Exhibition video games early within the Cactus League schedule usually present prospects and minor-leaguers their most taking part in time in camp.
Chicago Cubs prospect Matt Mervis is making a very good impression two video games in. Mervis walked twice within the Cubs’ 9-4 loss Sunday towards the Los Angeles Dodgers after tallying a success and a stroll as a midgame substitute of their spring coaching opener Saturday.
“He asks a lot of the right questions,” supervisor David Ross stated of the primary baseman. “He’s got a really nice way about how he thinks about the game. He thinks about his team. He’s a worker and a guy that is very focused and committed to his craft.”
Here are three takeaways from Sunday’s recreation.
1. Nick Madrigal will get his 1st check at third base
The baseball shortly discovered Madrigal on Sunday at Camelback Ranch.
Madrigal made his first begin at third base — at the highschool, school or skilled ranges — and the primary two Dodgers batters, Miguel Rojas and Freddie Freeman, examined him to steer off the underside of the primary.
Madrigal dealt with each floor balls with ease to throw out the runners at first. Rojas’ grounder compelled him to his left, whereas Freeman’s was a tougher, softly hit ball that Madrigal charged in on.
Madrigal admitted he felt some jitters earlier than the sport, however as soon as he dealt with the primary ball hit to him, he settled in.
“It was nice to put to use all the hard work I’ve done in the offseason,” Madrigal stated. “I felt comfortable over there. We’ve worked extremely hard to prepare for the game. … I’ve definitely worked a ton charging with one hand and throwing off balance. I feel like I let my instincts take over.”
Madrigal additionally used for the primary time an adjusted pre-pitch preparation together with his shift from second base.
In the offseason somebody despatched him a video of Hall of Fame third baseman Scott Rolen speaking on MLB Network concerning the distinction between taking part in the center infield and third, the place there isn’t time from that angle to trace the ball out of the pitcher’s hand and all the way in which to the batter. A 3rd baseman’s imaginative and prescient as an alternative must be targeted on the hitter.
“You’ve got to look to the front of the zone, and that’s helped me a ton because you don’t really think of those things being new to the position,” stated Madrigal, who hit an RBI single within the loss. “It sounds like something small, but initially right when I did that, I felt way more comfortable.”
2. Javier Assad seems to be sharp
Assad initially wasn’t supposed to start out Sunday, however Justin Steele’s arm fatigue brought on the Cubs to scratch him as a precaution, prompting Assad’s first spring showcase for the ultimate rotation spot.
Assad impressed, throwing two good innings towards projected Dodgers regular-season starters. He struck out Chris Taylor and Max Muncy.
Assad earned reward from catcher Tucker Barnhart for his fastball taking part in up within the zone and the motion of his slider, particularly down within the zone.
“He threw all pitches for strikes,” Barnhart stated. “He’s positively a strike thrower. He has a very good really feel to pitch. It was actually enjoyable to catch. It’s early in spring, positive, however there’s issues that you could see they’re simply going to proceed to translate.
“Our job (as a catcher) is to continue to tell guys that their good is plenty fine. We just want guys to be great at what they’re good at, and Assad’s a strike thrower and his fastball is really good. … I expect him to continue to pitch well and throw a lot of strikes and continue to impress.”
3. Cubs video games are testing tempo of play
The Cubs are getting an early take a look at the several types of video games that may have dragged out in previous spring trainings.
After their win Saturday versus the San Francisco Giants featured 18 runs, 25 hits and 6 errors in only a 3-hour, 6-minute recreation, the Cubs went to the opposite excessive Sunday. They wanted 10 pitchers and three mid-inning pitching adjustments to finish eight innings towards the Dodgers, strolling 11 batters within the course of.
Despite the the pitching struggles over the ultimate three innings, the sport completed in 2 hours, 54 minutes.
“I didn’t feel sped up at the plate necessarily, but behind the plate, I felt like things are moving really fast,” Barnhart stated. “I looked up a few times and we were throwing pitches with seven or eight seconds left (on the pitch clock), so there’s obviously room for some time to slow down, but it’s a good thing to be in a position where you have the ability to slow down rather than have to speed up.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com