Spring Training Game One Overreactions

I know it is only one game, but I think that’s enough of a sample size to make some bold pronouncements about the 2026 Cubs season. I wasn’t able to watch the whole game, as I was also watching the U.S. Men’s Hockey Team, but I followed it on Gameday, so I think that makes me an expert.

First of all, it sucks to lose to the White Sox, no matter what the game is. And to lose 8 to 1 to a team that will most likely be fighting to stay out of last place again is just embarrassing.

Here are my main takeaways:

• Jameson Taillon appears to be fighting to grab the team gopher ball king title from Shota Imanaga this season. Among pitchers with at least 120 innings pitched last season (yes, I chose that specific number to make Taillon look bad, as he pitched 129 innings), Imanaga was 2nd worst in the majors at 1.93 HR/9, while Taillon was 12th worst, at 1.67 HR/9. Taillon actually was not bad in 2024, with 1.14 HR/9 after a 1.57 HR/9 in 2023.
• Porter Hodge appears to be carrying over his struggles from last season, walking 4 of the 6 hitters he faced. His slider, which was so effective in 2024, did not find the plate. Of course, the damage could have been much less if Seiya Suzuki could have caught that fly ball to center.
• Speaking of Suzuki, he’s had a history of fighting the Sun and Wind in Chicago, so it was no surprise to see him lose a ball in the sun in Arizona playing Centerfield. The good news is that we probably won’t see him playing there except this spring and in the WBC. More good news is that he bashed a homer for the Cubs only run.
• We did see some positive performances for a couple of relievers who most likely will not make the 26-man roster. Grant Kipp and Connor Shultz are a couple of minor league relievers who are a bit old to be considered prospects, but might be late bloomers who could provide bullpen depth in Iowa and maybe Chicago. Meanwhile, Gavin Hollowell, who the Cubs have protected on their 40-man roster and had one good and one bad stint in the majors last season looked very sharp, striking out all 3 men he faced. The bullpen of the Cubs has been an evolving unit over the course of the past two seasons, so having some guys who could step in due to injury and/or ineffectiveness is important.
• Two of the guys seemingly competing for the last outfield job — Chas McCormick and Dylan Carlson — each got on base ones. Cool.

Nothing else major out of game one. But game 2 is coming today, so there will be several more opportunities for overreactions.