2024 Spring Training Game Thread

[muntjack]

Caissie getting more PAs. I'm here for it.  

[CubinNY]

Kopech all kinds of wild to start the bottom of the first. 

[Jason Ross]

25 minutes ago, muntjack said:

Caissie getting more PAs. I'm here for it.  

Same. I've been really encouraged by how often he's pulled the ball. One of the biggest things I think I'd like to see him polish on is his hit box. He's a very patient hitter, and sometimes to a fault. When he was younger, he'd really wait out pitches. To the point where his hit box was very deep on the plate, making pulling the ball very hard. He was losing some power (he's strong enough to where he can hit opposite field home runs, but I think he was losing power because of it, too). It's also dangerous as stuff ramps up, you just can't wait that long without upping your swing and miss. He's been getting better about being a bit more aggressive, and getting the bat head out on the ball at the front of the plate; where his power will really take off. 

I try never to read much into ST numbers, but I think processes matter (god, I'm a broken record) here to me. Seeing him pull the few doubles has been really nice, regardless of who it's against, IMO.

[KCCub]

Nice over the shoulder catch by Busch.

[Rcal10]

16 minutes ago, KCCub said:

Nice over the shoulder catch by Busch.

How does Jimenez get doubled up on a foul pop up? 

[KCCub]

Just now, Rcal10 said:

How does Jimenez get doubled up on a foul pop up? 

He was stealing 2nd on the play.

[Stratos]

5 hours ago, 1908_Cubs said:

Hitters, in general, have issues with velo up right now. Launch angle hitting, which really is just a better way to get the ball to make contact with the bat at a more favorable plane, does struggle to getting high velocity. With Pete Crow-Armstrong, a decent amount of this is learning when to swing, and when not to swing. I've included a heat map of his swing and miss rate below, as well as his chase rate, specifically on fastballs, during his time at Triple-A

I think these two paint the picture of where I think his approach needs to mature. PCA cannot lay off high and inside, nor can he effectively hit that up and out pitch. He does make enough contact up and inside, however. This is a decent way to visualize his approach issue; he's just too aggressive as of now, unable to lay off up and way in, in hopes it's up and in the zone. I've also included PCA's swing rate with no strikes. 

He's all over the place. Compare that to Michael Busch's Triple-A swing rate with no strikes. See how much more measured it is? Now, Michael Busch is older, with a very different approach; he's very patient and waits for his pitch (this is one of the reasons why I'm really high on Busch being good at the next level...he's got great swing decisions). But PCA is just swinging wildly right now. If it's a fastball, and it's no strikes, he's just going to swing if it's in the zone, or, if it's high and inside. 

What I'm really hoping is that if he's looking slow to diagnose fastballs right now is that it's a symptom of him working to refine his approach. He's fighting his instincts right now to swing, and his mental processes will take some time to adjust. Now, I have no idea if that's the case, but what I hope. He's going to have to crawl before he can walk, and walk before he can run here. But I'm hoping this is the first step in a more measured, mature approach.

Thanks for the heat maps, that's so helpful.

Red flag for me is that swing and miss on the fastballs up was happening in Sept and he was apparently working on it throughout the winter and the same thing is happening again now in ST.  Though maybe he didn't see a lot of live ABs over the winter so there's room for adjustment.  Let's hope.

[chibears55]

1 minute ago, Rcal10 said:

How does Jimenez get doubled up on a foul pop up? 

He was running on the pitch, but not sure how he didn't look back or at his coach to see that it was in the air and foul.

[Bertz]

I expect Cubs twitter to have a totally normal reaction to this half inning from PCA.

[WhyCantWeWin]

2 straight misses by PCA here, Assad getting screwed big time

[squally1313]

11 minutes ago, Bertz said:

I expect Cubs twitter to have a totally normal reaction to this half inning from PCA.

details?

[KCCub]

1 minute ago, squally1313 said:

details?

Having problems with the sun -

 

 

 

[Bertz]

1 minute ago, KCCub said:

Having problems with the sun -

 

 

 

And that was the second time it happened in like 3 batters.

[KCCub]

Whoa Caissie having a hell of a spring so far!

[SOFNR]

Caissie is fun.

[CubinNY]

5 minutes ago, KCCub said:

Whoa Caissie having a hell of a spring so far!

He's got a quick bat. 

[CubbyBlue2008]

Can’t wait to see Caissie in the bigs. Guy has so much natural pop.

[muntjack]

The O.C. slapped that ball the other way and it went out.  Ridiculous.

[Stratos]

2 hours ago, Bertz said:

I expect Cubs twitter to have a totally normal reaction to this half inning from PCA.

What does Cubs twitter think of PCA?  I don't go on twitter a ton.

[Stratos]

2 hours ago, KCCub said:

Having problems with the sun -

 

 

 

The other sun play:

https://twitter.com/search?q=pca cubs&src=typed_query&f=top

[Tim]

1 hour ago, TomtheBombadil said:

Owen Caissie’s probably got some upside 

But he's no BJ Murray!  😉

 

[SOFNR]

Another Cubs player lost one in the sun too. Looks like it was tough out there. Certainly not anything I'd be concerned about.

[Stratos]

1 hour ago, CubinNY said:

He's got a quick bat. 

For a big power guy he has a beautiful swing.  He's definitely not just up there playing HR derby.  Triantos also has a beautiful swing.

Edited March 1, 2024 by Stratos

[CubinNY]

Good first inning for imanaga 

[LBiittner]

Mervis HR