Joe Maddon and the Cubs Celebrate Leap Day in Mesa

It's no surprise to hear that Joe Maddon planned some fun into his team's workout in Mesa on Leap Day.  The Cubs manager was dressed for the occasion as he pulled up in his van, which he named the "Cal State Fullerton." 

Joe Maddon arriving at Cubs spring training in his van on Leap Day (photo from @MLB Twitter)

For the full details of today's dose of fun, you can read this article from cubs.com.

Speaking of fun, last week the Cubs let loose with a dance circle during practice.  Reliever Justin Grimm got that party started with his smooth moves and pitcher Justin Grimm joined in (see video below).

The Cubs will open Cactus League play on Thursday against the Brewers, where Travis Wood is scheduled to start, followed by Kyle Hendricks.

Pierce Johnson will start the game on Friday's spring home opener against the Angels at Sloan Park.  Trevor Cahill will start Saturday's game against the Reds and Adam Warren will start against the Diamondbacks on Sunday.

In other Cubs news, have you heard that first baseman Anthony Rizzo is taking piano lessons this spring, in the hopes that he can play music with some of his teammates in the future?  I absolutely love how this team really knows how to mix in some fun along with hard work!

Rick Renteria and Cubs earn first win of the Spring; Cubs and 19 players agree to terms on 2014 contracts

Cubs top prospect Javier Baez

The Cubs and new manager Rick Renteria earned their first Cactus League win by beating the Milwaukee Brewers 4-2 today in Maryvale.  Javier Baez hit his first homer of the spring and also had 2 hits.

The Cubs agreed to terms today with 19 players on the 40-man roster with 3 or less years experience including:

Infielders:
Welington Castillo
Arismendy Alcantara
Mike Olt
Christian Villanueva
Logan Watkins

Outfielders: 
Junior Lake
Brett Jackson
Matt Szczur
Josh Vitters

Pitchers:
Jake Arrieta
Dallas Beeler
Zac Rosscup
Chris Rusin
Alberto Cabrera
Justin Grimm
Blake Parker
Neil Ramirez
Hector Rondon
Arodys Vizcaino

Details about the contracts were not yet disclosed by the Cubs.  In other Cubs news, shortstop Starlin Castro will be out for 7-10 days due to a mild strain in his right hamstring.  The injury occurred during Sunday's game when Castro tried to steal second base.  “We’re just being cautious with him,” Renteria said.  “It shouldn’t set him back at all for the regular season.”

Castro's situation will allow the team to give Emilio Bonifacio a chance at shortstop and to also try out second baseman Darwin Barney at shortstop.  Barney played shortstop at Triple-A Iowa when Castro was called up to the Cubs in May 2010.  “Shortstop’s my natural position,” Barney said.  “I feel very comfortable over there.  The past three years at second base, I’ve still taken balls at short almost every day as part of my workout to stretch my arm out.  I don’t look at it as a transition.  I just look at it as moving back over to short, whenever I have to.”

Tomorrow the Cubs will play the Oakland Athletics at Cubs Park at 2:05pm CST.  Right handed pitcher Kyle Hendricks is scheduled to make the start for the Cubs.

29 more days until Opening Day in Pittsburgh and 33 days until the Cubs Home Opener! Go Cubs Go!

Anthony Rizzo named NL Rookie of the Month; MLB's social media accounts hacked

The Cubs have an off-day today and will play a three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on the road starting at 9:10 CT tomorrow night.  Jeff Samardzija will start for the Cubs and try for his 8th win of the season.

In Cubs news today, top rookie Anthony Rizzo has been named the National League Rookie of the Month for July.  The first baseman led NL rookies in hits with 32, home runs with 7, RBIs with 17 and total bases with 55.  His seven homers were the most by a Cubs rookie in a calendar month since Mel Hall set the record with nine in August of 1983.

Anthony Rizzo has been named NL Rookie of the Month for July (photo from cubs.com)

Rizzo also finished in third place among NL rookies with a batting average of .330, an on-base percentage of .375 and slugging percentage of .567.  Other Cubs that have earned the award are:  Hee-Sop Choi in April 2003, Geovany Soto in April and August 2008 and Darwin Barney in 2011.

In other baseball news today, MLB's Facebook and Twitter accounts were hacked earlier today.  For a full listing of the hacked posts, here's a link to Deadspin.com.

Former Cub Ryan Dempster will make his first start tonight since being traded just minutes before the MLB trade deadline on July 31st to the Texas Rangers.  The Rangers will face the Los Angeles Angels in Arlington, Texas at 7:05pm CT.  It sure will be strange to see Demp in another team's uniform, but I wish him nothing but the best.

We'll miss you in Chicago, Ryan!

The Cubs acquired Class A Carolina minor league infielder Christian Villanueva and pitcher Kyle Hendricks in the Dempster deal.  The Rangers picked up the remainder of Dempster's salary for the season, equal to $4.67 million.

Villanueva, 21, is batting .285 with 19 double, one triple, 10 homers and 59 RBi in 100 games with Single-A Myrtle Beach this season.  He has a .356 on-base percentage and a .421 slugging percentage.

The Cubs acquired infielder Christian Villanueva in the Ryan Dempster trade

Hendricks, 22, has an ERA of 2.82 (41 ER in 130.2 IP) in 20 starts for Single-A Myrtle Beach this season.  He has struck out 112 and walked just 15 batters in 130.2 innings pitched, which is an average of just 1 walk per nine innings pitched.

The Cubs acquired pitcher Kyle Hendricks in the Ryan Dempster trade