Spring Training games thread

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

This guy on the Padres is having a rough time.

[Jason Ross]

31 minutes ago, Bertz said:

👀

Shota's fastball was 93.5 during the first inning today.  He threw four fastballs harder than any fastball he threw last year

Also saw a few curveballs. He only threw two, but considering he threw all of 35 all last year, might be a pitch he works on getting in a little extra often this year?

[Bertz]

18 minutes ago, mk49 said:

Shota is looking good.  He pitched 24 fastballs in 2 innings, and the average was 93.0mph.  Definitely faster in the 1st inning, though.  Maybe, he threw less hard in the 2nd inning intentionally?  

Looks like he was 93.5 in the first inning and 92.2 in the second.

That first inning is about as hard as we've ever seen him throw, the second was way better than his 2025 but right in line with his 2024 averages (maybe a smidge on the higher side).  So good news overall, it's more of just a question of how good.

[Bertz]

6 minutes ago, Jason Ross said:

Also saw a few curveballs. He only threw two, but considering he threw all of 35 all last year, might be a pitch he works on getting in a little extra often this year?

Interesting.  Curious to see what they've got lined up for him besides the obvious focus on velo.

[mk49]

3 minutes ago, Bertz said:

Looks like he was 93.5 in the first inning and 92.2 in the second.

That first inning is about as hard as we've ever seen him throw, the second was way better than his 2025 but right in line with his 2024 averages (maybe a smidge on the higher side).  So good news overall, it's more of just a question of how good.

Yeah, I agree, good news.  I hoped he averages 92 today, but he was better.  I was surprised by his 1st inning.

[CubinNY]

5 hours ago, Bertz said:

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7064417/2026/02/24/mlb-abs-system-challenges-pitcher-benefits/

Eno Sarris theorizes that pitchers who live on the top of the zone will get the most love from ABS.  Cubs have two of the top guys in Shota and Boyd.

For the lazy among us, why does he think high balls are missed? Just data from bad calls? 

[macarthur31]

24 minutes ago, Bertz said:

Looks like he was 93.5 in the first inning and 92.2 in the second.

That first inning is about as hard as we've ever seen him throw, the second was way better than his 2025 but right in line with his 2024 averages (maybe a smidge on the higher side).  So good news overall, it's more of just a question of how good.

Just scanned Baseball Savant - 35 pitches, 4 at 94MPH, 9 at 93MPH.  Good sign he's getting that velo back.

[squally1313]

20 minutes ago, CubinNY said:

For the lazy among us, why does he think high balls are missed? Just data from bad calls? 

Also lazy and didn't read the article, but I saw a couple tweets earlier about how the strikezone is determined on a per-batter basis by height/biometric data of the hitters, and doesn't adjust for hitters who may have an exaggerated crouch. My takeaway from that is that there are hitters who are used to getting balls called on pitches at the top of the zone might be in for a rude awakening. 

[Bertz]

30 minutes ago, CubinNY said:

For the lazy among us, why does he think high balls are missed? Just data from bad calls? 

Basically there are two area where there are a disproportionate number of should-be strikes called balls.  The low outside corner is number 1, and then the entire top of the zone is number 2. 

Eno glazed over the low outside corner because everyone's always trying to hit that target, whereas top of the zone is a place where only some guys try to live.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

It seems like pitchers that can dot high in the zone with curveballs will benefit a lot from ABS, though he didn't mention it.

[mk49]

Hollowell has been good.  3 K last time and 3 K today.  No hit, no walk so far.

[mk49]

There are more than a few guys who haven't played yet, like Mo, Alcantara, Horton and Cabrera.  Hopefully, they'll play soon.

[Jason Ross]

Tyler Austin underwent a knee surgery and will be sidelined for months. 

[Jason Ross]

 

[Neuby]

3 minutes ago, Jason Ross said:

Tyler Austin underwent a knee surgery and will be sidelined for months. 

Just missed Hoskins signing a minor league deal by a couple days. Hopefully Jed goes back into the free agent pool

 

Tommy Pham

Starling Marte

Andrew Mclutchen

 

 

[Tryptamine]

Yeah that Tyler Austin thing is working out super well. I think it's 50/50 at this point if he ever takes an AB as a Cub.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

8 minutes ago, Neuby said:

Just missed Hoskins signing a minor league deal by a couple days. Hopefully Jed goes back into the free agent pool

 

Tommy Pham

Starling Marte

Andrew Mclutchen

 

 

Give me Cutch, at worst he'd fill the Justin Turner role.

[Backtobanks]

10 minutes ago, Neuby said:

Just missed Hoskins signing a minor league deal by a couple days. Hopefully Jed goes back into the free agent pool

 

Tommy Pham

Starling Marte

Andrew Mclutchen

 

 

I'm hoping the Orioles DFA Mountcastle.  He would be a great option for a RH bat.

[Rcal10]

2 minutes ago, Backtobanks said:

I'm hoping the Orioles DFA Mountcastle.  He would be a great option for a RH bat.

At this point he would be my hope as well. If not him, maybe an internal option (Long). I don’t see any of those other guys being an upgrade over Long and none of them play 1st base. And, IMO, the Cubs wouldn’t have any interest in Pham. He is a bit of a clubhouse cancer. 

[JunkyardWalrus]

Why can’t Shaw play 1b? (Gold Gloves all over the infield… height shouldn’t be a problem, right?)

[Stratos]

26 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

At this point he would be my hope as well. If not him, maybe an internal option (Long). I don’t see any of those other guys being an upgrade over Long and none of them play 1st base. And, IMO, the Cubs wouldn’t have any interest in Pham. He is a bit of a clubhouse cancer. 

Long had strong reverse splits last year.

[We Got The Whole 9]

Wtf was that an existing injury or something that happened in camp? 

[Rcal10]

10 minutes ago, Stratos said:

Long had strong reverse splits last year.

Good catch. I forgot about that. No idea who will back up 1st base then. Should have gotten Goldy when they could have. 

[Bertz]

I suspect it's a simple matter of turning Conforto/Carlson into an "and" instead of an "or".  Given the timing Conforto probably got signed when the team found out about this.

[Stratos]

8 minutes ago, Rcal10 said:

Good catch. I forgot about that. No idea who will back up 1st base then. Should have gotten Goldy when they could have. 

Yeah who knows what they do now.  Maybe wait for someone to get released near Opening Day and pick someone up in the meantime.  Could also make a trade for some AAAA type.