March 13, 2015

Chicago Sun-Times, Cubs prospect Kyle Schwarber steamed by skeptics who question his catching http://chicago.suntimes.com/baseball/7/71/437141/cubs-prospect-kyle-schwarber-steamed-skeptics-question-catching

Chicago Sun-Times, Culture change? Will Ferrell makes sudden impact as Cubs for (part of) a day http://chicago.suntimes.com/baseball/7/71/436438/culture-change-will-ferrell-makes-sudden-impact-cubs-part-day

Daily Herald, Ex-Cubs Maholm, Marquis on comeback trail with Reds http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20150312/sports/150319495/

Cubs.com, Maddon has Ferrell play many roles for Cubs http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/112454140/actor-will-ferrell-coaches-third-base-for-cubs-strikes-out-as-pinch-hitter

Cubs.com, Bryant homers twice as Ferrell suits up for Cubs http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/112409014/chicago-cubs-kris-bryant-homers-twice-in-loss-to-los-angeles-angels

Cubs.com, La Stella proud of his contribution to small-ball victory http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/112426638/chicago-cubs-tommy-la-stella-says-joe-maddons-emphasis-on-little-things-has-rubbed-off

ESPNChicago.com, Cubs camp analysis: Storylines abound http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/29181/cubs-camp-analysis-storylines-abound

ESPNChicago.com, 5 questions with... Jake Arrieta http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/29175/5-questions-with-jake-arrieta

CSNChicago.com, Cubs: Jason Hammel taking the simple road to success http://www.csnchicago.com/cubs/cubs-jason-hammel-taking-simple-road-success

CSNChicago.com, Will Ferrell strikes out, coaches third, plays first for Cubs http://www.csnchicago.com/cubs/will-ferrell-strikes-out-coaches-third-plays-first-cubs

Chicago Tribune, Starter Jason Hammel laboring through some early spring struggles http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-jason-hammel-cubs-spring-training-spt-0313-20150312-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Will Ferrell a big hit with the Cubs, Sox http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-will-ferrell-heckles-joe-maddon-20150312-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Thursday's recap: Angels 10, Cubs 9 http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-gameday-cubs-spring-training-spt-0313-20150312-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Cubs in the midst of the Joe Maddon learning experience http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-joe-maddon-cubs-sullivan-baseball-spt-0312-20150311-story.html

-- Chicago Sun-Times Cubs prospect Kyle Schwarber steamed by skeptics who question his catching By Gordon Wittenmyer MESA, Ariz. — Several months before the Cubs made him the No.  4 overall pick in last year’s draft, Kyle Schwarber was asked to meet team president Theo Epstein and top scouting/player development executive Jason McLeod during a trip to the Phoenix area with his Indiana University baseball team. Expecting some nerves from a kid, the big-shot Cubs execs quickly realized there was nothing about them that was going to intimidate Schwarber. If anything, they were the ones looking for cover after questioning Schwarber’s catching skills. ‘‘The question was something like did he think he could do it,’’ McLeod recounted during Cubs Convention. ‘‘He just stone-faced looks at both of us, and — I won’t use his exact words — but basically said, ‘You know that really ticks me off when people say that I can’t [expletive] catch.’ ‘‘Right there, I was, like, ‘This is our guy.’ ” Reminded of the story this week, Schwarber said, ‘‘That’s the clean version. That’s something I’m really passionate about.’’ And it’s the most common thing questioned and criticized by evaluators when talking about the left-handed slugger. ‘‘When people say I can’t do something, I take that to heart, and I’m going to go out there and prove people wrong,’’ he said. ‘‘I think I can do it. I know I’m a good enough athlete to do it. And being around guys like [veterans Miguel Montero and David Ross], it can definitely be beneficial.’’ He’s a good enough athlete that he turned a dropped fly ball into a three-base error in a recent game, defying the first-glance impression his stocky 6-foot frame gives and showing off the ability that got him football offers to play linebacker from Big East, Mid-American Conference and Big Ten schools. ‘‘Put a clock on him,’’ manager Joe Maddon said. ‘‘He runs better than people think.’’ But it’s the whole catching thing that’s going to draw the most scrutiny as he advances through the system this year and into next. Nobody thinks twice about the power, poise and hitting ability that he flashed at three minor-league stops last summer (and early this spring). ‘‘He’s got some things to learn,’’ said first-year Cubs coach and longtime big-league catcher Henry Blanco. ‘‘But this kid works hard.’’

Schwarber, 22, has caught Maddon’s attention in just a few weeks at camp, in large part because of a determined, high-energy attitude — but in no small part because of a set of catching skills. ‘‘He definitely has the will. The want-to is unbelievable,’’ said Maddon, a former minor-league catcher. ‘‘Watching him catch, he sees the ball pretty well, better than I’d anticipated. His movement, blocking, it’s good. I think he was just in need of some more information on how to do this. ‘‘He’s the kind of guy that it’s hard to say would never be able to do something, because if you were to say that to him, it’d probably be the best way to motivate him.’’ Schwarber did a crash course in catching with coordinator Tim Cossins over the winter. He’s continued with advanced courses around the likes of Ross and Montero. ‘‘I’m learning a ton. It’s an everyday thing for me,’’ he said. It’s no accident the Cubs signed one catcher (Ross) to a two-year deal and acquired the other (Montero) with three years left on his deal. If Schwarber can keep up the pace over the next two seasons of the work he has done over the last six months, he could become the heir to the starting job about the time the Cubs expect to hit a competitive high in their multi-year building process. If his bat continues to be what it looks like now, his ability to be an impact offensive player at that position makes his value skyrocket — no matter what anybody else might say. Asked if there was ever something he failed to do after somebody told him he couldn’t do it, Schwarber took a second to politely spit into a cup, then turned around and said simply, earnestly, ‘‘No.’’ Said Maddon: ‘‘Yes, I do believe he’s a big-league catcher.’’ -- Chicago Sun-Times Culture change? Will Ferrell makes sudden impact as Cubs for (part of) a day By Gordon Wittenmyer TEMPE, Ariz. – As quickly as he made an impact in a Cubs uniform – contributing to a Jorge Soler home run and getting in Addison Russell’s face to help the kid shortstop deliver a third hit – Will Ferrell had gone the way of Milton Bradley and Carlos Zambrano before him. Called off the field for a defensive replacement in the fourth inning of the Cubs’ game against the Angels Thursday, the player-coach of “Anchorman” fame angrily threw his glove to the ground and stalked off the field. It was his last act as a Cub. By the end of the day he had made the rounds to six more teams – including the White Sox – and was out of baseball. “He said something to the umpire,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon deadpanned. “With that attitude, we didn’t want that kind of stuff permeating the dugout.” To be sure, Ferrell provided a hefty, sudden dose of culture change for Cubs and the rest of the Cactus League Thursday – spending an inning or two at five different parks, playing briefly for 10 different teams and even spending most of a half-inning coaching third for the Cubs – complete with cue cards, like the one he raised for Mike Olt that said “Swing as hard as you can.” “I used that one,” said Olt, who then fouled off a pitch as Ferrell held up sign that said, “Take a pitch.”

