rockin500
03-05-2003, 11:59 PM
MESA, Ariz. -- Now, even Sammy Sosa is sick.
The Chicago Cubs right fielder has caught the virus that's been floating around the clubhouse and which is affecting "half of Arizona," according to manager Dusty Baker.
Sosa has played just one game and had hoped to go Wednesday after being sidelined with a sore right quadriceps. But he did not even show up because he was so ill.
"Whenever he tells me he's ready, I'm going to give him one more day," Baker said, speaking more about Sosa's sore leg than his chest cold.
Speaking of the virus, Charles Gipson was feeling better Wednesday after missing a few days because of bronchitis. Both he and Eric Karros, also sidelined with this nagging bug, went to a local hospital for treatment. Karros has not been seen for two days.
"I had fever, chills, sweats, coughing, aching, I couldn't eat," Gipson said. "I've been going nuts at home. I'm trying to win a job."
A non-roster invitee who had spent his entire pro career in the Seattle organization, Gipson has primarily played outfield but was inserted into the infield in a Cubs game this spring.
"I was surprised when they put me in there," said Gipson, who now is taking more grounders at short and second. "I'd rather be prepared than surprised."
On Wednesday, both Cubs center fielder Corey Patterson and bullpen coach Juan Lopez were sent home to recuperate.
Happy together: It's only been a few weeks but Cubs pitchers Kerry Wood and Mark Prior say they notice a difference in the clubhouse these days.
"Everybody seems to be getting along a lot better," Prior said. "I don't know if you guys can see it, but I definitely can see it. I think guys are talking more. Guys are hanging out a lot more away from the clubhouse and the ballfield, and I think that's important.
"The chemistry is building. Guys do get along. There's not as much separation as there was last year, and that's a good thing. I think it's going to get better. I really do."
This is only Prior's second big-league camp. But last season was difficult, especially with the Cubs struggling to a 67-95 record.
"If guys aren't pulling for one another or I'm not pulling for the next guy, then you're going to have some problems," Prior said. "I'm not necessarily very superstitious or a karma person, but if you're rooting against your teammate, I think there's something to be said.
"You can tell when there's a negative attitude toward somebody else, not to say there was a lot last year, but I don't think everybody was pulling 100 percent for each other. But in the first few games of Spring Training this year, I think I see that."
Wood sees a change, too.
"This year, it's been totally different," Wood said. "Everybody gets along, everybody's talking, everybody's having fun. We're getting our work done and doing it in a good way. I think a lot of that has to do with Dusty. He lets us go out and do our business like men and like professionals.
"If you go out and lose your first 25 games in a row, it's not going to be good chemistry. (Good chemistry) comes with winning and a good group of guys and I think we have that here."
Bad news: Infielder Kevin Orie may have a torn labrum in his right shoulder, which would require potential season-ending surgery. Orie had an MRI taken earlier this week and the results were sent back to the Cubs doctors in Chicago. Orthopedic specialist Dr. Lewis Yokum also examined Orie. The 30-year-old infielder batted .299 at Triple-A Iowa and .281 in 13 games with the Cubs last season.
Around the horn: Second baseman Bobby Hill is 0-for-13 this spring over six games. Baker says that's nothing to be worried about. "Some of his swings have been good, some of them haven't, but that's Spring Training," Baker said. "Nobody's been killing the ball, except (David) Kelton maybe. Overall, the pitchers are ahead of these guys." Kelton, who played at Double-A West Tenn last year, is 5-for-8 in five games, including a two-run homer on Tuesday and two doubles.
The Skipper speaks: "I like aggressive, period. I'd rather be aggressive here to find out the speed of guys. We don't know the speeds yet. The only way you're going to find out is to send them. We're still learning these guys." - Baker on third base coach Wendell Kim's aggressiveness in waving runners home this spring.
Weather report: More sun and warmer temperatures are forecast for the entire week.
Coming up: The Cubs face the San Francisco Giants for the second time this spring in what will be Baker's first official game at Scottsdale Stadium. Matt Clement is scheduled to start. The Cubs' first game in Scottsdale Feb. 27 was rained out.
