Inside the Cubs

Toe jam: Cubs' Camp kept injury quiet

2013-05-23T01:40:22Z

Struggling reliever Shawn Camp was placed on the disabled list Wednesday for a sprained toe the team says he kept quiet for much of the past month.

"He got treatment for on Sunday to kind of start the process and just [aggravated] it, and the inflammation got too bad or whatever," he said. "I think for a while it's just been getting tough to push of the mound. We've got to give it time to settle down."

By the time Camp alerted team officials to the problem Sunday, it was too late to prevent reliever Michael Bowden from being designated for assignment to make roster room for Matt Garza. Had the club know sooner, and known the severity, Sveum said, Camp would have been put on the DL then, with Bowden staying with the club.

"That would have been the obvious move," he said. "We didn't know it was that extensive."

Camp, who gave up a decisive grand slam in Tuesday's loss to Pittsburgh, didn't indicate how significant the issue was even after Sunday as he tried to pitch through it, said Sveum, who suggested it could have contributed to Camp's decreased velocity and effectiveness.

Camp, who has a 7.56 ERA and three blown saves, could be in for a lengthy DL stay. He's been ordered to stay off the foot as much as possible to let the pain subside before resuming baseball activity.

And Camp, who left the team to return home for that part of the recovery, might need a minor-league rehab assignment after that, Sveum said.

Cubs top officials meet with Oklahoma's Gray

2013-05-22T18:14:25Z

With barely two weeks left before the Cubs make what could be the defining draft pick of this second-year regime, top front office officials are gathering the final - and finest details - on the few players they're considering for the No. 2 overall selection on June 6.

Team president Theo Epstein, general manager Jed Hoyer, top scouting/player development executive Jason McLeod and amateur scouting director Jaron Madison are in Oklahoma City today to meet with Oklahoma right-hander Jonathan Gray - one of the top two pitchers in the draft.

The Big-12 tournament opens in Oklahoma City Thursday.

The 6-4, 239-pound Gray is the more powerful of the draft's top pair of pitchers, but Stanford right-hander Mark Appel - a senior who refused to sign after being drafted eighth overall a year ago - is considered the more refined pitcher.

Barring unforeseen issues arising with either pitcher in the next two weeks, the Cubs are expected to take whichever pitcher the Houston Astros do not take with the No. 1 overall pick.

Given the dearth of potential impact pitchers in the Cubs' system and the diminishing means of acquiring free agent talent in the current baseball economy, this Cubs' pick could have a disproportionate impact on the team's rebuilding effort.

Appel, who's represented by Scott Boras, rejected a $3.8 million offer by the Pittsburgh Pirates last year after falling to eighth following several draft projections that had him going No. 1 overall.

The Cubs have $10.56 allotted by MLB for draft bonuses to their top 10 picks, with more than half of that slotted for their top pick.

Teams can exceed their overall "budget" by 5 percent before losing future draft picks as penalties.

Camp Rocked: Cubs reliever can't find '12 form

2013-05-22T03:59:30Z

PITTSBURGH - So what's wrong with Shawn Camp?

The right-handed reliever manager Dale Sveum considered one of his team MVPs last year - a guy whose 80 appearances was tied for the major league lead - has lost velocity since then and has struggled more than anyone still toiling in the Cubs' beleaguered bullpen.

On this night, Camp's hanging changeup was the biggest bullpen culprit in ruining Matt Garza's impressive return from the disabled list - with pinch-hitter Travis Snider clobbering it for the game-changing grand slam in a 5-4 loss to Pittsburgh.

He was the third reliever in a five-run Pirates' sixth after Garza handed the pen a 3-0 lead following five scoreless, one-hit innings.

It was the Cubs' 10th blown save already this season. Camp has three of them - to go with a 7.56 ERA that's more than twice as high as last year's ERA.

"It's hard to pin-point," Sveum said of Camp's struggles this year compared to last. "First and foremost when guy like that loses 2-3 mph on his fastball, everything else is a little short. That's where we are."

Camp, whose 2012 success earned him a $1.35 million deal this year, said his velocity's no different.

"The ball was just up. It was just up," he said. "That happens. I've just got to work down."

Said Sveum: "He's having trouble getting the balls up to 87 mph right now. So the spin on the slider's going to be less, the arm speed on the slider's going to be less. Everything's a little short right now."