Yes, Olt admitted, he’d missed a sign that was literally spelled out for him in big, bold letters on a large placard. “Yeah,” he said, “I was just so focused out there I just missed it.” Ferrell made the rounds Thursday as part of an HBO production, in partnership with MLB, while trying to raise what Ferrell said in a radio interview he hoped would be $1 million for charities, including the Cancer for College scholarship program. “It was a lot of fun, man,” said Maddon, whose only previous encounter with Ferrell came years ago at Yankee Stadium when Ferrell pestered him from the seats behind the dugout – “Hey, Maddon! Hey, Joe Maddon! Turn around!” He never turned around and was told only after the game who the voice belonged to. “I think it’s good for baseball in general to have him do something like this, with his popularity,” Maddon said. “He’s got athleticism, too. It’s not like he’s void of athleticism.” Replacing Mike Trout in center for the Angels – taking Trout’s cap and glove in the process – Ferrell fielded Welington Castillo’s ground ball single to center, and quickly threw it to a cutoff man about 50 feet away. The Cubs “acquired” Ferrell from the Angels in a mid-game trade that was rumored for a while to have involved Edwin Jackson. Apparently, the Angels weren’t hungry enough for pitching to make that deal. Maddon said the Cubs got him for “some burritos, I think.” At his first stop of the day, with the Oakland Athletics and Seattle Mariners, he told A’s shortstop Marcus Semien, the former White Sox player: “I could catch fire today, and you could be on a bus back to triple-A.” When Seattle reporters wanted to talk to him: “I can’t talk. I’m in Beastmode.” As Cubs’ third-base coach, he held up a cue card for Jorge Soler that read: “Don’t pull a muscle.” “I loved it,” pitcher Jason Hammel said. “Obviously, he can’t read English. So there’s no communication level there. And I don’t think Will knew that.” One pitch later, he ran through a sequence of exaggerated baseball sign language, including a torso gyration, double-knee clutch and arm swipe. Soler hit the next pitch for a homer. “That was the home run sign,” Olt said straight-faced. “He told us that before the game.” At one point while third baseman Kris Bryant was standing on the field, Ferrell engaged him in what looked from afar like a serious discussion. Bryant recounted: Ferrell: “What are you guys doing after the game?” Bryant: “I’m going to Vegas.” Ferrell: “Well, I love Vegas. … What’s your game?” Bryant: “Uh, none.” Ferrell: “Oh. … My game’s roulette.” The best exchange between third-base coach Ferrell and a hitter might have been when he held up a card to Welington Castillo that said, “You are sooooo handsome.”

Castillo gave him a thumbs up, and Ferrell switched to another sign: “I’m not just saying it.” “He’s nuts,” said Bryant, who hit one of his two home runs over -- Daily Herald Ex-Cubs Maholm, Marquis on comeback trail with Reds By Bruce Miles Paul Maholm was one of the Cubs' get-him-and-flip-him pitchers in 2012. Jason Marquis was a back-end starter for the 2007 and 2008 division winners. Today, both are trying to hook on with the Cincinnati Reds as nonroster invitees to spring training. Maholm, 32, came in on the ground floor of the Cubs' rebuilding process but was traded away while the cement on the foundation was still wet. He went 9-6 with a 3.74 ERA for the '12 Cubs before being traded to Atlanta on July 30 of that season along with outfielder Reed Johnson for pitchers Arodys Vizcaino and Jaye Chapman, neither of whom is with the Cubs anymore. Maholm spent 2013 with the Braves before signing with the Dodgers. He got into 30 games for L.A. last year, but only 8 were starts because the Dodgers have a deep rotation. The lefty would love another shot at starting, and that's why he's with the Reds. "I don't see myself as a reliever," he told the Reds website. "I don't really plan on doing that. I want to get back into starting, and the opportunity to compete and prove I'm still a starter." It will be tough for both Maholm and Marquis, as the Reds have plenty of competition at the back end of the rotation with the likes Tony Cingrani, Anthony DeScalfini, Dylan Axelrod and others. Marquis did not pitch last year as he recovered from Tommy John surgery. For his career, he is 121-114 with a 4.05 ERA in stints with the Braves, Cardinals, Cubs, Nationals, Rockies, Diamondbacks, Twins and Padres. He could be abrasive at times, but he always was a good quote for reporters, especially when he felt he should be pitching more than he was. "It was nice to get back on the mound with a little adrenaline," he told the Reds website recently. "It's been awhile." Matt Garza reinvented: It's a "new" Matt Garza with the Milwaukee Brewers. The former Cubs starter tells the Brewers' website he has overhauled his mechanics in hopes of simplifying his delivery and avoiding injury. The website reports that Garza has worked with his brother Michael, a former prospect and now a high-school coach, on the mechanical overhaul. "Kind of just staying in myself, staying level," Garza told the site. "For some reason I would get excited and have a (Mike) Fiers-type tilt, and that's not good for me. I think that's part of the reason my changeup hasn't really fully developed, and why I've had problems with consistency on my slider and breaking stuff.

