The Rundown: Frigid Opening Day Weather Looms, Ríos Ready to Bust Out, Rotation Battle Intensifies, USA Earns WBC Championship Berth

"So cold up north that the birds can hardly fly. I’m going back south and let this winter pass on by." – Muddy Waters, Cold Weather Blues

It's the first day of spring, winter still has an icy grip on the Midwest, and Opening Day is a week from Thursday. You’ve got to love March baseball. I’m not a proponent of starting the season in warmer climates, but I’m also no fan of checking the "feels like" temperature before heading to the ballpark. Chicago's extended forecast calls for 40-degree temps with a 50% chance of rain on March 30.

There really isn't much baseball can do with its already jam-packed schedule, with expanded playoffs and mandatory off days spreading the baseball calendar from March to November. The owners will never shorten the regular season and teams in colder climates shouldn't have to start the season with two weeks of away games. In most cases, Chicago doesn't see a 60-degree day until mid-April.

I don't mind the weather that much but it does present a disadvantage for home teams forced to regularly play in less-than-ideal conditions. Batting averages are usually way down in sub-60-degree weather. Sometimes it's so cold at Wrigley Field you feel chilled just watching the games on television. I remember watching Burt Hooton throw his no-hitter in 1972 and the batters looked miserable at the plate. It's actually the first game I can remember watching on TV, probably because it was a historic effort.

Baseball stadiums are 95% concrete and steel, so sitting at an early April game is akin to climbing into a refrigerated cooler. It's hard to feel anything but awful, even if the home team is kicking ass. I’ve only attended four home openers, two of which were absolutely frigid. I was at the homecoming game for Greg Maddux against the Pirates in 2004 and it snowed. Last year I got hurt in the bleachers before the first pitch and never saw the Cubs beat the Brewers 5-4. Both games were played in 40-degree weather with 15 mph northwest winds, though they were played in April.

We get March baseball this year, so there are going to be cancellations that will lead to inopportune doubleheaders and late-season scheduling nightmares. Additionally, the Cubs have early-April series with the Rangers and Mariners. With baseball's new balanced schedule, any postponements of those games could be difficult to make up, but the league doesn't worry about trivial matters like weather and player safety. As long as those turnstiles are rotating, everybody's happy. Besides, we’ll barely have time to suffer frostbite because the pitch clock will shorten games a great deal.

Cubs News & Notes

Odds & Sods

Rest in peace, Óscar Mercado.

Tylor Megill vs. Óscar Mercado: Fatality. 💀⚰️🪦 pic.twitter.com/6YpRRXM6HV

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) March 19, 2023

Climbing the Ladder

"I was taught to fight, taught to win. I never thought I could fail." – Peter Gabriel with Kate Bush, Don't Give Up

Velázquez was a bit of a disappointment last season, but he may have been hyped a little too much coming off his 2021 AFL performance. Similar expectations hurt Kilian last year as well. Baby Boomstick batted .206 in 206 PAs last season and managed just 16 XBH, including six taters. There is no reason, however, to give up on either player. Kilian has already been sent to Iowa, and Mike Tauchman will squeeze Velázquez out of a roster spot. The two rookies should improve their games while toiling in Triple-A.

Christopher Morel will likely end up at Iowa, too. All three will help Chicago at some point this season.

Central Intelligence

How About That!

The United States beat Cuba 14-2 last night and will go to the WBC Championship game on Tuesday. Team USA will play the winner of tonight's tilt between Japan and Mexico.

Ken Griffey Jr. took batting practice before last night's Team USA-Team Cuba contest and left everybody in awe. The Kid's still got it.

The WBC is a great marketing tool for attracting a younger audience to the sport of baseball.

Trea Turner is having a fantastic tournament.

José Altuve broke his thumb on a pitch from Daniel Bard and will need surgery. There is no timetable for his return.

Bryce Harper wants to see baseball return to the Summer Olympics with professional ballplayers allowed to participate.

Jurickson Profar has joined the Rockies on a one-year deal. Colorado is doing that thing the Cubs used to do, i.e. signing journeyman players at the end of spring training.

Former MLB pitcher Byron McLaughlin is wanted for running a massive counterfeit scam and is reportedly on the run.

Extra Innings

Future Cub Roki Sasaki will start for Team Japan in their semifinal tilt against Mexico this evening. Sasaki is going to be baseball's next great ace.

2022 PitchingNinja Award for Performance of the Year 🏆[World Category]

Winner: Rōki Sasaki

19 strikeout Perfect GameFollowed by a 14 Strikeout Game with 8 Perfect Innings[An amazing 17 consecutive Perfect Innings over 2 games with 33 strikeouts] pic.twitter.com/YY17JAVbq9

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) November 18, 2022

Monday Morning Six-Pack

They Said It

Monday Walk-Up Song

I, too, am a fan of Van Hagar.