3 things we learned at Chicago Cubs spring training Wednesday, including the return of alternate sites and another veteran added to the bench competition
Anthony Rizzo scorched the baseball toward the right-field wall.
It took an all-out leaping dive from Seattle Mariners outfielder Jake Fraley near the warning track to rob Rizzo of an extra-base hit that would have driven in at least one run during the Chicago Cubs’ 8-8 tie Wednesday against the Mariners at Sloan Park.
Rizzo got redemption in his next at-bat, crushing a pitch over the right-field berm and onto the concourse for a two-run homer. It was one of six home runs between the teams on a day that featured 25 to 30 mph wind.
Here are three takeaways from Cubs camp Wednesday.
1. With the Triple-A season pushed back, prepare for the return of alternate sites.
Fans being back in the ballpark has brought some normalcy to the season. One change from 2020, however, will be temporarily implemented again.
Major League Baseball is delaying the start of the Triple-A season by four weeks for health and safety reasons. Teams will use alternate sites to keep an unspecified number of players ready in case of injuries or performance-related roster moves.
The Triple-A Iowa Cubs announced Wednesday their season opener will be May 4. The Triple-A schedule will be reduced from 142 games to 120, with games split evenly between home and road.
As of Wednesday morning, Cubs manager David Ross was waiting on the full details of the change.
“I know those guys want to get back to competition and development,” Ross said.
2. Joc Pederson’s swing is looking good early.
It’s hard to read too much into what players do in batting practice and live BP, but leading up to the start of Cactus League play this week, Joc Pederson had put a charge into some baseballs during workouts. Notably, he hit a no-doubter off Adbert Alzolay during Friday’s live BP.
Pederson was locked in Wednesday against Mariners starter Ljay Newsome. He worked a full count in the first inning before hitting a two-run homer to center to give the Cubs the lead.
The status of Pederson’s swing two weeks into spring training is an encouraging development. Once it gets to the point in camp when the regulars are playing nearly every day, it will be interesting to see where Ross values Pederson in the lineup and whom he wants to slot him between.
“It’s pretty special,” Pederson said of watching the lineup in action. “A lot of hard-hit balls. It’s really anyone one through nine that can click here at any second, and so it puts the pitchers under a little bit more stress.”
3. The Cubs added another veteran to the bench competition.
The Cubs certainly are giving themselves plenty of options to consider for bench roles. They signed veteran infielder Eric Sogard to a minor-league deal with a big-league camp invitation, a source said. The deal, first reported by ESPN, is pending a physical.
Sogard joins a bench mix that includes Jake Marisnick, Cameron Maybin, Ildemaro Vargas and whoever between Nico Hoerner and David Bote loses the starting job at second base.
Sogard, 34, spent 2020 with the Milwaukee Brewers, slashing .209/.281/.278 with a 52 OPS+ in 43 games. He has been used mainly as a utility player in parts of 10 big-league seasons, never logging more than 400 at-bats in a season.
Sogard’s greatest asset is his ability to move around the diamond. Most of his experience is at second base and shortstop, though he also has seen time at third base and in the outfield. He profiles as depth and middle infield injury insurance at Triple-A or the alternate site, unless the Cubs have Hoerner start the season at the latter. If they go with a four-man bench to start the season, they might prefer someone who can provide more offense.
