Cubs Prank Dale Sveum In Spring Training, Because Why Practice Baseball When You're As Good As The Cubs?

MESA, Ariz. – During Dale Sveum’s first full squad meeting with the players on Sunday, the Chicago Cubs‘ manager was surprised to see them taking off their warm-up jackets at the same time. “Halfway into the meeting they all took their jackets off and they all had bright orange hunting gear on, and hats,” Sveum said. “Of course they gave me one with a target.” The reference was to the infamous hunting accident over the off-season in which Sveum was accidentally shot in the ear by Hall of Famer Robin Yount during a quail hunting trip.

Whose idea was it? “I don’t know,” Sveum said. “I haven’t gotten to the bottom of it yet. But God help them when I find out.” Sveum laughed at the practical joke, which Cubs pitcher Matt Garza said it was definitely a moment to remember. “It was a good one, just to kind of loosen people up,” he said. “I know the first day is usually a little nerve-wracking, especially with (all the media around). Whoever did that, it was a good one.” But wasn’t Garza’s the perpetrator? Most figured it was either Garza or Jeff Samardzija.