Bleed Cubbie Blue - Cubs vs. Indians and A's Friday Game ThreadsA Chicago Cubs Fan Community Since February 9, 2005https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47557/cubbieblue.png2015-03-14T08:30:02-05:00http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/rss/stream/79622142015-03-14T08:30:02-05:002015-03-14T08:30:02-05:00Cubs 5, Athletics 3: Now That's More Like It
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/5krejPaM7KMrJyWu9BdFN6i7eU0=/0x485:2720x2298/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/45894384/usa-today-8436385.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Friday night's game in Las Vegas showed off the results of two of Theo Epstein's best trades.</p> <p>No dateline on this recap as I watched this game on television with the rest of you.</p>
<p>Winning has been a fairly rare event for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> this spring so Friday night's <a href="http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2015_03_13_chnmlb_oakmlb_1" target="_blank">5-3 Cubs win over the Athletics</a> was welcome even though wins before April 5, 2015 are meaningless, and also to show one way in which Theo & Co. are building this team.</p>
<p><span>Jake Arrieta</span>, who arrived from the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.camdenchat.com/">Orioles</a> in mid-2013 and was a revelation last year, had a very good outing in his second spring start. Arrieta threw four solid innings, allowing just four hits and a run, and issuing no walks. The run put the Cubs behind, but they took the lead for good in the third inning when they loaded the bases with nobody out.</p>
<p><span>Anthony Rizzo</span> then grounded a ball toward first base, on which A's first baseman <span>Matt Olson</span> made an error. Two runs scored and it looked like the Cubs were headed for a big inning. Unfortunately, <span>Jorge Soler</span>, <span>Miguel Montero</span> and <span>Javier Baez</span> all struck out to leave it at a two-run ining.</p>
<p>This is the cautionary tale of this team. They can put up runs in a hurry if everyone hits the way they're capable of. But we are also going to see strikeout-filled innings like that one. If runs score before all the K's... that's a good thing. Baez has struck out five times in 18 at-bats, which isn't good, but it's still a better K ratio than he had last year.</p>
<p>The other trade acquisition who had a good night in Vegas was <span>Addison Russell</span>, who has been very, very impressive this spring, both at bat and in the field. Russell doubled, walked twice and scored a pair of runs, and is now hitting .462 (6-for-13, two doubles). It's obviously a very small sample size and Russell is likely ticketed for Triple-A, since he's played all of three games at that level. But he'll be in Chicago soon and then some decisions will have to be made about who's going to play what position, especially since Russell looks so fluid in the field at shortstop.</p>
<p><span>Eric Jokisch</span> was also impressive, throwing three shutout innings. He'll start the year in the Iowa rotation, but it's nice to know that there's someone like this available in case of any injury to a starting pitcher. <span>Blake Parker</span>, who's on the bubble as to making this staff or not, finished up for his first spring save.</p>
<p>Saturday, the Cubs and A's finish up their Vegas weekend. <span>Kyle Hendricks</span> pitches for the Cubs and <span>Jesse Hahn</span> for Oakland. Back in the Phoenix area at the Brewers' Maryvale Baseball Park, the Cubs face the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.brewcrewball.com/">Brewers</a> with <span>Edwin Jackson</span> pitching against <span>Jimmy Nelson</span>. Note the staggered game times: the game in Vegas begins at 2:05 CT, and the game in Maryvale at 3:05 CT. There will be one set of game threads for both games, and the preview will post at 12 noon CT.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2015/3/14/8214447/cubs-athletics-recap-jake-arrieta-addison-russell-mlb-scoresAl Yellon2015-03-13T19:15:20-05:002015-03-13T19:15:20-05:00Indians 7, Cubs 4: Wada Tough Break
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/et_oDCK0kPgy0uO-63AuZ4I_SFI=/0x90:2400x1690/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/45891760/usa-today-8067008.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Yes, the headline puns have returned.</p> <p><b>MESA, Arizona</b> -- We'll never know what the outcome of <a href="http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2015_03_13_clemlb_chnmlb_1" target="_blank">the Cubs' 7-4 loss to the Indians</a> would have been if <span>Tsuyoshi Wada</span> had completed the (likely) three innings he was scheduled to throw.</p>
<p>Instead, Wada faced four hitters. The first two were retired on routine ground balls to third base; the third, <span>Yan Gomes</span>, hit a long home run to left-center field and after Wada ran a 3-1 count on <span>Jesus Aguilar</span>, trainers and coaches were summoned to the mound. Wada departed with what was later reported to be <a href="https://twitter.com/CarrieMuskat/status/576486512436506624" target="_blank">a sore groin</a> and he'll be "re-evaluated."</p>
<p>This forced a couple of guys from the minor-league camp into the game far earlier than anyone would have liked. Zach Cates, who pitched last year at High-A and Double-A, did all right getting out of that inning, but after <span>Justin Grimm</span> went into his second inning of work (probably longer than expected), Jeff Lorick relieved him.</p>
