Ex-Chicago Cubs farmhand Josh Kroeger looking for fresh start with Chicago White Sox

He knocks in all four runs in Sox's victory over Cubs

March 6, 2009

LAS VEGAS — No matter where the Cubs and White Sox play — even in a so-called meaningless spring game in Sin City — a story line seems to emerge.

In Thursday's 4-3 White Sox victory, it was Josh Kroeger, who drove in all four Sox runs.

For those who've never heard of Kroeger, he was with the Cubs last spring training and then spent the summer at Triple-A Iowa, where he hit .307 with 38 doubles.

So did he enjoy getting revenge?

"It doesn't matter who you're playing against, I want to do well," he said. "It makes it a little better knowing you're doing well against the guys you were with last year, but it's not really a big deal."

Kroeger, 26, has spent most of his career in the minors and became a free agent in the fall.

"I felt like I had a better opportunity elsewhere," he said.

The opportunity with the White Sox is as a backup first baseman-outfielder.

"I will keep him in consideration," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "The way he swings the bat, he has been very consistent. He can play first base or the outfield. I'd like to see him a little bit more, but I like what I see. You never know."

Part II: Sox starters have eight shutout innings against the Cubs this spring. That includes five by Jeff Marquez, three Thursday.

He wasn't gloating.

"You have to be happy with that," he said. "Big crowds, and so far I've felt real comfortable. I haven't been nervous or felt any pressure."

Lookin' good: Cubs newcomer Kevin Gregg, battling Carlos Marmol for the closer's role, has made an impression on manager Lou Piniella. Gregg pitched a scoreless inning Thursday.

"He is throwing the ball good," Piniella said. "I'll tell you what, he's a tough kid, he's a competitor. He has good stuff."

So is Piniella getting a better feel for the former Marlins closer?

"Yeah, I am, and it's a good feeling too," he said. "He's a little bit of a no-nonsense kind of guy. Serious-minded, and he's there for a purpose — to get the job done. He comes at you with a good fastball, split-fingered. Remember, this guy has had 60 saves in two years."

Odds are: Before the Dodgers re-signed Manny Ramirez, the Cubs were sports book favorites to win the National League, although the Yankees are heavy betting choices to capture the World Series. The Mets also are drawing big attention in the NL.

Odds of the Cubs taking it all after 101 years were 11-2 at the Bellagio and 6-1 at Hollywood Palace.

Extra innings: Attendance for the second of what was being billed as "2009 Big League Weekend" at Cashman Field — even though the games were played Wednesday and Thursday — was 11,174, just short of the night before. The largest crowd ever was in 1993, when 15,025 jammed in for the Cubs and Sox. … Chicagoan Jim Belushi sang for the seventh-inning stretch and, of course, root-root-rooted "for the Cubbies."

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Ex-Chicago Cubs farmhand Josh Kroeger looking for fresh start with Chicago White Sox

He knocks in all four runs in Sox's victory over Cubs

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