Here are four takeaways from Cubs spring training Tuesday.
1. The wave of baseball’s future is having players mic’d up for games.
Kris Bryant enjoyed playing with a mic on during ESPN’s all-access game Monday, calling it “one of the most fun games I’ve ever played.”
Bryant and Anthony Rizzo were mic’d up with the ESPN broadcasters, leading to some interesting conversations.
“It was awesome, a perfect time to do it,” Bryant said. “Spring training games are normally relaxed. It was pretty cool to have two (players) doing it too.”
Asked if it was distracting hearing voices in his ear while at the plate, Bryant said he tried to interact between pitches “and then be kind of quiet.” But during his second at-bat, the mic went out and he could only hear everyone else.
“Rizz and them kept talking, and all I had was the thing in my ear,” he said. “I was like, ‘This is the weirdest thing ever.’ It’s weird. Usually when you’re hitting, it’s all like white noise, like not really there. It was pretty cool.”
Could this work in the regular season?
“Probably not,” he said. “I’m just thinking of someone on the infield doing it and they boot a ball and you lose the game. Imagine that. … As much as it is awesome and the fans would love it, I don’t think it would work.
“Maybe if you had a coach or someone on the bench that’s not really involved in the game that day. But it’s more fun when you have the actual person on the field talking to each other.”
2. Jose Quintana’s spring training debut had its ups and down.
Jose Quintana made his first Cactus League start Tuesday against the Rockies at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale, allowing three runs on three hits over two innings.
Quintana got a late start this spring because of the flu but said he felt “great” afterward despite a rocky beginning.
Kyle Schwarber muffed a Trevor Story fly ball that was ruled a double before Charlie Blackmon cranked an RBI double and Nolan Arenado homered.
“I felt at the start I was in bullpen mode,” Quintana said, “and then I started to pitch, making my pitches and hitting my spots.”
Quintana is coming off a poor finish to 2019 in which he posted a 12.51 ERA in his last four starts and lasted only 13? combined innings. He’ll be a free agent after this season and is motivated to have a strong 2020.
“I worked a lot to be better,” he said of his offseason training routine. “I’m exactly where I want to be. This game has given me a lot of information, and every time I go to the mound now, I’ll have my best stuff.”
The Cubs need Quintana to return to form if they hope to contend.
“In general I think everybody is real motivated this year,” manager David Ross said. “A little bit of a letdown (last year) from what the expectations are around here. Guys seem to be hungry. Contract years always play into things. Sometimes it can backfire — you put too much pressure on yourself.
“But in general the workload, the effort, the mental focus and continuing to develop new pitches and try to strengthen their game can be really powerful, and ‘Q’ is in that box for me.”
Quintana changed the grip on his changeup this spring for more up-and-down action, going from a two-seam to a four-seam grip.
3. The race for the fifth rotation spot could last all spring.
Tyler Chatwood and Alec Mills have looked strong in the competition to be the fifth starter with three scoreless innings apiece.
Chatwood is considered the favorite, and Mills, who is out of options, could slide into the bullpen if he doesn’t win the spot. Colin Rea and Adbert Alzolay are long shots.
But there’s plenty of time left, and David Ross said he hasn’t thought about whether the competition might go down to the final week of camp.
“There’s a lot of options in that area, so no sense making a decision on the third (of March),” he said. “We’ve got a long way to go. I want to hit ‘play’ on this thing too, but we’ve still got guys developing and guys that are still a little behind.”
4. Manuel Rodriguez’s MRI results were better than expected.
An MRI on Manuel Rodriguez’s right biceps revealed a Grade 2 sprain, much to the Cubs’ relief. They haven’t determined a rehab program.
The 23-year-old pitching prospect, who posted a 3.45 ERA at Class A Myrtle Beach last year, was throwing 98 to 99 mph in camp and had impressed David Ross with his poise.
“He was pitching in the Mexican professional league early on, so the environment doesn’t seem to affect him,” Ross said.