After early struggles, Cubs feel homefield edge at Wrigley
Not only did the Cubs go over the 3.25 million mark in home attendance Sunday, but all those fans left an impression on the men in blue and white uniforms.
"This is an environment; this is a baseball environment," said manager Lou Piniella, who knows something about that from his days with the New York Yankees. "It really is. It's unbelievably exciting. Oh, when that game's over and the home team wins, it's special.
"I can see why so many players want to play here. I don't think there's an environment like this in baseball."
It took the Cubs awhile to warm up to Wrigley Field, but they finished the regular season with a home record of 44-37, their first winning mark at home since 2004.
According to team leader and first baseman Derrek Lee, it took about two months for the Cubs to feel at home at Wrigley.
"I'd say about June," Lee said. "We struggled the first couple of months. In June, we turned it around. We've finally have made this a homefield advantage. And that's huge. It should be the way the crowd is and the atmosphere is here. It should be to our advantage. We need to take advantage of that.
"This is fun. This is a playoff atmosphere already. I remember playing here in '03 in the playoffs (with Florida), and this is pretty close right now. I'm excited if we're able to get into the playoffs, what it would be like."
Wood workings: Right-hander Kerry Wood may have solidified his spot on the playoff roster by working the seventh and eighth innings Sunday. Wood pitched hitless ball, walking one and striking out three.
"He pitched very well," Lou Piniella said. "He threw the ball really easy. His last 2 or 3 appearances have been really, really solid.
"I wanted to see today how he responded with 2 innings because he was throwing the ball so well. He only had 9 pitches the first inning he pitched, and he pitched really well."
In 21½ innings over 20 games, Wood is 1-1 with a 3.80 ERA. He has walked 12 and struck out 20.
An A-Rod reach? New York Magazine reported on Sunday that Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez could end up with the Cubs next season with a blockbuster contract that includes an ownership stake in the team.
The story was picked up by espn.com, which cited the magazine as saying Rodriguez's agent, Scott Boras, has already identified the leading candidate to buy the Cubs and has begun negotiations on a mega-deal.
The publication's sources say that the deal could reach $30 million per year over 10 years, with part of the contract deferred toward an eventual stake in the franchise.
Major League Baseball would not look kindly upon such negotiations by an agent, and espn.com reported that MLB and the Yankees called the whole thing a silly story. A player may not have an ownership stake in a team.
Lineup scratch: Shortstop Ryan Theriot was a late lineup scratch Sunday because of what the Cubs described as "mild lower back spasms."
The Cubs said the injury was not serious, and that with today's off-day, Theriot would get extra time to rest. Ronny Cedeno filled in by going 3-for-4 with a 2-run homer and an RBI single.
"What big day he had," Lou Piniella said. "Since St. Louis, he's been playing and getting some playing time, and he's making the most of it. He's doing a really nice job."