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MESA and GLENDALE, Ariz. — A rainy day in Arizona did not prevent the Cubs and White Sox from getting in their work Tuesday.
With only four workout days remaining until the start of Cactus League games, both teams were busy preparing for what most believe will be the most interesting exhibition season in years, thanks to the installation of the pitch clock and other rules changes.
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Chicago Tribune baseball writers LaMond Pope, Meghan Montemurro and Paul Sullivan will be providing Cubs and White Sox updates throughout spring training.
An inexperienced Cubs bullpen will benefit from the addition of right-hander Michael Fulmer, whose one-year, $4 million contract became official Monday.
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Although the Cubs enter camp without an apparent closer, Fulmer could emerge from their internal options to be the guy manager David Ross relies on the most in high-leverage spots. After making the transition from the rotation to the bullpen, Fulmer was an above-average reliever for the Minnesota Twins and Detroit Tigers, posting a 128 ERA+, 3.17 ERA and 17 saves over the previous two seasons.
“Whatever role they decide, I think they’re ready to get eyes on me and in games, just like everybody else,” Fulmer said. “So we’ll go compete for whatever job we can compete for and be happy, as long as I’m pitching healthy.
“Matchup is key. Am I going to face four lefties in a row? Probably not, but I’ll gladly take all the righties. … I think it helps having flexibility, and anybody can go out and pitch the ninth — guys that stay together thrive together.”
Fulmer, 29, initially connected with the Cubs via Zoom in December when the organization expressed genuine interest. He connected with two of his former Tigers teammates, ex-Cubs Andrew Chafin and Daniel Norris, for feedback on the team and received rave reviews.
“It just kind of confirmed my belief I’d want to be here,” Fulmer said, “and ultimately just glad it worked out.”
White Sox outfielder Gavin Sheets started slowly in 2022 and was optioned to Triple-A Charlotte on June 10.
He returned to the majors on June 23 and put together a solid finish.
“(I) went down to Charlotte for that week and got some pieces back together and put together a good second half,” Sheets said Monday. “That’s what I want to feed off of, move off that and build off the confidence and help this team win a championship.”
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Sheets had a .210 average with 10 RBIs through May. From July 1 on, he hit .258 with 10 homers. Overall, Sheets slashed .241/.295/.411 with 15 homers and 53 RBIs in 124 games.
Sheets is an option in right field with Oscar Colás. He also can fill in at first base and designated hitter.
“That’s the end goal: be in the lineup,” Sheets said. “I don’t care where I play. I’m preparing myself to be able to play every position I need to. Whatever the team needs from me, I know what I bring to the table as a left-handed bat and I’m going to feed off the second half I had last year.”
Sox manager Pedro Grifol is ready to use Sheets in a variety of ways.
“I want to see his bat in the lineup,” Grifol said Tuesday. “Right now, we’re playing it day by day. He’s moving around really good at first base and he’s a confident outfielder as well. We’ll see. He’s valuable to us.”
The Cubs announced the retirement Tuesday of longtime team physician and medical director Dr. Stephen Adams.
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Known as “Doc Adams,” his affiliation with the organization dates to the 1980s. Adams will stay connected with the Cubs as a special adviser to president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer and general manager Carter Hawkins.
“Dr. Adams has had such a positive impact not only on the Cubs, but also on the sport’s medical policies and guidelines,” Hoyer said in a statement. “His service, empathy and dedication to our organization and the game has benefited countless players, uniformed personnel and front-office associates. We thank Dr. Adams for his many years of caring for our team, staff and families.”
Adams’ impact on the organization included saving then-manager Dusty Baker’s life in September 2012 when he rushed Baker, who had chest pains, to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he had a stroke.
“He saw it right away. He knew what it was,” Baker said then. “They admitted me to the hospital. Then they put some things on my legs to take the swelling out in case I got blood clots.
“Doc Adams was there every day. The last day I was checking out and being discharged, and (a nurse) asked me my name. I said, ‘Debada.’ She said, ‘What?’ I said, ‘Dadeba.’ She said, ‘Oh, no, you’re having a stroke.’ The stroke unit came in five minutes. Doc was on top of it.”
Andrew Benintendi has seen plenty of the Sox from the opposing dugout.
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He’s getting to know them from a new viewpoint after signing a five-year deal with the team in the offseason. The left fielder has been impressed with the talent in the clubhouse.
“I played against them the last few years, more so being in the (American League) Central (with the Kansas City Royals in 2021-22),” Benintendi said Monday. “I know what this team can do and I’m glad to be a part of it and do anything I can to help.
“The lineup is extremely talented, very dangerous. And the pitching side, which I’ve had to deal with the last few years, I’m glad I’m on the other side now. It’s a good team. We’ve just got to go out there and play.”
Several Sox players reached out to Benintendi after he signed. He’s connecting with the entire team now.
Having a familiar face in Grifol has helped with the transition to the new setting. Grifol was the bench coach when Benintendi played for the Royals.
“He sees the game really well,” Benintendi said. “Being a bench coach for a while over there, you get to learn a lot. Not only from the manager but by watching. He’s always calm, cool and collected. It’s going to be fun to play for him. I think everybody over here is going to love him.”
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Joe Girardi, the Northwestern alumnus who went on to play catcher and manage in the majors, is the proud father of Lena Girardi, one of the best girls basketball players in Florida.
Lena, a 6-foot sophomore guard at Westminster Academy in Fort Lauderdale, is being recruited by Joe’s alma mater. Northwestern coach Joe McKeown is hoping her father’s legacy can pay dividends, though Lena likely will be one of the more recruited players in the nation.
Lena led her school to the state title as a freshman in 2022, averaging 20.2 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.1 steals.
Joe was at Cubs camp this week in his role as a Marquee Sports Network analyst.
Feb. 22, 1959: The White Sox began camp in Tampa, Fla., where 39 players reported under third-year manager Al “Señor” Lopez. The Sox finished second in the American League behind the New York Yankees in 1958 despite a 22-30 start.
“Lopez will step up the tempo from last year,” the Tribune reported. “The señor blamed the club’s poor start to his spring training strategy of taking it easy on some of the players, a plan designed to prevent them from getting weary in the late stages of the season. Al says everyone will go from top speed from the outset.”
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The ‘59 Sox went on to capture their first pennant in 40 years before losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series.
Feb. 22, 1950: The Cubs continued spring training on Catalina Island in California, where manager Frankie Frisch dealt with some early injuries.
“Blisters were the main curse of the 35 Cubs who engaged in Host Frisch’s bunion derby o’er hill and glen yesterday and today,” Tribune beat writer Edward Burns reported. “Worst sufferer from blister blight in the opening alpenstock events yesterday was Johnny Schmitz, who drew some criticism last year for a too leisurely approach to the matter of getting himself into condition to protect his prestige as the ace of the pitching staff.”
Burns added Schmitz’s personal trainer administered “to his sore puppies,” after which the pitcher shot a 72 on the nearby golf course. The ‘50 Cubs finished seventh in the National League at 64-89-1.
“There was a nice cuss word and a ‘yeah!’ text to him, and he texted right back. I know he wanted to be back here and it was a nice present before the holidays. … He’s such a good teammate in the clubhouse and a guy you like having around.” — David Ross on his reaction when he was told the Cubs re-signed left-hander Drew Smyly right before Christmas.