"With this, it's helping me feel better about it. Staying consistent with my release and where the ball comes out. ... It's refreshing to be in control when I'm usually a guy who's rarely in control." Garza started 27 games for the Brewers last year, the most since he made 31 for the Cubs in 2011. But he spent much of last August on the disabled list in the first season of a four-year, $50 million contract. "When stuff gets exposed, you leave it open for injury, and that's what I was doing," Garza told the website. "There's so much torque coming down that mountain, that you can only hold so much so many times. We're trying to make it consistent to where it doesn't have to hold that any more, and it spreads out my whole body." Thinking of Mom: Hard-throwing right-hander Andrew Cashner of the Padres pitched against the Cubs earlier this week, and when he walked off the field with manager Bud Black, a few fans might have been concerned. But there was nothing physically wrong with Cashner, who has had a history of arm problems in his young career. It turns out he is pitching with a lot on his mind. His mother, Jane, is battling leukemia, and she recently had her right leg amputated below the knee. "She's on a breathing machine, on a dialysis machine and on a feeding tube," Cashner told the team website. "Things aren't very good, but there's a chance that she can fight through all of this." Cashner was the Cubs' first-round draft pick in 2008. Two months after Theo Epstein took over the Cubs' baseball operations in the fall of 2011, he traded Cashner to the Padres in the deal that brought first baseman Anthony Rizzo to the Cubs. Last season, Cashner made only 19 starts because of elbow and shoulder injuries. -- Cubs.com Maddon has Ferrell play many roles for Cubs By Carrie Muskat TEMPE, Ariz. -- Will Ferrell made the most of his day with the Cubs, coaching third, playing first base and even getting an unexpected pinch-hit at-bat. Ferrell played center field for the Angels on Thursday, then switched dugouts and donned a No. 19 Cubs uniform, taking over as the third-base coach for Gary Jones in the fourth. Whatever magic Ferrell possessed worked, as the Cubs rallied for four runs. Javier Baez led off the inning by flying to center and Ferrell waved him around, then waved Baez into the dugout. Ferrell had some big cue cards, including one that read, "Don't pull a muscle," which he flashed to Jorge Soler. Soler didn't, as he crushed his second spring home run. Ferrell naturally pointed to himself to take credit for the homer. What Ferrell didn't know was that Soler couldn't read the signs. "He can't read English," Chicago pitcher Jason Hammel said. "I don't think Will knew that." The actor/comedian had more cards. He held up one asking Mike Olt during his at-bat, "Did you sleep well last night?" then flashed "Swing as hard as you can" to Olt. Ferrell also suggested Olt "Take a pitch," but he didn't, swinging with two strikes. "Yeah, I missed that sign," Olt said, somewhat sheepishly.

Olt did eventually draw a walk against the Angels' Frank Herrmann. As he got to first, Ferrell's message was: "Don't steal." He didn't have to as Kris Bryant hit an RBI double. What was Ferrell's advice to Bryant? The signs included "Remember these games don't count" followed by "Ignore that last card -- play hard." When Bryant got to third base, the two had a brief conversation. "He said, 'What are you guys doing after the game?'" Bryant said. "I said, 'I'm going to Vegas.' He said, 'I love Vegas.' He said, 'What's your game?' I'm like, none. He said, 'My game's roulette.' This guy's crazy. It was kind of cool. He's an actor I enjoy watching and he's giving signs -- I thought that was really cool. It'll never happen again." Welington Castillo gave Ferrell a thumbs up when he used the "You are so handsome" sign. Ferrell was serious. His next sign was: "I'm not just saying that." Addison Russell was called down to third to chat with Ferrell, who seemed to be scolding the young shortstop. Cubs manager Joe Maddon said Russell was supposed to give Ferrell his bat to give the comedian a chance to hit. Then, Maddon asked Ferrell if he wanted to pinch-hit. "I went up to him and said, 'Do you want to be a pinch-hitter?'" Maddon said. "I said, 'You're going to [be designated hitter] later, but you don't have pinch-hitting lined up for today's menu,' so he decided to do it." Ferrell took three pitches from Zach Stewart and struck out swinging on the third. "I think he came back and at that moment, he understood how fast a Major League fastball is," Maddon said. "I think he was kind of surprised how quick it was." "It's such a lose-lose situation for the pitcher right there," Hammel said. "If you strike him out, you look like a jerk. If you walk him or hit him, you're the worst thing in the world." But Ferrell's moment with the Cubs wasn't done. He took over at first base for Olt, and stayed there for one out in the Angels' fourth. "We were warming up, and [Russell] threw one in the dirt and it was funny," Bryant said. "I'm used to guys who can actually catch it there, and I threw one hard to see what he could do and it went off on him. He caught it -- I was surprised." Then, Olt came out to take over at first. Ferrell slammed his glove to the ground, and walked off the field. "I think he said, 'Don't do this to me,'" Olt said. "I said, 'I've got to let you go. You're on your way.' And that was it." The Cubs outfielders weren't told to play any differently on defense to help Ferrell out. "Somebody will [be backing him up] -- hopefully, it's not the fence," Dexter Fowler said. Maddon has watched "Talladega Nights: The Legend of Ricky Bobby" at least 20 times, and "Step Brothers" about 25 times. He used to play the song "Love Me Sexy" from the movie "Semi-Pro" in his office at loud levels. He also had a Will Ferrell moment at Yankee Stadium but didn't take advantage of it. During a Rays-Yankees game, Maddon heard someone razzing him from the stands in a "Hey, batter, batter"-type chant. "Somebody was ragging on me the whole game," Maddon said. "After the game, the guys told me, 'That was Will Ferrell.' I said, 'Why didn't you tell me it was Will Ferrell?' He knows my name at least." As part of a new HBO special from Funny Or Die, Ferrell's played for 10 teams at five different Spring Training ballparks in Arizona on Thursday. He was doing so to raise money for cancer research and honor the historic feat of Bert Campaneris, who five decades ago played all nine positions in game for the Kansas City Athletics.

Before suiting up for the Cubs, Ferrell played for the Angels, replacing Mike Trout in center field before Bryant's long blast. Two batters later, Ferrell nicely fielded a base hit to right-center, holding Castillo to a single. Cubs pitcher Jon Lester wasn't at the game and was a little miffed. He posted on Twitter: "Bummed to miss the #FerrellTakesTheField fun today but love the cause! Remember, it's hot out there, milk would be a bad choice! @NVRQT Maddon joked that the Cubs gave the Angels some burritos in exchange for Ferrell. The manager did get Ferrell to autograph a bat for his new granddaughter, Carson. "It was a lot of fun," Maddon said. "He made a nice play in the outfield and he was a lot of fun on the bench. I think it's good for baseball to have him do something like that with his popularity. He's got athleticism. We had a good time with him in the dugout." -- Cubs.com Bryant homers twice as Ferrell suits up for Cubs By Alden Gonzalez TEMPE, Ariz. -- Kris Bryant hit a ball not even Will Ferrell could reach. Moments after the actor/comedian took Mike Trout's place in center field in the top of the third, the Cubs' prized prospect took a fastball from Angels reliever Matt Lindstrom and blasted a towering shot way out to left-center field in the Cubs' 10-9 loss to the Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium on Thursday. Ferrell could only watch helplessly as Bryant crushed his first of two homers on the day. But he beamed at Jorge Soler's home run an inning later, which came while Ferrell was coaching third base for the Cubs and holding up a white sign that read, "Don't pull a muscle." Bryant homered again in the sixth. The Cubs plated eight runs in the first four innings, which ended with Farrell striking out on three pitches from Zach Stewart. Trout lined a two-out RBI double off Cubs starter Jason Hammel in the second, then scored on Albert Pujols' single to right field -- Pujols' eighth hit in 15 Cactus League at-bats -- before being replaced by Ferrell in the next half-inning. Trout later came back into the game, finishing 3-for-3 with a walk. Sean Newcomb, the 21-year-old who has drafted 15th overall by the Angels last June, started in place of C.J. Wilson (left knee) but couldn't finish his inning. He topped out at 95 mph and shattered a couple bats, but gave up two runs on three hits and a walk and recorded only two outs. Soler hit an RBI single off Frank Herrmann in the first, with Javier Baez scoring on a throw to second. Bryant added his two-run homer in the third and the Cubs scored four runs off Herrmann in the fourth, on a leadoff homer from Soler, a sac fly from Junior Lake and back-to-back RBI doubles by Welington Castillo and Addison Russell. Felix Doubront, competing for the fifth spot of the Cubs' rotation, yielded five runs in the bottom of the fifth. David Freese, C.J. Cron and Collin Cowgill singled, and Drew Butera -- a favorite to be the Angels' backup catcher -- hit a three-run homer. Three batters later, Trout laced an RBI single to left. "It's early, but after the first three or four at-bats he's really gotten comfortable," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said of Trout, who also stole a base and drew a walk. "He's just seeing the ball, getting hits with two strikes and doing a good job."

