Yu Darvish Has Brief Finger Scare, Uniformed Anthony Rizzo Watches Scrimmage from Bleachers
Thursday night’s intrasquad scrimmage almost went full-on 2020 as Yu Darvish got a visit from the trainer and pitching coach Tommy Hottovy for what appeared to be a finger issue. The scare was brief, however, and Darvish continued through his scheduled three innings and one extra batter in a successful effort.
After visit by trainer, pitching coach, Darvish finishes inning by inducing Souza to pop to 2nd. 32 pitches. pic.twitter.com/b9L5IE6cvd
— Mark Gonzales (@MDGonzales) July 9, 2020
Mark Gonzales clarified that the pop-out was actually to third for the benefit of those scoring at home. Not that anyone could have been since the game was only being shared via video clips and descriptions from beat writers. Whether it’s a lack of money or a decision not to further advertise their scant carriage in Chicagoland, Marquee Sports Network has provided surprisingly little coverage of these workouts.
Had Marquee been live like YES Network at Yankees workouts and SportsNet LA at Dodgers scrimmages, perhaps more people would have seen Hernán Pérez singling against Kyle Hendricks. Even better, they’d have seen Anthony Rizzo patrolling the bleachers in full uniform. The first baseman was out of action again as a precaution for his stiff back, but he appeared to be in good spirits and was moving around just fine.
Hernán Pérez hits a singe off Kyle Hendricks in Pérez’s first intrasquad game of Summer Camp: pic.twitter.com/lL9Qdy9ulP
— Maddie Lee (@maddie_m_lee) July 9, 2020
Anthony Rizzo, bleacher creature. pic.twitter.com/gdJrwvtIs9
— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) July 10, 2020
Rizzo has moved spots in the bleachers. Checking out the view of the game from different sections. pic.twitter.com/XCO8dcb1zN
— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) July 10, 2020
— Mark Gonzales (@MDGonzales) July 10, 2020
Rizzo may have actually been moving too well, in fact, as he hustled out of his spot in the left field bleachers just before Kyle Schwarber deposited an oppo taco out there. The fake celebration pulsating from the PA doesn’t sound all that bad here.
Oppo homer by Schwarber off Hendricks in the fourth. Rizzo had *just* left the bleachers, too. pic.twitter.com/DSzxhAjE8I
— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) July 10, 2020
The Cubs revealed that Darvish had a minor issue with the nail on his right index finger, so nothing that should come up again. Hendricks threw 60 pitches and gave up just one run on the homer to Schwarber. Darvish didn’t allow any runs, though Rowan Wick cost him a win by giving up a dinger to Josh Phegley.
Hey, that’s two former IU catchers going deep.
Now, Rizzo is watching the game from the left field warning track, and probably telling Schwarber how he would've thrown that home run ball back. pic.twitter.com/X6hOM51pmu
— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) July 10, 2020
Willson Contreras took Trevor Megill out onto Waveland for yet another homer, drawing more fake cheers and all kinds of contactless celebratory gestures.
Willson Contreras blasts a Trevor Megill pitch over the bleachers and sends it bouncing out of Wrigley Field and onto Waveland. Air high-fives follow. pic.twitter.com/EeKQmvfKid
— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) July 10, 2020
The PA then blared “Go Cubs Go” as the Cubs beat the Cubs by a score of 4-1, leaving them undefeated on the fake season.