Brandon Birdsell – Picture by Todd Johnson

Today went about as well as a day could go. I overslept, fixed some leftover breakfast casserole with some American fries, took a bath, put the dogs away, drove to Davenport, and then experienced about four hours of 73° weather and the sun. All the while, I took a little over 200 pictures and hung out with Greg Huss for a little bit before heading home about 3 o’clock. The South Bend Cubs won and so did the Iowa Cubs and life was just grand for a day. I will take it.

As for the actual games, there were only two today as Tennessee and Myrtle Beach we’re both off for Easter.

Let’s get started with the recaps

South Bend

In the bullpen before the game, things were not going well for Brandon Birdsell. Nothing against young man, but it was not a jaw dropping or fear inducing session. It was pretty bad. Birdsell then went out and pitched three no-hot innings showing off a nasty breaking ball and hitting 95 with his fastball. It took about 10 pitches into the game before it looked like he started to fix whatever was troubling him pregame and he just put it in cruise control the rest of the way through his start. 

Birdsell got some help from a Fabian Pertuz solo Jack and a seeing eye single from Yohendrick Pinango that was all set to roll into the glove of the first baseman before it hit first base and scooted out into right field. Frankie Scalzo came in and pitched two hitless innings before giving up a hit in the sixth. Scalzo was followed by Brad Deppermann with another scoreless inning. Adam Laskey through another frame, and then Jarod Wright closed it out for the series sweep.

Overall, the series was a lot of fun to go watch and see some Cubs debut at High-A. There still are a few Cubs that need to get in games like Chase Watkins, but this was more about getting their feet wet and the season started. I can tell you that I came away, extremely impressed with Haydn McGeary at the plate. In addition, Kevin Made is spectacular in the field, Fabian Pertuz is the ultimate professional in the field and in the batters box. And it was cool to see thee Kevin Alcantara just glide through the outfield and the bases at breakneck speed but it looks like he’s just a gazelle running through the grass and dirt. He is just an unbelievable athlete.

Unfortunately, I will not be seeing South Bend in person again until mid May at Appleton and Beloit.

Meanwhile, in Minnesota…

Caleb Killian did not have his best stuff today, but he went out and competed in the four innings worth of work striking out one batter and allowing one run.

It was at the place that I would did their damage today as they improved to six and two, after scoring 11 runs against Saint Paul. David Bote had the big day with a grand slam home run wild going three for five. Sergio Alcantara went to for four as did Christopher Morel and Jake Slaughter, Jeremiah Estrada came in to end the game and he is just waiting for a phone call to get back to Chicago, or at least he should be.

Here are some pics I took today. You can see more over on our Facebook account.