Hammel wasn't happy with his outing. "Nothing's crisp, my breaking ball is not sharp right now. It's a matter of building stamina and repetition. I guess it's that time of spring." Hammel didn't get a chance to talk to Ferrell much. "I gave him a high five and good effort after his at-bat," Hammel said. "He took a swing. I was wondering if he was going to swing, I was hoping he was going to swing. It's such a lose-lose situation for the pitcher right there. If you strike him out, you look like a jerk. If you walk him or hit him, you're the worst thing in the world." Cubs-Angels was Ferrell's second stop in his quest to play 10 positions for 10 teams in one day, in honor of Bert Campaneris to raise money for cancer charities. "We're huge fans," Scioscia said. "He's as funny as a guy can be. Everybody in our dugout loves him, we were happy to have him here, and it didn't become too much of a distraction." Up next: The Cubs have split-squad games Friday. Jake Arrieta will start for the Cubs in Las Vegas against the Athletics, while Tsuyoshi Wada will start against the Indians at Sloan Park in Mesa. This will be Wada's first start, as the lefty enters the competition for the one opening in the rotation. He was limited to one inning in his only outing because of some discomfort in his left thigh, but has said he's ready. Las Vegas native Bryant is on the travel roster for the series vs. the A's. The game from Las Vegas will be televised on Comcast SportsNet, while the game vs. the Indians will be available on Cubs.com with radio analyst Ron Coomer joining Mick Gillespie. -- Cubs.com La Stella proud of his contribution to small-ball victory By Carrie Muskat MESA, Ariz. -- It's the little things that can make a difference, and Tommy La Stella showed how important that is Wednesday. With the Cubs tied at 3 against the Dodgers in the eighth, La Stella walked, then ran from first to third on Chris Valaika's single before scoring what turned out to be the game-winning run on Adron Chamber's sacrifice fly. "Joe [Maddon] is really big preaching all camp about taking the extra base, especially in Spring Training," La Stella said Thursday. "If you're going to make a mistake in Spring Training, let it be an aggressive mistake and not a passive mistake. Hopefully, we take that mentality into the game." Maddon was pleased with the effort. "We've got to see more of that -- we haven't had the opportunity, based on hitting with runners on first," Maddon said. "They'll hear it from me often and [coaches] Davey [Martinez] and Brandon [Hyde] often. You can see why it's an impactful moment. It puts pressure on the pitcher." Valaika perfectly executed the hit-and-run to set up the run. "Obviously, it starts with [Valaika] putting contact on the ball," La Stella said. "It's the mindset Joe is trying to instill in us to take that extra base in Spring Training." Maddon also has emphasized to the players to be confident in their base running. "He wants you to be as free and loose as you can be," La Stella said. "He's always trying to enforce that you can't play this game timid or scared." Extra bases

• The Cubs did extra drills Thursday for the second straight day as Maddon continues to emphasize "zero defects." Maddon was happy with Wednesday's effort in a 4-3 win over the Dodgers, posting on Twitter: "ZD ... zero defects today ... playing Fundamental baseball is always a pleasure to watch ... Lester set the tone .. SAC fly wins it ... good stuff." He learned the "zero defects" from his coach at Lafayette College. "We were all about zero defects," Maddon said. "It's kind of fun to watch baseball when it happens. I was really pleased." • The Cubs already have Jon Lester in the rotation. Among the contenders for the fifth starter spot are lefties Travis Wood, Felix Doubront and Tsuyoshi Wada and right-hander Edwin Jackson. Maddon doesn't necessarily want another lefty in the rotation, but the best pitcher. "You look at who you've got," Maddon said. "You look to see who's the best candidate right or left-handed. To have another lefty, it could help in certain moments. I'm not looking that we have to have another lefty." • The Cubs have split-squad games Friday and Saturday, with half the team going to Las Vegas to play the Athletics. Maddon said they will likely make roster moves after the weekend. He said he talked to "Geo" about it, then caught himself. He meant Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer, but mashed their names together, then jokingly added he chatted with "Geo and Thed." • A reporter asked Maddon for his personal goals. The manager decided to keep that to himself but got some help from the media, including "everybody loves everybody," which he used to write on top of his lineup cards in Tampa Bay. Now that he's in Chicago, Maddon needs some new material. "I can't repeat in Chicago what I've already done," he said, laughing. -- ESPNChicago.com Cubs camp analysis: Storylines abound By Jesse Rogers MESA, Ariz. -- To say the first few weeks of spring training for the Chicago Cubs have been interesting would be an understatement. That was before actor Will Ferrell donned a uniform, played first base for the Cubs and jokingly berated young Addison Russell while acting as third-base coach during Thursday's game against the Los Angeles Angels. At least it was for a good cause. For a while this month, it looked as if it might be the same old Cubs. Sloppy play on the diamond led to an 0-6-1 start to Joe Maddon's managerial tenure -- but a stern talking-to about fundamentals by the mad scientist did the trick, and that very day the Cubs won their first game. Not that winning or losing in the spring matters, but how you play the game does, and Maddon stressed just that. There have been two signature moments this spring, and both occurred in a span of 24 hours. One was Maddon's semi-rant Wednesday about his team making way too many mental mistakes -- in the field and on the basepaths. The other occurred the previous day, when Jorge Soler, Javier Baez and Kris Bryant went back-to-back-to-back against the Cleveland Indians. That's one you'll always remember, particularly if all three make it big in the majors. Bryant rising I would be shocked if Bryant isn't a star in a short time. After Thursday's game, he leads all hitters in Arizona or Florida in home runs, with four in just 14 at-bats. What a surprise, right? The 23-year-old has thrown a few balls away at third base, so management can always fall back on his defense if/when they send him down to the minors

