Associated Press
The baseball notebook …
NEW YORK ó Standing in the plush visitors’ clubhouse of Yankee Stadium, Carlos Zambrano made a plea for Chicago to replace Wrigley Field.
“You come into a ballpark like this and you see great things,” the Cubs ace told The Associated Press on Saturday before his team’s 10-1 exhibition loss at the sparkling ballpark in the Bronx.
“You wish that Chicago’d build a new stadium for the Cubs,” he said.
Built in 1914 and home to the Cubs since 1916, Wrigley Field is the second-oldest major league stadium, trailing only Boston’s Fenway Park (1912). Fans in Chicago still flock to see the ivy-covered walls and keep alive Harry Caray’s tradition of singing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” during every seventh-inning stretch.
In 2008, their 100th season without a World Series title, the Cubs drew a Wrigley record of 3,300,200 fans, and thousands more peered into the field from rooftops near the neighborhood park.
Zambrano wasn’t just being his unpredictable self Saturday. As a player he wants a relaxing environment to work in, and he understands Wrigley’s appeal for fans despite the lack of amenities ó who needs a martini bar, as there is in the new, $1.5 billion Yankee Stadium, when you can go loopy just trying to figure out the wind direction for that day’s game?
“People are used to Wrigley Field,” he said. “As a fan it’s hard to think of a new ballpark.”
Cubs manager Lou Piniella couldn’t agree less with his opening-day starter. The former Yankees outfielder and manager was enchanted by the new ballpark in the Bronx, but can’t wait to return to Chicago for the first home game on April 13.
“I don’t see why,” Piniella said when asked if the Cubs need a new stadium. “Wrigley’s got its own uniqueness. There’s no question the facilities need to be redone but that’s going to happen.
“My favorite time of year is when the ivy turns green. It’s really a great environment to play a ballgame,” he said.
RED SOX
BOSTON ó The Boston Red Sox have optioned right-hander Clay Buchholz to Triple-A Pawtucket and placed five players on the 15-day disabled list.
Right-hander John Smoltz (right shoulder surgery), outfielder Mark Kotsay (right elbow), shortstop Julio Lugo (right knee surgery), outfielder Jonathan Van Every (right ankle sprain) and right-hander Miguel Gonzalez (right elbow surgery) all went on the DL on Saturday retroactive to March 27.
JOBA THROWS
TAMPA, Fla. ó Joba Chamberlain has worked out at the Yankees’ minor league complex Saturday, one day before his final spring training start. New York’s No. 5 starter is scheduled to make his first start of the regular season April 12 at Kansas City.
GIANTSOAKLAND, Calif. ó The San Francisco Giants added infielders Rich Aurilia and Juan Uribe, outfielder Andres Torres and right-hander Brandon Medders to their 25-man roster Saturday.
WHITE SOX
CHICAGO ó Jose Contreras is rounding into form right in time for the Chicago White Sox. He threw four shutout innings against Arizona Saturday.
Contreras, who underwent surgery after suffering a season-ending Achilles’ injury Aug. 8, is 3-0 with a 5.82 ERA in 17 innings.