Cubs position players get early jump on spring training

MESA, Ariz. - It seems to happen every spring. On the day pitchers and catchers officially report for spring training, the talk turns to how many position players are in camp.

It's that way with the Cubs, and the number of position players who report early seems to grow every year.

Friday morning, Anthony Rizzo, Jason Heyward, Addison Russell, Javier Baez, Ben Zobrist and Kris Bryant were among the notables taking batting and fielding practice, and they aren't required to report until next week.

"I go to spring training early every year," said Heyward, the Cubs' prized free-agent acquisition of the off-season. "It's another year of coming in, getting ready. Georgia (where Heyward lives) is not very warm throughout the off-season. It's not as cold as some places, like Chicago, but Arizona's definitely a good environment to do stuff outside: running, throwing, hitting on the field."

Third baseman Bryant, last season's Rookie of the Year in the National League, also worked up a good sweat.

"I think a lot of the behind-the-scenes stuff is really good, too, just getting here early, working out, getting our workouts in, pushing each other," he said. "We're holding each other accountable. I think a lot of that comes back to how we ended last year. It didn't end the way we wanted it to end. This year we're going to do all we can to go even further. It's just awesome to be out here seeing the guys, getting our groundballs in. I've never been around an atmosphere like this. It's exciting."

The Cubs won 97 games last season and advanced to the National League championship series, falling to the Mets. While manager Joe Maddon appreciates the enthusiasm, he doesn't want to hear a particular complaint.

"I just don't want anybody to tell me that spring training is too long," Maddon said. "They just made it longer. Everybody's always saying spring training's too long, and they show up two weeks too early. I don't get it. It's incredible. There's plenty of time.

"Spring training is long enough. All this other stuff to me is way over exaggerated, all this extra work that occurs. I like the eagerness of wanting to be here. If you are a Cub and you have this facility to gravitate toward, you're definitely going to try to get there sooner. All that stuff is very cool, but I'm not an advocate of guys showing up early."

No hurry on Theo talks:

Cubs President Theo Epstein is entering the final season of his five-year contract. The media have suggest it is time to talk about an extension. Epstein said he and team chairman Tom Ricketts will get around to those talks.

"It's not a concern," Epstein said. "I'm sure those conversations will take place in a natural course of events. Spring training is always a good time to have those types of conversations. Nothing's scheduled. No sense of urgency. We agree on the fundamentals. I want to be here. I think he (Ricketts) wants us here. It will take care of itself."

They said it:

Catcher-outfielder Kyle Schwarber was asked what he made of breaking a car window earlier in the week during batting practice.

"Don't park your car out there, I guess," he said. "What do you do? What do you say? It's a home run. It just happens to hit a car."

Schwarber was asked if he was paying for the damage.

"Safelight's taking care of it," he said, perhaps portending an endorsement deal.

Not be outdone in the quote department, Jason Heyward was asked about manager Joe Maddon bringing zoo animals into the clubhouse to loosen things up.

"I've never heard of anyone bringing zoo animals to the ballpark," Heyward said.

What does it mean?

"Nothing," he said. "Just animals at Wrigley Field."

Nonroster moves:

The Cubs have invited right-handed pitcher Aaron Crow to spring training as a nonroster player. They also voided the minor league contract of pitcher Luis Cruz, who failed his physical.

Crow is on the mend from Tommy John surgery, and he won't be ready until perhaps June. In four seasons with the Kansas City Royals, Crow went 20-11 with a 3.43 ERA in 254 games, all in relief.

• Follow Bruce on Twitter @BruceMiles2112.