After dismissing the velocity issue, Camp was asked whether he's having problems with his changeup and snapped at the reporter - "that's irrelevant."

"Sometimes you go in these ruts, and you just have to get your way out of them," said Camp, whose struggles might be magnified with the larger issues of a bullpen that has been a key weakness for the club so far. "I really don't know what to say about it. It was just, [if I] get the guy out in front of it, and he pops it up, nobody's talking about it."

Gregg putting the finish on what Cubs start

2013-05-21T01:24:34Z

The Cubs are starting games off with a surprisingly strong rotation that figures to get even better today with Matt Garza's return.
But they are finishing games off better as well since the unexpected return of Kevin Gregg.
After shuffling the closer deck several times among Carlos Marmol, Kyuji Fujikawa and a committee of others, manager Dale Sveum seems to have found his ace.
``He's been perfect [in six save opportunities],'' Sveum said. ``He's a guy who's been in that situation many times in his career and he knows how to get those last three outs.''
Gregg's first time in a Cubs uniform came in 2009, the team acquiring him from the Florida Marlins because he was a proven closer.
Gregg had 23 saves then in what was an all-around disappointing season for the Cubs. But after three seasons in the American League with Toronto (37 saves) and Baltimore (22 saves), Gregg found his way back to Wrigley Field only because the Los Angeles Dodgers, pitching-rich in spring, didn't have room for him despite a near-flawless 0.82 ERA in 11 innings.
``I love the vibe that's here,'' he said of wanting to return. ``I love the attitude, the approach. I wish everybody else had the same opinion.
``I think people on the outside look at us as a rebuilding team because of last year, so a lot of fans and media are looking at what is two or three or four years down the road. Well, as players, we're about now. We want to do it now. We see potential in this clubhouse now.''
Since Gregg signed a minor league contract April 15 and was immediately promoted, he has made 11 appearances without allowing an earned run (10 innings.) He recorded his 150th career save on May 12 against Washington.
The bullpen collectively had only four saves in 13 opportunities before that.
``Closing is a mindset,'' he said. ``You have to want those three outs and handle those three outs without letting the emotions get involved, without letting the game speed up on you. It's something I've done for a while and where I'm comfortable.''
The opportunities are coming because the rest of the pitching is jelling, he said.
``It starts with the starters,'' he said. ``Those are five quality arms--and we have Garza coming back--so its six guys who can pitch well. That allows the bullpen to be put into the right position.''
The irony of Gregg's success--and for that matter, the success of the starters--is that it could make him more valuable to a contending team as the July 31 trade deadline nears.
``I don't really think about it because that's trying to predict the future, and you can't,'' he said. ``This team could easily put together a pretty good win streak and pretty good couple of months and then you're in a whole different position on where you want to be at the end of July.
``That would allow us to make them [Cubs management] make the decision of what they want to do and how they want to go about this rebuilding process.''
Gregg is among the players who see a promising summer now.
``Is this an All-Star studded lineup? No, but does it have potential? It does,'' he said.
``I just wish this team could get more credit. We're not a 100-loss team. We're a team that can compete every day. Even in the losses, we're not being blown out. We have a chance to win every game. I wish people would start to focus on `these guys are competing. We can do this.'
``Fans want to see their team compete and have a chance to win. As long as you have that, you feel you have a chance to put together a solid season.''

