3 takeaways from Chicago White Sox camp, including Dylan Cease’s ‘pretty solid’ Cactus League debut
The Chicago White Sox displayed speed and power in the second inning Friday against the Cincinnati Reds.
Tim Anderson beat Kevin Newman’s long throw from deep shortstop for an infield hit with two outs, scoring a run. It also extended the inning for Andrew Vaughn, who followed with a three-run homer to left.
The Sox scored five runs in the inning and beat the Reds 6-4 in Cactus League game at Camelback Ranch. Yasmani Grandal had two hits, including a solo homer in the third.
Here are three takeaways from Friday at Sox camp.
1. Dylan Cease felt ‘pretty solid’ in first start of the spring.
Cease walked two Reds and made a throwing error in the first inning. The second walk — to Jake Fraley — loaded the bases with one out. Pitching coach Ethan Katz made a quick mound visit.
Cease said the meeting provided a breather. Katz’s message, Cease said, was, “Just attack. Your stuff’s good. Just go after it.”
Cease did just that, striking out Chad Pinder and getting Curt Casali to pop out to second baseman Hanser Alberto to end the inning without allowing a run.
Cease allowed one hit along with the two walks and struck out two in two scoreless innings during his first Cactus League outing of 2023.
“It was pretty good,” Cease said. “Obviously walks aren’t ideal. But they are pretty close misses. Just got to recalibrate a little bit and get back into it.
“I actually felt good, I didn’t feel wild, even though I had the two walks. I felt pretty solid. I thought it was a pretty good first outing.”
After finishing second in the American League Cy Young Award voting last season, one area Cease came into camp focused on was command. That has continued to be a focal point.
Friday also gave Cease an opportunity to test out some of the new rules. He said the pitch clock “wasn’t an issue.”
“I felt like I had plenty of time,” Cease said. “I don’t anticipate it being a problem.”
2. Sox plan to ‘move everybody around’ while regulars participate in the World Baseball Classic.
Several players will get an extended look while center fielder Luis Robert Jr. and third baseman Yoán Moncada are away for the World Baseball Classic.
Jake Marisnick started in center and Alberto was at third against the Colorado Rockies on Thursday. Alberto had three hits, coming a home run shy of the cycle.
On Friday, Romy Gonzalez started in center and Zach Remillard at third. Remillard had an RBI single during the five-run second.
“We’ll move everybody around,” manager Pedro Grifol said Friday morning. “Romy is going to play center field some. We want to see (Bryan) Ramos, (Leury) García will play third base. We’ll move the young kids, (José) Rodríguez, (Moisés) Castillo, we’ll move them around in the infield.”
Versatility in a player is a plus.
“I love versatility, that’s the name of the game now,” Grifol said. “Even if you’re an everyday player, if you have versatility, it’s just another feather in your hat, man. If you can protect us in some way, shape or form for a game or two, that’s just an asset to who you are and what you can bring to the table. We’ll move these guys around and see how they perform.”
Gonzalez has played at second and in left and right fields.
“It’s great, I’m very excited to play every position,” Gonzalez told the Tribune on Thursday. “I think that’s very good for me and the team as well. I’m extremely excited that Pedro’s working me everywhere.”
3. Why did a grounder back to the mound Thursday stand out to Grifol?
Elvis Andrus bounced one back to the mound in the third inning Thursday against the Rockies. Grifol noticed something during the routine play.
“Really, really was impressed with a ground ball to the pitcher by Elvis Andrus and busting his (butt) to first base,” Grifol said Friday morning. “That’s one of the reasons he’s here on top of all other things.”
It was an example of Andrus’ leadership.
“He’s not just a vocal leader,” Grifol said. “This guy leads by example too. He’s not just saying something and, ‘Do as I say, not as I do.’ This guy does it. He says it and he does it. That’s how we want to put this thing together.”
