The Cubs did not fare well in the Cactus League win-loss column over the weekend. After outlasting the Giants in Thursday night’s marathon, Joe Maddon’s team dropped three in a row at Sloan Park.
Maddon used a majority of his regulars throughout the weekend and the offense provided a glimpse of what it’s capable of in three of the four games. Maddon’s deep, American League-type lineup can really put together at-bats.
Addison Russell hit homers in back-to-back games. Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, Jason Heyward, Ben Zobrist and Dexter Fowler appear to be getting hot as Spring Training winds down.
On the pitching side, Jon Lester made the best start of the four games. Pedro Strop, Hector Rondon, Justin Grimm and Adam Warren had good outings out of the pen.
The Cubs received good news Sunday on Jake Arietta and he should be ready to start on Opening Day.
There were 10 roster moves made over the weekend and Shane Victorino decided to at least rehab at the Cubs facility.
And Joe Maddon announced the Cubs’ Opening Day rotation … Jake Arrieta, Jon Lester, John Lackey, Jason Hammel and Kyle Hendricks with Trevor Cahill as the sixth starter to begin the season.
Here are the headlines from the weekend filled with all of the news, notes, rumors and video …
Cubs Trade LHP Edgar Olmos to Orioles for PTBNL
The Cubs made a minor deal late Thursday before the night game with the Giants. LHP Edgar Olmos was sent back to the Orioles. The Cubs will get a player for what ended up being two waiver claims.
Arrieta Leaves with Blister, Cubs Score Eight Times in Fifth and Outlast Giants – Cubs 16, Giants 14
Spring Training wins and loses mean nothing. But Thursday’s game in Scottsdale was as close to a regular season game that happens in March.
Jake Arrieta was hit around, left the game in the first inning and downplayed the second blister on his right thumb. Arrieta said it wasn’t an issue and he will make his next scheduled start.
The exhibition game had more drama in the fourth inning when Madison Bumgarner thought Jason Heyward and Dexter Fowler were stealing signs and relaying pitch location.
The two teams scored a combined 30 runs in a game that took more than four hours to complete.
- Arrieta Leaves with Blister, Cubs Score Eight Times in Fifth and Outlast Giants – Cubs 16, Giants 14
Shane Victorino Will Not Make Opening Day Roster, Considering Cubs New Offer
What was thought to be a minor injury has kept Shane Victorino out of the lineup. Victorino signed a minor league deal with the Cubs the day after Dexter Fowler re-signed. Victorino was thought to be the frontrunner for a job on the Cubs bench. But he could not get beyond the calf injury.
Joe Maddon made the announcement Thursday that Victorino will not break camp with the team.
Victorino has since decided to rehab at the Cubs’ facility and attempt to recreate Spring Training as he and Theo Epstein try to work out details for a new deal.
Shane Victorino to Rehab with Cubs in Extended Spring Training
While details, mainly his contract still have to be worked out, Shane Victorino decided to stay at the Cubs facility and prepare for what could be a stint with the Iowa Cubs.
The Daily CCO: Arrieta, Cubs Not Concerned about Blister and a Giant Misunderstanding
The Cubs and Jake Arrieta said Thursday when the NL Cy Young award winner left the game that he was okay and the blister would not be an issue. There was a lot of concern about Arrieta taking the hill on Opening Day at the start of the weekend.
Jason Heyward and Dexter Fowler explained the misunderstanding with Madison Bumgarner.
It turns out Javier Baez’s thumb is worse than first reported.
Jorge Soler has struggled this spring and his baserunning gaffe did not sit too well with his manager.
Daily report includes roster talk, news, notes, links and the popular This Day in Cubs History.
Cubs Spring Training Video: Two Triples and Another Jeimer Candelario Homer
The Cubs lit up the scoreboard in Scottsdale on Thursday night. Kris Bryant and Jason Heyward hit run scoring triples.
Jeimer Candelario continued his red hot spring with a home run off Madison Bumgarner.
Report contains must-see videos.