next month. And that's nothing to lose sleep over -- he'll be here soon enough, and when he arrives, the Cubs have an instant star on their hands. Nothing fazes the kid, not even all this hype. Soler, meanwhile, looks like a beast. He has the potential to be an on-base machine -- he'll take some walks and yet is able to muscle balls over the infield or break some bats and earn extra hits because of his strength. All the outfielder needs to do is stay healthy. Infielder Baez is definitely having his good moments. Some viewed a recent blog post on Baez as harsh, but it wasn't meant to be. It was meant as a reality check, and sometimes, reality is harsh. Production is what counts from here on out -- and I mean starting in April. Yes, the 22-year-old Baez is making some changes to his mechanics, but his approach still needs work. If both need to be addressed in the minors, so be it. If he’s taking the "two steps forward, one step back" path, then it will come in time. If he's stuck in neutral, that's a different story. Maybe he does figure it out now, but we just can't be as sure about Baez as we are about Bryant or Soler. I'd like to see him swing at strikes first and foremost. Let's leave it at that and see how things play out. Maddon's impact Back to Maddon. It’s been an interesting experience seeing how he operates, and now I understand why players such as David Ross or Jon Lester say it was always difficult to face a Maddon-coached team. He pushes the envelope, maximizes wherever he can and forces the opponent back on its heels. I have no doubt his team took his aggressive instructions to heart at the beginning of camp, which led to all sorts of baserunning blunders during the first week of Cactus League play. Maddon told them not to worry about mistakes and, well, they didn't. But now, he's already started to rein his players in a little until they get used to the right way to do things. When the approach comes together, it will put the requisite pressure on the opponent. I absolutely love Maddon's obsession with baserunning -- such an underrated aspect of the game. Bigger picture, Maddon is a master of the psychological part of managing. He's loved by his players because he has few rules. But the reality is, the one rule he has -- Respect 90 -- covers a whole lot of things. It's not just about running hard to first base; it's about playing the game the right way from top to bottom. The rules he doesn't have -- such as a dress code or early arrival to the ballpark -- make total sense and have nothing to do with winning or losing. All of this makes the players feel as if they're not being controlled. Who cares what a team wears on a chartered flight? I believe the players will buy what Maddon is selling sooner because he's set this vibe in camp. As for my job? Business president Crane Kenney should sell tickets to Maddon's daily media briefings. The Cubs would make a lot of money. If you wanted a down-to-earth manager, you have one. I mean, he's giving plot updates on reruns of "The Office." He'll talk fishing and music, wine and schools. Cub University provided some fodder for a couple of days, and he'll talk baseball until every last reporter is done asking questions. And no question is viewed as a challenge to his knowledge. How could it be? The man knows the game. Will everything work once the team gets to Chicago? That remains to be seen. No amount of charisma will make up for it if the Cubs aren't winning when they should be. The charm lasts only so long, but right now, Maddon is as advertised. Youth movement On the field, several players beside the usual group have stood out. It's only spring, so take things with a grain of salt. Russell looks so smooth at shortstop as well as at the plate it's hard not to see him at that position in the coming years. The Cubs would not give him up to the Philadelphia Phillies for Cole Hamels, according to league sources, so that tells you how they feel about him. Mike Olt looks like he did last spring: a professional hitter. And he claims it's different this time around. According to him, last March -- even when having success -- he was basically getting lucky. This time, he has a plan at the plate, he claims. So let's play the game. What if Olt wins the third-base job? Does he get a two-to-four-week tryout before Bryant is called up? Olt is by far the best defensive third baseman on the team, so would that then push Bryant to the outfield? Bryant is going to need to take some reps out there. Expect that to happen as this month continues. Like the Cubs would tell you, it's a good problem to have. But let's see if Olt keeps it up.

Meanwhile, it's hard to find fault with anything Kyle Schwarber or Albert Almora have done. Maybe they're facing easier pitching, or maybe they're not being taken seriously when pinch hitting late in the game, but they give professional at-bats as well. As with Olt, Almora said he has a plan this time around -- as opposed to last spring, when the outfielder just wanted to "ambush" the pitcher. And his instincts in center are top notch. Considering his personal issues -- his father was battling cancer during last season -- Almora probably deserves another chance after falling in many prospect rankings. It might sound as though I'm applauding every young player the Cubs have in camp, but remember, this is the top-ranked farm system for a reason. There's another thing that stands out: the maturity of the organization's young players. That’s not a cliché or a myth. That's real, and it's by design. The peak age of players is coming down in baseball, which means the younger they are when thrust onto the playing field, the more mature they need to be. Cubs president Theo Epstein knows this -- it's his market advantage right now. As a side note, this might be one of the best "interview" teams Chicago has seen in a long time. From Miguel Montero -- the catcher will almost certainly be the first to lose it if things go bad -- to Dexter Fowler to Ross to newcomer Phil Coke, we won't be hard-pressed to find a good quote. It's a good thing that I've gone this long and haven't even mentioned Anthony Rizzo or Starlin Castro. Remember when they were in every headline, every lead paragraph? Now they are just part of the team -- though Rizzo is the unquestioned leader of this group. And these developments could be the best thing to happen to Castro. Let him go about his business. Let's see what he can do finally being on a good team. Lester focused As for Lester, I've never seen a more serious athlete. It might be exactly what the Cubs need. You can’t lead him into a cliché or take him off message. The 31-year-old lefty wants to win and expects everyone around him to pull their weight. Question: "Should the young players be given some time?" Lester: "Nope. Time to grow up." As for the rest of spring training, decisions have to be made with catcher Welington Castillo and with pitchers Travis Wood, Edwin Jackson and Tsuyoshi Wada. It's been quiet on the trade front, but noise will get louder as Opening Day approaches. If scouts are paying attention, they would have seen an excellent game Tuesday from Castillo. Lost in the back-to-back-to-backs was his home run, single and throwing out two runners. Many fans probably think Castillo, rather than Ross, is the catcher who should be platooned with the left-handed-hitting Montero -- and maybe he should be -- but there are so few lefty starters it might be a waste of his talent. And the Cubs like what Ross brings to the clubhouse. It can't be measured in the box score. The front office should still max out on a deal for Castillo because there is so little good catching out there. The Hamels trade talk, meanwhile, should pick up again. Hamels said publicly at the beginning of camp he wanted to be moved, and the Phillies will need to accommodate him at some point. Castillo, Wood and a combination of young players not named Soler, Bryant or Russell has to be a good starting point if Philadelphia finally lowers its demands. Baez, Arismendy Alcantara and Almora shouldn't be off limits. If I'm Philly, though, I ask for Kyle Hendricks. Wood's stuff might not work as well in Citizens Bank Park. And this isn't the Cubs getting rid of their trash. Castillo is a legit starter. Wood, if the Phillies would take him, is one year removed from being an All-Star. Yes, the hitters are second tier compared to the Cubs' top guys, but they're not bad. And the Phillies can't have Schwarber, either -- Epstein would nix that quickly. And remember: Come next offseason, the Cubs will be able to get a top-of-the-line pitcher for nothing but money, so they aren't going to be forced into anything. So there's plenty to look forward to as the Cubs head toward April. There might not be any bleachers to sit in at Wrigley Field, but there will be meaningful games to be played -- something we haven't said about that ballpark in quite a while. After their Las Vegas trip this weekend, the Cubs will start to trim down the roster and Maddon can begin to fine-tune his lineup. Now that he's had some time to evaluate, he can hone in on his message and sharpen his players for the grind. Where it will end this season is anyone's guess, but it's been an interesting start.