The Chicago Cubs right fielder has caught the virus that's been floating around the clubhouse and which is affecting "half of Arizona," according to manager Dusty Baker.
Sosa has played just one game and had hoped to go Wednesday after being sidelined with a sore right quadriceps. But he did not even show up because he was so ill.
"Whenever he tells me he's ready, I'm going to give him one more day," Baker said, speaking more about Sosa's sore leg than his chest cold.
Speaking of the virus, Charles Gipson was feeling better Wednesday after missing a few days because of bronchitis. Both he and Eric Karros, also sidelined with this nagging bug, went to a local hospital for treatment. Karros has not been seen for two days.
"I had fever, chills, sweats, coughing, aching, I couldn't eat," Gipson said. "I've been going nuts at home. I'm trying to win a job."
A non-roster invitee who had spent his entire pro career in the Seattle organization, Gipson has primarily played outfield but was inserted into the infield in a Cubs game this spring.
"I was surprised when they put me in there," said Gipson, who now is taking more grounders at short and second. "I'd rather be prepared than surprised."
On Wednesday, both Cubs center fielder Corey Patterson and bullpen coach Juan Lopez were sent home to recuperate.
Happy together: It's only been a few weeks but Cubs pitchers Kerry Wood and Mark Prior say they notice a difference in the clubhouse these days.
"Everybody seems to be getting along a lot better," Prior said. "I don't know if you guys can see it, but I definitely can see it. I think guys are talking more. Guys are hanging out a lot more away from the clubhouse and the ballfield, and I think that's important.
"The chemistry is building. Guys do get along. There's not as much separation as there was last year, and that's a good thing. I think it's going to get better. I really do."
This is only Prior's second big-league camp. But last season was difficult, especially with the Cubs struggling to a 67-95 record.
"If guys aren't pulling for one another or I'm not pulling for the next guy, then you're going to have some problems," Prior said. "I'm not necessarily very superstitious or a karma person, but if you're rooting against your teammate, I think there's something to be said.
"You can tell when there's a negative attitude toward somebody else, not to say there was a lot last year, but I don't think everybody was pulling 100 percent for each other. But in the first few games of Spring Training this year, I think I see that."
Wood sees a change, too.
"This year, it's been totally different," Wood said. "Everybody gets along, everybody's talking, everybody's having fun. We're getting our work done and doing it in a good way. I think a lot of that has to do with Dusty. He lets us go out and do our business like men and like professionals.
"If you go out and lose your first 25 games in a row, it's not going to be good chemistry. (Good chemistry) comes with winning and a good group of guys and I think we have that here."
Bad news: Infielder Kevin Orie may have a torn labrum in his right shoulder, which would require potential season-ending surgery. Orie had an MRI taken earlier this week and the results were sent back to the Cubs doctors in Chicago. Orthopedic specialist Dr. Lewis Yokum also examined Orie. The 30-year-old infielder batted .299 at Triple-A Iowa and .281 in 13 games with the Cubs last season.
Around the horn: Second baseman Bobby Hill is 0-for-13 this spring over six games. Baker says that's nothing to be worried about. "Some of his swings have been good, some of them haven't, but that's Spring Training," Baker said. "Nobody's been killing the ball, except (David) Kelton maybe. Overall, the pitchers are ahead of these guys." Kelton, who played at Double-A West Tenn last year, is 5-for-8 in five games, including a two-run homer on Tuesday and two doubles.
The Skipper speaks: "I like aggressive, period. I'd rather be aggressive here to find out the speed of guys. We don't know the speeds yet. The only way you're going to find out is to send them. We're still learning these guys." - Baker on third base coach Wendell Kim's aggressiveness in waving runners home this spring.
Weather report: More sun and warmer temperatures are forecast for the entire week.
Coming up: The Cubs face the San Francisco Giants for the second time this spring in what will be Baker's first official game at Scottsdale Stadium. Matt Clement is scheduled to start. The Cubs' first game in Scottsdale Feb. 27 was rained out.