Cubs-Sox a hit at the box office
Friday's Cubs-Sox game was sold out at Camelback Ranch, and for a second consecutive day set a Cactus League attendance record.
The Cubs had played in front of a then-record 13,391 on Thursday here against the Dodgers. On Friday they played in front of a record 13,413.
The Cubs have now been part of the three largest Cactus League crowds ever, including 13,366 as the visiting team versus the Seattle Mariners at Peoria, Ariz., on March 12, 2004.
Pitching in: Cubs manager Lou Piniella is beginning to see some finality in the roster. With eight players, including six pitchers, designated Friday for the minor-league camp. The pitching staff is as close to being done as it will be, Piniella said.
Until Ted Lilly returns from surgery, there are two spots available in the starting rotation. That make every outing critial for Sean Marshall, Carlos Silva, Jeff Samardzija and Tom Gorzelany.
"We're going to get two pitchers from the starting rotation in the bullpen," Piniella said, refering to the six starting in spring training and one more to be displaced by Lilly's return.
But neither is Piniella dismissing newly designated minor-leaguers such as Blake Parker, Wellington Castillo, Jeff Stevens, Andrew Cashner, Casey Coleman and J.R. Mathes. All have contributions to make, sooner or later, the skipper believes.
"Coleman's an interesting guy. He's got all the pitches," PIniella said of the son of former major-leaguer Joe Coleman.
"Parker will help," Piniella said, and Stevens "is working on a slider now, a real nice complement to his curveball."
And as for Castillo: "There's no reason ... he can't have impact on our team this summer, with the stuff he's got."
Cashner will be starting at Triple-A Iowa.
Piniella stressed to each of newly designated minor-leaguers that they are "guys we won't hesitate to call up. That was my message to the guys we sent out today."
But don't expect any of them to be displacing Carlos Marmol at the back end of the bullpen.
"He's throwing the ball much better than he did last spring," Piniella said of his erstwhile closer, who couldn't win the job last season from now-departed Kevin Gregg.
Out of position: With split-squad contests today, Piniella said he anticipates Mike Fontenot playing a little shortstop in one of the games. He played second base against the Sox.
Xavier Nady, who played Friday against the Sox, also will get some work at first base.
"We've been working him out at first base to put him out on the field," Piniella said.
A-Ram is around: Aramis Ramirez, nursing his way back from a minor injury, will go the minor-league camp just today "just to get 8 or 10 at-bats," Piniella said, before he inserts him back into the parent-team lineup permanently.
Lou in charge: Piniella went out of his way to note that his team, hitting a scorching .306 this spring, has its batting gloves squarely in the hands of new hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo. With Larry Rothschild handling the pitching staff as usual, what's Lou left to do?
"I'm in charge of the media," he exclaimed tongue-in-cheek to conclude his pregame media session, a gathering he initially noted as being attended by an ever-increasing horde of reporters.
"For what reason?" he deadpanned.