Dernier's favorite players: Shark, Barney and Fuld

CHICAGO -- Bobby Dernier was a Cubs coach from 2010-11, and when he was asked to pick his favorite player now, he selected three who were under his watch at that time.

"It's a long list, but if under pressure, I'd start on the mound with Jeff Samardzija," Dernier said of the right-hander, who came up through the Cubs system until he was dealt last July to the Athletics. "I'd have Darwin Barney to cover the infield, and let's throw Sam Fuld in the outfield."

Barney won a National League Gold Glove Award with the Cubs in 2012, and he's now on the Dodgers' roster. Dernier, 58, has a soft spot for Fuld.

"He does the little things extra both on and off [the field]," Dernier said. "For all around, Sam Fuld is just one of those guys you can count on as a teammate, as a coach. Mentoring him, he was more mentoring me. He's just a quality person."

A baserunning and outfield coach with the Cubs, a team he played for from 1984-87, Dernier was told that he didn't have to pick a Cubs player. He said he was biased.

"If you had something to do with them, they become favorite players," Dernier said. "Those are the guys I pull for."