March 07--Reliever Neil Ramirez hopes he can build enough strength and consistency to make the Cubs' opening-day roster.
Ramirez, who has been brought along slowly after suffering a shoulder injury last season, is scheduled to make his second appearance of the spring Monday in a split-squad game against the Rockies.
"It's still early," said Ramirez, who pitched a scoreless inning Friday. "We're still building (strength) and not trying to do too much."
Ramirez is out of minor-league options, and the Cubs must decide whether to carry seven or eight relievers.
"When you get a guy as good as (Ramirez) is, and he's out of options, it's always tough," manager Joe Maddon said Sunday.
Seven relievers appear to be virtual locks to make it -- closer Hector Rondon, Pedro Strop, Justin Grimm, Travis Wood, Clayton Richard, Trevor Cahill and Adam Warren. The Cubs could trade one of their relievers, but they retained Wood, Richard and Cahill and traded for Warren as insurance in case one of their starters is injured.
Balancing act: Dexter Fowler was pleased to show that his hitting from the left side is improving by hitting a home run Sunday.
Fowler batted .228 from the left side last season, compared with a .326 average from the right.
"Usually the timing (from the right side) comes along quicker because it's my natural side, but my left-handed swing feels good right now," Fowler said.
Maddon's madness: Maddon, coaches and players sported T-shirts that read "Try Not to Suck," a phrase that was used frequently in the dugout during the 2015 season.
The T-shirts can be purchased at korkedbaseball.com, with proceeds going to Maddon's Respect 90 Foundation.
It was the latest in a number of spring surprises that has impressed newcomer Warren, who sent a text to former Yankees teammate John Ryan Murphy on what his new team is like.
"You come to the park, you laugh, but you have no idea what's going to happen," Warren texted his friend.
Maddon said the message is "the most positive negative you've ever heard in your life."
