Manager Don Baylor wants to see shortstop Alex Gonzalez on the field, not in the trainer’s room.
But Gonzalez has not fully recovered from straining his right groin a week ago against San Francisco.
“Even when you think you’re ready, you still have to be careful,” Gonzalez said.
“The most important thing is to get it completely healthy. I want to be ready for Opening Day.”
Baylor said Saturday that “we shouldn’t have to wait a week” for Gonzalez to return to the lineup.
He reiterated Sunday that he’s concerned about his shortstop’s absence and wants him to face National League pitching.
“He’s missing some valuable time,” Baylor said.
“He hit two doubles that day [against the Giants] and hasn’t played since. Supposedly he’s playing [Monday].”
Gonzalez, who has been participating in strength and agility drills, said he would not return Monday.
“I’ll push it more [Monday] to see if I can go Tuesday or Wednesday,” he said.
Gonzalez, who spent 15 days on the disabled list in 2000 with a strained right groin, said he was all but certain he’d be ready for Opening Day.
“Right now it’s not something that will keep me out,” he said.
Mr. Efficiency: Jon Lieber still has not been told by anyone other than reporters that he’ll the Cubs’ Opening Day starter.
“We’ll just have to wait and find out,” he said.
Lieber will in fact get the ball April 1 and Baylor would be thrilled if the 31-year-old right-hander pitches like he did Sunday against the White Sox.
Lieber gave up just one Paul Konerko single in six innings and didn’t walk a batter.
“He wanted to go one more, but what’s new?” Baylor said.
“We had planned on six innings and didn’t want to get away from that.”
Baylor confirmed that Lieber will be followed by Kerry Wood, Juan Cruz, Jason Bere and a fifth starter to be named.
That means Bere will start the April 5 home opener.
Rosy outlook: Outfielder Roosevelt Brown wore a device Sunday morning that provided electronic stimulation to the muscles near his left thumb.
Brown has had inflammation in the area since Friday but expects to return Tuesday.
“It’s nothing major,” Brown said.
“I can still go out and do my shagging so I won’t fall behind.”
Brown doesn’t like to think of himself as competing with Corey Patterson for the center-field job.
“I’m preparing my body and mind to play 190 games or whatever,” Brown said.
“They have to make their baseball decisions. It boils down to who’s the most ready.”
Back in the lineup: Delino DeShields figured two days off would help his sore right groin.
He was right.
“I felt great,” he said. “I struck out twice, but I was moving good on [defense].”
DeShields singled in his third at-bat and was lifted for pinch-runner Bobby Hill.
“I think [Baylor] was reading my mind,” DeShields said. “He might have saved me right there.”
DeShields said he believes the soreness is related to the hernia surgery he had at the end of the 1999 season. The pain was in the same area.
“I could have played [through it],” DeShields said.
“But it wasn’t getting any better, and I don’t want to go to Chicago when it’s 30 degrees and I’m barking like that.”
Cub files: Julio Zuleta’s time with the Cubs could end Monday, when the Yomiuri Giants are expected to make a formal two-year offer. … The Cubs continue to scout relievers. “This will probably be an interesting week,” Baylor said. … Ten of Sammy Sosa’s 12 hits have been singles, but that could be a good sign. “He’s hitting the ball hard, and that’s all he wanted to do,” Baylor said.
SPRING REPORT
Cubs recap
SCORE: Cubs 3, White Sox 0.
SPRING RECORD: 7-13.
AT THE PLATE: Sammy Sosa and Fred McGriff had two hits apiece. Corey Patterson went 2-for-4 with an RBI single.
ON THE MOUND: Jon Lieber was almost perfect for six innings, allowing just a single. Scott Chiasson pitched a 1-2-3 ninth.
IN THE FIELD: Moises Alou misplayed Aaron Rowand’s fly ball in left field.
NOTHING BUT ZEROES: Lefty reliever Mark Watson extended his scoreless streak to 8 1/3 innings. He did walk his first two batters of the spring, though.
NEXT UP: Vs. Brewers at 2:05 p.m. Monday in Mesa. Potential aces Kerry Wood and Ben Sheets take the mound.
