Fingers crossed, Prior, Miller get started on right foot
Veteran right-handers Mark Prior and Wade Miller, both coming off injury-wracked seasons and trying to earn spots in the starting rotation, threw their scheduled first-day bullpen sessions Thursday, although Prior took more time to loosen up than the others in his group.
''They both threw the ball well,'' Piniella said. ''Let's keep them throwing and keep them healthy and keep them working. ... It'd be like signing a couple more free-agent pitchers.''
A.J. MAKES A FRIEND: The bad blood that arose between White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski and Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano last May, when Pierzynski seemed to mock Zambrano after a home run, appears to have disappeared in the span of a day while filming a commercial together earlier this week in Chicago.
''What I discovered was that the guy is a nice guy,'' Zambrano said. ''Just like me, when he crosses those two lines, he has a job to do. I expected anything else, but he came to me and he was a real nice guy. He's [competitive] like me when I'm on the mound. That's the way he knows how to play.''
Pierzynski angered Zambrano when he pointed to the sky after homering off the Cubs pitcher, apparently mocking one of Zambrano's between-innings rituals. Zambrano was restrained by teammates after going toward the Sox' dugout.
HAIR TODAY ... Right-hander Jeff Samardzija, the $10 million converted Notre Dame receiver, made a strong first impression on Piniella.
''I liked everything I saw but the hair,'' Piniella said of Samardzija's shoulder-length locks. ''We'll get a little trim.''
Said Samardzija: ''That's all right. It's probably not that good-looking anyway, so we'll probably cut it off.''
FOR OPENERS: Although there was never much doubt who would start Opening Day for the Cubs, Zambrano said he's happy to get a third shot at the coveted assignment and has one major goal in mind for April 2 in Cincinnati.
''I will try to do a better job than the last two chances,'' said Zambrano, who didn't get a decision in either of the last two openers.
He gave up a combined eight earned runs in 10 1/3 innings (6.97 ERA) in those two games, walking nine, striking out 13 and allowing three home runs.
''I think the cold weather and the situation of not having experience being an Opening Day pitcher was distracting to me a little bit,'' he said.
SHORT HOPS: Right-hander Adam Harben, the minor-leaguer acquired from Minnesota in the Phil Nevin trade last summer, is out for the season after injuring his elbow last fall and undergoing Tommy John reconstructive surgery. He was a non-roster invitee to big-league camp.
• • At least five position players reported early with pitchers and catchers, including $136-million outfielder Alfonso Soriano, veteran outfielder Cliff Floyd and non-roster outfielder Chris Walker.