rockin500
03-11-2003, 10:50 AM
MESA, Ariz. -- The chemistry problems of last year's Cubs clubhouse are a thing of the past if Sammy Sosa is to be believed.
Sosa threw a team party Sunday night at his rented house in the valley, trying to get the season off on the right foot.
"That party needed to be [thrown]," Sosa said. "Bringing everyone together was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. Everyone that went to that party feels that for the first time we're together."
Most of the players and coaching staff and their wives were in attendance at the catered affair, which was a first for the Cubs.
"We're a family, and we're going to try and keep everyone close this year," Lenny Harris said. "It was a good positive note I thought. We're a family for six months and hopefully that can continue. Everyone kept congratulating Sammy. It was a first, but there should be more of that."
Manager Dusty Baker has said that he was surprised at all the negative talk surrounding Sosa.
"This shows me I can't believe all the stuff I heard before," Baker said. "I have to see it with my own eyes first. I haven't seen any of the negative things I had heard."
Orie surgery
Kevin Orie will undergo surgery Friday in Los Angeles to repair a torn labrum. Orie sustained a tear of his labrum in his right shoulder and will miss up to six months.
"There was some instability, more weakness in my shoulder at the end of last season, which you'd think was normal from the wear and tear over the years," Orie said. "A couple weeks ago I was in the cage feeling good, hitting live pitching. I was 100 percent and tweaked it pretty bad; had to shut it down and it never came around."
Orie is not sure if the Cubs will release him. He turns 31 in September and his chances of returning appear slim with Mark Bellhorn in place at third base and David Kelton on the horizon.
"It's frustrating, it's going to be tough," he said. "You can't prepare yourself for it."
Injury update
Baker said he won't rush Eric Karros back into action after the first baseman's long bout with bronchitis.
"You just don't miss a week and come right back in there," Baker said. "He still has to get his timing. He's doing his hitting, his fielding. He won't have an off day on Thursday since he missed so much time. He'll DH in an intrasquad game."
Mike Sirotka has thrown four simulated games and has another scheduled for Friday. When will Sirotka see some game action?
"We really don't even talk about it," Sirotka said. "As long as I get through all my throwing days and we re-evaluated after that. Obviously I'd like to get in a real game."
http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/cs-030310cubsnotes,1,4059455.story?coll=cs%2Dhome%2Dh eadlines
Sosa threw a team party Sunday night at his rented house in the valley, trying to get the season off on the right foot.
"That party needed to be [thrown]," Sosa said. "Bringing everyone together was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. Everyone that went to that party feels that for the first time we're together."
Most of the players and coaching staff and their wives were in attendance at the catered affair, which was a first for the Cubs.
"We're a family, and we're going to try and keep everyone close this year," Lenny Harris said. "It was a good positive note I thought. We're a family for six months and hopefully that can continue. Everyone kept congratulating Sammy. It was a first, but there should be more of that."
Manager Dusty Baker has said that he was surprised at all the negative talk surrounding Sosa.
"This shows me I can't believe all the stuff I heard before," Baker said. "I have to see it with my own eyes first. I haven't seen any of the negative things I had heard."
Orie surgery
Kevin Orie will undergo surgery Friday in Los Angeles to repair a torn labrum. Orie sustained a tear of his labrum in his right shoulder and will miss up to six months.
"There was some instability, more weakness in my shoulder at the end of last season, which you'd think was normal from the wear and tear over the years," Orie said. "A couple weeks ago I was in the cage feeling good, hitting live pitching. I was 100 percent and tweaked it pretty bad; had to shut it down and it never came around."
Orie is not sure if the Cubs will release him. He turns 31 in September and his chances of returning appear slim with Mark Bellhorn in place at third base and David Kelton on the horizon.
"It's frustrating, it's going to be tough," he said. "You can't prepare yourself for it."
Injury update
Baker said he won't rush Eric Karros back into action after the first baseman's long bout with bronchitis.
"You just don't miss a week and come right back in there," Baker said. "He still has to get his timing. He's doing his hitting, his fielding. He won't have an off day on Thursday since he missed so much time. He'll DH in an intrasquad game."
Mike Sirotka has thrown four simulated games and has another scheduled for Friday. When will Sirotka see some game action?
"We really don't even talk about it," Sirotka said. "As long as I get through all my throwing days and we re-evaluated after that. Obviously I'd like to get in a real game."
http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/cs-030310cubsnotes,1,4059455.story?coll=cs%2Dhome%2Dh eadlines