March 31--Javier Baez admittedly was angry about missing his first major-league opening day.
It's a result of a left thumb bruise from a head-first slide at first base on March 20. Last June, Baez fractured a finger on his left hand on a head-first slide at second base that cost him a shot at a brief major-league promotion he finally received in September.
Manager Joe Maddon said he will continue to talk to Baez about running through the bag on close plays at first base and sliding feet first into the other bases.
Maddon has seen Baez slide feet first to break up a double play at second base, "but in the heat of the moment, your instincts take over," Maddon said.
Baez, meanwhile, vowed he will be ready to come off the 15-disabled list when the Cubs return to Wrigley Field on April 11. Baez will work in left field after playing center for the first time in Puerto Rico in December.
"We're all on the same page," Baez said. "We don't want to rush anything. We're taking it step by step. I haven't seen any live pitching in a week. I don't want to start seeing live pitching and be lost again."
Homecoming and farewell: Kris Bryant looks forward to playing two games against the Mets in his hometown of Las Vegas.
"It never gets old," said Bryant, who is delighted to play in front of selected family members and close friends who don't get a chance to see him play in person too often. "It's going to be fun just to see everybody there. I don't really care how the games go. I just like to see my family and friends in my home town.
"It's a homecoming for the first game, a farewell for the second game."
Extra innings: Center fielder Dexter Fowler didn't start for the third consecutive game because of a tight left side but believes he could return by Friday. Fowler plans to take batting practice before Thursday's game. ... Maddon seemed lukewarm to the idea an iPad in the dugout after MLB approved their use. "I love my iPad," Maddon said. "I just like my piece of paper in the dugout right now. That's the old school component of me just bleeding right now."
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