http://www.grooveshow.com/cubslog/ Tracking the Chicago Cubs en-us Copyright 2004 April 14, 2005 http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20050413 The Chicago Cubs center fielder has taken that approach to the plate, and it's paid off. He has a hit in every one of the nine games so far and is batting .310 (13-for-42) in that stretch. New hitting coach Gene Clines has helped Patterson in the process. "I think it's just how I prepare myself and get ready for every game," Patterson said of his approach. "I think your preparation is a key, really. That's what I focus on is how I prepare for the game. Whatever happens, happens. http://www.suntimes.com/output/cubs/cst-spt-cub14.html After all the hand-wringing and nail-biting over his inflamed right elbow, Mark Prior has steadied anyone who still has the shakes about the Cubs. In his season debut Wednesday, Prior quieted fears by looking like the same pitcher who went 18-6 in 2003 and drew comparisons to Tom Seaver. http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory?id=664071 The game was rescheduled as part of a doubleheader Wednesday starting at 12:05 p.m. CDT. Chicago's Kerry Wood will face Jake Peavy in the opener. Prior, activated from the disabled list Tuesday, pitches against San Diego's Brian Lawrence in the second game. http://wgntv.trb.com/sports/wgntv-sports-041105cubs-gallery.photogallery http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/preview?gid=250412116 Prior will make his first start of the season when he faces Padres' ace Jake Peavy in the middle game of their series at Wrigley Field. "`I feel good and ready to go,'' Prior said Monday. "I expect to give us a chance to win the ballgame.'' Prior was on the disabled list with elbow inflammation and made one minor league rehab start in Albuquerque with Triple-A Iowa on April 7. He struggled, giving up seven runs in six innings, including six in the first. He threw 30 pitches off the mound Sunday but the Cubs wanted to see how his elbow felt Monday before making any decisions. http://story.scout.com/a.z?s=260 When the Cubs placed Todd Walker on the 15-day DL and called up Mike Fontenot from Triple-A on Monday, they replaced one former LSU star second baseman with another on their 25-man roster. http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=rs-fourforfour041205 1. When will we see the old Mark Prior? Ryne Sandberg: Starting the season on the DL with elbow inflammation, Prior threw on the side Sunday and is expected to make his first start Tuesday against the Padres. I think the Chicago Cubs will be careful with Prior because he doesn't have an entire spring training under his belt. http://www.grooveshow.com/cubslog/ We were watching "Next Year is Here" as a prelude to opening day at Wrigley Field and at the end they presented a montage of scenes from last year. Lo and behold, at the end as the final image that puts a capper on last year and set the tone for this year, was one of the signs we displayed both at Wrigley on a visit to Chicago and displayed in SBC Park when the Cubs played the Giants in August. http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap?gid=250404129 The Chicago Cubs' offense looked just fine without Sammy Sosa and Moises Alou. Aramis Ramirez celebrated a new contract by going 3-for-4 with a two-run homer and four RBIs, and the Cubs amassed 23 hits Monday in a 16-6 rout of the Arizona Diamondbacks. "It's a great day for Aramis,'' Cubs manager Dusty Baker said. "He got a lot richer and he got a lot of hits.'' http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/events/opening_day/index_05.jsp?c_id=chc The Cubs begin a new era in Arizona on Monday, as Carlos Zambrano and company, hit the field to open the 2005 season against the Diamondbacks. http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap;_ylc=X3oDMTBpcDBuM2RlBF9TAzk1ODYxNzc3BHNlYwN0aA--?gid=250324116 "He didn't sleep well last night, and his back is real tight so we decided not to take a chance in throwing him,'' Cubs manager Dusty Baker said. "It's not his arm. It's his back, which he has trouble with every once in a while. He wanted to pitch, but we thought it would be better not to take a chance with him.'' http://www.suntimes.com/output/cubs/cst-spt-cside14.html Baker's Dozen is a work in progress. The Cubs haven't even made the final decision on how many pitchers they will carry on the 25-man Opening Day roster, but they likely are leaning toward a 12-man staff rather than the usual 11. http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-050313cubsbits,1,1660539.story?coll=cs-home-headlines Jon Leicester, Michael Wuertz and Todd Wellemeyer all spent time in the Cubs' revolving-door bullpen last year, with varying degrees of success. http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20050313 Kerry Wood was on schedule to play catch Monday, part of his rehab from a brief bout with tightness in his right shoulder that knocked him out of his last start. However, the Chicago Cubs are considering a backup plan if the