The Chicago White Sox displayed velocity and energy within the second inning Friday in opposition to the Cincinnati Reds.
Tim Anderson beat Kevin Newman’s lengthy throw from deep shortstop for an infield hit with two outs, scoring a run. It additionally prolonged the inning for Andrew Vaughn, who adopted with a three-run homer to left.
The Sox scored 5 runs within the inning and beat the Reds 6-4 in Cactus League sport at Camelback Ranch. Yasmani Grandal had two hits, together with a solo homer within the third.
Here are three takeaways from Friday at Sox camp.
1. Dylan Cease felt ‘pretty solid’ in first begin of the spring.
Cease walked two Reds and made a throwing error within the first inning. The second stroll — to Jake Fraley — loaded the bases with one out. Pitching coach Ethan Katz made a rapid mound go to.
Cease mentioned the assembly offered a breather. Katz’s message, Cease mentioned, was, “Just attack. Your stuff’s good. Just go after it.”
Cease did simply that, putting out Chad Pinder and getting Curt Casali to come out to second baseman Hanser Alberto to finish the inning with out permitting a run.
Cease allowed one hit together with the 2 walks and struck out two in two scoreless innings throughout his first Cactus League outing of 2023.
“It was pretty good,” Cease mentioned. “Obviously walks aren’t splendid. But they’re fairly shut misses. Just obtained to recalibrate somewhat bit and get again into it.
“I actually felt good, I didn’t feel wild, even though I had the two walks. I felt pretty solid. I thought it was a pretty good first outing.”
After ending second within the American League Cy Young Award voting final season, one space Cease got here into camp centered on was command. That has continued to be a focus.
Friday additionally gave Cease a chance to check out among the new guidelines. He mentioned the pitch clock “wasn’t an issue.”
“I felt like I had plenty of time,” Cease mentioned. “I don’t anticipate it being a problem.”
2. Sox plan to ‘move everybody around’ whereas regulars take part within the World Baseball Classic.
Several gamers will get an prolonged look whereas heart fielder Luis Robert Jr. and third baseman Yoán Moncada are away for the World Baseball Classic.
Jake Marisnick began in heart and Alberto was at third in opposition to the Colorado Rockies on Thursday. Alberto had three hits, coming a house run shy of the cycle.
On Friday, Romy Gonzalez began in heart and Zach Remillard at third. Remillard had an RBI single throughout the five-run second.
“We’ll move everybody around,” supervisor Pedro Grifol mentioned Friday morning. “Romy is going to play center field some. We want to see (Bryan) Ramos, (Leury) García will play third base. We’ll move the young kids, (José) Rodríguez, (Moisés) Castillo, we’ll move them around in the infield.”
Versatility in a participant is a plus.
“I love versatility, that’s the name of the game now,” Grifol mentioned. “Even if you’re an everyday player, if you have versatility, it’s just another feather in your hat, man. If you can protect us in some way, shape or form for a game or two, that’s just an asset to who you are and what you can bring to the table. We’ll move these guys around and see how they perform.”
Gonzalez has performed at second and in left and proper fields.
“It’s great, I’m very excited to play every position,” Gonzalez informed the Tribune on Thursday. “I think that’s very good for me and the team as well. I’m extremely excited that Pedro’s working me everywhere.”
3. Why did a grounder again to the mound Thursday stand out to Grifol?
Elvis Andrus bounced one again to the mound within the third inning Thursday in opposition to the Rockies. Grifol observed one thing throughout the routine play.
“Really, really was impressed with a ground ball to the pitcher by Elvis Andrus and busting his (butt) to first base,” Grifol mentioned Friday morning. “That’s one of the reasons he’s here on top of all other things.”
It was an instance of Andrus’ management.
“He’s not just a vocal leader,” Grifol mentioned. “This guy leads by example too. He’s not just saying something and, ‘Do as I say, not as I do.’ This guy does it. He says it and he does it. That’s how we want to put this thing together.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com