<p>Lorick, who is 27 and also threw last year at High-A and Double-A, is pretty far from ever being in a big-league uniform, and it showed. He gave up a single to the first batter he faced, Jerry Sands. That plated one run. Then he allowed a three-run homer to <span>Clint Frazier</span>, who was chosen by Cleveland three picks after <span>Kris Bryant</span> went to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> in 2013. Frazier, who is 20, is already a Top-100 prospect, and it showed in that blast.</p>
<p>That was the difference in the game, as Cub scrubs rallied against <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.letsgotribe.com/">Indians</a> relievers in the eighth and ninth innings. Another young guy who might make that Top-100 list soon, Gleyber Torres, smashed an RBI double into the gap in the ninth inning, scoring a run. He later scored on a single by <span>Rafael Lopez</span>.</p>
<p>Too little, too late for a win, as Indians starter <span>T.J. House</span> shut the Cubs down until he was pulled with two out in the fifth. He gave up only two hits. One of them was a home run by <span>Matt Szczur</span>, who's having a really good spring and at this moment, I'd say he's got a real good shot at making the team in the fifth-outfielder role he was playing late last year. No one else in the Cubs' starting lineup did anything, except for a single by <span>Chris Coghlan</span> in the fifth and another pop single by <span>Mike Olt</span> off reliever <span>Michael Roth</span> in the sixth.</p>
<p>So the Cubs were kind of knocked off kilter by the injury to Wada, and that injury, unfortunate as it is for the Japanese lefty, probably solidifies Travis Wood's case for the fifth-starter role. The most impressive Cubs reliever today was non-roster guy <span>Hunter Cervenka</span>, who threw two innings and gave up only one hit, a ground-ball double to left that just eluded the reach of a diving Olt, who has played excellent defense this spring. <span>Neil Ramirez</span> had a shaky inning that included a walk and a hitter reaching on an error that eventually led to a run, but he got out of it with a 1-2-3 double play. <span>Phil Coke</span> also threw an efficient inning, retiring all three hitters he faced.</p>
<p>Another sellout in Mesa Friday, with the announced total 15,150. That makes the season total for six dates 86,836, an average of 14,473. If that average holds up -- and I don't see any reason it won't -- the Cubs will shatter the Cactus League record they set last year.</p>
<p>Nice note: Congratulations to Joe Maddon and his family on the birth of his fifth grandchild:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>Welcome new <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cubs?src=hash">#Cubs</a> fan Carson Rose, <a href="https://twitter.com/CubsJoeMadd">@CubsJoeMadd</a> 5th grand daughter born today. She checked in at 7 lbs 6 oz. Congrats to <a href="https://twitter.com/SarahMaddon">@SarahMaddon</a></p>
— Carrie Muskat (@CarrieMuskat) <a href="https://twitter.com/CarrieMuskat/status/576527949588926464">March 13, 2015</a>
</blockquote>
<p>
<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</p>
<p>Tomorrow, <span>Edwin Jackson</span> faces the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.brewcrewball.com/">Brewers</a> at Maryvale (3:05 CT) and <span>Kyle Hendricks</span> will pitch against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.athleticsnation.com/">Athletics</a> in Las Vegas. I'll have a recap of Friday evening's Vegas game tomorrow morning.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2015/3/13/8212725/cubs-indians-recap-tsuyoshi-wada-matt-szczur-mlb-scoresAl Yellon2015-03-13T18:38:13-05:002015-03-13T18:38:13-05:00Cubs vs. Athletics in Las Vegas First Pitch Thread
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/XH-AOCOXTxUduB2tMoeWvTJGg3s=/0x591:3090x2651/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/45891608/usa-today-8427924.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Go Cubs!</p> <p>Here are the particulars for the game in Las Vegas, which begins very soon. A recap of this afternoon's game will be along shortly.</p>
<p>Cubs lineup:</p>
<blockquote>
<pre>Fowler CF, Rizzo 1B, Soler RF, Montero C, Baez 2B, Bryant DH, Lake LF, La Stella 3B, Russell SS</pre>
</blockquote>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.athleticsnation.com/">Athletics</a> lineup:</p>
<blockquote>
<pre>Bourn CF, Kipnis DH, Raburn RF, Santana 1B, Aviles 2B, Ramirez SS, Holt LF, Urshela 3B, Hayes C</pre>
</blockquote>
<p><span>Jake Arrieta</span> starts this game for the Cubs. <span>Eric Jokisch</span>, <span>Donn Roach</span> and <span>Blake Parker</span> will follow.</p>
<p><span>Drew Pomeranz</span> starts for the A's. Others on Oakland's list: <span>Ryan Cook</span>, <span>Eric O`Flaherty</span>, <span>Arnold Leon</span> and switch-pitcher <span>Pat Venditte</span>.</p>
<p>This game will be on CSN Chicago and if you can't see it live, it will be on MLB Network, on delay, at 11 p.m. CT.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2015_03_13_chnmlb_oakmlb_1&mode=gameday">MLB.com Gameday</a>. The Cubs are the "away" team for this game. They will be the "home" team tomorrow.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mediacenter/index.jsp?date=3/5/2015#date=3/13/2015">Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.</a></p>
