Cubs' Maddon a big Ali fan
There's no bigger fan of boxing than Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon.
Although Maddon said he never met Muhammad Ali, he said he was touched by the heavyweight's life and saddened by his death.
Ali died late Friday at 74. He had suffered many years with Parkinson's disease.
"It's hard to see somebody suffer from that disease and pretty much how he wilted away," Maddon said. "But nevertheless, you see the photographs now of a young Cassius Clay and eventually Ali. I remember listening to the fight the first time he beat Sonny Liston in Miami. I remember listening to that on the radio.
"It's an insidious disease, and you can see how much he suffered. Rest in peace."
Ali was a heavyweight who was quick, agile and smart in the ring. He also was a showman.
"The rope-a-dope, all the things that he did, float like a butterfly, sting like a bee," Maddon said. "It's really phenomenal. If you're of the age, a part of your childhood is gone. That's an actual marker for all of us. It's shame it happened that way, but he truly left his mark."
Slam-dunk of an idea:
The Cubs will take off after Sunday's series finale for a three-city, nine-game road trip to Philadelphia, Atlanta and Washington.
They'll have another dress-up theme. This time they'll wear NBA-style warm-up suits. Pitcher Jon Lester was one of the brains behind the idea.
"Jon Lester and Bussie (Tim Buss, strength and conditioning coach) collaborated on this particular idea," Joe Maddon said. "They brought it to my attention recently. I said, 'Hey, I'm all for it.'
"It's 'the Jon Lester tribute to the NBA Finals road trip.'"
Some players have nicknames on the back of the tops. Matt Szczur is "SZCZ-URRRRR," playing off the spelling of his last name. Justin Grimm's top reads "REAPER."
Getting there in style?
The Cubs may be sending a bunch of players to the July 12 All-Star Game in San Diego. Those going will have to travel from Pittsburgh after the Sunday, July 10 game.
"We can use some of our leaders in the clubhouse to put a down payment on a jet and we can all go together," said pitcher Jason Hammel, who started and won Saturday's game.
Minor-league honors:
Outfielder Eloy Jimenez and right-handed pitcher Trevor Clifton are the Cubs' minor-league player and pitcher of the month for May, respectively. Jimenez plays at Class A South Bend, and Clifton is at Class A Myrtle Beach.
Jimenez, 19, batted .364 (40-for-110) with 8 doubles, 7 homers, 17 runs scored and 23 RBI in 28 games in May. He drew 7 walks, contributing to a .407 OBP.
Clifton, 21, went 3-1 with a 1.29 ERA in 5 May starts, striking out 35 while walking seven. His 1.29 ERA and 35 strikeouts both ranked second in the Carolina League. Clifton has gone 3-3 with a 2.35 ERA in 9 starts this season.