p>
<p id="aj8DqM">Please visit our SB Nation Diamondbacks site <a href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">AZ Snakepit</a>. If you do go there to interact with D-Backs 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 3 p.m. CT and 4:30 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>
<p id="b2dInc"></p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2023/3/23/23650798/cubs-diamondbacks-mesa-preview-thursdayAl Yellon