right-hander isn't ready for Opening Day, which is just three weeks away. Wood will throw on flat ground Monday, but pitching coach Larry Rothschild said there's a chance he could throw off a mound as early as Tuesday depending on how he f http://wgntv.trb.com/sports/custom/weblog/wgnsports/ The WGN Sports baseball blog is a fan forum for America's favorite pastime. Hosted by Len Kasper and Bob Brenly, this is your opportunity to talk baseball, no matter what the subject ...from the bullpen to the dugout, from the front office to the clubhouse and from the bleachers to the broadcast booth. http://www.suntimes.com/output/cubs/cst-spt-cub13.html The second baseman wants the long-overdue respect as a defensive player that has eluded him since crusty manager Tom Kelly sabotaged him as a young player with the Minnesota Twins from 1996 to 2000. http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/columnists/cs-050210morrissey,1,5816971.column?coll=cs-home-headlines Rick Morrissey: "Some people seem mystified as to how the Cubs could have divested themselves of such wonderful human beings as Sammy Sosa, Moises Alou, Kyle Farnsworth and Kent Mercker." http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story The Chicago Cubs wrapped up a busy week Friday, agreeing to an $8.95 million, one-year deal with third baseman Aramis Ramirez and a $3.76 million, one-year contract with right-hander Carlos Zambrano. The pair were the last two Cubs in arbitration to settle among the five who filed last month. "Both of these guys are cornerstone players for us," general manager Jim Hendry said. http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story It's too soon to determine whether the trade that brought Sammy Sosa to Baltimore will revive his sputtering career and salvage his sullied reputation. This much is certain: By acquiring one of the greatest home run hitters, the Orioles turned around a frustrating offseason in which the most notable event was jail time served by the ace of the staff. http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-050203crosstown,1,5187964.story?coll=cs-cubs-headlines North and south of Madison Street, Chicago's two biggest baseball stars have been removed rudely, the ugly annulments leaving only scrapbook memories of happier summer days when all was right in right field. Yes, the Cubs and White Sox will be playing without Sammy Sosa and Magglio Ordonez, respectively, and playing with their fans' emotions. In their places are Question Marks, with capitals because the phrase is as meaningful as the players' names. http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-050203cubs,1,7794342.story?coll=cs-home-headlines Though the Sammy Sosa deal probably will be debated for years, the biggest gamble Cubs general manager Jim Hendry took this off-season may have had nothing to do with the high-maintenance slugger. Hendry's decision to start 2005 without an established closer could have a bigger affect on the Cubs' postseason chances than replacing one aging right fielder with another. http://www.suntimes.com/output/cubs/cst-spt-kiley04.html They are in negotiations about a possible trade of reliever Kyle Farnsworth, the likeliest move general manager Jim Hendry might make before pitchers and catchers report for spring training in Mesa, Ariz., on Feb. 16. Farnsworth could be dealt for another major-league reliever, and other scenarios have the Cubs landing two or three prospects for the strong-armed but enigmatic 28-year-old. http://www.suntimes.com/output/cubs/cst-spt-sosa03.html As for his infamous boombox that unnamed teammates smashed when he wasn't there for the last game, Sosa said he isn't owed one. "No, because I got a new one here,'' he said. "Really, I don't want to talk about the past. I don't want to go into all the details of what happened because this is not my style. All the problems I had in Chicago are staying behind. "I don't regret what happened. We, together, are going to do some good things in Baltimore. Not I. We, all together. I'm prepared for this. I'm happy and I'm hungry.'' http://www.suntimes.com/output/cubs/cst-spt-cside03.html Hendry said Wednesday he believes his team will more than make up the production lost by the departure of Sosa and Moises Alou. ''We will have a better defense and a club that's more athletic,'' Hendry said from his Wrigley Field office. ''Sammy and Moises gave us a lot of production, but we expect to be just as effective or even improve on last year's production with the people we have now. http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-sosatrade He signed autographs, praised manager Lee Mazzilli and took great care in avoiding use of the word ``I'' when discussing his goals for this year. Still smarting from the backlash of his final days with the Chicago Cubs, Sammy Sosa was determined to make a good first impression with the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday. He really didn't have to try so hard, because the Orioles clearly were delighted to have him on their side.