Darvish, Rizzo Scratched, YouTube TV Troubles And More Cubs Notes

Yu Darvish was scheduled to make his second spring training start Thursday against the Rangers, but the Cubs’ righty has been scratched. With several players already hit with the flu during spring training, Darvish went to the hospital just to make sure it wasn’t serious.

Jason Kipnis and Albert Almora Jr. are also sick.

Darvish and Kipnis scratched from today’s game due to illness. Norwood will start and Hoerner will play second base. Almora also under the weather.
— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) March 5, 2020

Almora – Kipnis and Darvish all sick
— Bruce Levine (@MLBBruceLevine) March 5, 2020

Ross, on Darvish and Kipnis being out sick… pic.twitter.com/oF07TkCTWs
— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) March 5, 2020

Darvish later said that he doesn’t have a fever or the flu. Great news!

熱もなく、インフルエンザも陰性でした
— ダルビッシュ有(Yu Darvish) (@faridyu) March 5, 2020

And the Cubs also announced that Anthony Rizzo has been scratched from today’s game because of a blister.

Rizzo scratched. Blister on right middle finger opened.
— Paul Sullivan (@PWSullivan) March 5, 2020

Cubs announce that Rizzo also scratched from today's lineup due to a blister on his right middle finger that split open.

Darvish, Kipnis both out sick. Almora under the weather.

"Our pets heads are falling off!"
— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) March 5, 2020

Cubs being extra precautious here and that’s fine a couple weeks into spring training.

The negotiations between YouTube TV and Sinclair keep going. The latest update doesn’t seem great, as the YES Network is now off the platform. So, Yankees fans in New York who are cord cutters and want to watch their team can’t do it on YouTube TV anymore. The LA market is also being affected, but interestingly enough other Fox RSNs are still on YouTube TV.

Update: the service drops, as of now, appears to be affecting key US media markets such as NY/LA. But some other smaller markets still show their Fox regionals as available through YouTube TV
— Eric Fisher (@EricFisherSBG) March 5, 2020

Not feeling great about Marquee, but we’re still three weeks away from Opening Day and negotiations will keep going.

As far as Cubs fans in Chicago who have Hulu+ TV, it’s still not showing up. Not really sure why that is, considering they’ve had a deal done since before the start of spring training.

Lady Gaga is coming to Wrigley Field in August.

A star is back! 🤩@ladygaga returns to Wrigley Field August 14. Tickets go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. CDT March 16. https://t.co/juYkU3Bxe8 pic.twitter.com/9CeUstUDsW
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) March 5, 2020

Happy birthday, Kyle Schwarber!

In honor of Kyle Schwarber’s birthday, here’s the scoreboard Home Run he smashed. 💣 @kschwarb12 pic.twitter.com/NXCGcx1qEx
— Cubs Zone ™️ (@CubsZone) March 5, 2020

Any extension talks ongoing?

While #Cubs would like at any time to extend some of their core players, the attention has largely turned to on-field baseball matters at this time of spring, Theo Epstein says.
— 670 The Score (@670TheScore) March 5, 2020

Oh.

Kyle Hendricks with more praise for David Ross.

Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks with @Bernstein_McK: "There's just a new energy in camp this year. Honestly, a lot of it has to do with David Ross. Just what he's brought already, his energy, his passion, his focus on the details. … Guys have really been taking it to heart."
— 670 The Score (@670TheScore) March 5, 2020

Oh and by the way, you still have time to enter our ticket giveaway. The pair of Cubs tickets are for Sunday, April 5, against the Diamondbacks in Wrigley Field.

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