Monroe gets a business lesson

PHOENIX -- Craig Monroe isn't sure what happened with the Detroit Tigers this year and was surprised when they suddenly cut him loose last week, 10 months after he was a postseason hero in the Tigers' World Series run.

But he seems confident that the Cubs will benefit from the Tigers' willingness to designate him for assignment and then trade him before they would have had to release him.

''I was surprised, but at the same time, it's ... I'm not going to say a wake-up call, because I never stopped working hard, but it just lets you know that baseball's a business, and it's a tough business at times,'' said Monroe, who was acquired Thursday for a player to be named. ''You've got to be accepting of any possible thing that can possibly happen and make the best of every situation you're put in.''

And this, said Monroe, is a very good situation. He goes from slumping, then losing his starting left-field job with a second-place team in one of baseball's toughest divisions, to a platoon role with a first-place team in a more forgiving division.

Manager Lou Piniella said Monroe, who despite a .222 overall average this year hits .302 against lefties, will start in right tonight against Arizona Diamondbacks left-hander Doug Davis.

''I'm excited,'' said Monroe, who hit 28 homers with 92 RBI last year, then added a franchise-record five more homers in the postseason. ''I can't say anything about the Tigers organization. I had an excellent time there, and I felt they gave me an opportunity to play and show Major League Baseball and myself what I could do.

''But I've always been a big fan of the Cubbies, getting a chance to watch these guys on WGN at home in Texas. Just to put this jersey on, it feels good.''

Monroe said he thinks his problems at the plate this year -- including 94 strikeouts in 343 at-bats -- were caused by putting pressure on himself to have an even bigger year than last year.

He hopes to take advantage of a change of scenery, ''to get a new start with a new team and get a chance to come over here and do some of the things I'm capable of doing at this level.''

Injured Cubs pitcher Mark Prior (shoulder surgery) stopped by the Cubs' clubhouse shortly after batting practice started Friday night. Prior, who has been doing rehab work at the Cubs' training facility in nearby Mesa, planned to check in with team trainers Friday.

Prior had surgery in April. He has not begun a throwing program yet, pitching coach Larry Rothschild said.

•  •  The Cubs have until Oct. 15 to complete the trade for Monroe by sending a designated player. The specific player will come from an agreed-upon pool that includes left-hander Neal Cotts.

•  •   As expected, the Cubs optioned outfielder Jake Fox to Class AAA Iowa on Friday to make room for Monroe. Fox is expected to be recalled when rosters expand in September.

•  •   The Monroe addition gives the Cubs six players with World Series experience (also Scott Eyre, Cliff Floyd, Derrek Lee, Jason Marquis and Alfonso Soriano) and 16 with postseason experience.

•  •   Piniella had rookie Felix Pie starting in center field, Jacque Jones in right and Floyd in left on Friday night to try to compensate for the vast space in the Chase Field outfield.

CUBS IN BRIEF: