Renteria amped for Wrigley Field 100th anniversary festivities

Cubs manager Rick Renteria is a newcomer to Wrigley Field as a member of the organization, but he did play here during his career as an infielder.

He'll be on the top step of the dugout Wednesday when the Cubs celebrate the 100th anniversary of the ballpark.

There will be special pregame ceremonies, featuring past Cubs greats. The Cubs will wear uniforms of the Chicago Federal League team, the first occupants of the ballpark — the Cubs moved in for the 1916 season. The Arizona Diamondbacks will wear uniforms of the Kansas City Packers.

“Obviously, I'm very happy to be here,” Renteria said Tuesday. “I'm sure it's going to be very exciting, not only for our club, their club, believe it or not, all the fans and all of baseball, in general. Here's a club that's been around for a long time, and they've been here for a long time. It's pretty cool.”

The Cubs have not celebrated a world championship at Wrigley Field, but Renteria tipped his hat to the club's history.

“The organization has had, over the years, playoff-contending teams,” he said. “They just haven't been able to get it to the finality, but they've had winning clubs and winning players. They just haven't finished it. I hope I'm a part of it.”

No harm intended:

Cubs reliever Pedro Strop insisted he meant no harm Monday night when he threw low and behind Diamondbacks batter Miguel Montero in the ninth inning of the Cubs' 5-1 victory.

Montero looked out angrily toward Strop, and umpire D.J. Reyburn warned both benches.

“It was definitely not on purpose,” Strop said Tuesday. “I was trying to come in. I wanted to set my fastball up first inside so I can work him with my secondary pitches on the outside part of the plate. I just pulled it too much.”

Strop is getting work in the ninth inning because veteran closer Jose Veras has lost his ninth-inning job because of wildness and ineffectiveness.

One step closer:

Right-hander Jake Arrieta returned to Wrigley Field on Tuesday, one day after pitching 5⅔ innings in a rehab outing for Class A Daytona.

“He came out of it good,” said manager Rick Renteria. “What's next, I think he's probably got a short stint, kind of like we do at the end of spring training with pitchers.”

Once Arrieta comes back, he'll replace Carlos Villanueva in the starting rotation. Villanueva will move back to the bullpen.