Retooled during the winter, Cubs are ready to hit the road

After a whirlwind winter spent getting to know the organization and retool after a 71-91 season, the new Cubs brass cleared out of Wrigley Field at the end of the week and prepared to head to Arizona.

Pitchers and catchers report for spring training Feb. 18 and work out formally the next day. Ahead of that, however, new team president Theo Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer planned to convene a quick, two-day set of organizational meetings that will include all baseball personnel in Arizona.

In past years, the Cubs have held weeklong organizational meetings during October or November, but the new crew wasn't fully put into place until November, pushing things back.

Numbers wise, it's a beefed-up front office, with Epstein and Hoyer keeping all the holdovers in key spots and bringing in additional people.

The Cubs enter spring training with a retooled and younger rotation, having added left-handers Travis Wood and Paul Maholm and right-hander Chris Volstad.

The bullpen will be minus left-hander Sean Marshall, traded in December to the Reds. Closer Carlos Marmol is back, and the Cubs will keep a close eye on his control during the spring.

Position players don't officially report until Feb. 23, but expect a good number to be in Mesa, Ariz., before then.

The infield corners will be the spots to watch, with Ian Stewart having replaced offensive machine Aramis Ramirez at third base. At first, the Cubs say career minor leaguer Bryan LaHair has the inside track over prospect Matt Rizzo, obtained in a trade with San Diego.

New manager Dale Sveum has promised greater accountability on the field. The Cubs were a poor defensive team last year, and they also suffered from numerous mental lapses.

Sveum, Epstein and Hoyer are expected to address the media on Feb. 18, and if nothing else, the verbal tone should be set then.

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