As announced on Saturday afternoon, Jeff Samardzija will start the Cubs' Cactus League opener on Wednesday against the Dodgers at HoHoKam Park. Lou Piniella will hold Carlos Zambrano and Ryan Dempster out of the first week games. Due to the extended exhibition season, the starters will have plenty of time to get their work in.
Carlos Marmol did not make his decision on pitching for the Dominican Republic in the WBC on Saturday...he is expected to make an announcement on Sunday.
Carlos Zambrano
According to a report from the Tribune, Carlos Zambrano threw live batting practice on Saturday to minor leaguers with Larry Rothschild and Mark O'Neal monitoring him. Zambrano did not talk to the media afterwards and "stomped out of the clubhouse shouting 'beat it' in Spanish."
The Cubs said not to read anything into it. No one is worried about Zambrano's shoulder according to the Tribune, "some are worried about his head."
Tidbits
- The Cubs' minor league teams report to Fitch Park on March 12. Minor League Spring Training games begin on March 19.
- According to a report on Cubs.com, the Cubs starting pitchers will throw around 27-28 innings this spring, same workload as in past years.
- A lot was made on Saturday about the height of the Cubs middle infielders by the mainstream media...Mike Fontenot and Aaron Miles stand at 5'8" while Ryan Theriot is listed at 5'11".
Cubs on MLB Network
The MLB Network will replay in its entirety The Sandberg Game from June 23, 1984 on Sunday at 3:00pm C.T. Bob Costas called the game from Wrigley on NBC's Game of the Week.
Steve Trout started the game that put Ryne Sandberg on the national map....a week after they acquired Rick Sutcliffe from the Cleveland Indians.
Videos from Mesa - WGN TV
Gerald Perry's father passed away on Friday, thoughts and prayers go out to the Perry Family.
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