Cactus League report: David Bote’s ‘new adventure’ for the Cubs includes books — and how Michael Kopech is doing in the White Sox bullpen

The Cactus League is history for one more year.

The Cubs enjoy an off day at home in Chicago before Thursday afternoon’s opener, while the White Sox end their Cactus League schedule in Scottsdale before going on the road to Anaheim to open the regular season.

Tuesday’s game

Forecast: Sunny with a high of 87.

Staff report

Dallas Keuchel has been part of some star-studded staffs — he was teammates with Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole on the Houston Astros.

And he likes the makeup of the 2021 White Sox staff, telling the group: “We have a chance to be really special this year.”

Keuchel is gearing up for his second season with the Sox and is one of the four pitchers on staff who received American League Cy Young Award votes in 2020, along with Lucas Giolito and new arrivals Lance Lynn and Liam Hendriks.

“I’ve been fortunate to play for a few really, really good staffs and I never take any of that for granted,” Keuchel said. “It’s truly special to watch four other great starters and some great bullpen pieces come in the game each and every day. For me, that’s what this game’s all about.

“Top to bottom, this is probably my most talented group. I think just the bullpen itself, there’s no real question mark. We’ve got dudes from the fifth inning on. If somebody comes in the fifth inning to bridge that thing together, you’re 95-plus (mph) and not a lot of teams have that ability to do what we have.”

Good first impression

Right-hander Zach Davies’ first spring with the Cubs left a great first impression.

After starting the Cubs’ final Cactus League game Monday, a 7-1 win against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Davies finished with a 1.08 ERA over five starts, allowing two earned runs in 16 2/3 innings. He also walked nine and struck out 14 batters.

“The numbers, they can be skewed one way or the other,” Davies said. “Over the course of 162 games, that can kind of level that out and tell you who the true you is. So I’d take it as I stayed healthy. I’m going into the season with the right mentality, threw all my pitches that I wanted to, worked on the things that I needed to in spring.”

Davies is slated to make his Cubs debut Sunday against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

What we’re reading this morning

Anthony Rizzo is “at peace” with starting the season without a contract extension from the Cubs","type":"text

Anthony Rizzo — in what might be his farewell tour with the Cubs — vows to enjoy the ride, Paul Sullivan writes","type":"text

MLB will relax COVID-19 protocols when 85% of players and primary field staff are vaccinated","type":"text

Cubs and White Sox fans, what are your favorite memories from opening day? We want to hear from you.","type":"text

Progress report

Progress report

Michael Kopech’s transition from starter to reliever will be one of the more interesting early-season storylines for the Sox.

The right-hander has been spotty this spring: 6.14 ERA with five runs allowed on eight hits in 7 1/4 u2153 Cactus League innings. He has nine strikeouts and three walks in the new role.

Kopech allowed two runs on two hits in one inning Sunday against the Diamondbacks at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz.

“I would say I’m a lot more comfortable now than I was at the beginning of spring,” Kopech said. “As far as how I’m feeling, everything still feels good. But I have to execute pitches, and I don’t feel like I did a great job of that (Sunday). But with that being said, the bullpen role is about that, it’s about getting ready quick, getting out there and doing what you’ve got to do. So it’s still kind of a learning curve for me to be ready that quick.”

Bote’s book club

Cubs starting second baseman David Bote appreciated manager David Ross expressing how it’s his turn to get a real opportunity to play every day after filling a part-time role his first three big-league seasons.

“That just shows who Rossy is as a person, as a manager who gets it,” Bote said Monday. “He gets this game. He gets his players. He knows me, he knows my path so I mean that was really impactful, really cool to hear from him.”

During camp, Bote wanted to develop more mental strength and skills, prompting him to read nine books over the past six weeks. Bote didn’t mention any of the books by name, but said they were a wide variety ranging from fiction and shorter books to in-depth “mental mind stuff” and longer books.

“It’s just really fun,” Bote said. “I’ve never been much of a reader, so this was kind of a new adventure for me and I kind of got addicted to it.”

Around the Cactus League

Rougned Odor still stands to earn $27 million over the next two years after being designated for assignment by the Texas Rangers. If he’s released, any team claiming him will pay only the prorated salary, with the Rangers assuming the rest. … Diamondbacks pitcher Madison Bumgarner will start his seventh opening day— and his second with Arizona. … MLB’s effort to “deaden” the baseball a bit apparently is working, leading to a decline in spring training home runs at 1.11 per game, according to ESPN Stats and Information. It was the lowest in preseason games since 2017. … Even with 25% capacity at American Family Field (formerly Miller Park) because of COVID-19 restrictions, the Milwaukee Brewers probably won’t have the lowest attended home opener in history. According to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, only 8,968 showed up for their 1972 opener at County Stadium against the Minnesota Twins. … Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout expects a big season in the Big A thanks to second-year manager Joe Maddon. “We couldn’t get the full effect,” Trout said of 2020. “The Maddon effect.” So what’s it like to play for Maddon? “I’m trying to explain myself,” he said. “Um … to get the best out of a person.” Sounds like a plan.

Sign up for our sports newsletter, delivered daily each morning","type":"text

Quotable

Quotable

“Minor league baseball is enormously important to dozens and dozens and dozens of communities all over this country. It is a beautiful thing. Baseball is not just paying $50 million for some great athlete who plays for the New York Yankees. And I am really outraged that a profitable institution like Major League Baseball, these guys want to eliminate baseball in so many communities around this country. It really is awful to my mind.” — Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders to NPR on the elimination of dozens of minor league affiliates by MLB

This Day in Cubs/White Sox history

March 30, 1996: Free-agent infielder Tony Phillips was brought in to change the culture of a cliquey Sox clubhouse and provide leadership to a young team.

Manager Terry Bevington insisted Phillips didn’t have to lead and hoped a handful of players would share the burden.

“There were a lot of generals who have died during a war,” Bevington said, “but they keep on winning the war.”

Frank Thomas said Phillips changed the personality of the Sox in spring training.

“I think we’re going to have fun playing baseball,” he said. “There’s a lot more guys pulling for each other, a lot more high-fiving in the dugout and guys having fun in the dugout. It’s a change. Every time you change personnel, you have a different personality in the clubhouse. I’ve seen more of a response this spring when guys do well.”

Phillips had an eventful year, knocking out a Milwaukee Brewers fan during a game with one punch and getting into trouble on a near weekly basis while leading the Sox to contender status. But they faltered down the stretch as Bevington mismanaged the bullpen, overtaxing closer Roberto Hernandez and blowing a shot at the postseason.

Looking ahead

White Sox at Los Angeles Angels, 9:05 p.m. Thursday in Anaheim","type":"text