Bleed Cubbie Blue - Cubs vs. Mariners Wednesday Game ThreadsA Chicago Cubs Fan Community Since February 9, 2005https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47557/cubbieblue.png2015-03-26T08:15:06-05:00http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/rss/stream/80334042015-03-26T08:15:06-05:002015-03-26T08:15:06-05:00Mariners 3, Cubs 2: A Pitching Clinic
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<p>You didn't have to stay up too late in the Midwest to watch the Cubs drop this one.</p> <p><b>PEORIA, Arizona</b> -- <span>Taijuan Walker</span> was selected in the supplemental portion of the first round of the 2010 draft -- just six picks before <span>Mike Olt</span>.</p>
<p>I don't recall the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> facing him in previous spring training contests, but they sure know who he is now. Walker threw six innings and allowed just two singles and a walk and <a href="http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2015_03_25_chnmlb_seamlb_1" target="_blank">his Mariners held on for a 3-2 win over the Cubs</a> Wednesday night in front of a full house (11,224) at Peoria Stadium.</p>
<p>Walker, who turned 22 last August, is expected to be one of the key men in Seattle's rotation this year and one of the reasons some are making them the "sexy" pick to make a long run through the American League playoffs.</p>
<p><span>Travis Wood</span>, his mound opponent, didn't pitch badly. Wood got nicked for a run in the first inning, then settled down until the fifth when a home run by <span>Mike Zunino</span> made it 2-0. A single and double made it 3-0, and that additional run proved important. Wood, incidentally, was the Cubs hitter who drew the walk off Walker, the only Cubs base on balls of the game. Joe Maddon hit Wood eighth in this game, something we're likely to see fairly often this summer, and the walk was in the top of the sixth. Wood was allowed to bat, even though he was lifted in the bottom of the inning for <span>Pedro Strop</span>.</p>
<p>Strop, <span>Phil Coke</span> and <span>Hector Rondon</span> all had good outings, combining for one hit and two walks allowed in three innings. It seems clear that Coke will make the 25-man-roster, and we're likely to see some combination of those three many times during the late innings in the regular season.</p>
<p>The Cubs scratched across a pair of runs off <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lookoutlanding.com/">Mariners</a> reliever <span>Dominic Leone</span>, who I confess I wasn't familar with before last night, though he had a fine rookie season with Seattle in 2014 (2.17 ERA, 1.161 WHIP, 1.5 bWAR in 57 games). <span>Arismendy Alcantara</span> singled. <span>Matt Szczur</span> followed with a triple to deep center field, scoring Mendy. Szczur scored in what should have been an infield out; the ball was bobbled by shortstop <span>Chris Mariscal</span> and <span>Albert Almora</span> reached, representing the tying run. One out later, <span>Mike Baxter</span> singled, but that's all the Cubs could do as <span>Jonathan Herrera</span> flied to left and <span>Chris Valaika</span> struck out to end it.</p>
<p>In the game thread, I noted that some of you thought <span>Kris Bryant</span> -- who was on the travel roster -- should have batted for Valaika. Not only did that not happen, but he wasn't on deck to bat for Rondon, whose spot in the batting order followed Valaika. Anthony Giansanti would have batted if Valaika had reached base. As it turned out, with Valaika striking out, this was the first game I've seen all spring where no one from the minor-league camp appeared at all. The Cubs still officially have 52 players in camp and you'd think roster cuts would be coming soon.</p>
<p>With Walker's pitching clinic ongoing, the game moved swiftly and was the Cubs' second-fastest game of the Cactus League season, two hours and 19 minutes.</p>
<p>The Cubs will play the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.halosheaven.com/">Angels</a> Thursday in a game that starts at an unusual time -- 4:05 p.m. Arizona time, 6 p.m. CT. Why the odd time, you ask? Likely because this will be the Cubs' only appearance on ESPN this spring, and the Worldwide Leader probably asked for this start time so they can show it in East Coast prime time -- 7 p.m. ET. Jon Lester, who was originally on target to start this one, will throw in a minor-league game at 10 a.m. Arizona time instead. <span>Eric Jokisch</span> gets the call against the Angels' Jered Weaver.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2015/3/26/8294421/cubs-mariners-recap-taijuan-walker-travis-wood-mlb-scoresAl Yellon2015-03-25T22:30:02-05:002015-03-25T22:30:02-05:00Overflow Thread: Cubs vs. Mariners, Wed 3/25
