Jeff Shaw’s agent insists his client has both the fitness and the desire to return to baseball.
“If I had any questions about his enthusiasm, I would flat out tell him not to play,” Joe Bick said Monday. “You can’t do what he does if you have any doubts.”
Bick planned to speak with Cubs President Andy MacPhail on Monday night to discuss putting Shaw in a Cubs uniform.
The 35-year-old right-hander was leaning toward retirement after the Dodgers declined his $7.05 million option. But with closer Tom Gordon slated to miss at least three months, the Cubs might be a good match.
With Opening Day less than three weeks away, both sides know they must act quickly. Shaw’s decision is expected in the next few days.
While Cubs manager Don Baylor doubts Shaw could be ready by April 1, Bick said he believes Shaw could.
“Most players will tell you that spring training is too long already,” he said. “Jeff has never been out of shape in his life. He hasn’t been throwing as much as he normally would, but he has been running and doing a conditioning program.”
Go the distance? Donovan Osborne gave up just a solo home run during his three innings Monday. But the Cubs are not convinced entirely that the veteran lefty can build his arm strength enough to make it as their fifth starter.
They noticed a drop in Osborne’s velocity after 30 pitches.
“He definitely knows how to pitch,” Baylor said. “But it’s amazing how sometimes hitters can miss two years [and return] while it’s tough for pitchers to get their stamina back.”
Osborne sat out 2000 and 2001 after becoming frustrated by six years’ worth of injuries.
Mueller time: Bill Mueller had some loose material removed from his left knee during surgery Monday. The Cubs project he will miss four to five weeks, but the hard-working Mueller could be back sooner.
Mueller, who had been bothered by persistent swelling in the knee, opted for surgery instead of rest.
“There was some discussion among the doctors as to what the appropriate measure was,” MacPhail said. “In the end it’s Billy’s career. He wanted to get it done and get it over with.”
Alou debut: Moises Alou grounded out and struck out in his first two at-bats in a Cubs uniform. But more importantly, he felt no pain in his left side, where he had strained a muscle four weeks ago.
“Hopefully this is the beginning of a healthy season,” he said.
Alou’s other goals for the spring?
“Everybody knows my swing doesn’t need much work,” he said. “I just stand there and swing. I don’t make too much movement. I’m just going to work on my stamina.”
Chopping block: The Cubs trimmed their spring-training roster to 50 by sending seven players to minor-league camp: infielder Ivanon Coffie (Triple-A Iowa); pitchers Ben Christensen, Jose Cueto, Francis Beltran and Steve Smyth (Double-A West Tenn); and catchers Ryan Jorgensen and Yoon-Min Kweon (minor-league camp).
SPRING REPORT
Cubs recap
SCORE: Giants 9, Cubs 5.
SPRING RECORD: 5-8.
AT THE PLATE: Alex Gonzalez stroked two RBI doubles in two at-bats. Roosevelt Brown went 2-for-5, boosting his spring average to .366.
ON THE MOUND: Donovan Osborne excelled, allowing one run over three innings, while fellow rotation candidate Jesus Sanchez gave up five earned runs in 3 1/3 innings.
IN THE FIELD: Osborne started a nifty 1-6-3 double play.
BATTLE AT SECOND: Bobby Hill went 1-for-3 with two walks.
NEXT UP: Vs. Padres at 2:05 p.m. Tuesday in Peoria. Jon Lieber, who has a 1.80 ERA, faces right-hander Kevin Jarvis.
