Feb. 25--The first full-squad workout for the Chicago Cubs started with an array of individual and group meetings and concluded with Jon Lester throwing a tight spiral and fellow pitcher Jason Hammel making an impressive two-handed catch while wearing orange gloves.
Manager Joe Maddon kept the Cubs' brisk workout to about two hours in an effort to keep his players sharp with plenty of work and time ahead.
"I like the spring training dance," Maddon said. "I think it should be a slow dance."
Maddon also recognized that several players arrived at the spring training complex several weeks in advance of their first workout, but he doesn't want them experiencing a state of lethargy or complaining that spring training is too long.
One area Maddon plans to shore up is the team's fundamentals. Maddon expressed his displeasure over the poor play one week into the 2015 exhibition season
"If you really dig down to last spring training, I was not happy with the fundamentals early on," Maddon said. "Unless you think about it, you lose sight of it. I really fully anticipate the proper approach to fundamentals this year where guys are totally invested in it mentally and guys aren't going through the motions and by the end of this camp being able to nail all that stuff down."
Maddon emphasized he wants to keep drills basic and simple.
"Whatever we choose to do, let's do it right and well."
Maddon said he did not discuss playing time at second base with shortstop Addison Russell.
"He didn't bring it up, either," Maddon said.
