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PHOENIX – Christian Yelich stood in the box, hands out, and stared out at the mound.
There stood Giants pitcher Jordan Hicks, a flamethrower if there ever was one, behind in the count, three balls to no strikes with the bases loaded. If ever there was a time to let it rip, this – a spring training game – was it.
Yelich sent a 97 mph sinker from Hicks sailing even faster out to center and over the wall, putting a dent in the asphalt as it caromed up a walkway. The grand slam was Yelich’s third home run in 12 at-bats, all of which sailed out to straightaway center or the opposite way.
Yeah, he’s about ready for opening day.
“I hope he stays healthy and keeps doing what he’s doing,” manager Pat Murphy said. “He said ‘I’m pretty close. I know what I need to do.’ It’s not about the number of at-bats or whatever. It’s about being in there and getting that feeling, getting that timing back.”
Yelich isn’t the only one ready to be packed in bubble wrap and shipped up to Yankee Stadium for the season opener March 27. We’ve officially made the spring training turn and are on the back nine, a happening of which there is no greater sure sign of than players asking how many days are left in camp.
“I’m getting close,” said catcher William Contreras. “Once you get to about five days to go, I’m ready to go. Flip the switch.”
While the Brewers aren’t quite there yet – the final spring game is 10 days away – they sure had a lineup full of players who looked quite bubble-wrap ready in Friday’s 11-5 win over the San Francisco Giants at American Family Fields of Phoenix.
Take Sal Frelick, for instance. In the third inning, the outfielder pounded two foul balls into his right foot, the second of which resulted in him laying in the batter’s box on his back in pain. Two pitches later, he legged out an infield hit.
That sound like midseason form for Frelick, who then dodged a tag at first base for another infield knock in the fourth and later made a highlight-reel grab in right field, to you?
“That’s exactly right,” Murphy said.
BOX SCORE: Brewers 11, Giants 5
Brice Turang had two opposite field hits. Joey Ortiz, who’s been flashing impressive bat speed this spring, popped a homer. Jackson Chourio had three hits, including a ringing double and a bunt single, a day after doubling and throwing out a runner at home. William Contreras smoked a ball 110 mph right back up the box.
Even Rhys Hoskins, who didn’t get a hit on the day but leads the Cactus League in homers, came within inches of his sixth long ball of spring but was robbed by a dazzling catch 400 feet from home plate.
Of the Brewers nine position player starters from their ‘A lineup’ Friday, six are currently carrying an OPS north of 1.000 and the lowest is Turang at .722.
“I feel like I’m right where I need to be,” Ortiz said, speaking for himself but also certainly representing the thoughts of many teammates. “It’s definitely exciting. Usually toward the end of spring training you’re ready to go and ready to start playing meaningful games and racking up wins.”
Said Murphy: “Guys are getting their timing. Guys are getting a little more confident.”
Even some of the Brewers’ bullpen arms are looking locked in for the soon-approaching date in New York. Bryan Hudson went 1 ⅓ scoreless innings and Joel Payamps struck out two in a clean inning of work that included some nasty sliders.
Starting pitcher Nestor Cortes didn’t have great results – three runs on seven hits in 3 ⅓ innings – but got the work needed to get opening-day ready done, too. The lefty also struck out seven in his second Cactus League game with the Brewers.
They’re close. There’s no question about that. But they’re not there yet.
“This is where you build the volume,” said Oliver Dunn, who doubled Friday. “You’re a little tired but you have to keep whatever feeling you have going so you’re ready when the season starts.”
Marco Dinges, the Brewers’ fourth round pick out of Florida State last summer, hit a three-run homer in his Cactus League debut. Luis Pena, a standout in the Dominican Summer League last year, also made his first appearances in a big-league spring game and drew a walk.
"We’re going to keep ‘connoitering’ it – or reconnoitering it." -- Murphy on the Brewers’ infield alignment. Turang started at shortstop with Ortiz at second for the third straight game. Previously, Ortiz had gotten most of the reps at short, but Milwaukee is considering a different deployment of their top infielders.
Brewers (split squad) vs. Athletics, Saturday 3:10 p.m: Milwaukee RHP Freddy Peralta vs. Sacramento RHP Mitch Spence. Radio – 620 WTMJ.
Brewers (split squad) at Angels, Saturday 3:10 p.m: Milwaukee RHP Tobias Myers vs. RHP Jack Kochanowicz. TV – FanDuel Sports Wisconsin.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Brewers beat Giants in spring training game as Christian Yelich homers
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There stood Giants pitcher Jordan Hicks, a flamethrower if there ever was one, behind in the count, three balls to no strikes with the bases loaded. If ever there was a time to let it rip, this – a spring training game – was it.
