A Tip of the Recap March 27th

The Cubs won by a score of 6-3 over the White Sox today to improve to 10-14 on the spring.

The Good

Jason Hammel is really locked in and ready to start the season. He went 6 innings today, giving up 2 runs on 6 hits (1 HR), with no walks and 2 K’s. This was his 3rd straight start without a walk and his spring ERA is now 3.60.

The Cubs bats were talking loudly today with 4 HR’s off of Samardzija who gave up just 20 last year in over 220 innings pitched.

Jorge Soler got the power party started with a 2-run shot (his 3rd) in the first to left field. Then Starlin Castro smashed a solo shot (his 1st) to left. Chris Coghlan next went opposite field for his 3rd HR of the spring.

Not to be outdone, Anthony Rizzo absolutely clobbered a shot to right-center that had to be over 430 feet for his 1st spring HR. Rizzo has been going on an extra-base binge with 2 doubles yesterday and the HR today.

Pedro Strop and Phil Coke each added a perfect inning of relief with Strop striking out 2 in his inning of work.

The Bad

The Cubs had 11 more strikeouts today and now lead all of baseball with 215 K’s; at least they are 2nd in HRs with 36 behind the Dodgers who have 40.

The Ugly

Hard to find much wrong with a game that saw 4 homers and a win by the Cubs, so I will point out that after his start Jeff Samardzija was quoted as saying it will be feast or famine this year for the Cubbies.

It came across as sour grapes on his part and instead of just tipping his cap to a team that took him deep all over the park, he decided to take the low road with jabs.

The quote was discussed by Len and JD and both pointed out that the team is constructed differently with Fowler and Montero as a couple names that will make the offense more than boom or bust.

On Deck

The Cubs have split-squad action tomorrow with games against the Rockies and the Reds; both start at 3:05 PM (CST). As of now, Gonzalez German will get the start against the Reds and Jake Arrieta will toe the rubber against the Rockies.