It’s “go time” for the Chicago White Sox and “take two” for the Chicago Cubs.
The White Sox have several roster decisions to make ahead of Thursday’s season opener against the Los Angeles Angels at Rate Field. Nagging injuries to the likes of infielder Josh Rojas (hairline fracture in his big right toe) add wrinkles to the process.
The Cubs have a couple of decisions as well after opening the season with two losses in Japan, notably whether to keep Vidal Bruján or Rule 5 draft pick Gage Workman as the extra infielder and Brad Keller in the bullpen. Tyson Miller’s injury should open the door for Keller, and the Cubs should make their final decision on Bruján or Workman soon.
“I don’t think we have to (wait long),” manager Craig Counsell said. “It’s a time of roster activity around the industry, so you do tend to wait because of that, right?
Every Monday during spring training, Tribune baseball writers will provide an update on what happened — and what’s ahead — for the Cubs and White Sox. Want more baseball news? Sign up for our Cubs Insider and White Sox Insider.
Cubs can’t stop praising Tokyo
The trip to Tokyo left a lasting impression on the Cubs players and Counsell, from the 40,000-plus fans on hand for batting practice to the presence of Shohei Ohtani’s face wherever they went.
“I assumed he’d be everywhere, and he is,” Dansby Swanson said. “He’s like our Michael Jordan, the craze and the popularity and the desire to want to get a glimpse of him. The whole thing, it’s pretty cool.”
The Japanese traditions, like singing and chanting, were very different from what most major league players are used to, except perhaps for the Latin Americans.
“The exhibitions games (against Japanese teams) were really fun, and a great time to see how fans interact with their teams,” Ian Happ said. “It was a little different for the Dodgers-Cubs games. I think they were trying to be respectful of Major League Baseball, so it was a different atmosphere. It was amazing how much the fan base loves the (Japanese) players that come over (to the United States).
“Baseball is so big over there, even for us. People outside the hotel wanting autographs, and in the exhibition games there were even some signs for me, which was pretty amazing.”
Photos: Baseball fever grips Tokyo as the Cubs open their season in Japan
How do the Japanese teams compare with the majors?
“There is obviously a lot of talent over there and guys that can really play,” Swanson said. “The fundamental side of things, they’re just as good as anybody over here. The biggest thing you’d have to do to create an even comparison is the ball, which obviously is different. But I have no doubt there are plenty of guys over there that could play over here.”
Sox prospects, including 2024 first-round pick Hagen Smith, took a lot away from the spring.
Several prominent members of the Sox future got their first taste of major-league camp for a portion of this spring.
That includes pitchers Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz, who were eventually reassigned to minor-league camp on March 6. The left-handers achieved another first on Saturday, starting both parts of split-squad games.
Smith, the team’s first-round pick in 2024, allowed six runs (five earned) on three hits with five walks and one strikeout in 2 1/3 innings against the Seattle Mariners at Camelback Ranch.
“Body felt good, just mechanics again, kind of something off,” Smith said after the game. “Just kind of missing with my fastball. I don’t usually do that, but it’s all right.
“Something in the lower half just messes everything up.”
Schultz also displayed some wildness Saturday, allowing three runs (two earned) on one hit with five walks and three strikeouts in 1 2/3 innings against the Colorado Rockies at Salt River Fields.
Smith made three Cactus League appearances (one start), finishing with an 8.44 ERA, five strikeouts and eight walks in 5 1/3 innings. Schultz, the team’s first-round pick in 2022 from Oswego East, also had three Cactus League outings (one start). He had a 3.86 ERA, four strikeouts and eight walks in 4 2/3 innings.
Smith took plenty away from the entire spring experience.
“It was awesome to be in big-league camp, obviously didn’t throw the way I wanted to,” he said. “Could have thrown way better, should have thrown way better. But it’s all right. Hopefully next year I’ll get the same opportunity and do better.”
Smith is excited for whatever minor-league assignment is ahead.
“Looking forward to getting better,” Smith said. “I have a lot to improve on, obviously. Just go out there and try to improve and get better every week.”
Number of the week: .172
The Cubs batting average off Los Angeles Dodgers pitching in the two-game series in Tokyo.
