Cubs still have 'go-to guys' in the clubhouse

Sixteenth in a series

Editor's note: As the countdown continues toward the April 6 opener for the Cubs, Daily Herald Sports Writer Bruce Miles offers his analysis of each position on the team and the key issues facing the club this season.

Q. The departures of Kerry Wood and Mark DeRosa; how does that affect the clubhouse?

Miles: The Cubs will miss them, to be sure. I've never been big on the whole idea that you need good chemistry guys. Winning always seems to breed good chemistry, and even if it doesn't, winning breeds winning.

Wood was more of a behind-the-scenes leader while DeRosa was a go-to guy for the media, taking the heat off some other guys who might not want to talk as much.

Q. Over the years, who have been the most standup guys you've dealt with?

Miles: Rod Beck always said that, "If I (stink), write that I (stink). Just don't get personal." You always respect those kind of guys. Guys like Kevin Tapani, Wood, Ricky Gutierrez and Mark Grace were there when you needed them.

These days, Ryan Dempster and Derrek Lee are always there. And although Alfonso Soriano's contract gives him superstar status, I've never seen him duck a question or try to run away from the media.

Q. Is all the hype about Milton Bradley being potential trouble overrated?

Miles: We'll see. His teammates seem to like him, and that's been the case throughout his career. Bradley is not going to want to deal with the media every day, and if somebody sets him off in the small clubhouse at Wrigley Field, things could get interesting.

The media seem to be giving Bradley the benefit of the doubt. It would be nice of an athlete with that kind of "reputation" to do the same for the media and the fans.

Q. Who, other than Ryan Dempster and Derrek Lee, are a couple of go-to guys in this clubhouse?

Miles: Geovany Soto is turning into one. As a catcher, that's probably a good thing. Ryan Theriot can draw a crowd, but he can get a little feisty with reporters if he feels they're harping too hard on a mistake or a misplay.

Ted Lilly has become a favorite because of his honesty.

Q. The clubhouse itself is ridiculously cramped. Explain how bad it is and how it has to affect the players over such a long season.

Miles: It's the worst home clubhouse in the National League, if not all of baseball. It's extremely narrow, and when print, radio and TV reporters (with their camera people) are in there, things get a little close.

Over a long season, everybody gets on everybody else's nerves a little bit. A lot of times, if you give a nod of understanding to a player about how we're all trying to work here, that can defuse things.

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