News, Notes and Links from Day 1 in Mesa

Pitchers and catchers officially reported to Mesa, Arizona for the start of Spring Training workouts today. Here's the latest as we start the countdown to the Cubs Cactus League opener, two weeks from tomorrow against the A's.

• ESPN Chicago reports that Blake DeWitt has until Wednesday to decide whether or not he will accept his outright assignment to Triple-A or become a free agent. Jed Hoyer is hopeful that DeWitt will chose to remain in the organization.
• According to Patrick Mooney of CSNChicago.com, the Cubs don't expect Starlin Castro's legal situation to be a distraction. Castro is expected to report to camp on time.
• Mooney tweeted today that Jed Hoyer expects to discuss and extension with Matt Garza, possibly this spring.
• Bruce Miles tweets that Theo Epstein has not seen "Moneyball" and has no plans to. He is not a fan of "proprietary" info getting out.
• Reed Johnson likes Dale Sveum's commitment to playing the game hard.
• Marlon Byrd says he lost 20 pounds during the offseason.
• It was 70 degrees and sunny today in Mesa.
• Chicago Cubs Online posted a nice look back at the Cubs offseason.
• Dale Sveum had individuals meetings with pitchers and catchers this morning and met with the media later in the day.
• Tomorrow official workouts begin at Fitch Park.
• Theo Epstein has put together a manual for Cubs staff members explaining The Cubs' Way.

That's it for now, but I'll keep you posted!

Pitchers & Catchers Report Tomorrow

Tomorrow Pitchers and Catcher will officially report to Fitch Park in Mesa, Arizona! Spring Training is right around the corner. Most of the Cubs have reported early to camp. Here are the latest news and notes on the eve of the official start of the 2012 season.

• Kerry Wood, Travis Wood, Darwin Barney, Geovany Soto, David DeJesus, Matt Garza and Randy Wells have all reported early to Fitch Park.
• Cubs fan Brian Pasnik is one of the finalists for the MLB Fan Cave Contest.
• Tim Sheridan's Boys of Spring Blog is a great place for pictures and updates from Mesa. Tim has already posted some great pics from the early birds working out.
• "I don't talk about that," Matt Garza said this week about the idea of signing a long term deal with the Cubs.
• Blake DeWitt will have the option of either returning to the Cubs as a non-roster invite or testing free agency if he clears waivers.
  
• For those that missed it, Kosuke Fukudome signed with the White Sox this week.
• The Cubs are STILL waiting to hear Bud Selig's ruling on the Theo Epstein compensation case.
• Patrick Mooney breaks down ten things to watch for the Cubs this season.
• According to Cubs.com, Dale Sveum is optimistic about the Cubs pitching staff for this season.
• Carrie Muskat reports that today Kerry Wood and Rodrigo Lopez threw off the mound, Rudy Jaramillo conducted early sessions in the cages, and Darwin Barney, Bryan LaHair and Josh Vitters were practicing in the field.

That's it for now, but I'll have more tomorrow!

Day 2 in Mesa: Marmol Signs, Bruce Miles on WGN Radio and More

Happy Valentine's Day Cubs fans! More importantly to most of us, pitcher's and catchers worked out as a team for the first time today!

The biggest news of the day was that the Cubs have signed Carlos Marmol to a 3-year, $20 million deal, avoiding arbitration. Marmol is penciled in as the Cubs closer for at least the next three seasons.

Some random notes from today

• Check out Tim Sheridan's post over at BOS for some great pics.
• Carlos Zambrano would like to start on Opening Day.
• Tyler Colvin will see some time at first base this spring.
• Angel Guzman is a long shot to make the team and is still not 100% healthy.
• Carrie Muskat reports that Guzman threw off the mound today.
• Carlos Silva went home today with a 103 degree fever.
• Branden Looper, Trey McNutt, Casey Coleman, Thomas Diamond, Andrew Cashner, Kerry Wood, Jay Jackson, Marcos Mateo, Justin Berg and Todd Wellemyer are all scheduled to throw off the mound tomorrow.
• Mike Quade on Ron Santo, "We'll win one for him and I'm not talking about Opening Day."
• Santo's patch is already being sported on the Cubs uniforms.
• According to Bruce Miles, Randy Wells says he lost focus at times last season.

Cubs beat writer Bruce Miles was on WGN Radio Sports Night with Noonan and Koz tonight. Here is what he had to say:

• The Carlos Marmol signing is a very, very good one. This is a nice deal for Marmol and the Cubs and everyone seems very happy about it.
• This salary figure is more of a discount for the Cubs.
• Marmol did not want to go to arbitration. That is not something that the Cubs like to do.
• Carlos is not worried about his control, he is only worried about getting three outs before a run is scored against him.
• Carlos Zambrano would love to start on Opening Day, but if it doesn't happen it doesn't happen.
• The first day of Spring Training is a lovefest that is all about optimism.
• It is a big spring for Carlos Silva, who is fighting for a job.
• There was a lot of stretching, throwing and bunting practice today.
• There are a lot of position players in camp that have reported early.
• The hitters that have reported early work with Rudy Jaramillo and work on conditioning.
• Miles likes going to Spring Training because it is the start of a new season, you get back into the routine.
• Baseball is a sport where you develop a rhythm.
• There are about 18 guys competing for 12 spots on the pitching staff. Those decisions will go down to the very last day of camp.
• Bruce thinks that this team is capable of winning 85-90 games.
• Mike Quade is a guy who cannot sit still that lays the law down in a very nice way with his players. He is a "hands on" manager that brings a certain energy.

That's it for now, but I'll keep you posted!

Pitchers and Catchers Have Reported

We can officially say those five magical words, "Pitchers and catchers have reported!" Baseball is right around the corner as the Cubs and the Oakland A's meet two weeks from today at HoHoKam Park. Everything Cubs blog will have you covered throughout Spring Training.

Tomorrow will be the first official workout and the first full squad workout will take place on Saturday. Mike Quade and Jim Hendry are both scheduled to meet the media today. I will update this post throughout the day with more information that comes from the Valley of the Sun.

Here are some tidbits to start us off!

• It is expected to be 77 degrees and sunny in Mesa today.
• Reed Johnson has reported early, according to a tweet from Bruce Miles. Johnson says that his experience with the Cubs was the best of his career. He does not mind fighting for a job this spring.
• Carlos Marmol has already taken his physical and is close to a multi-year deal with the team.
• Tim Sheridan's most recent post mentioned that Marlon Byrd has been working with Tyler Colvin and showing him some tips.
• Carrie Muskat writes that Jeff Samardzija will have a shot at the rotation, but Bruce Levine and Gordon Wittenmyer have reported that the Shark will only be looked at for the pen.
• Wittenmyer told David Kaplan yesterday on Cubs Insider that Casey Coleman will most likely be sent back to Triple-A to start the year.
• Levine continued his Spring Training previews yesterday with a look at the outfield. Mike Quade will have to decide who his starting right field is (Kosuke or Colvin) and who his fifth outfielder is (Perez or Johnson).

I'll keep you posted throughout day one of the 2011 season!!!