Andrew Bagnato

The Cubs` bench took a blow Sunday when backup first baseman and catcher Hector Villanueva broke his left hand. A club spokesman said he`s expected to miss at least a...

The job hunt is all but over for manager Don Zimmer. He refuses to take down the ''Now Hiring'' sign he has posted behind the plate, but Damon Berryhill will...

Greg Maddux was bruised and shaken but not seriously hurt by a line drive to the kneecap Thursday. Maddux, pitching at Mesa`s Fitch Park against Triple-A Las Vegas, left the...

Heathcliff Slocumb is on the verge of pitching his way into the last spot on the Cubs` staff. His earned-run average, 5.90, is unimpressive, and he allowed an earned run...

Cub pitching has gone south just 10 days before the club goes north. Three pitchers, beginning with starter Shawn Boskie, were shelled in a 16-4 loss to the California Angels...

One glance at Don Zimmer`s history as a manager explains why he is willing to open the season with 22-year-old Gary Scott at third base. Two years ago, Zimmer insisted...

The Cubs are hitting so well that they cut a player with a .379 batting average Sunday. The victim was Derrick May, whose large potential and superb spring training couldn`t...

Reliever Les Lancaster was asked to start a minor-league game Saturday, prompting speculation that Mike Harkey and Rick Sutcliffe would not be ready to open the season. Until Saturday, Lancaster...

Mike Bielecki has pitched so well this spring that the Cubs are no longer worrying about losing Rick Sutcliffe, who makes his first spring start on Friday. Bielecki turned in...

- The news out of HoHoKam Park Wednesday wasn`t that Dave Smith has locked down the Cubs` bullpen closer job. It was that Smith gave up a base hit in...