Today on the back fields I was able to catch a few innings of the WBC Italian team vs. what was mainly the Chattanooga Lookouts. I say mainly because the game was started by Kenley Jansen. His fastball was only between 87-89 (where he said he should be for this point in ST) but he got a fly out to right, a 3-1 grounder, a 4-pitch walk and a grounder to short. In all he threw about 25 pitches. Pedro Baez, the converted 3B, threw an inning too and was VERY impressive. He showed a mid-90s fastball and a good curve. His inning was quick and he induced a fly out to right, a grounder to second and a grounder to short. He probably threw around 15 pitches and said he likes pitching....he doesn't have much of a choice but he seemed to be telling the truth.

As for the hitters, Seager was a little late on some pitches and was HBP, flied out to left and hit a shallow pop up to left that was caught by the shortstop. Van Slyke had a sac fly good for a RBI and a K swinging followed by a K looking. Joc Pederson was HBP and hit a stand-up double to right. CJ Retherford GIDP and grounded out to short. Blake Smith hit a busted bat single up the middle for a RBI and O'koyea Dickson hit a double down the left field line.

Lastly, all the brass was there to see the first few innings until most of us left for Peoria. In the stands charting pitches was Zach Lee and Kyle Russell, who reports next week, was watching in street clothes.