<p><i>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.</i></p>
<p>Consider this the First Pitch Thread. I will post a game recap from the Mesa game shortly and post the link here in the comments. There will be one further overflow thread, 90 minutes after game time (because I know how you all like overflow threads!), that will post at 8:30 p.m. CT. These threads will <i>not</i> post individually onto the front page; instead, you can find links to them in the box marked "<a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Chicago Cubs</a> Game Threads" at the <i>bottom</i> of the front page. They will also appear in this StoryStreamâ„¢. The pitcher box and regular-season stats will return on Opening Day.</p>
<p>Discuss amongst yourselves.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2015/3/13/8202425/cubs-athletics-las-vegas-preview-first-pitch-threadAl Yellon2015-03-13T16:30:03-05:002015-03-13T16:30:03-05:00Overflow Thread: Cubs vs. Indians, Friday 3/13, 3:05 CT
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/2NIDfwJ7KGYktDw3JsWCQZCVAtI=/0x0:2170x1447/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/45886744/usa-today-8440144.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>----</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2015/3/13/8198183/overflow-thread-cubs-vs-indians-friday-3-13-3-05-ctAl Yellon2015-03-13T15:00:03-05:002015-03-13T15:00:03-05:00First Pitch Thread: Cubs vs. Indians, Friday 3/13
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/eH-sle3j9PGmKv5g3wHBuwjWxqs=/0x677:3030x2697/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/45886720/usa-today-8425229.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>----</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2015/3/13/8198117/first-pitch-thread-cubs-vs-indians-friday-3-13-3-05-ctAl Yellon2015-03-13T13:00:07-05:002015-03-13T13:00:07-05:00Cubs vs. Indians at Mesa Preview, Friday 3/13, 3:05 CT
<figure>
<img alt="Addison Russell steals second on Thursday. (Note the advertising sign that says "Legalize Marinara" behind him)" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/uSUBxh1ICthFrXgAZ1yXlF1bqfQ=/0x0:2799x1866/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/45886488/usa-today-8440134.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Addison Russell steals second on Thursday. (Note the advertising sign that says "Legalize Marinara" behind him) | Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Cubs have a pair of games today as half the squad heads to Las Vegas.</p> <p><b>SCOTTSDALE, Arizona</b> -- At least Thursday's game was entertaining -- beyond Will Ferrell. Kris Bryant's two homers and the best offensive showing of the spring so far mean that wins will come, soon. The loss can primarily be blamed on Felix Doubront's awful inning, and he might have pitched his way off the 25-man roster Thursday.</p>
<p>This afternoon, the Cubs face the Indians for the second time this week, so many of the names in their lineup will be familiar to you.</p>
<p>Remember that the Cubs are a split squad today and tomorrow, with half the team heading to Las Vegas. With unusual game times both days, please read the bottom of this post for BCB site logistics for these split-squad days.</p>
<p>The Indians club that's coming to Mesa today is also a split squad.</p>
<p>Cubs lineup:</p>
<blockquote>
<pre>La Stella DH, Lake LF, Alcantara CF, Soler RF, Baez 2B, Bryant 3B, Castillo C, Valaika 1B, Russell SS</pre>
</blockquote>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.letsgotribe.com/">Indians</a> lineup:</p>
<blockquote>
<pre>Lindor SS, Aviles 3B, Gomes C, Aguilar 1B, Sands RF, Frazier DH, Gonzalez 2B, Naquin CF, Hood LF</pre>
</blockquote>
<p><span>Tsuyoshi Wada</span> is expected to start this game for the Cubs. Cubs on today's reliever list: <span>Neil Ramirez</span>, <span>Justin Grimm</span>, <span>Jason Motte</span>, <span>Phil Coke</span>, <span>Francisley Bueno</span> and <span>Hunter Cervenka</span>.</p>
<p><span>T.J. House</span> will start for Cleveland. Others on the Tribe's pitching list for today: <span>Michael Roth</span>, <span>Will Roberts</span> and <span>Bryan Price</span>.</p>
<p>Today's game will be on cubs.com (audio) with Len Kasper and Mick Gillispie.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2015_03_13_clemlb_chnmlb_1&mode=gameday">MLB.com Gameday</a></p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mediacenter/index.jsp?date=3/5/2015#date=3/13/2015">Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.</a></p>
<p><i>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.</i></p>
<p>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 3:05 p.m. CT and 4:30 p.m. CT. For the evening game against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.athleticsnation.com/">Athletics</a> in Las Vegas, which starts at 7:05 p.m. CT, you can use the day game recap as the First Pitch Thread and I'll schedule an overflow for 8:30 p.m. CT. These threads will <i>not</i> post individually onto the front page; instead, you can find links to them in the box marked "<a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Chicago Cubs</a> Game Threads" at the <i>bottom</i> of the front page. They will also appear in this StoryStreamâ„¢. The pitcher box and regular-season stats will return on Opening Day.</p>
<p>Discuss amongst yourselves.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2015/3/13/8198099/cubs-indians-mesa-preview-fridayAl Yellon