Spring omens

The Cubs are running a relatively serene spring training. There aren't many jobs up for grabs, except for maybe fifth starter, a couple of relievers and the final bench job. And, in most of those battles the players who don't win an opening day spot will just go to the minors and be up later anyway.

The only thing that can really throw a wrench into things would be an injury. But what are the odds of that?

Well, shit. Turns out Petecrow tweaked his hamstring. But don't worry, gang. The Cubs medical staff has good news!

Phew. Well, he'll be fine. When has the Cubs training staff ever been wrong downplaying an injury?

We know how this goes.

Stage One: "It's just a precautionary move."

Stage Two: Pete hasn't played for a week. "Just being conservative, he'll be back any day now."

Stage Three: Petecrow flies to Japan in an air cast. "Nothing to be concerned about, we saw on Instagram that it'll help speed up the healing."

Stage Four: Petecrow has his gangrenous leg amputated. "They're doing wonders with prosthetics these days. He's still day to day."

Stage Five: "The Cubs will wear a memorial jersey patch to honor the recently deceased Petecrow Armstrong. We have the technology, we can rebuild him."

Stage five: "We're told that six million dollars is too much to pay to reanimate Petecrow. We have re-signed Albert Almora out of the Luxembourg Semi Pro League."

Matt Shaw is now recovered from the oblique injury that sidelined him early in camp, and we got to see him make his spring debut on Sunday. And I think most of us had the same reaction when he stepped into the box for the first time.