Aramis: ‘No hard feelings’
Former Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez drew a mixed reaction from the Wrigley Field crowd Monday in his first at-bat as a Milwaukee Brewer. Ramirez, who played for the Cubs for almost nine seasons, drove in a first-inning run with a sacrifice fly, and his double in the seventh drove in another.
“It’s not that I don’t care. It’s just that I can’t control it,’’ he said. “This is a great place to play baseball, a great atmosphere, packed every day even when you don’t win.’’
The new Cubs hierarchy chose to part ways with Ramirez as part of cleaning the slate, letting him sign as a free agent with the Brewers in a three-year, $36 million deal.
“But there’s no hard feelings,’’ he said. “Anytime you have a new general manager and front office, you have new players, new coaches and manager. It’s part of the game. Everyone has their own priorities, and theirs was to go younger. They didn’t sign any free agents.
“I’ve never been a GM, but they have a game plan, I’m sure, and hopefully it works. But with younger players, it can take awhile.’’
The reception was hostile for Ryan Braun, the National League MVP who avoided suspension because of an improperly handled drug-test sample in the offseason.
Sveum said he talked to Braun after he won the award, but not after the drugtesting controversy arose.
In need of relief
The benefit of a starting rotation that goes deep into a game can’t be overstated — except for bullpen pitchers who need work.
“Those days are coming,’’ Sveum said of needing the middle and late relievers. “You have to get them some work, but it’s all going to come together.’’
One reliever who might need extra care is James Russell, the only left-hander in the bullpen.
“He’s a guy you’ll try to match up [against lefthanded hitters] or switch him around,’’ Sveum said. “You don’t want to fall into the other manager’s hands where he pinch-hits [for a left-handed hitter]. But when you get to teams like Cincinnati, you’ll have [ Joey] Votto and [ Jay] Bruce [both left-handed] back-to-back.’’
The performances of Ryan Dempster, Matt Garza and Jeff Samardzija demonstrated the team’s belief that starting pitching will be a strength.
“We have such a good group of guys, and sometimes they do compete against each other,’’ Sveum said. “It’s fun to listen to them.’’
Fifth turn
Paul Maholm’s first start Tuesday will complete the first turn through the rotation.
“You kind of relax watching the first games, but I won’t deny it’s going to be nerve-racking [Tuesday night]. I’m not Dempster or Garza, but there are butterflies no matter who you are. I want to get off to a good start and keep what we have going. I think it’s good for the team and for us five to push each other and feed off each other.’’
The left-hander and former Pirate, who signed as a free agent in January, is 3-8 with a 4.45 ERA lifetime against the Brewers.
NHL drama
Sveum’s affection for the Phoenix Coyotes, who face the Blackhawks in the first round of the NHL playoffs, won’t be the only intrigue in the clubhouse. Maholm is a professed Pittsburgh Penguins fan. The Penguins will host the Philadelphia Flyers.
“I’ll be wearing my Penguins stuff,’’ Maholm said.
Minor matters
Brett Jackson had a walk-off double in the ninth inning to give Class AAA Iowa a 6-5 victory Sunday against Round Rock. The game featured a three-run home run by Anthony Rizzo and a 3-for-4 game by Tony Campana, who doubled, stole a base and scored two runs.