rockin500
03-04-2003, 11:35 PM
MESA, Ariz. -- Mark Prior isn't worried about making the Chicago Cubs this spring.
The team's 2001 No. 1 draft pick, who reached the big leagues after nine minor league starts last year, is focusing on fine-tuning his mechanics. He's got a spot in the Cubs rotation. He's doing his best to keep it.
"Everybody tells me it's a process, it takes a couple (starts)," the 22-year-old right-hander said of the spring experience. "Talking to some of the veterans on this team, Spring Training is Spring Training. I feel good. (The ball's) not coming out of the hand as well as I would like but the results were there so I'm happy."
In his second spring start Tuesday, Prior gave up one hit over three innings against Anaheim and struck out two. It was much better than his first outing Feb. 28 against San Francisco, when he served up three runs on two hits and one walk.
"I still don't feel 100 percent comfortable yet but my goal going out today was to get better and improve," he said.
"I wasn't happy with the way I threw last time," Prior said. "I just wanted to go out and go after them and attack them. I went after them hard with my fastball and kind of got them a little on the defensive right away."
Arms watch: Carlos Zambrano, who also is projected to make the Cubs rotation, was happy that he didn't walk anyone in his three innings Monday against Milwaukee.
"I can give up a home run but (Tuesday) was good because I didn't walk anyone," Zambrano said.
The 21-year-old Venezuelan right-hander was 4-8 in 32 games, including 16 starts, last season with the Cubs. He's aiming for 30 starts and 200 innings this year.
"Why not? If I stay healthy, I can do that," he said. "I just have to stay healthy."
Juan Cruz did not fare as well, walking four in 1 1/3 innings Monday against the Colorado Rockies. However, Cruz was almost scratched because he also is bothered by the virus that's lingering in the clubhouse.
"I just heard there was a questionable call early and from that point he kind of lost his composure," Baker said of the right-hander. "In his defense, he wasn't feeling good and we didn't think he was going to pitch. He said he wanted to go pitch. That's the kind of guy we're looking for."
Feeling stronger: Sammy Sosa expects to be back in action Wednesday. He's been taking batting practice but held out of games because of a sore right quad. "(Wednesday) I'm going to be ready," Sosa said. ... Shortstop Alex Gonzalez is taking batting practice and running but has yet to get the go-ahead to play in a game. "Mentally, I'm ready to get back out there," Gonzalez said. ... The Cubs were waiting for the results of the MRI on Kevin Orie's right shoulder. ... Eric Karros and Charles Gipson both were unavailable Tuesday because of the virus that has spread through the Cubs clubhouse. ... Mark Grudzielanek re-injured his right ankle, which he had sprained before the games began, and was day to day. Grudzielanek was hurt in a collision at home plate with Anaheim catcher Bengie Molina in the first inning Tuesday. X-rays were negative. ... Said Baker: "If anything happens, I'd rather have it happen early than late. When you're concerned is if something happens the last week or two of Spring Training."
Comeback bid: After pitching one inning Monday, Rod Beck said that in a perfect world he would pitch every other day in Spring Training to prepare for the season. The veteran right-handed reliever is a non-roster invitee in the Cubs camp.
"Everybody wants more, especially guys trying to make the team," Baker said of Beck, trying to come back from elbow surgery. "I don't blame him. Guys will get more once we make cuts. Right now we're trying to reward a lot of people for their hard work in camp. He'll get work."
Happy together: Cubs bench coach Dick Pole was a former pitching coach and first base coach Gene Clines was a former hitting coach. But there's no fighting over turf.
"It is a cooperative venture," Baker said of his coaching staff. "Larry (Rothschild, pitching coach) welcomes Dick's input. It takes special people to make a cooperative venture work. You've got to have people who aren't threatened by another person's presence and a person can't be selfish."
Baker likes the idea of having Pole, who was a pitching coach with the Cubs from 1988-91, on the bench. Pole and Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti both pay attention to a lot of details.
"They notice a guy off the line or the manager giving a certain sign," Baker said.
Baker chimes in, too.
"I give my two cents on everything," he said. "That's my job and my prerogative."
Get 'em over, get 'em in: One of the problems the Cubs offense had last season was batting with runners in scoring position. The team hit .241 in those situations, and just .248 with runners on. Unfortunately, that trend has continued this spring.
"It's something we've got to address," Baker said. "Chances are, a lot of it is guys who are still learning to hit. You've got kids out there -- that's our job. Between innings we go over and tell them, 'Hey, man, in this situation, boom, boom, boom.'"
The Cubs failed to come through in the first inning Tuesday. Chicago loaded the bases with one out against the Angels but Troy O'Leary hit into an inning ending double play. Baker cringes when he sees missed scoring opportunities.
"You think I like seeing those men on third base left out there? Or first and second and double plays or bases loaded and double plays. I see them," Baker said.
The Skipper speaks: "You're not going to change something over the winter in a week." -- Baker said when asked about correcting some of the Cubs offensive problems from last season.
Weather report: It was a picture-perfect day, although a little cool, and the forecast called for temperatures slowly warming through the week.
Coming up: Kerry Wood will make his second start this spring against the Texas Rangers, newcomers to Arizona. Wood pitched only one inning in his other outing because he was bothered by the team-shared virus.
