Cubs' surprises gratify Zimmer

MILWAUKEE An early-April evening that registered a balmy 74degrees Friday was the latest pleasant surprise to follow the Cubsthrough spring.

And as much as Florida-seasoned manager Don Zimmer will bepleasantly surprised by the expected 80-degree temperature in WrigleyField today, little will please him as much as the surprises he foundthis spring.

The most important has been the good health of his club -especially pitchers Rick Sutcliffe and Mike Harkey and catcher DamonBerryhill - and the unexpected emergence of two rookies - thirdbaseman Gary Scott and pitcher Heathcliff Slocumb - who hadn't beencounted on to make the team.

"A healthy Berryhill was a pleasant surprise," Zimmer said."And another would be Scott's play. He played so good, we had notrouble making a decision (to keep him).

"If he had hit around .250, (general manager) Jim Frey and Imight have had to decide what to do, but he made it very easy."

In 27 spring-training games, Scott has hit .387 and driven in 15runs, second only to George Bell's 17. The 22-year-old, who was theorganization's Minor League Player of the Year last season, will bethe starting third baseman when the Cubs open Tuesday against the St.Louis Cardinals.

"No butterflies," he said Friday. "But if they come, it's justnatural. Sometimes, it's good to have butterflies. I had them thefirst day of camp just playing catch with these guys. But once westarted playing, there was nothing at all."

Slocumb's statistics (1-1, 5.17 ERA, seven walks, ninestrikeouts) don't reflect what Zimmer sees in the 6-3 right-hander.

"Here's a guy who's been in the minors for six years, and theyput him on the major-league roster (for spring) because he throwshard," Zimmer said. "But he's done a heck of a job."

Slocumb, 24, might have benefitted by the Cubs' decision toplace Sutcliffe on the 15-day disabled list to give him more work.

Sutcliffe will pitch six innings today against the SanFrancisco Giants' Class A San Jose team in Mesa and again Thursday.

"Then he might be right back with us," Zimmer said.

BITS: Jerome Walton, who is nursing a turf toe, wasn't in thestarting lineup Friday, but first baseman Mark Grace played despite aleft groin pull. Walton entered the game as a defensive replacementin the eighth inning. About 5,000 tickets are available for today's game. The last time the Cubs played in County Stadium was when theydefeated the White Sox 4-1 in a pre-season exhibition in 1969. Thenext year, Bud Selig bought the Seattle Pilots and moved them toMilwaukee in 1971 as the Brewers.