Elvis Andrus stood out in his first Cactus League recreation this spring with a triple, stroll and run scored for the White Sox in a 10-1 victory in opposition to the Seattle Mariners on Monday at Camelback Ranch.
Signed final week to take over at second base, Andrus made a diving catch on a delicate liner within the fourth inning. The longtime shortstop is adjusting to the brand new place.
“I’m not 100% comfortable at second yet,” Andrus mentioned. “But it was a pretty good first game.”
The Cubs misplaced each of their split-squad video games: 12-4 at Sloan Park to the Cleveland Guardians and 3-0 to the Arizona Diamondbacks in Scottsdale.
Jameson Taillon allowed three hits and two runs in 1⅔ innings in opposition to the Guardians in his Cubs debut. Ian Happ doubled and drove in two runs.
Caleb Kilian impressed with two excellent innings in opposition to the Diamondbacks, putting out Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Evan Longoria. The Cubs completed with two hits and misplaced on a walk-off three-run homer by Emmanuel Rivera.
Chicago Tribune baseball writers LaMond Pope, Meghan Montemurro and Paul Sullivan will likely be offering Cubs and White Sox updates all through spring coaching.
Seiya Suzuki withdraws from WBC
Cubs proper fielder Seiya Suzuki now not will play for Team Japan within the World Baseball Classic.
His left indirect damage compelled him to withdraw from the WBC on Monday evening. Cubs medical doctors reviewed the imaging of Suzuki’s indirect Monday after tightness precipitated him to overlook the primary three days of Cactus League video games.
Team Japan performs its WBC opener in 10 days in Tokyo. Cubs supervisor David Ross and Suzuki are anticipated to debate the choice Tuesday morning.
As the Cubs awaited suggestions from medical doctors Monday, Ross didn’t need to speculate on Suzuki’s availability to play for Japan, partly as a result of he hadn’t spoken to Suzuki earlier than Ross addressed the media in the course of the group’s morning stretch.
“I mean, obviously, when you have something like that pop up, you’re concerned, right?” Ross mentioned. “And he wants to find out. And I think it’s really important to him to represent his country in the WBC. So we’re going to have conversations soon about what the imaging tells us and try to make some decisions after we talk to him and what’s best for everybody.”
If Suzuki misses prolonged time in camp due to his damage, Patrick Wisdom, Trey Mancini and Mike Tauchman are among the many gamers who may get time in proper subject. However, Wisdom was scratched from beginning at third base in opposition to the Diamondbacks due to left groin soreness. The Cubs need to be further cautious with Wisdom as a result of it’s early in spring coaching.
“We’ve got some guys that can bounce around,” Ross mentioned. “That’s why we value the versatility. … (Nick) Madrigal was willing to play outfield. I think Yan (Gomes) would play outfield to get at-bats, so I take that with a grain of salt. We’ll get the guys that are best suited out there. Defensively, offensive matchups and put the best team on the field.”
Oscar Colás works on hitting to all fields
Sox prospect Oscar Colás needs energy to be solely a part of his recreation.
His total offense was on show final season at three minor-league ranges, combining for a .314 batting common in 117 video games.
Colás — competing for the opening in proper subject — took what the pitchers gave him Sunday and had two opposite-field singles in a 7-0 loss to the Los Angeles Angels in Tempe.
“That’s part of my goal, part of the work I did during the offseason, try to hit to the opposite field and don’t pull the ball as much as I used to,” Colás mentioned via an interpreter Sunday. “Seeing those results were good.”
Sox supervisor Pedro Grifol likes that mindset.
“He’s got to open up the field if he wants to hit in the big leagues,” Grifol mentioned Monday morning. “He has the capabilities of doing that. He has a fairly good eye and controls the strike zone, but it surely’s actually arduous to only eradicate one facet of the sphere and suppose you will have success on the opposite facet.
“He’s worked really hard on opening up the field and becoming a good hitter all the way around with some pop.”
Pitch-clock confusion attracts double violation
Cubs outfielder Brennen Davis wasn’t positive easy methods to strategy the state of affairs.
Diamondbacks pitcher Joe Mantiply entered the sport from the bullpen to start the highest of the third Monday, triggering the 2-minute, 30-second pitch clock. Mantiply was imagined to be accomplished warming up with at least 30 seconds left on the clock. But catcher Carson Kelly was the ultimate out within the earlier half-inning and was delayed getting behind the plate.
