This post-World Series offseason was the shortest in Cubs history, but in many (many) ways it felt very long. On Tuesday, though, at least a light semblance of baseball returned, and to the relief of fans everywhere. The Cubs are back in Mesa, and that means the return of our Cactus Catchup series, in which we’ll […]
Tag: Cactus Catchup
Cactus Catchup: This Is It
Mercifully, the games that count will start in just a matter of days, and while the official Cactus League season wrapped up on Wednesday at Sloan Park, there are still a pair of exhibition games in Las Vegas left before the Cubs start their season on Monday night in Anaheim. True to form, the last […]
Cactus Catchup: Bee-lieving in the Cubs
We’re nearing the last few days of Spring Training, and the Cubs are gearing up for the regular season. A couple of mild (and freak of nature) injuries aside, the Cubs look healthy, and, despite a recent streak of Spring Training losses and ties, it’s all about figuring out who goes where. Here’s a recap […]
Cactus Catchup: Blisters, Olmos Puns, and Mimes
Opening Day is suddenly less than two weeks away, and the Cubs seem to be slowly but surely honing in on regular season readiness. We’re seeing starters throw more and more pitches, lineups that look deeper and filled with more regulars, and a slightly increased focus on players settling into their roles. As always, you can […]
Cactus Catchup: If You Think You Look Hot
Life—regardless of your age, race, gender, or socioeconomic status—is full of uncertainties. It’s these unknowns awaiting you that make life both exciting and terrifying, often in equal measure. Other than serving as a long-winded intro for a writer in the throes of a bloc, it is my way of assuring you in the midst of […]
Cactus Catchup: Smokeless(less) in Chicago
Some of the luster of spring training starts to wear off at this point, I think. The initial excitement of the first games is two weeks behind us, and the two weeks until Opening Day can seem long. Eno Sarris actually speculated recently that spring training might be too long, but for now we still have […]
Cactus Catchup: You Win Some, and You Lose Some You Should Have Won
Thankfully, the setbacks of a seven-game losing streak came to an end this weekend in Mesa. Though the Cubs racked up some losses in games that looked to be easy wins, we can take comfort in the expression “It’s just spring training.” Taking March box scores in stride is necessary, as Spring Training is all about trying things […]
Cactus Catchup: Marching On
The march through March continues, as we draw ever closer to baseball games that count. That does not mean, however, that the games being played now are meaningless; quite the opposite, actually. Veterans and young players alike are playing for a chance to make the Opening Day roster, and the professional and financial implications of that […]
Cactus Catchup: The First Week
Editor’s Note: Twice-weekly, while Spring Training continues, we’ll be running a ‘Cactus Catchup’ that runs down all the comings and goings in Mesa, Arizona. This is the first installment. Spring training technically got off to its official start last Friday, February 19, on the day that pitchers and catchers were expected to report. However, most […]