-- ESPNChicago.com 5 questions with... Jake Arrieta By Jesse Rogers MESA, Ariz. -- Chicago Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta took time to answer five pressing questions at spring training. 1. What pitch would you like to steal from another pitcher? JA: Man, that’s a tough one. Let’s say Aroldis Chapman's heater. 2. You’ve been in the National League now for about a year and a half. Who’s the toughest hitter you’ve faced? JA: Andrew McCutcheon of the Pirates. It’s not that he’s gotten to me too bad, but just tough at-bats. Super quick hands, gets to the ball inside, covers the ball away. You have to be ready for a battle when he steps into the box. 3. What’s the worst road city? JA: Gotta be Cincinnati. There’s just nothing to do there. Not much going on. 4. Tell us one thing we don’t know about quiet teammate Kyle Hendricks. JA: Hendricks is a scratch golfer but he doesn’t like golf. His dad is a golf pro, and Kyle is really good but he doesn’t like it. Figure that one out. He played growing up. I’ve never heard of a scratch golfer not liking the game, so he’s an idiot. 5. Recently you saw the movie Fifty Shades of Grey with teammate Jason Hammel and your wives. Review the movie. JA: Low-budget. Feel like the acting was pretty elementary. Kind of forced. I expected more. I was kind of left disappointed. -- CSNChicago.com Cubs: Jason Hammel taking the simple road to success By JJ Stankevitz TEMPE, Ariz. — Jason Hammel had a positive spin on his sub-optimal start Thursday against the Angels that went beyond the usual “it’s just spring, I’m getting my work in” line. “It’s hard to be pissed off at myself because you got Will Ferrell running around the field too,” Hammel laughed. Before Ferrell coached third base, struck out and played an out at first base for the Cubs, Hammel allowed three runs on five hits with two walks and two strikeouts in three innings against Los Angeles on a warm, breezy afternoon at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Hammel admitted he didn’t have much of a feel for his pitches, but expect that to eventually come with a few more weeks left of spring training. This is a guy who, entering Year 10 in the majors, understands himself far better than he did when he first broke in with Joe Maddon’s Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Hammel spent his first three major league seasons in St. Petersburg, posting a 5.90 ERA over 207 1/3 innings between 2006-2008. The pitcher he was in his mid-20s doesn’t much resemble the one he is now.

“I was a slow learner,” Hammel said. “I was a thrower when I came up to the big leagues, I was just trying to blow guys away. Obviously that doesn’t work and at some point you have to figure out, do I want to keep getting my teeth knocked in or do I want to make an adjustment.” Getting traded to Colorado may have been the best thing to happen to Hammel’s career, even if the results (a 4.63 ERA from 2009-2011) didn’t show it. Pitching half his games at Coors Field forced Hammel to develop a sinker, which has the added benefit of running the opposite direction of his slider. It’s that sinker-slider combination that pushed Hammel to post a 2.98 ERA over 17 starts with the Cubs last year. Ninety-one percent of pitches Hammel threw before his mid-summer trade to Oakland were either a sinker, four-seam fastball or slider, while his curveball (6.3 percent) and changeup (2.7 percent) became merely change-of-pace pitches to mix in a few times a game. Hammel used his curveball as his out-pitch early in his major league career, but as he developed his sinker he began replacing it more and more with his slider. “I’m not going to try to re-create the wheel and all of a sudden start adding more pitches like cutters and that. That’s not what I do,” Hammel said. “I know what pitcher I am and I’m just going to continue doing the same thing.” 2014 was the culmination of that development, even if he struggled over 13 starts after leaving Lakeview for the Bay Area. Madden was impressed to see the kind of strides Hammel made in the seven years since they last were together. “It’s about simplification and that’s what it sounds like he’s done, understanding himself,” Maddon said. “And there’s a lot of ways to help that with bad information. But when a guy’s got that kind of self-awareness and can do it on his own, it’s a lot better.” The Cubs liked what Hammel showed them last year enough to give the 32-year-old right-hander a two-year, $20 million deal with a $10 million option for 2017. He’s not back on Clark and Addison on a one-year deal that mostly makes him an attractive trade chip — he was brought in to be a reliable rotation piece for a contending club. Hammel doens’t need to be flashy — he just needs to be someone who gets more ground balls than fly balls and the success will come, no matter how simple the route is to get to that point. And Hammel has seen just how good a Maddon-managed team can be, having reached the World Series with the Rays in 2008. He’s a firm believer in Theo Epstein’s line, that 2014 was the last year the Cubs would be obvious sellers at the deadline and look to move players like him. “It’s a matter of us all pushing in the same direction now,” Hammel said. “The personnel’s here, we got a great leader in Joe Maddon now — I played with him for a couple years in Tampa and I know what he brings to the table.” -- CSNChicago.com Will Ferrell strikes out, coaches third, plays first for Cubs By JJ Stankevitz TEMPE, Ariz. — Will Ferrell called Addison Russell over to him and began wildly yelling and pointing. Whatever coaching the actor and comedian gave the highly-touted Cubs prospect seemed to work, as Russell ripped an RBI double a few pitches later. “He’s very motivating out there,” laughed first baseman Mike Olt. Ferrell coached third base, got an at-bat and played one out at first base for the Cubs as part of a stunt in which he’ll play all nine positions across five Cactus League games Thursday to raise awareness for cancer research. He

