Piniella gives big welcome to Bradley

[January 17, 2009]  CHICAGO (AP) -- Chicago Cubs manager Lou Piniella gave Milton Bradley a warm welcome when the two met Friday. A handshake, an embrace and an arm around his shoulder.

"Glad to have you here," Piniella said at the team's winter convention as cameras captured the greeting.

Bradley's three-year, $30 million contract will give the Cubs a solid bat in the middle of their lineup. And they hope there are no problems from a player whose career has featured emotional outbursts.

"I think the fact he has a three-year contract over here with the Cubs shows we were fairly interested in him and wanted him. I think we will do just fine with him," Piniella said.

For Bradley, it was quite an introduction to the Cubs' high-profile manager.

"He's excited, happy and energetic about winning. I'm a guy about winning. I think we'll click well," Bradley said. "He understands the media and how to deal with it, and I'm kind of still learning."

Piniella brushed off any concerns about Bradley's past, adding that hitting coach Gerald Perry, who knew Bradley when they were both in Oakland, and the team's medical staff had given him good reviews.

"I'm just looking forward to putting him in the lineup and letting him play," Piniella said.

The Cubs are looking for a third straight division title, but more so a way to get out of the first round of the playoffs where they've been swept away two straight years, first by the Diamondbacks and last year by the Dodgers. The quick and stunning ousters ran the team's drought without a World Series winner to 100 years.

"I think the biggest thing about last year's baseball team - and I won't mention it but once - I think everybody with the 100 years put a lot of expectations on the team in the postseason," Piniella said.

"And when we didn't get off very well in the opening game, it sort of set us back a little bit. We played a good ball the third game. It just wasn't enough."

The Cubs have added players like Bradley, Aaron Miles, Joey Gathright and Kevin Gregg, while losing Kerry Wood and Mark DeRosa. They're more left-handed and have more speed, but being different doesn't mean better. They won a NL-best 97 games in the regular season last year and still couldn't advance.

"I think the key is to get past the first round. Win one game. If we win one game, I think we'll be fine," said Alfonso Soriano, who has struggled in both of his postseason appearances with the Cubs.

The familiar topic of moving Soriano out of the leadoff surfaced Friday. Soriano, as usual, said he'd do what Piniella wanted. Piniella said he was happy with Soriano batting first but would see what happens during spring training that begins next month in Mesa, Ariz.

"Alfonso is a great kid," Piniella said. "He's got all the money in the world, so what is important to him is to win. We'll talk in spring training and see where it goes."

Notes:@ Team chairman Crane Kenney reiterated what he said earlier in the week at the owners' meeting in Arizona: he thinks the sale of the team by Tribune Co. can be completed by opening day. Reportedly, there are three final bidders. "I think the commissioner wants us to finish, I think the bidders want us to finish and I know the Tribune wants to get finished," Kenney said. He said commissioner Bud Selig offered to help expedite the process, even before the next owners meeting in May. ... Carlos Zambrano said he's not sure if he'll pitch in the World Baseball Classic for Venezuela because he might have Lasik eye surgery before spring training. Zambrano said the procedure could clear up the vision in his right eye and he doesn't like contacts or glasses. He was 14-6 last year and pitched a no-hitter and also batted .337 with four homers. So how did he hit so well if his vision wasn't clear? "I just shut my eyes," Zambrano said. ... The Cubs have agreed to a minor-league deal with OF So Taguchi and he will be invited to spring training. Taguchi batted .220 in 88 games with the Phillies last year.

[Associated Press; By RICK GANO]

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