Javier Baez drove-in six runs with a two-run HR and a grand slam, Yasiel Balaguert knocked-in four runs with a three-run home run and a sacrifice fly, Dong-Yub Kim drove-in two runs with an RBI single and a solo HR, and Wilson Contreras ripped a two-run double, leading the Cubs to a 14-4 demolition of the Angels in Cactus League Extended Spring Training action this morning at Fitch Park Field #3 in Mesa, AZ.
Starling Peralta threw three perfect innings and Wilson Contreras, Kevin Encarnacion, and Garrett Schlecht smacked run-scoring hits in a five-run 7th, as one squad of Cubs rallied from a 5-0 deficit to tie the Giants 5-5 on Field #1, while meanwhile three pitchers were combining to throw a two-hitter on Field #2 as the other squad of Cubs edged the Giants 2-1, in a Cactus League Extended Spring Training split squad doubleheader this morning at Indian School Park in Scottsdale, AZ.
Both games were seven-inning affairs.
Reggie Golden blasted a 400-ft+ three-run home run over the left-centerfield fence and Dong-Yub Kim cracked at two-run shot over the LF fence to lead the EXST Cubs to a 9-3 victory over the EXST Diamondbacks this morning at Fitch Park Field #2 in Mesa.
Cubs 2009 2nd round pick D. J. LeMahieu (LSU) made his professional debut tonight at Fitch Park in Mesa, going 2-4 with an RBI and two runs scored, leading the AZL Cubs to a 4-1 victory over the AZL Brewers in Arizona League action.
Robert Hernandez was clubbed for seven runs in a nightmarish bottom of the 1st inning and the EXST Giants cruised to 9-3 victory over the EXST Cubs on Indian Bend Park Field #4 in Scotsdale this morning, but not to worry too much, because Logan Watkins and Matt Cerda drove-in two runs apiece and Su-Min Jung and Toby Matchulat combined to throw six innings of two-hit shutout ball, as the another squad of EXST Cubs defeated another squad of EXST Giants 5-1 at Indian Bend Park Field #3, in a game played simultaneous to the one on Field #4. And I was able to watch both games simutaneously, too.
19-year old Korean RHP Su-Min Jung got the start for the Cubs and worked three strong innings, mixing a plus-fastball with an advanced curve and change. He got a lot of swings & misses.
Here is the abridged box score (Cubs players only):
Recent comments
Cubster 09/30/2023 - 09:09 pm (view)
Candelario back at 3B and Canario is DH.
crunch 09/30/2023 - 09:47 pm (view)
morel gets 2nd…nico sitting
Cubster 09/30/2023 - 09:03 pm (view)
Hopefully, Jordan Wicks won’t be 2024’s Keegan Thompson. Similarly, hope KT is the 2022 version of himself.
George Altman 09/30/2023 - 09:27 am (view)
100% Agree, Crunch.
Now on to the Hot Stove season where I hope Ricketts can be convinced they need (and will have to spend whatever $$$ this becomes) on the following:
SP2 or SP3
Bellinger or comparable LH bat who can play 1B or CF.
A 3B (preferably LH bat)
At least 2, if not 3 RPs better than Fulmer.
Dolorous Jon Lester 09/30/2023 - 09:09 am (view)
Totally, I was not expecting to watch meaningful baseball the final two months of the season, let alone the final week.
Cubster 09/30/2023 - 09:51 am (view)
This week’s collapse reminds me of the last week in the 2004 Season with Sosa-Alou. That team was expected to win, this team not so much. We’ll always have July-August 2023, that was fun. Thanks Crunch, your commentary has been a highlight too.
crunch 09/30/2023 - 09:59 am (view)
it is highly likely they're done. even doing very well by normal standards would most likely end in a tie, which means they don't make the post-season. they're still in it on paper, not on vegas odds.
in all seriousness...i'll take the 2 extra months of baseball that mattered. 160+ games mattered this year and it was worth tuning in to watch.
i feel like i should be a little more disappointed, but in the weeks coming into the trade deadline i strongly assumed they were already sellers and the season was pretty much chalked up to dead. the run they made up to the point where the upper management decided to go all-in was fun.
my only armchair GM regret is only adding a mid-level pen arm like cuas at the trade deadline. oddly, that cuas trade seems like one they would be looking to make whether they were going for a post-season run or not. they didn't seem to want to make room for velazquez.
long story short, it's been a fun ride and i'm glad i took it. it would be damn nice if we could get a little bit more fairy tale magic.
Dolorous Jon Lester 09/29/2023 - 09:17 pm (view)
They’re done. They’ve been done since that disaster of a road trip to Colorado and Arizona, with the Arizona and Pittsburgh home series bookending it.
Pour one out for the 23 Cubs. A fun ride for a good portion of the year, much more fun than I’d anticipated.
crunch 09/29/2023 - 09:16 pm (view)
cubs lose, marlins win, reds win...
cubs have a 6-14 record since the early september sweep of SF. 6 of the 14 losses are 1-run losses.
still technically in it...looking very unlikely, though.
crunch 09/29/2023 - 09:17 pm (view)
morel out here channeling baez and taking extra bases twice in this game...and getting away with it...double and triple.