CHICAGO _ The Cubs will delay moving the Wrigley Field bullpens from the field to underneath the bleachers until 2018, according to multiple sources.
The move had been planned as part of the Wrigley renovation and scheduled to be in place next year, with new seats added in the area where the bullpens currently exist.
Some Cubs players and staff weren't enamored with the idea, and the business operations department decided to delay the switch.
Cubs starter Jake Arrieta said warming up before a game in the elements "simulates the game feel," and was happy for the temporary reprieve.
"I'd prefer them there versus being underneath the bleachers in left field," Arrieta said. "I know most guys personally don't like the feeling of throwing indoors. It helps to have a mound covered for other reasons _ guys (throwing) in the offseason or being able to get work in if we're rained out or whatever the case is.
"There really is no comparison to being outside to replicate the way you're going to be pitching in a game situation. I'm OK with it. I like it."
The Cubs, Rays, Giants and A's are the only teams with bullpens on the field instead of beyond the outfield.
The Cubs said last year the decision to move the bullpen under the bleachers is intended to prevent injuries to outfielders running over the mound. But Arrieta said Cubs pitchers like the current setup.
"There's not much room toward Waveland (Avenue) as you go back, so it's inevitable that if they did move (the pen) it would go under the bleachers," he said. "But we all would prefer to keep it the way it is."
