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player ready...General Manager Larry Himes said Wednesday the Cubs still were talking with Ryne Sandberg`s agent about a new contract, but he didn`t expect any immediate news.
”We are communicating our intentions,” Himes said of talks between Sandberg`s agent, Jim Turner, and negotiators for the Tribune Co. ”I can`t say we`re encouraged or discouraged.”
Three signed: The Cubs did come to terms with pitchers Shawn Boskie, Jeff Hartsock and Heathcliff Slocumb on one-year deals.
Meet the boss: Manager Jim Lefebvre sent the pitchers and catchers onto the practice field and met separately with the rest of his players for the first time.
”The big thing is they should know who their manager is and how he thinks,” he said. ”We went over the rules and regulations, introduced the staff and talked briefly about what we told the pitchers (when they reported last week)-that this is going to be an exciting year for us. And I hope they feel as excited as I am.”
Lefebvre was pumped up for the first full-squad practice. And he stayed pumped up even after being hit in the face with a liner off the bat of Doug Dascenzo.
”I`ve been hit before,” Lefebvre said. ”I`ve been hit in the head. I`ve been hit in the arm. I got hit in the head one time by Jack Clark. It just grazed my head. But the worst I ever felt was when I got hit in the back of the arm. It was sore for days.”
Let`s play two: Lefebvre said he plans to hold an intrasquad game the morning of March 5 and a team golf tournament that afternoon. The Cubs play their first exhibition against the San Francisco Giants on March 6.
Moral support: Last year`s spring sensation at third base, Gary Scott, was working overtime Wednesday and getting encouragement from Mark Grace and some of the more than 300 fans who showed up. Grace stood outside the batting cage while Scott was hitting and kept shouting his support at every good swing.
Sit down: Cubs broadcaster Thom Brennaman picked up a bat to take a few swings Wednesday. He`s better in the booth.