Dempster comes ``home'' as a Boston Red Sox

2013-05-21T00:22:05Z

Ryan Dempster got to play with his son Brady Monday the way he had for years when he pitched for the Cubs.
But this was a brief few days of father-son fun, and it happened at U.S. Cellular Field where Dempster will be the this week as a visiting member of the Boston Red Sox.
After nine seasons on the North Side, Dempster still has a home here and Brady is still in school here, so the visit is special on many fronts.
``Chicago will always be home,'' the native of British Columbia, Canada said. ``It was nice to pick him up from school and come here. But it will be different now until school is over.
``You play somewhere for a long time and you have visions of playing there the rest of your career, and at the same time you understand the business.
``I felt honored to be a Chicago Cub and wear the uniform, and the way I was treated from ownership to the front office to the coaches was first class. I'm so grateful and thankful for the opportunity to have worn the uniform for that long.''
Dempster was traded to the Texas Rangers in the July 31 deadline move. The Rangers reached the American League playoffs.
But he signed as a free agent with Boston after the season.
``The trade last year was to a good place and I was pretty lucky. I had a tremendous time. But it's been awesome here.
``I didn't know what to expect. There are expectations for the team, but I don't think they're higher for us as individuals. It's been a blast and we've gotten off to a good start, too.''
Dempster (2-4, 4.27 ERA) won't face the White Sox, but he is part of a staff that ranks just behind the Sox in the top five in the American League.
The Red Sox also are legitimate World Series contenders.
``That was the reason I chose to go there,'' he said. ``The way the team as come together, the talent that was there, they had as much chance as any team to get there. We're playing good baseball. We just went through a rough patch and we're still right there. It's been a lot of fun and it's exciting.''
The irony of playing for two iconic teams in baseball's two most unique parks isn't lost on him.
``How lucky am I to have both those places as my home ball park, my home office,'' he said of Wrigley Field and Fenway Park. ``They're both unique and special in their own rights. I just loved playing in Wrigley Field and getting a chance to go there every day. And now going to Fenway, walking through the park and seeing everything before the action, it's different in some sense ,but there's that old tradition and nostalgia.''

Stranded runners costly in 4-3 Cubs loss

2013-05-19T22:34:34Z

Cubs pitching continues strong, with left-hander Travis Wood getting his ninth straight quality start Sunday--a first since 1908 when Mordecai Brown had 11 straight.
But Cubs hitting continues to struggle with men in scoring position, something that cost Wood in a 4-3 loss to the New York Mets, giving them the weekend series and the Cubs a 3-3 home stand.
``We had opportunities to break it open,'' manager Dale Sveum said of the 1-for-10 performance with runners in scoring position. ``We got guys to third base. Our biggest goal going forward is getting those guys in from third.''
The only hit in the category came from Wood, who belted his first homer of the season in the fifth with catcher Welington Castillo at second after a double. It was the second homer by a Cubs starter--Jeff Samardzija has the other--and gave the starting five bragging rights to 11 RBI and five doubles so far.
``We have some good athletes who can swing the bat, and it's been a huge bonus,'' Sveum said. ``It's too bad we couldn't win it after Woody's homer there gave us a 2-0 lead.''
The Cubs had another homer from Ryan Sweeney (first) leading the sixth, two innings after he led the fourth with a double he tried to stretch to a triple, not successfully in the eyes of umpire Manny Gonzalez. Ex-Cub Marlon Byrd made the throw from right field, his second such assist in the series.
But there was a Cub at third in the first when lead off man David DeJesus doubled and advanced on Starlin Castro's fly out. Anthony Rizzo struck out for the first time in 39 at-bats and Nate Schierholtz grounded out.
DeJesus was at second again with one out in the fifth after Wood's homer, and Schierholtz was at third with no outs in the sixth after Sweeney's blast.
Neither got home.
``It's tough sometimes but everyone is trying to bring in the runs,'' said Castro, who hit two deep flies held in by the wind. ``It didn't happen today but we're trying to get the job done.''
Castillo and Wood credited Mets starter Dillon Gee, who stopped any rallies despite giving up eight hits, and the relief corps that followed him, including Greg Burke, Scott Rice (2-3) and Bobby Parnell (6th save). Those three didn't allow a hit in the last three innings.
``Today was one of those games where I was fortunate to get deep into the game, but Gee did a good job of keeping us off balance,'' Wood said. ``That's just good, clean baseball.''
The Mets didn't score against Wood until the sixth when Daniel Murphy beat out a potential double play. He went to second on a Wood wild pitch before Justin Turner struck out, then scored on David Wright's single.
The Mets scored again with two outs in the seventh when Ruben Tejada blooped a single over the infield before Juan Lagares hit his first major league homer on a 2-2 pitch.
``I wish I could have that one pitch back,'' Wood said. ``That's baseball. He was able to foul off some pitches. As soon as it left my hand, I didn't feel good about it.''
The winning run was another solo homer from Murphy off Kyuji Fujikawa (1-1) leading the eighth.
``We've been pitching great, including Woody today,'' Castillo said. ``We just need to make some pitches when we need to. You have to make plays and you have to make pitches.
``Everyone is trying to do his part and everyone tries their best with men on base. Sometimes [the opposition] makes their pitch, and that's baseball.''
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Start off with the starters