Cubs Reduce Spring Roster to 36 Players, Cubs Include Almora Jr., Murton, Williams and Andreoli
The Cubs reassigned nine non-roster invitees to minor league camp. No real surprises in the Cubs latest round of cuts but Albert Almora Jr., Matt Murton, Ryan Williams and John Andreoli were the biggest names sent to the minors on Friday.
Bryant, Rizzo Doubles Not Enough in Spring Loss to Brewers – Brewers 5, Cubs 4
Jon Lester had a very good outing on Friday against the Brewers, five shutout innings and no throwing issues. Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo doubled in runs and minor leaguer Kelly Dugan homered.
Clayton Richard struggled for the first time in the Cactus League and gave up five runs in the ninth inning.
Recap includes video.
Jake Arrieta, Five Cubs Included in Baseball Tonight’s Top 100 Players of 2016
Baseball Tonight released its lists of the top 100 players of 2016 and the top 10 players at each position. The Cubs are included all over the lists … and six of Joe Maddon’s regulars made the top 100 with Jake Arrieta landing in the top 10 at No. 9.
The Daily CCO: Cubs Waiting to See If Jake Arrieta Will Be Ready for Opening Day
Joe Maddon would not commit to Arrieta starting on Opening Day. Arrieta’s pitch count is a concern for the team. Maddon was not sure Friday if his No. 1 starter would have enough time to get ready for the first game of the season.
Daily report includes updates on Jon Lester, Javier Baez, Tommy La Stella and James Shields … along with all of the news, notes, links and This Day in Cubs History.
Lackey Touched Up for Five Runs in Cubs Spring Loss – Giants 5, Cubs 2
John Lackey pitched better than his final line in Saturday’s loss to the Giants. Lackey left with two on after giving up three runs in the first five innings. Lackey was hung with two more runs in what turned out to be his last Major League Spring Training game of the year.
Addison Russell hit a solo homer off Jeff Samardzija. Munenori Kawasaki and Jesus Guzman doubles plated the Cubs other run off Samardzija.
Neil Ramirez Favorite for Final Spot on Cubs Roster? Munenori Kawasaki Still a Possibility
The Cubs have one or two spots on the roster to fill before the end of camp. Neil Ramirez is the frontrunner for the 25th spot, if the Cubs decide to start the season with eight relievers and a 13-man pitching staff.
An injury to Javier Baez may have opened the door for Munenori Kawasaki to make the team out of camp.
The Daily CCO: Sports Illustrated Predicts a 99-Win Season for Maddon’s Cubs and Other News
Sports Illustrated picked the Cubs to represent the NL in the Fall Classic … and in the team preview, SI thinks the Cubs are going to win 99 games this season, nine more than the team from St. Louis.
Daily report includes Cubs-Angels pitching probables, Jeff Samardzija’s conversation with the beat writers and what Grant DePorter paid for the windshield Kyle Schwarber shattered last month. Plus, all of the news, notes, links and This Day in Cubs History.
Nickname ‘Cubs’ First Appeared in Chicago Daily News First Time 114 Years Ago
Sunday was a birthday of sorts for the Cubs … well, at least the franchise’s nickname.
Jake Arrieta on Schedule for Opening Day, Maddon Sets Cubs Rotation
Jake Arrieta made 46 pitches in Sunday’s side session. Everything went well and he’s back on track for Opening Day.
Joe Maddon set his Opening Day rotation and announced Trevor Cahill is the team’s emergency, or sixth starter. The Cubs will begin the season with a starting five of Arrieta, Lester, Lackey, Hammel and Hendricks.
Cubs Hit Four Homers in Robinson Cano’s Spring Show – Mariners 12, Cubs 9
Addison Russell, Jason Heyward, Dexter Fowler and Matt Szczur went yard on Sunday afternoon in Mesa. But Robinson Cano hit three multi-run homers of his own. Cano drove in seven runs, scored four and was the difference in the Cactus League contest.
Jason Hammel had a rough afternoon. Hammel was charged with nine runs and Trevor Cahill served up Cano’s third homer. Spencer Patton and Adam Warren had strong outings in Sunday’s loss.
Recap includes video of all four Cubs homers.