Week ahead: Cubs
- Monday: vs. Braves, 3:05 p.m.
- Tuesday: vs. Braves, 3:05 p.m. (Cactus League finale)
- Wednesday: off
- Thursday: at Diamondbacks, 9:10 p.m. (domestic opening day)
- Friday: at Diamondbacks, 8:40 p.m.
- Saturday: at. Diamondbacks, 7:10 p.m.
- Sunday: at Diamondbacks, 3:10 p.m.
After the Dodgers series, the Cubs start with another big test in Arizona, including opening day starter Corbin Burnes. Chairman Tom Ricketts conceded the Cubs are the team to beat in the National League Central.
“That’s fair,” Counsell said. “I agree in the sense that our expectations should always be (to make) the playoffs.”
Jameson Taillon, who starts Game 2 in Arizona on Friday, said it’s probably better to start by facing some of the league’s elite teams.
“You see it in college football sometimes,” he said. “Some teams will have like easy-cake schedules and stomp people. And then when they get tested, it’s like, ‘Oh, (bleep),’ we have a lot to work on. Then you also see teams that test themselves early and might lose a close game and then really get a lot better for it as the season goes on. We have the opportunity to show, one, that we can play with these teams, and also, if anything gets exposed early, I’d rather have it now than later so you can address it and clean it up.”
Counsell declined to reveal his feelings on the strength of the NL Central, which is not considered one of the better divisions with ongoing rebuilds in Pittsburgh and Cincinnati and few key additions by St. Louis or Milwaukee.
“Prognosticating that stuff is somewhat useless,” he said. “I don’t think it’s weaker is the best way to say it. There certainly are some strengths with every team and some weaknesses with every team, just as every team has… except for maybe one.”
That one, of course, is the Dodgers.
Week ahead: White Sox
- Monday: vs. Athletics, 2:05 p.m. (Cactus League finale)
- Tuesday: off
- Wednesday: off
- Thursday: vs. Angels, 3:10 p.m. (opening day)
- Friday: off
- Saturday: vs. Angels, 1:10 p.m.
- Sunday: vs. Angels, 1:10 p.m.
Andrew Vaughn always looks forward to the atmosphere of opening day.
“Everybody’s excited — players, fans, everybody involved,” Vaughn told the Tribune on Saturday. “It’s kind of like that first day of school feeling — it really is.
“Getting back and getting to represent the city is always special.”
The Sox wrap up spring training with Monday’s Cactus League finale against the Athletics at Camelback Ranch. Opening day is Thursday against the Angels at Rate Field.
Vaughn said the biggest goals during camp for hitters are getting the timing back, seeing pitching and preparing to withstand a full season.
“It definitely takes a few at-bats,” Vaughn said. “You can do everything in the offseason — cage stuff, BP. But you’ve really got to get in the box and face live pitchers. Once you get a few at-bats under your belt, it starts to form back together.”
The next step is taking the work from Glendale to Chicago.
“The spring has been good,” Vaughn said. “I’ve seen a lot of good baseball from everybody. It’s been great.
“Definitely excited to get to Chicago. It’s going to be a little chilly, that’s for sure. Definitely a weather change. Very excited for that (start to the season).”
What we’re reading
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- Column: Different kind of journey as ‘the team of openers’ tests the Chicago Cubs’ ability to adjust on the fly
- Pitcher Drew Thorpe to undergo Tommy John surgery, adding to Chicago White Sox injury woes: ‘Kind of a gut punch’
- Nico Hoerner returns to the Chicago Cubs lineup while players from the Tokyo Series recover from jet lag
- New year, new milkshake: Chicago White Sox unveil new ballpark food options, including Korean-inspired dishes
- ‘Proud and honored’: Kosuke Fukudome, the Chicago Cubs’ first Japanese player, reconnects with team in Tokyo
Quotable
“He had a great day and I was able to apply the spring training rule of ‘If you hit two homers you’re done playing.’ That’s the rule for everybody but Pete (Crow-Armstrong).” — Craig Counsell on Seiya Suzuki’s two home runs Saturday in his first two at-bats.