The team's 2001 No. 1 draft pick, who reached the big leagues after nine minor league starts last year, is focusing on fine-tuning his mechanics. He's got a spot in the Cubs rotation. He's doing his best to keep it.
"Everybody tells me it's a process, it takes a couple (starts)," the 22-year-old right-hander said of the spring experience. "Talking to some of the veterans on this team, Spring Training is Spring Training. I feel good. (The ball's) not coming out of the hand as well as I would like but the results were there so I'm happy."
In his second spring start Tuesday, Prior gave up one hit over three innings against Anaheim and struck out two. It was much better than his first outing Feb. 28 against San Francisco, when he served up three runs on two hits and one walk.
"I still don't feel 100 percent comfortable yet but my goal going out today was to get better and improve," he said.
"I wasn't happy with the way I threw last time," Prior said. "I just wanted to go out and go after them and attack them. I went after them hard with my fastball and kind of got them a little on the defensive right away."
Arms watch: Carlos Zambrano, who also is projected to make the Cubs rotation, was happy that he didn't walk anyone in his three innings Monday against Milwaukee.
"I can give up a home run but (Tuesday) was good because I didn't walk anyone," Zambrano said.
The 21-year-old Venezuelan right-hander was 4-8 in 32 games, including 16 starts, last season with the Cubs. He's aiming for 30 starts and 200 innings this year.
"Why not? If I stay healthy, I can do that," he said. "I just have to stay healthy."
Juan Cruz did not fare as well, walking four in 1 1/3 innings Monday against the Colorado Rockies. However, Cruz was almost scratched because he also is bothered by the virus that's lingering in the clubhouse.
"I just heard there was a questionable call early and from that point he kind of lost his composure," Baker said of the right-hander. "In his defense, he wasn't feeling good and we didn't think he was going to pitch. He said he wanted to go pitch. That's the kind of guy we're looking for."
Feeling stronger: Sammy Sosa expects to be back in action Wednesday. He's been taking batting practice but held out of games because of a sore right quad. "(Wednesday) I'm going to be ready," Sosa said. ... Shortstop Alex Gonzalez is taking batting practice and running but has yet to get the go-ahead to play in a game. "Mentally, I'm ready to get back out there," Gonzalez said. ... The Cubs were waiting for the results of the MRI on Kevin Orie's right shoulder. ... Eric Karros and Charles Gipson both were unavailable Tuesday because of the virus that has spread through the Cubs clubhouse. ... Mark Grudzielanek re-injured his right ankle, which he had sprained before the games began, and was day to day. Grudzielanek was hurt in a collision at home plate with Anaheim catcher Bengie Molina in the first inning Tuesday. X-rays were negative. ... Said Baker: "If anything happens, I'd rather have it happen early than late. When you're concerned is if something happens the last week or two of Spring Training."
Comeback bid: After pitching one inning Monday, Rod Beck said that in a perfect world he would pitch every other day in Spring Training to prepare for the season. The veteran right-handed reliever is a non-roster invitee in the Cubs camp.
"Everybody wants more, especially guys trying to make the team," Baker said of Beck, trying to come back from elbow surgery. "I don't blame him. Guys will get more once we make cuts. Right now we're trying to reward a lot of people for their hard work in camp. He'll get work."
Happy together: Cubs bench coach Dick Pole was a former pitching coach and first base coach Gene Clines was a former hitting coach. But there's no fighting over turf.
"It is a cooperative venture," Baker said of his coaching staff. "Larry (Rothschild, pitching coach) welcomes Dick's input. It takes special people to make a cooperative venture work. You've got to have people who aren't threatened by another person's presence and a person can't be selfish."
Baker likes the idea of having Pole, who was a pitching coach with the Cubs from 1988-91, on the bench. Pole and Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti both pay attention to a lot of details.
"They notice a guy off the line or the manager giving a certain sign," Baker said.
Baker chimes in, too.
"I give my two cents on everything," he said. "That's my job and my prerogative."
Get 'em over, get 'em in: One of the problems the Cubs offense had last season was batting with runners in scoring position. The team hit .241 in those situations, and just .248 with runners on. Unfortunately, that trend has continued this spring.
"It's something we've got to address," Baker said. "Chances are, a lot of it is guys who are still learning to hit. You've got kids out there -- that's our job. Between innings we go over and tell them, 'Hey, man, in this situation, boom, boom, boom.'"
The Cubs failed to come through in the first inning Tuesday. Chicago loaded the bases with one out against the Angels but Troy O'Leary hit into an inning ending double play. Baker cringes when he sees missed scoring opportunities.
"You think I like seeing those men on third base left out there? Or first and second and double plays or bases loaded and double plays. I see them," Baker said.
The Skipper speaks: "You're not going to change something over the winter in a week." -- Baker said when asked about correcting some of the Cubs offensive problems from last season.
Weather report: It was a picture-perfect day, although a little cool, and the forecast called for temperatures slowly warming through the week.
Coming up: Kerry Wood will make his second start this spring against the Texas Rangers, newcomers to Arizona. Wood pitched only one inning in his other outing because he was bothered by the team-shared virus.