Maddon will tinker with Chicago Cubs lineup
ANAHEIM, Calif. - Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon wasn't playing guessing games with the media Sunday. He said he has not yet made out his lineup for Monday night's season-opening game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
In Sunday's exhibition finale, a 6-4 loss to the Angels, Maddon started most of his regulars. Kyle Schwarber was in left field, and Jorge Soler was the designated hitter.
Dexter Fowler led off, followed by Jason Heyward and Kris Bryant. Anthony Rizzo batted cleanup with Ben Zobrist fifth.
The Cubs will face right-hander Garrett Richards on Opening Night and lefty Andrew Heaney Tuesday night. The Cubs could go the way they did Sunday, or Maddon may put Tommy La Stella into the lineup.
Using the DH in the American League park gives Maddon plenty of options.
"I've still got one more thing left," Maddon said as far as tinkering goes. "It still may be a little bit different tomorrow.
"I like to do the lineup the morning of the game. So I want to stay with that traditional component. I've got the new iPad Pro. That's going to be in all major-league dugouts this year, and I do have the pencil to go with it. I'm going to get my coffee in the morning. I'll sit down with my iPad, make out the lineup, email it to (the Cubs' staff), and then it will be released to the entire world."
Roster officially official:
The Cubs formalized their 25-man roster Sunday, even though it was set in the middle of last week.
The team will carry 13 pitchers and 12 position players. Kyle Schwarber is the third catcher, a luxury most major-league teams don't have.
Three pitchers open the season on the disabled list: Aaron Brooks, Dallas Beeler and Zac Rosscup (60-day DL). Infielders Javier Baez and Christian Villanueva also begin the season on the DL.
Impressive spring finish:
Right-hander Kyle Hendricks started Sunday's game and looked impressive in getting a no-decision. Hendricks, the Cubs' No. 5 starter, worked 5 innings, giving up 5 hits and 2 runs, 1 earned. More important, he walked none and struck out seven, throwing 66 pitches, 47 strikes.
Hendricks will start Saturday at Arizona against the Diamondbacks.
Always glad to be back:
Joe Maddon has been back to Angel Stadium many times as manager of the Tampa Bay Rays. He cut his coaching and managerial teeth in the Angels organization, so he says it's always special to come back to Anaheim.
"It is," he said. "I hope I don't get kicked out of any of these games. It's a great place to be. Of course I love Wrigley Field. I think Wrigley is the best, but this is in the top three or five in all of major-league baseball."
Some fine wine:
Cubs players presented Joe Maddon with a couple of bottles of wine in honor of the new season. Maddon is an oenophile of some note.
"Apparently, there's one that says 'Embrace the target' on (the label)," he said. "We'll open it at the appropriate time. It's very cool that they would do something like that."