In the second inning Friday, Corey Patterson reminded baseball observers why he habitually is ranked among the game’s top prospects.
When Oakland first baseman Carlos Pena hit a rope to left-center field, Patterson pursued it with an all-out sprint. Then he laid out on the warning track to make the catch, drawing applause from the crowd and from his teammates.
“You have to make the plays,” Patterson explained matter-of-factly.
Patterson also appears unfazed by manager Don Baylor’s indecision regarding his role. After telling Patterson he would be the starter in center field, Baylor said Thursday he would “revisit” the situation.
“If you worry about that, it can distract what you’re trying to accomplish,” Patterson said.
But did the manager go back on his word?
“Maybe so,” Patterson replied. “But I respect his position. He has to do what’s best for the team. That’s why you can’t take anything for granted. Plans can change.”
Patterson is trying to make minor changes in his swing in hopes of boosting his spring average, which stands at .222.
“I’m not hitting the panic button,” he said. “My main thing is being selectively aggressive, swinging at balls I can handle in the strike zone.”
Sigh of relief: Jason Bere almost missed his start Friday after taking his wife, Dinelle, to a local hospital. She was having trouble breathing.
“If they had admitted her, I wouldn’t have pitched,” he said.
After seeing a throat specialist, Bere felt secure enough to take the mound against Oakland. He arrived at the ballpark an hour before the game’s first pitch and called between innings to check up on her.
Bere, who gave up three earned runs over 4 2/3 innings, is seemingly on track to pitch the April 5 home opener. That would make him the team’s No. 4 starter behind Jon Lieber, Kerry Wood and Juan Cruz.
“They haven’t told me anything,” Bere said.
Curse of Mack Newton? Add Delino DeShields to the Cubs’ ever-expanding injury list. DeShields had X-rays taken Friday on his right hip, which has bothered him since last season.
Shortstop Alex Gonzalez, who has been sidelined with a strained right groin, might return to the lineup this weekend.
Third baseman Bill Mueller, who is rehabilitating his left knee after arthroscopic surgery, is expected back in mid-April.
“These fields are unbelievably hard,” Baylor said. “Guys complain about ours all the time.”
Can anything be done?
“Water would help,” Baylor said. “It’s not fair to the pitchers. Guys are hitting .400 or .500, but [high chops] are not hits.”
Done deal: The Cubs acquired right-hander Shawn Sonnier from Kansas City to complete the Michael Tucker trade. The 25-year-old Sonnier, who went 5-5 with a 4.82 ERA last season at Triple-A Omaha, was optioned to Triple-A Iowa.
Cut day: The Cubs trimmed their roster to 45 by sending five players to minor-league camp: first baseman Hee Seop Choi, right-handers Mike Meyers, Will Cunnane and Ben Ford and shortstop Nate Frese.
SPRING REPORT
Cubs recap
SCORE: A’s 8, Cubs 1.
SPRING RECORD: 5-13.
AT THE PLATE: Mark Bellhorn (1-for-1) raised his average to .432.
ON THE MOUND: Lefty reliever Donovan Osborne allowed five runs in 1 1/3 innings.
BATTLE AT SECOND: With Delino DeShields out (minor hip injury), Bobby Hill went 1-for-4.
NEXT UP: Vs. Anaheim at 2:05 p.m. in Tempe. Julian Tavarez will try to stop Cubs’ six-game losing streak.