2013-05-19T19:40:52Z

The San Francisco Giants have won two of the last three World Series on the strength of dominating pitching--the baseball component every manager wants most.
Starting pitching is the best component now for the Cubs, who still must improve defensively and hit more productively.
``There's no question that's where it all starts,'' manager Dale Sveum said. ``You can use the Giants as an example and how deep their starters go in the game. There are so many different matchups you can do [at the end of games] when you get through those first seven innings, so many ways you can shorten the game.
``And when your bullpen sets up the way it is, it's a nice thing to have in your back pocket.
``What these guys have done is given us a chance in almost every game,'' Sveum said of the rotation. ``The one thing we haven't had is hitting with runners in scoring position [third worst in baseball at .218], to get that fourth and fifth run in, but those things are starting to pick up.''
In the last eight games, the Cubs have hit .368 (25-58) with runners in scoring position.
Cubs pitching is holding the opposition to a .252 average with runners in scoring position.

LEADING THE WAY
David DeJesus has been on a hot streak, hitting .324 (36-111) in the last 33 games with nine doubles, a triple, five home runs, 15 RBI, 13 walks and 24 runs scored.
He also is among the leaders in how many pitches he sees per at-bat (4.9).
``It seems like he sees at least seven,'' Sveum said. ``You're talking about one of the better leadoff hitters in the game. You can't ask for much more than his OPS [on base/slugging percentage--now at .861].''

AGE IS A NUMBER
Sveum takes issue with calling the Cubs a young team. ``We have a couple young players but you have guys who have played 300 to 400 major league games,'' he said. ``Everyone but [Anthony] Rizzo has three or four years in the majors and some in the minors under their belts.''
Starlin Castro, 23, is the team's youngest player but is in his fourth major league season.

SURGING SOLER
Prospect Jorge Soler is hitting .643 (9-for-14) in his last three games, with a double, home run, five runs scored and two RBI at Class A Daytona. He is hitting .303 overall.
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Feldman shines in 8-2 Cubs victory

2013-05-18T21:38:05Z

How improbable is it for a team with a sub-.500 record to have one of the best starting rotations in baseball--with the possibility it can get even better soon?

As improbable as the Cubs (18-24) with a starting staff boasting a 3.47 ERA, a major league-best .226 opponent batting average and 26 quality starts, tied for third most in the National League.

That is the staff that could improve even more if Matt Garza returns to form quickly when he is activated this week.

``Potentially, if these guys keep throwing the ball the way they have the first six weeks, and with Garza coming back, once he settles in, it's got the potential to be one of the top rotations in the big leagues,'' manager Dale Sveum said.

It has all been improbable because so much of the quality has come from the off season acquisitions of pitchers turned loose by their former teams.

Scott Feldman, who had spent the last eight seasons with the Texas Rangers, may be the most remarkable.

His latest gem Saturday--6 2/3 innings of scoreless ball in the 8-2 victory over the New York Mets--was his fifth straight quality start and the seventh straight in which he has allowed two or less earned runs.

``It's hard to imagine how good he's been these last five starts, and the last four have been unbelieveable,'' Sveum said. ``The low stress and the length [of innings] he's given, the runs he's given up--there isn't a whole lot of opportunity for other teams to score other than solo homers. He's last five starts have been as good as anyone in baseball. It's been impressive.''

The only runs the Mets scored came in the ninth on Rick Ankiel's two-run homer off Hector Rondon.

The Cubs scored enough in the fourth for Feldman (4-3) off Jeremy Hefner (0-6), with Feldman aiding his own cause with a two-run double.

He has recorded a hit and RBI in three of his last four games.

``It's always fun to get a hit and help score some runs,'' he said. ``I'm sure [opposing pitchers] are happier facing us [pitchers] than [Anthony] Rizzo or [Nate] Schierholtz.''

Both Rizzo (10th) and Schierholtz (5th) hit solo homers to help Feldman, who has turned around an 0-3 record and 4.50 ERA to start the season to go 4-0 with a 1.28 ERA in his last five starts.

``He's not letting lefthanders beat him,'' Sveum said. ``His cutter has been incredible, where he's been able to locate it and keep lefthanders from getting [their arms] extended.

``He's been able to bounce his curveball when he has to and throw it for a strike early in the count. Everything is working.''

So is Feldman's confidence.

``I feel happy. My arm feels good. Mechanically, everything feels a lot better than it did in spring training,'' he said.

``The rotation has been doing well and the bullpen's been doing better,'' he added. ``Getting Garza back should be a big boost, but at the same time I feel for [Carlos] Villanueva [who will move to the bullpen] because he's done everything that he could. I've been in that situation and it's a tough one.

