March 1: The ups and downs of Los Angeles Angels pitching
By Bill Felber
MLB Spring Training Recap: March 1
Winner: Lewis Brinson, Miami Marlins
Since coming to the Marlins as the bait that sent Christian Yelich to Milwaukee, Brinson has suffered through a pretty thorough roasting. Part of it has to do with how well Yelich has played, but Brinson also bears some responsibility, having as yet failed to hit .200 in two seasons with the Marlins.
One week of MLB spring training is obviously too soon to determine that Brinson’s game has turned a corner, but at least he’s begun to give Marlins fans hope. Facing the Mets on Sunday, Brinson delivered two more base hits, his fifth and sixth in 12 spring at-bats.
Entering the game in the seventh inning, Brinson tripled to right and eventually scored. He got a second cut in the eighth inning and delivered an infield single.
Winner: John Means, Baltimore Orioles pitcher
Means is a 27-year-old second-year pitcher who magically produced a 12-11 record and 3.60 ERA for the Orioles in 2019. Given Baltimore’s talent level, that’s a big accomplishment.
Facing the Phillies Sunday, Means stretched it out to three innings of hitless ball, fanning two and walking nobody. It was a marked improvement from his first spring start when he allowed two runs and got just four outs.
Winner: Break up the Pirates
After stumbling through their first seven spring games, the Pirates finally threw their offense into high gear Sunday against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Twenty-four hours after picking up that first spring win, 2-0 over Minnesota, Pittsburgh hitters won a pitching-optional spring game against the Toronto Blue Jays 13-9. Gregory Polanco, Lolo Sanchez, and Oneil Cruz all homered to highlight a 15-hit Pirate breakout.
The 15 hits were only two fewer than the Pirate offense had generated in the team’s last three spring games combined.