Left-fielder George Bell showed up at spring training camp two days late Friday. But what he lacked in punctuality he more than made up for in style.
He arrived in a white limousine.
Bell`s agent telephoned the Cubs earlier this weeek to tell them Bell would miss the first full-squad workout Wednesday. His agent said Bell bought a gasoline station back home in the Dominican Republic and needed time to get the business running.
It was the first time Bell had used that excuse, but hardly the first time he was late reporting to spring training. He is traditionally tardy.
Manager Jim Lefebvre and General Manager Larry Himes said they appreciated Bell`s agent calling in advance and dismissed any problems with the outfielder`s late arrival.
Bell kept his limousine waiting while he went inside the clubhouse to say hello to a few teammates. He left about a half-hour later and said he would be in camp ready to work Saturday morning.
The only other player still missing is minor-league third-base prospect Pedro Castellano, a native of Venezuela, who was delayed by visa problems. He was expected to arrive late Saturday.
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– Lefebvre said shortstop Shawon Dunston was one of several players who experienced muscle stiffness after the long workouts the first week of camp. That immediately set off alarm bells because Dunston hurt his back during the off-season. But Lefebvre stressed the soreness had nothing to do with the back. Dunston dove for balls in the infield and ran the bases Friday. He even took part in agility running drills after Lefebvre told him he could skip them.
– Lefebvre said pitchers Mike Harkey and Jeff D. Robinson were looking good. Harkey is coming off surgery last season and won`t be ready to go full speed for some time yet. ”He threw a lot today and the key now is to see how he feels tomorrow,” Lefebvre said. Robinson, 32, an eight-year major-league veteran who signed a minor-league contract with the Cubs in January, was singled out for praise by Lefebvre. ”Jeff Robinson has been just
outstanding,” the manager said. ”I heard he was throwing the ball real well a couple of days ago, so I made a point of watching him today. He was outstanding. His ball has a lot of life.” Also looking sharp in the early workouts, Lefebvre said, is left-hander Steve Adkins, who spent most of last season at Triple-A Iowa after coming to the Cubs from the New York Yankees`
Triple-A affiliate.
– The Cubs signed catcher Rick Wilkins and third-base prospect Gary Scott to new contracts Friday. Terms of the deals were not disclosed.