It was a “mental game” for the likes of the Chicago White Sox’s Oscar Colás and Romy Gonzalez, who watched Thursday’s recreation together with coaches from the dugout.
Catcher Carlos Pérez had two hits and one RBI for the Sox in a 5-4 loss to Team Colombia in an exhibition recreation at Camelback Ranch.
“(Colás is) off from the physical stuff but not from the mental side of it or the development side of it,” supervisor Pedro Grifol stated. “The guys who are there and not in the game, the young guys coming up, it’s a mental game for them. We have to take full advantage of that.”
Jameson Taillon didn’t let an extended three-run first inning derail his outing Thursday towards the Cincinnati Reds. The veteran right-hander bought the work in he wished, going 3⅔ innings within the Cubs’ 8-6 comeback win, their eighth straight Cactus League victory.
“Sometimes days like that can be valuable,” stated Taillon, who gave up 4 hits and 4 runs. He didn’t stroll a batter and struck out three.
“I feel like if this were the regular season, I could turn that into like a six or seven inning outing, but the conversation on the bench was awesome,” he stated.
Trey Mancini, Patrick Wisdom and Christopher Morel homered within the sixth, a part of a six-run inning to erase the Reds’ lead.
Chicago Tribune baseball writers LaMond Pope and Meghan Montemurro shall be offering Cubs and White Sox updates all through spring coaching.
Manny Rodríguez attempting to construct case for bullpen spot
Flashing 98- and 99-mph fastballs early in spring is one option to get seen.
Throwing clear innings will assist a pitcher’s trigger too. Rodríguez’s sturdy begin by three Cactus League appearances has garnered consideration for the best way he has been having success.
“Watching him in the past he was more of a thrower,” Cubs supervisor David Ross stated Thursday. “The last couple outings he’s really looked like a pitcher. He’s moved the ball in and out threw a couple backdoor sliders. … He’s just continued to evolve in his skills and obviously he’s healthy and looks really good on the mound.”
Rodríguez, 26, has tossed three scoreless innings with just one hit and one stroll. His path to a spot within the opening-day bullpen shall be challenged by his lack of a 40-man roster spot after the group designated him for project within the offseason. But he has a chance to remain on the radar if he continues to pitch effectively.
“He’s going to have to continue to pitch and his secondary stuff is very valuable,” Ross stated. “He throws hard and it makes hitters respect that and he can get away with some mistakes. But you also have to execute, and I think he’s building toward execution with his pitches. He’s looked really good so far in camp.”
Dylan Cease targeted on getting slider within the zone after ‘a rough night’
Cease summed up Wednesday as “definitely not a good night.”
The White Sox starter allowed 11 runs on seven hits — together with a grand slam — with 4 walks in two-thirds of an inning in a 14-5 loss towards the Kansas City Royals at Surprise Stadium.
“Just a rough night,” Cease stated. “Obviously in spring it’s a mixture of finding stuff and build up. Sometimes it’s not the worst factor to get punched within the face a little bit, get you going. But clearly not excellent.
“I didn’t get my slider in the zone at all and pretty much they were able to spit on it and then they got to the heater.”
Grifol stated Thursday of the slider: “That’s his bread and butter, and he was pulling it just a bit bit. Once you get behind the rely, you’ve bought to come back in and also you’ve bought to decide to (the) coronary heart of the plate and people guys did a pleasant job of not lacking the pitches that they may hit.
“He’s going to toe the rubber 32 times, 33 times (in the regular season), you’re going to have your days like this. You’ve just got to flush it and he’s one of the best in the game, if not the best coming off that year last year.”
Cease was already able to get again at it.
“I need to just keep getting reps, honestly,” he stated. “Just sharpen up a little bit. Especially if I get the slider in the zone, things will start working a little better.”
Danis Correa pulls out of WBC, focuses on Cubs camp
Cubs big-league camp is the place the right-hander needs to be proper now.
Correa, a non-roster invitee, was presupposed to pitch for Team Colombia within the World Baseball Classic however determined to withdraw to give attention to getting eyes on him with the Cubs. Pitching coach Tommy Hottovy described it as a mutual dialogue between Correa and the crew.
“I think he felt there was a lot of opportunity to get to showcase what he can do around us,” Hottovy advised the Tribune. “There were some things he wanted to work on and some things that we had also kind of prioritized. … For a kid in his position, it’s like, I can go and have fun and compete for my country but also wanting to make sure I’m hitting all the things I need to do to be ready for the season.”
Correa, 23, reached Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa for the primary time in his profession final season. He struck out 24 batters in 16⅔ innings at Iowa however the reliever struggled along with his command, a difficulty at occasions with every degree he has reached, strolling 10. Correa retired one of many three hitters he confronted Thursday whereas surrendering one hit, one run and one stroll. He additionally struck out one.
“He’s been great to have in camp,” Hottovy stated. “He’s been really open to a lot of things that we’ve wanted to work on with him and obviously the stuff is there.”
Aaron Bummer felt ‘really good’ after bullpen session
The Sox reliever was inspired after a 15-pitch bullpen session Thursday at Camelback Ranch.
“I was happy with the command, the movement profiles,” Bummer, 29, stated. “I was able to throw all my pitches and I felt good throwing it all. As long as we feel good moving forward, we’re right where we need to be.”
Bummer, who missed time final season with a left lat pressure, stated earlier in camp the strategy this spring in Glendale was “let’s be smart.”
“How I bounce back and as long as I feel good (Friday) we keep going on (the) schedule we’re going on,” he stated Thursday. “There’s nonetheless some hurdles to climb. Intensity is clearly one among them. Volume and dwell batting practices after which moving into video games.
“Pedro (Grifol) talks a lot about the next seven to 10 days. That’s what’s important right now. … As long as we get through the next seven days, we’re moving on to the next step. I’m really happy with how (Thursday) went. I’m really happy with the progress that we made. We’re still right on schedule.”
News from World Baseball Classic
Sox middle fielder Luis Robert Jr. went 1-for-5 with an RBI for Team Cuba in a 6-3 loss to Team Italy in 10 innings in a Pool A recreation in Taichung, Taiwan. Sox third baseman Yoán Moncada was 0-for-5 for Cuba.
Cubs infielder/outfielder Miles Mastrobuoni had two doubles and an RBI in Italy’s victory. Non-roster invitee Ben DeLuzio completed 0-for-5 with two strikeouts.
Right-hander Vinny Nittoli, additionally a Cubs non-roster invitee, struck out three and surrendered two hits and one run in 1⅓ innings for Italy.
Up subsequent
- White Sox at Cubs, 2:05 p.m., Marquee
What we’re studying this morning
Cubs high prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong’s protection continues to impress: ‘He’s going to be one of many top-10 middle fielders to ever play’
White Sox SS Tim Anderson on taking part in for Team USA within the WBC: ‘It’s cool to have the ability to cherish these moments’
Quotable
“The biggest thing is just getting in the zone right now. I’ve been doing a good job in my pens and practice doing it, but now I’ve just got to translate it to the game.”
— Dylan Cease, who has issued six walks in his two spring outings (2⅔ innings)
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Source: www.bostonherald.com