The Cubs were comfortable starting the season with Antonio Alfonseca as their closer after he'd shed some excess weight during the off-season. He'd displayed no problems during Spring Training and even managed to avoid the flu problems, which plagued many Chicago players this spring.

Unfortunately, the wet weather in Arizona affected him in another way. Alfonseca slipped on the wet infield grass at Seattle's Peoria Spring Training field. He strained his right hamstring in the fall and is expected to miss at least the first five weeks of the season as a result.