Yelich sent a 97 mph sinker from Hicks sailing even faster out to center and over the wall, putting a dent in the asphalt as it caromed up a walkway. The grand slam was Yelich’s third home run in 12 at-bats, all of which sailed out to straightaway center or the opposite way.
Yeah, he’s about ready for opening day.
“I hope he stays healthy and keeps doing what he’s doing,” manager Pat Murphy said. “He said ‘I’m pretty close. I know what I need to do.’ It’s not about the number of at-bats or whatever. It’s about being in there and getting that feeling, getting that timing back.”
Yelich isn’t the only one ready to be packed in bubble wrap and shipped up to Yankee Stadium for the season opener March 27. We’ve officially made the spring training turn and are on the back nine, a happening of which there is no greater sure sign of than players asking how many days are left in camp.
“I’m getting close,” said catcher William Contreras. “Once you get to about five days to go, I’m ready to go. Flip the switch.”
While the Brewers aren’t quite there yet – the final spring game is 10 days away – they sure had a lineup full of players who looked quite bubble-wrap ready in Friday’s 11-5 win over the San Francisco Giants at American Family Fields of Phoenix.
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Take Sal Frelick, for instance. In the third inning, the outfielder pounded two foul balls into his right foot, the second of which resulted in him laying in the batter’s box on his back in pain. Two pitches later, he legged out an infield hit.
That sound like midseason form for Frelick, who then dodged a tag at first base for another infield knock in the fourth and later made a highlight-reel grab in right field, to you?
“That’s exactly right,” Murphy said.
BOX SCORE: Brewers 11, Giants 5
Brice Turang had two opposite field hits. Joey Ortiz, who’s been flashing impressive bat speed this spring, popped a homer. Jackson Chourio had three hits, including a ringing double and a bunt single, a day after doubling and throwing out a runner at home. William Contreras smoked a ball 110 mph right back up the box.
Even Rhys Hoskins, who didn’t get a hit on the day but leads the Cactus League in homers, came within inches of his sixth long ball of spring but was robbed by a dazzling catch 400 feet from home plate.
Of the Brewers nine position player starters from their ‘A lineup’ Friday, six are currently carrying an OPS north of 1.000 and the lowest is Turang at .722.
“I feel like I’m right where I need to be,” Ortiz said, speaking for himself but also certainly representing the thoughts of many teammates. “It’s definitely exciting. Usually toward the end of spring training you’re ready to go and ready to start playing meaningful games and racking up wins.”
Said Murphy: “Guys are getting their timing. Guys are getting a little more confident.”
Even some of the Brewers’ bullpen arms are looking locked in for the soon-approaching date in New York. Bryan Hudson went 1 ⅓ scoreless innings and Joel Payamps struck out two in a clean inning of work that included some nasty sliders.
Starting pitcher Nestor Cortes didn’t have great results – three runs on seven hits in 3 ⅓ innings – but got the work needed to get opening-day ready done, too. The lefty also struck out seven in his second Cactus League game with the Brewers.
They’re close. There’s no question about that. But they’re not there yet.
“This is where you build the volume,” said Oliver Dunn, who doubled Friday. “You’re a little tired but you have to keep whatever feeling you have going so you’re ready when the season starts.”
Prospect watch
Marco Dinges, the Brewers’ fourth round pick out of Florida State last summer, hit a three-run homer in his Cactus League debut. Luis Pena, a standout in the Dominican Summer League last year, also made his first appearances in a big-league spring game and drew a walk.
Pat Murphy, unplugged
"We’re going to keep ‘connoitering’ it – or reconnoitering it." -- Murphy on the Brewers’ infield alignment. Turang started at shortstop with Ortiz at second for the third straight game. Previously, Ortiz had gotten most of the reps at short, but Milwaukee is considering a different deployment of their top infielders.
Brewers spring schedule
Brewers (split squad) vs. Athletics, Saturday 3:10 p.m: Milwaukee RHP Freddy Peralta vs. Sacramento RHP Mitch Spence. Radio – 620 WTMJ.
Brewers (split squad) at Angels, Saturday 3:10 p.m: Milwaukee RHP Tobias Myers vs. RHP Jack Kochanowicz. TV – FanDuel Sports Wisconsin.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Brewers beat Giants in spring training game as Christian Yelich homers
Continue reading...
