Lots of activities for the kids today, which keeps us busy, but also just feels nice. I like when they’re each getting to do things that make them happy, and I get to feel like I’m helping, even if mostly as a chauffeur.
Love this note from Justin Steele at Cubs.com about a Kyle Higashioka homer, as it very much illustrates a huge difference between Spring Training and the regular season for established starters like him:‘Higashioka’s homer came on one of the handful of sliders he threw, though that’s a mistake he won’t make the next time he sees the catcher in the box.
“I felt like it was a pretty decent pitch that he got a hold of,” Steele said. “When I got back to the dugout, [pitching coach Tommy Hottovy] showed me a heat map and it was like, ‘Yeah, that guy hits 1.200 OPS against left-handed spin, so maybe [don’t] throw that during the season.’”’
Steele, who threw 33 pitches and 3.0 innings in the game (and then another 20 or so pitches in the bullpen), deployed a few changeups in the outing as he continues to try to get a consistent feel for the pitch. We know he can succeed as a two-pitch guy, but obviously if he COULD get that changeup to something like even 10% usage (he’s been more like 1 to 3% in his career), together with the four-seamer and the slider, then it would improve his effectiveness all the more. I won’t project or expect it, but hey, something to watch for. For his part, here’s how Steele put it (Cubs.com): “I want to get a good result for it, because that’s what builds confidence. If I go out and throw three changeups and give up three homers, I’m probably just going to put it in my back pocket and not use it …. I got two check swings on them [today], and then one was a little low and in the dirt, but that’s kind of where I want the miss to be if I’m going to miss with it. If I get to a place where the catcher calls a changeup and I feel as confident in that as throwing my four-seamer or slider, I feel like that would be pretty dangerous. I think that would take me to a whole other level.” Sustaining a playoff-caliber team year to year requires good decisions on top of good decisions, but as Craig Counsell notes, it also requires making some unpopular decisions sometimes as you’re balancing short and long-term:“You’re going to have tough unpopular decisions.”Craig Counsell on how the Cubs can become a perennial playoff team. pic.twitter.com/l40F04MTQb
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) February 28, 2025 Sometimes guys won’t have their desired roles. Sometimes guys will be in the minors when they feel like they shouldn’t be. Sometimes players will be asked to do, or not do, certain things throughout a season that aren’t their preference. These are the kinds of things that become a little easier when your manager has the experience and success of someone like Craig Counsell, and there is value there that you hope he can bring (especially in year two, in continued coordination with the front office and his coaching staff). Reigning Yankees Rookie of the Year Luis Gil is dealing with shoulder discomfort that’ll require an MRI and could see him miss time. If that happens, then the whole Marcus Stroman drama goes away, because he’ll be able to be a starting pitcher out of the gate. Shohei Ohtani, who is now over his left shoulder surgery, and is also rehabbing his other arm to get it ready to pitch again this year, did this in his first at bat of the spring sooooo he’s fine and probably going to hit four homers in Japan against the Cubs:Shohei Ohtani's first at-bat of #SpringTraining …Shohei Ohtani's first HOME RUN of Spring Training! pic.twitter.com/k1fScI5BrD
— MLB (@MLB) March 1, 2025 Also, there is this, which I regret to inform you is kind of delightful:Dave pranked Shohei back. ? pic.twitter.com/28ryuo5OtF
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) March 1, 2025 Dexter Fowler, broadcaster. Makes sense. Dexter Fowler, NBA broadcaster? Well all right then: — Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing.bsky.social) 2025-02-28T00:04:14.954Z Also, we have a podcast! We just launched the BN Cubs Podcast, and the first episode is live – offseason wrap-up, what the Cubs did and didn’t do, and what lies ahead. Plus a fun game at the end. You can get it anywhere you get your podcasts, or you can watch right here if you want to see our purdy mugs:MORE FROM BLEACHER NATION: Check Out BN Fantasy | Subscribe to The BN Newsletter
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