CHICAGO -- The Cubs have kept the extracurricular activities to a minimum this season, unless you count David Ross' performance in "Dancing with the Stars." On Thursday, they will have their first theme trip.
"It's the Ron Burgundy slash Brick Tamland -- and I also wanted to include Thomas La Stella tribute -- road trip, where 60 percent of the time works every time, sponsored by 'Sex Panther' cologne trip," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said.
Players and coaches are asked to coordinate their outfits to the 2004 movie "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy." In case you didn't know, the character Brian Fantana (the investigative reporter who is played by Paul Rudd) uses the cologne in the movie.
La Stella isn't on the Cubs' active roster. What does he have to do with this?
"I see him kind of like Brick," Maddon said of the weatherman in the movie played by Steve Carell. "It's almost like it's two interchangeable guys. I see Brick, I see Tommy, I see Tommy, I see Brick."
Last year, the Cubs wore onesies, zany suits and "Miami Vice" themed outfits.
• Speaking of dancing, C.J. Edwards ranked the relievers' performances in the bullpen, saying he was the best, then bullpen catcher Chad Noble, then newcomer Felix Pena.
The Chicago relievers' home run celebration dances have been caught on the in-house camera feed, but there are rules. They only dance during the first through fifth innings. Reliever Brian Duensing credited Noble with starting the dance movement.
"If there's a homer, they play a song [at Wrigley Field] and [Noble] would turn it up in the bullpen, and we'd do a little thing," Duensing said. "Then we hit some big homers, and we started moving. Then the guys in the dugout said they could see us dancing, so we did it on purpose so they could see us.
"We've had good responses from everyone in the front office to Maddon," Duensing said. "We're just having a good time."
What's next for the Cubs relievers?
"I don't know yet," Edwards said. "We never know. Minds just wandering in the bullpen. We just sit there and all of a sudden whatever comes to mind, do it."
Video of their dance moves has gone viral.
"It really makes you look forward to the next home run," Edwards said.
• Brett Anderson, on the disabled list with a low back strain since May 7, was headed to Mesa, Ariz., on Wednesday to continue his rehab assignment at the team's complex. He will throw live bullpen sessions there in preparation for a rehab stint with a Minor League team. There is no timetable for his return.
• With his complete game Tuesday, Jonathan Lester now is 12-0 with a 1.55 ERA at Wrigley Field since last May 27. He's the fourth pitcher in Cubs history to go 12-0 or better in a 16-start span at home, but first to do so with an ERA under 2.00. The list includes Bill Lee (14-0, 2.34 ERA in 1935-36); Jon Lieber (13-0, 3.25 ERA, 2001-02); and Lon Warneke (13-0, 2.10 ERA, 1932-33).
"Obviously, he feels pretty good pitching here," Maddon said of Lester.