NL Central: Ramirez ailing; new hope for Prior?

We get the best of both worlds as we take a look around the National League Central. The top items involve some notable ex-Cubs.

Milwaukee Brewers:The Milwaukee Brewers are breathing a sigh of relief after getting news that third baseman and former Cub Aramis Ramirez does not have a serious knee injury. Ramirez wound up with only a sprained left knee after he jammed it sliding into second base Saturday. An MRI showed no structural damage.#8220;It's a sprained knee, but it won't probably be day-to-day,#8221; manager Ron Roenicke told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. #8220;He's pretty sore today. Whether it's a week or a little more than that, that's probably what we're looking at.#8221;Ramirez led the National League in doubles last year, with 50. He had a hitting line of .300/.360/.540 with 27 homers and 105 RBI.Cincinnati Reds:You may have read that former Cubs pitcher Mark Prior has signed a minor-league contract with the Cincinnati Reds. The Reds' website reported that Prior contacted Reds manager and former Cubs skipper Dusty Baker. That might raise a few eyebrows because many observers blame Baker for overworking Prior in 2003.#8220;It's going to open old wounds,#8221; Baker told the site. #8220;There's no manager around that doesn't have somebody that has gotten seriously hurt? The more you manage, the more the chance you have guys (that get hurt). It's like I got Kerry Wood (hurt). He had Tommy John already and pitched six, seven years after.#8221;Prior, 32, last pitched in the major leagues in 2006 with the Cubs. Last year, he made 19 relief appearances for the Red Sox' Class AAA Pawtucket team, going 1-0 with a 3.96 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP.MLB.com quoted Prior as saying: #8220;I still have an opportunity. I don't necessarily feel like a martyr or something because I've worked hard and I should be paid with an opportunity, but I'm grateful for it. I don't take it for granted. I'll do everything I can to go out and perform and try for a spot. I enjoy competing, first and foremost. It's always a joy to go out and compete. I'm going to take it day by day. I know that's a cliché, but it's literal for me. I really do have to take it day by day. I was in San Diego without a job on Tuesday and I'm here today.#8221;Baker also has high praise for former Cubs setup man Sean Marshall, who has that role with Cincinnati. #8220;Marshall is big in this equation,#8221; Baker told the Reds' site. #8220;I never had a captain. They are anointed by the players, not by me. Just watch who they gravitate towards.#8221;This is a familiar story. Baker was taking about Marshall not complaining about going from closer back to setup man last year when the Reds made hard-throwing lefty Aroldis Chapman their closer. When Marshall was with the Cubs, he never complained about his role, even when he was sent to the minor leagues. #8220;The guy (Chapman) that was pitching in the eighth was striking out everybody and I was kind of scratching my head,#8221; Marshall was quoted as saying. #8220;It was probably inevitable. It didn't fluster me at all. I liked going back to my seventh and eighth inning role I knew I've been good at. I enjoyed closing, and if they need me, I will be ready for them again.#8221;St. Louis Cardinals:Bernie Miklasz, longtime columnist of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, has taken the Cardinals to task for their shortstop situation. #8220;The Cardinals are a mess at shortstop,#8221; Miklasz wrote. #8220;With a month to go before the 2013 regular-season opener, a vital position is more tangled than the ligament in Rafael Furcal's damaged right elbow.#8220;Furcal is being shut down because of lingering pain and distress. Really? And how can Furcal get shut down when he was never ready to play?#8220;This is all very confusing.#8220;Furcal tore the elbow ligament last Aug. 30 but didn't want to have surgery to repair the injury.#8220;A major-league team can't force a player to have surgery, but Furcal is in the second season of a two-year, $14 million contract. I'm sorry, but doesn't a player have a reasonable ethical obligation to honor his commitment by doing what's necessary to be able to play?#8221;For now, Pete Kozma is the Cardinals' shortstop, and he entered Monday with a .450 batting average. He hit .333 in 72 at-bats late last year when he took over for Furcal. The Cards also have former Cub Ronny Cedeno on the team.Pittsburgh Pirates:The Pirates are liking what they see from right fielder Jose Tabata. Tabata signed a six-year, $15 million contract that runs from 2011-16 but he found himself sent to Class AAA Indianapolis for a spell last year, partly because of a lack of hustle. #8220;It was a little hard for me last year. I don't know why #8212; maybe because they gave me right field, and that made me feel comfortable,#8221; Tabata told the Pirates' website. #8220;I know now I've got to be consistent every day, no matter what.#8220;I changed everything, and I feel great. I don't know why, but I feel good. After the season, I wanted to prepare my body (so he skipped playing winter ball in his native Venezuela). You can see #8212; well, maybe you can't #8212; the difference. I'm stronger. I opened up my batting stance. Last year, I was too closed. I didn't have power.#8221;Manager Clint Hurdle said he wants Tabata to #8220;show us the skill set we've seen in the past.#8221;It still may be a struggle for Tabata. The Pirates' pre-spring depth chart listed Travis Snyder No. 1 in right-field.