The deadline to sign Ryne Sandberg is fast approaching, but GM Larry Himes says he still doesn`t know if the deal will be done.
”I haven`t had a feel one way or the other,” Himes said late Thursday, some 48 hours before Sandberg`s self-imposed signing deadline.
Negotiating are Sandberg`s agent, Jim Turner, and Tribune Co. attorney Dennis Homerin.
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”The negotiations are very difficult,” said Himes. ”We`re arriving at a deadline date, and we`re working very diligently for a conclusion that is going to make Ryne happy and the Cubs happy.”
Black beauty: Thursday was photo day, but don`t look for manager Jim Lefebvre`s snapshot. He skipped the session because of the black eye and swollen jaw he got from Doug Dascenzo`s line drive Wednesday. Lefebvre wore dark glasses all day but said he felt fine.
Lefebvre wasted no time getting his revenge. He pitched batting practice again Thursday, and the first time Dascenzo stepped in, Lefebvre sent his best imitation of a fastball behind Dascenzo`s head.
Overdue: George Bell and minor-league third baseman Pedro Castellano, from Venezuela, still were missing from camp Thursday-Bell for business reasons, Castellano because of visa problems. ”Pedro called a couple times,” Himes said. ”He just can`t get out. He`s very worried about it. I told him when he gets here, fine.”
Overtime: Lefebvre kept Dascenzo, Jerome Walton and third-base prospect Gary Scott on the field an extra hour to work on hitting. He threw from a kneeling position to each one, having them hit only balls that caught the heart of the plate. Lefebvre said: ”We worked on looking for the ball right there and to sit back and hit. Anything out of that zone, we just discipline ourselves not to swing at it.”
”There`s a totally different attitude around here,” Walton said.
”You`ve got people who know a lot about baseball to give you the right drills.”