``But I think everyone is excited to get Garza back,'' he said. ``I don't know who will feed off who--whatever works. Just as long as we can keep doing our jobs and win the games we can and stay healthy and give our team a chance to win.''

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Garza returns Tuesday; Villanueva to the bullpen

2013-05-18T15:51:14Z

Cubs pitcher Matt Garza admitted there was trepidation when he first took the mound for Class AA Tennessee last month, his first since last July.
``The only time I was nervous was when I made my first rehab in Tennessee. The first couple pitches I was a little worried, but then it was fine. Ever since then, there's been no doubt in my mind.''
There is no doubt anymore for the Cubs, who will return Garza to the rotation Tuesday in Pittsburgh, his first major league action since July 28. He missed the rest of the season with a stress reaction in his right elbow.
His hopes to return for the start of the season were set back in spring training when he suffered a strained left lat.
But Garza's minor league rehab outings have gone well, including the last one Thursday that confirmed what Garza felt--he was ready to return.
``When they told me to get six innings in and I did, that was the lobbying,'' he said Saturday.
Garza pitched six strong innings Thursday for Class AAA Iowa, with manager Dale Sveum admitting Garza had done everything asked of him.
``I'm happy I don't have to rehab again,'' he said. ``I just had to refresh some stuff from spring training, got the rust off.
``I feel great, ready to go Tuesday and can't wait.''
Sveum said the Cubs will move struggling starter Carlos Villanueva to the bullpen and make a corresponding roster move Tuesday, likely sending a relief pitcher to the minors.
Villanueva is 1-3 with a 3.93 ERA but is winless in his last five outings. He was hit hardest in his last three.
``I'm glad I didn't have to make the decision. I just had to force it,'' Garza said. ``He's a true professional and he'll do whatever he has to to help the team.''
Garza said the 10-month absence from the game was the longest he has ever experienced.
``It was tough mentally but I had my family, my wife and kids to help me through it,'' he said. ``The mental part was tough, one setback after another, but I'm glad I got through it and can't wait for Tuesday.''
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Harvey pitches, hits way to 3-2 victory over Cubs

2013-05-17T22:32:31Z

Edwin Jackson was a long-term investment for the Cubs, who made the veteran righthander their signature off-season free agent signing.
The return on the four-year, $54 million investment is coming slowly despite another loss Friday to the New York Mets and their shining ace Matt Harvey (5-0).
``He threw a great ball game,'' manager Dale Sveum said of Jackson, who fell to 1-6 after the 3-2 loss at Wrigley Field. ``He threw strikes and did a good job. That's pretty much two well-pitched games in a row.''
Jackson won the last one, an 8-2 decision over Washington and the Nationals' young ace Stephen Strasburg.
But as well as Jackson pitched Friday, giving up solo home runs to David Wright (6th) in the first and Daniel Murphy (3rd) in the fourth, it was Harvey's bat that ended up hurting as much as his pitching.
Harvey was the last man Jackson would face, singling with two out in the seventh and Rick Ankiel at second after a double.
``It was a fastball that came back over the plate,'' Jackson said of the pitch to Harvey, whom manager Terry Collins didn't lift for a pinch hitter. ``Once someone has a bat in their hands, they're dangerous.''
Harvey is more dangerous on the mound, one of only five pitchers in Mets history to allow three or fewer runs in 16 consecutive starts. The last was two-time Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana, whose streak reached 21 games. Another Cy Young winner, Dwight Gooden, holds the franchise record of 24 games.
``We got two runs in the first inning and after that it was all his,'' said Alfonso Soriano, who singled in Starlin Castro in the first with Anthony Rizzo following on an errant throw home. ``He has very good command with everything he throws. Credit to him.''
Soriano fielded Harvey's single and tried to throw out Ankiel, but the bad throw allowed Harvey to reach second and was one of two more errors by the Cubs. Neither cost a run, the other coming in the ninth when Rizzo and catcher Welington Castillo collided and dropped a foul ball.
But an error of sorts did cost the Cubs a chance to tie the score in the eighth when third base coach David Bell sent Darwin Barney home trying to score from second on David DeJesus' single to right with one out off reliever Scott Rice.
Ex-Cub Marlon Byrd, who had come in as a pinch hitter and stayed to play right, threw out Barney easily at home.
``It was the wrong decision,'' said Bell, whose baseball family dates to grandfather Gus and dad Buddy, now vice president of player development with the White Sox. ``As a third base coach, you want to make the right decision and clearly that wasn't.''
Sveum, a former third base coach himself, talked to Bell after the game, but the manager admitted this was a game Harvey controlled.
``After the first inning, it was the Matt Harvey Show,'' he said. ``He's obviously the real deal, a lot of poise and velocity--and then the game winning hit.''
Jackson had something to show for the game, if not a victory but a season-high 6 2/3 innings and a third quality start.
``I've made some adjustments, mechanical things, and getting into a rhythm early,'' he said.
``Jackson pitched a good game,'' Soriano said. ``I'm sorry he got the loss.''
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Garza ready to return

