Cubs' Renteria talks shop to the media
New Cubs manager Rick Renteria had his national coming-out party, so to speak, Tuesday during the winter meetings in Orlando, Fla.
He admitted to reporters there that the last few weeks have been a whirlwind, with recovering from hip surgery, being hired by the Cubs, visiting Wrigley Field and going to the winter meetings,
“Very interesting, very interesting,” he said.
“This is my first actual winter meeting, so I've been able to sit in and listen to the scouts and the information gathering process. There's a lot of hard work going on behind closed doors, so to speak. And I think it sheds a little bit more light, more understanding for all of us who are on the other side of it. We think we know everything that's involved, but until you're actually in there watching it work, there's a lot that goes on behind the scenes.”
Renteria touched on several subjects in response to media members' questions. He said that he and bench coach Brandon Hyde are beginning to put together a program for spring training, and that's taking precedence over things such as formulating early lineups.
However, he did say that shortstop Starlin Castro is a candidate to lead off.
“I know over the course of his career, (Starlin) has led off quite a bit and has some significantly decent numbers in that spot,” Renteria said. “But as we continue to put together the club and see matchups and things of that nature as the season progresses, we'll see where we are at.
“A lot of those conversations I'd like to have more one on one in person. I think it always comes off a lot better when you're having face-to-face conversation with the players. I think it's more important.”
The closer's role also is up in the air after the departure of veteran Kevin Gregg. Pedro Strop saw limited action in that role near the end of the 2013 season, and the Cubs may yet add a veteran to compete for the ninth-inning role. Kyuji Fujikawa, whom the Cubs signed to a free-agent deal a year ago, is recovering from Tommy John surgery on his pitching elbow.
“I know coming in here you have Strop in the organization, someone (who) might be considered a closer, that type of guy,” Renteria said. “After looking at him, obviously he's one of those guys. But once again, once we get to that bridge we'll cross it, see where we're at in terms of the arms we have and as a collective.”
Spring training opens in two months at the new facility in Mesa, Ariz., and all eyes will be on Renteria and what kind of camp he manages.
“Well, I know I want them to hustle,” he said. “Everybody has a different definition of hustle or effort or what have you. It's crazy for any manager or person of authority, quite frankly, to lay out certain rules and regulations if in the end it's kind of tough to follow through with them, because then you end up losing them altogether.
“I think that the things that we talk about when we get to spring training in terms of what we'd like them to do or not do, we'll address then. But I'm not a big rules guy, per se. I think that they're young men who have responsibilities. Hopefully when we share what we believe those responsibilities are, it will overwhelm whatever limitations I want to place upon them in certain things.”
bmiles@dailyherald.com