Mantiply stored warming up till the pitch clock ticked right down to zero. Meanwhile, Davis stood off to the facet watching Mantiply end his throws. Because Davis wasn’t within the field and looking out on the pitcher with a minimum of eight seconds left, plate umpire Doug Eddings referred to as a violation on each Mantiply and Davis, making a 1-1 depend to begin the at-bat. Davis fouled out on the subsequent pitch.
“I didn’t know I was supposed to enter the box even if that’s going on,” Davis mentioned of Mantiply’s extended warmup. “I was like, what am I supposed to do?”
Davis skilled the pitch clock within the minor leagues final 12 months.
“I think adjustments will be made and they’ll make it to where the game’s playable at a better pace,” he mentioned.
José Ruiz ‘proud’ to characterize Venezuela in WBC
José Ruiz targeting being extra aggressive within the strike zone throughout Saturday’s Cactus League opener in opposition to the San Diego Padres.
“Attack the hitters,” the reliever advised the Tribune via an interpreter Monday.
He went proper to work, putting out Jantzen Witte trying on three pitches to start the fifth inning at Camelback Ranch.
Ruiz allowed one hit in his scoreless inning. The right-hander went 1-0 with a 4.60 ERA, 68 strikeouts and 11 holds in 63 appearances final season.
“He’s versatile,” Grifol mentioned Sunday. “He’s durable. He’s throwing a two-seamer now. I saw him throw some really good right-on-right changeups out here in some of the live BPs.”
Ruiz, 28, is scheduled to pitch once more Tuesday in opposition to the Arizona Diamondbacks in Scottsdale. He’s additionally getting ready for the World Baseball Classic, representing Venezuela. He experiences to Miami on March 6.
“I feel proud to be able to represent my country,” Ruiz mentioned. “It’s positively a novel expertise, a novel alternative. We have such an ideal, proficient group. It’s a really powerful pool with the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and there’s plenty of expertise there.
“Being able to take the field with your countrymen and share that experience is something that’s going to be beautiful and I’m looking forward to it.”
Today’s video games
- Cubs at Brewers, 2:10 p.m., Marquee
- White Sox at Diamondbacks, 2:10 p.m.
This day in spring coaching historical past
Feb. 28, 2004
The first controversy of many in the course of the season erupted when Commissioner Bud Selig knowledgeable all major-league groups that non-baseball personnel could be restricted from clubhouses, and “there will be absolutely no exceptions to these regulations, and major-league clubs will be held responsible if they are not enforced.”
Julian Martinez, the private assistant to Sammy Sosa, was one of many Cubs casualties.
“C’mon, dude,” supervisor Dusty Baker mentioned. “Shoot, he was here before I got here. The rules are the rules, (and) we’re not clear of the rules, first. It’s going to affect a lot of people in Julian’s position. If the commissioner has a mandate or edict, you don’t have a choice.”
It was Sosa’s last 12 months enjoying for the Cubs. Martinez finally turned a bullpen catcher for the Washington Nationals.
Feb. 28, 2015
New White Sox first baseman Adam LaRoche introduced his 13-year previous son, Drake, to the clubhouse at Camelback Ranch, the place {the teenager} was given his personal locker. Adam mentioned he wished Drake to get the identical schooling he had when his father, Dave LaRoche, performed for the White Sox and Adam was allowed contained in the clubhouse.
“I didn’t really appreciate it at the time when I was that age,” Adam advised Tribune reporter Colleen Kane. “I didn’t realize how cool that was and how those memories would be with me forever. … We were incredibly welcomed, which was neat, and I’m seeing the same thing with Drake — guys going out of their way to introduce themselves to Drake and take care of him.”
Drake additionally had a locker at U.S. Cellular Field, however one 12 months later his clubhouse privileges have been revoked by government vp Ken Williams, resulting in Adam’s sudden retirement and making a firestorm.
Pitcher Chris Sale mentioned the gamers “got (bald)-faced lied to by someone we are supposed to be able to trust,” referring to Williams. “If we’re truly here to win a championship and come together … and win as a team, these issues don’t come up. Somebody walked out those doors the other day, and it was the wrong guy, plain and simple.”
What we’re studying this morning
Quotable
“I got a lot of ‘Welcome to Chicago’ and stuff today, which was nice to hear. I haven’t had too much hate or anything on Twitter, which is nice. Everyone’s been really welcoming.” — Jameson Taillon on his first impressions of Cubs followers
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Source: www.bostonherald.com