2013-05-17T17:57:35Z

Matt Garza is ready to return to the rotation, which turns up the decision-making process now on the pitching staff.
After another quality outing with Class AAA Iowa, Garza wants to start pitching again, and manager Dale Sveum admitted Friday the righthander has done everything the team wanted.
``He was really good [Thursday night], very efficient with 75 pitchings in six innings, six strikeouts, his slider was better,'' Sveum said. ``Everything went according to plan and he stepped up. I like that.
``We could send him out again [on rehab], but he did what he was supposed to do.''
A decision on activating Garza--and deciding how the rotation changes--could come Saturday.
Sveum said Garza's durability isn't a question now.
``We've taken this slow. His durability is fine. He worked so hard, so that's probably the last thing we have to worry about with him.''

NEW LOOK
Carlos Villanueva came back from Thursday's off day with a new look--a trimmed, short beard replacing the pronounced handlebar mustache style.

Cubs' Samardzija ready to talk contract? "Absolutely not"

2013-05-16T04:29:52Z

He may not believe he's pitching for a contract, but Opening Day starter Jeff Samardzija showed again Wednesday why the Cubs' front office considers him as much a core piece of its big plans as long-term-deal guys Starlin Castro and Anthony Rizzo.

Two days after Rizzo's seven-year $41 million deal was announced, Samardzija had his best start since the opener, pitching eight powerful innings to beat the Colorado Rockies 6-3 - and lift the Cubs out of last and into a fourth-place tie with Milwaukee in the N.L. Central.

The Cubs have put Samardzija at the top of their list for a contract extension, but got little traction in talks last fall. Samardzija says he'd rather prove he's as good as he and the club thinks he is, and then talk deal.

Ready to talk now?

"Absolutely not," he said. "Nope. This is a great team, really coming around right now, playing great baseball. I'm just really looking to keep this going. It's fun to play with these guys."

Cubs ditch last -- move into 4th-place tie with 'W'

2013-05-16T04:20:52Z

It took a month, but the Cubs finally shed the last-place label they've been wearing most of the season.

Their 6-3 victory Wednesday night over the Colorado Rockies behind eight powerful innings from Opening Day starter Jeff Samardzija lifted them into a tie for fourth place in the National League Central with the Milwaukee Brewers - who lost Wednesday to Pittsburgh.

"It's a good feeling," said new millionaire Anthony Rizzo, whose second hit drove in a run during the Cubs' three-run seventh.

Whether they can keep up this mini surge long enough to keep the team intact through the trading deadline is anything but certain. But a 6-3 stretch that includes back-to-back series victories for the first time since Sept. 7-12 has players talking about "excitement" and "energy" and "momentum."

Samardzija pointed to "big confidence builders" like the Cubs' one-run comeback win in Washington Sunday.

"This game's a lot about confidence, a lot about how you feel out there on the field, and you make your own breaks," he said.

Samardzija (2-6) lived the words during his best start since the season opener, pitching an efficient eight innings to snap a personal seven-start winless streak.

Making his own breaks?

Samardzija hit his first homer in four years with Darwin Barney on second base in the second inning to give the Cubs an early 2-1 lead, and they never trailed again.

"That was huge at the time," manager Dale Sveum said.

Samardzija brushed it off as "luck."

"I need to slow down around the bases and enjoy it a little bit," he said. "It doesn't happen too often."

He's not the only one hitting lately. A Cubs lineup that ranked near the bottom in the majors in most hitting categories through April has averaged 5.2 runs per game during their nine-game run, scoring six or more four times.