first played for Oakland and Seattle before coming to Tempe, where he played center field for the Angels — and successfully fielded a line drive single off the bat of Welington Castillo. Ferrell switched uniforms between the bottom of the third and top of the fourth, donning a helmet and taking a handful of white posterboards out to the third base coaches box with the “signs.” He held one up to Jorge Soler (who doesn’t speak English): “Don’t pull a muscle,” a directive the Cubs outfielder accomplished on his trot around the bases following a tape measure home run. The Cubs plated four runs with Ferrell coaching third base, with Kris Bryant, Castillo and Russell delivering RBI doubles and Junior Lake a run-scoring sacrifice fly. After Russell’s double — which knocked Angels reliever Matt Windstorm out of the game — Cubs manager Joe Maddon asked Ferrell if he wanted to pinch hit. So as righty Zach Stewart warmed up, Ferrell grabbed a bat and a helmet and, after a brief discussion with Chris Denorfia, stepped into the box. The Angels loaded the right side of the infield with four fielders, and after taking two pitches Ferrell struck out. He’s scheduled to bat as a designated hitter in this evening’s White Sox-Giants game at Camelback Ranch. “That’s such a lose-lose situation for the pitcher there,” Cubs starter Jason Hammel said, “because if you strike him out you look like a jerk and if you walk him or hit him or give up a hit you’re the worst thing in the world. It was fun to watch.” Ferrell then took the field at first base, catching some warm-up throws before playing there for one out and being removed from the game. During those warm-ups, Russell skipped a throw to Ferrell and Bryant fired a throw to test Ferrell’s mettle. “We were warming up and Addy threw one in the dirt, and I was like yes,” Bryant said. “I’m used to guys who can catch it over there, and I threw one really hard to see what he would do and it kind of went off on him. He caught it, which I was surprised about.” After officially entering the box score at first base on a flyout to left, Ferrell was whisked off the field and off to play for Arizona. Olt replaced Ferrell at first base, with Ferrell throwing his glove (actually Chris Valaika’s) into the dirt instead of handing it to Olt. “I think he said, ‘don’t do this to me,’” Olt said. “I said, ‘I gotta let you go.’” The Cubs led, 8-3, when Ferrell departed but Los Angeles came back to win 10-9. While having Ferrell and a horde of cameras and microphones milling around the field was a little distracting, it wasn’t as disruptive as it could’ve been — the breaks weren’t too long to get the actor on the field, and the pace of the game wasn’t broken up too much by having him on it. “It was a lot of fun, man,” Maddon said. “Nice play in the outfield, he was a lot of fun on the bench. I think it’s good for baseball in general to have him do something like that with his popularity.”’ -- Chicago Tribune Starter Jason Hammel laboring through some early spring struggles By Mark Gonzales TEMPE, Ariz. — The brief appearance of actor-comedian Will Ferrell as an opponent just diverted attention from the early struggles of Jason Hammel.

"It's hard to get pissed off at myself because you have Will Ferrell running around the field," Hammel said Thursday after the Cubs pitcher allowed three runs on five hits in three innings against the Angels. "Obviously, it's for a great cause. I'm pumped about that. "Baseball-wise, I'm definitely not crisp right now. And I have some things to work on." When asked to elaborate, Hammel replied, "just my feel for pitches. Nothing is crisp. My breaking ball is not sharp. It's a matter of still building stamina and repetition. I guess it's that time of spring." Hammel, who was 8-5 with the Cubs, including a 4-1 mark and 2.35 ERA at Wrigley Field before he was traded to the Athletics on July 5, has allowed nine hits and three walks in five innings. "Call that getting my work in," Hammel said with a trace of resignation. "Getting my pitch count up. That's the main objective." Hammel realizes he will have to overcome some long stretches as he did before the bottom of the second when Ferrell arrived as part of his effort to play all positions in one day for a variety of teams to raise money for cancer research. "Long stretches on the bench, long stretches on the mound," Hammel said. "The first five innings have been long innings. I guess we'll chalk it up to getting work in. I definitely got some work to do to get ready, but I'm confident I'll be ready." Castro's climb: One of the pre-spring issues that hasn't bubbled to the surface so far has been the health of shortstop Starlin Castro, who missed the final four weeks of spring training in 2014 and nearly two weeks in the spring of 2013 because of hamstring injuries. His season ended on Sept. 2 last year when he suffered a high left ankle sprain. Castro feels strong and his range hasn't been limited. "I make sure I come here to get ready every day," said Castro, who received a break from play Thursday. "I make sure I stretch every morning and then get in the hot tub. Thank God I'm healthy. I feel so good. My legs feel great. I just have to keep doing my routine here." Castro believes the biggest benefit is getting live at-bats and avoiding the slow starts that he has coped with during the first week the last two seasons. "As soon as the season starts, we'll be ready," Castro said. "We don't need a week or two weeks to get the feel. If I play here, I can get 50-60 at-bats before the season starts.'' Priority list: The Cubs continued to work on a series of fundamental drills before their game Thursday, and they will resume them Monday after a series of split-squad games and a game Sunday against the Reds. Manager Joe Maddon said he has not spoken with catcher Welington Castillo, who showboated running the bases after hitting a home run Tuesday. "I don't know where it sits on my pecking order, but I didn't do it," Maddon said. Viva Las Vegas: Kris Bryant received permission to depart early to his hometown of Las Vegas in preparation for the Cubs' two split-squad games Friday and Saturday against the Athletics. "I have a lot of family coming," Bryant said. "Going home to Vegas and playing in front of your friends and family, you can't really beat that. I'm excited to get out there and show them what I have.'' Bryant said some of his family members are traveling from as far away as Massachusetts.

Other notable players scheduled to make the trip are Anthony Rizzo, Jorge Soler, Javier Baez, Miguel Montero, Dexter Fowler, Kyle Schwarber and Addison Russell. Maddon will remain in Mesa to manage the split-squad games and attend to his expecting daughter Sarah, who was induced Thursday. -- Chicago Tribune Will Ferrell a big hit with the Cubs, Sox By Mark Gonzales Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon had a prior incident with comedian-actor Will Ferrell dating back to his days with the Tampa Bay Rays. Maddon was managing at Yankee Stadium when he heard a relentless voice. "Someone was ragging me the whole game," Maddon recalled. "'Hey, Joe. Hey Maddon.' I wouldn’t turn around. "After the game, the guys told me, ‘That was Will Ferrell.'" Maddon replied: "Why didn’t you tell me that was Will Ferrell?" At any rate, Maddon said that at least Ferrell knows his name and is a big fan of his movies, saying he's watched Talladega Nights at least 20 times and Step-Brothers 25 times. Ferrell played for the Angels and Cubs as part of his attempt to play all nine positions at five different ballparks. As for the injury risk, Maddon quipped: "He’s a big boy. He knows what he’s getting into. I’m sure the insurance policy is exorbitant." Ferrell arrived before the bottom of the second inning in an Angels’ uniform and took some popcorn from a fan before he was mobbed by Angels players in the dugout. He replaced Angels star center fielder Mike Trout in the top of the third, waved to fans sitting on the left field berm. Farrell played a deep center field but managed to field Welington Castillo’s single cleanly. After the top of the third ended, Ferrell retreated to the visitor’s clubhouse, where he switched uniforms and took over third base coaching duties. Ferrell flashed signs in a sarcastic tone, got into a mock argument with Addison Russell. Ferrell also flashed a series of signs that read, “Don’t Pull a Muscle,” “Take a Pitch,” “Don’t Steal,” and “Remember, These Games Don’t Count.” The Cubs scored four runs in the fourth, and Ferrell actually batted with two outs in the inning. With the Angels positioning all their infielders to the right side, Ferrell struck out on three pitches against Zach Stewart. "At that moment he understood how fast the major league fastball is," Maddon quipped. In the bottom of the fourth, Ferrell played first base but was tested while fielding warmup throws. "Addison (Russell) threw one in the dirt, and I said, ‘yes,’ " third baseman Kris Bryant joked. "It was funny. I’m used to guys who can catch it over there, and I threw one very hard just to see what he would do, and (the throw) went off on him. That was funny. But he caught it." Ferrell was lifted after one out for Mike Olt and slammed his glove in mock disgust before leaving for the Reds-Diamondbacks game at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale.

