Spring Training and WBC Weekend Roundup

It was a busy weekend for baseball, with the WBC heavily overshadowing anything going on in Spring Training. But there were still a few things to keep an eye on.

• The level of intensity at the Puerto Rico vs Panama game was amazing. I suppose Americans just can’t relate to how much these games mean for players who spend their whole careers playing on foreign soil. The Major Leagues is the pinnacle of competitive baseball, but the WBC gives a rare opportunity for these great players to represent their respective countries, and it is reflected in how much they care about the outcome. I doubt that the talented U.S. team can stir up that level of emotion, and I would not be surprised if the get knocked out in the quarter or semi-finals. The game tonight against Mexico should be a good indicator.

• It was a decent start for Jameson Taillon for Canada against Panama. His team lost, but he only gave up 1 run over 3.2 innings, giving up 2 hits and 2 walks, but no home runs.

• Here is the latest 4TH-OF-o-METER, with plenty of at bats for all of the competitors. It was not a great weekend for any of them, with Carlson and Conforto still having the better production so far. And Kevin Alcantara has not done much to how that he should be in Chicago instead of Iowa to start the season:

Player	PA	HR	Runs	RBI	OPS
Dylan Carlson	28	0	3	2	1.071
Michael Conforto	13	0	1	1	.748
Chas McCormick	28	0	3	2	.607
Justin Dean	29	0	2	1	.401
Kevin Alcantara	19	0	2	0	.387

• Things have improved for the left-handed relievers that had been having a very rough spring. Here are the latest numbers:

Pitchers	IP	ERA	WHIP
Caleb Thielbar	4.1	10.38	2.08
Hoby Milner	5.0	3.60	1.00
Luke Little	4.2	7.71	2.14
Riley Martin	3.1	5.40	1.20
Ryan Rolison	3.0	18.00	2.67
Total	7.2	8.40	1.57

Still bad, but not quite as bad. Hoby Milner, who is expected to be the #2 lefty reliever behind Thielbar has been especially decent. Martin was recently optioned to Iowa, so he will not be competing for a roster spot.

• Ben Brown had looked great this spring, but when given a start on Friday, he was erratic, with 3 hits, 3 ER, 3 BB, 2 HBP and 3 SO in 2.2 innings. Meanwhile, Javier Assad had a very good outing for Mexico against Great Britain with 3.2 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 1 BB and 2 SO. It’s not really fair to compare the two, but I just did.
  
• Porter Hodge and Jordon Wicks are both headed to the IL. That pretty much assures neither will be in the opening day roster. Hodge looked all kinds of shaky this Spring, and with another injury, he’s not sure he’s someone the Cubs will be counting on this year.

• Other players optioned to the minors include Jack Neely, James Triantos, Ben Cowles, Pedro Ramirez, Connor Noland, Connor Shultz and Jaxon Wiggins. No of these folks we in my Top 31 players with a chance to make the team out of camp, so no big surprises. Ramirez had very good numbers this Spring, and I’m interested to see how long he stays in Knoxville.