Strange day as fans welcome Edmonds

It was all so strange Thursday.

Jim Edmonds walked into Wrigley Field as friend and not enemy - of Cubs fans and players alike.

"A little bit," the Cubs' new center fielder said of the strangeness. "It's the first time I've been on the inside. I haven't seen anything. I've never been over here, the weight room, nothing. Last night when I got here, it was pretty interesting."

All in all, it was a pretty interesting day or so for Edmonds, who signed with the Cubs Wednesday night, five days after being released by the San Diego Padres, whom the Cubs beat 4-0 Thursday.

Edmonds said hello to his teammates Wednesday and gave foe-turned-friend Carlos Zambrano, the Cubs' ace pitcher, a hug and a handshake in front of media members Thursday morning.

That out of the way, Edmonds was asked how the Wrigley Field crowd might respond to him in light of his eight years as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals, the Cubs' Gateway Arch rivals.

"I'm scared about that," he said. "I'm just going to go out there and do everything I can, and hopefully, I can get them on my side eventually and play well."

Edmonds needn't have worried. He received cheers when he ran to center field to start the game. When he came to bat in the second inning, the fans cheered, with a few standing.

So much for Edmonds being the devil incarnate.

But when Edmonds struck out in the seventh inning, many of those same fans booed. Edmonds ended the day 1-for-4 with 2 putouts in center. He was sure he had never been cheered in Chicago before.

"And I've been booed louder," he said. "It's what it's all about. It's baseball at its best. I'd rather have that than a bunch of people sitting there just watching the game and being quiet."

The Cubs took a chance on the soon-to-be 38-year-old Edmonds, signing him for a pro rated share of the minimum salary, or about $285,000, for the rest of the year. The Padres acquired him last winter from the Cardinals but released him after he hit just .178 in 26 games.

"I got a lot left," he said. "I feel my body's in as good a shape as it's been in probably 6-7 years. I've just got to get my swing back and get going.

"I felt like I was starting to play a little bit better and starting to get my feet underneath me. I started hearing about some things they were going to shake up. I didn't think I'd be one of the guys."

A calf injury in spring training hampered Edmonds, but he said it affected his timing more than anything.

Edmonds talked of getting back into the National League Central, and to tradition. Although the Padres were a short stop between St. Louis and Chicago, Edmonds said he tried to get here first.

"Actually I was interested (in the Cubs) when I was talking to the Cardinals about being traded, but they didn't think that would be a very good option at the time," he said with a laugh. "I've always admired this ballpark and this team and just wanted to see what it would be like to be on this side one time.

"I love everything about this place. I just like being part of the tradition. The tradition I played for the last eight years was unbelievable. This is great to come back to it, the fans and rivalries and everything else."