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<figcaption>Allan Henry-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2015/3/25/8277409/overflow-thread-cubs-vs-mariners-wednesday-3-25-9-05-ctAl Yellon2015-03-25T21:00:02-05:002015-03-25T21:00:02-05:00First Pitch Thread: Cubs vs. Mariners, Wed 3/25
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<figcaption>Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2015/3/25/8277405/first-pitch-thread-cubs-vs-mariners-wednesday-3-25-9-05-ctAl Yellon2015-03-25T19:00:03-05:002015-03-25T19:00:03-05:00Cubs vs Mariners at Peoria Preview, Wednesday 3/25
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<figcaption>Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Cubs play their second night game of the Cactus League season this evening.</p> <p><b>SCOTTSDALE, Arizona</b> -- The Cubs will ease their way back into daytime play by playing a night game tonight, then a late-afternoon contest (4:05 Arizona time) tomorrow, then back to day games Friday.</p>
<p>Tonight's lineup features no <span>Javier Baez</span>, no <span>Jorge Soler</span> and no <span>Anthony Rizzo</span>, all of whom are being spared the rush-hour drive to Peoria.</p>
<p>Cubs lineup:</p>
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<pre>Fowler CF, Coghlan LF, Montero C, Castro SS, Sweeney RF, La Stella 3B, Olt 1B, Wood P, Alcantara 2B</pre>
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<p>However, <span>Starlin Castro</span> returns to the lineup and <span>Ryan Sweeney</span>, likely on the bubble to make the 25-man roster, gets a rare spring start. Also, Joe Maddon hits his pitcher eighth again. And <span>Kris Bryant</span> is on the list of reserves, so we might get to see him launch a pitch or two into the Arizona night. More Kris Bryant news:</p>
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<p>Maddon says he plans to get Bryant in Thursday's game in LF.</p>
— Gordon Wittenmyer (@GDubCub) <a href="https://twitter.com/GDubCub/status/580854799958024192">March 25, 2015</a>
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<p>It will be the first time Bryant has played the outfield since he was drafted by the Cubs. And, there's news, or not-news, about Baez:</p>
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<p>Maddon says despite a published report no one has told Javy Baez he has made the team yet</p>
— Jesse Rogers (@ESPNChiCubs) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNChiCubs/status/580854960142712832">March 25, 2015</a>
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<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lookoutlanding.com/">Mariners</a> lineup:</p>
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<pre>Weeks DH, Jackson CF, Cano 2B, Cruz RF, Seager 3B, Ruggiano LF, Morrison 1B, Zunino C, Miller SS</pre>
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<p>On the other hand, most of the Mariners' Opening Day lineup is on the field tonight. Former Cub <span>Justin Ruggiano</span>, who should see some time in Seattle's outfield against lefthanders, gets the start tonight.</p>
<p><span>Travis Wood</span> starts for the Cubs tonight. Other Cubs pitchers on the schedule for this game: <span>Phil Coke</span>, <span>Hector Rondon</span>, <span>Jorge De Leon</span>, <span>Gonzalez Germen</span>, <span>Pedro Strop</span> and <span>Felix Doubront</span> (not necessarily in that order).</p>
<p><span>Taijuan Walker</span> goes for the Mariners. <span>Danny Farquhar</span> and <span>Charlie Furbush</span> are also scheduled to throw for Seattle.</p>
<p>Today's game is on CSN Chicago with Len Kasper and Jim Deshaies. It's also on cubs.com with Mick Gillispie.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2015_03_25_chnmlb_seamlb_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=3/25/2015">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 9 p.m. CT and 10:30 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 StoryStream™. The pitcher box and regular-season stats will return on Opening Day.</p>
<p>Discuss amongst yourselves.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2015/3/25/8268771/cubs-mariners-peoria-preview-wednesdayAl Yellon