“(Ferrell) said, 'don’t do this to me,' " Olt said. "I told him, 'I got to let you go. You’re on your way.’ " "He said something to the umpire," Maddon deadpanned. "That attitude, I didn’t want it permeating the rest of the dugout." At the White Sox-Giants game, Ferrell arrived at Camelback Ranch in the top of the ninth inning, delaying the game while his helicopter landed to Blue Oyster Cult's "Don't Fear the Reaper." Farrell high-fived players in the White Sox dugout, then came out to hit against Jean Machi to start the bottom of the ninth. Ferrell had a two-strike foul ball and shook his hand as though he hurt himself. "Put on a good at-bat," Sox DH Adam La Roche said. "Made contact. Not bad." Farrell fanned weakly and walked back to the Sox dugout, where it was announced he was traded to the Giants. "He was there for a minute and then got traded," La Roche said. "That's baseball." Ferrell came out to catch Machi, but eventually called for an intentional walk. After the walk, he was replaced as catcher and argued with Bruce Bochy as they walked into the dugout. "That was pretty crazy," La Roche said. "It obviously caused a little ruckus there, but for a pretty cool cause. Fund-raiser for cancer. Everyone in here was glad to be part of it." -- Chicago Tribune Thursday's recap: Angels 10, Cubs 9 By Mark Gonzales The summary The action started before actor-comedian Will Ferrell arrived in the middle of the second inning in an Angels uniform and took some popcorn from a fan as he strolled down the first-base line to the Angels dugout. Kris Bryant ripped two home runs and a double, and Jorge Soler hit a home run that landed near the top of the left-field berm in the Cubs' 10-9 loss in Tempe. At the plate The Cubs scored four times with Ferrell coaching third, as Welington Castillo and Addison Russell hit consecutive doubles. On the mound Left-hander Felix Doubront, trying to earn a spot as the fifth starter or long reliever, allowed five of his six runs in the fifth. In the field Bryant was charged with a throwing error on a fielder's choice. Russell made two dazzling plays at shortstop in the third. Key number

6. Home runs for Bryant and Soler this spring. The quote "Once we get to two or three weeks from now, we'll be a little crisper and sharper on the breaking balls. I can't do much more than that." — starter Jason Hammel after allowing three runs on five hits in three innings The quote II "You take the spirit of what was going on. It was good for baseball. It's an exhibition. It was fun for both sides. Ferrell actually responded well." — Cubs manager Joe Maddon Up next Split squad: vs. Indians, 3:05 p.m. Friday in Mesa, LH Tsuyoshi Wada vs. LH T.J. House; vs. Athletics, 7:05 p.m. in Las Vegas, RH Jake Arrieta vs. LH Drew Pomeranz. -- Chicago Tribune Cubs in the midst of the Joe Maddon learning experience By Paul Sullivan MESA, Ariz. — It hasn't exactly been the best of times for the Cubs. The bleacher construction project has seen delay after delay, the players aren't guaranteed they'll have hot water in the showers on opening day and they were the only team in spring training without a victory before Wednesday's 4-3 triumph over the Dodgers. But what really has gotten Joe Maddon's goat was the poor fundamentals and sloppy outfield play, leading to some remedial drills Wednesday morning on how to relay the ball to the infield. On the bright side, the Cubs played flawlessly Wednesday in the first win of the Maddon era, and still have three weeks left to get their act together. "There have been some really good things, some tremendous talent on display," President Theo Epstein said. "And there has been a lot of sloppy play and fundamental mistakes. "If anyone — fans, media, executives, players, managers, coaches — was under the false belief … we could just show up, snap our fingers and play winning baseball, they've been disavowed of that notion by now. That's a good thing because that's what early March can be all about. "It has taken us through the first third of spring training, and we've witnessed the good, the bad and the ugly. The middle part can be about addressing that and working on it. The last part should be about finishing strong, winning some games and carrying some momentum into the season. It has been ugly, but moving along, it could be beneficial." Maddon oversaw the relay drills Wednesday morning, with $200 going to the best relay team to split up between them. That's walking around money to major leaguers, but free nonetheless. Maddon said as a player he didn't mind a back to the basics approach every spring, bringing up UCLA coach John Wooden's famous opening day practice lesson on how to lace up your sneakers. "Which was brilliant, actually," Maddon said. "I think sometimes we assume too much, and I talk about eradicating 'assumptionism.' I'm on that bandwagon, so when a guy gets to the big leagues, (he thinks) because he's in the big leagues means that then you don't have to cover this minutiae.

"My best instructors would tell me the same thing every year. And here's what would happen. I would say 'Damn, I've heard that 1,000 times,' and then I heard it 1,001 times. Or I'd say, 'Damn, I forgot that from last year.' And it's true. We all do the same thing. I want our (coaches) to treat our guys as though they had never heard anything before." Players are also discovering Maddon's do's and don't's, including his feelings on showboating home runs, which the players call "pimping." When he heard Welington Castillo did it, he said they needed to talk. "Surely … all this stuff that has become part of this generation of athletes, whether you agree with it being right or wrong, does it matter?" Maddon said. "I would just prefer our guys act like they've done it before and that they're going to do it again." It's a feeling out process for everyone, and all the offseason moves have added scrutiny. Anthony Rizzo admitted there has been "a lot of hype" about the Cubs, though he added it's too early to be concerned about their play. Is Rizzo still sticking by his prediction? "What was that?" he said. That the Cubs will win the Central Division? "I'm not going to answer that question," he politely said. Cactus League title? "We're in a hole," he said. It can only go up from here. --