A lot of that might be Rizzo, the No. 3 hitter who has been on a personal tear in his last 19 games: .392 with nine doubles, three homers and 16 RBIs.

The difference? "Maybe the contract, I don't know," he said with a laugh.

Whether the $41-million family security his new deal assures, or the more simplified approach he's taking at the plate, it seems to be having a contagious effect.

"I say this on every team, I feel like wherever I hit, if I hit we go," he said. "That's the pressure I put on myself, to hit well. But it's very contagious. ..."

David DeJesus led off the game with a homer for the Cubs, who scored three times in the seventh, sending seven men to the plate, to break open a close game.

As for Rizzo, he said the whirlwind surrounding his new contract had finally calmed some by Wednesday.

"It's been crazy," he said. "A lot of interviews, being pulled in different ways. But I've got a lot of support from friends, family, coaches, all congratulating me, and I'm very thankful. It was nice today, just an under-the-radar day. I just came to the park and got ready to play."

Cubs' Marmol denies Twitter "spy's" claim

2013-05-16T01:52:43Z

The realities of living in an age where social media often blurs with news media hit literally at home for Carlos Marmol on Wednesday, when a casual meeting with his agents at his condo building turned into brief media firestorm hours later.

Marmol was caught off guard when asked to respond to comments published on a Cubs-related blog after someone claiming to be Marmol's neighbor admittedly eavesdropped on the meeting -- in a community lounge space -- and forwarded pictures and quotes to the blog.

The "neighbor" claimed the meeting was about efforts by the agents to get Marmol traded to get their client a clean start, and added that Marmol said he "can't wait" to get out of Chicago.

Never mind the fact the Cubs have tried and failed for more than a year to find a taker for Marmol - turning down the best chance they had when the Los Angeles Angels were willing to send $15.5-million pitcher Dan Haren for Marmol, if the Cubs paid all but $3.5 million of Marmol's $9.8 million salary.

Marmol said Wednesday's meeting was a routine visit, wasn't about baseball business, and he emphatically denied the comment the "neighbor" claimed he made.

"It's not true," said Marmol, who can be difficult to understand in English even when the context is clear and when not eavesdropping. "I don't want to go anywhere. I can't wait for [the Cubs] to do something so I can stay here. I love Chicago. I love being here. I love my teammates. I love everybody here. ...

"I feel bad, because this is not true. ... That did not come out of my mouth."

Marmol said one of the people he was with noticed somebody across the room taking pictures, but the group shrugged it off. He said he feels now he was being spied on.

"I don't know who's that guy or why he tweeted that," Marmol said. "It's kind of a joke. ... I don't know what to say."

With Castro, Rizzo in fold, time for Cubs to spend on pitching?

2013-05-15T03:14:03Z

The cost containment the Cubs gained in potentially club-friendly, long-term deals with Starlin Castro and Anthony Rizzo in the last nine months could allow them to be more aggressive in building a competitive pitching staff.

How soon? Matt Garza and Travis Wood could be big parts of answering that question.

In Garza's case, it's about whether he returns to form this month after being sidelined by a pair of injuries since last July, and how much his side's willing to give this time around, considering the injuries since an extension was last discussed more than a year ago.

The Cubs don't have any talks with Garza planned at this point.

But Garza, who makes what could be a final minor-league rehab start Wednesday, welcomes the idea.

"It'd be awesome," he said. "But like I said in January, February, March and April, I need to pitch. I can't talk about anything except the next time I get to pitch. I can't do anything. There's no conversations about anything like that - it's just, `how close are you?'

Without the $10.25-million Garza, the Cubs had the third-ranked rotation ERA in the National League through Monday, with short-term starter Scott Feldman and fill-in swingman Carlos Villanueva in the starting five.

Opening Day starter Jeff Samardzija, a priority candidate for contract talks, and $52-million free agent Edwin Jackson already are in the long-term plans.

And the only question with the 26-year-old Wood is whether his rotation-leading start to the season is the sign of longer term success manager Dale Sveum suggested after another impressive start Monday.

"As far as I'm concerned, he's put himself there," Sveum said. "With what he's done since spring training, and over some 30 starts since last year, it's impressive."

Over his last 31 starts, including eight this season, the left-hander is 10-14 with a 3.50 ERA, 192 2/3 innings and 21 quality starts.

"I'd love to be here for a long time with the Cubs," said Wood (4-2, 2.03), "but that's out of my hands."